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Well, please turn with me in 
your Bibles to Acts chapter 14. Acts 14, we will conclude, God 
willing, the first missionary journey this morning. Our focus 
is on verses 19 to 28, but I want to begin reading in verse 8 in, 
I'm sorry, verse, yes, verse 8 in chapter 14. And in Lystra 
a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple 
from his mother's womb who had never walked. This man heard 
Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently 
and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud 
voice, Stand up straight on your feet. And he leaped and walked. 
Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their 
voices, saying in the Lycanian language, the gods have come 
down to us in the likeness of men. And Barnabas they called 
Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then 
the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought 
oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the 
multitudes. But when the apostles Barnabas 
and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among 
the multitude, crying out and saying, Men, why are you doing 
these things? We also are men with the same 
nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from 
these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the 
earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone 
generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless, 
He did not leave Himself without witness in that He did good, 
gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our 
hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings, they 
could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. Then 
Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded 
the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, 
supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered 
around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day 
he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached 
the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned 
to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 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. So 
when they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with 
fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had 
believed. And after they had passed through Pisidia, they 
came to Pamphylia. Now when they had preached the 
word in Perga, they went down to Adalia. From there they sailed 
to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God 
for the work which they had completed. Now when they had come and gathered 
the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, 
and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So 
they stayed there a long time with the disciples. Amen. Well, 
let us pray. Our Father in heaven, we thank 
you again for the written word of the living and true God. We 
thank you that you have given us these 66 books, and we acknowledge, 
and we see, and we marvel that they are given by inspiration 
of God. that they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 
correction, and for instruction in righteousness. And we pray 
this morning as we consider this passage that you would encourage 
our hearts, that you would strengthen us, that you would confirm us 
in the faith, and that you would cause us to bring glory and honor 
and praise unto you. As well, Father, for those who've 
come here this morning that are outside of Christ, those who 
are in unbelief, we pray that today would be the day of salvation, 
that through the power of your Holy Spirit and according to 
the written word, you would awaken dead sinners and cause them to 
see the glory of Christ, to believe on Him and to repent from their 
sins, and even now forgive us for all sin and transgression 
against a holy God. And please supply to us what 
we stand in need of, namely the Holy Spirit, to take these things 
and to make them lively and applicable in our own hearts and lives. 
And we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Well, 
as I said, we're gonna complete this section concerning the first 
missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. Now there's two Antiochs 
that are mentioned in this particular passage. They returned to Antioch 
in Syria. Remember that was the church 
that sent them out according to Acts chapter 13. There's another 
Antioch and that was in the region called Pisidia. And I'll try 
to make that clear as we move through the exposition this morning. But I wanna look at two things. 
First, the persecution in Lystra excuse me, in verses 19 to 20, 
and then the return to Antioch in Syria in verses 21 to 28. And I want to note, first of 
all, with reference to this persecution in Lystra, the arrival of the 
unbelieving Jews. Notice what we have there in 
verse 19. When Luke says Jews, he doesn't mean all Jews. He 
means the unbelieving Jews. He means those who have rejected 
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Certainly, many of the 
first converts, or all of the first converts, were Jews. This 
is not anti-Semitism, but it is rather Luke highlighting the 
first enemy of the Church of Christ was unbelieving Israel. 
As time moves on in history, we will see that the Roman Empire 
also becomes antagonistic toward the church. But initially, the 
chief persecutor against the church was unbelieving Israel. 
And so Luke mentions that here. He says, then Jews from Antioch 
and Iconium came there. And I want to encourage us to 
consider how committed the enemies of God are. and to encourage 
us to be equally committed as the friends of God. Consider 
that Pisidian Antioch was 80 miles from Iconium and Iconium 
was 18 miles from Lystra. So those unbelieving Jews from 
Pisidian Antioch traveled about a hundred miles to come to Lystra. And then you have the unbelieving 
Jews in Iconium that traveled just about 20 miles to get to 
Lystra. Why? So they can try and stop 
the spread of Christianity. I don't think we as God's people 
meditate on or consider or think through the reality of how opposed 
the enemies of God are to the gospel of free and sovereign 
grace. If you are not in tune with that, 
we encourage you to come to our prayer meetings on Sunday mornings, 
where we basically go around the world and hear various reports 
from various people that are being persecuted for the cause 
of God and truth. And we see the enemies of the 
Lord being sold out. We see a zeal among them. In 
fact, Saul of Tarsus was breathing threats and murder against the 
church prior to his conversion there in Acts chapter nine. And 
it really is something that we need to take into consideration, 
first of all, for our own prayer life, but then as well for our 
own protection. There is no evidence, at least 
at this particular time in Canada, that I can see that the nation 
is becoming more favorable toward Christianity. It may be the case 
that we ourselves face a degree of persecution, and we need to 
understand how committed the enemies of God are to the cause 
of God and truth. And as well, we should be equally, 
I would suggest more so, committed to that cause of God and truth 
in terms of its propagation and in terms of its advancement. 
So people from Pisidian Antioch traveled 100 miles, persons from 
Iconium traveled 20 miles to get to Lystra so they could stop 
the spread of the gospel under the preaching of Paul and Barnabas. 
Now that brings us to consider this stoning of the Apostle Paul 
in verses 20 to 21. Notice that the Jews persuaded 
the multitudes. We've already seen the opposition 
of unbelieving Jews in Pisidian Antioch in Acts chapter 13. We've 
seen the opposition of unbelieving Jews in Iconium here at the beginning 
of Acts chapter 14. And now they've come to Lystra 
to a people by and large pagan. We don't know that there were 
a lot of Jews in Lystra. We don't know that there were 
a lot of Jews that were listening to the preaching of Paul and 
Barnabas. So we suppose that they were Gentiles and of a pagan 
sort. And these unbelieving Jews come 
now and they persuade these persons to stone the apostle Paul. Why 
Barnabas wasn't stoned, I don't know. But Paul certainly fell 
prey to their murderous rage at this particular time. So the 
Jews ultimately prevail and the people along with the Jews stone 
Paul. Now this is an interesting contrast 
because in verse 18, the same people of Lystra were trying 
to offer sacrifice to the apostle Paul. They thought the gods had 
come down in the likeness of men. They thought that Paul was 
Hermes. They thought that Paul was Mercury, 
the messenger of the gods, and here they are bringing sacrifice 
to bow before him and to confess his divinity. Now on this hand, 
they are picking up stones to throw at him. Matthew Poole's 
comment is perceptive here. He says, the malice of Satan 
is every way great. If he cannot destroy the souls 
of these blessed apostles by making of them to accept of divine 
worship, he will do his utmost to kill their bodies. So one 
way or the other, Satan lashes out, whether it is to cause these 
men in pride to receive worship that is not due to them, or to 
have them targeted for destruction by murderous unbelieving Jews 
and murderous unbelieving Gentiles. Now, for those of us who have 
been present for the preaching of Acts, we have seen that this 
was announced by our Lord with reference to Paul's ministry. 
If you go back for just a moment to Acts chapter 9, Saul of Tarsus 
is converted, And we see the Lord Christ speaking to this 
man Ananias, telling him essentially to extend to Paul the right hand 
of fellowship. And in 9.15, the Lord said to 
him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before 
Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him 
how many things he must suffer for my name's sake. Brethren, 
that's the unfortunate reality that Paul will then preach in 
just a few moments, that we must, through many tribulations, enter 
the kingdom of God. In other words, it's not going 
to be the case that our lives, our pathway, our journey is going 
to be, you know, just marked with ease and comfort and joy 
and happiness. There's always a cross before 
the crown. Remember those sons of Zebedee 
who come jockeying for position when Christ says to them, you 
don't know what you are asking. You don't know about the baptism 
that I'm going to undergo. You don't know what it is to 
drink the cup that I'm going to drink. But in typical disciple-like 
fashion, we want all the blessings and all the gifts and all the 
crown that God has for us, but we don't want to undergo the 
suffering. We don't want to go the way that the Savior went. 
we would rather just sort of check out and have a life of 
absolute ease. Now, with reference to this stoning 
of the apostle Paul, notice what it says. It says, they persuaded, 
having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged 
him out of the city. I've already shown the contrast. 
On the one hand, in verse 18, they're trying to sacrifice to 
the apostle Paul. And now here in verse 19, they 
are persuaded by these unbelieving Jews. They take up stones and 
throw them at Paul. Well, if you think back to the 
ministry of our Lord Jesus, there were at least two occasions where 
that contrast was seen. In Luke chapter four, the Lord 
Christ goes into a synagogue on the Sabbath day in Nazareth. And he takes the prophet Isaiah, 
and he reads it, and he says, today this scripture is fulfilled 
in your hearing. And we see the response of the 
people in the synagogue. In Luke 4.22, it says, So all 
bore witness to him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded 
out of his mouth. And they said, Is this not Joseph's 
son? Then the Lord Jesus directed 
attention to God's sovereignty, God's election, God's predestination, 
God's justice. Well, how do you think the people 
responded at that point? In Luke 4, 28 and 29, it says, 
So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, 
were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust him out of the 
city. And they led him to the brow of the hill on which their 
city was built, that they might throw him down over the cliff. 
So on the one hand, he's got this gracious word flowing from 
his mouth until it's something they don't like. And once it's 
something they don't like, they turn on a dime and now they want 
to terminate him. Well, the same sort of contrast 
is seen in the passion. In Matthew 21, Jesus enters into 
Jerusalem. What do the crowds cry? Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the 
name of the Lord. They ascribe to Jesus the reality 
that he is the Davidic son. And a few chapters later, when 
Pilate asks, what do you want me to do with Jesus, your king? 
They cry out, away with him, away with him, crucify him. So you see, it's the same sort 
of thing. As the master, so the disciple. If the master is treated 
with abject contempt, then the disciples likewise will be treated 
with that same sort of contempt. So they stone Paul, and then 
they drag him out of the city, and notice the degree to which 
he's injured. It says, supposing him to be 
dead. J. A. Alexander says, this was 
not for burial, this dragging him out of the city. This was 
not for burial, but for exposure and to free the city from the 
impurity incurred by the presence of a corpse so odious, according 
to the notions both of Jews and Gentiles. Kids, I'm not sure 
that you understand what's happening here. Bad people took up big 
rocks and threw them at the Apostle Paul. That man we tell you ought 
to be your hero over any hockey player, over any entertainer. It ought to be the Apostle Paul 
that we are tutoring our sons and our daughters to look up 
to. But that Paul who we esteem so highly and so wonderfully 
is treated with this kind of barbarism in the city of Lystra. Why? Because he was there to 
do good to the souls of men. Again, I don't think we understand 
the rage and the enmity of those who oppose the truth as it is 
in Jesus. It's John chapter 3, isn't it? 
Christ tells us that men hate the darkness. They hate the light. They would rather dwell in the 
darkness and not come to the light, lest their evil deeds 
be exposed. That's what happens in the proclamation 
of the truth. And as a result, these unbelieving 
Jews instigate these Lystrans so that Paul is stoned. He's 
dragged out of the city, but then verse 20 starts with a however. We see God's purpose, we see 
God's plan, we see God's triumph, we see God's opposition against 
the opposers of God. Verse 20 tells us, however, when 
the disciples gathered around Him, most likely in shock, most 
likely with grief, most likely with great concern, most likely 
with a lot of tears because Paul had been stoned and the disciples 
are now over his, what they view or believe to be, his dead body. But what we find is that he is, 
when the disciples gather around him, he rose up and went into 
the city. Now, many of the commentators 
suggest that this was a miracle, that perhaps he had been dead 
and God raised him from the dead, or that he was seriously injured 
and that God, in a miraculous display of his power, raised 
him up so that he could continue in gospel ministry. Whichever 
it is, it encourages me to see As there is tenacity among the 
opposers of the gospel, there is tenacity among the friends 
of the gospel. You can't keep Paul down. Paul 
is God's man, and Paul is on a mission, and Paul ain't gonna 
quit. He rises up, and then he goes 
back into the city, and then the next morning he travels to 
Derby. Now, it's important that we understand 
how far Derby was, because I think it illustrates for us the reality 
of the tenacity and the commitment of the Apostle Paul. It's about 
a 60-mile trip. Now, remember, Paul doesn't have 
a Jetta. Paul doesn't have a train. Paul doesn't have a bus. Paul 
doesn't even have a burrow, most likely. Paul has his feet. And 
Paul then goes on for 60 miles to this next city of Derby to 
do what? To preach the gospel. And brethren, 
as he returns to the various cities, we need to remember that 
those various cities each contained a contingency of persons that 
stood in opposition to the Apostle Paul. So while the enemies may 
try their hardest to try and terminate and extinguish and 
liquidate the church of the living God, God has his men. God has 
raised up some with courage. God has raised up some that aren't 
craven over ease and comfort, but rather men that are committed 
to the proclamation of Christ and Him crucified. When we read 
accounts like this, it makes heads or tails out of the statements 
of the apostle in his writings. When he says, I determine to 
know nothing among you to the Corinthians except Christ and 
Him crucified, we're not shocked by that at all, are we? We don't 
say, what's he talking about? No, we see in the book of Acts 
his commitment. In Galatians 6, 17, he's referring 
to these particular events when he says concerning the Judaizers, 
from now on, let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the 
brand marks of Jesus. He speaks concerning this particular 
stoning in 2 Corinthians 11 and verse 25, where he is highlighting, 
in contrast to the super apostles that the Corinthians were somehow 
fawning all over, Paul says, look, I've been through all these 
sorts of things. I have gone through all of this 
torture, all of this punishment and pain. And it may sound like 
he's boasting in the context, but he's not. Paul knows that 
if the Corinthians listen to these fakes, then they will end 
up shipwrecked. As far as Paul is concerned, 
and this is absolutely correct, if they disavow Paul, they disavow 
his gospel. And that's why Paul, in 2 Corinthians, 
sounds like he's defending himself. He is because his defense of 
himself is the defense of the Christian gospel. And if the 
Corinthians turn back from that and they follow these men that 
are deceivers, these men that are messengers of Satan, then 
they will ultimately end up in hell. So these passages in the 
book of Acts validate or confirm or highlight for us what Paul 
will later write in his various epistles to the churches. That 
brings us to the return to Antioch in Syria. Again, this is not 
the Antioch in Pisidia, where these unbelieving Jews had traveled 
100 miles from, but they're going back to the church that sent 
them. Now, I will just say it would 
have been easy and it would have been quick to proceed east from 
Derbe to pass through Tarsus and to get back to Antioch in 
Syria with little to no problem whatsoever. But they had other 
concerns. They had other objectives. They 
had other mission instead of ease of passage to get back to 
their place of safety. In the first place, we notice 
what Paul does in verse 21 in terms of the preaching of the 
gospel. So as we move through this conclusion of the missionary 
journey, I want to look at, first, the preaching of the gospel, 
secondly, the strengthening of the disciples, third, the appointment 
of elders, and fourth, the journey to Antioch. That's why they take 
the longer route back. That's why they go in an indirect 
route, because they want to go back to the churches where they 
had made disciples, so that they could strengthen them, so that 
they can confirm them, and so that they can leave a preaching 
ministry in place for the maturation of God's people. Because that's 
always the purpose and plan. It's not just get them saved, 
but it's get them stabilized. It's get them persevering. It's 
get them enduring. It's get them in the fight and 
in the battle. It's get them going onward to 
Emmanuel's land in a way that is consistent with God's purpose 
and plan. That's what motivates, that's 
what activates the apostles in this instance. But notice in 
verse 21, and when they had preached the gospel to that city, Derbe, 
and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, 
and Antioch. So the Jews try to kill him, 
and God continues to bless his preaching. I could just hear 
Paul right now. I mean, not hear him audibly, 
but musing on this. Perhaps I shouldn't continue 
in this pathway. Paul was a man like other men. 
Paul asks for prayer that God give him boldness to speak the 
word as he ought, according to Ephesians chapter 6. Paul wasn't 
this native, macho, you know, guns blazing sort of a fellow. 
When you read 1 Corinthians, he highlights his unimpressiveness. He demonstrates just how unimpressive 
he is in terms of his role as an apostle with reference to 
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. You think it dawned on 
him to wonder, well, maybe I shouldn't continue on. Maybe I shouldn't 
persevere. Maybe I should go back. Maybe I should go lick 
my wounds. That's not Paul. He goes to Derby, 
he preaches the gospel, and God underscores the validity and 
the blessedness of his ministry by adding disciples to the church. John Calvin comments, it is also 
gathered what an invincible heart he, Paul, bear against all evils 
and afflictions. For he creepeth not into a corner 
where like an overworn soldier he may live idly, but he goeth 
to the same places where he was uncourteously and cruelly handled 
but a little before. And after he preaches the gospel 
in Derbe, as it says, they return to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. So the same way they had come 
is the same way they're going to return. F.F. Bruce makes this 
observation. He says, tribute must be paid 
to the courage of the two men. in returning so soon to Lystra, 
Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch, cities from which they had so 
lately been expelled with shameful brutality." Think about this, 
brethren, and I don't think any of us would ever have faulted 
Paul and said, yeah, just go past Tarsus, back to Antioch 
and Syria, and, you know, heal. There would be nothing wrong 
with that. In fact, ultimately, when they return to Antioch and 
Syria, they spend a long time there with the disciples. So 
it's not that it's never okay for a minister of the gospel 
to seek some respite. It's not that it's never okay 
for the disciples of Christ to come apart and rest a while. 
In fact, Jesus counsels that in Mark's gospel, Mark chapter 
5. It's not that it's never okay to run or flee from a city where 
there is intense or grievous persecution. It's not that it's 
not okay, but we see the tenacity of the Apostle Paul. In contrast 
to the tenacity of these unbelieving Jews, we have Paul determined 
to know nothing among men except Christ and Him crucified. Paul 
is a man worthy of our emulation, worthy of our imitation. Now 
notice, secondly, in terms of the conclusion of the missionary 
journey, the strengthening of the disciples. We see that in 
verse 22. First, there's this general sort 
of emphasis, or sort of a general statement or declaration, and 
then a specific exhortation given by Paul to the churches. But 
let's look at the general first of all. Verse 22, strengthening 
the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith. They strengthen the souls of 
the disciples. They're not medical doctors. 
They can't strengthen the bodies of the disciples. They're not 
the civil state. They cannot protect the physical 
bodies of the disciples, but rather they are ministers of 
the gospel. And so they have this capacity 
to strengthen the souls of the disciples. You see, strength, 
and exhortation, and perseverance, and endurance. See, brethren, 
we preach the gospel in the hopes that God will save sinners. But 
once sinners are saved, it's not the case that we're done. 
It's not that it's over. Remember, there's two legs with 
reference to the Great Commission. Go, therefore, and make disciples 
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. So you make disciples, 
and you baptize those disciples, and then teaching them to observe 
all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, 
even to the end of the age. So the proclamation of the gospel 
for the salvation of sinners is absolutely crucial. But the 
proclamation of the Word of God for the strengthening and for 
the confirmation and for the growth and perseverance of those 
saved sinners is absolutely crucial as well. That's why in 2 Timothy 
4, Paul tells Timothy, preach the word, be ready in season 
and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with 
all longsuffering and teaching. In other words, your job isn't 
done when the disciples are made. The job begins when the disciples 
are made, and that's the emphasis in our text. Strengthening the 
souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith. And that's repetitive in the 
book of Acts. Notice in Acts 11 at verse 23. 
Acts 11 and verse 23. When he came and had seen the 
grace of God, this is Barnabas, he was glad and encouraged them 
all that with purpose of heart, they should continue with the 
Lord. 1343, 1343, the city of Antioch. Now, when the congregation had 
broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul 
and Barnabas, who speaking to them, persuaded them to continue 
in the grace of God. So you see, brethren, it's not 
just our initial belief in the gospel. That is certainly crucial. That is certainly absolutely 
necessary. By the grace of God, we hear 
of our sin. By the grace of God, we look 
unto Jesus. By the grace of God, we believe 
on Him. And by the grace of God, we are saved. But as saved men 
and women, we need to continue. We need to persevere. I mean, 
I think at times we would love it to be converted and then drop 
dead and end up in the bosom of our Savior, wouldn't we? Just 
musing with one of the sisters in the prayer meeting this morning, 
you know, the thought of saying the last amen after my final 
sermon and then dropping dead sounds quite attractive to me. 
Not because I have a death wish, but I don't know what I'll do 
for 20 more years if God should sustain me beyond that. But you 
know, brethren, it isn't that way. We don't get what we want. 
God is the Lord. I preached recently from the 
sixth commandment relative to the sin of euthanasia. It's not 
in our prerogative to determine when our lives end. God the Lord 
is sovereign over all such things. And while it may seem attractive 
to believe the gospel with that thief on the cross, expire, and 
then end up in paradise on that day, that ain't the way it is 
for most of us. There is a time between our first 
coming to Jesus until that time we breathe our last. What are 
we supposed to do? Are we supposed to lounge around? 
Are we supposed to have less commitment to the gospel than 
the enemies of it do to its termination and destruction? Are we supposed 
to just relax and chill and just come what may? Or are we actually 
bound by 2 Peter 3, where we're called to grow in the grace and 
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Why don't we take 
that as a command? Why don't we embody that in our 
own lives? Why don't we see that that is 
achieved by us in this present evil age? Why would we miss the 
supper when the supper is given by the householder himself for 
the encouragement and the confirmation and the edification of his people? Why is it that we oftentimes 
betray less commitment to the gospel of our salvation than 
the enemies do to its destruction? Why is it the case that only 
the Apostle Paul is the sort of fellow that continues tirelessly 
and determined to know nothing among sinners except Christ and 
Him crucified? Brethren, there needs to be an 
emphasis on this aspect of church life, strengthening the souls 
of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith. Notice 
in 1532, Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, 
exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. 1541. And he went through Syria 
and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. 1823. 1823, after he had spent some time 
there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia 
in order, strengthening all the disciples. The Geneva Bible tells 
us, it is the office of the ministers, not only to teach, but also to 
confirm them that are taught and prepare them to the cross. 
See, brethren, that's crucial in church life. That is absolutely 
requisite in church life. Now, notice the specific exhortation. We see the general statement, 
strengthening the souls, exhorting them to continue in the faith. 
Notice the specific exhortation, which I guarantee you, nobody 
sat there dumbfounded saying, what's he mean by that? What's 
he talking about? Let no one trouble me, for I 
bear in my body the brand marks of Jesus. So if it was a miracle 
of God raising the apostle from the dead or close to death, he 
didn't scrub off all those brand marks. You still saw it in Paul. You still saw the effects of 
the stoning. So when Paul says, we must through 
many tribulations enter the kingdom of God, nobody's in the audience 
going, what's he talking about? It's written all over his body. 
They understand, they see, they know, they're able to interpret 
things correctly, but this is a very powerful statement that 
jives with the rest of the New Testament. We must, through many 
tribulations, enter the kingdom of God. That's the exhortation. You see the emphasis of our Lord 
Jesus Christ in both John 15 and 16. I mean, you see it all 
over in the preaching and teaching of our Lord Jesus. You see it 
in the Beatitudes. Blessed are you when men persecute 
you. What's he saying? What's he telling us? He's telling 
us that as we follow him, the people that hate him are gonna 
persecute us. It's really quite that simple. 
John 15, he tells them, the world's gonna hate you. They hated me, 
they're gonna hate you. John 16, 33, he says, in this 
world, you will have many tribulations, but be of good cheer. I've overcome 
the world. We see it in the emphasis of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. We see it in the experience of 
the church in the book of Acts. We don't see persecution until 
chapter 4, then we see it in chapter 4, we see it in chapter 
5, we see it in chapter 6, we see it in chapter 7, we see it 
in chapter 8, we see it in chapter 9, we see it in chapter 12. You 
see it consistently as the experience of God's people. It is the reality 
that as we live in this sin-cursed world, as sinners are opposed 
to our master, they're going to be opposed to us as well. 
Paul writes of his experience in the first missionary journey 
in 2 Timothy 3 at verse 11. And then he articulates the principle 
in 2 Timothy 3 at verse 12. He says, yes, and all who desire 
to live godly in Christ Jesus will what? They'll suffer persecution. Now, I don't think that means 
that every single moment of every single day is abject misery for 
the people of God. I don't think that. Paul says 
to the Philippians, I know how to abound and I know how to be 
abased. So there wasn't the constant 
abasement of the apostle. It wasn't the case that he never 
had a nice meal. It wasn't the case that he was 
always in a prison. But these things will happen 
to those who are in Christ Jesus. There will be a degree of persecution. And again, not a prophet, not 
the son of a prophet, but I would suspect you would all agree. 
What we see obtaining in the nation that we live in is not 
increased friendliness to the gospel. It is not increased friendliness 
to the law of God. It is not increased happiness 
at the presence of the people of God, but an increasing enmity. an increasing persecuting spirit. And when they finally figure 
out, hey, we can kill them, we can throw rocks at them, we can 
spit on them, we can destroy them in the way they used to 
in the old Roman Empire. Remember that? Could you imagine 
being a Christian in the Roman Empire? You think you have problems 
now? Being fed the lions was certainly 
one of the top 10 things that persons had issue with in the 
early centuries of the Christian church. Brethren, this may happen. Again, not a prophet, nor the 
son of a prophet, but this is a most important exhortation 
for the Church of Christ in this present age. We must, through 
many tribulations, enter the kingdom of God. Now, if you are 
not aware of what's happening throughout the world, then you 
should get aware. You should understand. You should know what 
brothers and sisters are going through. You should know about 
14-year-old Huma. You should know what's happening 
in China. You should know what's happening in Myanmar. This is 
a mandate from God as well in Hebrews chapter 13. We're supposed 
to remember the prisoners. See, life, I know this is a shock 
to most of us, goes beyond us. There is a whole big world out 
there. It's incredible. I know, it's 
amazing. It's just massive. There was 
this thing that came out this morning. I think some people 
call it the sun. It was gorgeous. It was awesome. You see, we get 
so tied to our own situations and to our own circumstances, 
we forget Cuma, we forget India, we forget Saudi Arabia, we forget 
the religion of peace vis-a-vis Islam is targeting for destruction 
people committed to the Prophet Christ. Brethren, these things 
ought not to be. Now that they do it, it's gonna 
happen. That we're neglectful of it, 
that we are negligent of it, that we are ignorant of it, we 
are not being faithful to the demands in Hebrews chapter 13. 
We need to remember the prisoners. We need to understand that we 
are chained with them. One part of the body suffers, 
all of the body suffers. Brethren, this is our reality 
today. Now notice in the third place 
on their return journey back to Antioch and Syria, they appoint 
elders. They appoint elders in the churches. 
Now in two weeks time, as Steve said, Pastor Mike and I are swapping 
pulpits. He needs to be out of town this 
week, so we're gonna switch next week. The following Sunday, I'm 
gonna preach a sermon on the qualification of elders. So we're 
not gonna spend a whole lot of time on verse 23, except for 
just a few general observations. Notice in the first place, they 
appoint elders for the ministry of the word in the churches. 
In other words, what does the church need? They need men to 
preach. They need men to teach. They 
need men that are faithful, that will take the Word and doctrine, 
and preach it to people, and apply it to people, and do that 
until they die. That's what the Church of Christ 
desperately needs. Now, when it comes to this particular 
verse, verse 23, so when they had appointed elders, as you 
might imagine, this word appointed has several different meanings. 
Not completely different, there's overlap to be sure, but it's 
caused no small debate concerning what's happening here. Did they, 
the apostles, just appoint these elders, or did the people in 
the churches identify men that the apostles should appoint? 
Well, as far as this particular verb in this particular text 
is concerned, it is a part of a larger swath of biblical teaching 
in the New Testament concerning the appointment of elders. And 
I think our confession of faith speaks to it beautifully. It 
says in 26.9, the way appointed by Christ for the calling of 
any person fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit unto the office 
of bishop or elder in a church is that he be chosen thereunto 
by the common suffrage of the church itself and solemnly set 
apart by fasting and prayer with imposition of hands of the eldership 
of the church if there be any before constituted therein. So 
as you can see, our confession, along with the rest of New Testament 
teaching, understands that in the churches in these cities, 
the people were involved. The people knew the men. The 
people offered up their names. You see that as well analogously 
in Acts 6 with the selection of those men to function as the 
first deacons. Choose from among you men full 
of the Holy Spirit, full of wisdom, who we may give charge to these 
things with reference to conduct in the life of the church. So 
the people identify, the apostles appoint. Now, there is an issue 
here that I think demands our attention. This wasn't a long 
time, was it? There wasn't 10 years. Doesn't 
Elder seem to assume somebody with some maturity? In fact, 
doesn't Paul tell us in 1 Timothy 3 at verse 6 that a bishop must 
not be a neophyte? A neophyte means a new convert. Well, here you have them passing 
through, preaching the gospel, making disciples, establishing 
churches, going on, and then coming back. Remember the dates 
of the first missionary journey. I'd love to ask, because I've 
said it over and over again. Yes, it was 47 to 48. So they 
are able to appoint elders in the churches in each of these 
cities on their return home. It really is an interesting observation. These men that had been appointed 
as elders hadn't been to seminary. They didn't have, you know, anywhere 
near the library that I've got. I've been blessed richly to have 
great resources. So how do we understand that? 
I would suggest, and I cannot speak ex cathedra, I'm not papal 
with reference to infallibility on this subject, but the context 
of the church and the particular situation of the man. It can 
be the case, and I don't want to sound foul or vicious or unkind, 
that a man could be a Christian for many, many years, but for 
whatever reason not have the maturity necessary to engage 
in eldership or have the gift of able to teach. Whereas you 
could have a relatively new convert in terms of time, in terms of 
chronology, in terms of the clock, but God has poured grace upon 
that particular individual. I think one illustration in history 
would be Charles H. Spurgeon. I mean, the guy was 
preaching as a late teenager. That's not normal. That's not 
the way it typically happens. But can God do that? Yes, he 
can. And in this instance, the missionaries, 
Paul and Barnabas, knew that we need to put a preaching ministry 
in place. Now, we learn from this as well 
that elders are not necessary for the being of a church. Notice 
that these churches were already constituted, if we can use that 
language. But they are helpful or necessary 
for the well-being of the church. You understand that distinction? 
Can a church function? Can Vernon be a church without 
elders? Yes, but you know what will be 
more better? I know that's terrible grammar, 
sorry. What will be most bestest will be when they have a man 
that is among them that labors in the word and in doctrine. 
That's the emphasis in scripture. And that's what the apostles 
do at this particular place. Now, notice they pray with fasting, 
consistent with the installation of these men. And then at the 
end of verse 23, it says, they commended them. Is it the elders 
or is it the church? I would suggest it's both. They 
commended them, elders newly appointed, churches having received 
these elders, they commended them to the Lord in whom they 
had believed. So now let me just draw this 
out. The fact that there is a church and the fact that there is elders 
doesn't necessarily mean their well-being. We need the commendation, 
or we need rather the Lord. We need to be commended into 
Him, the one in whom we have believed. He is the head of the 
church. He is the King of kings. He is 
the Lord of lords. He is the one that makes churches 
be well. And that's precisely what the 
apostles do in this particular instance. Now, As far as their 
journey back, verses 24 to 26, there are some additional cities 
visited on the way back. And after they had passed through 
Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. Now when they had preached the 
word in Perga, interestingly it was in Perga in Acts 13 where 
John Mark took off. It was in Perga where John Mark 
abandoned them, departed from them. This will be a problem 
for Paul and Barnabas at the end of chapter 15. When they 
go back out on the second missionary journey, Barnabas wants to take 
John Mark. Paul says, uh-uh, I don't want 
John Mark to go with us. He departed from us back in that 
first missionary journey. These men sharply disagreed with 
one another. They didn't punch. I don't think 
they punched. The text doesn't indicate whatsoever. 
I got the canons of Dort in my head. Wim shared that at the 
time of the canons of Dort, some controversy became so hot that 
two men challenged each other to a duel. And then they'd, I 
guess, finish writing the Confession of Faith. Well, thankfully, they 
walked off the ledge, they calmed down, they breathed, they thought, 
and they didn't kill each other over the writing of a Christian 
Confession of Faith. That's when theology mattered, 
brethren. That's when theology was the queen of the sciences. 
It's sort of lost that, at least with reference to the world and 
certainly in some parts of the church. But with reference to 
these additional cities, they go back to Perga and they preach 
there. And then they go down to Adelaide. 
and that's a port city, and in verse 26 we read, from there 
they sailed to Antioch. Again, not in Pisidia, Antioch, 
but in Syria. From there they sailed to Antioch, 
where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work 
which they had completed. Now, most of the Bibles that 
we have printed today have these interesting things at the very 
end that many of us don't even look at. They're called maps. 
And those maps typically include the missionary journeys of the 
Apostle Paul. So you can sort of follow right along in the 
geographical movement of these men as they canvass the then-known 
world with the message of Christ and Him crucified. Now, notice, 
verses 27 to 28 concludes the missionary journey as a whole. 
And it's the report given to the church in Antioch. Verses 
27 and 28. Now, when they had come and gathered 
the church together. But brethren, I think this is 
an important and vital element of church life. Certainly the 
stated meetings for corporate worship, Lord's Day morning, 
Lord's Day evening. I'm a big fan of the Wednesday 
night, certainly confession study, prayer meeting. But there are 
occasions where we have missionaries visit us, and there are occasions 
where we call the people of God to gather together to hear those 
missionary reports. That's something that encourages 
the people of God since the very outset of the Christian church. 
It's not something where we ought to have, you know, four people 
that show up and say, well, let's listen to this missionary. Now, 
I'm not trying to bind anybody's conscience. I'm not trying to 
nag you into attendance at the means. I'm just simply suggesting 
that as far as the history of the church is concerned, this 
is what Christians did. Somebody came from Timbuktu and 
they were going to present a missionary report. The church was gathered 
to hear that. Why? So we could fawn all over 
the missionaries? No. So we could glorify God. 
So we could praise and worship our great God. So that we could 
hear the wonderful works of our God. And that is precisely what 
Paul and Barnabas report at the gathering of this church. Notice, 
now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported 
all that God had done with them. Again, it wasn't their whammy. 
You know, I saw this cripple in Lystra and I slapped him on 
the forehead and he got up and ran and he walked. I just had 
the power coursing through my veins. You should have seen me. 
That's not Paul. What God did, God used Paul. God used Barnabas. God used them. 
Not only in the miraculous displays that we see in the missionary 
journey, but in the preaching of the word of God. Why were 
disciples made? Because Paul was so persuasive. 
If you ask him, he says, I'm not persuasive, but my preaching 
was in a demonstration of the Spirit and power. It was because 
the Holy Spirit was present that Paul's preaching was effectual, 
and Paul and Barnabas give all glory to God Almighty. They are not the sorts of men 
that we see often in the church that are taking glory for themselves, 
either for healing people or for getting people saved. The 
Lord then, according to the Apostles, had opened the door to the Gentiles, 
27C, and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 
We've seen that in our movement through the first missionary 
journey. You see it specifically there in Pisidian Antioch, when 
they take that passage from the prophet Isaiah and say, we're 
a light unto the Gentiles. But this is, as well, connective 
to what is going to follow. Acts 15, there's going to be 
a great issue that the church has to face. When Gentiles get 
converted, when they believe the gospel, is it necessary for 
them to be circumcised? So you see how Luke, the author, 
is putting this together in such a way that we see that tight 
connection, that we see that blessed sort of movement in terms 
of redemptive history. And then as I said, verse 28 
says, they stayed there a long time with the disciples. Not 
wrong whatsoever. Notice the goodness of the church. 
Now get back out there and get stoned again, Paul. Get back 
out there and take one for Jesus. They don't do that. These men 
needed to be refreshed. They needed to be helped. They 
needed to be nourished. They needed to be tended to. 
They needed to receive preaching. Remember the church in Antioch 
in Syria, Paul and Barnabas were two among many. The church in 
Antioch was stacked. They had a whole bunch of men. 
They had a whole bunch of prophets. So it wasn't the case, oh finally 
Paul's back, he can preach now. He's limping back after having 
been stoned in Lystra. Oh good, well we need you to 
pray. He probably stayed there a long while for the fortification 
necessary to engage in the second missionary journey. After that 
he probably took a respite or a time of rest so that he could 
continue on. in the third missionary journey. 
And then by the time we get to the book of Acts, at the end 
of the book of Acts, he's in prison. Certainly he would have 
been able to catch up on his sleep there prior to what some 
have deemed the fourth missionary journey. Not technically so-called, 
but when Paul is released in AD 62, he goes back out and he 
preaches the gospel more. Again, brethren, Paul is not 
a John Deere tractor. The brother needed rest in order 
to engage in the activities that God had called him unto. Well, 
in conclusion, I've got three thoughts, each with a few sub-points. So if you're rejoicing that we're 
almost done, give it about 10 minutes. First, the persecution 
of the church, and then you can rejoice. I'm not saying we're 
done in 10 minutes. Just kidding. First, the persecution of the 
church. Secondly, the proclamation of the church. And thirdly, the 
power of God in the church. I always think that Isaac is 
happy when I alliterate. First of all, in terms of the 
persecution of the church, sub point one, there is tribulation 
for the people of God. It may not be stoning in Lystra, 
it may not be stoning in Chilliwack, it may not be stoning in Abbotsford, 
but all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Calvin says, therefore, let the 
faithful think that they must pass through continual miseries. That done, let them prepare themselves 
not for one kind of persecution only, but for diverse kinds. 
For though God handles some men more courteously and gently, 
yet doth he pamper none of his so daintily that they are free 
from all tribulations. There may be some that get better 
treatment, but he doesn't so pamper any of us in a dainty 
way that we should think we'll ever be free from all persecution. With reference to the persecution 
of the church, we ought to as well, appreciate, not in a favorable 
way, but in the sense of consciousness, the tenacity of the enemies of 
God. In the first place, they are 
committed. Would you drive a hundred miles? 
Drive a hundred miles. Drive a hundred miles to church. Now some do, some go a long way. 
I've often thought, especially when I drive to Abbotsford or 
when I used to drive out to Langley, well, there's still people. Langley, 
my people come from Langley. There's people that come from 
without. But again, we're driving. These enemies of the cross walked 
100 miles to try and stop it. I can't stand the enemies of 
the cross, but I appreciate their tenacity, their commitment. And again, not like, I appreciate 
it, keep doing it. But there's something to be said 
about that kind of a spirit. They are, secondly, persuasive. They prevailed upon these multitudes. These persons that were going 
to sacrifice to Paul are now picking up stones to throw at 
Paul. They are persuasive. Brethren, 
that's why we need to know what we're talking about. Duh, I think 
the Bible says that isn't going to hold up in this generation, 
in any generation. If we are not, with the apostle, 
able to say to Felix's, Festus's, Feli and Festi, I am not mad, 
but I speak the words of truth and reason, we're gonna get obliterated. Now, God is sovereign, thankfully. Christ is building His church, 
thankfully. But that is never an excuse for 
ignorance on the part of God's people. It is certainly not an 
excuse for ignorance on the part of God's ministers. They certainly 
need to be men that labor hard in the Word and in doctrine. Thirdly, I would suggest, though 
the text doesn't tell us, but I'm going to spitball here, they're 
deceptive. They are deceptive. How do you 
turn a worshipper of Paul to a stoner of Paul? Probably by 
lying. Probably by saying things that 
are absolutely contrary to fact. Paul wants good for these people. 
Paul wants them to believe the truth. Paul wants them to stop 
worshipping these useless idols. He wants them to give up these 
vanities and come and serve the true and living God. How in the 
world could the Jews persuade them? by saying, oh, Paul, he's 
a money-grubbing pig, or Paul hates you, or Paul, he's trying 
to build his own kingdom. That's what the super apostles 
do in Corinth. In 2 Corinthians, as I said, 
the apostle has to defend himself against those very charges. Oh, 
Paul doesn't have time for you. Paul only wants your money. Paul's 
only about Paul. That's the kind of stuff that 
the enemies of the church do. How many times have we gotten 
reports? I mean, we just read one this morning. I happen to 
be the one that got it in Karnataka, India. You've got these Hindus 
who I thought were supposed to be peaceful. Isn't that kind 
of like their selling point? They bang tambourines and sing 
whatever it is they sing and shave their heads and look peaceful? 
I mean, that's what I always thought until I became a believer 
and I saw the viciousness and the enmity through the voice 
of the martyrs' prayer letters. Well, these Hindus come to this 
church in a small village in Karnataka, India, and they're 
trying to oppose. They're trying to shut them down. 
And then these guys, these Hindus, beat the children and they restrain 
the adults And then the cops come, and the cops are told that 
it was the Christians who had beaten the Hindus. Well, then 
finally it comes out, the Hindus say, well, no, it didn't really 
happen that way. So you know what the compromise was on the 
part of the cops? Well, we won't do anything then. Isn't that 
garden variety? Isn't that happen all over the 
place? Christians are walked all over, brethren. And again, 
I'm not suggesting we arm up and we ramble everybody that 
ever speaks a bad thing about Jesus Christ the Lord, but we 
need to be mindful of this. They are committed, they are 
persuasive, they are deceptive, and very often they are vicious, 
violent, and murderous. Why do you think they dragged 
him out of the city? Yes, Alexander's right, not to 
give him a proper burial, but for exposure. They supposed him 
to be dead. That was their end game. That was their goal. That was 
their desire. They didn't want him, according 
to verse 20, raise up, go into the city of Lystra again, and 
then leave the next morning, travel the 60 miles to Derbe, 
and then lift up his voice, spare not, cry aloud, and preach the 
gospel to sinners. That's not what they wanted. 
to terminate the Apostle Paul. 2 Timothy 3, his words. This is the last point with reference 
to the persecution of the church, the perseverance of the servants 
of God. Tenacity, courage, and perseverance of the Apostle Paul 
by the grace of God. 2 Timothy 3, 10 and 11, I quoted 
verse 12, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer 
persecution. But in verses 10 and 11, he tells 
Timothy, but you, have carefully followed my doctrine, manner 
of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, 
afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at 
Lystra. What persecutions I endured, 
and out of them all the Lord delivered me. Beautiful, isn't 
it? Paul endured, but it was God's deliverance. Paul endured 
because of God. Paul endured because of Matthew 
16. I will build my church, Jesus says, and the gates of Hades 
shall not prevail against it. Paul always understood that reality. God made him in a certain way, 
tenacious, courageous, zealous, diligent, all that. But any glory 
for the existence of Paul must go to God and not Paul. Secondly, 
the proclamation of the church. We notice in this first missionary 
journey the preaching of the gospel for the salvation of sinners. We had an old sermon on that 
in Acts 14.1. Remember, they so spoke that 
a great multitude believed. That is absolutely crucial, the 
proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of sinners. It's 
not going to happen apart from that. For since in the wisdom 
of the world, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased 
God through the foolishness of the message preached to save 
those who believe. God is absolutely sovereign. 
God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. God has engaged 
in this decree, this eternal decree. But God's equally ordained 
the means to arrive at the end. And one of those means is the 
proclamation of gospel truth for the salvation of sinners. 
But proclamation in the church doesn't end there. The preaching 
of the word for the edification and strengthening of saved sinners. That's a very important aspect 
of church life. And then a third thing relative 
to the proclamation of the church is the appointment of elders 
to carry on the apostolic tradition of preaching and teaching the 
word and doctrine. You see, that is no small concern 
of the apostles. When they go back through these 
cities, what do they do? They appoint elders. Why? Because 
you need the word. Yeah, you can read your Bible 
on your own and you should each and every day. Absolutely, positively. 
Please take this as a wonderful endorsement to that activity. 
There are men given by Christ to the church according to Ephesians 
chapter four. And these men given to the church 
by Christ are given for a specific purpose. In terms of the preaching 
ministry, 1 Timothy chapter three, as I said, we'll deal with that 
text in more detail in two weeks time. the Lord willing. But in 
1 Timothy 3, 2, there's one aspect of gift that an elder must possess. He must be able to teach. That doesn't mean he must be 
C. H. Spurgeon. That doesn't mean he 
must be A. N. Martin. That does not mean 
he must be the every Sunday preacher, morning and evening. But he must 
be able to teach. He must be able to articulate 
the truth to others. He must be able to explain the 
cross without the confusion of antinomianism or the confusion 
of legalism. He needs to be able to define 
Westminster's Shorter Catechism 33 relative to the Doctrine of 
Justification. He must be apt to teach. And 
elders aren't only apt to teach in terms of the public ministry, 
but what oftentimes is more difficult is in private ministry, dealing 
with the myriad of pastoral issues and concerns and questions that 
come up. Elders have to know Scripture! 
That's what Paul says. Paul says with reference to paying 
elders, that you pay those who labor in the word and doctrine. That's their function in the 
context of the church. And we see that emphasis in this 
first missionary journey. In Titus 1.9, the elder must 
hold fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may 
be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who 
contradict. So feed, teach, and preach to 
those who are with you and be able to refute those who aren't. 
John Calvin commenting on Acts 14.23 and the appointment of 
elders. He says, furthermore, this place teacheth that the 
church cannot want an ordinary ministry. That means it cannot 
lack it. That's crucial. And then he says, 
neither can any be counted Christians before God, but those who during 
their whole life are willing to learn. That's a powerful statement, 
but I think very obvious here in Acts 14. And the last statement 
or the last had terms of application is the power of God in the church. 
He spared and sustained his servants. Now, the only reason I don't 
lean toward a miraculous healing, and maybe I should, is typically 
when there is a miracle, it's conspicuous. In other words, 
when we see this man in Lystra who's crippled, it's a conspicuous 
act of God, and we see at times the pronouncement made in the 
name of Jesus, or with reference to the power of God. But either 
way, whether it's a miracle or not, what God does in raising 
up Paul, having been stoned in Lystra, and then marching to 
Derbe, and then heading back through these cities, that is 
God's grace. Brethren, we need that grace. 
Secondly, he provided for his churches. not money and not power 
and not prestige, but faithful men who would be able to preach 
and teach the word of God. That's God's power. As well, 
God confounded his enemies. Could you imagine traveling 100 
miles to kill somebody and failing? Now, I'm not trying to get into 
the mind of a criminal reprobate, but I think I'd be perplexed. 
Didn't we stone, didn't we drag him out of the city? Didn't we 
think he was dead? But he's lived to fight another day. Why? Because of the God of Israel. Beautiful. And then finally, 
with reference to not just this section, though we see it there 
in verse 21, but to the entirety of the first missionary journey. 
How is God's power displayed? He saves His people from their 
sins. God is merciful. God blesses 
the preaching of the gospel. God blesses the message concerning 
His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who lived, who died, and who 
was raised the third day, so that all who look to Him in faith, 
all who believe on Him, will have everlasting life. As our 
brother said, with reference to Paul in Athens, it wasn't 
like multitudes thronged the apostle to hear his preaching, 
but some did. In this first missionary journey, 
it wasn't like multitudes thronged to hear his preaching, but some 
did. And that's all glory given to 
God. It is the reality that under 
his blessing, sinners are saved. Well, let us pray. Father, we 
thank you for your Word, and we thank you for this time that 
we can reflect upon these things, and I pray that you would encourage 
us, that you would strengthen us, that we would understand 
the reality of tribulation and persecution associated with entrance 
into the Kingdom of God. Not as if it's a merit, not as 
if it's a credit, not as if it's a feather in our cap, but it's 
part and parcel of serving the Master. The Master who is hated 
in this world, his servants will certainly be hated as well. Father, 
encourage our hearts and strengthen us as individuals, as families, 
and as a church of Jesus Christ. And again, we pray for the various 
persons throughout the earth that are understanding Acts 14, 
22 in a way far more powerfully than we are. The reality that 
through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God. 
Be merciful to your people, strengthen them, grant them grace to persevere 
and to endure. And Father, be glorified in this. 
And we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen. We'll stand and 
close our service by singing number 568. 568.