What Does Acts 12:24 Mean in the King James?

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Acts 12:24 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The verse gives God’s word two motions at once: it grows in reach and multiplies beyond its starting point.

THE MEANING

God’s word is a living utterance whose reach continues to increase. It spreads beyond one voice or one place, carrying the possibility of growth wherever it arrives.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that the word’s reach depends on a powerful person or a protected setting; its life is marked by growth and multiplication.

THE ROOT

ηὔξανεν

ēuxanen

GROWS FROM

αὐξ-

aux-

grow, increase, become larger

“grew” in this verse is ēuxanen. The Greek verb depicts more than continued existence: the word increases. Luke pairs that growth with multiplication, showing its life through expansion.

ALSO GROWS

auxēsis: growth, increase

αὔξησις

This noun from the same word family names growth directly; it shows that the verse’s “grew” is an increase, not simply survival.

auxēthēte: you may grow, increase

αὐξηθῆτε

This form appears in 1 Peter 2:2; the same growth language describes a living process that continues in its recipients.

ἐπληθύνετο

eplēthyneto

GROWS FROM

πληθ-

plēth-

fullness, abundance; becoming many

“multiplied” in this verse is eplēthyneto. This verb gives growth a plural direction: the word becomes many. Paired with the verb for growing, it describes expansion that continues outward.

ALSO GROWS

plēthos: multitude, a great number

πλῆθος

The related noun names the many that multiplication brings into view; the word’s increase can become a multitude.

plēthyntikos: plural, relating to multiplicity

πληθυντικός

This related form makes the root’s movement explicit: what multiplies moves from singular presence toward plurality.

λόγος

logos

GROWS FROM

λεγ-

leg-

say, speak; ⁨λόγος⁩ (logos) means word, saying, or account

The verse names the growing thing as a spoken word or saying, not a fixed object. Its growth belongs to the life and reach of what is expressed.

ALSO GROWS

legō: say, speak

λέγω

This related verb points to speech at the root of ⁨λόγος⁩; the thing growing here is an expressed word.

logion: utterance, oracle

λόγιον

Acts 7:38 uses this related word for “lively oracles”; it carries the same sense of a living utterance that reaches people.

THE PATTERN

God’s word advances as a living seed: it accomplishes its purpose, takes root, and bears fruit beyond its point of arrival.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11 · KJVThe word that goes forth does not return empty; it carries its purpose into action.

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Mark 4:20 · KJVThe received word bears fruit in increasing measure.

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Colossians 1:6 · KJVThe word arrives, bears fruit, and reaches beyond the person who first receives it.

THE THREAD

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Acts 6:7 · KJV

The Greek repeats the same verbs for growth and multiplication found in Acts 12:24. Here the number of disciples multiplies alongside the growing word, making its spread visible in a people.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us