Acts 16:5

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

And so {G3303}{G3767} were {G4732} the churches {G1577} established {G4732} in the faith {G4102}, and {G2532} increased {G4052} in number {G706} daily {G2250}{G2596}.

Accordingly, the congregations were strengthened in the faith and increased in number day by day.

So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Commentary

Acts 16:5 provides a concise summary of the thriving state of the early Christian communities, highlighting both their spiritual strength and numerical expansion during Paul's second missionary journey. This verse serves as a powerful testament to the effectiveness of the apostles' ministry and the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit.

Context of Acts 16:5

This verse follows directly after the resolution of the Jerusalem Council, detailed in Acts 15. Paul and Silas were traveling through various regions, delivering the decrees from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem regarding Gentile believers and the Mosaic Law. The clarity and unity brought by these decisions, which affirmed salvation by grace through faith without requiring circumcision, played a crucial role in stabilizing the nascent churches. The immediate impact was profound, leading to both internal strengthening and external growth as they continued their missionary work.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Spiritual Establishment: The phrase "established in the faith" signifies that these churches were not merely new converts but were becoming firm and grounded in Christian doctrine and belief. This implies a deepening of their understanding of the Gospel and a strengthening of their commitment to Christ. It speaks to the importance of solid teaching and spiritual maturity within a congregation.
  • Numerical Growth: The phrase "increased in number daily" indicates consistent and significant growth in the size of the congregations. This was not a sporadic event but a continuous expansion, reflecting God's blessing on the evangelistic efforts and the appeal of the Gospel message. This echoes earlier accounts of the church's growth in Acts 2:47 and Acts 6:7.
  • Divine Approval and Blessing: The concurrent spiritual and numerical growth suggests that the early church's activities, including the decisions made at the Jerusalem Council and the ongoing missionary endeavors of Paul and his companions, were in alignment with God's will and received His divine favor.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "established" is sterizō (or stereoo in some manuscripts), which means "to make firm, to confirm, to strengthen." It suggests a process of solidifying and rooting deeply, not just a superficial adherence. This emphasizes the qualitative aspect of the church's health. The word for "increased" is perisseuō, meaning "to abound, to be in abundance, to superabound." This conveys a sense of overflowing and plentiful growth, highlighting the rapid and extensive expansion of believers.

Practical Application

Acts 16:5 offers timeless insights for believers and churches today:

  • Importance of Sound Doctrine: Just as the early churches were "established in the faith," modern churches must prioritize teaching sound biblical doctrine to ensure spiritual stability and prevent members from being "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).
  • Balanced Growth: True church health involves both spiritual depth (establishment in faith) and numerical expansion (increased in number). One without the other often leads to imbalance.
  • Unity and Mission: The resolution of doctrinal disputes at the Jerusalem Council paved the way for unity, which in turn fueled effective mission and growth. This underscores the need for internal harmony for external impact.
  • God's Sovereignty in Growth: Ultimately, growth, both spiritual and numerical, is a work of God. While human effort is required, it is God who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 9:31 (10 votes)

    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.

  • Acts 2:47 (7 votes)

    Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

  • Acts 6:7 (6 votes)

    And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

  • 1 Peter 5:10 (4 votes)

    ¶ But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].

  • Acts 15:41 (4 votes)

    And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

  • Ephesians 4:13 (4 votes)

    Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

  • Ephesians 4:16 (4 votes)

    From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.