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Disciples Increasing - Acts 6
Disciples Increasing - Acts 6
A simple statement gives us a glimpse of the collective life of disciples in the 1st century: “Now at this time … the disciples were increasing in number…” (v. 1). We started with 3000 being added (Acts 2:41). Then Acts 2:47: 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Then Luke pays attention to mention such many more times:
Acts 4:4 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Acts 5:14 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,
Acts 6:1 1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
Acts 6:7 7 The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Acts 9:31 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
Acts 9:35 35 And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Acts 9:42 42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Acts 11:21 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
Acts 11:24 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
Acts 14:1 1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.
Acts 14:21 21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
Acts 16:5 5 So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.
Acts 17:12 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.
Now I may have missed some other references, but think about two things with me. The church was growing amidst both the Jewish people and the pagans! This was stated as the result of preaching the gospel. That IS how it works today.
Still, although the number is growing the total amount of disciples in the Roman Empire was exceedingly small. Most of these churches were a small group of disciples in a given city or area.
That being the case, the togetherness of them was an essential part of their faithfulness! They were not only added to the Lord, they were added TOGETHER. We need such knit together strength today. I need the fellowship, teaching, instruction, encouragement, help of like minded brethren to be faithful myself! Can the other disciples count on you for such?
Hugh DeLong
