Scattered

We read in Acts 8 about a story of a group of men.

Purpose in Persecution

The men were stunned. One of their dearest friends had lost his life at the hands of his own countrymen … right before their eyes. He lost it because he preached the truth of Christ in this Middle Eastern nation.

Then men knew that they would need to leave soon. It was no longer safe for believers in the city—maybe not even in the rest of the nation.

So they scattered … preaching the gospel everywhere they went.

Two men took the gospel message into enemy territory. They went from village to village proclaiming Christ as Savior and saw many believe and be baptized.

Another man began in enemy territory but continued his journey even further. In each place he performed miracles and healed people in the name of Jesus Christ, leading many to believe and be baptized.

At the Lord’s leading, this man listened to the Lord to leave where he was. This led to an encounter on the road with an African official who was studying God’s Word. The man ran to the official, eager to explain what he was reading. And the gospel made the start of its journey to yet another nation that day with the believing and baptism of the official.

This is how the Church began to spread.

Persecution from their own countrymen drove the disciples out of Jerusalem and into Samaria, like John and Peter … and eventually to the uttermost parts of the world. Persecution was the catalyst for the gospel reaching a Gentile ear when Philip shared with the Ethiopian eunuch.

To the persecutor, the pain they inflict serves to stop the gospel or eradicate belief … but to the believer, it often becomes a powerful witness to their message and a testimony to their God.

Because even the pain and evil of man will always serve God’s greater purpose in the end.