21-22 After proclaiming the Message in Derbe and establishing a strong core of disciples, they retraced their steps to Lystra, then Iconium, and then Antioch, putting muscle and sinew in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn’t be easy: “Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times.”
23-26 Paul and Barnabas handpicked leaders in each church. After praying—their prayers intensified by fasting—they presented these new leaders to the Master to whom they had entrusted their lives. Working their way back through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia and preached in Perga. Finally, they made it to Attalia and caught a ship back to Antioch, where it had all started—launched by God’s grace and now safely home by God’s grace. A good piece of work.
27-28 On arrival, they got the church together and reported on their trip, telling in detail how God had used them to throw the door of faith wide open so people of all nations could come streaming in. Then they settled down for a long, leisurely visit with the disciples.
The apostles went through hard times to build up church - the disciples - even to the point of death. They handpicked leaders, developing them, praying for them with fasting, entrusting them to the Lord, and then deploying them to serve in the church. They returned their trip through Lystra, Iconium, Pisidia, and then back to Antioch. The new disciples were exhorted to keep their faith, knowing that they need to go through plenty of hard times as they seek for the kingdom of God.
Dear Holy Spirit, thanks for converting our hearts of stone to hearts of flesh that we can experience love of Jesus and also see the reality of God's kingdom. We at the same time continue to rely on your power and working in our hearts that we know that Jesus and His apostles are our examples of walking the path to the eternal destiny. Always prepare ourselves to go through plenty of hard times by the love of God through the power of the Spirit as we walk on our heavenly journey for witnessing the name of Jesus in the midst of persecutions, restlessness, illness, spiritual warfare. But experience that your grace and power are always sufficient for us to conquer our weaknesses.
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