THE CHURCH PERSECUTED AND SCATTERED
Acts 8:1-25
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. (4)
chapter 8
1. 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.
2. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
3. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
4. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
5. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.
6. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.
7. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
8. So there was great joy in that city.
9. Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,
10. and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is rightly called the Great Power of God."
11. They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.
12. But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.
15. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16. because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
19. and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
20. Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21. You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
23. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
24. Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."
25. After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. Stephen'sdeath marked the beginning of a great persecution of the church by anti-Christians. The most ardent persecutor was Saul, a young Pharisee who had participated in Stephen'sstoning. Saul went about systematically to destroy the church. Persecution is a mark that God is working, and Satan is jealous.
2. Because of the persecution, Christians were scattered. Wherever they went, they preached the word. Persecution can be a temptation to shrink back in our faith, or it can be the time we depend on God and experience his mighty work. When Philip went to Samaria, and preached the gospel, people paid close attention to his message, repented and believed the gospel. God confirmed his ministry by acts of healing. The gospel brought great joy to that city. God turned the time of tragedy and persecution into a great missionary thrust.
3. A sorcerer named Simon also believed and was baptized. When Peter and John arrived and laid their hands on these new believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit, Simon saw this and offered the apostles money. Peter rebuked him and told him to repent his wickedness rooted in bitterness (he lost his sorcery trade). The Holy Spirit always works to glorify Jesus; he can'tbe bought.
Prayer: Father, thank you for giving us courage to preach the word under fiery persecution and to believe you are working through the Holy Spirit.
One Word: Preach the word wherever you go