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THE MESSAGE

Acts 18:23

After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ephesus;   Galatia;   Paul;   Phrygia;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Galatia;   Phrygia;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Colossians, Epistle to the;   Phrygia;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Antioch in pisidia;   Antioch in syria;   Cilicia;   Derbe;   Galatia;   Iconium;   Mission;   Paul;   Phrygia;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Episcopacy;   Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Galatia;   Galatians, Epistle to;   Lycaonia;   Lystra;   Paul;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Antioch;   Aquila and Priscilla;   Galatia;   Galatians, the Epistle to the;   Gospels;   Lycaonia;   Onesimus;   Paul;   Phrygia;   Tarsus;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Derbe;   Galatia;   Galatians, Letter to the;   Phrygia;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Antioch;   Chronology of the New Testament;   Galatia;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Iconium,;   Lycaonia;   Lystra;   Paul the Apostle;   Phrygia;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Thessalonians, Second Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Antioch ;   Cilicia ;   Colossae;   Confirmation;   Dates;   Derbe ;   Galatia ;   Galatians Epistle to the;   Iconium ;   Lycaonia ;   Lystra ;   Roads and Travel;   Roman Law in the Nt;   Tarsus ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Aquila ;   Confirmation;   Ephesians, Epistle to the;   Ephesus ;   Galatia ;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians Written;   Phrygia ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Galatia;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Antioch;   Colosse;   Galatia;   Iconium;   Phrygia;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Colos'se,;   Gala'tians, the Epistle to the,;   Ico'nium;   Paul;   Phryg'ia;   Ti'tus;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Antioch of Pisidia;   Antioch in Syria;   Chronology of the New Testament;   Galatia;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Lycaonia;   Lystra;   Order;   Phrygia;   Region;   Tarsus;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
After spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
King James Version (1611)
And after he had spent some time there, hee departed, and went ouer all the countrey of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
King James Version
And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
English Standard Version
After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
New American Standard Bible
And after spending some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
New Century Version
He stayed there for a while and then left and went through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia. He traveled from town to town in these regions, giving strength to all the followers.
Amplified Bible
After spending some time there, he left and traveled through the territory of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening and encouraging all the disciples.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Legacy Standard Bible
And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Berean Standard Bible
After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Contemporary English Version
After staying there for a while, he left and visited several places in Galatia and Phrygia. He helped the followers there to become stronger in their faith.
Complete Jewish Bible
spent some time there, and afterwards set out and passed systematically through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the talmidim.
Darby Translation
And having stayed [there] some time, he went forth, passing in order through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, establishing all the disciples.
Easy-to-Read Version
Paul stayed in Antioch for a while. Then he left there and went through the countries of Galatia and Phrygia. He traveled from town to town in these countries, helping all the followers of Jesus grow stronger in their faith.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe when he had taried there a while, he departed, and went thorowe the countrey of Galatia and Phrygia by order, strengthening all the disciples.
George Lamsa Translation
And after he had spent some special days there he departed and traveled all through the country of Phryg''i-a and Ga-la''tia, increasing disciples in all of them.
Good News Translation
After spending some time there, he left and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the believers.
Lexham English Bible
And after spending some time there, he departed, traveling through one place after another in the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Literal Translation
And spending some time, he went out, in order passing through the Galatian and Phrygian country, making strong all the disciples.
American Standard Version
And having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
Bible in Basic English
And having been there for some time, he went through the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, making the disciples strong in the faith.
Hebrew Names Version
Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the talmidim.
International Standard Version
After spending some time there, he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.Acts 14:22; Galatians 1:2; 4:14;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And when he had been there certain days, he went forth and itinerated successively through Phrygia and Galatia, confirming all the disciples.
Murdock Translation
And when he had been there some days, he departed, and travelled from place to place in the regions of Phrygia and Galatia, establishing all the disciples.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And whe he had taried there a while, he departed, and went ouer al the countrey of Galatia and Phrygia by order, strengthyng all the disciples.
English Revised Version
And having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, stablishing all the disciples.
World English Bible
Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And having spent some time there, he departed, and went over the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, confirming all the disciples.
Weymouth's New Testament
After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out on a tour, visiting the whole of Galatia and Phrygia in order, and strengthening all the disciples.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne he hadde dwellide there sumwhat of time, he wente forth, walkinge bi rewe thorou the cuntrei of Galathie, and Frigie, and confermyde alle the disciplis.
Update Bible Version
And having spent some time [there], he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
Webster's Bible Translation
And after he had spent some time [there], he departed and went over [all] the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
New English Translation
After he spent some time there, Paul left and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
New King James Version
After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
New Living Translation
After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers.
New Life Bible
Paul stayed there for some time. Then he went from city to city through the countries of Galatia and Phrygia. In each place he helped the Christians become strong in the faith.
New Revised Standard
After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and, spending some time, he went forth, passing through, in order, the country of Galatia and Phrygia, confirming all the disciples.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And after he had spent some time there, he departed and went through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, in order, confirming all the disciples.
Revised Standard Version
After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phryg'ia, strengthening all the disciples.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and when he had taryed there a whyle he departed. And went over all the countre of Galacia and Phrigia by order strengthynge all the disciples.
Young's Literal Translation
And having made some stay he went forth, going through in order the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and taried there a certayne tyme, and departed, and walked thorow all ye countre of Galatia and Phrigia by ordre, and strengthed all the disciples.
Mace New Testament (1729)
after he had stay'd there some time, he departed and pass'd through all Galatia and Phrygia, where he encourag'd the disciples.
Simplified Cowboy Version
After spending some time with the cowboys in Antioch, Paul saddled up and went back down the trail through Galatia and Phrygia. He stopped and visited with every cowboy he came across who was a believer and urged them to keep riding hard for the brand.

Contextual Overview

18 Paul stayed a while longer in Corinth, but then it was time to take leave of his friends. Saying his good-byes, he sailed for Syria, Priscilla and Aquila with him. Before boarding the ship in the harbor town of Cenchrea, he had his head shaved as part of a vow he had taken. 19They landed in Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila got off and stayed. Paul left the ship briefly to go to the meeting place and preach to the Jews. They wanted him to stay longer, but he said he couldn't. But after saying good-bye, he promised, "I'll be back, God willing." From Ephesus he sailed to Caesarea. He greeted the church there, and then went on to Antioch, completing the journey. After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples. A man named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a Jew, born in Alexandria, Egypt, and a terrific speaker, eloquent and powerful in his preaching of the Scriptures. He was well-educated in the way of the Master and fiery in his enthusiasm. Apollos was accurate in everything he taught about Jesus up to a point, but he only went as far as the baptism of John. He preached with power in the meeting place. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and told him the rest of the story. When Apollos decided to go on to Achaia province, his Ephesian friends gave their blessing and wrote a letter of recommendation for him, urging the disciples there to welcome him with open arms. The welcome paid off: Apollos turned out to be a great help to those who had become believers through God's immense generosity. He was particularly effective in public debate with the Jews as he brought out proof after convincing proof from the Scriptures that Jesus was in fact God's Messiah. 22Corinth After Athens, Paul went to Corinth. That is where he discovered Aquila, a Jew born in Pontus, and his wife, Priscilla. They had just arrived from Italy, part of the general expulsion of Jews from Rome ordered by Claudius. Paul moved in with them, and they worked together at their common trade of tentmaking. But every Sabbath he was at the meeting place, doing his best to convince both Jews and Greeks about Jesus. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was able to give all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade the Jews that Jesus was in fact God's Messiah. But no such luck. All they did was argue contentiously and contradict him at every turn. Totally exasperated, Paul had finally had it with them and gave it up as a bad job. "Have it your way, then," he said. "You've made your bed; now lie in it. From now on I'm spending my time with the other nations." He walked out and went to the home of Titius Justus, a God-fearing man who lived right next to the Jews' meeting place. But Paul's efforts with the Jews weren't a total loss, for Crispus, the meeting-place president, put his trust in the Master. His entire family believed with him. In the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptized. One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: "Keep it up, and don't let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I'm with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city." That was all he needed to stick it out. He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians. But when Gallio was governor of Achaia province, the Jews got up a campaign against Paul, hauled him into court, and filed charges: "This man is seducing people into acts of worship that are illegal." Just as Paul was about to defend himself, Gallio interrupted and said to the Jews, "If this was a matter of criminal conduct, I would gladly hear you out. But it sounds to me like one more Jewish squabble, another of your endless hairsplitting quarrels over religion. Take care of it on your own time. I can't be bothered with this nonsense," and he cleared them out of the courtroom. Now the street rabble turned on Sosthenes, the new meeting-place president, and beat him up in plain sight of the court. Gallio didn't raise a finger. He could not have cared less. Paul stayed a while longer in Corinth, but then it was time to take leave of his friends. Saying his good-byes, he sailed for Syria, Priscilla and Aquila with him. Before boarding the ship in the harbor town of Cenchrea, he had his head shaved as part of a vow he had taken. They landed in Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila got off and stayed. Paul left the ship briefly to go to the meeting place and preach to the Jews. They wanted him to stay longer, but he said he couldn't. But after saying good-bye, he promised, "I'll be back, God willing." From Ephesus he sailed to Caesarea. He greeted the church there, and then went on to Antioch, completing the journey. 23 After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the country: Acts 16:6, 1 Corinthians 16:1, Galatians 1:2, Galatians 4:14

strengthening: Acts 14:22, Acts 15:32, Acts 15:41, Acts 16:40, Deuteronomy 3:28, Ezra 1:6, Isaiah 35:3, Isaiah 35:4, Daniel 11:1, Luke 22:32, Luke 22:43, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Hebrews 12:12, Hebrews 12:13

Reciprocal: Daniel 10:18 - he Acts 2:10 - Phrygia Acts 19:1 - Paul 2 Corinthians 11:28 - the care 2 Timothy 4:10 - Galatia 1 Peter 1:1 - Galatia Revelation 3:2 - strengthen

Cross-References

Genesis 18:6
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, "Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread."
Genesis 18:7
Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal before the men, and stood there under the tree while they ate.
Genesis 20:4
Now Abimelech had not yet slept with her, hadn't so much as touched her. He said, "Master, would you kill an innocent man? Didn't he tell me, ‘She's my sister'? And didn't she herself say, ‘He's my brother'? I had no idea I was doing anything wrong when I did this."
2 Samuel 24:17
When David saw the angel about to destroy the people, he prayed, "Please! I'm the one who sinned; I, the shepherd, did the wrong. But these sheep, what did they do wrong? Punish me and my family, not them."
Hebrews 10:22
So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And after he had spent some time there,.... At Antioch:

he departed; from thence:

and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples; that were in those parts, confirming them in the faith of Christ, and fortifying their minds against the temptations of Satan, and encouraging them to bear the reproaches and persecutions of men; which shows the affection, diligence, and industry of the apostle: it seems there were disciples in these countries of Galatia and Phrygia, which very likely were made by the apostle, when he passed trough those places, Acts 16:6 and who were the beginning of Gospel churches in these places, which continued for ages after: certain it is, there were churches in Galatia in the apostle's time, of whom he makes mention, and to whom he wrote, 1 Corinthians 16:1. According to the apostolical constitutions, Crescens, mentioned 2 Timothy 4:10 was appointed by the apostles bishop of the churches of Galatia; and particularly it is said, that he was bishop of Chalcedon in Galatia;

2 Timothy 4:10- : and in the "second" century, there was a church at Ancyra, which was disturbed by the heresy of Montanus, and was established by Apolinarius, who makes mention of the elders of this church q: in the "third" century there were churches in Galatia, which Stephen bishop of Rome threatened with excommunication, because they rebaptized heretics: in the beginning of the "fourth" century, there were bishops from hence, which assisted at the council of Nice, against Arius, and at the synod of Sardica, in the same century; and at the beginning of it, Clemens bishop of Ancyra, after he had taught twenty nine years, suffered much in the persecution of Dioclesian, first at Rome, then at Nicomedia, and at last was put to death by the sword; in this age also lived Basil, bishop of Ancyra, under Constantius; he first came to the bishopric of that place under Constantine, but being deprived of it for four years, was restored by Constantius in the council of Sardica; under the former he disputed against Photinus, as Epiphanius r relates; who makes mention of Anysius his deacon, and Eutyches and Theodulus his notaries; and the same writer s takes notice of several elders and officers of the same church in that age, as Photinus, Eustathius, another Photinus, and Sigerius, elders, Hyginus deacon, Heracides subdeacon, Elpidus reader, and Cyriacus president of the church: in the "fifth" century, there were many churches in Galatia, yea, they are said to be innumerable; Leontius was bishop of Ancyra in the times of Arcadius and Honorius; and was succeeded by Theodotus, who was in the first Ephesine synod against Nestorius, as was also Eusebius bishop of the same church, at another synod in the same place; Anastasius was bishop of the said church, lived under the emperor Leo the first, and was at the synod of Constantinople; Meliphthongus, bishop of Juliopolis in the same country, assisted at several synods; Eusebius, bishop of Aspona in Galatia, was present in the first synod at Ephesus, against Nestorius; likewise Peter bishop of Gangrae, and Theoctistus bishop of Pessinus, both lived in the time of the two synods, the infamous one at Ephesus, and the other at Chalcedon: in the "sixth" century, there were bishops of Ancyra, Juliopolis, and other cities in Galatia, who were present at the Roman and Constantipolitan synod; in this age, under Anastasius the emperor, lived Dorotheus bishop of Ancyra: in the "seventh" century were present, at the sixth council at Constantinople, several bishops of the churches of Galatia; as of Sinope, Pessinus, Aspona, and others: in the "eighth" century, mention is made of Basil, bishop of the church at Ancyra, Nicodemus bishop of Didymi, Gregory bishop of Sinope: and even in the ninth century a garrison of Christians was placed in Ancyra, against the incursions of the Saracens t; so long the Christian name remained in those parts: and that there were also churches in Phrygia is as evident; Aristarchus, a companion of the apostle Paul, is said to be bishop of Apamea, which was a city in Phrygia; 2 Timothy 4:10- : the second century, Papias, a disciple of the Apostle John, was bishop of Hierapolis in this country u; and in the same age there was a church at Philomelium in Phrygia, to which the church at Smyrna wrote a letter, still extant in Eusebius w, which gives an account of the martyrdom of Polycarp; likewise the church at Lyons, in France, sent a letter to the churches in Asia and Phrygia, giving an account of their martyrs, which is to be seen in the same writer x; in this century lived Apolinarius, bishop of Hierapolis, who opposed the Phrygian heresy of Montanus; and who makes mention of Zoticus, of the village of Comana, and Julianus of Apamea, both in Phrygia, as his fellow elders and bishops y: Dionysius, of Alexandria, speaks of a church, and of the brethren at Synnada, which was in Phrygia, in a letter of his to Philemon, a presbyter at Rome z; at Lampsacus in Phrygia, there were martyrs that suffered under Decius: in the third century, there was a church at Hierapolis, famous from the times of the apostles. Tertullian makes mention of the believers in Christ in Phrygia, in his time a: in the beginning of the "fourth" century under Dioclesian, a whole city in Phrygia of Christians was set on fire and burnt, men, women, and children, calling upon Christ the God of all b; and at the council of Nice, under Constantine, were present bishops of many churches in Phrygia; as Ilium, Synnada, Eucarpia, Hierapolis, and others; at Lampsacus, in this country, was held a memorable synod against Eudoxus and Acacius, the chief of the Arian faction: in the "fifth" century there were churches in Phrygia; Theodosius and Agapetus were bishops of Synnada in Phrygia Pacatiana; Marinianus, bishop of the same place, was present at the several synods in this century; Nunechius of Laodicea, Gennadius of Acmonii, Thomas and Olympius, both of Theodosiopolis, Lucianus of Ipsa, Albertus of Hierapolis, Eusebius of Doryleus, with many others, all in Phrygia, are made mention of in history: in the "sixth" century, several bishops of Phrygia, as of Philomelium, &c. were present at the synod held at Rome and Constantinople: in the "seventh" century, bishops of several churches in this country, as of Hierapolis, Synnada, &c. assisted at the sixth synod at Constantinople: in the eighth century were many churches here, whose bishops were present at the Nicene synod, as Basil, bishop of Pergamus, Nicetas of Ilium, John of Synnada, and others c.

q Apud Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 5. c. 16. r Contra Haeres. l. 3. Haeres. 71. s Ib. Haeres. 72. t Magdeburg. cent. 3. c. 7. p. 117. cent. 4. c. 2. p. 3. c. 9. p. 350, 425. c. 10. p. 550, 554. cent. 5. c. 2. p. 4. c. 10. p. 604, 605. cent. 6. c. 2. p. 5. c. 10. p. 341. cent. 7. c. 2. p. 3. c. 10. p. 254. cent. 8. c. 2. p. 5. c. 10. p. 360. cent. 9. c. 2. p. 3. u Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 3. c. 36. w Ib. l. 4. c. 15. x Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 5. c. 1. y Ib. c. 16. z Ib. l. 7. c. 7. a Adv. Judaeos, c. 7. b Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 8. c. 11. c Magdeburg. Hist. Eccles. cent. 3. c. 2. p. 2. cent. 4. c. 2. p. 3. c. 9. p. 48l. cent. 5. c. 2. p. 3. c. 10. p. 597. &c. cent. 6. c. 2. p. 4. cent. 7. c. 2. p. 3. c. 10. p. 254. cent. 8. c. 2. p. 4. c. 10. p. 366.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The country of Galatia and Phrygia - He had been over these regions before, preaching the gospel, Acts 16:6.

Strengthening - Establishing them by exhortation and counsel. See the notes on Acts 14:22.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 18:23. Went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia — Both were provinces of Asia Minor: Acts 2:10.

In order — καθεξης, A word peculiar to St. Luke; see his Gospel, Luke 1:3; Luke 8:1; and his history of the Acts, Acts 3:24; Acts 11:4, and the place above; the only places where this word occurs in the New Testament. It properly signifies, in order, distinctly, particularly; from κατα, according to, and εξη, order, as opposed to confusion, indistinctness, c. If St. Paul went up to Jerusalem at this time, which we are left to infer, for Luke has not expressed it, (Acts 18:22,) it was his fourth journey thither and this is generally supposed to have been the twenty-first year after his conversion. His first journey is mentioned Acts 9:26; his second, Acts 11:30; his third, Acts 15:4; and his fourth, Acts 18:22, the place above.


 
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