Acts 9:31
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
The time of rest came after Paul's stay in Jerusalem, when the brethren had learned of his vision and of God's watchful care over him and had become convinced that he was indeed a chosen vessel of the Lord to bear the truth to the Gentiles, and their anxiety for his safety was thereby increased. His presence had drawn violent opposition from the Jews, who sought to assassinate him, and for fear of this the brethren hastened his secret escape from Jerusalem. That departure suspended the violent opposition for a time, so the rest that followed was only temporary.
In that pause the churches throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria had rest and were edified, being built up and strengthened. They walked in reverence toward the Lord and in the encouragement and comfort of the Holy Spirit. They were multiplied, for many new believers were added to their number. This strengthening and enlarging of the church was the fruit of working under the dictation of the Holy Spirit as God's helping hand in witness to the power of the gospel, and God's people today are called to work in the same way.
The comfort of the Holy Ghost is the consolation of the Holy Spirit given to the whole-hearted, complete, consecrated Christian. It comes to the one who is purified, refined, and sanctified by the truth. The half-hearted follower receives little real strength and makes little advancement, and resisting the striving of the Spirit prevents the blessing.
It was in this setting of rest that Peter visited the believers at Lydda, where Aeneas was made whole after eight years of palsy and all who dwelt at Lydda and Saron turned to the Lord. At the same time at Joppa near Lydda there was a worthy disciple of Jesus named Dorcas, whose life was filled with acts of kindness. She was greatly beloved for her good deeds, knew who needed comfortable clothing and who needed sympathy, and freely ministered to the poor and the sorrowful, her skillful hands being more active than her tongue. She was restored to life so that her service could continue and so that the manifestation of God's power could strengthen the church and Christ's cause.
The chapter to which the verse belongs is a lesson to all on the converting power of God. Without conversion men will be used by Satan as Saul was to hunt up souls for persecution, even as satanic agencies worked in Christ's day when the only begotten Son of God was crucified, and history is to be repeated. Great education and experience do not help unless they perfect the knowledge of the glory of God to exalt Jehovah and Jesus Christ, while Lucifer's act of exalting himself will still work through such men in present and future experience.