Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 16:5
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
5. established in the faith ] The verb is peculiar to the Acts, and is used (Act 3:7; Act 3:16) of the strengthening of the limbs of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. So its employment here indicates that thus the church was now prepared to make great progress. The barrier to Gentile admission was removed, and so the number of Christians multiplied daily.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Established in the faith – Confirmed in the belief of the gospel The effect of the wise and conciliatory measure was to increase and strengthen the churches.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. And so were the Churches established] The disputations at Antioch, relative to circumcision, had no doubt spread far and wide among other Churches, and unhinged many. The decrees of the apostles came in good time, and prevented farther mischief: the people, saved from uncertainty, became established in the faith; and the Church had a daily accession of converted souls.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Established in the faith; being rightly persuaded in the nature and use of things indifferent; and, in general, of things necessary to be believed.
And increased in number daily; so that this visitation of the churches had a double benefit. First, it strengthened them that were already converted. Secondly, it added more unto their number.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And so were the churches established in the faith,…. Of Christ, both in the grace and doctrine of faith; and that both by the preaching of the Gospel by the apostle and his companions, and by the decrees of the elders delivered by him:
and increased in number daily; as well as in gifts and grace.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Were strengthened (). Imperfect passive of , old verb to make firm and solid like the muscles (Acts 3:7; Acts 3:16), these three the only examples in the N.T.
Increased (). Imperfect active of the old and common verb from (overplus). The blessing of God was on the work of Paul, Silas, and Timothy in the form of a continuous revival.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Were established [] . Rather, were strengthened. Another word is used for established. See ch. Act 14:22; Act 14:32, 41; Act 18:23. There is a difference, moreover, between being strengthened and established. See 1 Peter verse 10.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And so were the churches,” (hai men oun ekklesiai) “Therefore (by means of this declaration of principles set forth),” the plurality of established congregational, local assemblies, the word, especially in Asia Minor at that time.
2) “Established in the faith,” (estereounto te pistei) “Were, came to be, strengthened in the faith,” rooted and grounded in a proper interpretation, understanding, and conduct in harmony with the general “system of teaching,” or body of doctrine and practice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Such was later admonished toward the church at Ephesus, Eph 4:1-3; Eph 4:12-16; and by Jud 1:1-3; Act 18:23.
3) “And increased in number daily.” (kai eperisseuon to arithmo kath’ hemera) “And they increased (enlarged or grew) in number (numerically) daily, or as the days passed by. The growth of the churches was both of the intensive and extensive nature. There was spiritual, emotional, and knowledge growth, within the souls of the members of the churches; then there was also the outer growth of new members, new fruit, new souls won to the Lord, added to the churches on a regular, daily basis, thru the witness of Christ, by both word and manner of daily conduct of the members of the churches, Joh 15:5; Joh 15:8; Mat 5:16; Mat 8:31; Act 6:7; Act 9:31.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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5. The churches were confirmed. By this we gather, that that which Luke setteth down, or rather touched concerning the decrees of the apostles, was, as it were, put in by the way, being not much appertinent unto the matter. − (176) For he commendeth a far other fruit of Paul’s doctrine, when he saith that the churches were confirmed in the faith. Therefore Paul did so order external things, that he was principally careful for the kingdom of God, which consisteth in the doctrine of the gospel, and doth far surpass and surmount external order. Therefore those decrees were mentioned, inasmuch as they were expedient for maintaining concord, that we might know that the holy man had a care thereof. But religion and godliness hath the former place, whose sole foundation is faith; which again doth stay itself upon the pure Word of God, and doth not depend upon men’s laws. Now, by this example, Luke pricketh us forward to proceed continually, lest, at the beginning, sloth or neglect of profiting come upon us. Also the way to increase faith is expressed, to wit, when the Lord doth stir us up by the industry of his servants; as at that time he used the labor and diligence of Paul and his companions. When he addeth immediately that they were also increased in number, he commendeth another fruit of preaching, and yet he doth therewithal signify unto us, that the more those profit in faith who are first called, the more do they bring unto Christ; as if faith did creep abroad unto others by branches. − (177)
(176) −
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Accessorium,” accessory.
(177) −
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Propagine,” by propagation.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
‘So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.’
This section now closes with the usual summary section. As a result of all these activities and decisions the churches were strengthened in the faith and continued daily to increase in numbers. The witness to the uttermost part of the earth was going well. It was shortly yet to expand further.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Ver. 5. Established in the faith, and increased in number ] Some were converted by their ministry, others confirmed. This is still the fruit of faithful preaching, which is far more effectual hereunto than other ordinances; like as the rain from heaven hath a fatness with it, and a special influence, more than other standing waters, and as milk from the breast is most nourishing.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
5. ] This general notice, with , like those at ch. Act 9:31 , Act 12:24 , marks the opening of a new section.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 16:5 . .: the last time is used by St. Luke, except of the Jerusalem Church, and in the peculiar case of the elders at Ephesus, Hort, Ecclesia , p. 95. Rendall, Appendix , , p. 165, connects this verse with the following paragraph, cf. Act 9:31 , so apparently Blass in . : only used in N.T. in Acts, cf. Act 3:7 ; Act 3:16 , and only here in this figurative sense, and it is very possible that St. Luke as a medical man might thus employ the verb which he had twice used in its literal sense, cf. similar instances in Hobart’s Introd. , p. xxxii.; here as in Act 6:7 , Act 9:31 , we have the outward growth of numbers and the inward in the steadfast holding of the faith, extensive and intensive.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
And so, &c. = The churches indeed therefore.
churches. App-186.
established. Greek. stereoo. See note on Act 3:7; Act 14:22. A medical word.
faith. App-150.
daily. Greek. kath’ (App-104.) hemeran, i.e. day by day.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
5.] This general notice, with , like those at ch. Act 9:31, Act 12:24, marks the opening of a new section.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 16:5. , were strengthened) now that the disputation as to circumcision has been done away with: ch. Act 15:1. A rare increase, at once in numbers, and in the degree of faith.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
so: Act 15:41, 2Ch 20:20, Isa 7:9, Rom 16:25, 1Co 15:58, Gal 5:1, Eph 4:13-16, Col 2:6, 1Th 3:2, 1Th 3:13, 2Th 2:16, Heb 13:9, Heb 13:20, Heb 13:21, 1Pe 5:10
increased: Act 2:47, Act 4:4, Act 5:14, Act 6:7, Act 9:31, Act 11:21, Act 12:24, Act 13:48, Act 13:49, Act 19:18-21
Reciprocal: Act 15:31 – they rejoiced Rom 1:11 – to the Rom 16:4 – also Gal 1:2 – churches 2Pe 1:12 – and be
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Act 16:5. Churches established. The starting of a church is not the same as establishing one. That has to be done by additional instruction concerning Christian duties.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 16:5. So the churches were established in the faith. So (), as a consequence of the mediating tendency of the decrees of the Apostolic Council, a great bar to the acceptance of the gospel by the mass of Gentiles had been permanently removed.
The religion of Jesus might be accepted by a Roman or Asiatic without the necessary adoption of the Jewish rigorous and exclusive practices.
Established in the faith, and increased in number daily. On these words, which speak of a daily increase in the numbers of Christians, and at the same time of the faith in Jesus taking a firm and ever firmer root in the hearts of men and women, Bengel has one of his pithy telling comments, Rarum incrementum, numero simul et gradu.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 4
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
5. This proclamation of universal Gentile freedom from all burdens of Jewish ritualism, gives a universal impetus to the gospel church throughout the Gentile world.
PAULS CALL TO EUROPE
We Americans are all of European extraction. Hence this was really the evangelization of our ancestors.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
This fifth progress report concludes the section on the church’s expansion into Asia Minor (Act 12:25 to Act 16:5; cf. Act 6:7; Act 9:31; Act 12:24; Act 19:20; Act 28:31). This part of its history was particularly crucial since in this phase of its expansion the church changed from predominantly Jewish to predominantly Gentile.