Act 9:31 | KingComments | STEP | After the persecutions, a time of peace began in the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria. The gospel was preached there and as a result several churches were formed. Yet Luke speaks of the church and not of churches. [The fact that Luke does not do this here does not mean that it does not happen at all, see ; .] In this way he emphasizes the unity of the one church, even though in practice we see that there are several local churches. Each local church is – at least it should be – a reflection of the total church. According to the word of the Lord Jesus ( ) the gospel has been brought to those regions, including Galilee, and the church is founded there. Before we leave that area to follow the work of the Spirit to the ends of the earth, Luke tells us some beautiful characteristics of the church in those regions. We can pray that the Lord will cultivate such characteristics in the local or regional church also today. The peace of the churches will have been the result of the conversion of Saul, which stopped the engine of persecution. This peace will relate not only to the outward circumstances, but also, and above all, to the inward, to the peace in the heart of believers. This time and mind of peace gives the opportunity for spiritual growth, for being built up through the teaching of God’s Word. Times of peace must also in our days be used well by believers to build themselves up in their most holy faith ( ). Teaching that is truly ingrained in the heart will, as it were, automatically result in a walk in the fear of the Lord. Walking in the fear of the Lord is not a walk in anxiety for the Lord, but a walk in reverence for the Lord. The result of this in turn is the increase of the church. A walk in reverence for the Lord attracts people. When people come to conversion and are added to the church, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. That work is presented here as “comfort”.

‏ Acts 9:31

The Church Has Peace and Increases

After the persecutions, a time of peace began in the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria. The gospel was preached there and as a result several churches were formed. Yet Luke speaks of the church and not of churches. [The fact that Luke does not do this here does not mean that it does not happen at all, see Gal 1:22; 1Thes 2:14.]

In this way he emphasizes the unity of the one church, even though in practice we see that there are several local churches. Each local church is – at least it should be – a reflection of the total church.

According to the word of the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8) the gospel has been brought to those regions, including Galilee, and the church is founded there. Before we leave that area to follow the work of the Spirit to the ends of the earth, Luke tells us some beautiful characteristics of the church in those regions. We can pray that the Lord will cultivate such characteristics in the local or regional church also today. The peace of the churches will have been the result of the conversion of Saul, which stopped the engine of persecution.

This peace will relate not only to the outward circumstances, but also, and above all, to the inward, to the peace in the heart of believers. This time and mind of peace gives the opportunity for spiritual growth, for being built up through the teaching of God’s Word.

Times of peace must also in our days be used well by believers to build themselves up in their most holy faith (Jude 1:20). Teaching that is truly ingrained in the heart will, as it were, automatically result in a walk in the fear of the Lord. Walking in the fear of the Lord is not a walk in anxiety for the Lord, but a walk in reverence for the Lord.

The result of this in turn is the increase of the church. A walk in reverence for the Lord attracts people. When people come to conversion and are added to the church, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. That work is presented here as “comfort”.