NOTES for Act 14:19-28

“Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God”... What does this mean? Are troubles necessary for salvation, or are they simply inevitable? In other words, where should the emphasis fall in this sentence? Apparently, it should fall somewhere quite different from where we are accustomed to placing it. The main thing in this sentence is not “tribulations,” but “enter the Kingdom.” Tribulations exist and will exist for everyone, Christians and pagans alike. Sometimes Christians suffer considerably more tribulations than others; sometimes people find themselves in such a disadvantaged position not because of their religion but, for example, because of their nationality... Paul proclaims the good news: these tribulations can and must become our path into the Kingdom of God. It depends only on us whether we will seize this opportunity—to entrust everything to God's hands, receive everything anew from Him, and thus enter the Kingdom.