Acts 8:1 (NLT) 1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
As the early church began to grow and flourish, it seemed like nothing could possibly stop them.
The number of people being added to the body of Christ was increasing daily. The believers were helping each other, and miracles were being performed regularly.
What could possibly go wrong?
And then Saul showed up, inciting hatred and violence upon the believers. His goal was to stop this new movement, even if it meant killing some of them.
He even gave his approval to the stoning death of Steven.
This immense persecution caused fear to sweep over the church, and all the believers except the apostles fled, scattering throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.
And so began the end of Christianity. Or so it might have seemed.
But you see, what the devil means for evil, God uses for good.
And those very same believers who scattered took with them the gospel of truth, and they began to share it with others everywhere they went!
Acts 8:4 (NLT) 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.
So, as they taught the people about Jesus, His truth spread far and wide.
This thing that Saul and the other Jews tried to stop became unstoppable, flourishing despite what appeared to be imminent decimation with the death of Steven.
And to top it all off, God tore from Saul the desire to kill Christians by making him one!
Isn’t that just like our God?
We need to always remember that even the darkest times can be turned around. And nobody can do that the way God does.
Genesis 50:20 (NLT) 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good…
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443
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