King James Bible
"And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles."
Paul and Barnabas return to their sending church in Antioch after their first missionary journey, immediately convening the congregation. This gathering reflects the early church's practice of accountability and communal celebration, where missionaries reported back to those who commissioned them. The missionaries attribute their success entirely to God's action rather than their own efforts, emphasizing divine agency throughout their journey. This phrase establishes the theological framework that mission work is fundamentally God's initiative with humans as cooperating instruments. The metaphor of an 'opened door' signifies God removing barriers that previously excluded Gentiles from salvation without first becoming Jews. This marks a pivotal moment in Acts where the gospel's universal scope becomes undeniable, validating the inclusion of non-Jews as full members of God's people through faith alone.