Acts 16:5
in Acts 16So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
KJV
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
⋯
This verse in Acts 16
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Established in the faith - Confirmed in the belief of the gospel The effect of the wise and conciliatory measure was to increase and strengthen the churches.
This site's exposition
they delivered the decisions handed down
on Acts 16:4-5
They delivered the council's decisions to the Galatian churches of the first mission. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers, the book's fourth report of growth after 6:7, 9:31 and 12:24.
This site's exposition
the churches were strengthened in the faith
The verb for strengthened appears elsewhere in the New Testament only at 3:7 and 3:16, of the lame man's feet made strong. Luke uses a word of bodily firmness for churches. The faith here names what the churches believed, as at 6:7.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep." For until then, there was no need for the Gentiles to keep any such. The beginning of the abrogation was the Gentiles' not keeping these things, and being none the worse for it: nor having any inferiority in respect of faith: anon, of their own will they abandoned the Law. "And so were the Churches established in the faith." Do you mark here also how from going counter (to his own object) a great good results? "And increased in number daily." Do you observe, that the circumcising not only did no harm, but was even of the greatest service?
"And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the Apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the Churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily." Dost thou mark fighting, and by fighting, edification? Not warred upon by others, but themselves doing contrary things, so they edified the Church! They introduced a decree not to circumcise, and he circumcises! "And so were the Churches," it says, "established in the faith," and in multitude: "increased," it says, "in number daily." Then he does not continue to tarry with these, as having come to visit them: but how? he goes further.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
If they had been disposed to turn Jews, they could have done that long since, before the apostles came among them; but, if they cannot be interested in the Christian privileges without submitting to the Jews' yoke, they will be as they are. But, if they find there is no danger of their being so enslaved, they are ready to embrace Christianity, and join themselves to the church.
36 ), to enquire into their state. That they delivered them copies of the decrees of the Jerusalem synod, to be a direction to them in the government of themselves, and that they might have wherewith to answer the judaizing teachers, and to justify themselves in adhering to the liberty with which Christ had made them free.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
And so were the churches established in the faith,.... Of Christ, both in the grace and doctrine of faith; and that both by the preaching of the Gospel by the apostle and his companions, and by the decrees of the elders delivered by him: and increased in number daily; as well as in gifts and grace.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
His would be one of "the souls of the disciples confirmed" at the apostle's second visit, "exhorted to continue in the faith, and" warned "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Ac 14:21, 22). the son of a certain . . .
And so were the Churches established - The disputations at Antioch, relative to circumcision, had no doubt spread far and wide among other Churches, and unhinged many. The decrees of the apostles came in good time, and prevented farther mischief: the people, saved from uncertainty, became established in the faith; and the Church had a daily accession of converted souls.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Αἱ | hai | The | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| ἐκκλησίαι | ekklesiai | churches | G1577 → | 113 times |
| ἐστερεοῦντο | estereounto | were strengthened | G4732 → | 3 times |
| τῇ | tea | in the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πίστει | pistei | faith | G4102 → | 242 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπερίσσευον | eperisseuon | were increasing | G4052 → | |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀριθμῷ | arithmo | in number | G706 → | 18 times |
| καθ᾽ | kath᾽ | every | G2596 → | 468 times |
| ἡμέραν. | hemeran | day. | G2250 → | 389 times |
ΑἱThe
haiG3588 →19766 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
ἐκκλησίαιchurches
ekklesiaiG1577 →113 times
ἐστερεοῦντοwere strengthened
estereountoG4732 →3 times
τῇin the
teaG3588 →19766 times
πίστειfaith
pisteiG4102 →242 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπερίσσευονwere increasing
eperisseuonG4052 →
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ἀριθμῷin number
arithmoG706 →18 times
καθ᾽every
kath᾽G2596 →468 times
ἡμέραν.day.
hemeranG2250 →389 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 5:10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
- 1 Peter 1:6–7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- Jude 1:24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
- Psalms 138:7
If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17
Through
Acts 6:7So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
it leads to
- Acts 19:20
So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
- Acts 12:24
But the word of God continued to spread and multiply.
- Acts 19:20
Through
Acts 2:47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
it leads to
- Acts 5:13–14
Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.
- Acts 5:13–14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies17
About Acts
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 34; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.