Amen, let us pray that the saints would see from Acts that it is the word that grows and the word that multiplies and would go forth to preach the word as the high gospel to people (Acts 6:7 and note 71; 12:24; 19:20; 8:4; cf. Mark 4:14). We pray for this in one accord so that the Lord may do this in us!
In Acts we are told three times that the word grew and that the word multiplied (Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20). A lifeless thing can never grow, but the word grows. Actually, the multiplication of the disciples depends upon the growth of the word. However, many who read Acts would mostly pay their attention to the Spirit. No doubt, the Spirit is stressed in Acts. But those who received the Spirit did not go out and preach the Spirit. Rather, they preached the word. Many verses in Acts tell us that what was preached and taught by the first group of believers was the word. The scattered ones in Acts 8 went out to bring the good news of the word (v. 1). People believed in the word, received the word, and the word became so prevailing in that it grew and multiplied. In Acts 12 there is a very meaningful contrast. King Herod was persecuting the church and especially Peter, but eventually Herod died (v. 23). Right after his death Acts 12:24 says, “But the word of God grew and multiplied.” The persecutor died, but the word grew. (CWWL, 1985, vol. 3, “Elders’ Training, Book 5: Fellowship concerning the Lord’s Up-to-date Move,” ch. 3, p. 359)
More details via Beseeching.org, day 348
