1 And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Saul, who had been looking after the cloaks of those who stoned Stephen (Acts 7:58), approved of his execution. From that day persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem driving them to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria but the apostles remained in Jerusalem. Note that God had blessed the church with growth in Jerusalem, but they had not begun to fulfill the mandate Jesus gave them to “be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This persecution drove them out of Jerusalem to begin spreading the gospel. Stephen was buried by devout men who mourned over his death. Saul wreaked havoc by persecuting the church, not just in the synagogues or temple, but by going house to house and dragging men and women to prison.
Luke highlights Philip, one of the men chosen to serve the Greek widows (Acts 6:5). Philip was preaching the gospel in the city of Samaria and drew crowds who paid attention to what he said and saw the signs he did to validate his teaching which included casting out unclean spirits and healing the lame and paralysed. The result was much joy in the city. The Samaritans were a mixed culture of Jews intermarried with people from other countries brought together under the Assyrians. The move of the gospel to the Samaritans is another step towards reaching Gentiles (non-Jews) with the good news of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.
How are you doing in fulfilling the great commission? Are you speaking to those around you about Jesus? What about moving the gospel to the ends of the earth? If you are not personally going, are you involved in sending out missionaries who will?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Principles of Marriage: 1 Corinthians 7-8