Acts 18:23 Meaning and Explanation
“And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →After some time in Antioch, Paul sets out again, traveling region by region through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
What Does Acts 18:23 Mean?
Here the third missionary journey begins, almost without announcement. Paul retraces old ground in order, place by place, through the regions where churches were planted on earlier journeys, before any new frontier is attempted.
Paul's first concern is not new territory but old disciples; converts must become established saints. Strengthening is slower and less celebrated than founding, yet the risen Lord gave Peter the same charge: strengthen thy brethren. Christ does not abandon what He begins, and His servants learn the same persistence, returning to water what they once planted.
Acts 18:23 in the Original Language
episterizo (ἐπιστηρίζω), 'strengthening' -- to make firm, to steady and establish what is already standing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 18:23
What does Acts 18:23 mean?
After some time in Antioch, Paul sets out again, traveling region by region through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.