Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.So the church throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.
3 sermons cite this verse
… 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. Verse 25 says Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. …
… So these followers of Jesus scattered from the church in Jerusalem, now to Judea and Samaria, just like Jesus had said in Acts chapter 1 verse 8. and then turn over one chapter to Acts chapter 9 verse 31 where we read this summary statement. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit it multiplied. Do you see what's happening here? Again just like Jesus had promised the gospel spread from Jerusalem Church starts there. Christians scattered. The gospel spreads in Judea and Samaria. And the church is multiplying. Now keep going to Acts chapter 11. Look at verse 19 in Acts chapter 11. We pick up the story. Those who were scattered because of that persecution that arose over Stephen in Acts chapter 8, traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word of no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists, or the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. …
14. If we inquire in what manner “the mystery of iniquity,” the energy of Satan, began to work again in the Christian Church, we shall find it wrought in quite a different way; putting on quite another shape: Partiality crept in among the Christian believers. Those by whom the distribution to everyone was made had respect of persons; largely supplying those of their own nation, while the other widows, who were not Hebrews, “were neglected in the daily administration.” (Acts 6:1.) Distribution was not made to them according as everyone had need. Here was a manifest breach of brotherly love in the Hebrews; a sin both against justice and mercy: Seeing the Grecians, as well as the Hebrews, had “sold all they had, and laid the price at the Apostles’ feet.” See the second plague that broke in upon the Christian Church! — Partially; respect of persons; too much regard for those of our own side; and too little for others, though equally worthy. 15. The infection did not stop here, but one evil produced many more. From partiality in the Hebrews, “there arose in the Grecians a murmuring against” them; not only discontent and resentful thoughts, but words suitable thereto; unkind expressions, hard speeches, evil-speaking, and backbiting, naturally followed. And by the “root of bitterness” thus “springing up,” undoubtedly “many were defiled.” The Apostles indeed soon found out a means of removing the occasion of this murmuring; yet so much of the evil root remained, that God saw it needful to use a severer remedy. He let loose the world upon them all; if haply by their sufferings, by the spoiling of their goods, by pain, imprisonment, and death itself, he might at once punish and amend them. And persecution, God’s last remedy for a backsliding people, had the happy effect for which he intended it. Both the partiality of the Hebrews ceased, and the murmuring of the Grecians: And “then had the churches rest, and were edified;” built up in the love of God and one another; “and, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” (Acts 9:31.) …