Derbe, return to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia: Sharing and Encouragement through the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Acts 14:21-26

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples…” Acts 14:21a

In the previous post on Acts 14:19-20, Paul was stoned and left for dead in Lystra, he rose up and came to Derbe. The phrase, “…when they had preached the gospel to that city…” refers to the city of Derbe. There, Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ and many people said “Yes” to Jesus as the Christ and their Lord. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are going to be abused and afflicted for even trying to share our born-again experience, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart.

Those who abuse and afflict us are certainly not receptive to the Holy Spirit to hear about the forgiveness of unbelief and eternal life through Jesus. We leave them and wait to meet someone who does have a receptive heart to the Good News. In today’s atheistic culture, the event of that happening is slim to none. As Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5

“…they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch…” Acts 14:21b

After the fruitful ministry in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch at Pisidian. In Lystra, Paul healed a man that had been crippled from birth, and Paul and Barnabas were seen as gods, Acts 14:8-20. In Iconium, multitudes said “Yes” to Jesus, while the minds of many were poisoned against Paul, Acts 14:1-7. In Antioch at Pisidian, the Holy Spirit opened the door for Paul to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Many hungered for the Gospel of Christ, while the community leaders led a revolt against Paul, Acts 13:13-52.

Antioch at Pisidian is seen to the north circled in yellow, with Lystra and Derbe being southeast of Antioch. There is also an Antioch at Syria, which is circled in yellow to the east on the map.

As followers of Jesus Christ, when the Holy Spirit opens the opportunity to check-up on fellow believers, to encourage and strengthen them, we should do so.

“…strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

Jesus has said to us, “...narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:14 Paul knew this from first-hand experience, who said, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus says, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you…If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:18, 20 There is not a passage in the Bible that doesn’t talk about the burdens, difficulties, and afflictions of following Him. We live in an atheistic world that despises Christianity. Jesus says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

The Holy Spirit urges us to encourage one another to continue in the faith. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

Comfort one another with these words, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we will always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

“So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Acts 14:23

Upon returning to the Believers in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch at Pisidian, a Church was established in each location, the Church being a gathering of believers, not a church building. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders to lead the fellowship of Believers in each location. With prayer and fasting, Paul and Barnabas left them in the hands of the Lord in whom they had believed.

In today’s atheistic world, if we are going to meet a fellowship of believers, it will not be in the manmade churches. The Church will be wherever two or more people gather in the name of Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

“And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.” Acts 14:24-26

After being in Pisidia/Antioch, Paul and Barnabas sailed to the other Antioch at Syria. As seen on the map below, they traveled on dry land from Pisidia to Pamphylia [to the west in the picture and about middle way up]. Then they traveled to Perga and preached the Gospel of Christ [east of Pamphylia and a little south, bordering the Sea]. The “Great Sea” is also called the “Mediterranean Sea”. Then they traveled to Attalia [another seacoast city west of Perga]. From Attalia, they boarded a ship and sailed for Antioch in Syria [to the east in the picture and circled in yellow]

Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch at Syria for a long time. This is the subject of the next posts from Acts 15.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11