# General Information: This verse gives an update on the church's growth. # word of God continued to spread The writer speaks of the growing number of people who believed the word as if the word of God itself were covering a larger area. AT: "the number of people who believed the word of God increased" or "the number of people who believed the message from God increased" (See: [[:en:ta:vol1:translate:figs-metaphor]]) # became obedient to the faith "followed the teaching of the new belief" # the faith Possible meanings are 1) the gospel message of trust in Jesus or 2) the teaching of the church or 3) the Christian teaching.