At Iconium they went into the Jewish synagogue and they spoke, a number of Jews and Greeks believed. The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned them against the brothers in Christ. They stayed a long time speaking boldly for Christ. The city was divided between the Jews and the Apostles. They were going to stone them, so they fled to Lystra and Derbe. They kept preaching the gospel. Paul was preaching and a paralyzed man was healed. The people thought they were gods. Paul and Barnabas tore their garments (grieved) and cried out that they brought good news, to serve the living God, but the people kept sacrificing (worshiping) to them. Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, persuaded the crowds, stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. When the disciples gathered around him he rose up and entered the city. He and Barnabas then went to Derbe. They preached the gospel and made disciples then returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. They strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraged them to continue in the faith saying that it is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God. They appointed elders in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them [the churches] to the Lord. They passed through Pisidia, came to Pamphylia. Spoke in Perga, went down to Attalia, and sailed to Antioch (where the were originally commended [sent out] for the work they fulfilled). They gathered the church together and declared all that God had done, how the door of faith had been opened to the Gentiles. They remained no little time with the disciples.
Paul and Barnabas are driven by one thing – preaching the Gospel. Exposing the Word of God to the people everywhere that they went. Enduring suffering for the sake of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The power of Christ in the life of a believer extends beyond merely treasuring the gospel personally, but it also overflows in spreading the gospel to others. This was the mission of the church in Antioch in sending Paul and Barnabas out. This was the mission of Paul and Barnabas. Also, notice that church polity was on their mind too. They appointed elders in every church. Missions aren’t about the power of man, but the power of the gospel as it is faithfully preached. Preaching the gospel doesn’t work at the expense of thinking about authority and leadership in a local church. The central and most important mission of preaching the gospel doesn’t work against caring about how a local church is organized.