By: Gen. Jim – 8/27/25
“And when they (Paul & Barnabas) had preached the gospel… & made many disciples… they returned to Lystra, Iconium, & Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to CONTINUE in the faith, & saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God.”– Acts 14:21,22, NKJV
That, my friend, was real gospel work – preaching the gospel to the lost (in this case, the Jews). After disciples are brought into the Kingdom (via repentance), they need to be strengthened, exhorted, to CONTINUE in the faith.
If more ministers would exhort their congregations to continue in the faith rather than use them to extort $$ from them, we would see a STRONGER Militant Church rather than a WEAK effeminate Church. How does one confirm his/her strength?
The KJV uses the words “confirming the souls” (Acts 14:22); the RSV has the word “strengthening”; the Knox has “fortified”; the NEB has “heartening”. Let’s concentrate on the two most used words: confirming/strengthening. As per Acts 14:22 the word expistērizō (ἐπιστηρίζω, Gk.) is used (KJV/NKJV), meaning “to make to lean upon, strengthen” (epi, upon, stērix, a prop, support).
Paul uses this Gk. word strengthen (which also means confirm) to show us how true mission work works. We don’t strengthen God’s people by giving them “sweet deceit”, but Bread from Heaven… eventually meat. But, oh how today’s weak Church loves the “sweet treats”. How many are made Warriors for Righteousness by being fed such dainties? What lies ahead for ALL TRUE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS is many tribulations. Yep!, TRIBULATIONS. But to hear these worldly-minded ministers of today’s woke church, one should seek to get the Biggest, the Best, the Most… satisfy the flesh rather than crucify it!!!
15:32
Read on down to vs.32: “Now Judas & Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted & strengthened the brethren with many words.” Do we suppose these 2 prophets gave the disciples / new recruits psycho-babble, lots of “love the world” pep talks? Acts 15:32 (NKJV) uses the same Gk. word – epistērizō.
This is not all: “But Paul chose Silas & departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria & Cilicia, strengthening the Churches.” Same Gk. word.
Oh, we’re not done yet: “After he had spent some time there (Antioch), he departed & went over the region of Galatia & Phrygia in order (i.e., successively), strengthening all the disciples.” Same Gk. word. (note: some mss. have the word “stablishing”) The most authentic mss. have stērizō.
Paul & his partners in the Gospel did not merely use the converted disciples for their personal gain/fame (as do too many today); they went about building them up in the faith so as to face the tribulations which would certainly come their way.
If one dares to be a bit militant (in Spirit) these days, get ready for the media and the la la churches to become militant against you. Get ready for a good dose of “you’re a CULT!”
Bebaioō (verb)
Here is another Gk. v. to consider: βεβαιόω (Gk) means, “to make firm, establish, make secure (the connected adj. bebaios signifies stable, fast), is used of confirming a word. After Jesus made His astounding statement about “He who believes & is baptized will be saved… these signs will follow those who believe (lit., have already believed); In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues…” Mk. 16:17,18, verse 20 says that the disciples “went out & preached everywhere, the Lord working with them & CONFIRMING the Word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” (NKJV).
In Rom. 15:8 we find this Gk. word used (NKJV et al.): “Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant (minister) to the circumcision for the truth of God, to CONFIRM the promises made to the fathers.”
In 1 Cor. 1:6 we find this Gk. word: “even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you (or among you).” Verse 8 says, “who will also confirm you to the end…” In short, Christ will confirm/strengthen His people till the end IF they will walk in the Spirit. Always there are condition to meet.
In 2 Cor. 1:21 we find the word “establishes” (NKJV; stablisheth in the KJV). In Col. 2:7 we find the word “established” (same Gk. word). Hebrew 2:3 says “… was confirmed to us by those who heard Him (Lord),” same Gk. word. Heb. 13:9 we find the word “established”, same Gk. word.
Kuroō (verb)
κυρόω, to make valid, ratify, impart authority or influence (from kuros, might, kurios, mighty, a head, as supreme in authority), is used of spiritual love in 2 Cor. 2:8, where the word “reaffirm” is used (NKJV; “confirms” in the KJV).
Gal. 3:15 has “confirmed” (NKJV/KJV). [for the O.T. Gk. see Gen. 23:20, et al.].
Prokuroō means “to confirm or ratify before”, is said of the Divine confirmation of a promise give originally to father Abraham (see Gen. 12, & confirmed by the vision of the furnace & torch, Gen. 21, & by the oath of God, Gen. 22; all this was done before the giving of the Law. Gal. 3:17 says:
“And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed (Prokuroō) before of God in Christ, the law, which was 430 years after, cannot disannul, that is should make the promise of none effect.” KJV (see also Rom. 14:13,14).
Mesiteuō, “to act as a mediator, to interpose”, is rendered “confirmed” in Heb. 6:17: “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath.” (KJV).
These 5 Greek words (verbs) define confirm/confirmation. Now lets look at the noun:
Bebaiōsis (akin to verb #1), is used in 2 sense: 1) of firmness, establishment, said of the confirmation of the Gospel in Phil. 1:7: “… I have you in my heart; insomuch as both in my bonds (chains), & in the defense & confirmation of the Gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace (lit., partakers with me of grace)”; 2) of authoritative validity imparted, said of the settlement of a dispute by an oath to produce confidence. Hebrews 6:16 says, “For men verily swear by the greater; and an oath confirmation is to them an end of all strife.” (KJV) (see also Ex. 22:11). This Gk. word is found frequently in the Papyri of the settlement of a business transaction.
Back to Acts 14:21,22
Vs.22 has the words “confirming” & “continue”. We have no problem with the first half of vs.22 but we get disturbed with what follows:
“… that we must through MUCH TRIBULATION enter into the Kingdom of God,” KJV. Does this mean those who leave the kingdom of Satan & self will, by much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of the Savior? or does it mean we who are already believers have much trib. to fully enter the Kingdom, seeing there is a debate about finishing our course, remaining true/faithful till the end. What we do know is that to really follow after Christ we WILL be HATED, for Jesus was HATED (Jn. 15:18) Romans 8:17 says, “… heirs of God, & joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we SUFFER with Him, that we may be also glorified together,” KJV. 2 Tim. 2:11,12 says, “… For if we be dead (to the world & self) with Him, we shall also live with Him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us.”, KJV. (Note the word “if”)
The modern evangelical FEAR of tribulations/sufferings is obvious: most Church folks avoid them like the plague. One of the obvious tell-tell signs today is “fear of the queer”. Another one is “fear of the Jew”: “Howbeit no man spake openly of Him (Jesus) for FEAR OF THE JEWS.” Jn. 7:13.
It is the responsibility of ministers to confirm the salvation, dedication of their congregation, to teach them to continue, unafraid, in the faith… until the end. The NIV reads:
“… strengthening the disciples & encouraging them to REMAIN TRUE to the faith. We must go through MANY HARDSHIPS to enter the Kingdom of God.”
To Continue in the Faith
If “once saved always saved” were true, Acts 14:22 would not be necessary: “… exhorting them to CONTINUE in the faith.” This was a use very common in post-Apostolic Christian literature. In Acts 13:8 we find Elymas the sorcerer tried to TURN AWAY the deputy from the faith. If OSAS was true, noting or nobody could cause a Christian to fall away of go back into the world.
“We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God,” vs.22. Some scholars believe the tribulations are those which are to precede (to be, come, or go before in time, place etc.) the end; they cite Rev. 1:9, and are identified with the apostles’ present persecutions. They say “the Kingdom of God” here seems to carry its eschatological meaning.
Paul is a prime example of one who, after conversion, went through endless persecutions/hardships, finally death for his faith. Paul was already in the Kingdom by faith – he had to finish his course. His bold testimony goes like this: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim. 4:7, KJV. Fought-finished-kept! This tells us that in order to fully enter the KOG, one must CONTINUE! Verse 8 he speaks of what awaited him: crown of righteousness! Do we get to wear this “crown” before we finish our course?
The KOG is God’s Rule, not ours. Actually, the Ekklesia of God is a training school – school of hard knocks. We, as human beings, live in 2 worlds:
1) the unregenerated;
2) the Kingdom of God on earth.
The spirit of the world is the spirit of the devil; he is the prince of the power of the air (spirit realm). We can be terminated if we do not abide by the laws of God. Trails, tribulations, hardships = our life in Christ.
Paul makes it clear the salvation (via repentance) is not the end, but merely the beginning: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” – Phil. 3:14, KJV. He pressed TOWARD the PRIZE = the fulness of the KOG! Shall we not do the same?