Complete God's Work!

First, it is to preach the gospel.  (Acts 14:21a) “After they had preached the gospel to that city”

God’s work is to preach the gospel.  But as we do this, there is Satan’s work as well.  And the Satan’s work is to continually go against the gospel and those who preach the gospel.  Satan used “the Jews who refused to believe” (v.2) to go against Paul and Barnabas.  Not only the Jews planed to stone Paul and Barnabas to death in Iconium but also in Lystra as well since Paul and Barnabas ran away from Iconium.  You see, this is the continuous work of Satan in going against the gospel and the preachers.  Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over(v.19).  They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.  But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.  And the next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe and preached the good news in that city  ...(vv.20-21).     
        
Second, it is to make many disciples.  (v.21b) “…and won a large number of disciples …”

Paul and Barnabas went to Derbe and preached the gospel.  As a result, they won the large number of disciples. This fact tells us that although there is continual work of Satan against the gospel and the preachers like Paul and Barnabas, the God’s work is much stronger and greater. Satan cannot overcome God.  Paul and Barnabas were obedient to Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”.

Third, it is to strengthening the disciples.  (vv.22c-23) “…they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

After Paul and Barnabas completed the ministry in Derbe, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch and strengthened and encouraged the disciples to remain true to the faith – “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (vv.21-22).

Lastly, it is to raise the leaders in church.  (v.23) “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed”

As Paul and Barnabas revisited Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, they appointed the elders and delegated them to shepherd the church.  (2Tim.2:2) “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”