Acts 6:7 is a powerful statement about the early church's growth and impact in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"The word of God increased..." This means the message of the Gospel was spreading and gaining influence. It wasn't just staying stagnant; it was actively taking root and growing.
"...and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly." The number of believers was rapidly increasing. The word "exceedingly" emphasizes the scale and speed of this growth. It suggests that the church was experiencing significant and noticeable expansion.
"A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." This is the most surprising and significant part. Priests were members of the Jewish religious establishment, traditionally opposed to the early Christians. Their conversion to Christianity suggests that the Gospel was so compelling that it even won over some of its most dedicated opponents within the Jewish leadership.
Together, these elements suggest:
Effective Evangelism: The early church was effectively communicating the Gospel message.
Divine Power: The growth wasn't just due to human effort; it was attributed to God's work.
Impact on the Jewish Community: The church was not just converting ordinary people, but influential figures like priests. This likely had a ripple effect, influencing others within the Jewish community.
Significant Change: The verse shows a significant shift happening in Jerusalem. The established religious order was being challenged, and some of its members were embracing the new faith.
Universality of the Gospel: The fact that priests, deeply ingrained in the Jewish faith, were converting indicates that the Gospel's message of salvation was resonating across different social and religious groups.
In essence, Acts 6:7 is a summary statement showing the thriving condition of the early church in Jerusalem. It highlights the powerful spread of the Gospel, the growing number of believers, and the surprising conversion of a significant number of priests, demonstrating the impact of Christianity on the very heart of Jewish religious life.
Acts 6:7 is a powerful statement about the early church's growth and impact in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"The word of God increased..." This means the message of the Gospel was spreading and gaining influence. It wasn't just staying stagnant; it was actively taking root and growing.
"...and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly." The number of believers was rapidly increasing. The word "exceedingly" emphasizes the scale and speed of this growth. It suggests that the church was experiencing significant and noticeable expansion.
"A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." This is the most surprising and significant part. Priests were members of the Jewish religious establishment, traditionally opposed to the early Christians. Their conversion to Christianity suggests that the Gospel was so compelling that it even won over some of its most dedicated opponents within the Jewish leadership.
Together, these elements suggest:
Effective Evangelism: The early church was effectively communicating the Gospel message.
Divine Power: The growth wasn't just due to human effort; it was attributed to God's work.
Impact on the Jewish Community: The church was not just converting ordinary people, but influential figures like priests. This likely had a ripple effect, influencing others within the Jewish community.
Significant Change: The verse shows a significant shift happening in Jerusalem. The established religious order was being challenged, and some of its members were embracing the new faith.
Universality of the Gospel: The fact that priests, deeply ingrained in the Jewish faith, were converting indicates that the Gospel's message of salvation was resonating across different social and religious groups.
In essence, Acts 6:7 is a summary statement showing the thriving condition of the early church in Jerusalem. It highlights the powerful spread of the Gospel, the growing number of believers, and the surprising conversion of a significant number of priests, demonstrating the impact of Christianity on the very heart of Jewish religious life.