Trouble

Pete Kersker - Aug 10, 2026

From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed...And they stayed there a long time with the disciples (Acts 14:26, 28 NIV).

Paul and Barnabas returned from their Spirit-led trip to their home church in Antioch (of Syria). Their church home was the first place where Jew and Gentile believers came together as "Christians." It was the community that Barnabas and Saul built up for over a year. These were the people who prayed for them and sent them off with love. This was their safe place.

Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1 NIV).

It was their safe place until visitors from the area around Jerusalem came to town. They started teaching things that Paul and Barnabas were not teaching and that they had not heard. This particular teaching threatened to drive a wedge between the Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul and Barnabas needed to act in order to protect the flock that Jesus had entrusted into their care.

This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question (Acts 15:2 NIV).

Do you have a local church that is your "safe place"?
Have you ever experienced trouble in your local church?
Did you see the shepherds respond? What did they do?
Were they trying to protect the flock entrusted into their care?