Progressions of Growth and Multiplication in the Acts of the Apostles
Is an expectation of Rapid Growth Sub-Biblical? Did the Early Church count?
If Acts 1:1 says the book of Luke was “what Jesus began both to do and to teach until the day He was taken up…” is Acts 1-28 the continuation. And are we to be participants in Acts 28ff
Acts 2:41 That day about 3,000 souls were added to them.
Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 4:4 And many of those who heard the word believed and the number of the men came to be about 5,000
Acts 5:14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women
Acts 6:1 in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplying…
Acts 6:7 and the Word of God spread, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith
Acts 9:31 and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit they were multiplied
Acts 11:21 and the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord
Acts 13:49 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout the region.
Acts 14:21 and when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples….
Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily
Acts 19:8-10 (Paul In Ephesus in synagogue for 3 months… reasoning about kingdom of God… Some hardened and Paul left synagogue to the school of Tyrannus) And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks
Acts 19:20 (Miracles in Ephesus) So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed
Acts 19:26-27 (Ephesus: argument of the silversmiths of shrines to Diana) You see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands, so not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, who all Asia and the world worship.
Acts 28:30-31 (Paul in Rome-house arrest) Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
Acts 29:1 What is our story? Too hard? People won’t like us?
God doesn’t do things like that here… or now…
Two Crucial Perspectives Passages-It is God’s Work and His Glory
Seek It Passionately-But Never Touch God’s Glory
I Corinthians 3: 6,7 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase, so then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters but God who gives the increase
II Corinthians 4: 6,7 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of ourselves