confirm the souls of the disciples, and prevent their apostacy.
(2.) They exhorted them to continue in the faith; or, as it may be read, they encouraged them. They told them it was both their duty and interest to persevere; to abide in the belief of Christ's being the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world. Note, Those that are in the faith are concerned to continue in the faith, notwithstanding all the temptations they may be under to desert it, from the smiles or frowns of this world. And it is requisite that they should often be exhorted to do so. They that are continually surrounded with temptations to apostacy, have need to be continually attended with pressing exhortations to perseverance.
(3.) That which they insisted most upon, was, that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Not only they must, but we must; it must be counted upon, that all that will go to heaven must expect tribulation and persecution in their way thither. But is this the way to confirm the souls of the disciples, and to engage them to continue in the faith? One would think it should rather shock them, and make them weary. No, as the matter is fairly stated and taken entire, it would help to confirm them, and fix them for Christ. It is true, they will meet with tribulation, with much tribulation, that is the worst of it: but then, [1.] It is so appointed, they must undergo it, there is no remedy, the matter is already fixed, and cannot be altered. He that has the sovereign disposal of us, has determined it to be our lot, that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution; and he that has the sovereign command over us, has determined this to be our duty, that all that will be Christ's disciples must take up the cross; so that when we gave up our names to Jesus Christ, it was what we agreed to; when we sat down and counted the cost, if we reckoned right, it was what we counted upon: so that if tribulation and persecution arose because of the word, it is but what we had notice of before, it must be so, he performeth the thing that is appointed for us. The matter is fixed unalterably; and shall the rock be for us removed out of its place? [2.] It is the lot of the leaders in Christ's army as well as of the soldiers. It is not only you, but we, that (if it be thought a hardship) are subject to it; therefore as your own sufferings must not be a stumbling-block to you, so neither must ours; see 1 Thess. 3. 3. Let none be moved by our afflictions, for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. As Christ did not put the apostles upon any harder service than what he underwent before them, so neither did the apostles put the ordinary Christians. [3.] It is true, we must count upon much tribulation, but this is encouraging, that we shall get through it; we shall not be lost and perish in it. It is a Red Sea, but the Lord has opened a way through it, for the redeemed of the Lord to pass over. We must go down to trouble, but we shall come up again. [4.] We shall not only get through it, but get through it into the kingdom of God; and the joy and glory of the end will make abundant amends for all the difficulties and hardships we may meet with in the way. It is true, we must go by the cross, but it is as true, that if we keep in the way, and do not turn aside or turn back, we shall go to the crown, and the believing prospect of that will make the tribulation easy and pleasant.
(4.) They ordained them elders, or presbyters, in every church. Now at this second visit they settled them in some order, formed them into religious societies under the conduct of a settled ministry, and settled that distinction between them that are taught in the word and them that teach. [1.] Every church had its governors or presidents, whose office it was to pray with the members of the church, and to preach to them in their solemn assemblies, to administer all gospel-ordinances to them, and to take the oversight of them, to instruct the ignorant, warn the unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, and to convince gainsayers. It is requisite that every particular church should have one or more such to preside in it. [2.] Those governors were then elders, that had in their qualification the wisdom and gravity of seniors, and had in their commission the authority and command of seniors: not to make new laws; that is the prerogative of the Prince, the great Lawgiver, (the government of the church is an absolute monarchy, and the legislative power entirely in Christ,) but to see to the observation and execution of the laws Christ has made; and so far they are to be obeyed and submitted to, [3.] These elders were ordained. The qualifications of such as were proposed, or proposed themselves, (whether the apostles or the people put them up,) were judged of by the apostles, as most fit to judge; and they themselves, having devoted themselves, were solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry, and bound to it. [4.] These elders were ordained to them, to the disciples, to their service, for their good. Those that are in the faith have need to be built up in it, and have need of the elders' help therein; the pastors and teachers, who are to edify the body of Christ.
(5.) By prayer, joined with fasting they commended them to the Lord, to the Lord Jesus, on whom they believed. Note, [1.] When persons are brought to believe, and that sincerely, yet ministers' care concerning them is not then over; there is need of watching over them still, instructing and admonishing them still, there is still that lacking in their faith, which needs to be perfected. [2.] The ministers that take most care of them that believe, must after all commend them to the Lord, and put them under the protection and conduct of his grace; Lord, keep them through thine own name. To his custody they must commit themselves, and their ministers must commit them. [3.] It is by prayer that they must be commended to the Lord. Christ, in his prayer, (John 17.) commended his disciples to his Father; Thine they were, and thou gavest them me. Father, keep them. [4.] It is a great encouragement to us, in commending the disciples to the Lord, that we can say, "It is he in whom they believed, we commit them to him, who have committed themselves to him, and who know they have believed in one who is able to keep what they and we have committed to him against that day," 2 Tim. 1. 12. [5.] It is good to join fasting with prayer, in token of our humiliation for sin, and in order to the adding of vigour to our prayers. [6.] When we are parting with our friends, the best farewell is to commend them to the Lord, and to leave them with him.
3. They went on preaching the gospel in other places where they had been, but, as it should seem, had not made so many converts as that now at their return they could form them into churches; therefore thither they came to pursue and carry on conversion-work. From Antioch they passed through Pisidia, the province in which that Antioch stood, thence they came into the province of Pamphylia, the head city of which was Perga, where they had been before, (ch. 13. 13.) and came thither again to preach the word, (v. 25.) making a second offer, to see if they were now better disposed than they were before to receive the gospel. What success they had there, we are not told, but that from thence they went down to Attalia, a city of Pamphylia, on the sea-coast. They stayed not long at a place, but wherever they came endeavoured to lay a foundation which might afterward be built upon; and to sow the seeds which would in time produce a great
