1st Missionary Trip - Lorin

of Lycaonia and not go beyond it. How much time was spent in Derbe
before they retracing their route back through these hostile cities is not
given by Luke. It all depends on the length of time to make “many disciples”
(μαθητεύσαντες ἱκανοὺς). 156
The first part alludes to the three cities where these missionaries
had encountered enough success to spark Jewish opposition to their
work: Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. Their activities in this re-visiting of
the congregations centered on 1) strengthened the faith of the disciples
(v. 22) and 2) helping organizing the leadership of the congregations (v.
23).
5.0.2.1 Strengthening the disciples: 22 ἐπιστηρίζοντες τὰς
ψυχὰς τῶν μαθητῶν, παρακαλοῦντες ἐμμένειν τῇ πίστει καὶ ὅτι διὰ
πολλῶν θλίψεων δεῖ ἡμᾶς εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ. 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.” Two areas of activities are presented along with a reason for them. One should note that these statements
come as expansion elements to the core clause expression ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν Λύστραν καὶ εἰς Ἰκόνιον καὶ
εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν (they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch), doing the two actions specified in verse
twenty-two. Luke first says that Paul and Barnabas were ἐπιστηρίζοντες τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν μαθητῶν. This is similar
language to the work of Paul and others later (15:31, 42; 18:23) and also to that given to Peter by Jesus (Luke
22:32). 157 Through this spread of usage of the verb ἐπιστηρίζω / στηρίζω, 158 the general idea is to strengthen
the faith commitment of individual believers and of congregations. With the direct object of the verb here as τὰς
ψυχὰς τῶν μαθητῶν, Luke stresses the deep inner strengthening of disciples in terms of resolve to be faithful
even in the midst of persecution. The ψυχὰς of the disciples signals the deepest part of their inner life where
decisions are made. Paul and Barnabas sought to build resolve and determination to remain committed to Christ
through times of real pressure and stress.
Also these missionaries were παρακαλοῦντες ἐμμένειν τῇ πίστει. Luke had described something similar
earlier in 13:43 that took place in Pisidian Antioch, τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Βαρναβᾷ, οἵτινες προσλαλοῦντες αὐτοῖς
ἔπειθον αὐτοὺς προσμένειν τῇ χάριτι τοῦ θεοῦ, Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue
in the grace of God (cf. also 11:23, παρεκάλει πάντας τῇ προθέσει τῆς καρδίας προσμένειν τῷ κυρίῳ, as an example
of Barnabas’ actions at Antioch in Syria). Barnabas and Paul encouraged the believers to remain committed
to Christ. The idea is not to remain loyal to a set of established Christian doctrines. It is far deeper than that as
11:23 and 13:43 illustrate. These believers had broken with their heritage and religious upbringing by becoming
Christians. They were paying a heavy price for it. Just as Paul had done earlier in Pisidian Antioch, now he and
Barnabas spend time giving encouragement to the believers -- both Jewish and Gentile -- in the churches of all
three cities to be consistent in their Christian commitment. Unquestionably this included explaining aspects of the
Christian religion that were not understood. But loyalty to God through Christ is at the heart of this encourage-
156 “In Derbe nothing special is recorded: the same process went on as in previous cases. Here on the limits of the Roman province
the Apostles turned. New magistrates had now come into office in all the cities whence they had been driven; and it was therefore possible
to go back.” [William Mitchell Ramsay, Sir, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen, 120.] Ramsay’s speculation that enough
time had passed for new magistrates to have assumed office who would not persecute Paul and Barnabas for re-entering these cities is
not based on anything that Luke says or implies.
157Acts 15:32. Ἰούδας τε καὶ Σιλᾶς, καὶ αὐτοὶ προφῆται ὄντες, διὰ λόγου πολλοῦ παρεκάλεσαν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ ἐπεστήριξαν·
Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers
Acts 15:41. διήρχετο δὲ τὴν Συρίαν καὶ τὴν Κιλικίαν ἐπιστηρίζων τὰς ἐκκλησίας. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening
the churches.
Acts 18:23. καὶ ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ ἐξῆλθεν, διερχόμενος καθεξῆς τὴν Γαλατικὴν χώραν καὶ Φρυγίαν, στηρίζων πάντας τοὺς
μαθητάς. After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening
all the disciples.
Luke 22:32. ἐγὼ δὲ ἐδεήθην περὶ σοῦ ἵνα μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἡ πίστις σου· καὶ σύ ποτε ἐπιστρέψας στήρισον τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου. but I have
prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
158 “ἐπιστηρίζω fut. ἐπιστηριῶ Ps 31:8; 1 aor. ἐπεστήριξα, 2 sg. ἐπεστήρισας Ps 37:3. Pass.: fut. ἐπιστηριχθήσομαι Judg 16:26; aor.
ἐπεστηρίχθην LXX, subj. 3 sg. ἐπεστηρισθῇ; pf. 3 sg. ἐπεστήρικται Jdth 8:24 v.l. (for-ισται); plpf. 3 sg. ἐπεστήρικτο LXX (s. στηρίζω;
Aristot. et al.; LXX) to cause someone to become stronger or more firm, strengthen, in our lit. of believers in connection with their
commitment and resolve to remain true, esp. in the face of troubles: τινά or τί the brothers Ac 11:2 D; cp. 18:23. Souls (=hearts as center
of personal feeling and psychic response) 14:22; congregations or churches 15:41. Abs. vs. 32 (sc. ἀδελφούς).—TW.” [William Arndt,
Frederick W. Danker and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed.
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 381.]
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