Paul and Barnabas Strengthen the Churches
Acts 14:21-28
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Acts.14.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ευαγγελισαμενοι: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- τε: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πολιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εκεινην: PRON,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- μαθητευσαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ικανους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- υπεστρεψαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Λυστραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- Ικονιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- Αντιοχειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 28:19-20 (thematic): The Great Commission's command 'make disciples' (μαθητεύσατε) is the paradigmatic mandate behind Acts 14:21's report that Paul and Barnabas 'made many disciples.'
- Acts 14:22 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: after evangelizing and making disciples (14:21), the missionaries 'strengthened the souls of the disciples' and appointed elders (14:22), showing the same mission-to-pastoral-follow-up sequence.
- Acts 13:44-52 (thematic): Earlier missionary episode in Pisidian Antioch where Paul and Barnabas preach, many believe and the word spreads; parallels the pattern of evangelism, converts, opposition, and movement among cities seen in 14:21.
- Acts 16:5 (verbal): Reports the outcome of missionary work — 'the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily' — paralleling Acts 14:21's focus on successful evangelism and the formation of numerous disciples.
- Titus 1:5 (thematic): Paul's instruction to Titus to 'appoint elders in every city' parallels the pastoral and organizational follow-up to making disciples reflected in Acts 14 (cf. appointment of leaders after evangelizing).
Alternative generated candidates
- When they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.
- When they had proclaimed the good news in that city and had taught many, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch.
Acts.14.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- επιστηριζοντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- ψυχας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- μαθητων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- παρακαλουντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- εμμενειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- πιστει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- δια: PREP
- πολλων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- θλιψεων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- δει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εισελθειν: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 24:13 (thematic): Both stress persevering in faith under trials as the condition for salvation/entry into God's final reign ('the one who endures to the end will be saved').
- Romans 5:3-5 (verbal): Links 'tribulation' and perseverance—tribulations produce endurance and hope—paralleling Acts' note that through many tribulations one enters the kingdom.
- Romans 8:17-18 (thematic): Suffering is presented as a participation with Christ that leads to future glory; enduring present sufferings is tied to inheritance with God (kingdom/glory).
- 1 Peter 4:12-13 (thematic): Exhorts believers not to be surprised by trials but to rejoice in sharing Christ's sufferings, connecting present affliction with future joy/blessing—similar pastoral encouragement to endure.
- Luke 21:19 (structural): Concise linkage of endurance and deliverance/salvation ('By your endurance you will gain your lives'), resonating with Acts' call to remain in the faith amid tribulations to enter the kingdom.
Alternative generated candidates
- They strengthened the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to persevere in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
- They strengthened the disciples' hearts and encouraged them to remain in the faith, saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."
Acts.14.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- χειροτονησαντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- κατ᾽εκκλησιαν: PREP
- πρεσβυτερους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- προσευξαμενοι: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,pl,m
- μετα: PREP
- νηστειων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- παρεθεντο: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κυριω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- πεπιστευκεισαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Acts 13:2-3 (verbal): The Antioch church, while praying and fasting, sets apart Barnabas and Saul and lays hands on them — parallels the prayer/fasting and commissioning of leaders in Acts 14:23.
- Acts 6:3-6 (structural): The appointment of the seven (deacons) involves selection by the community, prayer, and the laying on of hands — a similar procedure for establishing church officers.
- Titus 1:5 (verbal): Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders in every town, directly corresponding to the practice of appointing elders in every church in Acts 14:23.
- 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (thematic): Gives qualifications for overseers/elders, providing the theological and functional context for why elders are appointed in the churches (as in Acts 14:23).
- 1 Peter 5:1-2 (thematic): An apostolic exhortation to elders to shepherd the flock willingly — parallels the pastoral role implicit in appointing elders and committing them to the Lord.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
- And when they had appointed elders in each church, with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had placed their trust.
Acts.14.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- διελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,ptcp,nom,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Πισιδιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Παμφυλιαν: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 13:13-14 (verbal): Same geographic circuit—Perga in Pamphylia to Pisidian Antioch—uses the same regional names and movement between Pisidia and Pamphylia.
- Acts 14:21 (structural): Earlier in the same chapter Luke lists the itinerary (Lystra, Iconium, Antioch) and missionary movements within Pisidia, mirroring the travel-summary pattern.
- Acts 16:6 (verbal): Uses the same verb and formula for passing through provinces ('they passed through Phrygia and Galatia'), reflecting Luke’s standard travel‑itinerary phrasing.
- Acts 15:41 (structural): Paul’s subsequent movements 'through Syria and Cilicia' follow the same narrative pattern of itinerant mission and regional travel to strengthen churches.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
- After they had gone through Pisidia they came to Pamphylia.
Acts.14.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- λαλησαντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- Περγη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- κατεβησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- Ατταλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 13:13 (structural): Earlier stage of the same missionary journey: Paul and companions arrive at Perga in Pamphylia. Connects geographically and narratively with 14:25’s mention of Perga and subsequent movement to Attalia (also notes John Mark’s departure).
- Acts 13:14 (structural): Records the movement ‘from Perga’ to Pisidian Antioch—parallels the itinerary motif in Acts where Perga functions as a waypoint in the missionaries’ travels.
- Acts 14:24 (structural): Immediate context in the same chapter: the missionaries pass through Pisidia into Pamphylia before coming to Perga, situating 14:25 within the same travel itinerary.
- Acts 14:26 (structural): Direct narrative continuation: after departing Attalia (the port mentioned in 14:25) the missionaries sail to Antioch and report to the church, completing the return leg of the journey described in 14:25.
- Acts 8:4 (verbal): Uses the same trope of proclaiming ‘the word’ (preaching the message). Provides a thematic/verbal parallel to 14:25’s phrase about speaking/declaring the word in a city context.
Alternative generated candidates
- Having spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
- And when they had preached the word at Perga they went down to Attalia,
Acts.14.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κακειθεν: ADV
- απεπλευσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- Αντιοχειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- οθεν: ADV
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- παραδεδομενοι: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,pl,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- χαριτι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- εργον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- επληρωσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Acts 13:2-4 (structural): Antioch functions as the sending church at the outset of the first missionary journey—structural parallel to Acts 14:26, where the missionaries return to Antioch as their base.
- Acts 20:32 (verbal): Paul uses the same idea and verb of committing/entrusting to God’s grace (παραδίδωμι/ῥῆμα τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ), a close verbal parallel to 'παραδεδομενοι τῇ χάριτι τοῦ θεοῦ' in Acts 14:26.
- Acts 18:22 (structural): Like Acts 14:26, this verse reports a return to Antioch after missionary activity—parallel travel pattern and Antioch’s role as the mission centre to which missionaries return.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 (verbal): Paul’s instruction to ‘entrust’ (παραδίδου) what he taught to faithful men echoes the same verb/idea of being committed or delivered over—paralleling the notion of being ‘committed to the grace of God’ in Acts 14:26.
Alternative generated candidates
- From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had completed.
- and from there they sailed to Antioch, the city from which they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had fulfilled.
Acts.14.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παραγενομενοι: VERB,part,pres,mp,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- συναγαγοντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εκκλησιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ανηγγελλον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- οσα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- εποιησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μετ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- και: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- ηνοιξεν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- εθνεσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- θυραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- πιστεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 15:4 (verbal): The Jerusalem report: 'they declared all that God had done with them' — nearly identical wording and the same motif of missionaries reporting God's work to the church.
- Acts 11:18 (verbal): Cornelius/Antioch summary: 'Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life' — theological parallel to 'opened to the Gentiles a door of faith.'
- Acts 10:44-48 (thematic): Peter and Cornelius: the Holy Spirit falls on Gentile believers and they are baptized — a narrative instance of God granting Gentiles entrance into the people of faith.
- Acts 13:47-49 (thematic): Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles and many believe ('the Gentiles were glad and glorified the word of the Lord') — parallels the missionary move and the opening of faith to Gentiles.
Alternative generated candidates
- When they arrived, they gathered the church and reported everything God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
- When they arrived and had gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
Acts.14.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- διετριβον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- δε: CONJ
- χρονον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ολιγον: ADV
- συν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- μαθηταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 11:26 (verbal): Barnabas and Saul (Paul) previously 'stayed there a whole year' in Antioch with the disciples — similar language and idea of an extended residence among the believers.
- Acts 18:11 (verbal): Paul 'stayed there a year and six months' in Corinth teaching the word — another example in Acts of an extended stay for instruction and strengthening of disciples.
- Acts 14:22 (thematic): Earlier in the same chapter Paul and Barnabas 'strengthened the souls of the disciples' and encouraged them to persevere — connects the long stay with the work of building up the church.
- Acts 15:35 (thematic): After the Jerusalem council Paul and Barnabas 'continued to teach and preach the word of the Lord' in Antioch — likewise indicating an ongoing residence devoted to instructing the disciples.
Alternative generated candidates
- They remained for a considerable time with the disciples.
- And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
When they had proclaimed the gospel in that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.
They strengthened the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to persevere in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." And they appointed elders for them in each church; and after prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
Having proclaimed the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch, to which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had completed.
When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.