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The Report to the Church at Antioch
…27When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.28Andthey spenta longtime therewiththedisciples.

Treasury of Scripture

And there they stayed long time with the disciples.

Acts 11:26
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Acts 15:35
Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

AbodeAntiochConsiderableDisciplesLittleSpentTarriedTimeAbodeAntiochConsiderableDisciplesLittleSpentTarriedTime1.Paul and Barnabas are persecuted from Iconium.
8.At Lystra Paul heals a cripple, whereupon they are reputed as gods.
19.Paul is stoned.
21.They pass through various churches, confirming the disciples in faith and patience.
26.Returning to Antioch, they report what God had done with them.

And they spent a long time there
This phrase indicates a significant period of time that Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch. Antioch was a major center for early Christianity and served as a base for missionary activities. The "long time" suggests a period of rest and consolidation after their first missionary journey, which was filled with both successes and challenges. This time allowed them to strengthen the church, teach, and encourage the believers. The duration is not specified, but it implies a commitment to nurturing the fledgling Christian community.

with the disciples.
The term "disciples" refers to the followers of Jesus in Antioch, who were being taught and trained in the faith. This community was diverse, consisting of both Jewish and Gentile believers, reflecting the inclusive nature of the early church. The presence of Paul and Barnabas would have been crucial for doctrinal teaching and resolving any theological disputes, as seen earlier inActs 15 with the Jerusalem Council. Their time with the disciples would have also been a period of mutual encouragement and growth, as they shared experiences and testimonies from their missionary journey. This fellowship underscores the importance of community and discipleship in the Christian faith.

1.Paul and Barnabas
These two apostles were central figures in the early Christian church, known for their missionary journeys and spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles. InActs 14, they have just completed their first missionary journey.

2.Antioch in Syria
This city served as a significant center for early Christianity and was the home base for Paul and Barnabas. It was here that believers were first called Christians.

3.The Disciples
Refers to the early followers of Jesus in Antioch, who were being taught and strengthened in their faith by Paul and Barnabas.

4.The First Missionary Journey
This journey included travels through Cyprus and Asia Minor, where Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel, performed miracles, and established churches.

5.The Return to Antioch
After completing their journey, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch to report on their mission and spend time with the disciples, as noted inActs 14:28.The Importance of Community
Paul and Barnabas spent a long time with the disciples, highlighting the importance of fellowship and community in the Christian life. Believers are encouraged to invest time in their local church communities for mutual edification and growth.

Mission and Rest
After their missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch for a period of rest and reflection. This teaches the balance between active ministry and times of rest and rejuvenation.

Reporting and Accountability
The return to Antioch also involved reporting on their mission, which underscores the importance of accountability and sharing testimonies of God's work with the church body.

Strengthening the Faithful
Spending time with the disciples allowed Paul and Barnabas to strengthen and encourage them in their faith, reminding us of the role of mature believers in mentoring and discipling others.

Perseverance in Ministry
Despite the challenges faced during their journey, Paul and Barnabas persevered and continued their ministry, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their service to God.1.What is the meaning of Acts 14:28?

2.How does Acts 14:28 emphasize the importance of fellowship among believers?

3.What can we learn from Paul and Barnabas' time in Antioch in Acts 14:28?

4.How does Acts 14:28 connect to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?

5.How can we apply the example of Paul and Barnabas' rest in our lives?

6.Why is it important to spend "a long time" with fellow believers today?

7.What does Acts 14:28 reveal about the early church's commitment to community and fellowship?

8.How does Acts 14:28 emphasize the importance of rest and reflection in ministry work?

9.Why did Paul and Barnabas choose to stay in Antioch according to Acts 14:28?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 14?

11.Isn't the concept of the Trinity illogical?

12.How many disciples did Jesus appear to after his resurrection: Twelve (1 Cor 15:5) or Eleven (Matt 27:3-5; Acts 1:9-26; Matt 28:16; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:9, 33)?

13.When did the disciples return to Galilee? They saw Jesus there after at least 40 days, as they were instructed to stay in Jerusalem until receiving power (Matthew 28:17, Luke 24:49, Acts 1:3-4).

14.Who is Jesus Christ?And

• This tiny connector ties verse 28 to the sweeping story that has just unfolded. Paul and Barnabas have reported “all that God had done through them” (Acts 14:27).

• The Spirit’s work didn’t pause with their report; the conjunction reminds us God’s mission is ongoing. Compare the flow-through effect inActs 13:49 andActs 15:35, where the narrative keeps rolling from one ministry scene to the next.

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they spent a long time

• Luke highlights intentional, extended presence—not a hurried visit.

• Paul had earlier modeled prolonged investment in Antioch (“for a whole year they met with the church,”Acts 11:26) and would later do so in Corinth (“a year and six months,”Acts 18:11).

• Why stay?

– To teach and ground new believers (Acts 15:32).

– To model steadfastness (2 Timothy 3:14).

– To allow spiritual gifts to mature within the body (Ephesians 4:11-13).

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there

• Location matters; “there” is Antioch in Syria, the sending church that first laid hands on them (Acts 13:1-3).

• Returning to the home base:

– Affirms accountability (Acts 14:26-27).

– Strengthens the local congregation so it can keep sending (Acts 15:40).

– Demonstrates that mission and local church health are inseparable.

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with the disciples

• Ministry is relational: they remained “with” rather than “over” the believers.

• Marks of this together-life:

– Fellowship and shared meals (Acts 2:42).

– Mutual encouragement (“spur one another on,”Hebrews 10:24-25).

– Love as the family identity badge (John 13:34-35).

• The word “disciples” reminds us every believer is a learner who keeps growing, not a mere spectator.

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summary

Acts 14:28 captures more than an itinerary; it paints a portrait of gospel ministry that is continuous (“And”), committed (“a long time”), contextual (“there”), and communal (“with the disciples”). The verse invites us to value sustained presence, accountability to a local church, and deep fellowship as vital expressions of Christ’s ongoing mission.

(28)There they abode long time.--The words probably cover an interval of more than a year, during which it is reasonable to suppose that the preaching of the two Apostles drew together a large number of Gentile converts.

Verse 28.- They tarried forthere they abode, A.V.;no little forlong, A.V. Bishop Pearson reckons it a little more than a year; Lewin, "about a year;" Renan, "several months." No accurate statement can be gathered from St. Luke;s indefinite expression. With this chapter closes the account of St. Paul'sfirst missionary tour. Cony-beare and Howson (pp. 177, 213) assign to it a duration of about nine months, from early spring, March, to November, when the sea would be closed; bringing him to Perga in May, and thence for the next five or six months into the mountains of Pisidia, where it was the custom for the inhabitants of the lowlands to congregate during the hot months. Others, however, as Lewin (pp. 156, 157), think the circuit must have occupied "about two years;" Wieseler (p. 224), "more than one year;" but Renan assigns to it "five years" (" Saint Paul," p. 55). "Conjectural estimates vary between two and eight years" ('Speaker's Commentary').Lewin's estimate is, perhaps, the most probable. Whatever the exact period may have been, it was a time fruitful in consequences to the immortal interests of mankind.

Parallel Commentaries ...

And
δὲ(de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.

they spent
διέτριβον(dietribon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1304:To tarry, continue, stay in a place. From dia and the base of tribos; to wear through, i.e. Remain.

a long
ὀλίγον(oligon)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3641:Puny; especially neuter somewhat.

time [there]
χρόνον(chronon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5550:A space of time or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay.

with
σὺν(syn)
Preposition
Strong's 4862:With. A primary preposition denoting union; with or together.

the
τοῖς(tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

disciples.
μαθηταῖς(mathētais)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101:A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.


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NT Apostles: Acts 14:28 They stayed there with the disciples (Acts of the Apostles Ac)