Occurrences of Advance in Book of Acts

The Book of Acts, often called "The Acts of the Apostles," serves as the second treatise by the author of the third Gospel, traditionally identified as Luke ^[5]. It chronicles the early spread of Christianity, beginning with the promise of the Holy Spirit and its subsequent outpouring ^[5]. A recurring theme throughout Acts is the "advance" or growth of the Christian message and community, often expressed through specific Greek terms that convey increase and expansion.

One significant instance of this advance is found in Acts 6:7, which states, "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith" (KJV). This verse highlights both the growth of the divine message and the numerical expansion of believers. The "word of God" here refers to the message of the Gospel itself, which is depicted as gaining momentum and influence ^[12]. This particular verse is noted as the first of three places in Acts where Luke emphasizes the continued spread of God's message, demonstrating its ability to overcome internal strife and external challenges ^[12]. The growth described here is not merely quantitative but also qualitative, as it includes a significant number of Jewish priests converting to the faith ^[12].

Another key passage illustrating advance is Acts 12:24: "But the Word of God grew and increased" (LITV) ^[4]. This statement, following the miraculous deliverance of Peter and the death of Herod Agrippa I, underscores the unstoppable nature of the Gospel. The language of "grew and increased" (Greek: ēuxanen kai eplēthynetō) conveys a dynamic and organic expansion. This is another instance where Luke notes the spreading of God's message, reinforcing the idea that the Good News is unhindered despite opposition ^[12]. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge cross-references Acts 5:30 with several passages that speak of God's actions and promises, including the raising of Jesus and the fulfillment of covenants, further emphasizing the divine power behind this growth ^[3].

The concept of "increase" is not unique to Acts. The name "Augustus," for example, means "increased" or "augmented" ^[2]. In the Old Testament, the waters of the flood "prevailed, and were greatly increased on the earth" (Genesis 7:18 LITV), showing a natural phenomenon of increase ^[1]. Similarly, Stephen's sermon in Acts 7 recounts the "wonderful increase of the people of Israel in Egypt," noting how they advanced from a family to a nation, a "wonder of providence" ^[10]. This historical precedent sets a stage for understanding the divine hand in the growth of the early church.

The advance of the Gospel is not always smooth. Acts 5:12 describes the apostles performing "many signs and wonders among the people" ^[8]. This period of progress, however, leads to the apostles' arrest, though they are miraculously delivered ^[6]. Even in the face of persecution, the "gospel power returned to its proper channel, which is that of mercy and grace," demonstrating God's continued work ^[8]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary highlights that this progress of the new cause directly led to the apostles' arrest, yet their miraculous deliverance allowed them to resume teaching ^[6].

The overall structure of Acts itself reflects this theme of advance. The book's plan, according to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, is keyed to Jesus' command in Acts 1:8: "ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . in Jerusalem . . . in all Judea . . . and unto the uttermost part of the earth." The first nine chapters detail the Gospel's progress in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, while chapters ten through twenty-eight describe its spread "unto the uttermost part of the earth" ^[7]. This geographical expansion mirrors the thematic advance of the Christian message.

Theological reflection on "increase" also appears in scholastic thought. Thomas Aquinas, for instance, considered whether the articles of faith have increased over time, concluding that while the explicit understanding of faith may develop, the fundamental principles remain, with later articles being implicitly contained in earlier ones ^[9]. This suggests a growth in understanding rather than a change in core truth, which can be paralleled with the unfolding revelation and expansion of the Gospel in Acts. The will of God is seen as the cause of things, acting by will rather than necessity, which aligns with the providential guidance of the church's growth ^[11].

Sources

Genesis “Genesis 7:18 (LITV) — And the waters prevailed, and were greatly increased on the earth. And the ark floated on the face of the waters.”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Augustus — increased, augmented”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Acts 5:30 cross-references: 1 Chronicles 12:17, 1 Chronicles 29:18, Ezra 7:27, Luke 1:55, Luke 1:72, Acts 2:22, Acts 2:32, Acts 3:13, Acts 3:26, Acts 4:10, Acts 10:39, Acts 13:28, Acts 13:33, Acts 22:14, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 2:24”
Acts “Acts 12:24 (LITV) — But the Word of God grew and increased.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Acts Of The Apostles — the fifth book in the New testament and the second treatise by the author of the third Gospel, traditionally known as Luke. The book commences with an inscription to one Theophilus, who was probably a man of birth and station. The readers were evidently intended to be the members of the Christian Church, whether Jews or Gentiles; for its contents are such as are of the utmost consequence to the whole Church. They are the fulfillment of the promise of the Father by the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the results of that outpouring by the dispersi”
Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 5:12: THE PROGRESS OF THE NEW CAUSE LEADS TO THE ARREST OF THE APOSTLES--THEY ARE MIRACULOUSLY DELIVERED FROM PRISON, RESUME THEIR TEACHING, BUT ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE CONDUCTED BEFORE THE SAMHEDRIM. (Act 5:12-26) Solomon's Porch--(See on Joh 10:23).”
Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 1:8: receive power--See Luk 24:49. and ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . in Jerusalem . . . in all Judea . . . and unto the uttermost part of the earth--This order of apostolic preaching and success supplies the proper key to the plan of the Acts, which relates first the progress of the Gospel "in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria" (the first through ninth chapters), and then "unto the uttermost part of the earth" (the tenth through twenty-eighth chapters).”
Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 5:12: We have here an account of the progress of the gospel, notwithstanding this terrible judgment inflicted upon two hypocrites. I. Here is a general account of the miracles which the apostles wrought (Act 5:12): By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people, many miracles of mercy for one of judgment. Now the gospel power returned to its proper channel, which is that of mercy and grace. God had come out of his place to punish, but now returns to his place, to his mercy-seat again. The miracles they wrought proved their divine mission”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Faith, Art. 7: Article: Whether the articles of faith have increased in course of time? I answer that, The articles of faith stand in the same relation to the doctrine of faith, as self-evident principles to a teaching based on natural reason. Among these principles there is a certain order, so that some are contained implicitly in others; thus all principles are reduced, as to their first principle, to this one: "The same thing cannot be affirmed and denied at the same time," as the Philosopher states (Metaph. iv”
Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 7:17: Stephen here goes on to relate, I. The wonderful increase of the people of Israel in Egypt; it was by a wonder of providence that in a little time they advanced from a family into a nation. 1. It was when the time of the promise drew nigh - the time when they were to be formed into a people. During the first two hundred and fifteen years after the promise made to Abraham, the children of the covenant were increased but to seventy; but in the latter two hundred and fifteen years they increased to six hundred thousand fighting men. The motion of providence is sometime”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part (Prima Pars), The Will of God, Art. 4: Article: Whether the will of God is the cause of things? I answer that, We must hold that the will of God is the cause of things; and that He acts by the will, and not, as some have supposed, by a necessity of His nature. This can be shown in three ways: First, from the order itself of active causes. Since both intellect and nature act for an end, as proved in Phys. ii, 49, the natural agent must have the end and the necessary means predetermined for it by some higher intellect; as the end and definite movement is pre”
Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 6:7: 6:7 The result of the apostles’ wise handling of the issue was growth and increase in the number of believers, including many of the Jewish priests. • This is the first of three places in Acts where Luke notes that God’s message continued to spread (see also 12:24; 19:20). When real difficulties arose, God’s message could overcome the challenges posed by internal strife, idolatry, and paganism, and the result was growth in the community. Acts is the story of the unhindered message of Good News (see 28:31).”

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