# General Information:

This verse gives an update on the church's growth.

# the 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. Alternate translation: "the number of people who believed the word of God increased" or "the number of people who believed the message from God increased" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/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.