Take Note Podcast

Great Persecution

Acts 8:1-8

• Stephen has just been stoned for His proclamation of Christ
• We find a man named Saul approved of his execution
• He is the first martyr of the church
• And persecution of Christians in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria would continue
• This is where we find ourselves in today’s passage of scripture

• It is a passage that may start us thinking about how we would react in such circumstances
• Leaders in our church violently attacked
• Brothers and sisters under threat of prison - or worse
• Any and all believers in Christ targeted by authorities

• These are difficult, but quite common threats to God’s people throughout history
• We can learn from their example in the eight verses we’ll address today

• How exactly did they cope with “Great Persecution?”
• Which is our theme of the day from Acts 8:1-8

• The final scene in Acts 7 is Stephen’s stoning
• We find one of the men responsible in the first verse of chapter eight
• Not long after the birth of Christ’s church, His followers are under threat

• Let’s read our entire passage of the day for context
• Then take a closer look at each verse…

Acts 8:1-8

1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.

• Saul “made havock of the church”
• But the work of the church continued
• Preaching continued
• Christ’s disciples carried out His will
• And cities experienced “great joy” thanks to the power of the Holy Spirit

• Let’s take a look at each verse…

Acts 8:1

1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

• There is some important context about Saul here
• Which will help us have a proper view of him as the book continues
• He is neck-deep in the persecution at Jerusalem
• And will take the persecution on the road in coming days

• So, the disciples do as we might expect: they scatter
• And we assume they scatter out of fear and for safety at first glance
• But learn a few verses later they have other motivations too

• The story of Stephen carries on in the next verse…

Acts 8:2

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

• Men who had reverence for God buried Stephen
• They mourned greatly
• He was one of the church’s first deacons
• A person of great integrity and full of the Holy Ghost

• And he died unjustly
• Only because he told the truth and made a stand for Christ

• But he angered those who hated Jesus
• Those who held to tradition above Bible truth
• And they killed him

• The hatred for Christ and His followers continued…

Acts 8:3

3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

• This phrase “he made havock” means to “treat shamefully or with injury, to ravage, devastate, ruin”
• He went from house to house
• Dragging out both men and women
• Throwing them into prison

• Keep in mind, this is not for any criminal activity
• But for what they believed
• For the Savior they embraced

• And again, we’re told they scattered…

Acts 8:4

4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

• They didn’t just scatter to find safety
• They didn’t keep a low profile
• They didn’t censor themselves

• Rather, they continued their great commission ministry
• Preaching in the name of Jesus
• The name that got them in trouble from whence they fled

• This is the life of a true disciple of Christ in times of persecution
• Escaping threat, not simply to preserve life, but to continue ministry

• Philip continued his ministry too…

Acts 8:5

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

• He continued preaching Christ, despite the threat
• And many heard him and saw what God empowered him to do…

Acts 8:6-7

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

• Philips words were given extra weight because of the miracles
• God prepared him to carry out this miracles at this time
• To reach those God intended for him to reach

• Many were delivered from demons
• And even more were healed from their diseases
• And their disabilities

• They gave heed to Philip's words
• God was blessing his ministry
• And the city of Samaria was altered for the better…

Acts 8:8

8 And there was great joy in that city.

• As with any people (any city) that embraces Christ
• Joy arrived immediately after
• He brings great joy

• In this passage we learn, among other things, that persecution is meant to stop the church
• But it often mobilizes the church and her people
• It moves us to new cities to proclaim His saving power and great grace

• That is certainly what happened in Acts 8
• And it made a monumental difference in lives

• We don't know what our future holds
• But we must commit to ongoing ministry
• No matter the obstacles