Acts 14:24-27 24And after they passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia, 25And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they were entrusted to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.
These verses are a summary of the return trip of Paul and Barnabas to their sending church of Antioch. One question to ponder is, why did they return to Antioch and not continue their ministry to other cities? Several important lessons can be learned to help others called to leave their home, land, or local church to follow God’s call to make disciples in other places. Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps, returning to the places they had visited before.
Luke does not give many details or insights about what they did in each location, except for a brief statement of speaking the word in Perga. Verses 23 and 24 can be read together, with verse 23 giving a clue to their strategy of appointing elders and committing them to the Lord through prayer and fasting. Their strategy was to make sure the churches were strong enough to stand on their own. Appointing elders was not a one-day job but took time to discern God’s will and find those equipped, called, and committed. They did not leave the new believers to struggle on their new faith. If Paul and Barnabas had only passed through or gone on to a new location, the seeds they had planted would have withered away because they had no root. The apostles needed to make sure the new believers were organized into a church and had growing roots through strong leadership.
Returning to Antioch of Syria was also a major trip across the northwest Mediterranean Sea. Verse 26 contains four significant statements about the church in Antioch that had sent Paul and Barnabas on their way. First, the church entrusted (paradedomenoi), a perfect passive participle with the nuance of giving someone over to a task in the way of commitment. The perfect periphrastic construction indicates that the church committed Paul and Barnabas to God and continued that through prayer.
Second, the church gave the apostles to the grace of God, which further indicates the church’s trust that God would take care of the apostles on their mission. Everything was done because of God’s grace. Paul and Barnabas were able to do what they did because of the Holy Spirit working in and through them.
Third, the apostles were given to God’s work (ergon). It was God’s en-“ergy” that was working in them. Paul could speak from personal experience when he wrote in Philippians 2:13, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” He used the same word energon as Luke to describe how God’s grace gives direction, inspiration, and grace to do his work.
Fourth, Paul and Barnabas brought back a report that their task of preaching the gospel to new places had been fulfilled. They could bring back this report because of God’s protection and open doors. The mission was a success to God’s glory, not to Paul’s and Barnabas’ glory. One could raise the question about success when they almost died from persecution, were ran out of town, and had many struggles. The success came through the new believers and the gathered groups that were now growing in the Lord.