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The message driven to Judea (Acts 7:54-8:3)
John Low, 21 August 2016
Part of the Mission In The Book Of Acts series, Sunday Morning service
Stephen’s martyrdom and the persecution that followed was very bad news for the early church which was still based in Jerusalem and had grown to many thousands of believers.
But it was also good news because the message was taken to Judea, the province where Jerusalem was located, by thousands of ordinary believers as they fled vicious persecution.
Acts 7:54 - Acts 8:3
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « “Going” to Jerusalem | None | Misunderstandings in Samaria » |
Acts 7:54–8:3 (Listen)
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
8:1 And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
(ESV)