And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Parallel translations
- WEB He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
- KJV And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
- NKJV And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
- NASB And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
- NLT Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. The new journey began by building up existing believers.
Overview
Paul's first stops served his stated aim of confirming the churches already planted. Cilicia included his home region around Tarsus, where the gospel had spread. This strengthening ministry shows the continuity of his concern for the spiritual health of every congregation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Acts 15:23and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
- Acts 15:32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
- Gal 1:21Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
- Acts 16:4–5As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
- Acts 21:3After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.
- Acts 6:9But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They began to argue with Stephen,
- Acts 18:18Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 15:41 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.