The Early Church and the Word

How important was the Word in the growth of the early church?

Then those who gladly received his word were immersed; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
(Acts 2:41)

However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
(Acts 4:4)

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
(Acts 4:31)

but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." . . . Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
(Acts 6:4, 7)

So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
(Acts 8:25)

The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the immersion which John preached:
(Acts 10:36-37)

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
(Acts 10:44)

Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
(Acts 11:1)

Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.
(Acts 11:19)

But the word of God grew and multiplied.
(Acts 12:24)

who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
(Acts 13:7)

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
(Acts 13:44)

Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.
(Acts 13:48-49)

Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing."
(Acts 15:35-36)

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
(Acts 17:11)

And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks . . . So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
(Acts 19:10, 20)

"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
(Acts 20:32)

So what do you think? How important was the spread of the Word of God in the growth of the early church?

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
(Acts 1:8)

So how are you doing in being a witness for the Lord to those around you?

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.