Growth of the Church in the Book of Acts

“…The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree...“ Mt 13:31-32

Messiah Jesus was like the mustard seed He spoke of. Relative to the population of the Roman Empire, He was small and insignificant. He was executed then buried. He did what any seed does when it is planted and buried, He sprung to life. The book of Acts begins with Messiah full of life only days after His burial, giving final instructions to his eleven apostles. Then He rose into the air and disappeared in a cloud and took His seat on a throne in heaven. On earth he left his followers with some simple instructions…wait in Jerusalem. About 120 Jews patiently waited and prayed. A few days later, Messiah Jesus from His throne in heaven baptized this small group with the Holy Spirit and the church was born...the mustard seed had begun to sprout. That very day, 3,000 Jews believed in the Messiah and were added to the church (2:41). “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (2:47b)

A short time later, Peter and John preached in the temple complex in Jerusalem and the number of Jewish men who believed grew to 5,000 (4:4). “…more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.” (5:14) The growth of the church in Jerusalem began to burst out into surrounding areas. “Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem…” (5:16). “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” (6:7)

The church began as a Jewish church and for several years had grown throughout the land of the Jews. The mustard seed had yielded a plant that was large for a garden plant. But then the growth became “tree-like” by 3 unpredictable factors. A godly follower of Messiah was martyred in Jerusalem (7:59-60) scattering believers. “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” (8:4) Secondly, Gentiles in Caesarea were baptized with the Holy Spirit just like the Jews in Jerusalem and the church for the first time included Gentiles. (ch.10 and 11) And finally, a fierce persecutor of the followers of Messiah was converted and became a powerful missionary to Gentiles in the Roman Empire (ch.9).

Fast forwarding beyond the Book of Acts, the mustard seed became a tree of far disproportionate size for a mustard plant. The emperor of the empire became a Christian in 312 AD and legalized Christianity in the empire a year later. Seventeen hundred years later 2.1 billion people on earth, about a third of the world’s population identify themselves with Christianity.

The unpredictable growth of the past can happen today through a fourth unpredictable growth factor…you and me. With this in mind, I direct my words heavenward and say “Father, You are able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine…grow the tree of your kingdom bigger….surprise us and use us!