Commentary - Acts 12:24

Bird's-eye view

Acts 12:24 is a pivotal verse, a sharp and glorious turning point. Luke places it here with deliberate and masterful intent. The chapter opens with the kingdom of man on a rampage. Herod, a petty tyrant seeking to curry favor with the Christ-hating establishment, kills James and imprisons Peter. The church is praying, yes, but the political power of the world appears to have the upper hand. Then, in a stunning reversal, God intervenes. Peter is miraculously freed, and Herod, after accepting blasphemous worship, is struck down by an angel and eaten by worms. It is a grotesque and fitting end for a man who set himself against the Almighty.

And right on the heels of this sordid account of Herod's demise, we get this triumphant declaration: "But the word of God grew and multiplied." This is the great antithesis. Man's kingdom, with all its pomp, pride, and persecuting zeal, is a fragile, rotting thing. It ends in worms. But God's Kingdom, embodied in the proclamation of the gospel, is an unstoppable, living, and growing force. This single verse summarizes the entire theme of the book of Acts. Despite persecution, political opposition, internal strife, and every other obstacle the devil can devise, the Word of God advances. It cannot be stopped because it is the Word of the living God.

Outline

Context In Acts

This verse serves as a crucial summary statement, a recurring feature in Luke's narrative (see Acts 6:7; 9:31; 16:5; 19:20). These summaries act as mile markers, showing the reader how the gospel is advancing in fulfillment of Christ's commission in Acts 1:8. Here in chapter 12, the conflict is stark. The gospel has been making headway in Jerusalem, but the official powers, represented by Herod Agrippa I, have decided to stamp it out. The execution of an apostle, James, is a severe blow. The arrest of Peter, the chief apostle, is meant to be the final one.

But the story demonstrates the complete sovereignty of God over the plans of men. Herod's plot is not just frustrated; it is obliterated. His death is a divine judgment against his blasphemous pride. Therefore, verse 24 is not just an aside, but the theological punchline of the entire chapter. The kingdom of God does not advance in spite of opposition; it advances through it and over it. The death of the persecutor clears the way for the Word to flourish even more. This verse thus concludes the Jerusalem-focused section of Acts and prepares the reader for the explosive missionary journeys of Paul, which begin in the very next chapter.

Clause-by-Clause Commentary

But the word of the Lord...

The verse begins with a strong adversative conjunction. "But." This is a pivot. In the preceding verses, we saw Herod arrayed in his royal robes, receiving worship as a god. And then we saw him eaten by worms. That is the end of all earthly glory that sets itself up against the Lord. But... in stark contrast to that story of decay and divine judgment, we have a story of life and growth. The "word of the Lord" here is not an abstract concept. It refers to the gospel message, the good news about the crucified and risen Christ. It is the proclamation that Jesus is Lord, and not Herod, and not Caesar. This Word is personified; it is an active agent in the narrative. It is not a static doctrine but a dynamic force that accomplishes God's purposes in the world.

...continued to grow...

The Greek word here is auxano, the same word used for a plant growing. Think of the parables of Jesus. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that grows into a great tree (Matt. 13:31-32). It is like seed sown in a field that sprouts and grows, the farmer knows not how (Mark 4:26-29). This is organic, irrepressible, supernatural growth. Herod tried to cut the head off the church by killing James and targeting Peter. But you cannot kill a seed by burying it. Persecution is often the very soil in which the church grows fastest. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, as Tertullian would later say. While Herod's body was being consumed, the spiritual body of Christ was growing. It was increasing in influence, in reach, and in depth in the hearts of believers.

...and to be multiplied.

The second verb, plethuno, means to multiply, to increase in number. This is not just about internal growth or maturity, but about numerical, quantitative expansion. More and more people were hearing the gospel and being converted. The church was getting bigger. This is a direct fulfillment of God's primal commands. He told Adam to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28). He promised Abraham that his descendants would be multiplied like the stars of heaven (Gen. 22:17). This language shows that the church is the true Israel, the new humanity, fulfilling God's creation mandate. While Herod's kingdom came to a dead end, with one less king, the kingdom of God was multiplying its citizens. The gospel was being preached, sinners were being saved, and the number of disciples was increasing, just as it had in the early days in Jerusalem (Acts 6:7). God's arithmetic is always greater than man's.

Key Issues

The Word of God as a Living Agent

Throughout the book of Acts, "the word" is presented as more than just a message. It is a powerful, active force that accomplishes things. Luke writes that "the word of God continued to increase" (Acts 6:7) and "the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing" (Acts 19:20). This is not simply a figure of speech. It reflects a deep theological conviction that when the gospel is preached, God Himself is at work. The Word has a life of its own because it is the Word of the living God.

This is consistent with the Old Testament understanding. In Isaiah 55:11, God says, "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." The Word is God's emissary, His agent in the world. When Herod attacks the church, he is not fighting against a human organization. He is fighting against the Word of God, and that is a fight no one can win. The Word is what brings new life (1 Peter 1:23), and so it is fitting that it is described with the language of life: growing and multiplying.

Application

The central lesson of this passage is one of profound encouragement for the church in every age. We are often tempted to despair when we see the Herods of our own day sitting on their thrones, puffed up with pride, and persecuting the people of God. We see the culture arrayed against us, and we can feel small and beleaguered.

But this verse reminds us where the real power lies. The kingdoms of this world are temporary and will all end in worms, one way or another. Their power is a facade. The true power, the power that builds, the power that gives life, the power that is eternal, is the Word of God. Our task is not to win political battles through worldly means, but to be faithful in proclaiming this Word. We plant, we water, but it is God who gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:6).

Therefore, we should not be intimidated by opposition. We should not be discouraged by apparent setbacks. The Word of God will accomplish its purpose. It will grow. It will multiply. The gates of hell cannot prevail against the church of Christ, because that church is built on the proclamation of the Word, and that Word is unstoppable.