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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 9:31 - 9:31
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_9:31
31So 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.
Act_9:31 This is a summary verse which concludes the account of Paul's conversion and introduces the travels of Peter. Luke uses these summary verses often in Acts. See Introduction IV Purpose and Structure, A.
▣ "the church" See note and Special Topic at Act_5:11 and notice how the singular "church" refers to many individual congregations. The term "church" can denote a local church (ex. Col_1:18; Col_1:24; Col_4:15-16), all churches of an area (ex. Eph_1:22; Eph_3:10; Eph_3:21; Eph_5:23-25; Eph_5:27; Eph_5:29; Eph_5:32), and all churches universally (ex. Mat_16:18).
▣ Notice the items Luke chooses to mention.
1. peace in all churches
2. growing and increasing
3. comfort from the Spirit
What a change from the persecution of Act_8:1! There were still problems, but God had met every need!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Why was Paul so vehement in his persecution of the church?
2. Why are there three accounts of Paul's conversion in the book of Acts?
3. What is the significance of Paul being commissioned, laid-hands on, and baptized by Ananias?
4. What is the significance of Paul's use of Jesus as "The Son of God"?
5. Why does Luke not record Paul's three year excursion to Arabia?
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO Act_9:32 to Act_10:48
A. Although the book of Acts begins the transition from Peter to Paul, Act_9:32 to Act_12:25 show the itinerant ministry of Peter.
B. This section deals with Peter at Lydda, Act_9:32-35; Joppa, Act_9:36-43; Act_10:9-23; Caesarea, Act_10:1-8; Act_10:23-48; and at Jerusalem, Act_11:1-18; Act_12:1-17.
C. This section is extremely important because it deals with the continuing struggle over the Gentile mission and Peter's part (as head of the Apostolic group) in that struggle. Luke deems the Cornelius account so important as to repeat it three times in this section.
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY