This is all about the role of the Holy Spirit in encouraging the church. When this happens, it is usual for the church to grow.

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT ENCOURAGEMENT
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Acts 9:31 31Thenthe church throughout Judea,
Galileeand Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was
strengthened. Livingin the fear of the LORD and
encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increasedin
numbers.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
The Opportunity And Obligation Of The Church
Acts 9:31
W. Clarkson
I. THAT A TIME OF TRANQUILLITY MAY BE AND SHOULD BE A
PERIOD OF PROGRESS."The Churches had rest .... and were edified, were
multiplied." The time of restis too often one of inglorious repose, ofunworthy
indulgence, or even fatal luxury and corruption. But when the molesting hand
of persecutionis taken away, it is possible for the Church to put forth all its
strength - to enter on a path of unflagging activity, of holy enterprise, and of
gratifying enlargement.

2. II. THAT THE CHURCH SHOULD NEVER BE WITHOUT A
SENTIMENTOF SACRED AWE. It should always be walking "in the fearof
the Lord." Love, trust, joy in Christ, should be the element in which it lives;
but it must never take leave of its deepestreverence and awe. It must walk "in
fear,"
(1) realizing the near presence of its observantLord, the Lord of
righteousness andpurity (Revelation2:1);
(2) remembering that it is held by him responsible for the extension of his
kingdom, for the conversionof the world (2 Corinthians 5:19); recollecting
that, if it should lose its sanctity, there is no human power by which it can
hope to be restored(Matthew 5:13).
III. THAT THE CHURCH REQUIRES TO BE CONTINUALLY
SUSTAINED BY INFLUENCES WHICH ARE DISTINCTIVELY DIVINE.
"Multiplied by the exhortation [comfort, ministry] of the Holy Spirit." No
perfectness ofmachinery, no eloquence of human oratory, no promptings of
emulation, no pressure of authority, no earth-born influences of any kind or
number, will suffice to sustain a Church in living power. It must be multiplied
by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It must secure the teaching which is
animated by the Spirit of God; it must be listening to the doctrine which is
communicated By the Spirit; it must have the indwelling of the Spirit in the
minds and hearts of its members; it must be looking to the ever-living power
of the Spirit to make all its agencies andoperations effectual.
IV. THAT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST SHOULD BE ADVANCING AS A
DIVINELY ERECTEDSTRUCTURE. The Church "was edified." built up; it
rose as a structure rises - gradually and in due proportions. The Church of
Christ should, in the increase whichit makes, possessthe characteristics ofthe
best building - it should
(1) attain to a stately, should "multiply," grow in numbers and in the extent of
ground it covers;
(2) become more beautiful in aspect;
(3) acquire increasing strength. - C.

3. Biblical Illustrator
Then had the Churches rest.
Acts 9:31
Quiet times
DeanVaughan., R. Wardlaw, D. D.
The right use of quiet times is a greatsecretof Christian living. Human life is
made up of alternations of storm and calm, of trouble and rest. It is so with
the life of an individual, a nation, or a Church. The earlierpart of this chapter
indicated a time of trouble. But now the chief persecutorhas himself felt the
force of truth. Then again the Emperor Caligula was making an impious
attempt to place his own image in the Temple, and so the attention of the Jews
was wholly occupied with plans for frustrating his design. They had no time to
persecute. So the Churches had peace:how did they use it? Did it make them
indolent, unfruitful, unfaithful, quarrelsome? Two things are said of them:
they were —

4. I. EDIFIED.
1. The whole Church is one building, planned by one Architect, carried on by
one Builder, designedfor one end, to be the habitation of God. This thought is
full of comfort. It shows us that howeversmall the place of eachone, yet each
one has his place, and that, if it be not filled, there is a blank, be it everso
small. Is not that honour enough? Does it not say to each, See that thy place be
not a blank, or worse?
2. The Church of eachland, age, town, is a building. It may be but a fragment,
a buttress, or a pinnacle of the universal Church; but you all know how any
building would look if one buttress fell; and therefore you will not count it a
small thing if some such position belongs to our community. This
congregationof ours is a building. Is it then being built up? is it rising, in
solidity, unity, beauty? is it giving signs, more and more, of its destination as a
habitation of God?
3. Eachhuman soulis a building. What a question is it, for eachone, How is
that building which is I myself, getting on? Are the foundations deeply and
soundly laid in the faith of Christ? Is the superstructure rising day by day
gradually, regularly, quietly, yet consciously, perceptibly, visibly? Am I
growing in grace? more and more prevailing over sinful passions? betterable
to do the work which He has given me? Times of tranquillity ought to be times
of edifying: alas I too often they are times of suspendedenergy.
II. MULTIPLIED. A time of peace oughtto be a time of outward as wellas
inward progress. It was so of old. How is it now? Is there zeal in founding or
reinforcing missionary institutions? Alas! you know that with much
philanthropy there is little gospelzealamongstus; that, where a thousand
pounds can be gatheredfor a work of charity, it is hard to collectten for a
work of piety. And is the Church at all multiplying at home? Can we point, by
tens, or fives, or units, to new persons brought to be worshippers by agencies
now working amongstus? We are not left in the dark as to how this may be
done. The Church multiplies, by its own progress, in two things: walking in —
(1) The fear of the Lord, etc. Christ deserves not only our love but our fear.
Does that seemstrange? Is He not our "merciful and faithful High Priest,"

5. "the Propitiation for our sins." Yes! The words are written for our comfort,
but not to make us carelessaboutour sin. There is nothing which so
solemnises the mind as the thought of an absolutelydisinterested and
unbounded love. It says of itself, "How shall we escape if we neglectso great
salvation?" To "trample under foot the Sonof God," to "countthe blood of
the covenant, wherewithwe are sanctified, an unholy thing," must indeed be
of all crimes the blackestand the most fatal. And that is what men do every
day for want of this very fear of which the text speaks. To walk in the fearof
Christ is one-half of Christianity.(2) And then, so walking, there is room for
"the comfort of the Holy Ghost." This is not a mere soothing influence within;
it is a cheering power without also. The same word is rendered exhortation.
God comforts by cheering on; by encouraging to action. We may try the
reality of our comfort by this one test: Does it stir me up and spur me on to
action? Does it say not, Restfrom work, but, Restin working?
(DeanVaughan.)
I. THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DESCRIPTION HERE GIVEN.
1. The Churches "were edified." A Church may be edified by the addition of
new members. The Church is a building, and those added to it are living
stones;and by the addition of such stones the spiritual temple advances to
completion. Such, however, cannot be the meaning of the word here; it means
rather, "Growthin grace";advancementin the principles and fruits of Divine
love. The Churches were composedof individuals, and as the wealthof a
country consists in the aggregatewealthof the individual inhabitants, and the
national wealth increasesin proportion as the wealthof individuals increases,
so with the Church. If we desire the edification of our ownChristian societyor
the Church of God generally, the first requisite is our seeking personal
advancementin knowledge,faith, and holiness;and the secondis our using all
the appointed means for promoting the same among our brethren. Edification
includes —(1) Growth in knowledge. All other growth arises from this. There
is a kind of knowledge which hinders edification. "Knowledge puffeth up, but
love edifieth." Knowledge that engenders self-conceittends to the destruction
of love; and whateveropposes love is a foe to all genuine spirituality and
improvement. Yet there can be no edification without growth in the spiritual

6. discoveries ofthe mind. The Bible contains the inexhaustible resourcesof
wisdom, and the study of it is indispensable to edification.(2) Increase in faith.
This is the natural effect of growth in spiritual knowledge. The Word of God,
like His other works, contains in it the marks of its Divine origin, and the
more it is known the more its source will be perceivedand felt.(3) And
connectedwith growth in faith there is a corresponding growthin all the
graces andvirtues of the Christian character. All the ingredients in the
compositionof inward, vital godliness, arise from the influence of Divine grace
upon the heart and life, and must be in proportion to the growth of faith.
2. They walked"in the fear of the Lord." This —(1) Imparted a becoming
solemnity to all their socialmeetings for worship, and a corresponding dignity
and propriety to all who were present.(2)Implies a sacredconscientious
regard in all things to His authority.(3) Suggests thatthis was the superior
dominant principle, and that the fearof man was suppressedand kept in
control.
3. They walked"in the comfort of the Holy Ghost." Edificationand practical
godliness were associatedwith spiritual enjoyment. The comfort of the Holy
Ghostis comfortof which the Spirit of God is the greatAuthor. To walk in
this comfort is to enjoy harmony within, and to display it externally to have
the powers of the mind and the affections ofthe heart engagedin duty. This
comfort, then, is not an indolent, inactive enjoyment. It is only to be found in
active service, not in a life of ascetic seclusion, orin feelings of spiritual
epicurism. There is an intimate connectionbetweenwalking in the fear of the
Lord and walking in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. All pretensions to the
latter without the former are vain. There is no true legitimate comfort from
the truths of God except to those that walk in the ways of God.
II. THE CONNECTION SUBSISTINGBETWEEN THEM AND
ESPECIALLY BETWEENTHE CHARACTER OF THE CHURCHES
WITH THEIR MULTIPLICATION. An undue regard to members has often
done incalculable mischief. Increase is desirable, but it must be increase of
those whose hearts are right with God. With Him respectability consists notin
numbers but in character. He had a few names in Sardis who had not defiled
their garments. But, as a corrupt body, the Church of Sardis is admonished,

7. and "there is joy before the angels of God." We rejoice more in an addition to
than in the continued safety of the sheep. We delight in seeing all the jewels of
the Saviour's crowncontinuing to shine with pure lustre; but our delight is
still more elevatedwhen a new jewelis added to it. It is in this respectthat
missions to the heathen are so supremely interesting. Notice, then, a
connectionbetween—
1. Restand edification. In the Church as well as in the state, times of difficulty
and trial often callforth latent powers, and produce remarkable men where
they were leastexpected;but it too generallyhappens that to the members of
a persecutedbody such seasons are not times of steady thought, and deliberate
and persevering study of Divine truth, and consequently of general
improvement. A state of rest, on the contrary, affords opportunities for much
study of the Divine oracles;for private and socialmeetings for conversation,
and prayer, and mutual excitement. Let it be a serious question whether the
rest which we enjoy is duly improved by us for the purposes of edification?
2. Restand increase.(1)A state of rest affords opportunities and leisure to
attend to the interests of others:for preaching and using without restraint all
the means for the conversionof sinners.(2)Restsets others free from the fear
of attending at the proscribed places where the obnoxious doctrine is taught.
Goodcannot be done to the souls of men unless they are brought under the
sound of the gospel.
3. The state of the Church as described — increase. Where these
characteristicsobtain—(1) The influence of the characterof Churches upon
the augmentation. In illustrating this we may observe — there is an
augmentation of holy and active zeal for the glory of the Redeemerand for the
salvationof souls, which God blesses withsuccess.(2)There is combined with
the effort to promote the truth the practical exemplification of its influence.
When the truth is recommended, not merely in words, but by the exhibition of
its power — then, under the blessing of God, it makes a successfulappealto
the consciencesofmen, and finds its waywith efficacyto the heart.(3) There
must be a most spiritual, strengthening effecton those who minister in holy
things, to preach the gospel. The sight of a listless, lukewarm, divided Church,
will actlike a heavy drag on the spirit of the pastor. But when the Church

8. prospers, when the members become edified, and walk in the fear of the Lord,
and when they are united, affectionate, zealous, steady, constant, prayerful —
this is the very zest of a pastor's life.(4) The Church will be mighty in prayer.
Prayer is a means of edification and a measure of its progressive amount. If
believers are not growing in the spirit and exercise ofprayer, they are not
growing in grace. It is a common observation, and the principles of the Word
of God lead us to believe it, namely, that revivals of religion have been
precededby more than an ordinary predominance of prayer among the
people of God for the successofHis cause in all lands.(5) There is securedan
increase ofthe blessing of the Redeemer, and of supply of His grace. "Every
branch in him that bearethnot fruit He takethaway;and every branch that
beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." And this
proceeds upon a generalprinciple, elsewhere laiddown by Him. "Whosoever
hath, to him shall be given," etc.
(R. Wardlaw, D. D.)
The characteristicsandmultiplication of Christian Churc
J. Parsons.
hes: —
I. THE GRAND CHARACTERISTICSBY WHICH CHRISTIAN
CHURCHES OUGHT TO BE DISTINGUISHED. We observe here —
1. The Church is governed by the practicalinfluence of religion. "The fear of
the Lord" is the scriptural equivalent for the whole of practicalreligion, and
involves devout reverence ofthe Divine attributes, and continued obedience to
the Divine commandments. Churches are places where impenitence and
unbelief should never come;where the depravity of the human heart should
be expelled by the energy of redeeming grace;where every heart should be
imbued with the love, and should be devoted to the service of God, and where
every individual soul should be growing and meetening for the possessionof
holiness in heaven! True it is that, from time to time, there come among our

9. communities those who have not the fearof the Lord, but "these are spots in
our feasts ofcharity." They have no part and no lot in the matter.
2. Churches enjoying the consolationsofreligion. "The comfort of the Holy
Ghost" signifies, of course, the comfort which the Holy Ghost, in His
characterof Comforter, is intended to bestow upon those who are truly
walking in the fear of the Lord; and that comfort must be regardedas
consisting in feeling that they are possessors ofvital piety: of a personalsense
of their interest in the work of redemption; taking awayfrom them the spirit
of fear, and implanting within them the Spirit of adoption, administering to
them sufficient strength for all circumstances, and filling them with emotions
of joy and gratitude. But the enjoyment of the consolations ofreligion must be
regardedas arising from practicaldevotedness and eminence in piety. The
inspired historian mentions one characteristic as a cause and the other as an
effect. The Spirit administers comfort where the Spirit receives honour; and
where the Spirit is grieved there the Spirit is restrained. His awakening
influences precede, His consoling influences follow.
II. THE BLESSINGS WHICH CHRISTIAN CHURCHES, AS THUS
DISTINGUISHED, MAY ANTICIPATE. These Churches were multiplied.
1. There are two principles connectedwith this multiplication of Christian
Churches. It is intimately connected —(1) With the state of religionamongst
those persons who belong to them. They were multiplied because they were
walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. The
connectionbetweenthe holiness of Christians and the conversionof sinners is
in Scripture most distinctly stated. "Let your light so shine before men," etc.
(see also Philippians 2:14-16;1 Peter2:11, 12). If the unconverted world see
you inconsistentthey will be disgusted, but let them see you walk in the fear of
the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and then the very meanestof you
will be himself a powerful minister of religion, will become "a living epistle of
Christ, known and read of all men." Your communities will increase in
reputation, and in augmenting numbers, and your spiritual privileges will be
enjoyed by men, who but for your holiness would yet have remained in "the
gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity," but whom you shall have to
present, finally, as your glory, as your joy, and as the crownof your rejoicing

10. in the presence ofthe Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.(2) With their
exertions. Every believer is set apart, not only for holiness, but for exertion;
and if Christians be idle, in whateverclass oflife they may be found, they are
guilty of the most shameful breach of trust. The Church at Jerusalemwas one
mighty mass of activity (Acts 2:42, etc.). And when they were scatteredabroad
by persecution, every man was transformed into a preacherof the gospel
(Acts 8:4). Now this is the legitimate consequence ofwalking in the fear of the
Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost; but it is too much undervalued
and forgotten. Are ministers expectedto be arduous and incessant, while their
Churches are to remain indolent and torpid, just to coollyreceive their
message, orelse to criticise their defects, and to be discontented at their want
of success? There wants to be sentanother Pentecostalfire, which shall touch
all ranks and classes, kindling in their bosom the flame of that zealwhich shall
never be quenched till death.
2. This multiplication is a most desirable and happy event. There appears to
be, in the language ofthe historian, an element of pleasure, but there are
nominal Christians in modern times to whom it produces no pleasure at all to
hear of the multiplication of Churches. There are two reasons,however, why
this event is so desirable and so happy. Its intimate connection —
(1)With the promotion of the glory of God.
(2)With the present and final blessednessofman.
(J. Parsons.)
Restand prosperity of Churches
A. J. Morris.
Our text —
I. DESCRIBESTHE CHURCHES OF THE HOLY LAND.
1. Their nature.(1) They were congregations, orassemblies,ofgoodpeople.
And they are described as being more than one in the same country.(2) They

11. were not material edifices;although I do not objectto, but prefer, that
application of the word.(3) They were not promiscuous associations,
constituted by chance, nominal profession, outwardand involuntary rites;
they were real Christians.(4)They were not national communities, for we read
not of "a Church," but "Churches."
2. Their quiet. "Thenhad the Churches rest."(1)This denotes the
commencement, not the continuance, of a state of peace. "Then" — after the
persecutionof chap. Acts 8:1-4. It was the calm after the storm, the joy
coming in the morning, after the weeping that endured through the night, and
therefore the more precious.(2)The causes ofthis return of quiet.(a) The
conversionof Saul. "The grace ofGod was exceeding abundant towards him."
His oppositionwas destroyed, not by his punishment as a foe, but by his
transformation into a friend. Is there no encouragementto us in this? His
conversionis setforth by himself as a "pattern" of the power and the mercy
of the gospel. Thenlet Christians pray.(b) The solicitude and alarm of the
Jews. At Alexandria the Jews suffereddreadfully from the Egyptians, and in
Judea and elsewhere were in imminent peril of ruin. An attempt was made to
bring the statue of Caligula unto the Holy of Holies, in consequenceofsome
offence he had takenat the conduct of the Jews. Nothing could produce
greaterconsternation. So they were too concernedabout their own affairs to
meddle with those of others. God can "restrainthe wrath of man," as wellas
make it "praise Him." He cancontrol the circumstances as wellas change the
characterof our foes. "Saulreturned from pursuing after David" when the
"Philistines invaded the land."
3. Their experience and conduct.(1) "Theywere edified" — built up "as lively
stones, a spiritual house."(a)When the storm ceasedthey set earnestlyabout
the completing of their moral temple. Persecutionis unfavourable to religious,
as war is to secular, commerce. It dispirits, diverts attention, employs
resources,and intercepts communication. Peace,however, permits the full
and unfettered employment of the Church's gifts and graces fortheir
appropriate and appointed purposes. The Churches before us were edified
when they had rest. Their principles became broader in their base, and more
perfect in their symmetry. Their faith increasedin intelligence and
earnestness. As a natural result of this, they cherishedand expressedthat filial

12. reverence for God which is called for by His majesty and mercy; and they
sought and submitted to all the intimations and the influences of the Spirit of
Christ.(b) This was their course. They"walked" according to this rule. It was
not an occasional, but a constantthing. It described them in their relations as
men of the Church and as men of the world. And what was the result?
4. Their increase. "Were multiplied." They receivedlarge accessions from the
world. There was more Christianity, and so there were more Christians.
Saints were sanctified, and sinners became saints. These are the two elements
of Church prosperity, the two ends of Church association. Christians are thus
connectedthat they may promote eachother's spirituality, and that, by the
union of their gracesand the combination of their energies, they may be as
light to a dark, and saltto a corrupt world. And these two things are
inseparably connected. The Church cannot grow in grace without diffusing
grace.
II. SETS THEM BEFORE US FOR IMITATION. The text was written for
our use. Consider —
1. The connectionbetweenthe rest and the edification of these Churches.
"They had rest, and were edified." They made spiritual advancementwhile
they enjoyed civil repose. Theydid not spend the seasonofcalm in luxury and
sinfulness.(1)Often quiet deteriorates the Church. The favour of the world
has been often far more injurious to her than its hatred and opposition. When
the civil sword has been turned againstthe Church, she has often "lived more
abundantly"; when that swordhas been turned againstthe enemies of the
Church, she has often as miserably died.(2) Our text, however, says that rest is
not ruin, of necessity. And all Churches in their condition may have this
character. It is quite a mistake to regardaffliction as indispensable to
spirituality. And yet how familiar is the language, "The Church is gotinto a
bad state:it wants the fire of persecutionto purge it from its dross." And if
nothing but persecutionwould bring the Church into a goodstate, let it come,
and the soonerthe better. But Christians should not be dependent on the
malice of their enemies for the welfare of their souls;nor can it be imagined
that the wickedare the "salt" of the Church, without which it would speedily
go into utter corruption.(3) On the contrary, the "rest" of the Churches is

13. both a motive and a means of their prosperity. We should be stimulated by
gratitude to a devout and diligent employment of the privileges so peacefully
possessed. And then it affords the occasionfor devotedness. The attention is
not diverted by danger. There is the power of a regular and undistracted
attendance on all the institutions of Christianity. The mind is left free from a
dispiriting anxiety to study "the greatthings of God's law," and the
machinery of means can play awaywithout injury or interruption. See you
not how all this applies to us? We have rest in a fuller measure than the
Churches of Palestine. Whatis, what ought to be, the effect? Alas! they are
not the same thing.
2. The connectionbetweenthe edification of these Churches and their
increase.(1)The piety of a people is necessaryto the safe and profitable
enjoyment of their increase. A Church not eminently holy may suffer from
greatmultiplication. Enlargementwill tend to vanity and self-sufficiency.
Perhaps we may find in this the reasonwhy some Churches remain so
stationary. It would hurt them to be otherwise.(2)It is for the benefit of those
who are added to a Church that it should be greatly good. Who can think
without concernand pity of a multitude of souls being joined to a worldly
Church?(3) The godliness ofa Church is a prime means of its increase. God
blesses aneminently spiritual Church. For there will be prayers with labours,
not insteadof them — the only prayers that God will hear. And those labours
will possessa characterofearnestnessand uniformity. The spirit of self-
denying love and zealwill pervade the entire body; "he that heareth will say,
Come";eachindividual, like his Master, will "seek" inorder to "save." Noris
this all. The holy characterofa Church in itself has no mean influence in
"winning souls." The exhibition of holiness is calculatedto arrestattention by
its singularity, and to produce impression by its force. The religion of Christ
has suffered more from the inconsistencies ofits friends than the opposition of
its foes;its professors have createdmore objections than they have answered;
and the proof of its divinity may be drawn from its preservation in spite of its
adherents. Had all Christians been like Jesus Christ, or anything like Him, the
world would have become Christian. And the holiness of Christians is
especiallyimportant in an so practicalas our own. The question is being asked
of everything, "Forwhat good?" Christianity must stand the test — it has

14. always claimed to be tried by it. It depends on Christians, however, what shall
be the actualand immediate results of such a trial. For all these reasons, the
sanctificationof Churches is necessaryto their proper spiritual extension.
There is an extensionwhich Christ does not approve, and which men do not
profit by — an increase of dimensions which resembles that premature
growth which issues in consumption, if not rather that extensionof the body
which takes place at death. But the legitimate enlargementof Churches must
come of their internal prosperity. Would you, as Churches, be increased? You
must be quickened. A revival of religion must commence with the religious.
(A. J. Morris.)
Prosperous Churches
D. Thomas, D. D.
I. THEIR EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES. "Rest."The hurricane of
persecutionwas now hushed, and under the genialinfluence of peace they
grew. Peacein the nation is the time to build houses and develop resources.
Peace in nature is the time for sowing and cultivation. Persecution, like
storms, may deepen the roots of piety when it exists, but is unfavourable to the
dissemination of seedand the growth of fragile plants.
1. This external condition Churches in England now have. We can sit under
our own vine, etc. Once our Churches were very differently circumstanced —
e.g., under Mary and the Stuarts.
2. This condition we are bound to improve. Greatis our responsibility. All the
waste land should be cultivated. Every spot brown with barrenness should be
made emerald with life.
II. THEIR MUTUAL RELATION. There was —
1. Organic independence. These Churches are spokenof as distinct; they were
doubtless distinct organisations, eachhaving its own laws, managing its own
affairs, and knowing no head but Christ.

15. 2. Spiritual unity. They are all spokenof as belonging to one generic class,
subject to one generalcondition, and pursuing the same order of life. And
there is vital unity betweenall true Churches — the unity of spirit, aim,
headship. They were "all members of one body." That which really unites
Churches is not "unions," "conferences,"etc., but Christ's spirit of truth,
love, and goodness.
III. THEIR INTERNALCONDITION.
1. Living in godly reverence.
2. Receiving sacredinfluences.
IV. THEIR LEADING SIGNS. Increase —
1. Of strength.
2. Of numbers. Strong Churches, like strong nations, will colonise.
(D. Thomas, D. D.)
The Churches increased
E. Payson, D. D.
I. What is meant by WALKING IN THE FEAR OF GOD?
1. A habitual and profound veneration for His characterand institutions.
2. A humble and unreserved submission to His authority. The influence of this
fear will extend to all the powers and faculties of the soul. It will —
(1)Constrainthe understanding to submit implicitly to the authority of God's
revealedwill.
(2)Influence the will, rendering it pliable and submissive, and conforming it to
the will of God.
(3)Control and regulate the affections.

16. (4)Guide and govern the imagination.
3. A holy jealousyof ourselves, end a watchful care to avoid everything which
may grieve, displease, orprovoke Him to forsake us. Now, as Churches are
composedof individuals, it follows that when all or nearly all the members of
a Church live under the habitual influence of this principle, the Church will
walk in the fear of God; and all the duties which are incumbent on it will be
diligently and faithfully performed. These duties are —
(1)To provide the means of grace and of religious instruction for itself, its
children, and those who are immediately connectedwith it:
(2)To faithfully maintain the discipline of Christ in His house.
(3)To assemble at proper seasons forsocialworship.
(4)To take care of the religious educationof its children.
(5)To assistfeeble and destitute sisterChurches with pecuniary aid according
to their ability.
II. What is meant by WALKING IN THE COMFORTS OF THE HOLY
GHOST? Having —
1. Peaceofconscience, orpeace with God, arising from a persuasionwrought
in the soul by the Holy Spirit that we are pardoned and acceptedin the
Beloved.
2. A strong and well-grounded hope, arising at times to a full assurance,that
we are adopted into God's family, and that consequentlywe have a title to all
the privileges of His children.
3. Foretastes ofthe joys of heaven.
III. WHEN THE MEMBERS OF CHURCHES HABITUALLY WALK IN
THIS MANNER, GREAT ADDITIONS WILL BE MADE TO THEM. This is
probable when we consider —
1. That such a life and temper will naturally and most powerfully tend to
convince all around them of the reality and happy effects of religion, to

17. remove their prejudices againstit, and to show them that its possessionis
highly desirable.
2. That this state of things is exceedinglypleasing to God, and naturally tends
to draw down His blessing. Them that honour Him He will honour.
3. That, when Churches walk in this manner, it proves that God is pouring out
His Spirit upon them, and that a revival of religion is already begun.
(E. Payson, D. D.)
Complementary forces in the Christian life
W. L. Watkinson.
I. WE ARE APT TO REGARD THESE TWO FORCES — FEAR AND
CONSOLATION — AS CONTRADICTORY.
1. "The fear of the Lord" marks an abiding characteristic ofthe Christian life
— i.e., the fear which dwelt in our Lord Himself must dwell in His disciples.
Christ "was heardin that He feared." He was penetrated by a sense of
religious awe and conscientiousness,and was delicatelyalive to the will of His
Father; and thus He had powerwith God and prevailed. "The fear of the
Lord," like the love or the glory of the Lord, is to be participated in by His
disciples, and is altogethera noble thing. It is an anxious state of mind lest we
should wound the love of God, violate the law of righteousness, orfail to reach
the highestsanctificationof character(1 Peter1:16, 17).
2. "The comfort of the Holy Ghost" is also an indispensable element. As the
name of "Comforter" as applied to the Spirit of God means also "Helper,"
"Advocate," so the idea of comfort implies that of efficient succour, and the
idea of efficient succourthat of comfort — the deep satisfactionimparted to
the soulby the energy of the Spirit of God — "strong consolation," as we have
it in Hebrews. The primitive Christians felt this, and walkedin its power.
Some praise ancientheathenism because, amid all its absurdities, it was a
cheerful religion. Now, it must be acknowledgedthat Christianity is not a
"cheerfulreligion" in the sense in which they were. Christ brought out the

18. deeper meaning of life, and we have far deeper reasons forseriousnessthan
men could possibly feel prior to the Advent. The superficial hilariousness of
paganworship was an impossibility to those who knew the Holy One of Israel,
who had seenthe awful beauty of Christ, and who were expecting the
manifestation of that perfectuniverse into which nothing canenter that
defileth. But, on the other hand, Christ has given us such reasons forbravery
and hope in the moral life as men never knew before. Do we fear lest we fail to
realise the wondrous love of God? "The love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost." Do we tremble lestwe fail to recognisethe mind of
God? "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth."
Do we shrink to contemplate the wide gulf which comes betweenus and the
perfection of our Father in heaven? The Spirit assures us of sonship, and gives
us the earnestof the promised inheritance, and urges us forward to share in
God's everlasting glory and blessedness.
II. SO FAR FROM THESE TWO PHASES BEING, INCOMPATIBLE,
THEY ARE COMPLEMENTARY. In nature apparently contradictory forces
blend, and in blending produce the grandestresults. Widely as oxygen and
nitrogen differ, they are complementary gases, andcombined make the sweet
and vital atmosphere. Attraction and repulsion are also complementary forces
whose combined actionpreserves the universe in harmonic movement. So the
resultant of the double actionof the heart is life and health. Thus is it in
Christian experience.
1. Fearis not inconsistent with —(1) Peace. "Thenhad the Churches
rest,...walking in the fearof the Lord."(2) Love. The disciple of love fell at his
Master's feetas dead.(3) Hope. Peter, who has so much to sayabout the
terrible day of the Lord, is full of hope.(4) The highest world and the fullest
felicity. Those who stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of gold, sing,
"Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art
holy."
2. And so "comfort" is not inconsistentwith any grace ofthe Spirit.
Thoughtfulness and a full assurance;a constanteye to the imperative ideal
which is so far above us, and to the glorious grace dwelling so richly in us; a
vivid sense of our high and holy calling, and of the dangerous path of

19. pilgrimage which leads up to it; the recollectionof"the jealous God," and of
the God"keeping mercy for thousands";the anticipation of judgment and
glory, are coordinate and cooperative moods in the working out of our
salvation.
3. The danger lies in the omissionof either.(1) How faulty the piety in which
fear has no place!in which there is no trembling before the holiness of God,
no overwhelming sense of the gravity of our position, no gazing with awe into
the dread eternity how surely mine! The brighter the star, the more it
trembles; and the purest saints, the bravest heroes ofall times, have stood"in
fear and in much trembling."(2) Not less faulty is the piety in which comfort
has no place — legal, tormenting, morbid religiousness!Pale sorrow must
consortwith blooming joy; weakness mustlean on strength; sweetcomfort
must soothe awesome fear. Only in the equilibrium of these opposite forces do
we attain the fulness of life and the fulness of its blessing. Our grandest
moments arise in the union of two opposing emotions (Genesis 28:16, 17;
Matthew 28:8).
III. WHILST WE CULTIVATE BOTH SENTIMENTS, WE MUST
MAINTAIN BOTH IN DUE PROPORTIONS. Mostofus are under
temptation to yield this or that undue preeminence, and the reasonis found
both in our constitution and our circumstances.
1. To exaggeratethe sentiment of fear is the peril of some. An old writer tells
us of a strange tribe which dwelt in caves because theywere afraid of the
sunshine; many devout people are afraid of the sunshine of the mind. Such are
burdened with a sense of imperfection, condemnation, peril, and are slow to
considerthe gracious aspects ofthe Divine character, the inspiriting and
mighty aid of the Comforter. Let those of a certain temperament watch
againstthis danger. Let God lead you into greenpastures. "Abound in hope,"
and you shall find yourself more than conqueror.
2. The peril of others lies in exaggerating the element of comfort. These chiefly
ponder the element phases of religion, and remember that "like as a father
pitieth his children," etc. They dwell more on the promises of Christ than on
His requirements. Those needto be reminded of the sterner side of things.

20. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," etc. All our austere
thinking must be relieved by gracious hope, and our bounding joy chastened
by the hallowedfear. "Rejoicewith trembling."
IV. THE TEXT EXHIBITS FEAR AND COMFORT, NOT AS
ALTERNATIVE, BUT AS CO-EXISTENT AND CONCURRENTMOODS
OF THE SOUL. At one and the same time they walked"in the fear of the
Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost."
1. The two streams ought to mingle in one full tide of feeling. "Happy is the
man that fearethalway," and blessedis he also who rejoices evermore, andin
everything gives thanks. In the geologicworld, for distinct and protracted
periods, different gasesprevailed;now you have the Carboniferous epoch,
and then some other element predominates: but in the perfected earth the
various gasesmingle in due proportions, and the life and beauty of the whole
orb are securedand perpetuated. In the cruder and more imperfect stagesof
our religious history, periods of anxiety are succeededby periods of
jubilation; but in the higher and riper development of the soul there is more
simultaneousness in our moods, and they happily mingle in one deep and rich
experience. In the Psalms we frequently find the most rapid transitions of
thought, the mingling of most diverse emotion — gladness suddenly becoming
thoughtful, and again, sorrow smiling through her tears. And the same
comprehensive experience finds expressionin the New Testament(2
Corinthians 4:8-10; 2 Corinthians 6:9, 10). So far from deprecating this, we
must regard it as God's wonder-working order, and direct our self-culture
accordingly. The artist ranges overthe whole chromatic scale, andmakes his
picture so grand because the colours are so skilfully mixed; the musician
rapidly passes fromkey to key, from stop to stop, and because he does so
creates commanding music; thus in the believer's life it is the constant
concurrent appealto law and grace, to responsibility and privilege, to the God
of righteousness and the God of love, to heaven near and heaven distant, that
finally gives to the characterthat full and finished beauty of which all artistic
perfection is but the coarse figure.
2. The concurrence of these two habits of feeling secures the highest welfare of
the soul. It was whilst the first Churches walkedin this fear and comfortthat

21. they were "edified" and "multiplied." The truest condition of Christian life is
not found in the comparative absence offeeling. The text represents the soul
as full of force and movement. A uniform experience is thought by some a
satisfactorysign. The truth is far otherwise. How much grandeur would be
lost to the world if the mountains were levelled; how much fruitfulness, and
history, and poetry, and art! Somewhatthus is it with the soul. The true soul
is full of greatcontending emotions, the upheavals and subsidences causedby
the Spirit which workethin us mightily; and in the exaltations and
humiliations, the soaring hopes and lowly fears, the confidence which touches
the heights and the apprehensions which reachthe depths, lies the perfecting
of the soul. The more life the more feeling, the more feeling the more life.
3. In an experience which contains the full measure and compass offeeling we
secure the stability of the soul. The perfect lighthouse is a mighty column
rising out of the rock, the very ideal of strength; yet it is a reed shakenwith
the wind, and because it bends it stands. It is thus with the highestand safest
characters. There must be strength of mind, of principle, of faith, or it is
impossible that we should bear the strain of life. And yet with all this there
must be that sensitiveness whichis ever the sign of sublimest strength. "Let
him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lesthe fall."
(W. L. Watkinson.)
Honourable fear
H. W. Beecher.
There is a filial fear. There is nothing more solicitous than love. A mother
knows fearin connectionwith those children that she loves, but it is not
degrading fear. The child, anxious to please, lookswith waiting expectancyto
see if its task has pleasedfather or mother. The child that is learning to write,
or that is studying art, and, making sketches, brings them to the teacheror to
the parent, comes with a kind of trembling apprehension lestthey shall not be
approved. That is honourable. That has the approval of affectionitself, and it
is ennobling. But the fearof anger, the fear of penalty, the fear of our own

22. suffering and loss, is admirable only in very remote degrees, andoccasionally,
when other motives fail. And yet there is a filial fear, a love fear, which not
only is permissible, but is honouring and uplifting.
(H. W. Beecher.)
The Church at rest
H. W. Beecher.
Some men seemto think that the glory of the Church consists in being let
alone. What they esteemabove all other things is peace. A green mantling pool
of what they call orthodoxy, with a minister croaking like a frog solitary —
that is their conceptionof a Christian Church in a state of prosperity. But,
according to the Bible, we are warriors. The battles we fight, however, are not
battles of blood, but battles of love and mercy. We are sent to carry, not the
swordand the spear, not rude violence, but conceptions ofhigher justice,
nobler purity, wiserlaws, and more beneficent customs. The weapons ofour
warfare are not carnal. With these we contest, and we will contest, against
rage and wrath and bitterness, knowing that He that called us and sent us is
the Godof battles, and will guide us and give us that victory which, if worth
anything, is worth achieving in the severestconflict. Forvictories that are
cheap, are cheap. Those only are worth having which come as the result of
hard fighting.
(H. W. Beecher.)
STUDYLIGHT RESOURCES
Adam Clarke Commentary

23. Then had the Churches rest - Insteadof ἱα εκκλησιαι, the Churches, ABC,
severalothers, the Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, and Vulgate, have
ἡεκκλησια, the Church. Every assembly of God's people was a Church; the
aggregate ofthese assemblies was The Church. The wordειρηνην, which we
translate rest, and which literally signifies peace, evidently means, in this
place, prosperity; and in this sense both it and the Hebrew ‫םולש‬ shalom are
repeatedly used. But what was the cause ofthis restor success?Some say, the
conversionof Saul, who before made havoc of the Church; but this is not
likely, as he could not be a universal cause of persecutionand distress,
howeveractive and virulent he might have been during the time of his enmity
to the Christian Church. Besides his own persecution, relatedabove, shows
that the opposition to the Gospelcontinued with considerable virulence three
years after his conversion;therefore it was not Saul's ceasing to be a
persecutorthat gave this rest to the Churches. Dr. Lardner, with a greater
show of probability, maintains that this rest was owing to the following
circumstance:Soonafter Caligula's accessionto the imperial dignity, the Jews
at Alexandria suffered very much from the Egyptians in that city; and at
length their oratories were alldestroyed. In the third year of Caligula, a.d. 39,
Petronius, who was made president of Syria in the place of Vitellius, was sent
by the emperor to set up his statue in the temple at Jerusalem. This was a
thunder-stroke to the Jews, andso occupiedthem that they had no time to
think of any thing else;apprehending that their temple must be defiled, and
the national religiondestroyed, or themselves run the risk of being
exterminated if they rebelled againstthe imperial decree.
The accountgiven by Josephus will set this in a clearpoint of view. "Caligula
sent Petronius to go with an army to Jerusalem, to set up his statues in the
temple, enjoining him if the Jews opposedit, to put to death all that made
resistance,and to make all the rest of the nation slaves. Petronius therefore
marched from Antioch into Judea, with three legions, and a large body of
auxiliaries raisedin Syria. All were hereupon filled with consternation, the
army being come as far as Ptolemais. The Jews, then, gathering together, went
to the plain near Ptolemais, and entreated Petronius in the first place for their
laws, in the next place for themselves. Petronius was moved with their
solicitations, and, leaving his army and the statues, wentinto Galilee, and

24. calledan assemblyof the heads of the Jews atTiberias; and, having exhorted
them without effectto submit to the emperor's orders, said, 'Will ye then fight
againstCaesar?'Theyansweredthat they offered up sacrifices twice every
day for the emperor and the Roman people; but that if he would set up the
images, he ought first of all to sacrifice the whole Jewishnation; and that they
were ready to submit themselves, their wives and children, to the slaughter."
Philo gives a similar accountof this transaction. See Lardner's Credibility,
Works, vol. i. p. 97, etc.
It appears, therefore, that, as these transactions took place aboutthe time
mentioned in the text, their persecutionfrom the Romans diverted them from
persecuting the Christians;and Then had the Churches rest throughout all
Judea and Galilee, and Samaria; the terror occasionedby the imperial decree
having spreaditself through all those places.
Were edified - Οικοδομουμεναι,A metaphor taken from a building.
The ground is marked out;
the ichnograph, or dimensions of the building, ascertained;
the foundation is digged;
the foundation stone laid;
the walls builded up with course upon course;
the top-stone brought on;
the roofraised, and the whole coveredin; and,
the interior part fitted up and adorned, and rendered convenientfor the
intended inhabitant.
This figure frequently occurs in the sacredwritings, especiallyin the New
Testament. It has its reasonin the original creationof man: God made the
first human being as a shrine or temple, in which himself might dwell. Sin
entered, and the heavenly building was destroyed. The materials, however,
though all dislocated, and coveredwith rubbish and every way defiled, yet
exist; no essentialpowerorfaculty of the soul having been lost. The work of

25. redemption consists in building up this house as it was in the beginning, and
rendering it a proper habitation for God. The various powers, faculties, and
passions, are all to be purified and refined by the powerof the Holy Spirit,
and order and harmony restoredto the whole soul. All this is beautifully
pointed out by St. Peter, 1 Peter2:4, 1 Peter2:5; : To whom (Jesus Christ)
coming as unto a Living Stone, chosenofGod and precious, ye also, as Living
Stones, are Built Up a spiritual House, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices to Godby Jesus Christ. And St. Paul, who, from his own profession
as a tent-maker, could best seize on the metaphor, and press it into this
spiritual service, goes throughthe whole figure at large, in the following
inimitable words:Ye are the Household of God, and are Built upon the
Foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
Cornerstone, in whom all the Building, Fitly Framed together, growethunto a
Holy Temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are Builded togetherfor a
Habitation of God, through the Spirit, Ephesians 2:19-22. Edificationsignifies,
therefore, an increase in the light, life, and powerof God; being founded on
the doctrine of Christ crucified; having the soul purified from all
unrighteousness, and fitted, by increasing holiness, to be a permanent
residence for the ever-blessedGod.
Walking in the fear of the Lord - Keeping a continually tender conscience;
abhorring all sin; having respectto every Divine precept; dreading to offend
him from whom the soul has derived its being and its blessings. Without this
salutary fear of God there never can be any circumspectwalking.
In the comfort of the Holy Ghost - In a consciousnessoftheir acceptanceand
union with God, through his Spirit, by which solid peace and happiness are
brought into the soul; the truly religious man knowing and feeling that he is of
God, by the Spirit which is given him: nothing less canbe implied in the
comfort of the Holy Ghost.
Were multiplied - No wonder that the Church of God increased, whensuch
lights as these shone among men. This is a short, but full and forcible

26. description of the righteousness, purity, and happiness of the primitive
Church.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Bibliography
Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on Acts 9:31". "The Adam Clarke
Commentary". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/acts-
9.html. 1832.
return to 'Jump List'
Albert Barnes'Notes onthe Whole Bible
Then had the churches rest - That is, the persecutions againstChristians
ceased. Those persecutions had been excitedby the opposition made to
Stephen Acts 11:19;they had been greatly promoted by Saul Acts 8:3; and
they had extended doubtless throughout the whole land of Palestine. The
precise causes ofthis cessationof the persecutionare not known. Probably
they were the following:
(1) It is not improbable that the greatmass of Christians had been driven into
other regions by these persecutions.
(2) he who had been most active in exciting the persecution;who was, in a
sort, its leader, and who was bestadapted to carry it on, had been converted.
He had ceasedhis opposition; and even he was now removed from Judea. All
this would have some effect in causing the persecutionto subside.
(3) but it is not improbable that the state of things in Judea contributed much
to turn the attention of the Jews to other matters. Dr. Lardner accounts for
this in the following manner: “SoonafterCaligula‘s accession, the Jews at
Alexandria suffered very much from the Egyptians in that city, and at length
their oratories there were all destroyed. In the third year of Caligula, 39 a.d.,
Petronius was sent into Syria, with orders to set up the emperor‘s statue in the

27. temple at Jerusalem. This order from Caligula was, to the Jews, a
thunderstroke. The Jews must have been too much engagedafterthis to mind
anything else, as may appearfrom the accounts which Philo and Josephus
have given us of this affair. Josephus says ‹that Caligula ordered Petronius to
go with an army to Jerusalem, to setup his statue in the temple there;
enjoining him, if the Jews opposedit, to put to death all who made any
resistance,and to make all the rest of the nation slaves. Petronius therefore
marched from Antioch into Judea with three legions and a large body of
auxiliaries raisedin Syria. “All were hereupon filled with consternation, the
army being come as far as Ptolemais.”See Lardner‘s Works, vol. i, pp.
101,102,London edition, 1829.
Philo gives the same accountof the consternationas Josephus (Philo, DeLegat.
a.d. Cai., pp. 1024,1025). He describes the Jews “as abandoning their cities,
villages, and open country; as going to Petronius in Phoenicia, both men and
women, the old, the young, the middle-aged; as throwing themselves on the
ground before Petronius with weeping and lamentation,” etc. The effectof this
consternationin diverting their minds from the Christians can be easily
conceived. The prospectthat the images of the Roman emperor were about to
be set up by violence in the temple, or, that in case ofresistance,deathor
slavery was to be their portion, and the advance of a large army to execute
that purpose, all tended to throw the nation into alarm. By the providence of
God, therefore, this event was permitted to occurto divert the attention of
bloody-minded persecutors from a feeble and bleeding church. Anxious for
their own safety, the Jews would ceaseto persecute the Christians, and thus,
by the conversionof the main instrument in persecution, and by the universal
alarm for the welfare of the nation, the trembling and enfeebledchurch was
permitted to obtain repose. Thus ended the first generalpersecutionagainst
Christians, and thus effectually did God show that he had power to guard and
protect his chosenpeople.
All Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria - These three places included the land of
Palestine. See the notes on Matthew 2:22. The formation of churches in
Galilee is not expressly mentioned before this; but there is no improbability in
supposing that Christians had traveled there, and had preached the gospel.

28. Compare Acts 11:19. The formation of churches in Samaria is expressly
mentioned, Romans 14:19; Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 8:1.
And walking - Living. The word is often used to denote “Christian conduct, or
manner of life,” Colossians 1:10;Luke 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:1;1 John 2:6.
The idea is that of travelers who are going to any place, and who walk in the
right path. Christians are thus travelers to another country, an heavenly.
In the fear of the Lord - Fearing the Lord; with reverence for him and his
commandments. This expressionis often used to denote “piety” in general, 2
Chronicles 19:7; Job 28:28;Psalm 19:9; Psalm111:10;Proverbs 1:7;
Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 13:13.
In the comfort of the Holy Ghost - In the consolationswhichthe Holy Spirit
produced, John 14:16-17;Romans 5:1-5.
Were multiplied - Were increased.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Bibliography
Barnes, Albert. "Commentaryon Acts 9:31". "Barnes'Notes onthe New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/acts-9.html.
1870.
return to 'Jump List'
The Biblical Illustrator
Acts 9:31
Then had the Churches rest.
Quiet times

29. The right use of quiet times is a greatsecretof Christian living. Human life is
made up of alternations of storm and calm, of trouble and rest. It is so with
the life of an individual, a nation, or a Church. The earlierpart of this chapter
indicated a time of trouble. But now the chief persecutorhas himself felt the
force of truth. Then again the Emperor Caligula was making an impious
attempt to place his own image in the Temple, and so the attention of the Jews
was wholly occupied with plans for frustrating his design. They had no time to
persecute. So the Churches had peace:how did they use it? Did it make them
indolent, unfruitful, unfaithful, quarrelsome? Two things are said of them:
they were--
I. Edified.
1. The whole Church is one building, planned by one Architect, carried on by
one Builder, designedfor one end, to be the habitation of God. This thought is
full of comfort. It shows us that howeversmall the place of eachone, yet each
one has his place, and that, if it be not filled, there is a blank, be it everso
small. Is not that honour enough? Does it not say to each, See that thy place be
not a blank, or worse?
2. The Church of eachland, age, town, is a building. It may be but a fragment,
a buttress, or a pinnacle of the universal Church; but you all know how any
building would look if one buttress fell; and therefore you will not count it a
small thing if some such position belongs to our community. This
congregationof ours is a building. Is it then being built up? is it rising, in
solidity, unity, beauty? is it giving signs, more and more, of its destination as a
habitation of God?
3. Eachhuman soulis a building. What a question is it, for eachone, How is
that building which is I myself, getting on? Are the foundations deeply and
soundly laid in the faith of Christ? Is the superstructure rising day by day
gradually, regularly, quietly, yet consciously, perceptibly, visibly? Am I
growing in grace? more and more prevailing over sinful passions? betterable
to do the work which He has given me? Times of tranquillity ought to be times
of edifying: alas I too often they are times of suspendedenergy.

30. II. Multiplied. A time of peace oughtto be a time of outward as well as inward
progress. It was so of old. How is it now? Is there zeal in founding or
reinforcing missionary institutions? Alas! you know that with much
philanthropy there is little gospelzealamongstus; that, where a thousand
pounds can be gatheredfor a work of charity, it is hard to collectten for a
work of piety. And is the Church at all multiplying at home? Can we point, by
tens, or fives, or units, to new persons brought to be worshippers by agencies
now working amongstus? We are not left in the dark as to how this may be
done. The Church multiplies, by its own progress, in two things: walking in--
I. The different parts of the descriptionhere given.
1. The Churches “were edified.” A Church may be edified by the addition of
new members. The Church is a building, and those added to it are living
stones;and by the addition of such stones the spiritual temple advances to
completion. Such, however, cannot be the meaning of the word here; it means
rather, “Growthin grace”;advancementin the principles and fruits of Divine
love. The Churches were composedof individuals, and as the wealthof a
country consists in the aggregatewealthof the individual inhabitants, and the
national wealth increasesin proportion as the wealthof individuals increases,
so with the Church. If we desire the edification of our ownChristian societyor
the Church of God generally, the first requisite is our seeking personal
advancementin knowledge,faith, and holiness;and the secondis our using all
the appointed means for promoting the same among our brethren. Edification
includes--
2. They walked“in the fear of the Lord.” This--
3. They walked“in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.” Edification and practical
godliness were associatedwith spiritual enjoyment. The comfort of the Holy
Ghostis comfortof which the Spirit of God is the greatAuthor. To walk in
this comfort is to enjoy harmony within, and to display it externally to have

31. the powers of the mind and the affections ofthe heart engagedin duty. This
comfort, then, is not an indolent, inactive enjoyment. It is only to be found in
active service, not in a life of ascetic seclusion, orin feelings of spiritual
epicurism. There is an intimate connectionbetweenwalking in the fear of the
Lord and walking in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. All pretensions to the
latter without the former are vain. There is no true legitimate comfort from
the truths of God except to those that walk in the ways of God.
II. The connectionsubsisting betweenthem and especiallybetweenthe
characterof the churches with their multiplication. An undue regardto
members has often done incalculable mischief. Increase is desirable, but it
must be increase of those whose hearts are right with God. With Him
respectability consists notin numbers but in character. He had a few names in
Sardis who had not defiled their garments. But, as a corrupt body, the Church
of Sardis is admonished, and “there is joy before the angels ofGod.” We
rejoice more in an addition to than in the continued safetyof the sheep. We
delight in seeing all the jewels of the Saviour’s crowncontinuing to shine with
pure lustre; but our delight is still more elevatedwhen a new jewelis added to
it. It is in this respectthat missions to the heathen are so supremely
interesting. Notice, then, a connectionbetween--
1. Restand edification. In the Church as well as in the state, times of difficulty
and trial often callforth latent powers, and produce remarkable men where
they were leastexpected;but it too generallyhappens that to the members of
a persecutedbody such seasons are not times of steady thought, and deliberate
and persevering study of Divine truth, and consequently of general
improvement. A state of rest, on the contrary, affords opportunities for much
study of the Divine oracles;for private and socialmeetings for conversation,
and prayer, and mutual excitement. Let it be a serious question whether the
rest which we enjoy is duly improved by us for the purposes of edification?
2. Restand increase.
3. The state of the Church as described--increase. Where these characteristics
obtain--

32. The characteristicsandmultiplication of Christian Churches
I. The grand characteristicsby which Christian Churches ought to be
distinguished. We observe here--
1. The Church is governed by the practicalinfluence of religion. “The fear of
the Lord” is the scriptural equivalent for the whole of practicalreligion, and
involves devout reverence ofthe Divine attributes, and continued obedience to
the Divine commandments. Churches are places where impenitence and
unbelief should never come;where the depravity of the human heart should
be expelled by the energy of redeeming grace;where every heart should be
imbued with the love, and should be devoted to the service of God, and where
every individual soul should be growing and meetening for the possessionof
holiness in heaven! True it is that, from time to time, there come among our
communities those who have not the fearof the Lord, but “these are spots in
our feasts ofcharity.” They have no part and no lot in the matter.
2. Churches enjoying the consolationsofreligion. “The comfort of the Holy
Ghost” signifies, of course, the comfort which the Holy Ghost, in His
characterof Comforter, is intended to bestow upon those who are truly
walking in the fear of the Lord; and that comfort must be regardedas
consisting in feeling that they are possessors ofvital piety: of a personalsense
of their interest in the work of redemption; taking awayfrom them the spirit
of fear, and implanting within them the Spirit of adoption, administering to
them sufficient strength for all circumstances, and filling them with emotions
of joy and gratitude. But the enjoyment of the consolations ofreligion must be
regardedas arising from practicaldevotedness and eminence in piety. The
inspired historian mentions one characteristic as a cause and the other as an
effect. The Spirit administers comfort where the Spirit receives honour; and
where the Spirit is grieved there the Spirit is restrained. His awakening
influences precede, His consoling influences follow.

33. II. The blessings whichChristian Churches, as thus distinguished, may
anticipate. These Churches were multiplied.
1. There are two principles connectedwith this multiplication of Christian
Churches. It is intimately connected--
2. This multiplication is a most desirable and happy event. There appears to
be, in the language ofthe historian, an element of pleasure, but there are
nominal Christians in modern times to whom it produces no pleasure at all to
hear of the multiplication of Churches. There are two reasons,however, why
this event is so desirable and so happy. Its intimate connection--
Restand prosperity of Churches
Our text--
I. Describesthe Churches of the Holy Land.
1. Their nature.
2. Their quiet. “Thenhad the Churches rest.”
(a) The conversionof Saul. “The grace ofGod was exceeding abundant
towards him.” His opposition was destroyed, not by his punishment as a foe,
but by his transformation into a friend. Is there no encouragementto us in
this? His conversionis setforth by himself as a “pattern” of the powerand the
mercy of the gospel. Then let Christians pray.
(b) The solicitude and alarm of the Jews. At Alexandria the Jews suffered
dreadfully from the Egyptians, and in Judea and elsewhere were inimminent
peril of ruin. An attempt was made to bring the statue of Caligula unto the
Holy of Holies, in consequenceofsome offence he had takenat the conduct of
the Jews. Nothing could produce greaterconsternation. So they were too
concernedabout their own affairs to meddle with those of others. God can
“restrainthe wrath of man,” as well as make it “praise Him.” He can control

34. the circumstances as wellas change the characterof our foes. “Saulreturned
from pursuing after David” when the “Philistines invaded the land.”
3. Their experience and conduct.
(a) When the storm ceasedthey set earnestlyabout the completing of their
moral temple. Persecutionis unfavourable to religious, as waris to secular,
commerce. It dispirits, diverts attention, employs resources, and intercepts
communication. Peace, however, permits the full and unfettered employment
of the Church’s gifts and graces fortheir appropriate and appointed
purposes. The Churches before us were edified when they had rest. Their
principles became broaderin their base, and more perfect in their symmetry.
Their faith increasedin intelligence and earnestness. As a natural result of
this, they cherished and expressedthat filial reverence for God which is called
for by His majestyand mercy; and they soughtand submitted to all the
intimations and the influences of the Spirit of Christ.
(b) This was their course. They “walked”according to this rule. It was not an
occasional, but a constantthing. It described them in their relations as men of
the Church and as men of the world. And what was the result?
4. Their increase. “Were multiplied.” They receivedlarge accessions from the
world. There was more Christianity, and so there were more Christians.
Saints were sanctified, and sinners became saints. These are the two elements
of Church prosperity, the two ends of Church association. Christians are thus
connectedthat they may promote eachother’s spirituality, and that, by the
union of their gracesand the combination of their energies, they may be as
light to a dark, and saltto a corrupt world. And these two things are
inseparably connected. The Church cannot grow in grace without diffusing
grace.
II. Sets them before us for imitation. The text was written for our use.
Consider--
1. The connectionbetweenthe rest and the edification of these Churches.
“Theyhad rest, and were edified.” They made spiritual advancementwhile

35. they enjoyed civil repose. Theydid not spend the seasonofcalm in luxury and
sinfulness.
2. The connectionbetweenthe edification of these Churches and their
increase.
Prosperous Churches
I. Their external circumstances. “Rest.”The hurricane of persecutionwas
now hushed, and under the genialinfluence of peace they grew. Peace inthe
nation is the time to build houses and develop resources.Peacein nature is the
time for sowing and cultivation. Persecution, like storms, may deepen the
roots of piety when it exists, but is unfavourable to the disseminationof seed
and the growth of fragile plants.
1. This external condition Churches in England now have. We can sit under
our own vine, etc. Once our Churches were very differently circumstanced--
e.g., under Mary and the Stuarts.
2. This condition we are bound to improve. Greatis our responsibility. All the
waste land should be cultivated. Every spot brown with barrenness should be
made emerald with life.
II. Their mutual relation. There was--
1. Organic independence. These Churches are spokenof as distinct; they were
doubtless distinct organisations, eachhaving its own laws, managing its own
affairs, and knowing no head but Christ.
2. Spiritual unity. They are all spokenof as belonging to one generic class,
subject to one generalcondition, and pursuing the same order of life. And
there is vital unity betweenall true Churches--the unity of spirit, aim,
headship. They were “all members of one body.” That which really unites

36. Churches is not “unions,” “conferences,” etc., but Christ’s spirit of truth, love,
and goodness.
III. Their internal condition.
1. Living in godly reverence.
2. Receiving sacredinfluences.
IV. Their leading signs. Increase--
1. Of strength.
2. Of numbers. Strong Churches, like strong nations, will colonise. (D.
Thomas, D. D.)
The Churches increased
I. What is meant by walking in the fearof God?
1. A habitual and profound veneration for His characterand institutions.
2. A humble and unreserved submission to His authority. The influence of this
fear will extend to all the powers and faculties of the soul. It will--
3. A holy jealousyof ourselves, end a watchful care to avoid everything which
may grieve, displease, orprovoke Him to forsake us. Now, as Churches are
composedof individuals, it follows that when all or nearly all the members of
a Church live under the habitual influence of this principle, the Church will
walk in the fear of God; and all the duties which are incumbent on it will be
diligently and faithfully performed. These duties are--
II. What is meant by walking in the comforts of the holy ghost? Having--

37. 1. Peaceofconscience, orpeace with God, arising from a persuasionwrought
in the soul by the Holy Spirit that we are pardoned and acceptedin the
Beloved.
2. A strong and well-grounded hope, arising at times to a full assurance,that
we are adopted into God’s family, and that consequentlywe have a title to all
the privileges of His children.
3. Foretastes ofthe joys of heaven.
III. When the members of Churches habitually walk in this manner, great
additions will be made to them. This is probable when we consider--
1. That such a life and temper will naturally and most powerfully tend to
convince all around them of the reality and happy effects of religion, to
remove their prejudices againstit, and to show them that its possessionis
highly desirable.
2. That this state of things is exceedinglypleasing to God, and naturally tends
to draw down His blessing. Them that honour Him He will honour.
3. That, when Churches walk in this manner, it proves that God is pouring out
His Spirit upon them, and that a revival of religion is already begun. (E.
Payson, D. D.)
Complementary forces in the Christian life
I. We are apt to regardthese two forces--fearand consolation--as
contradictory.
1. “The fear of the Lord” marks an abiding characteristic ofthe Christian
life--i.e., the fear which dwelt in our Lord Himself must dwell in His disciples.
Christ “was heardin that He feared.” He was penetrated by a sense of
religious awe and conscientiousness,and was delicatelyalive to the will of His
Father; and thus He had powerwith God and prevailed. “The fear of the
Lord,” like the love or the glory of the Lord, is to be participated in by His

38. disciples, and is altogethera noble thing. It is an anxious state of mind lest we
should wound the love of God, violate the law of righteousness, orfail to reach
the highestsanctificationof character(1 Peter1:16-17).
2. “The comfort of the Holy Ghost” is also an indispensable element. As the
name of “Comforter” as applied to the Spirit of God means also “Helper,”
“Advocate,” so the idea of comfort implies that of efficient succour, and the
idea of efficient succourthat of comfort--the deep satisfactionimparted to the
soul by the energyof the Spirit of God--“strong consolation,” as we have it in
Hebrews. The primitive Christians felt this, and walkedin its power. Some
praise ancient heathenism because, amid all its absurdities, it was a cheerful
religion. Now, it must be acknowledgedthat Christianity is not a “cheerful
religion” in the sense in which they were. Christ brought out the deeper
meaning of life, and we have far deeper reasons forseriousness thanmen
could possibly feel prior to the Advent. The superficial hilariousness of pagan
worship was an impossibility to those who knew the Holy One of Israel, who
had seenthe awful beauty of Christ, and who were expecting the
manifestation of that perfectuniverse into which nothing canenter that
defileth. But, on the other hand, Christ has given us such reasons forbravery
and hope in the moral life as men never knew before. Do we fear lest we fail to
realise the wondrous love of God? “The love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost.” Do we tremble lestwe fail to recognisethe mind of
God? “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.”
Do we shrink to contemplate the wide gulf which comes betweenus and the
perfection of our Father in heaven? The Spirit assures us of sonship, and gives
us the earnestof the promised inheritance, and urges us forward to share in
God’s everlasting glory and blessedness.
II. So far from these two phases being, incompatible, they are complementary.
In nature apparently contradictoryforces blend, and in blending produce the
grandestresults. Widely as oxygen and nitrogen differ, they are
complementary gases,and combined make the sweetand vital atmosphere.
Attraction and repulsion are also complementary forces whose combined

39. actionpreserves the universe in harmonic movement. So the resultant of the
double actionof the heart is life and health. Thus is it in Christian experience.
1. Fearis not inconsistent with--
2. And so “comfort” is not inconsistentwith any grace ofthe Spirit.
Thoughtfulness and a full assurance;a constanteye to the imperative ideal
which is so far above us, and to the glorious grace dwelling so richly in us; a
vivid sense of our high and holy calling, and of the dangerous path of
pilgrimage which leads up to it; the recollectionof“the jealous God,” and of
the God“keeping mercy for thousands”;the anticipation of judgment and
glory, are coordinate and cooperative moods in the working out of our
salvation.
3. The danger lies in the omissionof either.
III. Whilst we cultivate both sentiments, we must maintain both in due
proportions. Mostof us are under temptation to yield this or that undue
preeminence, and the reasonis found both in our constitution and our
circumstances.
1. To exaggeratethe sentiment of fear is the peril of some. An old writer tells
us of a strange tribe which dwelt in caves because theywere afraid of the
sunshine; many devout people are afraid of the sunshine of the mind. Such are
burdened with a sense of imperfection, condemnation, peril, and are slow to
considerthe gracious aspects ofthe Divine character, the inspiriting and
mighty aid of the Comforter. Let those of a certain temperament watch
againstthis danger. Let God lead you into greenpastures. “Abound in hope,”
and you shall find yourself more than conqueror.
2. The peril of others lies in exaggerating the element of comfort. These chiefly
ponder the element phases of religion, and remember that “like as a father
pitieth his children,” etc. They dwell more on the promises of Christ than on
His requirements. Those needto be reminded of the sterner side of things.
“Work out your own salvationwith fear and trembling,” etc. All our austere

40. thinking must be relieved by gracious hope, and our bounding joy chastened
by the hallowedfear. “Rejoicewith trembling.”
IV. The text exhibits fearand comfort, not as alternative, but as co-existent
and concurrent moods of the soul. At one and the same time they walked“in
the fearof the Lord, and in the comfortof the Holy Ghost.”
1. The two streams ought to mingle in one full tide of feeling. “Happy is the
man that fearethalway,” and blessedis he also who rejoices evermore, andin
everything gives thanks. In the geologicworld, for distinct and protracted
periods, different gasesprevailed;now you have the Carboniferous epoch,
and then some other element predominates: but in the perfected earth the
various gasesmingle in due proportions, and the life and beauty of the whole
orb are securedand perpetuated. In the cruder and more imperfect stagesof
our religious history, periods of anxiety are succeededby periods of
jubilation; but in the higher and riper development of the soul there is more
simultaneousness in our moods, and they happily mingle in one deep and rich
experience. In the Psalms we frequently find the most rapid transitions of
thought, the mingling of most diverse emotion--gladness suddenly becoming
thoughtful, and again, sorrow smiling through her tears. And the same
comprehensive experience finds expressionin the New Testament(2
Corinthians 4:8-10; 2 Corinthians 6:9-10). So far from deprecating this, we
must regard it as God’s wonder-working order, and direct our self-culture
accordingly. The artist ranges overthe whole chromatic scale, andmakes his
picture so grand because the colours are so skilfully mixed; the musician
rapidly passes fromkey to key, from stop to stop, and because he does so
creates commanding music; thus in the believer’s life it is the constant
concurrent appealto law and grace, to responsibility and privilege, to the God
of righteousness and the God of love, to heaven near and heaven distant, that
finally gives to the characterthat full and finished beauty of which all artistic
perfection is but the coarse figure.
2. The concurrence of these two habits of feeling secures the highest welfare of
the soul. It was whilst the first Churches walkedin this fear and comfortthat

41. they were “edified” and “multiplied.” The truest condition of Christian life is
not found in the comparative absence offeeling. The text represents the soul
as full of force and movement. A uniform experience is thought by some a
satisfactorysign. The truth is far otherwise. How much grandeur would be
lost to the world if the mountains were levelled; how much fruitfulness, and
history, and poetry, and art! Somewhatthus is it with the soul. The true soul
is full of greatcontending emotions, the upheavals and subsidences causedby
the Spirit which workethin us mightily; and in the exaltations and
humiliations, the soaring hopes and lowly fears, the confidence which touches
the heights and the apprehensions which reachthe depths, lies the perfecting
of the soul. The more life the more feeling, the more feeling the more life.
3. In an experience which contains the full measure and compass offeeling we
secure the stability of the soul. The perfect lighthouse is a mighty column
rising out of the rock, the very ideal of strength; yet it is a reed shakenwith
the wind, and because it bends it stands. It is thus with the highestand safest
characters. There must be strength of mind, of principle, of faith, or it is
impossible that we should bear the strain of life. And yet with all this there
must be that sensitiveness whichis ever the signof sublimest strength. “Let
him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lesthe fall.” (W. L. Watkinson.)
Honourable fear
There is a filial fear. There is nothing more solicitous than love. A mother
knows fearin connectionwith those children that she loves, but it is not
degrading fear. The child, anxious to please, lookswith waiting expectancyto
see if its task has pleasedfather or mother. The child that is learning to write,
or that is studying art, and, making sketches, brings them to the teacher or to
the parent, comes with a kind of trembling apprehension lestthey shall not be
approved. That is honourable. That has the approval of affectionitself, and it
is ennobling. But the fearof anger, the fear of penalty, the fear of our own
suffering and loss, is admirable only in very remote degrees, andoccasionally,
when other motives fail. And yet there is a filial fear, a love fear, which not
only is permissible, but is honouring and uplifting. (H. W. Beecher.)
The Church at rest

42. Some men seemto think that the glory of the Church consists in being let
alone. What they esteemabove all other things is peace. A green mantling pool
of what they call orthodoxy, with a minister croaking like a frog solitary--that
is their conceptionof a Christian Church in a state of prosperity. But,
according to the Bible, we are warriors. The battles we fight, however, are not
battles of blood, but battles of love and mercy. We are sent to carry, not the
swordand the spear, not rude violence, but conceptions ofhigher justice,
nobler purity, wiserlaws, and more beneficent customs. The weapons ofour
warfare are not carnal. With these we contest, and we will contest, against
rage and wrath and bitterness, knowing that He that called us and sent us is
the Godof battles, and will guide us and give us that victory which, if worth
anything, is worth achieving in the severestconflict. Forvictories that are
cheap, are cheap. Those only are worth having which come as the result of
hard fighting. (H. W. Beecher.)
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesyof BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliography
Exell, JosephS. "Commentary on "Acts 9:31". The Biblical Illustrator.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tbi/acts-9.html. 1905-1909.
New York.
return to 'Jump List'
Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible
So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace,
being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the
Holy Spirit, was multiplied.

43. See under Acts 6:7 for other examples of Luke's device of pausing at intervals
to record the growth and prosperity of the church, thus giving several
reminders of his grand designof showing how Christianity developedand
spread to the whole world. It could be, also, that Luke intended that we should
see the connectionbetweenthis period of relative tranquillity and the
departure of Paul, just mentioned. Such was the fury and bitterness of the
Jewishcommunity overthe defectionof one of their most able partisans, that
they could hardly have suffered Paul's presence in Jerusalemwithout
continued persecution;but, in his absence, there appearedfor a while a period
of quietness during which the church grew and prospered.
In time, of course, Paulwould return, speaking his epic words of wisdom and
judgment againstIsrael; but for the present he would be left out of sight in
Tarsus. In the meanwhile, Luke returned to stress two apostolic miracles
performed by Peter, and which mighty signs contributed emphatically to the
growth of the church.
PETER HEALS AENEAS
Luke's purpose here is evidently that of showing how the apostles continuedto
preach the gospelin Judaea and Samaria and Galilee, these provinces actually
being part of Palestine. It comes to light here that Peterhad traveled and
preachedalong the whole seacoastofPalestine in some of the same cities
evangelizedby Philip. As Harrison said:
Peterfound in Lydda a group of Christians who had probably fled there in
the dispersioncausedby the persecutionin Jerusalem. Here Peter healed
Aeneas. This area was populated in part by Gentiles.[28]
ENDNOTE:
[28] Everett F. Harrison, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary (Chicago:Moody
Press, 1971), p. 418.

44. Copyright Statement
James Burton Coffman Commentaries reproduced by permission of Abilene
Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. All other rights reserved.
Bibliography
Coffman, James Burton. "Commentary on Acts 9:31". "Coffman
Commentaries on the Old and New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/acts-9.html. Abilene
Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.
return to 'Jump List'
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
Then had the churches rest,.... Meaning not spiritual rest in Christ; this they
had before, even in tribulation, but rest from persecution;not so much
because ofthe conversionof Saul, the greatpersecutorof them, for his
conversionhad been three years before; but rather because ofhis removal to
other parts, the sight of whose person, and especiallyhis ministry, had afresh
stirred up the Jews to wrath and fury. The Alexandrian copy, and some
others, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, readin the singular
number, "the church": but the severalcountries hereaftermentioned shows
that more are designed:for it follows,
throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; for by means of the
dispersion, on accountof persecution, the Gospelwas preachedin these
severalplaces, and churches gathered, and which sharedin the persecution
until this time, when they began to have rest; Galatians 1:22 1 Thessalonians
2:14 and were edified; or built up on the foundation Christ, and their most
holy faith, through the ministry of the word and ordinances, and their mutual
love and holy conversation;and had an increase ofmembers, and of grace,
and of spiritual knowledge:
and walking in the fearof the Lord; which was always before their eyes, and
upon their hearts, continuing in religious exercises, andin the discharge of
every duty, both to God and man. Not in a slavish fear of the wrath of the

45. Lord, and of damnation for sin committed againsthim; for this is not
consistentwith their characters,as Gospelchurches, made of persons who had
receivednot the spirit of bondage to fear, but the Spirit of adoption, nor with
their edification in faith and holiness;for "he that feareth is not made perfect
in love"; 1 John 4:18 which edifies; nor with the comforts of the Holy Ghost,
they are afterwards said to walk in: but in a godly fear, which has the Lord
for its author, is not of a man's self, but of the grace of God, and is encouraged
and increasedby the discoveries ofhis grace and goodness:and which has the
Lord for its object, whose name is holy and reverend, and is to be fearedby all
his saints: it shows itself in an hatred of sin; in a departure from it; in a
carefulness notto offend the Lord; in withholding nothing from him, though
ever so dear and valuable, he calls for; and in attending to all the parts of
divine worship: and walking in it denotes a continuance in it, a constant
progressionin all the acts of internal and external worship, which are both
included in the fear of the Lord; and it requires strength, and supposes
pleasure and freedom. It is said of Enoch, that "he walkedwith God"; which
the Targum of Onkelos paraphrases, "he walkedin the fear of the Lord",
Genesis 5:22 the same phrase which is here used.
And in the comfort of the Holy Ghost:which he communicated by shedding
abroad the love of God in them, taking the things of Christ, and showing them
to them, applying covenantblessings and Gospelpromises to their souls,
owning the word and ordinances, and making them useful to them, thereby
leading them into fellowshipwith the Father, and with the Son. In all which he
acts the part of a Comforter, and answers to the characterhe bears, and the
office he is in: the love of God, which he directs into, and sheds abroad in the
heart, refreshes and revives the Spirit of God's people; it influences and
encourageseverygrace that is wrought in them; and makes them easyand
comfortable under all providences, even the most afflicting ones:the things of
Christ he takes and shows unto them are his blood, righteousness, and
sacrifice;which being applied, and interest in them shown, produce
abundance of peace, joy, and comfort: the promises of the covenant, and of
the Gospel, he opens and applies, being such as hold forth the blessings of
grace unto them; and being exceeding great, and precious, and suitable to
their cases;and being absolute and unconditional, immutable, and sure,

46. afford them much pleasure and satisfaction:and the word and ordinances
being attended with the Holy Ghost, and much assurance, are breasts of
consolationto them: and "walking" in those comforts which he administers,
by such means, denotes a continuance of them, a long enjoyment of them,
which is not very common; for, generallyspeaking, these comforts lastbut for
a small time; and also it intimates much delight and pleasure in them, Psalm
94:19 and so "were multiplied"; both in their gifts and graces,and in the
number of converts added to them.
Copyright Statement
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernisedand adapted
for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rightes Reserved,
Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.
A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard
Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855
Bibliography
Gill, John. "Commentary on Acts 9:31". "The New John Gill Exposition of
the Entire Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/acts-
9.html. 1999.
return to 'Jump List'
Geneva Study Bible
9 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,
and were n edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of
the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
(9) The result of persecutions is the building of the Church, so that we will
patiently wait for the Lord.

47. (n) This is a borrowedtype of speechwhich signifies establishment and
increase.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesyof BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliography
Beza, Theodore. "Commentaryon Acts 9:31". "The 1599 Geneva Study
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/gsb/acts-9.html. 1599-
1645.
return to 'Jump List'
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Flourishing state of the Church in Palestine atthis time.
Then had all the churches rest — rather, “the Church,” according to the best
manuscripts and versions. But this rest was owing not so much to the
conversionof Saul, as probably to the Jews being engrossedwith the emperor
Caligula‘s attempt to have his own image setup in the temple of Jerusalem
[Josephus, Antiquities, 18.8.1, etc.].
throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria — This incidental notice of
distinct churches already dotting all the regions which were the chief scenes of
our Lord‘s ministry, and that were best able to testthe facts on which the
whole preaching of the apostles was based, is extremely interesting. “The fear
of the Lord” expresses their holy walk;“the comfort of the Holy Ghost,” their
“peace andjoy in believing,” under the silent operationof the blessed
Comforter.

48. Copyright Statement
These files are a derivative of an electronic edition prepared from text
scannedby Woodside Bible Fellowship.
This expanded edition of the Jameison-Faussett-BrownCommentary is in the
public domain and may be freely used and distributed.
Bibliography
Jamieson, Robert, D.D.;Fausset,A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on Acts
9:31". "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfb/acts-9.html. 1871-8.
return to 'Jump List'
McGarvey's OriginalCommentary on Acts
Preparatoryto this transition in the narrative, the historian glances rapidly
over the territory to which we are about to be introduced, stating the
condition of things immediately after Saul's departure for Tarsus. (31)"Then
the Churches had peachthroughout all Judea and Galilee, and Samaria;and
being edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and the consolationofthe
Holy Spirit, they were multiplied." Thus times of peace and quiet were seento
be propitious to a cause which had sprung up amid strife and opposition,
showing that it was not the obstinacyof human passion, but the legitimate
working of unchangeable truth, which had brought it into being. According to
the philosophy which Gamalielhad urged in the Sanhedrim, [Acts 5:34-39.]its
claim to a divine origin was now vindicated.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that
is available on the Christian ClassicsEtherealLibrary Website.
First published online at The RestorationMovementPages.

49. Bibliography
McGarvey, J. W. "Commentary on Acts 9:31". "J. W. McGarvey's Original
Commentary on Acts".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/oca/acts-9.html. Transylvania
Printing and Publishing Co. Lexington, KY. 1872.
return to 'Jump List'
People's New Testament
Then had the churches rest. After the departure of Saul there was a cessation
of persecutionfor severalyears. The reasonis found in the history of the
times. The Romanemperor, Caligula, had ordered his statue to be placed in
the temple at Jerusalemfor worship, a desecrationofthe temple, and the Jews
were too much engagedin their efforts to prevent this to persecute the church.
Edified. Built up.
Were multiplied. The result, always, of "walking in the fear of the Lord and
comfort of the Holy Spirit."
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that
is available on the Christian ClassicsEtherealLibrary Website.
Original work done by Ernie Stefanik. First published online in 1996 atThe
RestorationMovementPages.
Bibliography
Johnson, BartonW. "Commentary on Acts 9:31". "People'sNew Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/pnt/acts-9.html. 1891.

50. return to 'Jump List'
Robertson's WordPictures in the New Testament
So the church (Hē men oun ekklēsia). The singular ekklēsiais undoubtedly the
true reading here (all the greatdocuments have it so). By this time there were
churches scatteredoverJudea, Galilee, and Samaria (Galatians 1:22), but
Luke either regards the disciples in Palestine as still members of the one great
church in Jerusalem(instance already the work of Philip in Samaria and soon
of Peterin Joppa and Caesarea)orhe employs the term ekklēsia in a
geographicalorcollective sensecovering all of Palestine. The strictly local
sense we have seenalreadyin Acts 8:1, Acts 8:3 (and Matthew 18:17)and the
generalspiritual sense in Matthew 16:18. But in Acts 8:3 it is plain that the
term is applied to the organizationof JerusalemChristians even when
scatteredin their homes. The use of men oun (so) is Luke‘s common way of
gathering up the connection. The obvious meaning is that the persecution
ceasedbecause the persecutorhad been converted. The wolf no longerravined
the sheep. It is true also that the effort of Caligula a.d. 39 to setup his image
in the temple in Jerusalemfor the Jews to worship greatlyexcited the Jews
and gave them troubles of their own (Josephus, Ant. XVIII. 8, 2-9).
Had peace (eicheneirēnēn). Imperfect active. Kept on having peace, enjoying
peace, becausethe persecutionhad ceased. Manyof the disciples came back to
Jerusalemand the apostles beganto make preaching tours out from the city.
This idiom (echō eirēnēn) occurs againin Romans 5:1 (eirēnēn echōmen
present active subjunctive) where it has been grievouslymisunderstood. There
it is an exhortation to keepon enjoying the peace with God already made, not
to make peace with God which would be eirēnēn schōmen(ingressive aorist
subjunctive).
Edified (oikodomoumenē). Presentpassive participle, linear action also. One
result of the enjoyment of peace afterthe persecutionwas the continued
edification (Latin word aedificatio for building up a house), a favourite figure
with Paul (1 Corinthians 14; Eph 3) and scatteredthroughout the N.T., old

51. Greek verb. In 1 Peter 2:5 Peterspeaks of“the spiritual house” throughout
the five Roman provinces being “built up” (cf. Matthew 16:18).
In the comfort of the Holy Spirit (tēi paraklēseitou hagioupneumatos). Either
locative (in) or instrumental case (by). The Holy Spirit had been promised by
Jesus as “anotherParaclete” andnow this is shownto be true. The only
instance in Acts of the use of paraklēsis withthe Holy Spirit. The word, of
course, means calling to one‘s side (parakaleō)either for advice or for
consolation.
Was multiplied (eplēthuneto). Imperfect middle passive. The multiplication of
the disciples kept pace with the peace, the edification, the walking in the fear
of the Lord, the comfort of the Holy Spirit. The blood of the martyrs was
already becoming the seedof the church. Stephen had not borne his witness in
vain.
Copyright Statement
The Robertson's WordPictures of the New Testament. Copyright �
Broadman Press 1932,33,Renewal1960. All rights reserved. Used by
permission of Broadman Press (Southern BaptistSunday SchoolBoard)
Bibliography
Robertson, A.T. "Commentary on Acts 9:31". "Robertson's WordPictures of
the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/rwp/acts-9.html. Broadman
Press 1932,33. Renewal1960.
return to 'Jump List'
Vincent's Word Studies

52. The churches
The best texts read the church; embracing all the different churches
throughout the three provinces of Palestine.
Edified
Or built up.
Comfort ( παρακλήσει )
From παρακαλέω ,calltoward or to one's side for help. The word is rendered
in the New Testamentboth exhortation and consolation. Compare Acts 13:15;
Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 8:17; Hebrews 12:5; and Luke 2:25(see note);2
Thessalonians 2:16;Matthew 5:4. In some passagesthe meaning is disputed,
as Philemon 2:1, where, as in 1 Corinthians 14:3, it is joined with παραμύθιον
or παραμυθία , the meaning of which also varies betweenincentive and
consolationorassuagement. Here exhortation is the rendering approved by
the bestauthorities, to be construed with was multiplied: was multiplied by
the exhortation of the Holy Ghost; i.e., by the Holy Spirit inspiring the
preachers, and moving the hearts of the hearers.
Copyright Statement
The text of this work is public domain.
Bibliography
Vincent, Marvin R. DD. "Commentaryon Acts 9:31". "Vincent's Word
Studies in the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/vnt/acts-9.html. Charles
Schribner's Sons. New York, USA. 1887.
return to 'Jump List'
Wesley's ExplanatoryNotes

53. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,
and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of
the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Then the Church — The whole body of Christian believers, had peace - Their
bitterest persecutorbeing converted.
And being built up — In holy, loving faith, continually increasing, and
walking in - That is, speaking and acting only from this principle, the fearof
God and the comfort of the Holy Ghost - An excellentmixture of inward and
outward peace, temperedwith filial fear.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that
is available on the Christian ClassicsEtherealLibrary Website.
Bibliography
Wesley, John. "Commentary on Acts 9:31". "John Wesley's Explanatory
Notes on the Whole Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/wen/acts-9.html. 1765.
return to 'Jump List'
Calvin's Commentary on the Bible
31.Thenthe Churches. Luke’s meaning is, that the enemies of the gospelwere
greatly provokedby Paul’s presence. Forwhy was there such peace made
suddenly by his departure, save only because the very sight of him did
provoke the fury of the enemies? And yet this is no reproach to him, as if he
had been, as it were, some trumpet in war; but Luke doth rather commend
him for this, because he made the wickedrun mad, only with the smell of him
when he was nearthem. For Christ meant so to triumph in him, that he might
be no less a trouble than an ornament to his Church.