Gospel Marches On
Acts 8:1-25. On Sunday, January 8, 1956 on the shore of a lonely river deep in the Ecuadorian jungle, five missionaries were murdered by the primitive Waodani tribe. News of the massacre shocked the world. To some, their deaths seemed a senseless tragedy. Their promising missionary careers were cut short. Five widows and fatherless children were left behind. Yet in the end, the tribe would be saved, even the very ones that took part in this senseless murderous spree. [I recommend you see the whole story in the movie "End of the Spear".]
At first, Stephen's death may also seem pointless. Here was another promising career cut short. He was a powerful preacher with a deep knowledge of the O.T., as we saw in chapter seven. And it seems to end all wrong. And thus the Holy Spirit inspires Dr. Luke to open this chapter by giving us some details about the increased persecution of the church. This chapter marks another turning point in the church. The Gospel now marches on according to Acts 1:8 from Jerusalem into Judea and now into Samaria. It's here (7:58; 8:1-4) that we are now introduced to Saul, who would later become Paul. This brilliant young theologian would vote for Stephen's death (Saul consented to his death 8:1). He would drag men and women out of their homes in order to imprison them and beat them (Acts 22:19) and persecute them unto death (Acts 22:4). He really thought that persecuting the believers was one way of serving God, so he did it with a clear conscience. This needs to be a word of warning to us personally. We can think we're doing the Lord a big favor by coming down on people, beating them up, and pointing our fingers at them, all in the name of "purifying the church." But what a shock it was for Paul on the Damascus Road when he finally realized that all of the time he thought he was doing God a favor, he was actually persecuting His Son. Be very careful. Remember Paul when you feel like going from house to house pointing out sinners and finding fault with believers. Like Paul, you can be radical--but you can be radically wrong!
At first, Stephen's death may also seem pointless. Here was another promising career cut short. He was a powerful preacher with a deep knowledge of the O.T., as we saw in chapter seven. And it seems to end all wrong. And thus the Holy Spirit inspires Dr. Luke to open this chapter by giving us some details about the increased persecution of the church. This chapter marks another turning point in the church. The Gospel now marches on according to Acts 1:8 from Jerusalem into Judea and now into Samaria. It's here (7:58; 8:1-4) that we are now introduced to Saul, who would later become Paul. This brilliant young theologian would vote for Stephen's death (Saul consented to his death 8:1). He would drag men and women out of their homes in order to imprison them and beat them (Acts 22:19) and persecute them unto death (Acts 22:4). He really thought that persecuting the believers was one way of serving God, so he did it with a clear conscience. This needs to be a word of warning to us personally. We can think we're doing the Lord a big favor by coming down on people, beating them up, and pointing our fingers at them, all in the name of "purifying the church." But what a shock it was for Paul on the Damascus Road when he finally realized that all of the time he thought he was doing God a favor, he was actually persecuting His Son. Be very careful. Remember Paul when you feel like going from house to house pointing out sinners and finding fault with believers. Like Paul, you can be radical--but you can be radically wrong!
posted by Royce Hendry at
6:50 AM
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