Acts 12:24
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Tag: Persecution Produces Expansion of the Gospel.
In Acts 12 we have the story of Peter being locked up in prison and suddenly lead out during the night by an angel of God. King Herod, the Roman despot, was hoping to score some points with the Jewish leaders by persecuting Peter. Instead, Peter escapes and encourages the saints and Herod is left to simply killing innocent guards. Despite what the Jewish leaders, Herod or anyone else may do, the above verse shows the significance of Christianity. The more their is persecution the more there is the expansion of the Gospel. The more those opposed to the Gospel persecuted the church, the more people were encouraged to publish God’s Word. Note that the above verse says that the “Word of God” increased and multiplied. The meaning here would be that those who knew God’s Word and understood the Gospel message, would increase with boldness to say it and teach it. That increased the growth of the Church. Luke, the author of this book, is writing the book so that we have an accurate account of the growth of the church. So, this is one of his many thesis statements:
Acts 6:7
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 19:20
So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
The Word of God does not continue to increase unless those who know God’s Word can speak it. When persecution comes on the church the purpose fo the persecutor is to shut down the message of the Gospel. Yet, we find time and again that the more Christianity is persecuted the more it increases by emboldens those who are being persecuted. That can only come from the power of the Holy Spirit. God is going to grow His church. Persecution just happens to be the water, the rain and the fertilizer needed to make it grow exponentially.
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