Now we are going to study about how that affected the church.
When some people who belong to church die, it does not have much of an impact on God's work, because they did not love the Lord, or His church.
But when a man like Stephen dies, it leaves a vacuum for some time.
Look at verse 2, we read, "And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made GREAT LAMENTATION OVER HIM."
Let’s look at-
I. THE SITUATION
WHAT KIND OF A SITUATION WAS IT?
A. IT WAS INTENSE
Verses 1-2, "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. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.”
The Christian church was growing by leaps and bounds, and Saul envisioned thousands of people leaving Judaism to follow Jesus, and since he was convinced God was not pleased with this, he wanted to wipe out Christianity, before Christianity wiped out Judaism.
Illus: In May of 1991, Washington, D.C., was experiencing some unrest. The news broadcasts reported that each night young people were on the streets with baseball bats, knocking out the windows of stores, and looting them. It was a very tense time in the U. S. Capital.
As bad as that was, it did not compare to the tension in the cities, where Saul and the other enemies of Christianity WERE BEATING, JAILING, AND MURDERING PEOPLE, simply because they had placed their faith in the Son of God to save them from their sins, and were following His teachings.
The murder of Stephen, seemed to make those who were against the people who followed Christ, blood thirsty.
At first they were trying to stop a MAN from spreading the gospel, but now they were trying to stop the CHURCH.
This was a time of great INTENSITY for the church. But look at something else-
B. IT WAS INVASIVE
Verse 3, “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison."
Yes, Saul, at this time, before his conversion, being a very devout Jew, felt that Christianity was a threat to Judaism.
As a result, he was one of the chief persecutors of the church.
The Bible tells us he brought "wide destruction" to the followers of Christ. But look at something else-
C. IT WAS INCLUSIVE
Verse 31, "…entering into EVERY HOUSE...”
The Bible makes a point of letting us know that Paul did not leave anyone out.
You might think that some of these people could have been his friends.
That did not matter. He went into “... every house...”
D. IT WAS IMPARTIAL
Verse 3c, "...haling men a women..."
Paul did not even show any favoritism to the ladies. As far as he was concerned, Christian women were as big a threat as Christian men.
E. IT WAS INCARCERATING
Verse, 3d, "...and committed them to prison.”
The Bible makes it clear, that Saul felt that these Christians would no longer be a threat to Judaism, if they were confined behind bars. He was determined to put every follower of Christ that he could find, behind bars. Perhaps, he thought that might deter the ones who had not been captured.
We looked at THE SITUATION, but now let us look at-
II. THE SCATTERING
Verse 4, "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. "
The persecution was so great it caused the saints of God to flee for their lives.
But God can bring good out of any situation, when His people let Him.
It is amazing, how He takes what looks like a terrible mistake, and turns it into something good.
Illus: Occasionally we see a television news story of people who take junk and they turn it into some useful item.
The devil tried to wreck the church of Christ, but God turned the persecution around and made it serve His purpose.
HOW DID HE USE THIS TO SERVE HIS PURPOSE?
As already stated, the severe persecution caused many of the Christians to flee the area, - "Therefore they that were scattered abroad... "
As they SCATTERED, so did the Word of God.
Saul may have thought the beatings, stoning, and arrests would stop Christianity, but almost two thousand years have passed since then, and Christianity is still alive and well, on planet earth.
The leaders in the synagogue treated Christianity as a dreadful disease that had to be isolated, and destroyed, but God used that persecution to spread the news of His Son.
Look at verse 4 again, we read, “…they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
Often, this happens today. We think of all the church splits as being detrimental to the Lord's work, but there are times, especially when there is unrest because God's Word is not being preached, and souls are not being saved, when a split creates a new work that brings glory to God.
Illus: One local church that was not doing what the Lord wanted them to do, has had three major splits, and from those three splits, have come three churches that are strong, soul winning churches.
We looked at THE SITUATION, THE SCATTERING, but let us look at-
III. THE SAMARITANS
Look at verses 5-8, "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.. "
During this scattering, Philip went to Samaria to preach.
What kind of sermons did he preach? Let’s look at his sermon and see-
A. WHAT THEY HEARD
Notice, the Bible said Philip, “…went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
WHAT DID THEY HEAR?
The Bible says that Philip went to Samaria and what the Samaritans heard was a man preaching Christ unto them.
More men would come to Christ today, if preachers would preach Christ, instead of pushing the social gospel that is being preached about so much.
Let’s look more at the sermon that Philip preached.
B. WHAT THEY SAW.
When he got there, the Samaritans HEARD and SAW something.
They HEARD THE GOSPEL, but what did they SEE?
They saw many miracles that were being performed.
Look at verses 6-7, we read, "And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, HEARING and SEEING the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed."
We understand that the greatest miracle of all, is the salvation of a soul.
When God heals the physical eyes of a man, we all rejoice; but it is an even greater miracle when God opens a man's spiritual understanding, so he can see what God has for him FOR ETERNITY.
• It is a miracle, when God can take an old drunk and make him into a decent, law-abiding husband and father.
• It is a miracle, when God can take a woman of ill repute off the streets, and make her into a God-fearing wife and mother.
• It is a miracle, when God takes a man that has constantly taken His name in vain, and places on his lips the praises of God.
We can only imagine all the different miracles those people saw, but we know they saw enough to cause them to give "heed. " to what Phillip told them.
What THEY SAW and HEARD spoke to their heart.
Look at verse 8, " And there was great joy in that city."
Only the Lord can bring true joy to an individual, a home, or to a city.
When one's eyes have been opened spiritually, like the eyes of the Samaritans, then one can discover the joy of the Lord, and receive the strength he needs.
But anytime the Lord begins to work, you can mark it down, the devil begins to try and seduce people to do wrong. Look at-
IV. THE SEDUCTION
Look at verses 9-24, We read, “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”
Simon was practicing sorcery. Look at-
A. HIS OCCUPATION
Verse 9, " But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:"
Simon was a self-made big shot, but somehow he had been able to sell himself to the people of Samaria. He was a sorcerer, and through mysterious powers, he had done things that resulted in his having a strong influence on the people of Samaria.
B. HIS OPPORTUNITY
Look at verses 13-17, "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."
Simon was a trained magician. He had tricked people all his life, and they respected him and paid a lot of attention to what he did. When he saw people receiving the Holy Ghost, as a result of the laying on of hands, he saw this as an opportunity to gain the favor of the Samaritans.
Illus: Some have serious doubts as to whether Simon was saved or not, because nothing is said of his confessing his sins, or repenting. It just says he "believed."
As you know, the distance between heaven and hell for some, is eighteen inches, that is the distance between the head and the heart. If he was saved, he certainly was an ignorant Christian.
C. HIS OFFENSE
Look at verses 18-24, We read, “And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”
Magicians do tricky things with their hands. It is not by accident that he saw the disciples laying on hands, and the Holy Ghost was given to them.
Look at verses 18-19, "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”
It seems he thought the gifts of God could be bought with money, as if they were merchandise, or tricks of the trade, like those he probably had purchased from other magicians of his time.
Look at Peter's reply (verses 20-23), “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."
Peter evidently had some serious doubts about Simon's salvation, but after the rebuke, Simon humbled himself, as a Christian should do when properly rebuked, and said, “…pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”
Conclusion:
I. THE SITUATION
II. THE SCATTERING
III. THE SAMARITANS
IV. THE SEDUCTION.
