2. Part Seventeen
Acts 8:1-8

4. Acts 8:1
And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they

5. Acts 8:1
were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

6. Acts 8:2
And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentations over him.

7. Acts 8:3
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

8. Acts 8:4
Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

9. Acts 8:5
And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.

10. Acts 8:6
And the multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

11. Acts 8:7
For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

12. Acts 8:8
And there was much rejoicing in that city.

13. At first glance, Stephen’s death may seem pointless.

14. He was a powerful, miraculous servant of God, with a deep knowledge of the Scripture.

15. He stood for and boldly declared the truth of God’s Word no matter how unpopular it was.

16. And now his career and his life seem to be cut short and almost incomplete.

17. If we looked at things from the world’s perspective, his ministry would be labeled a failure.

18. Not only was he killed as a blaspheming heretic, but his religious stance brought about significant hardship and persecution for many people.

19. But thankfully, we don’t view things as the world does, we view things from a Biblical perspective.

20. From God’s view, persecution will lead to the spreading of the truth which will lead to more lives being changed for the better.

21. Kingdom Expansion
Persecution
Proclamation
Productivity

22. Persecution! Acts 8:1-3

23. Acts 8:1
And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they

24. Acts 8:1
were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

25. Acts 8:2
And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentations over him.

26. Acts 8:3
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

27. Up to this point, the persecution faced by the church had been directed only at leadership.

28. Now the persecution would extend by association.

29. And my how it changed quickly!

30. On the very day of Stephen’s death, a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem.

31. Saul of Tarsus was a brilliant student of Gamaliel, and was known to be zealous for religious tradition.

32. He used Stephen’s death as a catalyst for the storm of persecution that would attack the church.

33. And the predictions of the Lord Jesus Christ were coming true: “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”

34. John 15:20
Remember the word that I said to you, “A slave is not greater than his master.” If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

35. John 16:2
They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.

36. Because of this persecution, believers were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.

37. The intense persecution gave the Hellenist Jews who believed in Jesus a good reason to go back home.

38. Just imagine their powerful testimony as they returned home from their journey to bear witness to the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, the testimony of Jesus and the miraculous works performed in His name!

39. Wow!

40. The church in Jerusalem continued its work, but was more cautious in its approach to confront those in power.

41. The passage shares that devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

42. This word for devout doesn’t necessarily mean they believed in Jesus… yet!

43. G2126 εὐλαβής yoo-lab-ace' Taking well (carefully), that is, circumspect (religiously, pious): - devout.

44. Though the Mishna stated that it is forbidden to mourn and/or lament over the death of an executed criminal…

45. …these highly respected religious men loudly lamented over his death and oversaw his burial.

46. Meanwhile, the persecution raged on as Saul ravaged the church by entering houses and dragging people off to jail.

47. G3075 λυμαίνομαι loo-mah'ee-nom-ahee (meaning filth); properly to soil, that is, (figuratively) insult (maltreat): - make havoc of.

48. He even pursued them to foreign cities and brought them back to face trial.

49. While many of the effects were devastating, God chose to use the persecution for good.

50. The truth about Jesus was being spread to the nations and eventually even Saul would bear witness and bow the knee.

51. Kingdom Expansion
Persecution
Proclamation
Productivity

52. Proclamation! Acts 8:4-7

53. Acts 8:4
Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

54. Acts 8:5
And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.

55. Acts 8:6
And the multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

56. Acts 8:7
For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

57. Instead of cowering in fear of Saul’s persecution when they arrived home, the believers shared about everything that happened on their trip to Jerusalem.

58. They literally could not stop talking about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Jesus as the Messiah and the great miracles that took place in His name.

59. Then the passage focuses in on one particular testimony, that of Philip.

60. Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed Jesus Christ to them.

61. Samaria was the ancient capital of the Northern Kingdom and there was much idolatry, confusion and mixture there.

62. 2 Kings 17, provides a record of their religious syncretism.

63. 2 Kings 17:33
They feared the Lord and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile.

64. Even though there was tremendous friction between Jews and Samaritans, Jesus and Philip reached out to them with the truth in love.

65. Philip was a living testimony of Acts 1.

66. Acts 1:8
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all

67. Acts 1:8
Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.

68. Philip began proclaiming Christ to the Samarians.

69. G2784 κηρύσσω kay-roos'-so To herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel): - preach (-er), proclaim, publish.

70. The Samaritans like the Jews were looking for the coming of their Messiah, and Philip was telling all who would listen that Jesus is the Anointed One.

71. The Holy Spirit prepared their hearts to respond to Philip’s message and they did.

72. His witness, testimony and preaching resulted in a spiritual awakening as the multitudes with one accord gave attention to what he was saying.

73. His words were confirmed with signs and wonders and many were healed.

74. Unclean spirits were coming out of their victims, shouting with a loud voice.

75. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

76. G2323 θεραπεύω ther-ap-yoo'-o To wait upon menially, that is, (figuratively) to adore (God), or (specifically) to relieve (of disease): - cure, heal, worship.

77. Their eyes and ears were opened to the truth about Jesus.

78. Kingdom Expansion
Persecution
Proclamation
Productivity

79. Productivity! Acts 8:8

80. Acts 8:8
And there was much rejoicing in that city.

81. The powerful witness, testimonies and miracles resulted in the salvation of many.

82. Many received the truth about Jesus, believed and experienced transformation.

83. Their joy was uncontainable!

84. It didn’t just come from being physically healed, but from spiritual healing as well.

85. Your sins are forgiven!

86. Here’s the truth verses the lie.

87. Here’s the power you need to walk in what is good, right and true.

88. Go and sin no more!

89. Be sure to tell others and help them do the same.

90. And yet, in the midst of all the proclaiming of truth, the healing, the deliverance and the power of God…

91. …many still did not believe.

92. And we will pick up with one of those stories next time.

94. Kingdom Expansion
Persecution
Proclamation
Productivity