Who will lead the church?
Acts 14:21-28
21 After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch. 22 There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, ‘It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.’ 23 And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.
24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. 27 When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there with the disciples for some time.
After the attempt on Paul’s life in Lystra, Barnabas and Paul had gone to the nearby town of Derbe, and a church was started. Sensing it was time to return home to Antioch in Syria (there are two Antiochs in this passage the Antioch in vs. 21 is Antioch in present day Turkey (also called Pisidian Antioch) – the Antioch in vs. 26 is Antioch in present day Syria, and the community from which Paul and Barnabas left in Acts 13:1-3) the two visit the communities they have been to in reverse order. First to Lystra, then Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch, before they headed for the coast at Perga and home.
Vs. 22, 23 provide an insight into how these brand-new congregations in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch were organized and led. Paul and Barnabas are leaving the area, they will not be around to be consulted and there has to be some way for these new believers in Jesus to continue to gather and grow in their faith.
Two things are in these verses: 1. Paul and Barnabas spoke words of encouragement and hope to the Christians in each of these communities. Reminding the new followers of Jesus that following Jesus was worthwhile, and that the Holy Spirit was with them. For they were very clear that followers of Jesus would face opposition. The path leading to the kingdom of God passed through persecution. 2. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders (leaders) in each of the congregations who would lead worship Sunday by Sunday, preach and teach, and provide leadership to the congregation. These elders had no training, what they did have was the promise that Jesus was with them by the power of the Holy Spirit. That was the most important thing for a leader of the church, trusting Jesus to lead.
PRAYER:
God who calls, you call people into your church, and you do not leave congregations without leaders. Open our eyes to recognize those you are calling to lead the church and give to the leaders (even if we are among that group) of the church the ability to trust you to guide them in their leadership. In Jesus’ name. Amen.