Gloriographs by Rick Reynolds

²³When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. ²⁴ They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. ²⁵ When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. ²⁷ When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they spent a long time with the disciples. Acts 14:23-28

If you read through these closing verses of Acts Chapter 14, you don’t get a sense of how stellar the performances of Paul and Barnabas were, but how active and instrumental the Lord was throughout their journey. And he was certainly trustworthy enough to “commend” the fledgling churches to him (V. 23). The word “commend” here and below means to “lay before” or “set aside.”

And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32

There comes a time when you must lay those in your charge before the Lord and go on your own way. We do so confidently knowing full well the Word of Grace will sustain your efforts and cause even more growth. For parents, this act is certainly done by most with your children. At some point, you must switch totally to “prayer” mode, which is the act of “laying them before” the Lord for protection, guidance, and direction.

On the cross we’ll remember how the Lord commended (committed) his spirit into his Father’s hand for safekeeping as he descended into death, using the same word as Luke used in verse 23, paratithēmi.

And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46

The word “commended” in verse 26 is different than the one used in verse 23. It means to “hand over.” If these apostles reveled in anything it was to be found faithful to be “handed the keys” to captain the church’s first official foray into the Gentile world. Still it was God who accomplished it all.

When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. Acts 14:27

Looking back, His grace was sufficient in fueling their efforts throughout these towns, and to withstand the tremendous pressure of the evil one.

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

In the process, Paul was essentially raised from the dead and would carry the “marks of Christ” viciously applied to his body in Lystra for the rest of his life.

From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. Galatians 6:17