Acts 9:31 - So the assemblies throughout all Judea and 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.
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What does "Acts 9:31" mean?
Acts 9:31 describes a period of growth and stability for the early Christian church. Let's break down the verse:
"So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace..."
This indicates that the persecution the early church had been facing (particularly as described in earlier chapters of Acts, with Saul/Paul's involvement) had subsided. This "peace" likely resulted from Saul's conversion and subsequent shift from persecutor to preacher of the Gospel. With one of their main antagonists now on their side, the church experienced a respite.
"Assemblies" refers to the early Christian congregations or churches.
"Judea, Galilee, and Samaria" represent a broad geographical area, encompassing the heartland of Jewish territory and also the region of Samaria, which had a mixed population and a tense relationship with the Jews. The spread of the church across these regions shows its growing influence.
"...and were built up."
"Built up" suggests that the churches were strengthening in their faith, organization, and number of members. This implies spiritual and numerical growth.
"They were multiplied..."
This directly states that the number of Christians in these areas was increasing. New converts were being added to the church.
"...walking in the fear of the Lord..."
"Fear of the Lord" in this context doesn't mean being afraid of God in a terrorizing way. Instead, it signifies a deep reverence, respect, and awe of God, leading to obedience and a desire to please Him. This is a key aspect of their spiritual lives. It means they lived with God always on their mind.
"...and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit."
"Comfort of the Holy Spirit" refers to the encouragement, guidance, and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The Holy Spirit was providing solace, strength, and direction as they lived out their faith. This likely means the Holy Spirit was giving them encouragement in difficult times.
In summary:
This verse portrays a time of relative peace and significant growth for the early Christian church. The churches were thriving both spiritually and numerically, guided by a deep reverence for God and sustained by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. The conversion of Saul was a major factor in this time of peace. They grew because they showed reverence to the Lord and were comforted by the Holy Spirit. This allowed them to continue spreading the Gospel.
Acts 9:31 - So the assemblies throughout all Judea and 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.
What does "Acts 9:31" mean?
Acts 9:31 describes a period of growth and stability for the early Christian church. Let's break down the verse:
"So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace..."
This indicates that the persecution the early church had been facing (particularly as described in earlier chapters of Acts, with Saul/Paul's involvement) had subsided. This "peace" likely resulted from Saul's conversion and subsequent shift from persecutor to preacher of the Gospel. With one of their main antagonists now on their side, the church experienced a respite.
"Assemblies" refers to the early Christian congregations or churches.
"Judea, Galilee, and Samaria" represent a broad geographical area, encompassing the heartland of Jewish territory and also the region of Samaria, which had a mixed population and a tense relationship with the Jews. The spread of the church across these regions shows its growing influence.
"...and were built up."
"Built up" suggests that the churches were strengthening in their faith, organization, and number of members. This implies spiritual and numerical growth.
"They were multiplied..."
This directly states that the number of Christians in these areas was increasing. New converts were being added to the church.
"...walking in the fear of the Lord..."
"Fear of the Lord" in this context doesn't mean being afraid of God in a terrorizing way. Instead, it signifies a deep reverence, respect, and awe of God, leading to obedience and a desire to please Him. This is a key aspect of their spiritual lives. It means they lived with God always on their mind.
"...and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit."
"Comfort of the Holy Spirit" refers to the encouragement, guidance, and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The Holy Spirit was providing solace, strength, and direction as they lived out their faith. This likely means the Holy Spirit was giving them encouragement in difficult times.
In summary:
This verse portrays a time of relative peace and significant growth for the early Christian church. The churches were thriving both spiritually and numerically, guided by a deep reverence for God and sustained by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. The conversion of Saul was a major factor in this time of peace. They grew because they showed reverence to the Lord and were comforted by the Holy Spirit. This allowed them to continue spreading the Gospel.