Then had the churches rest
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 by means of the dispersion, on account of persecution, the
Gospel was preached in these several places, and churches
gathered, and which shared in the persecution until this time,
when they began to have rest; ( Galatians
1:22 ) ( 1
Thessalonians 2:14 ) and were edified; or built up on the
foundation Christ, and their most holy faith, through the
ministry of the word and ordinances, and their mutual love and
holy conversation; and had an increase of members, and of grace,
and of spiritual knowledge:
and walking in the fear of the Lord;
which was always before their eyes, and upon their hearts,
continuing in religious exercises, and in the discharge of every
duty, both to God and man. Not in a slavish fear of the wrath of
the Lord, and of damnation for sin committed against him; for
this is not consistent with their characters, as Gospel churches,
made of persons who had received not the spirit of bondage to
fear, but the Spirit of adoption, nor with their edification in
faith and holiness; for "he that feareth is not made perfect in
love"; ( 1 John 4:18 ) which
edifies; nor with the comforts of the Holy Ghost, they are
afterwards said to walk in: but in a godly fear, which has the
Lord for its author, is not of a man's self, but of the grace of
God, and is encouraged and increased by the discoveries of his
grace and goodness: and which has the Lord for its object, whose
name is holy and reverend, and is to be feared by all his saints:
it shows itself in an hatred of sin; in a departure from it; in a
carefulness not to offend the Lord; in withholding nothing from
him, though ever so dear and valuable, he calls for; and in
attending to all the parts of divine worship: and walking in it
denotes a continuance in it, a constant progression in all the
acts of internal and external worship, which are both included in
the fear of the Lord; and it requires strength, and supposes
pleasure and freedom. It is said of Enoch, that "he walked with
God"; which the Targum of Onkelos paraphrases, "he walked in the
fear of the Lord", ( Genesis 5:22
Genesis
5:24 ) the same phrase which is here used.
And in the comfort of the Holy Ghost:
which he communicated by shedding abroad the love of God in them,
taking the things of Christ, and showing them to them, applying
covenant blessings and Gospel promises to their souls, owning the
word and ordinances, and making them useful to them, thereby
leading them into fellowship with the Father, and with the Son.
In all which he acts the part of a Comforter, and answers to the
character he bears, and the office he is in: the love of God,
which he directs into, and sheds abroad in the heart, refreshes
and revives the Spirit of God's people; it influences and
encourages every grace that is wrought in them; and makes them
easy and comfortable under all providences, even the most
afflicting ones: the things of Christ he takes and shows unto
them are his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; which being
applied, and interest in them shown, produce abundance of peace,
joy, and comfort: the promises of the covenant, and of the
Gospel, he opens and applies, being such as hold forth the
blessings of grace unto them; and being exceeding great, and
precious, and suitable to their cases; and being absolute and
unconditional, immutable, and sure, afford them much pleasure and
satisfaction: and the word and ordinances being attended with the
Holy Ghost, and much assurance, are breasts of consolation to
them: and "walking" in those comforts which he administers, by
such means, denotes a continuance of them, a long enjoyment of
them, which is not very common; for, generally speaking, these
comforts last but for a small time; and also it intimates much
delight and pleasure in them, ( Psalms 94:19
) and so "were multiplied"; both in their gifts and graces, and
in the number of converts added to them.