Acts 14:22

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

[Along the way] they strengthened the hearts of the disciples, urging them to continue [to believe and practice] the faith and [explaining] that entering God's [heavenly] kingdom [See II Tim. 4:18] requires enduring many trials.

Cross References

1 Peter 5:10

And the God who bestows every unearned favor [upon His people], who invited you to partake of His eternal splendor through Christ Jesus, will restore, confirm, strengthen and stabilize you people [in the faith], after you have gone through a brief time of suffering.

2 Timothy 3:12

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in [the service of] Christ will be persecuted.

John 16:33

I have said these things to you so that you can have peace in [fellowship with] me. You will have trouble in the world, but cheer up, for I have conquered the world.”

Romans 8:17

And if we are [His] children, then we have an inheritance from God [i.e., blessings here and hereafter] and are fellow-sharers with Christ [of such blessings], providing we [are willing to] suffer with Him, so we can also be honored with Him [i.e., in the future life. See verses 18-25].

Revelation 2:10

Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. [For] look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. [But], you should be faithful [to God] even to the point of dying [for Him], and I will give you the crown of [never ending] life.

Colossians 1:23

[This will happen] if you continue in the faith [Note: This means either “continue to observe God’s teaching” or, “continue to believe”], firmly grounded and established, and not moved away from the hope offered by the Gospel message, which you have heard and which was preached to people throughout the entire created world under heaven. I, Paul, was made a minister of this Gospel.

2 Timothy 1:8

So, do not be ashamed to testify for our Lord, or ashamed of [being associated with] me, His prisoner, but [be willing to] suffer hardship with me for the sake of the Gospel, relying on God’s power [to sustain you].

Acts 18:23

After spending some time there, he left and traveled through the district of Galatia, [and] then through Phrygia, strengthening [spiritually] all the disciples [along the way].

Matthew 10:38

And the person who does not accept his cross [i.e., his responsibilities with all their difficulties] and become my follower does not deserve me.

Revelation 7:14

And I answered him, “Sir, [surely] you know.” And he said to me, “These are the people who have come through the terrible persecution, and they have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb.

2 Peter 1:11

For in this way, you will be provided with a rich welcome into the never ending kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ [i.e., in heaven].

Acts 9:16

I will show him how many things he will have to suffer for my name's sake.”

1 Corinthians 1:8

He will also make you stand firm [in the faith] to the end [of your lives], so that you will be [considered] without just blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ [returns]

Acts 15:41

traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches [along the way].

Acts 15:32

And Judas and Silas, who also were prophets, exhorted and strengthened the brothers with many [other] words.

Luke 24:26

Was it not necessary for the Christ [i.e., God’s specially chosen one] to suffer these things, and [then] to enter His glorious state [with the Father]?”

Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to be my follower, he should deny self [i.e., of always having its own way] and lift up his cross [of responsibility] and [then he can] become my follower.

Acts 11:23

When he got there and saw how God was favoring the people [with salvation] he was very happy and [stayed on and] encouraged everyone to remain close to the Lord with a heartfelt purpose.

John 15:20

But they [i.e., the world] will do all these things to you for my name’s sake [i.e., because you are my disciples], for they do not know Him [i.e., God], who sent me.

Revelation 1:9

I [am] John, your brother who participates with you in the suffering and kingdom and endurance [which we experience] in [fellowship with] Jesus. I was on the island called Patmos for [preaching] God’s message and for testifying about Jesus. [Note: Patmos was located in the Aegean Sea between present-day Greece and Turkey].

Jude 1:3

Dearly loved ones, as I was very eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we share in common, I felt it necessary [instead] to write urging you to contend earnestly for the faith [i.e., the teaching of Christ] which was once and for all delivered [by the apostles, See verse 17] to the saints [i.e., God’s holy people].

1 Thessalonians 3:13

May the Lord strengthen your hearts so you will be [found] without just blame and holy, in the presence of our God and Father, when our Lord Jesus Christ returns with all of His holy ones [i.e., angels. See Mark 8:38; II Thess. 1:7].

Acts 13:43

Now when the synagogue service was over, many of the Jews and devoted proselytes [i.e., converts to the Jewish religion] followed Paul and Barnabas, who urged them to continue accepting the unearned favor of God.

Acts 6:7

So, the message of God increased [in its influence] and the disciples multiplied in number greatly in Jerusalem, [so that even] a large number of [Jewish] priests became obedient to [the message of] the faith.

Mark 10:30

but what he will receive [back] a hundred times as much now in this life --- houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children and property --- [yet] with persecutions. And in the coming age [he will receive] never ending life.

Mark 9:47

And if your eye becomes the occasion for falling away [from God] gouge it out; it would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with [only] one eye, rather than keeping both eyes and being thrown into hell [i.e., all because one of them caused you to fall away from God].

John 3:5

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I tell you, a person cannot enter the kingdom of God unless he is born out of water and the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 19:24

And again I tell you, it is [actually] easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

John 15:18

If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own people. But since you do not belong to the world, for I chose you out of it, this is why the world hates you.

Acts 11:26

and when he found him, he brought him [back] to Antioch. So, for an entire year Saul and Barnabas gathered the church together and taught many people. [It was] here in Antioch that the disciples were first [divinely] called Christians.

Acts 11:29

[In response to this prediction], the disciples decided to send as much relief as they could to help the brothers living in Judea.

Acts 14:20

But as the disciples stood around [Paul’s apparently lifeless body], he [surprisingly] stood up [fully restored to health] and entered the town. On the following day he went with Barnabas to Derbe.

Acts 14:28

And they stayed with the disciples [there at Antioch] for quite some time.

Philippians 1:29

Because God has granted you [the privilege], on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

1 Peter 2:21

[After all], this is what you were called to do, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps.

1 Peter 5:9

You should withstand his efforts by maintaining a strong faith [in God], remembering that your [Christian] brothers in [the rest of] the world are experiencing [and enduring] suffering similar to yours.