Acts 16:5 kjv
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 16:5 nkjv
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 16:5 niv
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Acts 16:5 esv
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Acts 16:5 nlt
So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.
Acts 16 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 2:47 | ...And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. | Church numerical growth initiated by God. |
| Acts 4:4 | But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. | Rapid numerical expansion. |
| Acts 5:14 | Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. | Continued addition of believers. |
| Acts 6:7 | So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly... | Growth in word and numbers, a common Acts theme. |
| Acts 9:31 | Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. | Church strengthening and numerical multiplication linked to peace and Spirit. |
| Acts 11:21 | The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. | Divine power enabling conversion and growth. |
| Acts 19:20 | In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. | The 'word' strengthening and spreading, akin to faith strengthening. |
| Col 2:7 | ...rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught... | Emphasis on strengthening in faith through teaching. |
| 1 Thess 3:2 | We sent Timothy... to strengthen and encourage you in your faith... | Apostolic role in strengthening believers. |
| 2 Thess 2:17 | May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father... strengthen you in every good deed and word. | Divine strengthening for good works and belief. |
| 1 Pet 5:10 | And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory... will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. | God's promise to strengthen His people. |
| Mt 16:18 | ...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. | Christ's promise of church building and resilience. |
| 1 Cor 3:6-7 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. | Divine agency behind spiritual growth and numerical increase. |
| Eph 4:15-16 | ...we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ... making the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. | Church growth is for maturity and built up by Christ. |
| Phil 1:9 | And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more... | Desire for spiritual increase (abounding). |
| Acts 15:41 | He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. | Prior action of strengthening, leading into Acts 16:5's summary. |
| Deut 30:6 | The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts... so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. | God's spiritual work of strengthening hearts in faith in the OT. |
| Isa 9:7 | Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end... to uphold it with justice and righteousness from henceforth and forever. | Prophecy of the increasing, expanding kingdom of God. |
| Dan 2:44 | ...the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. | Prophecy of an unstoppable, growing kingdom of God. |
| Exod 1:7 | But the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in number and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. | Biblical precedent for God's people to multiply, indicating divine blessing. |
| Rom 1:11 | I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong. | Apostolic desire for the spiritual strengthening of believers. |
| Jn 17:20 | "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message." | Christ's prayer for future believers and the spread of faith. |
Acts 16 verses
Acts 16 5 Meaning
Acts 16:5 serves as a concise summary statement by Luke, detailing the positive outcomes of Paul's second missionary journey's early stages. It states that the existing churches, which Paul and Silas were visiting, were being continually strengthened in their faith, growing more resolute in their belief and adherence to the apostolic teaching. Concurrently, these congregations were experiencing a continuous increase in their numerical size on a daily basis, signifying both spiritual health and evangelistic success.
Acts 16 5 Context
Acts chapter 16 marks the beginning of Paul's second missionary journey, accompanied by Silas and later by Timothy and Luke. Prior to verse 5, Paul and Silas had traveled through Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:41), visiting the churches they had previously established, strengthening them. Their primary task in this phase of the journey was to deliver the decrees issued by the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:22-29), which addressed the crucial question of whether Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law for salvation. Verse 5 is Luke's summary statement regarding the impact of Paul's ministry in these existing churches—namely, that the communication of the Council's decision and the continued apostolic teaching led to both internal spiritual strengthening and external numerical growth, before the mission moved geographically and strategically towards Macedonia.
Acts 16 5 Word analysis
- Then (οὖν - oun): A conjunction signifying "therefore," "accordingly," or "so then." It indicates that what follows is a logical consequence or a summation of the actions described previously, specifically the apostles' itinerancy and their distribution of the Jerusalem Council's decrees.
- the churches (αἱ μὲν... ἐκκλησίαι - hai men... ekklēsiai): "The churches indeed," referring to the specific assemblies or congregations of believers in the regions Paul and Silas were visiting, such as Syria, Cilicia, and areas of Asia Minor. The term ekklēsia originally meant a summoned assembly, evolving to refer to the Christian community or church.
- were strengthened (ἐστερεοῦντο - estereounto): An imperfect passive verb, meaning "were continually being strengthened," "were being established," or "were being made firm." The passive voice implies that this strengthening was something received, ultimately from divine agency and through the apostles' ministry. The imperfect tense highlights an ongoing, continuous process, not a singular event. This refers to their internal spiritual stability and doctrinal solidity.
- in the faith (τῇ πίστει - tē pistei): Refers to both their personal trust in Jesus Christ and the body of truth (Christian doctrine) they had embraced. Being "strengthened in the faith" means their conviction became firmer, their understanding clearer, and their resolve deeper, especially in light of the clarity provided by the Jerusalem Council's decisions.
- and increased (καὶ ἐπερίσσευον - kai eperisseuon): An imperfect active verb meaning "were continually abounding," "were multiplying," or "were superabounding." Like "strengthened," the imperfect tense denotes a continuous process of growth.
- in number (τῷ ἀριθμῷ - tō arithmō): The numerical size of the congregations. This indicates evangelistic fruit and new conversions consistently being added to the church.
- daily (καθ’ ἡμέραν - kath' hēmeran): An adverbial phrase meaning "day by day," "every day." This emphasizes the consistent, regular, and active nature of the numerical growth, showcasing the dynamic expansion of the early church.
- the churches... were strengthened in the faith: This phrase highlights the critical internal aspect of church health. True growth is not just numerical but qualitative. The delivery and reception of the Jerusalem Council's decision helped solidify the Gentile believers' position within the Church, removing doubt and false teaching, thus strengthening their conviction and theological foundation. This speaks to doctrinal purity and spiritual maturity.
- and increased in number daily: This part emphasizes the external and numerical growth. The combination of internal strengthening and external expansion indicates a vibrant, Spirit-empowered movement. The "daily" aspect underscores the pervasive and constant work of God, demonstrating His blessing upon the apostolic ministry and the fidelity of the early Christians in sharing their faith.
Acts 16 5 Bonus section
This verse functions as a "progress report" from Luke, a characteristic feature of Acts that tracks the advance of the Gospel. It signals a divine rhythm in the early church: truth leads to strength, and strength leads to multiplication. The "strengthening in faith" not only meant stronger belief but also resilience against false teachings (like legalism which the Jerusalem Council addressed). The daily numerical increase underscores the sovereignty of God in evangelism; it was not merely human effort, but divine power adding to the church continuously. This combination of spiritual fortitude and numerical increase represents God's intended thriving for His people.
Acts 16 5 Commentary
Acts 16:5 is one of several significant summary statements in the book of Acts (e.g., Acts 2:47; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 19:20; 28:31), reflecting Luke’s theological perspective that the growth of the church—both spiritual and numerical—is a direct result of God's active involvement, working through His Spirit and faithful apostles. This verse specifically ties the strengthening of believers to sound doctrine (the decrees from the Jerusalem Council, mentioned earlier in Acts 16:4) and consistent pastoral care. It demonstrates that internal health and stability (strengthening in faith) are intrinsically linked to external expansion and multiplication (increasing in number). A church firm in its convictions and obedient to apostolic teaching naturally experiences divine favor and attracts more adherents, showcasing that Christ’s church is a living, dynamic body designed for both depth and breadth of impact.