Strengthening. Encouraging.

Pete Kersker - Aug 05, 2026

Paul and Barnabas left their home church in Antioch of Syria. They traveled to the island of Crete, then went to Psidian Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra preaching the gospel. In all of these places, people believed the good news. In all these places, Paul and Barnabas also encountered resistance.

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead (Acts 14:19 NIV).

We've already seen what happened next, Paul lived through this death-sentence. He confused us when he returned to the town where he was stoned to death. It made a bit more sense when he left that town the next day.

But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples (Acts 14:20-21a NIV).

Paul and Barnabas continued their Spirit-led mission in the next town of Derbe. The Lord blessed this decision by bringing a "large number" of disciples (students) to the Lord. Once again, however, Paul and Barnabas confuse us with their next move. They go back to all the cities where they were threatened to strengthen the disciples there.

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 (Acts 14:21b-22 NIV).

Why do you think Paul and Barnabas returned to the cities where they had been threatened?
How do you think they strengthened and encouraged the disciples there?

Have you ever had your faith threatened, or felt pressure to keep quiet about Jesus?
What strengthens your faith in those instances? What encourages you to share your faith?