Acts 12 · Verse 24

Acts 12:24

But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 12:24, King James Version

Acts 12:24 in other translations

BSBBut the word of God continued to spread and multiply.
WEBBut the word of God grew and multiplied.
ASVBut the word of God grew and multiplied.
YLTAnd the word of God did grow and did multiply,
DARBYBut the word of God grew and spread itself.
BBEBut the word of the Lord went on increasing.
WebsterBut the word of God grew and multiplied.

What does Acts 12:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. But the word grew, &c.--that is, Not only was the royal representative ignominiously swept from the stage, while his intended victim was spared to the Church, but the cause which he and his Jewish instigators sought to crush was only furthered and glorified. How full of encouragement and consolation is all this to the Christian Church in every age!

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. But the word of God grew, etc. Great success attended it. The persecutions had now ceased; and notwithstanding all the attempts which had been made to crush it, still the church increased and flourished. The liberation of Peter and the death of Herod would contribute to extend it. It was a new evidence of Divine interposition in behalf of the church; it would augment the zeal of Christians; it would humble their enemies; and fill those with fear who had attempted to oppose and crush the church of God.

(a) "grew" Col 1:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 But the word of God - The Christian doctrine preached by the apostles grew and multiplied - became more evident, and had daily accessions; for the spirit of revelation rested on those men, and God was daily adding to that word as circumstances required, in order to complete that testimony of his which we now find contained in the New Testament. As there is in the original an allusion to the vegetation of grain, (ηυξανε, it grew, as corn grows, the stalk and the ear; και επληθυνετο, it was multiplied, as the corn is in the full ear), there is probably a reference to the parable of the Sower and his seed; for the seed is the word of God, and the doctrine of the kingdom. It was liberally sown; it grew vigorously, and became greatly multiplied. And why? Because it was the word, the doctrine of God - there was no corruption in it; and because God watered it with the dew of heaven from on high.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 12:20-25

Many heathen princes claimed and received Divine honours, but it was far more horrible impiety in Herod, who knew the word and worship of the living God, to accept such idolatrous honours without rebuking the blasphemy. And such men as Herod, when puffed with pride and vanity, are ripening fast for signal vengeance. God is very jealous for his own honour, and will be glorified upon those whom he is not glorified by…

Read the full comment on Acts 12:20-25 →

Acts 12:24 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὉHo<the>G3588
δὲdeButG1161
λόγοςlogosthe wordG3056
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ηὔξανενēuxanenwas continuing to growG837
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐπληθύνετο.eplēthunetowas being multiplied.G4129

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 12:24

  • Acts 6:7

    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.

  • Acts 19:20

    So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:1

    Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

  • Matthew 16:18

    And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

  • Acts 11:21

    And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

  • Colossians 1:6

    Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

  • Daniel 2:44

    And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

  • Isaiah 54:14-17

    In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

  • Proverbs 28:28

    When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

  • Acts 5:39

    But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

  • Isaiah 41:10-13

    Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

  • Daniel 2:24

    Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5:39; 6:7; 11:21; 19:20; Pr 28:28; Isa 41:10-13; 54:14-17; 55:10
Da 2:24,44; Mt 16:18; Col 1:6; 2Th 3:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 12:23

    And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

  • Acts 12:24

    But the word of God grew and multiplied.

  • Acts 12:25

    And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Read all of Acts 12

Acts 12:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas la palabra del Señor crecía y era multiplicada.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais la parole de Dieu croissait et se multipliait.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Das Wort Gottes aber wuchs und mehrte sich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Verbum autem Domini crescebat, et multiplicabatur.