So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
4 sermons cite this verse
… Acts 6, verse 1, number of disciples is increasing. Acts 6, verse 7, the number of disciples continues to increase. Acts chapter 9, verse 31 says, the number in the church continued to grow. Now I want you to turn to Acts chapter 11. We read Acts chapter 9, verse 31. Look at Acts chapter 11. Look at verse 21. And maybe every time you see the word number in the scripture here, let me encourage you to circle it. I just want you to see how Luke was very detailed and very intentional about showing us the quantitative growth of the church. Circle every time you see a mentioned number. Look in Acts chapter 11, verse 21. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great what? A great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. Look down in verse 24, talking about Barnabas. It says Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. …
… filled with the Holy Spirit. They're speaking the Word of God boldly. That's a direct result of prayer. Look over in Acts chapter 6, verse 7. Acts chapter 6, verse 7. Listen to what the Bible says there. The Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. So the Word of God is spreading. The number of disciples in Jerusalem is increasing. Why did that happen? Well, we read it just a second ago, verse 3 and 4. They chose seven from among them who were known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom turned responsibilities over to them so that the leaders in the church could give their attention to what? To prayer and the ministry of the Word. Look over in chapter 9. This is probably my favorite one. Look at chapter 9, verse 18. This is the story of Saul, the great persecutor of Christians going out and just going house to house and persecuting believers and their families. …
Listen for God's instructions to deacons. in those days when the number of disciples was increasing the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food so the twelve gathered all the disciples together and said it would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. …
… And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them, and the word of God increased. And the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly. and a great number of the priests were obedient to the faith. Now, I don't know whether you remember being a teen or not, but if you were a teenager coming through puberty into your teenage years, you suffered what we all suffered, and that is growing pains. And those pains sometimes were physical, and many times they were emotional, but sometimes it hurts to grow. And many of us remember the awkwardness of those years where we didn't know we were a little boy or a young man or what we were. Growth sometimes causes growing pains. A verse of Scripture that reminds me of that is Psalm chapter 4 and verse 1. The psalmist said there, Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress. And that is true. Can you think of the times when you've grown the most? I dare say that the times you grew the most spiritually is not when things were going the best for you. …