Acts 14 27

Acts 14:27 kjv

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.

Acts 14:27 nkjv

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.

Acts 14:27 niv

On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

Acts 14:27 esv

And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

Acts 14:27 nlt

Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too.

Acts 14 verses

Acts 14 27 Meaning

Acts 14:27 details the return of Barnabas and Paul to the Antioch church, their sending base. They gathered the congregation to report God's powerful work in their ministry, specifically emphasizing how He, not them, had opened an opportunity for faith among the Gentiles. This highlights God's sovereignty in expanding the early church beyond Jewish boundaries, establishing a key truth that salvation is offered to all who believe, regardless of their ethnicity or background. Their report centered on God's initiative and achievement, not their own endeavors.

Acts 14 27 Context

Acts chapter 14 concludes Paul's first missionary journey, undertaken with Barnabas. They had travelled through Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, encountering both immense success in converting Gentiles and severe opposition from resistant Jews, leading to stoning and expulsion in several cities. After establishing churches and appointing elders, they retraced their steps, strengthening the disciples. Verse 27 marks their final return to Antioch in Syria, the sending church from which their journey began (Acts 13:1-3). Their report at Antioch is a climactic summary of their entire mission, demonstrating the significant advancement of the gospel to the Gentile world, directly leading into the theological dispute of Acts 15 regarding Gentile circumcision.

Acts 14 27 Word analysis

• And when they were come (Greek: ἀφικόμενοι - aphikomenoi, "having arrived, having reached"): This signifies the completion of their journey and their safe return, a moment of deep satisfaction after facing perils and persecutions. It sets the scene for a formal and significant report.

• and had gathered (Greek: συναγαγόντες - synagagontes, "having gathered together, having assembled"): This points to the deliberate act of convening the entire assembly. The term synagō is related to "synagogue," but here it is used for the Christian "church" (ekklesia). It shows the importance of communal sharing and accountability in the early church.

• the church (Greek: τὴν ἐκκλησίαν - tēn ekklēsian, "the assembly, the congregation"): This refers to the local body of believers in Antioch, not a physical building. The Greek ekklesia literally means "called out ones" and signifies a gathering of people summoned for a particular purpose, in this case, a meeting of believers. It highlights the communal aspect of their missionary enterprise, which was supported by this specific body of believers.

• together (implied in συναγαγόντες, but can also denote collective presence): Emphasizes unity and shared experience among believers.

• they rehearsed (Greek: ἀνήγγειλαν - anēggeilan, "they announced, they reported, they proclaimed"): This is more than a casual recount; it's a formal declaration or proclamation of events, often used for significant news. It implies giving a detailed account and bearing witness to what had occurred, particularly the divine intervention.

• all that God had done (Greek: ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ θεός - hosa epoiēsen ho theos, "all things whatsoever God did"): This phrase is crucial. Paul and Barnabas are not reporting what they did, but what God did with them (met' autōn - "with them"). This firmly places the success, the conversions, and the entire missionary achievement squarely in the hands of divine agency. It avoids self-glorification and attributes glory to God, consistent with biblical theology where God works through His chosen vessels. It highlights their humility and God's sovereignty.

• with them (Greek: μετ᾽ αὐτῶν - met' autōn, "with them"): This small phrase denotes partnership. God was actively present, empowering, guiding, and achieving His purposes through them. They were instruments in God's mighty hands.

• and how he had opened (Greek: καὶ ὅτι ἤνοιξεν - kai hoti ēnoixen, "and that He opened"): This verb emphasizes a divine action. It signifies creating access, making something possible that was previously inaccessible or impossible.

• the door (Greek: θύραν - thyran, "a door"): This is a significant metaphor in the New Testament. It symbolizes an opportunity, access, or passage. In missionary contexts, it signifies a divine opening for the gospel to advance into new territories or among new people groups.

• of faith (Greek: πίστεως - pisteōs, "of faith, by means of faith"): This clarifies the nature of the "door." It's not a door to a new territory per se, but an access point into the sphere of salvation through faith. It specifies the condition of entry: believing in Christ. It emphasizes that salvation is received by faith, not by adherence to Mosaic Law or ethnic origin.

• unto the Gentiles (Greek: τοῖς ἔθνεσιν - tois ethnesin, "to the nations, to the Gentiles"): This is the capstone of their report. It's the groundbreaking, epoch-making aspect of their journey. For the early church, which was predominantly Jewish, the extensive conversion of Gentiles was astounding. It fulfilled Old Testament prophecies and decisively shaped the direction of Christian mission. It explicitly demonstrates that God's covenant blessings and salvation were never meant to be exclusive to Israel but were always intended to include "all the families of the earth."

• Words-group analysis:

  • "rehearsed all that God had done with them": This phrase emphasizes divine agency over human effort. The apostles' success was directly attributed to God's sovereign power, working through them. This practice served as an encouraging testimony for the sending church, reminding them that the work was God's and He was indeed accomplishing His will.
  • "opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles": This metaphor is foundational. The "door" represents a divine opportunity for the gospel. Its opening "unto the Gentiles" signifies the breaking down of the long-standing spiritual barrier between Jews and Gentiles. The phrase "of faith" underscores that entry into this new covenant community is by trust in Christ alone, not by adhering to ceremonial laws (like circumcision, a topic that would soon dominate the debate in Acts 15). This was a clear demonstration of God's inclusive plan of salvation.

Acts 14 27 Bonus section

• Antioch as a Missionary Hub: This verse underscores Antioch's role not just as a center of ministry for Jews and Gentiles, but as the launching point and receiving base for the first structured missionary journey, setting a precedent for organized outreach from a local church body.
• Preparation for Acts 15: The detailed report of Gentile conversions ("how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles") in this verse sets the stage for the crucial theological debate that ensues in Acts 15, addressing the terms of Gentile inclusion into the church (specifically, circumcision). It demonstrated a lived reality that the Jerusalem Council then had to address biblically and pastorally.
• Missionary Strategy Implied: This act of reporting reinforces the concept of missionary accountability and communal joy in gospel progress. The apostles shared their experiences not as solo achievements but as developments in which the whole church had a stake through their prayers and financial support.
• Focus on God's Agency: The recurring emphasis on "God had done" teaches an invaluable lesson: effective ministry and genuine conversions are ultimately the work of the Lord, not human charisma or strategic brilliance. Believers are simply instruments through whom He chooses to operate.

Acts 14 27 Commentary

Acts 14:27 provides a pivotal summary of the initial success of Gentile missions. Paul and Barnabas, demonstrating exemplary accountability, returned to their home church in Antioch to share not their achievements, but God's. The focal point of their report was the sovereign initiative of God in opening "a door of faith" to the Gentiles. This implies both a divine provision of opportunity for the gospel's reception and the means by which it is received – faith, independent of Jewish legal adherence. This statement powerfully confirmed that God’s salvific purpose was now fully extending to non-Jews, legitimizing and celebrating the radical inclusiveness of the burgeoning Christian movement, and preparing the way for further expansion and subsequent doctrinal discussions concerning the role of the Law for Gentile converts. It offers a blueprint for mission, always centered on God's work.