Acts 14:22 kjv
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:22 nkjv
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."
Acts 14:22 niv
strengthening 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.
Acts 14:22 esv
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:22 nlt
where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
Acts 14 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 10:22 | And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. | Enduring hatred for Christ |
| Rom 5:3-5 | More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame… | Suffering produces endurance and hope |
| 2 Cor 11:23-27 | Are they servants of Christ?... I am more: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death... in much endurance, in tribulations... | Paul's own experience of great tribulation |
| Phil 1:29-30 | For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had… | Suffering for Christ is a granted privilege |
| 1 Pet 4:12-13 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings… | Expect and rejoice in suffering |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. | Godly living invites persecution |
| Jn 16:33 | I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” | World brings tribulation, Christ brings peace |
| Heb 10:32-34 | But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings… you yourselves became partners with those so treated… you joyfully accepted… | Early believers endured suffering joyfully |
| Rev 7:14 | They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. | Salvation for those out of great tribulation |
| Rom 8:17 | and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. | Suffering with Christ for glorification |
| Jas 1:2-4 | Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect… | Trials produce steadfastness and maturity |
| Col 1:24 | Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church… | Paul's sufferings benefit the church |
| 1 Thess 3:2-4 | so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer… | Affliction is a destiny for believers |
| Mt 7:13-14 | “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction… For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” | Narrow and hard path to life |
| Lk 9:23 | And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” | Deny self, take up cross daily |
| 2 Cor 4:8-10 | We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus… | Persecution but not destruction |
| 2 Tim 2:12 | if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us… | Endurance leads to reigning with Christ |
| Heb 12:1-3 | Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin… let us run with endurance the race… fixing our eyes on Jesus… | Run with endurance, focus on Jesus |
| Ps 34:19 | Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. | Righteous face afflictions, God delivers |
| Isa 43:2 | When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned… | God's presence in tribulation |
| Mk 8:34 | And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” | Discipleship involves self-denial and cross |
Acts 14 verses
Acts 14 22 Meaning
Acts 14:22 explains that Paul and Barnabas were strengthening the disciples' souls and encouraging them to persevere in the faith, for it is through many tribulations that believers must enter the Kingdom of God. This verse underscores the divine necessity of enduring hardships as part of the path of faithfulness to Christ and participation in His kingdom.
Acts 14 22 Context
Acts chapter 14 describes the continued missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas to Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. In Iconium, they proclaimed the Gospel with power but faced opposition from unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, leading to an attempt to stone them (Acts 14:1-7). They fled to Lystra where Paul healed a crippled man, causing the crowds to mistake them for gods, Zeus and Hermes, and attempt to offer sacrifices to them (Acts 14:8-13). Paul and Barnabas vehemently rejected this, redirecting the worship to the living God (Acts 14:14-18). However, agitators from Iconium and Antioch soon arrived, stirred up the crowds, and stoned Paul, dragging him outside the city, supposing him to be dead (Acts 14:19). Miraculously, Paul recovered and the next day departed with Barnabas to Derbe (Acts 14:20). After successfully evangelizing in Derbe and making many disciples, they courageously chose to retrace their steps back through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (Pisidia) where they had faced severe persecution (Acts 14:21). Verse 22 describes the purpose of this return: to strengthen and encourage the new converts despite the danger. This verse directly follows Paul's experience of being stoned, giving a powerful real-life context to the "much tribulation" they were speaking of.
Acts 14 22 Word analysis
- strengthening (ἐπιστηρίζοντες, epistērizontes): Present active participle from epistērizō. From epi (upon) and stērizō (to make firm, to establish, prop up). It signifies more than just a passing encouragement; it means to firmly establish, confirm, or stabilize someone in their conviction and resolve. This was a continuous action, emphasizing a deepening of spiritual foundation. It reflects a pastoral act of discipleship, rooting new believers in the truth.
- disciples' souls (τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν μαθητῶν, tas psychas tōn mathētōn):
psychas(souls) refers to the inner life, the very core of a person, their mind, will, and affections. It's about confirming their inner conviction and spiritual resolve. It suggests establishing the whole person in their commitment to Christ, not merely giving external instructions. - and exhorting them (παρακαλοῦντες, parakaloúntes): Present active participle from parakaleō. Meaning "to call alongside," "to appeal to," "to comfort," or "to encourage." This highlights a loving, comforting, and motivating aspect of their ministry, alongside the more structural "strengthening." It was both an invitation and an admonition to constancy.
- to continue (προσμένειν, prosmenein): Infinitive from prosmenō. Meaning "to remain in, to persist in, to adhere to." It emphasizes steadfastness and perseverance, suggesting a call to resist any temptation to abandon their newfound faith despite external pressures. It's an active and enduring commitment.
- in the faith (τῇ πίστει, tē pistei):
pisteirefers not merely to intellectual assent, but to active trust, faithfulness, and allegiance to Christ and the doctrines received. It means remaining loyal and constant in their belief and walk with God. - that through many tribulations (διὰ πολλῶν θλίψεων, dia pollōn thlipseōn):
dia(through) indicates the path or means.pollōn(many) emphasizes the abundance and varied nature of these trials.thlipseōn(tribulations) from thlipsis, which literally means a "pressing" or "squeezing," metaphorically denotes distress, affliction, oppression, and suffering. It's not just discomfort but genuine hardship, echoing Paul's recent stoning. This highlights that suffering is not an exception but an integral, Divinely purposed experience for believers. - we must enter (δεῖ ἡμᾶς εἰσελθεῖν, dei hēmas eiselthein):
dei(it is necessary, must) expresses a divine, fixed necessity or inevitability. It's God's appointed way.hēmas(us/we) indicates Paul and Barnabas are including themselves, not just the disciples, in this statement, reinforcing its truth by their own example.eiselthein(to enter) denotes entry into. - the Kingdom of God (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, tēn basileian tou theou): Refers to God's sovereign reign and the spiritual sphere where His will is done. This "entry" has both a present spiritual reality (entering into a relationship with Christ and His rule) and a future consummation (full participation in His eternal kingdom). The statement connects enduring suffering directly to experiencing and inheriting the fullness of God's reign.
Acts 14 22 Bonus section
The journey backward through recently persecuted cities (Lystra, Iconium, Antioch) to establish the disciples demonstrates incredible courage and selfless dedication from Paul and Barnabas. This act itself is an embodied commentary on "much tribulation" – they are walking the talk, showing by example that fear should not dictate the ministry or the Christian life. Their willingness to return to the very places where they faced stoning and attempted stoning highlights their priority for pastoral care and discipleship over personal safety. This strategic and daring return underscores the apostolic conviction that the spiritual stability of new converts was paramount, even more so than immediate missionary expansion into new, untouched regions. This shows that solidifying the foundations of existing believers is a crucial aspect of advancing the Kingdom of God. The instruction given is therefore not abstract theology but a lived reality, deeply integrated into the pattern of Christ's suffering for the sake of the Kingdom.
Acts 14 22 Commentary
Acts 14:22 serves as a pivotal theological statement for the nascent Church, delivered by apostles who had just intimately experienced the very tribulation they proclaimed. Having recently faced stoning and near-death, Paul and Barnabas retraced their dangerous path not to escape further suffering, but specifically to establish and embolden new believers in the truth. The word "strengthening" indicates a deliberate pastoral act to fortify the internal convictions of these converts. The core message is that "through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God." The use of "must" (Greek dei) indicates a divine, immutable necessity, not a casual or optional path. This means suffering is not merely a consequence of discipleship but is divinely ordained and inherent to the experience of God's Kingdom on earth and its ultimate full realization. It clarifies that true faith and allegiance to Christ often lead to opposition from a world resistant to God's reign. This understanding fosters resilience and sets proper expectations for believers, transforming suffering from an unexpected misfortune into a sign of authenticity and participation in the divine drama.
- Example for Practical Usage:
- A believer facing ostracism for their faith at work remembers this verse, finding courage that their difficulty is not a sign of God's displeasure, but a part of the expected path towards deeper experience of His Kingdom.
- A youth group leader, whose members are ridiculed for their beliefs, teaches from Acts 14:22, preparing them to view such trials not as obstacles, but as validating experiences that confirm their entry into a deeper, more committed walk with Christ.