Acts 15 41

Acts 15:41 kjv

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Acts 15:41 nkjv

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Acts 15:41 niv

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Acts 15:41 esv

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Acts 15:41 nlt

Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.

Acts 15 verses

Acts 15 41 Meaning

Acts 15:41 describes Paul's immediate missionary activity after separating from Barnabas, as he embarked on a journey through the regions of Syria and Cilicia, consistently working to establish and confirm the Christian churches in their faith and structure. This verse highlights his commitment to strengthening existing congregations amidst the challenges of false teachings and internal organizational needs following the Jerusalem Council's decisions.

Acts 15 41 Context

Acts 15:41 follows a pivotal moment in the early church: the Jerusalem Council, which settled the doctrinal dispute over whether Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:1-35). The council affirmed that salvation is by grace through faith. Following this, Paul proposed a new missionary journey, but a sharp disagreement arose with Barnabas over John Mark (Acts 15:36-40), leading to their separation. This verse immediately describes Paul's independent continuation of the mission, showing that despite personal conflict, the work of spreading and strengthening the gospel did not cease. Historically and culturally, Syria and Cilicia were significant regions where early Christian communities were established, often as a result of earlier evangelistic efforts by Paul and others (e.g., Antioch in Syria being a major Gentile Christian center, and Cilicia being Paul's home province). His decision to revisit these areas reflects a strategic focus on consolidating existing work and ensuring doctrinal purity after the council's decree.

Acts 15 41 Word analysis

• And he went through (Διήρχετο δέ, Diērcheto de):
  • Diērcheto is imperfect tense, indicating continuous, repeated action. Paul was not merely passing through but actively traversing these regions, suggesting a methodical and sustained itinerary.
  • This signifies Paul's immediate resumption of missionary work after the separation from Barnabas, showing unwavering dedication to the gospel.
• Syria (Συρίας, Syrias):
  • Refers to the Roman province of Syria, which included Antioch, a significant early Christian hub and the launching point for Paul's previous missionary journeys.
  • It indicates Paul starting from a well-established Christian center, from where the gospel had already radiated to surrounding areas.
• and Cilicia (καὶ Κιλικίαν, kai Kilikian):
  • Cilicia was a Roman province where Paul was born (Tarsus was its capital, Acts 22:3).
  • Visiting this region allowed Paul to consolidate the churches perhaps previously planted or visited by him earlier in his ministry (Acts 9:30). It might have been the first time Paul formally visited some areas of Cilicia in an organized apostolic capacity.
  • The focus on these two regions first, implies strategic attention to areas where Christian presence already existed but perhaps needed more robust foundational teaching or organization after the Jerusalem Council's resolutions.
• strengthening (ἐπιστηρίζων, epistērizōn):
  • From epistirizō, meaning "to make firm, to cause to be stronger, to confirm, to establish, to reinforce." It denotes active pastoral care, not just passive encouragement.
  • This term suggests building up the believers in doctrine, faith, resolve, and practical church life.
  • Given the context of the Jerusalem Council, this "strengthening" would include confirming the Gentile converts in the correct understanding of salvation by grace without the burden of Mosaic Law, and equipping them against false teachings from Judaizers.
• the churches (τὰς ἐκκλησίας, tas ekklēsias):
  • Plural, indicating multiple congregations or assemblies of believers. This highlights the early church's widespread growth and the need for ongoing pastoral oversight across different locales.
  • It underscores the nature of Paul's ministry: not just evangelism to unbelievers, but discipleship and pastoral care for established groups of believers, ensuring their stability and maturity.

• "And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches." (Phrase Analysis):
  • This phrase underscores Paul's resilience and singular focus on his apostolic calling. Despite the contentious separation from Barnabas, the mission continued without interruption.
  • It reflects the early church's commitment to consolidating new converts and planting churches into robust, theologically sound communities capable of enduring persecution and error.
  • This itinerary served to deliver the Jerusalem Council's decrees (Acts 16:4) to the churches in these regions, further establishing the unified doctrine and practices.

Acts 15 41 Bonus section

• This verse implicitly shows Paul's ability to maintain focus on his divine mission despite relational conflict (the split with Barnabas). The work of the Kingdom always takes precedence.
• The act of "strengthening" implies an organic process of growth where foundations are laid, then continually shored up. It wasn't enough to simply start churches; they had to be nurtured and discipled into maturity and stability.
• This journey established the pattern for Paul's subsequent missionary strategy: a combination of pioneering evangelism in new areas and follow-up, consolidation work in areas already touched by the gospel, often revisiting previous converts.
• Paul likely also disseminated the official letter and decrees from the Jerusalem Council to these churches during this visit (cf. Acts 16:4), further strengthening their adherence to unified apostolic doctrine. This unified instruction helped establish clear boundaries for Christian liberty for both Jewish and Gentile believers in practice.

Acts 15 41 Commentary

Acts 15:41 reveals Paul's immediate and strategic move following a significant personal and theological turning point. His journey through Syria and Cilicia, his home region, highlights his practical pastoral work. He was not merely a pioneer missionary planting new seeds, but also a skilled church builder, dedicated to nurturing existing congregations. The primary purpose of "strengthening" the churches was multi-faceted: affirming the Jerusalem Council's decision to clarify Gentile salvation by grace, reinforcing doctrinal truth, nurturing the spiritual growth of believers, and potentially organizing their structure with elders where needed. This vital task ensured the resilience and sound theological footing of these early communities, guarding them against internal discord and external heresies. It exemplifies that missionary success isn't just about conversions, but about discipleship and equipping believers to stand firm in their faith and grow together.