Using Your Setbacks to Spring Forward Part 2 (Acts 8:1-8)

¹ Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8:1, NKJV)

Saul (Σαῦλος) was consenting to the death of Stephen (Acts 7:60). The word translated consenting comes from the verb συνευδοκέω; it can mean either approval and support (Luke 11:48; Romans 1:32) or merely a willingness to accept (1 Corinthians 7:12, 13). When Saul, years later, recounts this event to his Jewish brethren he sheds additional light on what his consenting meant:

¹⁹ So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. ²⁰ And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ (Acts 22:19-20, NKJV)

In his own words Saul says that consenting was more than a passive acceptance of what was being done to Stephen. His approving attitude toward the martyrdom of Stephen was accompanied by the action of assisting Stephen’s executioners. In order to be unhindered in stoning Stephen they disrobed. Some of those expensive items would have been stolen if not for the role that Saul played. In this way, working as a guard over the clothes, the young Saul aided in the brutal murder of the Lord’s servant Stephen (7:58). While the Sanhedrin murdered a godly man, Saul made sure that they were able to do so without fear of someone stealing the clothing that they had taken off; elaborate robes and costly religious garb would interfere with stone casting.

The martyrdom of Stephen was the beginning of an outbreak: At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem. Literally the text reads, “There, also, arose in that day a great persecution came upon the church” (Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ διωγμὸς μέγας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν). The conjunction after the verb (δὲ) shows either contrast or continuation. In this case it is continuation; what began with Stephen expands into an all out assault on the church which was at Jerusalem. Hell broke loose!

Am I being crass by saying “Hell broke loose?” No. The church, empowered by Jesus and led by an ignorant and untrained fisherman (Acts 4:13), has been assaulting the gates of hell… and winning.

¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18, NKJV)

Indeed, it is more appropriate to say that the Savior has been using surrendered souls as soldiers in a siege on dead religion, hypocrisy, and in His mission to set captives free. Crucifixion did not stop Jesus; but He was just One. Threatening Peter and John did not stop Jesus; they were two. Arresting and beating the apostles did not stop Jesus; they were twelve. This persecution could have been predicted as the anxious response to growing number of Jesus followers; now there are thousands of Jesus followers.

On account of this great persecution on the church the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Yes! Once again the enemy is exploited to execute the plan. Let me say that again. The enemy of God is being exploited in the plan of God. Look back to the beginning of Acts.

⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8, NKJV)

Where were the people scattered? They were scattered to the places that the Lord wanted to go! The persecution was being used to push the people of God into the places that Jesus had already said they would go with the message of reconciliation.

Persecution is used by God to further His own plan. The attempts of the enemy to hurt saints and hinder the church will actually help with what God is doing to sanctify His people and advance His own agenda. The setbacks intended by the enemy of setups for springing forward.

Are there people persecuting you because your light interferes with their evil plan? God is going to use the persecution to further his plan and your faith (Genesis 50:20) and reveal that you are in His will. Abide in Him and do not believe for a moment that this is not going to be used for His glory and your good (Romans 8:28).

Questions for Consideration

1. Is persecution pushing you in a certain direction or to a different place? Is it possible that the persecution is being used by God to promote a plan that He has already revealed and to move a saint into another place needing your light?
2. When was the last time you sat with the Lord to review what He has revealed as His plan for you? Are you afraid that persecution will stop His plan from coming true? Talk with Him about your fear and make sure that you are not trying to make His plan happen. He will.
3. Who do you hang with? Are those people going to help you stand strong in your day of trial?

This small group helps me make it through tough times. (Darlene and Rich and Susan Whiteheads are normally present.)