Paul's First Missionary Journey - The Return to Antioch; Acts 14:21 – 28 Part 1

Church History: 21They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, 25and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Paul and Barnabas continued their ministry after encountering severe opposition and attaches from their oppressors. Paul was stoned and left for dead, but miraculously recovered. They attached Paul rather than Barnabas, because Paul, being the chief speaker, upset them more than Barnabas did. The people were incensed by Paul; not by any injury they pretended he had done them, but there came certain Jews from Antioch, hearing, it is likely, and irritated to hear about the respect that was shown to Paul and Barnabas at Lystra; and they incited the people against them, as factious, seditious, dangerous persons, not fit to be harbored. This shows how bad the rage of the Jews was toward the gospel of Christ; they could not bear that it should have footing anywhere. It is good to note how he was delivered by the power of God: When he was drawn out of the city, the disciples stood round about him. It seems there were some here at Lystra that became disciples, that found the mean between deifying the apostles and rejecting them; and even these new converts had courage to help Paul when he was down, though they had reason enough to fear that those that had stoned Paul would stone them for helping him.