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Attalia and their Return Home

# 8 Rather than taking the most direct route to Antioch of Syria, Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, , "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith." They were also appointing elders in every church (Acts 14:21-23).

They also returned to Perga and preached the gospel there before proceeding to coastal Attalia, which lay southwest of Perga and was an important harbor and commercial center in Paul's day. From there, Paul and Barnabas sailed for Antioch of Syria, arriving in the autumn of 49 AD., where they reported to the church all that had happened, especially the opening of the "door of faith to the Gentiles." (14:21-27).

They had been gone for nearly two years and had traveled approximately 1,250 miles.