Acts 8:1-8: a reflection

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.

When a great persecution scatters the believers from Jerusalem, driving them out into Judea and Samaria, it looks like a disaster for the young church; but God brings good out of it. Those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word, the account says; and Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed Christ, and there was great joy in that city. The very scattering that was meant to crush the church became the means of spreading the gospel; driven out, the believers carried the word wherever they went, and it took root and brought joy. What the persecutors intended for harm, God used for the advance of the gospel. The scattering did not destroy the church; it spread it. God brought good, the spread of his word and great joy, out of what was meant for evil.

Notice how God brought good out of the persecution: the scattering spread the gospel. The persecution was real and painful; believers were driven from their homes, imprisoned, scattered. It was meant to crush the church. But God overruled it for good: the scattered believers carried the gospel with them wherever they went, preaching the word, and it spread and brought joy to new places. What was intended to destroy the church became the means of its growth. God did not prevent the persecution, but he brought good out of it, using even the harm meant against his people for the advance of his gospel. The hardship became the highway for the word. God is able to bring good out of what is meant for evil, turning even persecution to the spread of his kingdom. What looked like disaster became the gospel's advance.

That is worth taking to heart, for God can bring good out of persecution and hardship, using even what is meant for harm. When we face persecution or hardship, we can see only the harm, only the disaster; but God brought good out of the persecution that scattered the early church, using it to spread the gospel and bring joy to new places. God does not always prevent the hardship, but he is able to bring good out of it, turning even what is meant for harm to his purposes. When hardship or opposition comes, remember that God can bring good out of it, as he spread the gospel through the scattering of the persecuted church. Trust that God can bring good even out of persecution and hardship, using what is meant for harm to advance his purposes, as the scattering of the early church spread the gospel and brought great joy to new places; for God does not always prevent the hardship we face, but he is able to overrule it for good, turning even what is meant to crush his people into the means of his kingdom's advance.

Lord, when a great persecution scatters the believers from Jerusalem, driving them out into Judea and Samaria, it looks like a disaster for the young church; but you bring good out of it. Those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word, the account says; and Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed Christ, and there was great joy in that city. The very scattering that was meant to crush the church became the means of spreading the gospel; driven out, the believers carried the word wherever they went, and it took root and brought joy. What the persecutors intended for harm, you used for the advance of the gospel. Show me how you brought good out of the persecution: the scattering spread the gospel. The persecution was real and painful; believers were driven from their homes, scattered. It was meant to crush the church. But you overruled it for good: the scattered believers carried the gospel with them wherever they went, and it spread and brought joy to new places. What was intended to destroy the church became the means of its growth. You did not prevent the persecution, but you brought good out of it. Take that to my heart, for you can bring good out of persecution and hardship. When I face persecution or hardship, I can see only the harm, only the disaster; but you brought good out of the persecution that scattered the early church. You do not always prevent the hardship, but you are able to bring good out of it. When hardship or opposition comes, help me remember that you can bring good out of it, Lord, as you spread the gospel through the scattering of the persecuted church, turning what was meant for harm into the advance of your kingdom.