Acts 12:24 kjv
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 12:24 nkjv
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 12:24 niv
But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
Acts 12:24 esv
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Acts 12:24 nlt
Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.
Acts 12 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 6:7 | The word of God continued to spread; | Rapid growth of the Word |
| Colossians 1:6 | It is bearing fruit and increasing | Fruitful increase of the Word |
| Romans 10:8 | the word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart | Accessibility of the Word |
| 1 Thessalonians 2:13 | you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. | Efficacy of God's Word |
| Matthew 13:23 | Other seed fell on good soil and, when they heard the word, understood it and bore fruit, and yielded, a hundredfold." | Reception of the Word leading to fruit |
| Isaiah 55:11 | So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. | Divine purpose of the Word |
| Mark 16:15 | "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." | Great Commission |
| Acts 4:31 | When they prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. | Holy Spirit empowering the Word |
| Luke 1:2 | as those who from the first were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word | Eyewitness testimony |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us | Incarnation of the Word |
| Acts 19:20 | So the word of the Lord grew in might and prevailed | Power and prevalence of the Word |
| 2 Timothy 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness | Divine inspiration |
| Acts 1:8 | "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. | Holy Spirit's role in spread |
| Acts 4:4 | But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. | Early growth through preaching |
| 2 Timothy 4:2 | preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. | Command to preach the Word |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword | Potency of God's Word |
| Philippians 1:6 | And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. | God's work of completion |
| 1 Peter 1:23 | since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. | Word as imperishable seed |
| Romans 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. | Gospel as God's power |
| Acts 12:25 | When Barnabas and Saul had completed their service, they returned from Jerusalem, carrying with them John, whose surname was Mark. | Continuation of the mission |
Acts 12 verses
Acts 12 24 Meaning
The word of the Lord increased and multiplied. This signifies a powerful and pervasive spread of the Gospel message. Despite external pressures and the death of a prominent leader, the Christian faith continued to grow numerically and influence more people. It emphasizes God's sovereign power in expanding His kingdom, unaffected by human circumstances or opposition.
Acts 12 24 Context
This verse appears in Acts chapter 12, a period of intense persecution for the early church. King Herod Agrippa I had just executed the apostle James (the brother of John) and imprisoned Peter, intending to do the same. However, Peter was miraculously delivered from prison. This chapter highlights both the brutal opposition faced by believers and the unhindering power of God's Word and prayer. The verse marks a turning point, showing that despite these severe challenges and the loss of a key leader, the Gospel's advancement was not stymied. It occurred after Peter's miraculous escape, demonstrating divine intervention amidst human hostility. The narrative transitions from the suppression of the apostles to the growth of the message they proclaimed.
Acts 12 24 Word Analysis
- "But" (δὲ - de): A conjunction indicating contrast or continuation. Here, it contrasts the external difficulties with the internal success of the Word.
- "the word" (ὁ λόγος - ho logos): Refers to the spoken and written message of the Gospel. It encompasses the teachings of Jesus, the apostles' testimony, and the divine truth itself.
- "of the Lord" (τοῦ κυρίου - tou kyriou): Identifies the source and authority of the message as Jesus Christ, the Lord.
- "increased" (ηὔξανεν - auxanen): The imperfect active indicative of αὐξάνω (auxano). It signifies a continuous or ongoing process of growth, enlargement, and development.
- "and" (καὶ - kai): A conjunction connecting two related ideas, showing a dual aspect of the Word's progress.
- "multiplied" (ἐπληθύνετο - eplēthyneto): The imperfect passive indicative of πληθύνω (plēthynō). It denotes becoming more numerous, spreading widely, and increasing in quantity or disciples. This highlights both numerical growth and expansion in scope and influence.
Words Group Analysis:
- "the word of the Lord increased and multiplied": This powerful phrase encapsulates the dynamic and unstoppable nature of the Christian message. The 'increase' speaks to the depth and impact of the message in individuals' lives and in the community, while 'multiplied' emphasizes the expansion of the number of believers and the reach of the Gospel to new areas. This growth was not due to human effort alone but the sovereign power of God animating His Word.
Acts 12 24 Bonus Section
This verse can be seen as a foreshadowing of the universal scope of the Gospel, which would eventually reach Gentile nations and continue to expand throughout history. It stands in stark contrast to the specific narrative of political and religious power plays within Jerusalem, illustrating that God's agenda transcends human machinations. The fact that this growth is attributed to "the word of the Lord" underscores the central role of biblical truth and divine revelation in the expansion of God's kingdom. It also implies a receptiveness to the message on the part of the populace, enabling the increase and multiplication.
Acts 12 24 Commentary
The success of the Gospel, described as "increased and multiplied," occurred in the face of significant opposition and the apparent setbacks experienced by the early church, as evidenced by James's martyrdom and Peter's imprisonment. This statement emphasizes God's ultimate control and the inherent power within the message of salvation itself. It serves as a profound reassurance that external pressures and persecutions cannot ultimately hinder the divine purpose of spreading the Gospel. The growth was organic, driven by the Spirit's work through the proclamation of the truth, leading to both deepening faith in existing believers and the conversion of new ones.
Practical Usage Examples:
- A church facing internal challenges or external criticism can be encouraged by the principle that God's Word continues to advance.
- In evangelistic efforts, the focus should remain on faithfully proclaiming the Word, trusting in God to bring about increase and multiplication.
- When setbacks occur in ministry, remembering that the Word is powerful in itself helps maintain faith and perseverance.