by Rev. A. M. Cattanach, M.A.
Second Series
XIV Mission Accomplished
How often these two words were used, during the last war, to sum up a successful operation carried out, in the cause of freedom, especially by bomber crews, who had returned to base safely, after a dangerous night attack on enemy installations. With what relief they gave in their report to their superiors, by whom they had been sent forth to achieve these missions. If we go back now, in thought, over the centuries, we have a similar situation involving the two servants of the Lord, Paul and Barnabas, albeit in very different circumstances, and arising out of a very different mission. Our present study will deal with this, as Paul and Barnabas return safely to base at Antioch, after a dangerous mission, successfully accomplished, not, indeed, in their own strength, but in the strength of the Lord, in whose name they had gone forth, and for whose glory and cause they had so bravely wrought. The words of The Divine Record which will form the basis of our present study are those of Acts XIV, vv 26-28. “And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 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. And there they abode a long time with the disciples.”
From these words we may briefly consider these things:
- a) Mission accomplished
- b) Report handed in
- c) Welcome furlough
While not desiring to press the analogy too far, it may be useful to keep the burden of our opening paragraph at the back of our minds, with all due reverence, as we endeavour, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to unfold the sweet truths revealed in these three short verses.
We left the Apostles, at the close of our last study, wending their way south to the coast of Asia Minor, to the sea port of Attalia. The next stage of their homeward journey lay across the sea. Soon they would arrive at the Syrian port of Seleucia and pass on up to Antioch, the city from which they had gone forth, like Abraham of old, by faith, not knowing whither they went, save that the Lord had commanded them to go. The many dangers and difficulties, seen and unseen, which had lain before them, were all now behind them, and surely it was with a deep sense of the preserving care of Jehovah, their covenant-keeping God, that they finally arrived back in the city, where the disciples were called Christians first.
The inspired historian records one thing of importance concerning them—they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. By the brethren in Antioch had they been recommended thus; by the same brethren now were they to be joyfully received again. How fitting the expression—“recommended to the grace of God”—in the context of their difficult, but now successful mission. The grace of God is the only thing that caused them to do what they did; that grace alone enabled them to persevere; that grace acted as a safeguard in danger and temptation and discouragement. While this is so, let us also remember that it was pre-eminently the God of grace, who carried them all the long way through: the word ‘recommended’ suggests originally “handed over” for safe keeping to whom, but to the Keeper of Israel. Ah yes! but we are specifically informed that this safe-keeping had respect to one particular sphere of action, as disciples, even to the “work which they fulfilled”. these are words which describe for us most aptly the title of this study—mission accomplished: their ‘work’ was a mission of peace, bringing the glad tidings of salvation to many souls, a work now ‘fulfilled’ or accomplished successfully. O the grace that was needed — the grace they could now testify was sufficient! Grace had been required (the brethren, and they themselves too, had known that); grace had been bestowed. Truly they had thus experienced grace for grace, as out of His fulness they had been receiving—at Paphos, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium and Lystra. Now all was over, and the work was done; once more they set foot in the Syrian Antioch, to declare these things to the church.
If one compares the account given in this verse, with that given in verse 3 of Chapter 13, we find much that is interesting and instructive. Both verses refer to the work of the Apostles—the latter verse recording events in the prospective sense, while the former (in our present study) records the same events in retrospect. Verse 3 in Chapter 13 speaks of the brethren fasting, praying, laying hands on Paul and Barnabas, and finally loosing them from all ties, ecclesiastical and social public and private, to be wholly separated unto the Lord for the work to which He had called them. The verse under review in our present study sums up all this in that very special, and oft-quoted phrase in the Acts, “recommended them to the grace of God for the work . . . fulfilled”. How good for us to see in the last word of the phrase here a sign of the reward for the faith of both the disciples of Antioch left behind to carry on their own task in the city of a countless number of precious, immortal souls, living in heathen darkness, superstition and idolatry, and the two separated ones, Saul and Barnabas, sent forth on their own God-given task of carrying the precious Word of Salvation to other lands, and other peoples.
Let every child of God remember then, that this is what they need most, as they journey on, not by sight, but by faith, even to be recommended continually, handed over completely to the grace of God, that not only saves, but keeps from falling, and finally will bring them safely through all life’s journey, with its trials and tribulations, to the haven where they desire to be. Let it be the prayer of each living member of the church of the first-born on high, not only for his or her companions in faith, but also for themselves.
b) Report handed in
The following verse gives us an account of the scene at Antioch, when the two noble missionaries of the Cross arrived back in the city, (or perhaps, as is suggested by the literal meaning of the Greek word—’came alongside,’ crossing over by sea, as they had done, from Asia Minor to Syria) to make their report to the church. The first point, worthy of notice, in this connection, is that it was they and not the leaders of the church at Antioch, who gathered the brethren together to hear the report—” . . . and had gathered the church together.” The prime-leaders in this move were the returning missionaries themselves. Somewhat in the spirit of the Psalmist of old, they were evidently actuated by the desire that all should hear the good news—”Come, hear, I’ll tell what he did for my soul,” Psalm 66:16 that is, ‘all that fear God’—the church, the brethren; the disciples, what they were to tell was, of course, by the very nature of things, different to that which the Psalmist had to tell, but their motives and their spirit would appear to have been similar. The verse records this important aspect of their return whatever other meetings of welcome they might have arranged in Antioch for Paul and Barnabas are not recorded for posterity; but this meeting of the church, presumably of a public nature, in the sense that all attached to the church at Antioch were invited, was the meeting, par excellence, which the Divine Author of Scripture saw fit, in this inscrutable wisdom, to leave on record for all time. How grateful we should be!
In passing, such a small point (as some may be inclined to think) clearly shows us the position of authority, in the Apostolic Church, which was exercised by Paul and Barnabas. It now falls to us to consider briefly the substance of the report handed in by these two noble servants of the Lord, not for any vain glory, on their part, but altogether, to the glory of that grace of God, to which they had, about a year before, been recommended. The report falls into two parts.
- i) A comprehensive account of their mission
- ii) A specific aspect of their mission, of great importance to them and to us.
i) The Apostles began by giving a comprehensive account of the whole mission, covering, no doubt, every important aspect of their hazardous mission during the last twelve months or so—some of which we have meditated upon together over the last five studies. Names such as Cyprus, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystia and Derbe rise vividly before our minds’ eye; in connection with each of these places, how much would the apostles have to declare! The words of the text of the Scripture itself, which deals with this matter, are, in themselves, most illuminating and instructive—“They rehearsed all that God had done with them . . .”
The word translated ‘rehearsed’ is one which is widely used by the secular Greek historians, Herodotus and Thucydides, in describing the report brought back by such as were sent out on special missions, in war and in peace. It means literally, ‘report back’, ‘bring back word’ or some similar phrase, where the idea, inherent in the Greek verb, compounded with the preposition ‘back’, is that of returning from a mission to report to others. A similar idea is found in the Old Testament account of the sending out of the twelve men of Israel to search out the land and report again to Moses—Caleb specifically says ‘I brought back word’. In this verse, we now have the New Testament equivalent of the Hebrew expression, accurately used by Luke to describe how the Apostles, having returned to Antioch at the end of this first ‘missionary journey’, brought back, to the waiting disciples, word of ‘all that God had done with them.’ The memories of the scenes of their labours, their distresses, yes, their glorious triumphs through the Gospel, are all included in that one sweet word. Nothing is left out—The general tenor of the report is first unfolded for us, in this phrase of the verse; then comes the particular matter to be remember and rejoiced in “All that God had done with them”—all, not some of the things. O how good to see where Paul and Barnabas stand, as they set forth what has been accomplished—it is not, ‘all that they had done’; not even, all that they had done by God’s help, or through His grace—nay, rather the emphasis is placed where it must always, be placed by such, in similar circumstances, as fear the Lord aright—‘all that GOD had done . . .’ The work was His; the victory was His; the glory of it all was His. Paul and Barnabas are in their rightful place; where John the Baptist was—He must increase, but I must decrease. The Lord had done it all; they were but men; earthen vessels indeed, albeit bearing heavenly treasure. Their sufficiency was all of God.
Notwithstanding this, however, they do recognise that God works through means. It pleases Him to make use of unworthy instruments, to take rough clay and fashion precious pottery out of it. This He did with Saul of Tarsus and the Cypriot Levite, Joses. He made them polished shafts for His own glory and for the good of His Cause on earth. Hence we find them humbly recording this fact, by adding the phrase ‘with them’ to ‘all that God had done’—that is, through their instrumentality. They were but the channels necessary indeed, but altogether subsidiary. The order here is correct. Paul and Barnabas will take no glory to themselves for all that had been accomplished: if anything, worthy of lasting remembrance, had been achieved, then it was the doing of the Lord and to Him alone belonged the praise and the glory.
Need we say any more? The lesson for all true servants of Christ and for all believers, wherever their lot be cast, is clear enough. Let them seek grace to learn it daily, at His footstool.
“Not unto us, Lord, not to us,
but do Thou glory take,
Unto Thy name, ev’n for thy truth
and for Thy mercy’s sake.”
Psalm 115:1
ii) We now come to deal with the specific aspect of their mission, which they desired the brethren to hear and understand, namely, ‘how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.’ In these words we have an acknowledgement of the truth that the Gospel, which had been first declared by believing Jews to their fellow countrymen, had now reached out beyond the bounds of Judaism unto the outside world—a world, which, to the orthodox Jew, was contemptible, in respect of the privileges which had been bestowed upon the fathers. It took some time, as one can see from the record in Acts itself, for many among the believing disciples to realise that these privileges were now to be extended to include all, both Jew and Gentile, who came within the pale of the Gospel, and that this Gospel was to be the means of breaking down the barrier between them, and introducing the Gentile or heathen world into the wonders of the mystery of the revelation of God’s love in Christ. These sentiments are aptly described by the words here ‘opened a door of faith’. We think of a door as that through which we either enter or leave a building. Here the idea inherent in the use of the word ‘door’ in conjunction with the grace of ‘faith’ is that of entering into a relationship with God, which hitherto had not existed. By means of faith, as exercised in connection with Jesus as the promised Messiah, as Lord and Saviour and only Mediator between God and men, these believing Gentiles of Asia Minor and Cyprus had entered into the heritage of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob, as heirs of eternal life; had entered into the favour of God, through forgiveness of sins; had, indeed, entered into the Kingdom and become sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty.
To many then as indeed today, this was a great wonder, and here they are filled with joy as they report on the success of such a mission—they had seen such fruit for their labours, which more than compensated for the trials and difficulties of the journey. Could they not truly say of this opened door ‘This is the doing of the Lord, and wondrous in our eyes.’ Psalm 113;23.
We as Gentiles, have reason to thank the Lord for that open door, seek to enter in, while it is still possible. Is it not said to us too, ‘Behold, I set before you an open door . . .?’
c) Welcome furlough
Verse 28 provides us with a view of these two noble witnesses for Christ, having successfully accomplished their mission, enjoying a well-earned rest—’and there they abode long time with the disciples.’ It is not to be inferred necessarily, from these words, that Paul and Barnabas were idle during that time—it can hardly be possible that they would refrain from taking part in the weekly service in the church at Antioch. Rather is it to be set against the long and arduous journeyings of the past twelve months or so—in comparison with this, how welcome the respite; how pleasant to relax among friends, and so enjoy some refreshing time with like-minded brethren in the Lord. The period of time thus spent at Antioch is rather strikingly described in the original—literally, ‘not a short time.’ This was, then, no ‘quick break’ from strenuous tasks and back to work, as it were, but rather a leisurely break, to be enjoyed, until the next call to duty came, as was the case with those to whom we referred in our opening paragraph.
Let us then leave the apostles meantime, relaxing at Antioch. O how much we owe, under God, to the labours of these devoted servants of the Lord, who led the way for others to follow all down the ages! May we be able to appreciate their efforts, and seek to enter into the same enjoyment of the favour and peace of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, which they had, for He is the same ‘yesterday, today and for ever.’
This brings us to the close of the first missionary journey undertaken by Paul the Apostle, and with it we end the first section of this second series of studies. The Lord willing, we hope to continue with a second section of four studies, which will cover the main points of the second missionary journey as we see them. May the Lord be pleased to guide us always, in these our studies of the Divine oracles, by His Holy Spirit, as we seek to profit from the Word, realising, at all times, our need of the Psalmists’ prayer, in this connection, ‘Open mine eyes, that of thy law, the wonders I may see.’ Psalm 119:18.
I can take my telescope and look millions of miles into space: but I can go away to my room, and in prayer get nearer to God and Heaven than I can when assisted by all the telescopes of earth.
Sir Isaac Newton