In Acts 9, Luke supplies one of those summary statements that gives a status update of the advancement of the church—v.31 Therefore the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being strengthened and going on in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. In light of that, it seems that the following question is very relevant: How does a church increasing in number possess true peace?
If our only assessment pertains to the absence of external threats, then we are going to missing important ways God brings about this peace. It’s certainly true that relief from adverse circumstances can bring times of growth, as it does here in Acts 9, but that does not automatically produce growth, nor can adverse circumstances prevent the church growth that comes from God.
Case in point, the Jerusalem church in Acts 8 was no less faithful than the church at large in Acts 9, but in Acts 8, they were ran out of town due to fierce persecution. Furthermore, some of the churches addressed by the Lord in the book of Revelation might have possessed some circumstantial prosperity, but they by no means possessed the peace of Acts 9:31 in totality. The biblical view is summed up very well in the words of Jesus found in John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.