Context No. 3001 of 4322 · Acts
Context · Reflection
Acts 8:1-8: in context
1Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. 2Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him. 3But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison. 4Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 7For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8There was great joy in that city.
After Stephen is killed, a great persecution breaks out against the church in Jerusalem, and Saul ravages it, dragging men and women off to prison. The believers are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. But look at what the scattering does: those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip goes down to Samaria, proclaims Christ, casts out unclean spirits, heals the paralyzed and lame, and there is great joy in that city.
The persecution meant to crush the church instead spread it. Scattered by violence, the believers carried the gospel wherever they fled, and it reached Samaria, exactly the wider mission Jesus had commanded. What the enemy intended for destruction, God used for advance. Philip, an ordinary believer driven from his home, becomes an evangelist to a new city, and joy follows in his wake. God's purposes are not thwarted by opposition; often they travel on the very winds meant to blow the church away.
When trouble scatters my plans, can I trust that God may be using the disruption to carry his purpose somewhere new, as he did through the scattered church?