The day following the stoning of Paul, the apostles departed for Derbe, where their labors were blessed, and many souls were led to receive Christ as the Saviour. But "when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many," neither Paul nor Barnabas was content to take up work elsewhere without confirming the faith of the converts whom they had been compelled to leave alone for a time in the places where they had recently labored. And so, undaunted by danger, "they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith." Many had accepted the glad tidings of the gospel and had thus exposed themselves to reproach and opposition. These the apostles sought to establish in the faith in order that the work done might abide.

Dagen efter, at Paulus var blevet stenet, drog apostlene til Derbe, hvor deres arbejde blev velsignet, og mange sjæle fik hjælp til at tage imod Kristus som Frelseren. Men da de "havde forkyndt evangeliet i denne by og vundet talrige disciple," følte hverken Paulus eller Barnabas sig tilfredse med at tage arbejdet op nye steder uden at have styrket troen hos de omvendte, som de for en tid havde måttet efterlade ene på de steder, hvor de nylig havde virket. Og uden at lade sig skræmme af faren "vendte de tilbage til Lystra og Ikonium og Antiokia og styrkede disciplenes sjæle og påmindede dem om at blive i troen." Mange havde modtaget evangeliets glædelige budskab og havde derved udsat sig for vrede og modstand. Apostlene søgte at befæste disse i troen, for at det, som var opnået, måtte vare ved.