THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY COMPLETED

Acts 14:26-28 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work, which they fulfilled. 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. And there they abode long time with the disciples.

In verses 19 and following, we find that unbelieving Jews of Antioch and Iconium came to Lystra and stirred these idolatrous people to violently oppose the gospel of Christ and God's plan of eternal salvation being taught by Paul and Barnabas. The result was that Paul was stoned to the extent the he was perceived to be dead, and his body was dragged out of their city. However, Paul revived, returned to the city of Lystra, and, the following day, he and Barnabas departed and came into the city Derbe. Whether he recovered naturally, or was revived by a miraculous act of God, is not given here. But it did not deter his mission of spreading God's gift of salvation through Christ Jesus to the world. When they arrived in Derbe, Paul also taught this gospel message to many. Most translators indicate that instead of "teaching them," the best meaning is "converting them to become disciples of Christ."

Continuing in the verses preceding the lesson test, we can conclude that the violent opposition to the teaching of Paul and Barnabas had subsided sufficiently that their welfare was not threatened. This we are assured since, after planting seeds of the gospel of Christ in Derbe, they retraced their paths and returned again into the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. And in each city they exhorted those that were converted to Christ to continue in the faith, assuring each follower of Christ that much tribulation was necessary in order to enter into the kingdom of God. Also, to establish the Christians in each city as a strong, faithful church of Christ, and in order to comply with God's order within each body of Christ, Paul and Barnabas ordained them elders in every church.

This passage, Verse 23, tells us much about church eldership. First, it tells us that elders are not required when a congregation of God's people is originally planted. Time is required for the Christian membership to determine if men meet the qualifications to become an elder of the church of Christ, as found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Secondly, elders are not selected and appointed to preside over a district containing a number of churches. Instead elders are to rule only over the congregation, which appointed them. Thirdly, there is to be a plurality if elders in each body of Christ. And, lastly, it is the responsibility of the entire membership of each church of Christ to select those men that are qualified to rule over them.

Although, not specifically stated in this passage, it can be inferred that as deacons were selected to serve the physical needs of a specific congregation of God's people, so elders are to be selected by the membership of each church to serve over their spiritual needs. Having been chosen by the congregation, each of these candidates were set apart and appointed to fill the eldership office of the church. Their ordination was concluded with the solemn acts of prayer and fasting by the entire congregation that had selected them. That is, ordination was a spiritual process coming from the heart of each member. The ordination of elders was not to be accomplished with pompous celebration or lavish feasts and ceremonies.

Continuing on their journey back to Antioch of Syria, Paul and Barnabas again passed through Pisida into the Roman province of Pamphylia, and into its capital, the city of Perga. When passing through this city for the first time, there was no indication that they preached the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ to these inhabitants. On this, their return visit, it is said that they preached the word (of God) in Perga, but gave no indication as to its effectiveness. From Perga, Paul and Barnabas went down into Attilia, a city in Pamphylia on the Mediterranean Sea. And from there they sailed to Antioch (of Syria), having fulfilled the work they were called by the Holy Spirit of God to accomplish (Acts 13:2). Arriving in Antioch of Syria, they immediately gathered together the membership of the church of Christ and gave an account of all that had taken place on their assigned missionary journey - their successes in converting both Jews and Gentiles to Christ, as well as the persecution they received from those that refused to accept Jesus Christ the Savior. On this, the first of four missionary journeys, God's will was accomplished. The inspired teaching of Paul and Barnabas had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.