Acts 14:26 kjv
And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
Acts 14:26 nkjv
From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
Acts 14:26 niv
From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
Acts 14:26 esv
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 14:26 nlt
Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed.
Acts 14 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 13:1-3 | ...separate unto me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. | The initial sending forth of Paul and Barnabas. |
| Acts 14:27 | And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. | Their report back to the sending church upon return. |
| 1 Cor 15:10 | But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God with me. | Grace as the enabling power for ministry and labor. |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. | God's grace provides all sufficiency for good works. |
| Eph 3:7-8 | Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power... | Paul's ministry is a gift of God's grace, empowered by Him. |
| Col 1:29 | Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. | Ministry empowered by God's energy working within. |
| Php 2:13 | For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. | God is the source of desire and ability for His work. |
| Jn 4:34 | Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. | Christ's example of fulfilling the work assigned by God. |
| Jn 17:4 | I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. | Jesus completes the work given by the Father. |
| 2 Tim 4:7 | I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. | Paul reflects on successfully completing his assigned mission. |
| Col 4:17 | And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. | Exhortation to fulfill one's ministry. |
| Rom 10:15 | And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! | The necessity of being sent to preach. |
| Titus 2:11 | For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. | Grace as the source of salvation, foundation for all work. |
| Acts 20:24 | But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus... | Paul's commitment to complete his Spirit-given ministry. |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. | God's grace is sufficient for ministry, especially in weakness. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God... that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ. | All ministry flows from the manifold grace of God. |
| Heb 13:20-21 | ...make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ... | God equips and works in believers to do His will. |
| Isa 48:17 | Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. | God guides and leads His servants in their path. |
| Ps 37:23 | The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. | God directs the steps of His faithful servants. |
| Mt 28:19-20 | Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost... | The Great Commission, empowering believers for gospel work. |
| Lk 24:49 | And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. | Disciples empowered by the Spirit for their mission. |
| Phil 1:6 | Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. | God completes the work He starts. |
Acts 14 verses
Acts 14 26 Meaning
Acts 14:26 details the conclusion of Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey. Having sailed from Attalia, they returned to Antioch in Syria, their commissioning church. This verse emphasizes their successful completion of the ministry assigned to them, recognizing that it was accomplished through the grace of God that had empowered and sustained them from the very outset of their mission. It underscores divine enablement for gospel work.
Acts 14 26 Context
Acts 14:26 marks the concluding point of Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey. Chapters 13 and 14 chronicle this extensive expedition. They began their journey from Antioch in Syria (Acts 13:1-3), ministered in Cyprus, then traveled to various cities in Asia Minor including Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, encountering both receptivity and intense persecution. After establishing churches, appointing elders, and strengthening believers (Acts 14:21-23), they retraced their steps, passing through Attalia (Acts 14:25), where they sailed back to their home base in Syrian Antioch. This return to their sending church was crucial, serving as an accountability measure and a testament to God's faithfulness in their endeavors, preceding their detailed report to the assembled church in the very next verse.
Acts 14 26 Word analysis
And thence sailed: (Greek: ἀναπλεύσαντες - anapleúsantes) Meaning "having sailed back" or "having sailed up." This indicates a journey by sea, a practical means of return after completing their circuit through inland cities and arriving at a coastal port (Attalia in Acts 14:25). It marks the transition from active itinerancy to journey's end.
to Antioch: This refers specifically to Antioch in Syria (also known as Syrian Antioch), not Antioch in Pisidia. Syrian Antioch was the critical launching point for Gentile missions, distinct from Jerusalem. It was their home church, the community that commissioned them (Acts 13:1-3), signifying the accountability of missionaries to their sending body.
from whence: This emphasizes Antioch as the specific origin point of their missionary call and commissioning.
they had been recommended: (Greek: παραδεδομένοι - paradedomenoi) A past perfect passive participle of paradidomi, meaning "to hand over," "entrust," or "commit." It signifies a prior, completed action where they were formally presented or entrusted by the church. This was not a casual departure but a deliberate act of the Spirit-led church to send them out for specific work, implying spiritual endorsement and support.
to the grace: (Greek: χάριτος - charitos) From charis, meaning "unmerited favor," "divine enablement," "strength," or "power." It underscores that their mission and ability to fulfill it were not based on their own strength, wisdom, or effort, but solely on God's gracious provision and empowering presence.
of God: Explicitly attributes the source of this grace and the overall mission's success to the divine.
for the work: (Greek: ἔργον - ergon) Referring to their divinely appointed task or mission. This encompassed preaching the Gospel, establishing churches, strengthening disciples, and appointing elders—the comprehensive missionary enterprise.
which they fulfilled: (Greek: ἐπλήρωσαν - eplērosan) From plēroō, meaning "to fill," "complete," "bring to full measure," or "accomplish." This signifies that Paul and Barnabas successfully brought their designated mission to its intended conclusion. It implies faithfulness, diligence, and effectiveness in carrying out the specific calling they had received from the Holy Spirit and through the church.
Words-group Analysis:
- "recommended to the grace of God": This phrase encapsulates the spiritual nature of their sending. It highlights that the church entrusted them not merely to human support, but fundamentally to God's divine favor and enablement. This grace was the essential resource for their demanding ministry, a core theological underpinning for all true ministry.
- "for the work which they fulfilled": This pairing signifies divine calling and human accomplishment, both facilitated by grace. The work was specific, God-ordained, and successfully brought to fruition, emphasizing both the purposeful nature of the mission and the diligence of the missionaries in its completion.
Acts 14 26 Bonus section
The journey concluded in Acts 14:26 was significant because it marked the first extensive outreach of the Gospel directly into Gentile lands by Apostle Paul and Barnabas. This paved the way for subsequent journeys and affirmed God's intention for salvation to extend to all peoples, directly challenging existing Jewish exclusive mindsets. The specific mention of sailing implies efficiency and strategy in their travel plans, showcasing a pragmatic approach to mission that utilized available transport methods. This verse implicitly points to the foundational importance of a home church (Antioch) as a center for commissioning, prayer support, and ultimately, accountability and debriefing. The fact that the missionaries returned to report (detailed in Acts 14:27) emphasizes the ongoing partnership between those sent and those who send, vital for both spiritual and strategic health in mission.
Acts 14 26 Commentary
Acts 14:26 serves as a quiet but profoundly significant bridge, marking the culmination of Paul and Barnabas’s pioneering missionary endeavor. Their return to Antioch, the sending church, underscores several vital principles for Christian mission. Firstly, it highlights the corporate nature of missions; Paul and Barnabas were not isolated evangelists but emissaries of a specific local body, accountable to it. Their original commissioning (Acts 13:1-3) laid this foundation, and their return for reporting reinforces the symbiotic relationship between missionaries and their home church. Secondly, the phrase "recommended to the grace of God" reveals the ultimate source of success in ministry. It acknowledges that human effort, while essential, is utterly dependent on divine enablement. Their perilous journeys, the establishment of new churches amidst opposition, and the enduring fruit of their labor were not achieved through personal prowess, but by the overflowing and sustaining charis (grace) of God. This divine grace encompasses not just saving grace, but also empowering grace for service. Lastly, "for the work which they fulfilled" signifies successful completion and faithful stewardship. It was a defined mission with a beginning and an end, executed diligently and brought to its appointed conclusion. This verse sets a pattern for missionary endeavors: divine calling affirmed by the church, journey empowered by God's grace, and return with a report of the accomplished work. It's a testament to a complete ministry cycle, from sending to successful fulfilling, all credited to God.