This is clearly the beginning of a new section as is indicated by the words which Luke has used to begin it (Good News Translation and so it was). On the formula that Luke has used here see 1.6. With the conversion of Saul the persecution of the church is for a while brought to an end and there are Christian communities not only in Jerusalem but in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. Throughout all of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria in the Greek modifies church rather than had a time of peace (King James Version seems to intimate that this phrase modified the verb rather than the noun).

The phrase had a time of peace is often expressed negatively, for example, “were no longer suffering,” “there was no longer persecution,” or “the people no longer had fear.”

This verse offers two possibilities for punctuation: it was built up may be taken with what precedes, had a time of peace, or with what follows, grew in numbers. Most translations take this, as does the Good News Translation, with what follows; however, Jerusalem Bible and Zürcher Bibel take it with what precedes. For most of the important alternatives of punctuation, the translators will find valuable evidence in the punctuation apparatus occurring in the Greek text published by the United Bible Societies.

Most translators understand it was built up in a passive sense with the Holy Spirit as the agent; whereas the Jerusalem Bible takes it with a middle force, “building themselves up” (“themselves” referring to “churches” rather than “church” of most translations).

In some languages one cannot speak of a church (referring to individuals) as “being built up.” This could only refer to a building, not to an institution. Therefore, it may be necessary to change the figure of speech to something equivalent to “became strong.” Grew in numbers is rendered in many languages simply as “more and more people believed.”

Through the help of the Holy Spirit is rendered by most translators as “in the consolation/comfort of the Holy Spirit.” But “consolation” or “comfort” carry too much the notion of relief from sorrow, the full meaning of the word is better expressed by “encouragement,” “assistance,” or “help.” Through the help of the Holy Spirit may be restructured in some languages as “this happened because the Holy Spirit was helping” or “the Holy Spirit caused this to happen” (in which case “this” refers to the building up and the growth of the church).

In the expression “walking in the fear of the Lord,” “walking” (in Greek) refers to conduct or way of life, and “fear” means “respected” or reverence (see Moffatt, An American Translation*).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .