Acts Chapter 8

[irishman]

Acts 8

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” (v. 4)

When the persecution came, the disciples did not rejoice in it, but the Gospel was spread throughout the world as a result of it. We cannot always see the need, nor the reason behind the persecution, but God has a purpose in it. It was Paul that had a hand in spreading the gospel, even before he was saved! As he wreaked “havoc” on the church, God was using it for His own glory, for the promotion of His kingdom. I am sure that the death of Stephen had a great impact on the early church too. Did you ever notice that growth comes through persecution? As a nation or a people are persecuted, it seems that they grow stronger and larger in number as allies rally to their side. It was so with the children of Israel, especially when they were slaves in Egypt, and it is so with the church today.

We tend to unite, and stick together, when sometimes the Lord would have us to spread out! When we are all together, as a commune, we tend to trust in the security of the numbers of men, and not of God. Yet, when we find good fellowship, we do not like to part our ways. Sometimes the Lord must make us move. There is reason to rejoice in persecution, although it is not a pleasant thing to go through. We must remember that we are in the hands of the Lord and nothing will come our way that he does not allow; and if He allows it, we need it. This is part of our walk of faith, believing that we are in His care, and that he cares for us, and carries us through the storm. God wants the very best for us, and we need to believe that by faith. Yes, there is strength in numbers, but when God is in it, the multitudes lose their strength; the myriads of enemies come to nothing when opposing the Lord God Almighty. God allowed this persecution so that His church would spread to all the known world, and His Gospel would be preached “both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). The disciples might never have spread the Gospel if it weren’t for the persecution that Saul wreaked upon the church.

As the Christians were “spread abroad” they took the Gospel message with them, and the Lord’s kingdom grew as a result of it. We too ought to carry the message wherever we go, whether in persecution or in freedom, let us happily proclaim the name of the Lord.