…they went down to Attalia, and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled…
Acts 14:24-28
After establishing churches, appointing elders and leaders and, committing them to the Lord on their missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas return to the church that had commissioned them as missionaries, Antioch in Syria. On their way to the sea port at Attalia, in the region of Pamphylia, they preached the gospel message in Perga, also in Pamphylia. Scripture does not reveal much to us about Perga. But, what is revealed, in Revelation 2:12-17, is that a church was established there and our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ commended the church at Pergamum, another name for Perga, for its faith in the face of great persecution as the church there was in the seat of Satan’s throne. Jesus spoke to the Apostle John, while on the exile isle of Patmos, telling him to write to seven churches and Pergamum was one of those churches. But, Jesus also told the Christians at Pergamum that they believed in false teaching that the Nicolaitans were teaching. Jesus commanded them to repent. From Attalia, Paul and Barnabas sailed, returning to the church in Antioch and, gathering the church together, they reported all that the Lord had done during their travels. The “door of faith” had been opened by the Lord for the gospel to go to the Gentiles, fulfilling what Jesus had told Saul, at his conversion, that he would be His disciple to the Gentiles. Luke tells us that Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch for quite some time. Christians who support other Christians to go to a mission field expect a report of that mission work from time to time. However, the “mission field” for all Christians is their very own neighborhood. That work of the early church is often overlooked by Christians who read the Scriptures. The early church continued to increase by telling the gospel message to their neighbors, friends and, relatives, even after Paul and Barnabas departed from them. We know that from the letters of Paul, Peter, John and other Holy Spirit inspired writers of New Testament books. Christians today face the same “mission field.” Let us be bold in our faith to tell all who will listen about the salvation found only in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Source: S C Ball July 6, 2023
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