The book of Acts gives us what evidence of Jehovah’s blessing on the work of bearing witness?

Jehovah’s blessing was unquestionably upon the early Christians. Paul and others planted and watered, “but God kept making it grow.” (1 Cor. 3:5, 6) Reports in the book of Acts provide evidence of such growth because of Jehovah’s blessing on the work of bearing witness. For instance, “the word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples kept multiplying very much in Jerusalem.” (Acts 6:7) As the witness work spread, “the congregation throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria entered into a period of peace, being built up; and as it walked in the [reverential] fear of Jehovah and in the comfort of the holy spirit, it kept on multiplying.”​—Acts 9:31.In Syrian Antioch, both Jews and Greek-speaking people heard the truth from courageous witnesses. “Furthermore,” says the account, “the hand of Jehovah was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21) Regarding further progress in that city, we read: “The word of Jehovah went on growing and spreading.” (Acts 12:24) And with the witnessing work of Paul and others in full swing among Gentiles, “in a mighty way, the word of Jehovah kept growing and prevailing.”​—Acts 19:20

1 answer

The book of Acts provides compelling evidence of Jehovah's blessing on the early Christians' work of bearing witness through numerous accounts of growth and expansion of their message. Key examples include:

  1. Growth in Jerusalem: Acts 6:7 highlights that "the word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples kept multiplying very much in Jerusalem." This illustrates that Jehovah's blessing was evident in the increasing number of believers.

  2. Expansion into Judea, Galilee, and Samaria: Acts 9:31 notes that the congregation in these regions "entered into a period of peace, being built up; and as it walked in the [reverential] fear of Jehovah and in the comfort of the holy spirit, it kept on multiplying." This reflects a stable and growing community strengthened by their faith and divine support.

  3. Witnessing in Syrian Antioch: In Acts 11:21, it is reported that "the hand of Jehovah was with them," leading to a significant number of people becoming believers. This indicates that the active witnessing resulted in measurable success, attributed to Jehovah's influence.

  4. Continued Growth in Antioch: Following this, Acts 12:24 states, "The word of Jehovah went on growing and spreading," which underscores the ongoing impact of their evangelistic efforts and highlights the blessings associated with them.

  5. Success among the Gentiles: Lastly, Acts 19:20 mentions, "in a mighty way, the word of Jehovah kept growing and prevailing." This signifies not only growth but also the triumph of the message in various regions, demonstrating that Jehovah's backing enabled the message to flourish.

Overall, these accounts reflect Jehovah's active involvement in the early Christians' efforts, resulting in widespread conversions and the establishment of strong congregations, evidencing His blessing upon their witness work.