“FROM PERSECUTION TO PROCLAMATION”
ACTS 8:1-8

I. Introduction
Two weeks ago an old friend of mine passed into the presence of His Lord and Savior. I learned a lot from Bob Johnson, not the least of which was how a Christian handles things like pain, sorrow, and grief. In Bob’s case he handled it with prayer – often on his knees.

Let me cite just two examples that have stuck with me over the years. I watched him and learned when we both served on the Faith Christian School board. In 1982 the school was two years old and barely surviving. Bob was the treasurer. He was deeply distressed over his inability to pay the salaries of the staff and teachers. I remember his prayers.

A few years later I watched him and learned as he and his wife Cleon fought the cancer that would eventually take her life. I vividly remember one night when Bob, praying through his tears, lifted up the name of Jesus and thanked God for allowing him and Cleon to go through such a dark time so that they might both become more like their Lord. Bob has left behind a testimony of faith in God and an example for everyone who knew him.

But there’s something more. In July of 1987, when Cleon died, she left behind a testimony of faith that would linger long after her funeral. From the time her cancer was diagnosed until she passed away, she was a powerful witness for Jesus and the gospel. People talked of her spiritual strength and unwavering faith in God for years afterwards. Cleon’s testimony produced fruit for God even after she had passed from this world.

That word “fruit,” is often used to describe a person’s outward actions that result from the condition of the heart. We sometimes think that we can only accomplish good things – produce fruit – for God while we live on this earth. Yes, a Christian’s life can produce fruit that lasts, but so can a Christian’s death. That’s because righteous fruit has eternal benefits. In John 15:16 Jesus said, “I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…” A few verses earlier He made it clear what we must do in order to be fruitful in this life. We must stay connected to Him.
*John 15:4-5
4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

In Acts 6 we saw Stephen produce fruit. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, faith, and power. The result was that “…the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem (v. 7).” While Stephen lived he produced fruit. But then, as we saw in Acts 7, Stephen died. You might think that Stephen’s fruit died too. But as we’ll see in today’s text in Acts 8 – and through the entire Book of Acts – Stephen’s death, the immediate aftermath of it, and the ultimate effect it would have on one of those who witnessed it, would produce greater fruit than anyone could have imagined.

In order to produce the fruit that God intended, Stephen’s life wasn’t the issue; his death was the issue. In fact, the Great Commission itself really began to be fulfilled as a direct result of Stephen’s death. Listen to Jesus’ final instructions to the disciples.
Luke 24:47
47 “…repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in (My) name to
all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
Acts 1:8b
8b “…you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Sama-ria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

In Acts 1-7 we’ve seen that the apostles did preach the gospel and they did teach the word of God. As a result the Church of Jesus Christ was born and flourished in Jerusalem. They had obeyed Him and had produced much fruit… in Jerusalem. But that fruit was remaining in Jerusalem. Now it was time for the truth to go out from Jerusalem. The apostles had yet to take the gospel out to Judea or Samaria, let alone to “all the nations” of the world as Jesus had commanded them. What would change that? Stephen’s death would change that.

As we’ll see today, it was Stephen’s death that provided the catalyst for the gospel to begin its trek around the world. Stephen had to die. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24).” Let me paraphrase – Jesus was saying, “I will be glorified, but that will not (that cannot) happen unless and until I die and am resurrected.”

While Jesus’ statement in John 12:24 applied first to Himself, it also applied to Stephen… and it also applies to every true Christian because every true Christian will be glorified when he dies and is resurrected. If you have come to saving faith in Christ, then the “old you” is spiritually dead and buried. But the “new you” is spiritually alive and has been resurrected with Christ. This is what it means to be born again and be alive in Christ. And that’s why you can “bear much fruit.”

Do you see it? In Acts 6 Stephen had already produced fruit. In Acts 7 Stephen died but his death was not the end of fruit. On the contrary, it was only the beginning of “much fruit.”
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II. Review
Acts 7 concludes the first part of Luke’s history of the early church. Thus we come to Acts 8. A quick review is in order. In Acts 1 Jesus gave the apostles their final instructions when He ascended to heaven –
“…you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth (v. 8).”

The church was born and grew in Acts 2-3. It faced persecution, sin, and more persecution in Acts 4-5, but it grew still more. By Acts 6 the church was growing so rapidly that the apostles needed help to care for the people. So they appointed seven men who were “…of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom (v. 3),” and put them in charge. One of those seven men was Stephen. He was “full of grace and power, was performing great won-ders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8).” That led to Stephen’s arrest and trial before the Sanhedrin.

We spent three Sundays in Acts 7 as we heard Stephen defend himself against the false char-ges of blasphemy that were leveled against him. In the process he defended the faith – he proclaimed Jesus as God’s own Son, the Christ – and Stephen succeeded in indicting the Jewish religious leaders of rejecting and murdering their own Messiah. The Sanhedrin had convened to condemn Stephen, but he had condemned them. How dare he say such things about them! They became furious, and in their rage, they stoned Stephen to death. And that brings us to this morning’s text in Acts 8.
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III. Text
The Book of Acts is best understood when we recognize it is the history of the early church in three parts. Part one is about the birth of the Christian Church and its infancy in the city of Jerusalem. Jesus told the apostles, “…you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem…” They had been, but with Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts 7, part one comes to a close.

In Acts 8 part two is about to begin. In Acts 8-12 we will see the first steps taken in the ful-fillment of the Great Commission. The gospel will go out from Jerusalem “…to all Judea and Samaria…”

Part three will begin in Acts 13 and continue through the end of the book. It is in part three where we will see the focus of the gospel shift from the Jews to the Gentiles. We will watch as the gospel spreads “…even to the remotest part of the earth.” In the process we will see the central player of the Book of Acts shift from the Apostle Peter and the twelve to Saul of Tarsus. By the time that happens, Saul will have undergone a radical transformation. He will have become the Apostle Paul.

But today, our focus is still on the twelve and on the aftermath of Stephen’s murder at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders, one of whom was Saul of Tarsus.
*Acts 8:1-8 (Please stand with me in honor of reading God’s Word.)
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 were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
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.
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.
8 And there was much rejoicing in that city.

If you’ve ever wondered why some chapters or verses in the Bible seem to break at the wrong place, you’re not alone. That’s because when the Bible was written it did not have such divisions. John 3:16 (and every other reference) is called that today because of Stephen Langton, the Archbishop of Canterbury. He added the modern chapter divisions in the year
1227. It wasn’t until 1555 that Robert Estienne divided the chapters into the numbered ver-ses that we know and love today. Obviously, these two men performed a great service. But in a few places the chapter and verse breaks are poorly placed and tend to divide content that should flow together. This morning we’re faced with a classic example of this.
*Acts 7:60
60 And falling on his knees, (Stephen) cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he fell asleep.

That’s not only the end of the verse, but it’s the end of the chapter. But look at the opening words of the next chapter.
*Acts 8:1a
1a And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.

It’s pretty clear that Stephen Langton split the chapter in the wrong place and, as a result, Robert Etienne put part of the next verse in the wrong chapter. So if you start reading at the beginning of Acts 8:1, you’ll need to go and find out who this man Saul is. We heard his name the first time while Stephen was being stoned. Acts 7:58 says, “…they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

It’s in this morning’s text that we find out Saul was all for Stephen’s murder. At this point it is hard to imagine how such a man could not only come to saving faith, but would be called as an apostle, and write at least thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the NT. We all know what Saul will become, but what is he now? What is Saul in Acts 8:1? He’s a man who has just taken great pleasure in the brutal murder of a Christian!

Can you imagine how the images of Stephen’s murder would have burned themselves into Paul’s memory? Listen to what he told his young protégé Timothy three decades later.
*1 Timothy 1:12-15
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He con-sidered me faithful, putting me into service;
13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.
And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

There’s a lesson for us in this. No one, no one – no matter how vile or wretched they may seem to you and me – is beyond the reach of God’s matchless grace. If God can save a Saul of Tarsus and turn him into the Apostle Paul, is anyone beyond our Lord’s reach?

Augustine was one of the church’s first theologians. In the fourth century he said, “If Ste-phen had not prayed, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them,’ the church would not have had Paul.” Listen, if you love someone, no matter who they are or what they’ve done, don’t stop praying for their souls. God can save them and use them for His glory! You do not know what might bring them to their knees. For Saul, that day would come… but not yet.
*Acts 8:1b-2
1b And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

The very day that Stephen died the persecution of the church intensified again. What had taken place in Acts 4-6 was only the beginning. Before Stephen was martyred, the persecu-tion of Christians had been aimed at the apostles and the leaders of the church. But with Stephen’s death it became “open season” on all other Christians as well.

And it was Saul who led the charge. No one was more zealous in defending the Judaism of the day than was Saul. In John 16:2 Jesus had said, “…an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.” That hour had come and Saul of Tarsus was only too glad to “serve God.” In order to for us to comprehend such zeal, it’s helpful to understand who Saul was. Listen to him in his own words to the churches in Galatia and the church at Philippi.
*Galatians 1:13-14
13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure, and tried to destroy it;
14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
*Philippians 3:5-6
5 (I was) circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benja-min, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;
6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. (back to Acts 8)

In v. 1 we’re told that as a result of this persecution the Jerusalem church began to be broken apart and fled to other cities. Acts 11:19 tells us to where at least some of them went.
“So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch…” It’s interesting to note that Antioch would become the “home port” for missionaries in the first century. It’s also interesting that “…the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26).”

While much of the fledgling church began to be scattered, the twelve remained faithful to their original calling. There were still Jews in Jerusalem who needed to hear the gospel. But the persecution of the church was becoming the catalyst that would fulfill the second part of Jesus’ command back in Acts 1:8 to be a witness for Him “…in all Judea and Samaria…”

Acts 8:2 gives us a glimpse, some insight, if you will, into the fearlessness of those who
were being persecuted. Jewish law expressly forbade the public expression of grief at the funeral/burial of a convicted criminal. So the loud crying and lamentation over Stephen’s body amounted to a courageous public protest against the Jewish leaders who had killed him.
*Acts 8:3
3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Saul wasn’t finished. He was just getting started. His desire to destroy Christians was not satisfied by Stephen’s death. It seems that it only fed his bloodlust. He wanted to see the Church of Jesus Christ destroyed. If it meant that more Christians would lose their lives in the process, so be it.

The word “ravaging” in v. 3 is translated from a complex Greek word that means to destroy, to ruin, and to create havoc. You might picture a rampaging bull tearing through a shop that sells fine china and delicate crystal. The devastation would not only be chaotic, it would be complete. This is what Saul of Tarsus was doing to the church in Jerusalem. But he wasn’t content with those attacks. He terrorized Christians wherever he could find them.
*Acts 26:9-11 (giving his testimony before King Agrippa)
9 “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 “And this is just what I did in Jerusalem;
not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.
11 “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.”

What an incredible statement by Paul. It almost reads like what is happening to Christians today in the Middle East. Saul did everything he could to tear the church apart. In fact, he was on his way to Damascus to continue his reign of terror when he met the risen Christ and was converted. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. In any case, what we’re witnessing here in the first few verses of Acts 8 is a powerful example of the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men.

God’s plan for the gospel to go out from Jerusalem is moving forward. Men are trying to stop it, but they cannot. Listen, God is not the author of sin, but He uses the wrath of men and their sin to accomplish His purposes.
Psalm 37:12-13
12 The wicked plots against the righteous, and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The LORD laughs at him; for He sees his day is coming.

Saul thinks he is doing God’s work, but he is only plotting against the righteous. He is gnashing his teeth at God’s own people. But the Lord sees Saul’s day coming. And when it came, what Saul had been doing to the church would haunt Paul for the rest of his life.
*Acts 8:4-7
4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
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.
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.

Notice something about v. 4. Because of the persecution in Jerusalem many Christians fled and went to other cities. Did they go to those places to hide from persecution and try to keep the light of the gospel from prying eyes? They didn’t flee so they could be protected from the wrath of men; they fled so they could preach the gospel and save men from the wrath of God. In v. 4 it says that “…those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.”

Do you think of the birth of missions as having taken place during the “Great Awakening” in the 1700s?
Do you think that the Apostle Paul originated missions when he made his famous journeys throughout the Roman Empire planting churches as he went? Neither would be accurate. The birth of Christian missions began right here in Acts 8:4. In fact, the word translated “preaching” is “ĕuaggĕlizō” (yoo-ang-ghel-idʹ-zo) – “evangelism.”

By the way, most scholars agree that part two of the Book of Acts really begins right here in v. 4 with the gospel going out from Jerusalem for the first time.

In v. 5 we’re introduced to a man whose name we first heard back Acts 6:5. Philip, along with Stephen, was one of the seven men the apostles had ordained to assist them with caring for the church in Jerusalem. Like Stephen, Philip was “…a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” And, like Stephen, Philip would have a major impact on the early church.

The rest of Acts 8 is all about Philip and the gospel. It’s worth noting that Philip is the only man in the NT who is actually given the title of “evangelist.” It is who he was and what he did. When Philip fled Jerusalem he went “down north” into Samaria. Going down north sounds strange to us because we’re so used to saying “up north” or “down south.” But Jerusalem was on a high plateau. So you went down from the city no matter which direction you were going. Samaria was north of Jerusalem so Philip went “down north.”

Even though Jews and Samaritans had hated each other for the previous 800 years – the
Samaritans had intermarried with Gentiles and were said to be “half-breeds” – they still worshipped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were still looking for God’s own Messiah. Philip told them that the Messiah had come. In v. 4 he evangelized. But in v. 5 the word isn’t evangelized, it’s proclaimed. He didn’t just tell them the Messiah had come; he identified Him and told them all about Him. He preached and he taught. In the process he cleared up whatever false teachings the Samaritans were embracing.

Philip’s message was very good news for the Samaritans. In vv. 6-7 the text tells us that the power of Philip’s message was authenticated by “… the signs which he was performing.” Among those signs was the casting out of demons from people who had been possessed by them. Jesus had done this when He walked this earth, and now, as the church was being established, He was still doing so through the apostles and their associates – men like Philip.

Let’s be clear here. People indwelled by demons exist today. In our culture they may not foam at the mouth and roll around on the ground, but they exist. In his classic book “The Screwtape Letters,” C. S. Lewis said, “Satan and his demons adapt themselves to whatever world view prevails in a given society. They are equally at home with Western materialists and third-world magicians.”

A word of caution – do not assume that certain politicians or other powerful and influential people we may disagree with are demon-possessed. They probably aren’t. But here’s where you need discernment. Here’s another reason why you need to know your Bibles.
Most of those who are controlled by demons won’t show any obvious signs of it. Satan is far too clever for that. That’s especially true of false teachers and those who promote false religion.

There are many today who claim to have the same kind of power that the apostles and Philip had over demons. But they do not! That power, along with the other so-called “sign-gifts,” ceased at the end of the apostolic age. Yet we are called to pray. We are not called to seek miraculous gifts. We are called to seek God’s intercession. Nowhere does the NT give us the right to exercise power or authority over demons. Nowhere are Christians told to “bind Satan.” God will do the binding, thank you. Actually, one of God’s holy angels will do it!
Revelation 20:1-2
1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years…

We don’t talk a great deal about demons and their influence and their attacks on people today. Whether that’s because it’s a dark subject we’d prefer to avoid or we’re somewhat fearful of dealing with, I’m not really sure. But like anything else in Scripture, we are not to be ignorant of the devil or his schemes. The simple fact is that, until Jesus comes for us, we are in a battle with Satan and his demons. We need to be prepared for the fight. How?
*Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (the spiritual realm).
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with TRUTH, and having put on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of THE GOSPEL of peace;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of FAITH with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is THE WORD OF GOD.
18 With all PRAYER and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints…

There it is. That’s what we need to know, and that’s what we need to do.
Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God (the Holy Scriptures), and prayer – it is with these seven things that you fight the battle. And make no mistake, you need all seven. This is how you defeat the powers of darkness.
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IV. Conclusion
The last verse in today’s text in Acts (v. 8) says “…there was much rejoicing in that city. Of course there was rejoicing. Multitudes of people were coming to saving faith in Christ.

Why was the gospel even in Samaria? It was being proclaimed there because of persecution, wasn’t it? The Christians in Jerusalem were being persecuted even to death. God used Ste-phen’s death to take the gospel out of Jerusalem and “down north” into Samaria. Isn’t that what Jesus said would happen? “…you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth (Acts 1:8).”

We are seeing the gospel go from persecution to proclamation. What we’ve seen starting in Acts 8 is still going on today. The very persecution that is designed to destroy Christianity is the catalyst that makes it grow and prosper. Persecution doesn’t stop the gospel or kill Christianity. Persecution keeps Christianity vibrant and alive. Persecution promotes the gospel. And persecution spreads it from Jerusalem to Samaria to every corner of the earth.

Can you keep that truth in your heart today? Can you ponder it and remember it when you face rejection and persecution for the sake of Jesus and His gospel?

~ Pray ~