24They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. 25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. 27When 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. 28And they spent a long time with the disciples.
On their return trip, they continued preaching the gospel and finally set sail back to Antioch and the church from which they had set out under the Holy Spirit’s guidance (Acts 13:1–4): mission complete! Luke carefully mentions that “they had been commended to the grace of God for the work” from the church at Antioch. This significant statement contains much truth related to mission methodology and accountability which we can see upon deeper consideration.
We can say Paul and Barnabas were “commended” to the work of the Lord. Literally, the word means “to hand over” or “to entrust.” The church at Antioch gave over, entrusted, Paul and Barnabas to the mission. The same word is used when the Antiochean church “committed” Paul and Silas to the second mission tour (Acts 15:40). We take this as setting a precedent for missionaries and those called by God into His service as their primary focus; they should be commended to their work by a local church. Paul himself calls on Christians to follow his example, and this would seem an appropriate practice to follow (1 Cor. 4:15, 11:1, Phil. 3:17, etc.).
Paul and Barnabas were accountable to the sending church; they reported back to that church. They didn’t just go off on their own, independently. The unity of the church and their accountability to it were important. While we all are accountable directly to the Lord, no one serves the Lord without accountability within the fellowship of local believers who know us and can truly hold us accountable.
Paul and Barnabas were an extension of that church’s ministry; they didn’t serve the Lord as lone rangers. There was excitement in telling and hearing what great things God had done through these two members of the Antiochean church who went out on their behalf.
Finally, the Holy Spirit was guiding the entire process, for they were “being sent out by the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:4). Churches today and full-time servants of the Lord would do well to follow the example of the apostles Paul and Barnabas.
Lord, thank You for giving us details of how to serve You effectively.
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