“They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. “

It seems that this first journey was not a short burst but a lengthy period of moving and staying, to teach and consolidate the work before they moved on, giving believers time to learn and grow. From among them there emerged men who were maturing in their faith…leaders who could be trusted to continue when the missionaries left. 

“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust….”

These two now-battle-hardened pioneers longed for home. The first leg of their missionary journey had led them from Cyprus into the interior of Asia Minor…into the heart of pagan idolatry where they had experienced both the whole-hearted response of some and the bitter hatred of others. 

The Holy Spirit had moved powerfully, including doing miracles in the mix. 

The Jews, in the main, remained  resistant to the gospel, even turning the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. Some, but not many Jews, believed and became part of a new species…as Paul wrote to the Ephesian church later on…a new race in Christ…of Jew and Gentile… with a new identity. 

It was time to retrace their steps…to consolidate the work they had done…and to report back to headquarters. They returned to the small groups of believers they had left behind as they went from city to city…teaching and encouraging them to stay firm in their faith…until they finally reached their home base…Antioch in Syria. 

“From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬-‭23‬, ‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What  a homecoming! How many years has gone by since they had left Antioch, we do not know. They had no email…no WhatsApp…to keep them in touch with their home church…only “snail-mail” no quicker than their own presence. So, they had much to talk about to their beloved fellow-believers…years of conflict and conquest to share with them. 

How lovely for them to rest in the shelter and safety of their own family. “A long time…”, long enough to gather their strength and their zeal for another season on the road…on the battle field. They now had years of experience behind  them. They knew what lay ahead when they hit the road again. 

So, we leave them in Antioch for a while until…rested and refreshed…they press on toward Rome!

To be continued