Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 12:24
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
24. But the word of God grew and multiplied ] Cp. Act 6:7 and Act 19:20. “The seed is the word,” said Christ, and so the Christian historian tells us that the word was as seed, when it was cast forth diligently it waxed and brought forth fruit
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But the word of God grew … – Great success attended it. The persecutions had now ceased; and notwithstanding all the attempts which had been made to crush it, stir the church increased and flourished. The liberation of Peter and the death of Herod would contribute to extend it. It was a new evidence of divine interposition in behalf of the church; it would augment the zeal of Christians; it would. humble their enemies, and would fill those with fear who had attempted to oppose and crush the church of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Act 12:24-25
But the Word of God grew and multiplied.
The progress of Gods Word
This progress–growth and multiplication of Gods Word–was displayed–
I. In the men of that period.
1. The spirit of every age or movement of history is reflected in its leading characters. The Elizabethan age; the American Revolution; the age of Pericles.
2. Displayed in its leaders or exponents.
(1) In Barnabas we see tenderness and generosity.
(2) In Paul strength and genius.
(3) In John Mark imperfection, but eventual usefulness after failure.
3. In its enemies. It defied Herods craft and power, and its success was coincident with his doom.
II. In the march of events.
1. Happy is a land when it has no history, is true only of the old and false conceptions of history.
2. Gods Word did not return unto Him void.
(1) Gentile Christianity was launched on the stream of ages.
(2) Thus the policy of Christianity, of the Church as a missionary, world-evangelising movement, was fixed by whatever force lies in the example of the primitive Church.
III. Is the advance of ideas.
1. Pentecost did not end, but only began, the enlargement of mind to take in Gods thoughts.
2. The minds of the disciples gained that flexibility as to method and inflexibility as to principle by which they could go to every creature. All things to all men, so that I might by all means save some. We must obey God rather than men.
3. The New Testament itself–especially all of it except the four Gospels–shows how the minds of men were enlarged and inspired to apply the Word of God to human wants; and here, in an almost literal sense, it grew and multiplied.
Conclusion:
1. Thus it appears there is a sense in which the phrases, new theology, advanced thought, etc., may represent a state of things thoroughly satisfactory, upon which the Church and the world are to be congratulated.
2. It equally appears that all true progress in religious thought and action is made by men whose instrument is the Word of God, and whose power and guidance are supplied by the Holy Spirit. (J. P. Otis.)
The success of the gospel in the days of the apostles
I. The Word was opposed.
1. By the Word we may understand the gospel of God our Saviour.
2. Jewish prejudices opposed the gospel.
3. Heathenish superstitions were opposed to the Word.
4. Human learning was opposed to the Word of God. The Greeks and Romans excelled in learning; but that learning produced bad effects.
5. The devil opposed the gospel, by his influence and agency on the hearts of men.
6. In spreading the Word, the apostles had to endure many grievous afflictions, both from wicked men and evil spirits.
II. Opposition did not prevent the rapid success of the gospel; for the word grew and was multiplied.
1. The Word is fitly compared to good seed.
2. This seed was sown by the apostles in prepared hearts; and it cannot bring forth good fruit unless the heart be prepared.
3. When the Word sinks into the heart, and takes deep root, it produces holy tempers and holy actions; and when we abound in these, the Word grows in us, and our prayers go up to God with acceptance.
4. The Word is multiplied when many are converted to God by the instrumentality of converts.
III. But what were the principal causes of the extensive promulgation of the gospel in the age of the apostles?
1. The extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, conferred on the apostles, and on many in the Church, promoted the success of the gospel.
2. Another cause of the rapid spread of the gospel in those days was the burning zeal of the apostles and primitive Christians.
3. Divine power attended the Word.
4. The holy tempers, and the holy conduct of the apostles, and of the first believers, produced powerful effects on the hearts of the people.
5. The unity of the Church gave success to the Word.
6. Persecution promoted the cause of Christ, and gave success to the Word.
7. Judgments poured out on wicked men, and on persecutors, gave success to the gospel.
8. The united prayers of the Church gave success to the Word.
Inferences:
1. How widely different was the propagation of Christianity from that of Mohammedism! The one was by the force of truth and holy example; but the other was by the sword and acts of violence!
2. The effects of primitive times have reached us in these last days.
3. We lay no claim to apostolic gifts; but God has opened a wide door, in our day, for the spread of His gospel. (Theological Sketchbook.)
The success of the gospel
I. The Word was opposed by–
1. Jewish prejudices.
2. Heathen superstitions.
3. Human learning.
4. Kingly cruelty.
5. The devil, by his influence on the hearts of men.
II. This did not prevent its rapid success.
1. The Word is good seed.
2. This seed was sown by the apostles in prepared hearts.
3. When this seed takes root it produces holy tempers and actions.
III. The principal causes of this success.
1. The extraordinary gifts of the Spirit.
2. The burning zeal of the apostles.
3. Divine power.
4. Church unity.
5. Persecutions.
6. Prayer. (Pulpit Sketches.)
The success of the gospel
I. The Word of God grew in–
1. Convincing.
2. Converting.
3. Sanctifying.
4. Comforting.
5. Stimulating power.
II. The Word of God multiplied–
1. In the number of believers who embraced it.
2. In the number of preachers who proclaimed it.
3. In the extent of territory over which it spread (chap. 13:4, etc.).
III. The Word of God grew and multiplied notwithstanding–
1. The might that was arrayed against it.
(1) The tyranny of Herod.
(2) The pleasure of the Jews. State authority and sectarian bigotry were combined for the first time since the crucifixion to oppress the Church; how often since has this unholy alliance been made for the same end!
2. The persecution it endured.
(1) The vexation of Christians, espionage, loss of goods, etc.
(2) The martyrdom of James.
(3) The imprisonment of Peter.
IV. National prosperity was imperilled, but the Word of God grew and multiplied. There is more than appears in verse 20. Tyre and Sidon as purely commercial cities were largely dependent on the purely industrial interior for the supply of merchandise, and the interior was dependent on those cities for its very sustenance. The prosperity of both was threatened by a war which would further aggravate the situation. Tyrants may frown, and people may cringe, but the Word of God is independent of both.
V. Human glory was humbled, and kingly power was destroyed, but the Word of God grew and multiplied. Read verses 23 and 24 as one, and the intended contrast is clear. All flesh is grass but the Word of God shall stand forever. The Roman, German, Italian, and English potentates who oppressed the Church are in their graves, but the Word of God grows and multiplies still.
VI. The Word of God grew and multiplied by means of–
1. Prayer–the normal condition of success throughout the ages.
2. Striking interpositions. These are exceptional, but are always at hand if need be. Here we see–
(1) The deliverance of Peter by an angel.
(2) The death of Herod by an angel.
3. Earnest evangelists (verses 25-13:3). (J. W. Burn.)
The invincibility of the Word
The truth of God is not only invulnerable, it is invincible. Smallest of all seeds dropped upon the gorgeous temple floor of the worlds heathendom, lo! it burst into fragments the starred mosaics, and split the monstrous idols till they fell and crushed their worshippers. The one main reason why the triumph of Christianity had from the first all the certainty of a law was this–God is in her, and therefore shall she not be moved. God shall help her, and that right early. (Archdeacon Farrar.)
The vitality of the Word
How strange, how providential has been its history! and how deep ought to be our attachment to a Book so mercifully made our inheritance! From the Churches of the primitive times it passed (as ecclesiastical tyranny grew strong, and would not brook a collateral authority) to the seclusion of the monasteries for many a long and barren century; but God was with it through the darkness, and He brought it forth in His own good time. It was like those seeds of which naturalists tell us, that lie for ages dormant and unfruitful in cells beneath the earth, but whose vitality has never been lost, and which, when brought upon the surface, shoot up with vigour into all the beauty of luxuriant vegetation. Such has been the story of the written Word. (Prof. Archer Butler.)
The enduring kingdom
We have here the kingdom of Herod and Agrippa, as a type of all earthly kingdoms, brought into contrast and collision with the enduring kingdom of Christ the Lord. In many points of view–in similarity and in opposition–the parallel is most peculiarly striking. The rise of both was unobserved. Herods had grown up from nothing. There had been a time when he was living as a mere hanger-on upon the court of Tiberius. He was gifted with those powers by which such men rise in such courts. As he ingratiated himself with Tiberius, the visions of greater things would begin to fill his earthly soul. He was the grandson of the great Herod; perhaps he might yet make himself a name greater than that of the prosperous founder of his house. But upon this early sunshine fell the blackness of a sudden frost, and nipped the opening bud of his greatness. He was accused of wishing the emperor dead, and so the rising Idumaean found himself in a dungeon, and not upon a throne. Then followed the tyrants death, and again Herod rose to favour. He was made king of Batanea and Trachonitis by Caligula; and by Claudius of Samaria and Judaea also. He was one of the few who thoroughly succeed, as it is called, in life; and he governed his kingdom with great splendour and success. He affected popularity; wished to reign in the hearts of his subjects; was a man who would stretch a point that he might do so. But all suddenly at noonday his sun sank in outer darkness. Puffed up with the applause of his subjects, he took to himself, as the great founder of his own fortunes, the honour which belonged to God only. An angel hand strikes him; and, as self-exaltation had been his master sin, so the circumstances of his death are made humiliating in their accidents as well as sudden in their issue: he was eaten by worms. His kingdom passed away; the cunning web which had been woven so successfully, the fruit of youthful enterprise, of mature experience, of long labours, of late and, as it seemed, complete success: all was torn away by the first counterblast which the Almighty sent forth to scatter it. But the Word of God grew and multiplied. Here is the contrast. Here is a kingdom which fadeth not away. With this, Herod had just come into collision; but now he himself was gone; and that despised kingdom grew and multiplied! The blood which he had shed to quench it, made but its flame burn brighter and spread around in wider circles. And the cause of this power of growth is suggested in its very title: it was the Word of God. It was not the mere creature of outside circumstance; it was not a kingdom formed by Caligulas passing favour, augmented by the goodwill of Claudius, and built up and widened by the policy of Herod; it had a life within, which was life for all men. Now from this contrast there flow one or two necessary consequences.
I. That this kingdom of the Word of God will at last subdue all opposition. That which we have seen in this chapter of the Acts has been going on ever since the day when the angel smote Herod. It is going on round about us now.
1. It is going on in the world of nations. Thrones have been built up since, higher than King Herods; the nations of the earth have gone out to wonder at their greatness. Caesar and Charlemagne, Clovis and Solyman, and how many more, have heard in their day the flattering cry, It is the voice of a god! And they have passed away, with their dynasties and their institutions: the great world stream has flowed on, and, as its waves have swept by, they have overwhelmed what was once so great, until their very record has departed. And still the Word of God has grown and multiplied. The outward forms of Christs kingdom abide, as fresh as they were in their earliest morning. Still does baptism admit into this kingdom; still does the simple breaking of bread, and the pouring out of wine, endure amongst us. And, if possible, yet more marvellous still, its inward power over countless multitudes is just what it was of old; still they tremble under the Word spoken; still soul after soul melts in contrition, kindles in love, rejoices in exultation, waits in hope, when the words which are the words of that kingdom of the unseen Lord sound in their ears; still in their trouble men gather together, as they did in the house where Rhoda went to the door at Peters knocking; and still deliverances are given in answer to those supplications, and angels from heaven bear to the saints of the King the succour they need. And now what does all this foreshadow? What but that this kingdom which alone has in it this principle of life shall endure forever? that it shall break in pieces all that are against it?
2. Ah! that which is thus plain in the worldwide history of nations is just as true in the detail of all private life. There, too, are the two kingdoms: the one full of show for vain men, the other full of strength for believing men. There are great promises of success, of rising in life, of acquiring a name, of a mans enjoying his pleasure; and there is an angel ever ready to strike at his noonday of seeming success every such worldly-minded man. There is a Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; and then whose shall this be which thou hast stored up for thyself? And there are dungeons and chains on the other side, the following Christ in self-denial and self-sacrifice; and with these there is still, as of old, a portion in the Churchs prayers, angels visits, and a God and Father who sends them for our deliverance. Surely, then, it is plain which of these kingdoms will endure.
II. The blessedness of being engaged upon the side of this living power. We look into Gods Word, and we see the worthlessness of all outer things; the utter vanity of Herods pompous worm-eaten enthronement; the blessedness and the glory of Peters dungeon, of saints prayers, of martyrdom, of being the care of angels, and the children of the Highest; and our hearts are a little stirred, perhaps, and we have half resolved that we will seek this portion for ourselves; and then we look into the great world, and we are fooled again by the sounds of empire and greatness. Ay! and we look into our own little world; and do we not find it hard to remember and to feel how blessed it is, when God so orders it, for us to be disappointed and calumniated, and despised, and brought low, and afflicted? Do we not every one of us know how thoughts of ease and of comfort, how ambitious longings to be a little greater than we are, a little richer, a little higher in the worlds estimation–how this clings to us? Do we not every one of us know how the secret curse of the worlds measure and the worlds judgment creeps back upon us almost unawares? Do we not know how ready we are to forget in practice the blessedness of being of that little flock which shall yet possess the kingdom forever?
III. And then put these together. If there be this blessedness in being upon Gods side, and if there be this glory in bearing it truly in mind–may we not gather this further inference, that it is our wisdom to set ourselves diligently to act upon the truth that we confess? For it is only by acting upon it that we can make head against the temptation to forget it. This was the wisdom of the apostles remember how in their day, when the world threatened them, they went first unto their own, and lifted up their voice, and said. They made their cry to Almighty God, and then having made their prayer they went forth again into that evil world, and began directly to act for Christ; and in that union of retiring for secret prayer, to draw His strength down upon them, and then simply going forth to act in that strength, as though He was present with them, they were enabled to keep their own hearts firm and their own heads clear, amidst the dizzying and amazing circumstances of their daily life. And we must do the same, each one of us, if we would make head. There must be with us this mixture of prayer to God and of work for God. (Bp. S. Wilberforce.)
.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 24. But the word of God] The Christian doctrine preached by the apostles grew and multiplied-became more evident, and had daily accessions; for the spirit of revelation rested on those men, and God was daily adding to that word as circumstances required, in order to complete that testimony of his which we now find contained in the New Testament. As there is in the original an allusion to the vegetation of grain, (, it grew, as corn grows, the stalk and the ear; , it was multiplied, as the corn is in the full ear,) there is probably a reference to the parable of the SOWER and his seed; for the seed is the word of God, and the doctrine of the kingdom. It was liberally sown; it grew vigorously, and became greatly multiplied. And why? Because it was the word, the doctrine of God-there was no corruption in it; and because God watered it with the dew of heaven from on high.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Grew; the word of God is compared here to seed, as in our Saviours parable, Mat 13:19.
Multiplied; the number of believers multiplied through the word, which was sown, as seed is scattered abroad. So true it is, that persecutors, by their pulling down of the church, do but build it up.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24. But the word grew, &c.thatis, Not only was the royal representative ignominiously swept fromthe stage, while his intended victim was spared to the Church, butthe cause which he and his Jewish instigators sought to crush wasonly furthered and glorified. How full of encouragement andconsolation is all this to the Christian Church in every age!
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But the word of God grew and multiplied. The number of those who were converted by it, and embraced and professed it, increased; otherwise the word is the same, whether the professors of it be more or fewer; and this it did, notwithstanding the persecution raised against it by Herod whilst he was living; and after his death, it still gained more ground, met with less opposition, and was more freely professed.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Grew and multiplied ( ). Imperfect active and passive. Cf. 6:1. The reaction from the death of James and the imprisonment of Peter.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “But the word of God grew,” (ho de logos tou Kuriou euksanen) “Then the word of the Lord grew,” in influence and respect, for in that city were witnesses of Jesus Christ from Cornelius’ house, kindred, and intimate friends who had been saved and knew the true God, Act 10:43-48.
2) “And multiplied,” (kai eplethuneto) “And it increased by several fold in power and influence over people,” Heb 4:12; Act 6:7; Note the contrast between the persecution of the church, and the growth of the Word, with the judgement for sin upon such as take divine honor to themselves, for giving food to the masses. In spite of obstacles, the sword that took the life of James of Zebedee, and the imprisoning of Peter, the influence of Divine power in the church grew, thru the witness of the word, thru the church, Mat 16:18; Mat 28:20; Eph 3:21; Mat 24:35; Mar 13:31. The word, the witness, and the church prospered while the persecutor perished. He whose sword slew James, and who tried to kill Peter, died under Divine judgement, Gal 6:7-8: Act 19:20; Col 1:6; Isa 55:11-12.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
24. And the word of God. When the tyrant was once taken out of the way the Church was suddenly delivered, as it were, out of the jaws of the wolf. Therefore, though the faithful be accounted as sheep appointed to be slain, (Psa 44:23,) yet the Church doth always overlive her enemies; and though the word of God seem oftentimes to be oppressed with the wicked tyranny of men, yet it getteth up the head again by and by, (Rom 8:37.) For Luke determined (771) not only what had happened after that Herod was dead, but also by this example to encourage us, that we may be assured that God will do that, in all ages, which he then did, to the end the gospel may at length break through all impediments of the enemies, and that the more the Church is diminished, it may the more increase through the heavenly blessing.
(771) “ Enim consilium Lucae fuit,” for it was the purpose of God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(24) But the word of God grew and multiplied.The words describe a continuous expansion. The death of the chief persecutor left free scope for the activity of the preachers of the gospel, of which they were not slow to avail themselves.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘But the word of God grew and multiplied.’
And in contrast to the end of the pretender, and in spite of what man could do, ‘the word of God grew and multiplied.’ The word of God marched on in triumph, sweeping all before it. Nothing could hold it back as what follows will now reveal.
We may perhaps close this section of the Book of Acts by pointing out the pattern in the chapter above. It began with the king setting himself up against God and His anointed, followed by the people expressing their approval of his attitude, and their strike against the representative of the Messiah, it continued with the deliverance of His representative, and ended with the people being deserted by God’s anointed who departed for another place, and with the king himself being toppled from his throne. Jerusalem which had for so long resisted Him had received its deserts. From now on attention will turn to Antioch. To us this may seem commonplace. In Luke’s day for the early Christians it was revolutionary. It produced a whole new way of thinking.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 12:24. Grew and multiplied. The expressions here used relate properly to vegetables, and may be intended to signify, that the growth of the gospel, that is, its prevalency in the minds and lives of some, was, as it were, the means of sowing that divine seed in the hearts of many more. See Mar 4:26; Mar 4:41.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Act 12:24 . A contrast full of significance in its simplicity to the tragical end of the persecutor: the divine doctrine grew (in diffusion) and gained in number (of those professing it). Comp. Act 6:7 , Act 19:20 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
But the word of God grew and multiplied. (25) And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
What a sweet relief to the mind from the perusal of the foregoing account, in the awful death of the Reprobate, is the relation here made, of the progress, and blessedness of the Church. Yes! thou dearest Jesus! thy Church must stand: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Ver. 24. But the word of God ] The Church is invincible; and truth may be oppressed a while, but not utterly suppressed. The Israelites never increased so as when Pharaoh kept them under. Fish thrive best in salt waters. The ground that is most harrowed is most fruitful. Camomile, the more you tread it the more you spread it, and the palm tree’s posy is, Nec premor nec perimor. Neither overwhelmed nor destroyed. All the power of the empire could not prevail against Luther.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
24 .] Similarly, ch. Act 5:12 ff.; Act 6:7 ; Act 9:31 , a general statement of the progress and prosperity of the church of God forms the transition from one portion of the history to another.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 12:24 . , marking the contrast, not only between the death of the persecutor and the growth of the Word, but also between the persecution and the vitality of the Church. . imperfects, marking the continuous growth in spite of all obstacles; cf. Luk 8:11 , Mat 13:32 , 2Co 9:10 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act 12:24
24But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.
Act 12:24 This is a characteristic Lukan summary statement (cf. Act 6:7; Act 9:31; Act 12:24; Act 16:5; Act 19:20; Act 28:31).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
word. Greek. logos. App-121.
grew = increased.
multiplied. Greek. plethuno. See Mat 24:12.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
24.] Similarly, ch. Act 5:12 ff.; Act 6:7; Act 9:31, a general statement of the progress and prosperity of the church of God forms the transition from one portion of the history to another.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 12:24-25
RETURN OF SAUL AND BARNABAS
Act 12:24-25
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.-This statement is given to show the contrast between what man was attempting to do to stop the growth of the church and what God was doing for it. Grew and multiplied is from the Greek euxanen kai eplethuneto, and means a very rapid increase; persecutions did not stop the growth of the disciples, neither did it check the number of converts; in fact, the more bitter and severe the persecution the more rapidly did the church increase. The cause of Christ cannot be destroyed by persecution. The history of the church as revealed in Acts shows that the church multiplied more rapidly under persecution than at other times.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned-Agabus had come from Jerusalem to Antioch and had prophesied of a great famine over all the world (Act 11:27-28), and the disciples at Antioch determined to send relief to the Jewish brethren in Judea; they did this and sent their contribution by Barnabas and Saul; hence, Barnabas and Saul went to Jerusalem. We left them there as chapter 11 closed. When they had fulfilled their ministration they returned to Antioch and brought with them John whose surname was Mark. Mark was the son of Mary into whose house Peter had gone after his escape from prison. Mark was a cousin of Barnabas. (Col 4:10.)
So far the historian, Luke, has narrated the facts of the beginning of the church on Pentecost; then its extension among the Jews and Samaritans. He has touched upon the extension of the church among the devout Gentiles, and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Some attention has been given to the persecution of the early church. Peter has been the central figure in the history of the spread of the church among the Jews; he was the apostle of the circumcision. Now the historian turns attention to the labors of Paul as the apostle to the uncircumcised or Gentiles; Antioch becomes the center from which the gospel is extended among the Gentiles unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Act 1:8.)
Questions on Acts
By E.M. Zerr
Acts Chapter 12
What wicked ruler is introduced?
Was he the first ruler of that name?
Identify this one.
What was his general intention now?
On whom did he first make an attack?
Why did he intend to take Peter also?
At what time of the year was this?
Into what place was Peter placed?
Describe the means taken to secure him.
Why was he not executed immediately?
How did the church conduct itself at this time?
By whose services was Peter released?
Relate the demonstration of the gates.
Repeat Peter’s expression of confidence.
To what house did he go?
What was going on there?
What custom did he observe for admittance?
Who answered his call?
Describe her emotions.
What did she do about it?
State impressions of the group.
What being did they think it was?
State what Peter was doing all the while.
Describe the effect when the door was opened.
With what means did Peter silence them?
State the declaration he made them.
What did he then bid them do?
Why special mention of James?
What did Peter then do?
State the condition at break of day.
Explain the cause of it.
Whom did Herod examine?
What would this be for?
Were the soldiers to blame?
What was commanded about them?
Where aid Herod go?
Why to this place?
With whom did he have trouble?
Locate these cities.
State their nationality.
Which side made advances for peace?
Through whom did they work?
What concession did they make to Herod?
Did he give them a favorable hearing?
In what setting did he appear to them?
State the rash words of the crowd.
Whom did the worms attack?
Why him and not the crowd?
How did the Word of God fare?
What trio now returns from Jerusalem?
Acts Chapter Twelve
Ralph Starling
Now Herod stretched out his hand against the church
With the sword he killed James first.
Seeing it pleased the Jews he reckoned
That Peter should be the one to be second.
Apprehending Peter he put him in prison.
Guarded by soldiers, chains, with great precision.
He intended to keep him until after Easter,
And then deliver him to the people.
That same night while Peter was sleeping
An angel awoke him and said, dress quickly.
They passed the first and second gate.
Through one street and made their escape.
The angel had delivered him from Herod and the Jews.
He went to the house of Mary with the news.
When he recounted how thing had taken shape,
He departed and went to another place.
Meanwhile, Herod found who was to blame,
And he commanded the keepers to be slain.
When the people praised him as God he was smote.
He was eaten by worms and gave up the Ghost.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Act 5:39, Act 6:7, Act 11:21, Act 19:20, Pro 28:28, Isa 41:10-13, Isa 54:14-17, Isa 55:10, Dan 2:24, Dan 2:44, Mat 16:18, Col 1:6, 2Th 3:1
Reciprocal: Exo 2:23 – the king Psa 40:14 – driven Pro 22:12 – eyes Mat 2:15 – until Act 9:31 – were multiplied Act 13:49 – was Act 16:5 – increased
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
Act 12:24. The significance of this verse is that in spite of all the disturbances going on between rival countries, the word of God gained many adherents.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 12:24. But the word of God grew and multiplied. In strong contrast to the mournful end of the powerful enemy of the Christians, the Church of Christ kept on increasing in numbers and in power. These few rejoicing words sound like the Christians victory hymn: the powerful king who hated the Christians and their God is eaten of worms, while the Church of Christ holds on unchecked its quiet but triumphal way. Again the sufferings of the faithful had done their work, and fresh believers were added in numbers to a Church which could teach men and women to suffer and to rejoice; and Chrysostom loves to tell us how the blood of James, the friend of Christ and the martyr of Christ, had watered the garden of the Church and made it fruitful.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe, Herod the tyrant and persecutor being dead, the gospel prospered, and was preached up and down with great success. Persecutors, by their weak endeavours to pull down the church, do build it up the stronger. The church in Egypt never grew so high as when Pharaoh laboured most to keep it low; the more he molested them, the more he multiplied them.
Thus here, after Herod’s death, and Peter’s deliverance, the word of God grew and multiplied: that is, the number of believers increased through the preaching of the word, as seed is multiplied by the scattering of the hand; the word preached is the seen sown in the furrows of the field; The ground was now harrowed by the hand of the persecutors, and the seed grew the better, and the fruits of faith and obedience did by every shower of persecution more and more abound.
The truth of God may for a time be oppressed, but it shall never be fully and finally suppressed: still “the word of God grew and multiplied.”
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Act 12:24-25. But the word of God grew and multiplied Became more successful; and in every place where it was preached, the number of disciples was considerably multiplied, and their faith greatly established. So that, after all the opposition of its enemies, who had endeavoured to extirpate it, the progress of Christianity was apparently promoted by the concurrence of the extraordinary events recorded in this chapter, namely, the deliverance of Peter, and the death of Herod, that cruel persecutor, under such heavy tokens of divine vengeance. And Barnabas and Saul returned Namely, to Antioch, after a short abode at Jerusalem; when they had fulfilled their ministry Had faithfully performed the charge committed to them: see Act 11:30; and took with them John, surnamed Mark The son of Mary, (at whose house the disciples met to pray for Peter,) who was sister to Barnabas.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
24. It was impossible that this providential and sudden death of Herod, occurring so soon after the murders which he had committed in Jerusalem, should not seriously affect the public mind. We are not surprised, therefore, that Luke adds: (24) “But the word of the Lord grew and multiplied.” Once more the efforts of men to crush the cause of Christ resulted in the extension of its triumphs.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
12:24 {12} But the {s} word of God grew and multiplied.
(12) Tyrants build up the Church by destroying it.
(s) Those that heard the word of God.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The continuing growth of the church 12:24
In contrast to Herod and like Peter, the word of the Lord, the gospel, continued to grow and multiply through God’s supernatural blessing. Therefore the church continued to flourish in Jewish territory as well as among the Gentiles. This verse is another of Luke’s progress reports that concludes a section of his history (cf. Act 6:7; Act 9:31). Nothing seemed capable of stopping the expansion of the church. Corruption and contention in its ranks did not kill it (Act 5:1-11; Act 6:1-7). Its religious enemies could not contain it (Act 4:1; Act 8:1; Act 8:3; Act 11:19). Even Roman officials could not control it (Act 12:1-23). In the next section we see that it broke out into Asia Minor. Jesus’ prediction that even the gates of Hades could not overpower it was proving true (Mat 16:18; Act 1:8). God’s purposes will prevail!