And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches, commanding them to keep the precepts of the apostles and the ancients.
διηρχετο δε την συριαν και κιλικιαν επιστηριζων τας εκκλησιας
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Look at Paul’s wisdom. He does not set out for other cities before visiting those that had already received the word. “And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” It would not have been wise to walk about in vain. Let us also act in the same way. Let us first instruct those who came earlier, so that they do not become an obstacle to those who follow.
Before going to other cities, he visits those that had already received the word of God. We act in the same way. We first instruct the first people, so that they may not become an obstacle to the instruction of those who follow.
After spending some time in the Church of Antioch, Paul and Barnabas decided to visit the churches they had founded during their first journey, and then to extend their activity still farther.
Barnabas again wanted to take his nephew Mark with him. But Paul did not agree. He could not forgive Mark for allowing attachment to his homeland to overcome in him the sense of his calling to the service of the Lord.
Paul considered someone who was not ready to sacrifice everything to Him unworthy of this calling. In the present case, the zeal of Paul's character was revealed. Where the demands of God's calling were concerned, Paul denied all personal and natural feelings in himself, and he wanted the same in others.
Barnabas's condescension toward Mark may have arisen from the special gentleness of his Christian character. Or it may have come from the first stirrings of love for a relative, not yet fully overcome by the power of the Christian spirit.
That such human relations could still exert considerable influence on Barnabas is shown by his conduct in Antioch in the presence of Peter and Paul (Gal 2).
However it may have been, this momentary disagreement became the occasion for a division between two men who until then had acted together in the service of the Lord.
The result of the division between Paul and Barnabas was that a new sphere of activity was added for the sake of the Gospel. From that time, Barnabas formed a defined sphere for himself. He went first with Mark to his homeland, Cyprus, and then probably to other places for preaching.
That Barnabas was not inactive in spreading Christianity can be inferred not only from his former activity. It is also proved by the fact that Paul, long after this event, points to him as a man known for his ceaseless activity in preaching the Gospel (1 Cor 9:6).
Paul's severity toward Mark could also have been useful for Mark himself. It had to bring him to consciousness of his fault, and later he showed himself faithful to his calling.
Finally, this division was only temporary. Later we see Paul, Barnabas, and Mark again closely united among themselves, though from this time Barnabas seems to have had a separate and independent sphere of activity.
In his place, Paul took as his companion Silas, or Silvanus, who had been sent from the Church of Jerusalem to Antioch with the epistle.
Barnabas, invited as a companion, wanted to take John Mark with him. But the Apostle Paul did not wish to deem worthy as his companion a man who, during the first journey, after several labors, had withdrawn from the other preachers.
Mark had not continued to go with them to the work for which they had been sent (Acts 13:13). From this came an offense between Barnabas and Paul, so that they parted from one another.
Barnabas took Mark and sailed to his homeland, Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and directed his way through the Churches in Syria and Cilicia.
"He went through Syria and Cilicia." As Barnabas went to his homeland, Cyprus, so Paul went to his homeland, Cilicia. Then each, together with his companions, undertook journeys farther on.
The historian of Acts relates only the journey of Paul, with whom he was joined during this journey (Acts 16:10).
"Strengthening the churches" is a general feature by which all the activity of Paul and Silas in these Churches is characterized. In particular, it may signify their activity in pacifying these Churches, in the sense of the decrees of the apostolic council, after they had been disturbed by the Judaizers (cf. v. 32).
The Apostle Paul undertook the so-called second great apostolic journey with Silas. Silas, as though intentionally, did not return to Jerusalem, in order to be with Paul. Paul's inspiration and the greatness of his struggle had drawn him to himself with all his soul.
The Church of Antioch, as before, blessed him for the holy work, entrusting him to the grace-filled guidance of the Spirit of God.
So he successfully passed through Syria and Cilicia. Everywhere he strengthened the faithful and established the order of the Church in every respect. In this way he built up and guided the young Churches toward their further growth.
"See the wisdom of Paul," says Saint John Chrysostom. "He does not go to other cities before visiting those that had already received the word. He is constantly watchful and concerned. He does not remain in one place, though he is exposed to many dangers.
"Like a physician, he went to the sick. He departed after being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. What does this mean? That they prayed and entreated God. See how much the prayer of the brethren can always accomplish.
"Then he went on foot, wishing to benefit on the way those who saw him. This was prudent. When they were in haste, they sailed. But now it was not so."
"As Barnabas first went to his homeland, Cyprus, so Paul went to his homeland, Cilicia, to Tarsus. Then each of them, together with his fellow workers, undertook the journey farther. The historian of Acts then relates only the journey of Paul, with whom he was joined during this journey."
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 10 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS