The Gospel Spreads Through Persecution

Acts 8:1-40

Key Verse 8:4 

“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

Stephen’s martyrdom set off a wave of violence against the church, which caused many believers to scatter.  It seemed like such a terrible injustice that Stephen was murdered in such a violent way. Yet, God had his good purpose in the wave of violence which broke out against the church.  Through the believers scattering, God used this event to spread the message of the gospel widely throughout Judea and Samaria.  One of those who fled was Philip the evangelist.  He first went first to Samaria, and then to a desert road, and then to Caesarea.  The common thread in these events was that God was working to spread the gospel rapidly.  Through persecutions, God used miraculous signs, he sent the Holy Spirit, and he sent an angel to Philip.  Despite the opposition of the Sanhedrin, society, or anything else, God was sovereign over the church.

1.  They preached the word wherever they went.

When we look at vs. 1b-3, we see that  Stepehens murder set off angry mobs and a wave of angry persecution broke out against the church.  There was one person we want to look at in particular, a young Pharisee named Saul.  He was an ambitious student of a prominent Sanhedrin member, and he had great zeal for the law.  Stephens death had in impact on him.  Possibly he couldn’t forget Stephens words, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”  Maybe his self righteousness was challenged, and he was convicted of his sin.  Instead of repenting, he became so angry that he started to destroy the church.  In vs. 3 it says,”…Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.”

In vs. 4 it says, “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”  God was using the persecution to spread the church, and the gospel message.  This sounds paradoxical.  God used persecutions against the early church to spread the gospel.  

God is committed to his purpose, which is to preach the gospel to all nations.  God never persecutes, but he will allow persecutions to serve his own good purpose.  In vs. 4, we see it was to spread the gospel message as quickly as possible to save many souls.  In the previous chapters of Acts, we see how the Jerusalem church enjoyed such a beautiful fellowship, and good reputation.  The unity among believers was so strong.  Even after the death of Ananias and Sapphira, the church was held in such high esteem by the people.  Through the church were there was powerful preaching of the kingdom of Gd, and mighty miraculous signs and wonders.  The church members wanted the blessed environment of the church in Jerusalem to remain as long as possible.  None of them wanted to leave that good environment and go to a different place and even a foreign country.  They wanted to bask it God’s blessing.  Yet, God had a different purpose for his people in Jerusalem.  God wanted his people to take the gospel message to the ends of the earth.  God wanted his people to make disciples of all nations.  So God used this persecution to help the church grow as fast as possible throughout Judea and Samaria.  

In this case persecution served not just to help the church grow, persecutions also helped the scattered believers to grow in faith.  We usually think that if God loves us, he won’t allow any suffering or trouble to come our way.  Yet Christians do suffer.  Stephan was murdered, and many others were put in prison and killed for their faith.  Sometimes we might do things like write testimony, repent of our sins, make a decision to use our life for God’s purpose.  We might think that, “Maybe now, I will experience the peace of God.”  Yet, instead of peace, something unpleasant or distressful happens.  Those who fled Jerusalem at that time suffered greatly.  They no doubt felt very distressed, when they had to basically flee Jerusalem for their lives.  We hear of many cases where missionaries, or other servants of God, might get a job  set up in another city, state or country.  These could include something like as a professor position, or a medical internship, or a job at an embassy.  These are very great and blessed.  But the Christians in this passage fled because of persecutions.  They left with only a few belongings, leaving behind jobs, homes and even family members.  In an unfamiliar place they had to overcome aspects of uncertainly like homelessness and poverty.  They didn’t have a home or apartment waiting for them.  They didn’t know where their next meal was coming from.  Yet from the passage, we see that these believers preached the word of God where ever they went.  Instead of dwelling on their human situation, they became bold and preached the gospel wherever they went.  Persecution helped them to become bold preachers of Jesus Christ.  Many times we are afraid.  We don’t want to lose what we have in the world.  Some may be working on their college degree, or maybe a Phd.  Others might have a house our a family.  They might be real comfortable with their fellowoship.  In their hearts, the last thing they want to do is to leave everything due to persecutions.  Yet, when the early Christians were scattered because of persecution, the Spirit empowered them.   They could see clearly that the most important thing to do was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ boldly. (1Pet. 4:13)

2.  Philip in Samaria

One of these scattered Christians was Philip.  He was referred to as Philip the evangelist.  Of course he  wasn’t the only one who was scattered, but his ministry serves as an example of the kind of work God performed throughout Judea and Samaria.  Philip was one of the seven along with Stephen who had been put in charge of the food distribution.  He may have been a close friend of Stephen.  Yet, Stephens murder did not cause him to shrink back in fear.  Instead he became bold.  In vs. 5-8 it says, “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.  When the crowds saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.  With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.  So there was great joy in that city.”

Philip was filled with the Holy Spirit.  He proclaimed the Christ, performed many miraculous signs.  The city was eager to hear about the Christ.  They had been living under the power of sin and darkness.  In John 4, we can see how Samaria got their first taste of Jesus, through the Samaritan woman.  Yet, the darkness was so deep.  When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miracles he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.  Through Philip evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.  There was great joy in the city.

In vs. 9-12, we see a man named Simon.  He  had practiced sorcery and the people of Samaria were amazed.  He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people both high and low gave him their attention.  They exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.”  They all followed him for a long time, because his magic had amazed them.  Yet, when they heard and believed Philip’s message of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were all baptized both men and women.  Even Simon believed and baptized.  Similarly to all the other people following Philip, Simon was astonished and amazed by the great signs and miracles which Philip performed.  

In regards to Simon the sorcerer, it is not clear whether he used demonic power to deceive the people, or was he just using deceptive little tricks like bending spoons and pulling rabbits out of hats.  His favorite trick may have been making people’s money disappear.  The influence which he had over the people was, definitely for his own benefit. 

Yet, when Philip entered this stronghold of Satan, God enabled him to perform miraculous signs.  The message of God’s word cut into the peoples hearts, and even Simon accepted the message and believed.  Through Philip many paralytics and cripples were healed.  Simons sorcery was no match and could not even stand before the message of the gospel.  

Today in the world, we see many things which serve to deceive people.  We see things like a renewed fascinations with the occult.  There are things like horoscopes to the psychic friends network.  There is a TV show where a man claims that he can talk to your dead relatives.  Of course things like this are very much non beneficial to our spiritual life.  There is a more fundamental issue these things address, which can be applied to a wider variety of things in our lives.  These things include, our Job, career, family, house and so forth.  The key point we want to think about, is whom do we serve.  Do you want to serve all the worldly and deceptive messages, material possession, or ambitious aspirations?  Or instead, do you want to serve God?  A simple example could be, what if your horoscope tells you to beware of strangers that day.  Yet, you were planning to visit the campus to go fishing.  Which one are you going to obey.  Will you listen to your horoscope, or are you going to go to campus to go fishing.  This is a small example of how Satan uses mysticism and deceptive ideas to ensnare people.  Before the word of God, all such ideas or isms are nothing.  They are just mist which evaporates before the preaching of the gospel message.  Jesus is the one who died on the cross for the sins of the world.  Jesus is the one who rose from the dead on the third day proclaiming victory over death.  Through Jesus, the way is open to the kingdom of God.  When Philip preached the kingdom of God to the people in a Samaritan city, all the people were filled with a joy.

In vs. 14-17 it says, “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

When the apostles heard that Samaria  had accepted the word of God., they were joyful.  They sent their two highest leaders Peter and John to see and encourage the work of God.  Traditionally, Jews hated Samaritans.  When ever they traveled north or south between Judea and Galilee, they would go on the eat side of the Jordan, making their journey 3 days longer.  They didn’t care, though.  At least they didn’t have to go into Samaritan territory. On one occasion during Jesus ministry, John wanted to call down fire from heaven on an unrepentant Samaritan city.  Here in the book of Acts, Peter and John went  to go and see for themselves the work of God that was taking place in Samaria.  Also Peter and John didn’t go to take over the ministry. They didn’t demand that things be done a certain way.  Peter and John also didn’t micromanage.  Sometimes leaders in a church might say, ‘Oh this has to be done this way and that has to be done this way, and so on and so forth.  Then they say ‘Oh, it’s for the glory of God.”  This is not at all beneficial.  Peter and John, however went to encourage and see how they can help.  This kind of  visiting is beneficial to everyone.  It is very important to keep in mind, that within a city, state, or in other parts of the word, like Europe, Africa, Asia, and so forth all fellowships have a different flavor.  The main thing that is important in any fellowship is respecting the teachings of word of God, and faith In Jesus.  Peter and John respected the work of God that was taking place in the region of Samaria.

When Peter and John arrived, they found that the Samaritans needed the Holy Spirit.  In vs. 15 it says that Peter and John prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.  Then in vs. 17, they placed their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.  Through participating in this way, Peter and John could have a heart for the once despised Samaria.  In vs. 25 it says that on their way back, they preached the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

When Peter and John placed their hands on the people, granting them to receive the Holy Spirit, a problem arose concerning Simon.  In vs. 18, when Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on the apostles hands, he offered them money.   He said, “Give me this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Then in vs. 20-23, Peter rebuked him.  He said, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!”  Then he told him that he had no share in the ministry, and he should repent and pray to God so that he would be forgiven.  Before Philip arrived, basically the people followed Simon.  Then when Philip arrived, they all accepted Philips message, and left Simon.  Simon too believed Philips message and followed with them.  Yet, he may have been following Philip to at least remain in contact with all these people who used to follow him.  Maybe he thought an opportunity would come where he could get them back.  When he saw Peter and John laying their hands on people so that they could receive the Holy Spirit, Simon was thinking this was that opportunity.   Maybe Simon thought that if he could receive that ability, he could restore his previous position where all the people  would follow him again.  In Peter’s rebuke to him, Peter did say that Simon was full of bitterness and captive to sin.  Simon’s heart was exposed before Peter.

So we need to take warning ourselves.  We believe Jesus, and we want to live for his purpose and make disciples of Jesus.  Yet, many times other motives or ideas come into our hearts and lives.  These other strange or ulterior motives only rob our hearts from being truly fruitful in Jesus.  Also an unpleasant time of conflict may arise between these ulterior motives, and our lives of faith.  These times may even be a critical time of repentance and decision making; or tragically abandoning the ministry.  So, let’s try to have pure motives in following Jesus, and not let other strange motives cloud our spiritual lives.  

3.  Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch

Suddenly, and angel of the Lord called Philip away from his fruitful Samaritan ministry.  There was one truth seeking man who went to Jerusalem to worship.  Yet he didn’t find the truth and was confused. On his way home he was reading from Isaiah the prophet, but didn’t understand what he was reading.  In vs. 29 the Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”  So Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet.  “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.  The man replied, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?”  So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”  Wouldn’t it be great if God could bless us to meet people like this with such a spiritual desire.  Yet sometimes we might ask a Jewish person to Bible study.  Usually a Jewish person will reply, “I am a Jew”.  This is a sophisticated way just to say “no thank you”.  Yet, we can be confident that fishing on campus is not random chance.  Fishing on campus is God’s work.  God carefully orchestrates this activity, so that everyone who accepts the invitation has been brought by God.   In the passage we see that Philip taught the Ethiopian from the passage of Isaiah where he was reading.  When they came to some water, they both went to the water and were baptized.  Yet, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away.  The eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.  Philip however, appeared in Azotus, and preached the gospel in all the towns in that area until he reached Caesarea.

From this passage, let’s keep in mind that while persecutions may arise, and seem unpleasant, they may be great opportunities to advance the gospel of Jesus.  Let’s also respect other fellowships, and have a true heart for the work of God, which is taking place around the world.

One Word: the gospel spread through persecutions

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