An Analysis of Acts 9:31: Peace, Growth, and God's Power

Context of Acts 9:31

Acts 9:31 marks a turning point in the early church’s story, coming right after Saul’s dramatic conversion from fierce persecutor to follower of Jesus.

Before this verse, Saul threatened believers and hunted them in Damascus. Then Jesus appeared in a blinding light, called him by name, and changed his life. With Saul now converted and beginning to preach boldly, the immediate threat to the church was removed, creating space for peace and stability. This peace was more than the absence of conflict. It was a divine calm that helped the church grow across Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, uniting regions once divided by cultural tension.

This moment of unity and expansion shows how God can turn opposition into opportunity, fulfilling His mission even when it seems most unlikely.

Peace, Growth, and the Spirit's Work in the Early Church

Acts 9:31 highlights four key realities of the early church - peace, being built up, walking in the fear of the Lord, and comfort of the Holy Spirit - that reveal what a healthy, growing community of faith looked like in its earliest days.

The phrase 'had peace' means more than the end of attacks; it reflects Old Testament hopes such as Isaiah 9:7, which speak of the Messiah’s reign bringing lasting peace. With Saul’s conversion removing a major source of fear, the church could finally breathe and focus on its mission.

The church was not growing because persecution stopped, but because it walked in reverence and Spirit-led comfort.

Being 'built up' reflects the same pattern seen in Acts 2:42-47, where believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer - growing not in size only, but in spiritual depth. The 'fear of the Lord' wasn’t about terror, but deep reverence and respect for God’s holiness, shaping how they lived and treated one another. And the 'comfort of the Holy Spirit' - the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead - gave them courage, unity, and joy even after hardship, proving that real growth comes from God’s presence, not human success.

What This Means for Us: How Peace and Reverence Lead to Growth

The peace and growth in Acts 9:31 were not only for the early church; they illustrate what occurs when we live in awe of God and rely on the Holy Spirit.

Real growth in our lives and churches starts not with big plans, but with reverence for God and trust in His Spirit.

This is not about waiting for trouble to pass before we grow. It is about walking daily in reverence for the Lord, honoring Him above all, and remaining open to the comfort and power of His Spirit, as believers did in Acts. When we do this, even small, faithful steps lead to real growth, not because we’ve earned it, but because God is at work in us, just as He promised in His Word.

The Church’s Peace and Growth: A Step Toward God’s Global Promise

This moment of peace and unity across Judea, Galilee, and Samaria wasn’t just a pause in persecution - it was a strategic step in God’s plan to spread the gospel to all nations, just as Jesus promised in Acts 1:8 when He said the disciples would be His witnesses 'in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'

The fulfillment of this mission echoes Isaiah’s ancient hope for peace among the nations - Isaiah 9:7 foretold a kingdom established with justice and peace that would have no end, a promise now unfolding as the church grows in unity and Spirit-led strength. With Saul (now Paul) soon to be sent to the Gentiles, this calm and expansion prepares the way for the gospel to break cultural barriers and reach people of every background.

This peace wasn’t the end of the story - it was preparation for the Spirit to push the gospel beyond Jewish borders.

Now, with the stage set and the Spirit moving, the narrative shifts to Peter’s miracles in Lydda and Joppa - signs that God’s power is still at work, confirming the message and opening doors for the next big step: the inclusion of the Gentiles.

Application