Acts 9:31

“Then had the churches rest, etc.] Meaning not spiritual rest in Christ; this they had before, even in tribulation, but rest from persecution; not so much because of the conversion of Saul, the great persecutor of them, for his conversion had been three years before; but rather because of his removal to other parts, the sight of whose person, and especially his ministry, had afresh stirred up the Jews to wrath and fury. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read in the singular number, “the church”: but the several countries hereafter mentioned shows that more are designed: for it follows, throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; for…”

“FLOURISHING STATE OF THE CHURCH IN PALESTINE AT THIS TIME. (Act 9:31) Then had all the churches rest--rather, "the Church," according to the best manuscripts and versions. But this rest was owing not so much to the conversion of Saul, as probably to the Jews being engrossed with the emperor Caligula's attempt to have his own image set up in the temple of Jerusalem [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 18.8.1, &c.]. throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria--This incidental notice of distinct churches already dotting all the regions which were the chief scenes of our Lord's ministry, and that were best able to test the facts on which the whole preaching of the apostles was based, is extremely…”

“Then had the churches rest - That is, the persecutions against Christians ceased. Those persecutions had been excited by the opposition made to Stephen Acts 11:19; they had been greatly promoted by Saul Acts 8:3; and they had extended doubtless throughout the whole land of Palestine. The precise causes of this cessation of the persecution are not known. Probably they were the following: (1) It is not improbable that the great mass of Christians had been driven into other regions by these persecutions. (2) He who had been most active in exciting the persecution; who was, in a sort, its leader, and who was best adapted to carry it on, had been converted. He had ceased his opposition; and even…”

“Then the Church - The whole body of Christian believers, had peace - Their bitterest persecutor being converted. And being built up - In holy, loving faith, continually increasing, and walking in - That is, speaking and acting only from this principle, the fear of God and the comfort of the Holy Ghost - An excellent mixture of inward and outward peace, tempered with filial fear. Acts 9:35”

“9:31 This verse is one of several in Acts that detail the numerical and spiritual growth of the church (see also 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1, 7; 12:24; 21:20). • The first Christians were discovering the truth of the principle, “the fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge” (Prov 1:7; 9:10; cp. Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Eccl 12:13; see Luke 7:16), and they were growing in their faith (cp. Acts 2:43; 19:17).”

“the churches: Act 8:1; Deu 12:10; Jos 21:44; Jdg 3:30; Ch1 22:9, Ch1 22:18; Psa 94:13; Pro 16:7; Isa 11:10; Zac 9:1; Heb 4:9 were edified: Rom 14:19; Co1 3:9-15, Co1 14:4, Co1 14:5, Co1 14:12, Co1 14:26; Co2 10:8, Co2 12:19, Co2 13:10; Eph 4:12, Eph 4:16, Eph 4:29; Th1 5:11; Ti1 1:4; Jde 1:20 and walking: Neh 5:9, Neh 5:15; Job 28:28; Psa 86:11, Psa 111:10; Pro 1:7, Pro 8:13, Pro 14:26, Pro 14:27, Pro 16:6; Pro 23:17; Isa 11:2, Isa 11:3, Isa 33:6; Co2 7:1; Eph 5:21; Col 1:10 and in: Joh 14:16-18; Rom 5:5, Rom 14:17, Rom 15:13; Gal 5:22, Gal 5:23; Eph 1:13, Eph 1:14; Eph 6:18, Eph 6:19; Phi 2:1; Th2 2:16, Th2 2:17 were multiplied: Act 6:7, Act 12:24; Est 8:16, Est 8:17; Zac 8:20-23 Acts 9:32”