What Does Acts 9:31 Mean in the King James?
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 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
Rest is not the opposite of growth here; it is the space in which the assembly is built up and multiplied.
THE MEANING
When you gather with others, shared life can find rest, take shape together, and keep moving in awe of the Lord and the consolation of the Set-Apart Breath. Growth emerges within that life of rest, strengthening, and comfort.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A community must stay under pressure to remain spiritually productive; this verse shows growth alongside rest.
THE ROOT
οἰκοδομούμεναι
oikodomoumenai
GROWS FROM
οἰκοδομέω
oikodomeō
Build a house; build up.
“Edified” can sound like receiving instruction, but this Greek word pictures the assemblies being built up, like a house taking shape. Rest and movement belong together here: the community is being built as it walks.
ALSO GROWS
oikodomē: Building; edification.
οἰκοδομή
The related noun makes the image of a community under construction explicit.
oikodomos: Builder; house-builder.
οἰκοδόμος
This branch shows the shared house-building image contained in “edified.”
Πνεύματος
pneumatos
GROWS FROM
πνεῦμα (pneuma), from πνέω (pneō)
Breath, wind, spirit.
“Holy Ghost” in this verse is pneumatos. The word rendered “Ghost” is pneuma, which also means breath and wind. The comfort in this verse is joined to the living Breath; English separates meanings that Greek holds in one word.
ALSO GROWS
pneō: To blow or breathe.
πνέω
The verb preserves the word-family’s movement of air and breath.
pnoē: Breath; a blowing.
πνοή
This related noun makes the breath sense of pneuma visible.
παρακλήσει
paraklēsei
GROWS FROM
παράκλησις (paraklēsis), related to παρακαλέω (parakaleō)
Consolation or encouragement; depending on context, an urge or appeal.
“Comfort” here is not detached reassurance: it accompanies the assemblies as they keep moving. The same word-family can also express urging, holding consolation and forward motion together.
ALSO GROWS
parakaleō: Comfort, console, or urge.
παρακαλέω
The related verb carries the range behind this verse’s consolation.
paraklētos: Comforter; advocate.
παράκλητος
This related word shows the same family’s connection with support and consolation.
THE PATTERN
Shared life expands where rest and support allow people to be joined, strengthened, and present together.
And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.THE THREAD
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:The Greek word-family behind “were edified” in Acts appears here in “building.” Both verses picture growth as a community taking shape together, so rest becomes room for a living structure to grow.
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