Exploring the Book of Acts: PersecutionSample

Mission Extended

After Stephen was stoned, persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, which scattered the believers throughout Judea, Samaria, and beyond (Acts 8:1). In their displacement they continued witnessing about Jesus, but only to fellow Jews. However, in the city of Antioch some men from Cyprus and Cyrene also preached to the Gentiles. Soon a strong church was established there, pastored by Barnabas and Saul. To distinguish them from the large Jewish population, the people of Antioch called the believers ‘Christians’.

Read Acts 11:19-30 and then consider:

1. In Acts 1:8, Jesus commissioned the disciples to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the ends of the earth. What was the role of the persecution after Stephen’s martyrdom in accomplishing Jesus’ purposes?
2. The scattered believers who shared the gospel with Gentiles in Antioch were used by God to plant a church in one of the top three cities in the Roman Empire. What enabled them to have such a powerful ministry?
3. How does the church in Jerusalem care for the church in Antioch? How does the church in Antioch care for the church in Judea? What does this reveal about mutuality in the global Church?
4. Pray for one of the parts of the world where believers are displaced because of their faith, asking that God would care for them and give them boldness to plant new churches.