Geographical Growth

A second reference to the growth of God's word is found at Acts 12:24: "The Word of Jehovah went on growing and spreading."  Here the phrase is linked to geographical growth. Despite  governmental opposition, the work continued to prosper.  The holy spirit was first poured out in Jerusalem, and from there the word spread quickly. Persecution in Jerusalem scattered the disciples to regions throughout Judea and Samaria.  The result?  "Those who had been scattered went through the land declaring the good news of the word."  (Acts 8:1, 4) Philip was directed to witness to a man who, after being baptized, took the message to Ethiopia.  (Acts 8:26-28, 38, 39)   Quickly the truth took root in Lydda, the Plain of Sharon, and Joppa.  (Acts 9:35, 42) Later, the apostle Paul traveled thousands of miles on sea and land, establishing congregations throughout many Mediterranean countries.  The apostle Peter went to Babylon.  (1 Peter 5:13) Within 30 years after the outpouring of the holy spirit at Pentecost, Paul wrote that the good news  had been "preached in all creation that is under heaven,"   possibly referring to the then known earth. -Colossians 1:23. 

Even opposers of Christianity acknowledged that the word of God had taken root throughout the Roman Empire.  For example, Acts 17:6 relates that in Thessalonica, northern Greece, opposers cried out:  "These men that have overturned the inhabited earth are present here also."  Further, at the beginning of the second century, Pliny the Younger wrote to Roman Emperor Trajan from Bithynia concerning Christianity. He complained:  "[It]  is not confined to the cities only, but has spread its infection among the neighboring  villages and country."  

This geographical growth was an expression of Jehovah's deep love for redeemable humankind.  When Peter observed the holy spirit manifesting  itself in the Gentile Cornelius, he said:  "For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him." (Acts 10:34, 35) Yes, the good news was an dis a message for all peoples, and the geographical growth of the word of God gave peoples everywhere an opportunity to respond to God's love. In this 21st century, the word of God has spread to literally all parts of the earth.

Next time: Growth That Prevailed 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2001