Tuesday, April 25, 2023

God shows time and again in history that He is able to accomplish His will even in the bleakest situations and amidst the strongest persecution. Acts 7 recounts Stephen’s defense of the Gospel and subsequent stoning at the hands of Jewish leaders of his day, becoming the first martyr of the Church. Look to chapter 8 though. It begins, “And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” First, notice Saul, who would become Paul, the most prolific author and preeminent leader of the early Church, was not only present for Stephen’s stoning but approved of it. God is able to change hearts to suit His sovereign purposes! Secondly, this stoning caused a shake-up in the Church. Rather than mostly centering in Jerusalem, persecution there led believers to scatter across the known world, thereby spreading the Gospel far and wide. But consider this: with all apostles in Jerusalem, present and able to speak to one another, there was little need for written communication. However, in spreading across the world, written communication became imperative. Thus, not only did the Gospel spread, it was also written down for generations to come. Even in persecution, God is able to move according to His purposes. He is sovereign. Today, take heart knowing that the God we serve is able and always working towards His good purposes in the world.

“And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” – Acts 8:1-4