Acts 14:26
From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed.
From Attalia
Attalia was a port city in the region of Pamphylia, modern-day Antalya in Turkey. This city served as a significant maritime hub in the ancient world, facilitating travel and trade across the Mediterranean. The mention of Attalia highlights the strategic planning of Paul and Barnabas in their missionary journeys, utilizing established routes to spread the Gospel. The Greek root of "Attalia" reflects its historical significance as a gateway for the early church's mission work, symbolizing the outreach of the Gospel to the Gentile world.

they sailed back
The act of sailing back indicates a return journey, a completion of a mission. In the Greek, the word for "sailed" (πλέω, pleō) conveys movement and progress, suggesting the dynamic nature of the apostolic mission. This return was not merely a physical journey but a spiritual one, as they brought back the experiences and testimonies of their work. The sea voyage also symbolizes the challenges and uncertainties faced in spreading the Gospel, yet it underscores the faithfulness of God in guiding and protecting His servants.

to Antioch
Antioch in Syria was a pivotal center for early Christianity, often considered the cradle of Gentile missions. It was here that believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). The return to Antioch signifies a homecoming to a supportive and sending church community. Historically, Antioch was a cosmopolitan city, reflecting the diverse and inclusive nature of the early church. The Greek root of "Antioch" (Ἀντιόχεια, Antiocheia) emphasizes its role as a launching pad for missionary activity and a place of spiritual nourishment and accountability.

where they had been committed
The phrase "had been committed" (παραδίδωμι, paradidōmi) in Greek implies a formal entrusting or commissioning. This reflects the church's role in recognizing and supporting the call of Paul and Barnabas. It underscores the importance of community and accountability in ministry, where individuals are not acting independently but are sent with the blessing and backing of the church body. This commitment is both a privilege and a responsibility, highlighting the partnership between the local church and its missionaries.

to the grace of God
The "grace of God" (χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ, charis tou Theou) is central to the Christian faith, representing unmerited favor and divine empowerment. This grace was the foundation and sustenance of their mission, enabling them to endure hardships and proclaim the Gospel effectively. Theologically, it emphasizes that all ministry is dependent on God's grace, not human effort. This grace is transformative, equipping believers for service and ensuring the success of their endeavors according to God's will.

for the work
The "work" (ἔργον, ergon) refers to the missionary activities and the establishment of churches among the Gentiles. This term encompasses preaching, teaching, discipling, and enduring persecution. It highlights the active and laborious nature of ministry, which requires dedication and perseverance. The work is not merely a task but a divine calling, a partnership with God in His redemptive plan for humanity. It serves as a reminder that every believer is called to participate in the work of the Kingdom.

they had now completed
The completion (πληρόω, plēroō) of their mission signifies fulfillment and accomplishment. It reflects the faithfulness of Paul and Barnabas in carrying out the task entrusted to them. This completion is not an end but a milestone in the ongoing mission of the church. It serves as an encouragement to believers that God is faithful to bring to fruition the work He begins in us. Historically, this completion also marks a moment of reflection and celebration within the church community, acknowledging God's hand in their endeavors.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Attalia
A port city in Pamphylia, modern-day Antalya in Turkey, from where Paul and Barnabas set sail back to Antioch.

2. Antioch
A significant city in early Christianity, located in modern-day Turkey. It was the base for Paul and Barnabas's missionary journeys and a center for early Christian teaching.

3. Paul and Barnabas
Early Christian missionaries who were instrumental in spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles. They were committed to God's grace for their missionary work.

4. The Grace of God
Refers to the divine favor and empowerment given to Paul and Barnabas for their missionary endeavors.

5. The Completed Work
The missionary journey that Paul and Barnabas had undertaken, which involved preaching the Gospel and establishing churches.
Teaching Points
Commitment to God's Grace
Recognize that any work for God requires His grace and empowerment. Just as Paul and Barnabas were committed to God's grace, we too must rely on His strength for our tasks.

Completion of God-given Tasks
Be diligent in completing the work God has assigned to you. Reflect on how Paul and Barnabas finished their journey and consider what tasks God has called you to complete.

The Role of the Church Community
Understand the importance of being sent and supported by a church community, as Paul and Barnabas were by the church in Antioch. Engage with your local church for support and accountability.

Reflecting on God's Faithfulness
Take time to reflect on how God has been faithful in your life and ministry, just as He was faithful to Paul and Barnabas in their journey.

Missionary Mindset
Cultivate a mindset that is open to God's calling, whether it is local or global. Consider how you can be involved in missions, inspired by the example of Paul and Barnabas.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of being "committed to the grace of God" influence your understanding of your own ministry or work for God?

2. In what ways can you ensure that you are completing the tasks God has given you, similar to how Paul and Barnabas completed their journey?

3. How can your local church community support you in your spiritual journey, and how can you contribute to the community's mission?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in completing a task. How can this encourage you in your current endeavors?

5. What steps can you take to develop a missionary mindset, and how can you be involved in spreading the Gospel in your context?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 13:1-3
This passage describes the commissioning of Paul and Barnabas by the church in Antioch, highlighting the beginning of their missionary journey.

Acts 11:19-26
Provides background on the church in Antioch, where believers were first called Christians, and where Paul and Barnabas taught for a year.

2 Timothy 4:7
Paul speaks of having "finished the race," which parallels the completion of the work mentioned in Acts 14:26.

Philippians 1:6
Speaks of God completing the good work He began, similar to the completion of the missionary journey.

Romans 15:19
Paul reflects on the fulfillment of his ministry, akin to the completion of the work in Acts 14:26.
Prayer as a Recommendation to the Grace of GodR. Tuck Acts 14:26
Apostles and Crusaders on the Same TrackJ. S. Howson, D. D.Acts 14:19-28
Dangers and SuccessesR.A. Redford Acts 14:19-28
End of Paul's First Missionary JourneySermons by the Monday ClubActs 14:19-28
Fickleness of the PopulaceActs 14:19-28
From Derbe to AntiochD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 14:19-28
Stoning the GodsT. Champness.Acts 14:19-28
The Best Gain of a Servant of God Returning HomeActs 14:19-28
The Close of the First Missionary JourneyJ. Parker, D. D.Acts 14:19-28
The End of the First Missionary JourneyM. C. Hazard.Acts 14:19-28
The Fickleness of the LystriansJ. S. Howson, D. D.Acts 14:19-28
The Minister's WorkActs 14:19-28
The Stoning of PaulS. S. TimesActs 14:19-28
Return to Antioch: a Picture of Apostolic ActivityE. Johnson Acts 14:21-28
The Return HomeP.C. Barker Acts 14:21-28
The Work of GodW. Clarkson Acts 14:24-28
Apostles and Crusaders At AntiochJ. S. Howson, D. D.Acts 14:26-28
Apostolic RehearsalR. Treffry., K. Gerok.Acts 14:26-28
God's Open DoorsH. W. Beecher.Acts 14:26-28
Missionary EnterprisesT. Newsome.Acts 14:26-28
Missionary ReportsS. S. TimesActs 14:26-28
The Door of FaithA. Maclaren, D. D.Acts 14:26-28
The Open Gate of SalvationActs 14:26-28
The Report of the MissionDean Vaughan.Acts 14:26-28
People
Barnabas, Hermes, Jupiter, Mercurius, Paul
Places
Attalia, Derbe, Iconium, Lycaonia, Lystra, Pamphylia, Perga, Pisidia, Pisidian Antioch, Syrian Antioch
Topics
Accomplished, Antioch, Commended, Committed, Completed, Connexion, Fulfilled, Grace, Handed, Previously, Recommended, Sail, Sailed, Ship, Thence, Whence
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 14:26

     4915   completion
     5517   seafaring
     7742   missionaries, support
     7924   fellowship, in service

Acts 14:21-28

     5108   Paul, life of

Acts 14:26-27

     7740   missionaries, call
     7757   preaching, effects
     7759   preachers, qualifications

Library
Dream and Reality
'The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.' --ACTS xiv. 11. This was the spontaneous instinctive utterance of simple villagers when they saw a deed of power and kindness. Many an English traveller and settler among rude people has been similarly honoured. And in Lycaonia the Apostles were close upon places that were celebrated in Greek mythology as having witnessed the very two gods, here spoken of, wandering among the shepherds and entertained with modest hospitality in their huts. The
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

'The Door of Faith'
'And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.'--ACTS xiv. 27. There are many instances of the occurrence of this metaphor in the New Testament, but none is exactly like this. We read, for example, of 'a great door and effectual' being opened to Paul for the free ministry of the word; and to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia, 'He that openeth and none shall shut' graciously
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Deified and Stoned
'And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Cripple at Lystra
There are two or three points in this narrative to which I shall call your attention to-night, making, however, the lame man the center of the picture. We shall notice, first of all, what preceded this lame man's faith; secondly, wherein lay his faith to be healed; and thirdly, what is the teaching of the miracle itself, and the blessing which the lame man obtained through faith. I. WHAT WAS IT WHICH PRECEDED HIS FAITH? That "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," is a great and
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 10: 1864

Historical Criticism of Mediæval Amplifications.
But along with the genuine and trustworthy matter, the compiler has embodied much that is unattested and in many cases inherently improbable, and even some things that are demonstrably untrue. i. The Miraculous Details.--To the category of the improbable--the fiction of hagiology or the growth of myth--belong the miracles so freely ascribed to Ephraim and the miraculous events represented as attending on his career. It is noteworthy that Ephraim himself, though no doubt he believed that he was
Ephraim the Syrian—Hymns and Homilies of Ephraim the Syrian

St. Barnabas' Day. We Preach unto You that Ye Should Turn from These Vanities unto the Living God which Made Heaven
St. Barnabas' Day. We preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: who in time past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7 Sollt ich meinem Gott nicht singen [130]Paul Gerhardt. 1659. trans. by Catherine
Catherine Winkworth—Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year

Whether it was Fitting that Christ Should be Transfigured?
Objection 1: It would seem that it was not fitting that Christ should be transfigured. For it is not fitting for a true body to be changed into various shapes [figuras], but only for an imaginary body. Now Christ's body was not imaginary, but real, as stated above ([4222]Q[5], A[1]). Therefore it seems that it should not have been transfigured. Objection 2: Further, figure is in the fourth species of quality, whereas clarity is in the third, since it is a sensible quality. Therefore Christ's assuming
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Of Bearing the Cross --One Branch of Self-Denial.
1. What the cross is. By whom, and on whom, and for what cause imposed. Its necessity and dignity. 2. The cross necessary. 1. To humble our pride. 2. To make us apply to God for aid. Example of David. 3. To give us experience of God's presence. 3. Manifold uses of the cross. 1. Produces patience, hope, and firm confidence in God, gives us victory and perseverance. Faith invincible. 4. 2. Frames us to obedience. Example of Abraham. This training how useful. 5. The cross necessary to subdue the wantonness
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Jewish Rejecters and Gentile Receivers
'And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47. For so hath the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Paul at Athens
'Then Paul stood In the midst of Mars-hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To the Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24. God, that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25. Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Publisher to the Reader.
There are no sermons I know of any divine or pastor in this kingdom, that have been more frequently printed, or more universally read and esteemed, than the elegant and judicious discourses of Mr. Binning, which were published after his death, at different times, in four small volumes. As there was a great demand for these valuable writings, about twenty six years ago; so these printed copies of them were compared with his own manuscript copy now in my hand, carefully revised, and then printed, in
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Of Bearing the Cross --One Branch of Self-Denial.
The four divisions of this chapter are,--I. The nature of the cross, its necessity and dignity, sec. 1, 2. II. The manifold advantages of the cross described, sec. 3-6. III. The form of the cross the most excellent of all, and yet it by no means removes all sense of pain, sec. 7, 8. IV. A description of warfare under the cross, and of true patience, (not that of philosophers,) after the example of Christ, sec. 9-11. 1. THE pious mind must ascend still higher, namely, whither Christ calls his disciples
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

Apostles To-Day?
"Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are ye not my work in the Lord?"--1 Cor. ix. 1. We may not take leave of the apostolate without a last look at the circle of its members. It is a closed circle; and every effort to reopen it tends to efface a characteristic of the New Covenant. And yet the effort is being made again and again. We see it in Rome's apostolic succession; in the Ethical view gradually effacing the boundary-line between the apostles and believers;
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Letter xi (Circa A. D. 1120) the Abbot of Saint Nicasius at Rheims
The Abbot of Saint Nicasius at Rheims He consoles this abbot for the departure of the Monk Drogo and his transfer to another monastery, and exhorts him to patience. 1. How much I sympathize with your trouble only He knows who bore the griefs of all in His own body. How willingly would I advise you if I knew what to say, or help you if I were able, as efficaciously as I would wish that He who knows and can do all things should advise and assist me in all my necessities. If brother Drogo had consulted
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation
"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God" (Rom. 11:22). In the last chapter when treating of the Sovereignty of God the Father in Salvation, we examined seven passages which represent Him as making a choice from among the children of men, and predestinating certain ones to be conformed to the image of His Son. The thoughtful reader will naturally ask, And what of those who were not "ordained to eternal life?" The answer which is usually returned to this question, even by those who profess
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

Holy violence
"But," says one, "do you wish us to understand, that if a man is to be saved he must use violence and vehement earnestness in order to obtain salvation?" I do, most assuredly; that is the doctrine of the text. "But," says one, "I thought it was all the work of God." So it is, from first to last. But when God has begun the work in the soul, the constant effect of God's work in us is to set us working; and where God's Spirit is really striving with us, we shall begin to strive too. This is just a test
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Phil. 1:01 the Rights and Duties of Lay Churchmen.
[19] "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons."--Phil. 1:1. THIS opening verse of St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians is a very remarkable text of Scripture. I suspect it receives far less attention from Bible- readers than it deserves. Like the gold of California, men have walked over it for centuries, and have not observed what was under their feet. In fact, if some Anglican divines had stood at the
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

Though These Eternal Moral Obligations are Indeed of Themselves Incumbent on all Rational Beings,
even antecedent to the consideration of their being the positive will and command of God, yet that which most strongly confirms, and in practice most effectually and indispensably enforces them upon us, is this; that both from the perfections of God, and the nature of things, and from several other collateral considerations, it appears, that as God is himself necessarily just and good in the exercise of his infinite power in the government of the whole world, so he cannot but likewise positively
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

The Extension of the Church Throughout the World
A.D. 45-70 Section 1. The First Mission to the Gentiles. [Sidenote: A.D. 45.] [Sidenote: St. Paul and St. Barnabas sent to preach to the heathen.] It would seem that in the special Eucharistic offerings and Lenten discipline mentioned by St. Luke[1], the Church in Antioch was seeking guidance of her Divine Head as to her duties with respect to the gentile world in the midst of which she was placed; and that the command of the Holy Ghost to consecrate St. Paul and St. Barnabas as Apostles to the
John Henry Blunt—A Key to the Knowledge of Church History

Concerning Persecution
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 We are now come to the last beatitude: Blessed are they which are persecuted . . '. Our Lord Christ would have us reckon the cost. Which of you intending to build a tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have enough to finish it?' (Luke 14:28). Religion will cost us the tears of repentance and the blood of persecution. But we see here a great encouragement that may
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Epistle xxxix. To Anastasius, Bishop .
To Anastasius, Bishop [1602] . Gregory to Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke ii. 14), because that great river which once had left the rocks of Antioch dry has returned at length to its proper channel, and waters the subject valleys that are near, so as also to bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty-fold, and some an hundred-fold. For now there is no doubt that many flowers of souls are growing up in its valleys, and that
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Messiah Suffering and Wounded for Us
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: ..... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. W hen our Lord was transfigured, Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and conversed with Him. Had we been informed of the interview only, we should probably have desired to know the subject of their conversation, as we might reasonably suppose it turned upon very interesting and important
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

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