Great Persecution Series

“Great Persecution”

Acts 8:1-4

It has been said; “You are either in a trial, coming out of a trial or getting ready to return into a trial.”

We are reminded by Jesus that trials are part of our lives.

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

Saved or not the storms will arise.

I. The Introduction Of Persecution

Acts 8:1 “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Who Is Saul?

The influence of the apostle Paul, or as we see in our test Saul. His writings are a large portion of the New Testament.

His work from zealous persecutor of Christians to one who shaped the history of the early Christian churches.

But who was Saul of Tarsus before he became the apostle Paul?

What do we know about his life prior to meeting Christ on the Damascus Road?

Saul of Tarsus was born in approximately AD 5 in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia (in modern-day Turkey).

He was born to Jewish parents who possessed Roman citizenship, of which Saul would be also.

Saul’s family moved to Jerusalem.

Sometime between AD 15 - 20 Saul began his studies of the Hebrew Scriptures in the city of Jerusalem under Rabbi Gamaliel.

It was under Gamaliel that Saul would begin an in-depth study of the Law with the famous rabbi.

Acts 22:3

It is quite possible that Saul was present for the trial of Stephen, but no doubt, Saul was present at Stephen’s death

II. The Internment Of Pious (humble servant)

Acts 8:2 “And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.”

Devout - taking hold well, reverencing God,

Lamentation - beating of the breast as a sign of grief

We are not instructed to stop grieving, or suck it up and get over it.

But there is a thought to remember:

1 Thessalonians 4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

III. The Intrusion Of Praise

Acts 8:3 “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”

Havock - to treat shamefully or with injury, to ravage, devastate, ruin

Of the church - a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

Saul ravaged the church in Jerusalem, entering the homes of believers and committing them to prison.

Saul’s anti-Christian zeal motivated him not only to arrest and imprison male Christians, but to lock up female believers as well.

IV. The Immigration Of Persecuted

Acts 8:4 “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”

Scattered abroad - disperse

This gives us the same picture of the farmer who after tilling the field would take his sack of seed and begin to walk and scatter the seed across the freshly turned soil.

Interesting that Jesus would speak on the casting of seeds:

Matthew 13:3-8 “And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.”

Went every where preaching the word. -

Preaching - to bring good news, to announce glad tidings

I am not here to poke anyone but I was wondering; when was the last time you preached the word?

Notice also that this preaching is not “Pastoring” because there are requirements for that office.