Acts 15:41

Acts 15:41

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

a. NLT: Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.

b. NIV: He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

c. YLT: And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, establishing and strengthening the churches.

e. Worrell Translation: And he went through Syria and Celicia, confirming the assemblies.

f. Wuest Translation: And he went through Syria and Celicia, establishing the assemblies.

1. “And he went through Syria and Cilicia…”

a. And [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. he went through [Strong: 1330 dierchomai dee-er'-khom-ahee from 1223 and 2064; to traverse (literally):--come, depart, go (about, abroad, everywhere, over, through, throughout), pass (by, over, through, throughout), pierce through, travel, walk through.]

c. Syria [Strong: 4947 Suria soo-ree'-ah probably of Hebrew origin (6865); Syria (i.e. Tsyria or Tyre), a region of Asia:--Syria.]

d. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

e. Celica [Strong: 2791 Kilikia kil-ik-ee'-ah probably of foreign origin; Cilicia, a region of Asia Minor:--Cilicia.]

1). For the churches in Syria, we have Antioch of course. There had to be a church or a group of Christians in Damascus because that is where Paul was going to make his arrests, Acts 9:1, 2. Ananias was there, but so also was a group of believers, Acts 9:19. It is probable that because of the threat of being captured by the governor Acts 11:32, 33, or being killed by the Jews of the city Acts 9:22-24, that Paul steered clear of Damascus during the approximate 8 years he was in Tarsus. In Acts 9:30 he leaves for Tarsus and in Acts 11:25, 26 he comes to Antioch from Tarsus. I venture to say Paul used Tarsus as a home while he ministered in the regions of Syria and Celicia. In Galatians Paul gives us a glimpse of what he did during those years while living in Tarsus.

a). Galatians 1:21-24 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

1:24 And they glorified God in me.

b). There were churches in Celicia, though none are named. The Scripture though is clear that after Paul went back to Tarsus and before Barnabas came to get him to come to Antioch, Saul preached Jesus. I am fully persuaded that portions of the persecutions that Paul lists in 2 Corinthians were experienced during this time, in particular 2 Corinthians 11:24.  

2. “…confirming the churches.”

a. confirming [Strong: 1991 episterizo ep-ee-stay-rid'-zo from 1909 and 4741; to support further, i.e. reestablish:--confirm, strengthen.]

b. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. churches [Strong: 1577 ekklesia ek-klay-see'-ah from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church.]