Act 9:31 | NETfull | STEP | Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.

Acts 9:31

31 Then ^{▼▼ Or “Therefore.” This verse is another summary text in Acts (cf. 2:41–47; 4:32–37; 5:12–16; 6:7).} the church throughout Judea, Galilee, ^{▼▼ Grk “and Galilee,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.} and Samaria experienced ^{▼▼ Grk “had.”} peace and thus was strengthened. ^{▼▼ Or “Built up.” The participle οἰκοδομουμένη (oikodomoumenē) has been translated as a participle of result related to εἶχεν (eicen). It could also be understood as adverbial to ἐπληθύνετο (eplēquneto): “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace. Strengthened and living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.” Although some scholars do not regard the participle of result as a legitimate category, it is actually fairly common (see ExSyn 637–39).} Living ^{▼▼ Grk “And living.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.} in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church ^{▼▼ Grk “it”; the referent (the church) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} increased in numbers.