Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Study Note
Study Note
Paul and Barnabas's encouragement to the newly founded churches — 'through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God' — establishes suffering as a normal, expected feature of the path to eschatological hope rather than an anomaly or sign of divine disfavor. The word 'must' (dei) implies divine necessity — the pattern is theologically structured, not accidental. The context (strengthening the disciples, appointing elders, commending them to God) presents this teaching within the framework of pastoral care for vulnerable communities facing real opposition. Paul's own imprisonments and hardships described in 2 Corinthians 11 and Philippians 3 embody what he teaches here, and 2 Timothy 3:12 generalizes the principle: 'all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.'
Other Translations
confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.
confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting to remain in the faith, and that through many tribulations it behoveth us to enter into the reign of God,
Making strong the souls of the disciples, saying to them that they were to keep the faith, and that we have to go through troubles of all sorts to come into the kingdom of God.
Cross References
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise …
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall …
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up …
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, …
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of …
And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is …
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to …
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and …