The Best Way to Grow

Day 170: Acts 12:24-25, 13:1-15

“But the word of God increased and multiplied.” - Acts 12:24 ESV

Luke contrasts Herod Agrippa's untimely death (by intestinal worms) with this short description of what the word of God was doing. Again, there is no New Testament (as we know it today). James and Paul and the others hadn't yet sharpened their quills. Even so, God's word was actively taking ground, just like in the beginning, when God spoke the universe into existence.

The word for increased is αὐξάνω auxanō, and it is a farming term meaning to grow, spread, or extend. The word for multiplied is πληθύνω plēthynō, and it speaks specifically to the numbers. Stephen used it in his discourse to describe how the Israelites grew in Egypt (see Acts 7:17).

They were healthy (auxanō), so they succeeded numerically (plēthynō).

The same was true as we head into chapter 13. They fasted and prayed, and then the Holy Spirit said to set apart Saul (Paul) and Barnabas for the first (organized) missionary journey.

So many times, we get this turned around. We want God to use CSF for great things, but we don't often realize that He is the one who is supposed to do the initiating.

God, move us into a healthy place. May your Holy Spirit lead. Only then do we want to see the numeric blessing of multiplication.

"For the third time in Acts (see also 6:7 and 9:31) Luke adds a brief summary of the progress of the church. Here it is given in direct contrast to the downfall of Herod. The persecutor was destroyed, but the word of God 'continued to increase and spread.' Luke uses the imperfect tense with these verbs to emphasize that the gospel was daily expanding its reach."
- Gaertner, D. (1995). Acts (Ac 12:24)