Acts 9:28-31
What is written? (ESV)
So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
What does it say?
So he (Saul/Paul) went in and out among the brethren in Jerusalem (in Judea), boldly preaching by the authority of God and confronting the Hellenists’ teaching. So they sought to kill him, and the brethren helped him to escape to Caesarea and then to Tarsus. As a result, the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, having peace and being built up. By walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the church multiplied.
What is its immediate context?
Saul (e.g. Paul) has just been converted after being blinded on his way to Damascus, praying for three days, and meeting Ananias who baptized him. The church required a recommendation from Barnabas (vs 27) before having fellowship with him.
How Acts 9:28-31 is applied across Bible answers
How is Christ’s church defined in the Bible?
Due to the preaching of the gospel, the single church in Jerusalem became many different churches throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and continued to multiply due to its collective, universal membership continuing to obey God and their comfort in/through the Holy Spirit.
What is the fear of the Lord?
The first-century Christians were "walking in the fear of the Lord" - it was an action, something they consciously did.
