Persecution of the church

Acts 8:1-4

Acts 8:1–4 ESV

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. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

Acts 8:1-4

Acts 8:1–4 KJV 1900

1 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. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Intro:

Very devote Pharisee. He had a great zeal (enthusiasm) for Jewish tradition and the law. This enthusiasm lit the fire to an all-out assault on the church. ( I believe at the stoning of Stephen, his pricked his heart, the seed had been sown, Elab)

Paul approved of Stephens murder. But He didn’t look at it as murder. His religion blinded his eyes. “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief”.

A. The new church The Church at Jerusalem on going strong.

1. They were with one accord. UNITY

2. Giving to those in need.

3. Growing in their faith.

4. Preaching (proclaiming)the word.

5. People were getting saved.

B. Satan was on the attack.

I. The Persecution helped get the church moving. VS 1

Acts 8:1 KJV 1900

1 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.

Acts

I. The Persecution of the Church further the spread of the Gospel VS 1

Saul, Paul. Tarsus, Roman citizen Elab. Jewish heritage, brought up in Jerusalem.

Saul, Paul. Tarsus, Roman citizen Elab. Jewish heritage, brought up in Jerusalem.

Very devote Pharisee. He had a great zeal (enthusiasm) for Jewish tradition and the law. This enthusiasm lit the fire to an all-out assault on the church. ( I believe at the stoning of Stephen, his pricked his heart, the seed had been sown, Elab)

Paul approved (He gave it his whole hearty approval) But He didn’t look at it as murder. His religion blinded his eyes.He really believed he was doing the right thing. Later he would confess sins.

“Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief”.

a. There was a great persecution against the church:

Persecution: “The systemic hunting down of adherents of a particular religion to inflict pain or death upon them: Especially to destroy to religion of the adherent or by forcing the adherent to renounce their beliefs.

b. We are not at the point of the death part in this county, but this is the case in many country's today.

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READ ABOUT PERSECUTION IN AMERICA

Gideon's no longer pass Bible a most schools today.

c. Maybe what we have is more of resistance when you compare persecution to other parts of the world and what was going on here in Acts.

d. But what we have to do that is the same, is, keep going on with the gospel.

VS 1 b

Up to this time the Church was (followers of Jesus) had stated put in Jerusalem. Now they scattered abroad:

a. The Apostles remained,

a. There were those that scattered, but didn’t run. There is a difference. We’ll see that in VS 4. I believe some them went back to their own homes.

b. The apostles stayed,(We’re not told why) but they still had God’s work to do. There were still other followers of Jesus there.

c. They stayed even when in danger (this is happening all over the world)

d. They (Peter and John) had been arrested, threatened, told to no longer speak the name of Jesus. But they did not stop. They didn’t back down to the bully.

2. The kind of persecution in our country, believers are being bullied. From law suits, jobs being treated and even loss. Students being told they cannot pray or talk about their faith at Graduation.

a. More then one school performing the Peanuts Christmas play has been sued and ordered to leave out the part where Linus read from the Bible and tells the real meaning of Christmas. Some school have complied, some have just not preformed the play, but at one school in Kentucky the parents recited the Bible verses.

b. Believers have to fight back against the bulling us. Because what is really going on is Satan trying to stop us were sharing the gospel.

c. Story about Dale and Billy on the bus.

d. I am not talking about Christians fighting, at least not Physical. Not breaking the law. For example, the Gideon's. They may not take the matter of handing out Bible at schools that say no, or school district but someone (student) could.

e. Christian Law Association.

f. We can’t just stand by and allow the anti Christian crowd to intimidate us.

VS 2

II The Persecution never stops. VS 3

VS 3

1. So far the perception had be against the leadership of the church. That didn’t work. The people (the church, the followers of Jesus), prayed, they were growing in numbers and they were growing in faith.

a. Now Saul begins to go after everyone. Men and women.

b. Havock: Means; devastation, destruction. Term, ricked havock.

It is used greek writing and has to do the devastation committed By wild beast. (wild hogs in Ga and farmers)

.

c. He was ricking havock.

e.

a. What is wrong today with people worshipping Jesus?

b. Sual was going to the

2. Now Saul begins to go after everyone. Ealb.

a. He was ricking havock.

It is used greek writing and has to do the slaughter committed By wild beast.

d. Saul was enraged like a wild beast.(wild boar) He had a hit list. He entered every house where believers were and hauled them of to jail.

2. Why do this, what was the big deal with same people worshiping Jesus?

a. What is wrong today with people worshipping Jesus?

b. What Saul was doing and what we see going still today is the attempt to shut down the church by shutting up our mouths.

c. If someone spirit can be broken, they will give in and give up. Give up is what the devil wants us to do, but is it is what we cannot do.

d. Those counties on that list, the Christian there are not giving up, even when they face prison or death.

VS 3 b

1. Entering every house: Their meeting place. This is where they met and prayed. Elab on Paul coming and hailing them off. Men and women.

a. Hailing: Dragging (To lead someone away by force against their will; It has the meaning of when someone would drag a heavy object great effort.)

b. Saul had become a mad man.

c.He would meet Jesus, his life would be changed, he would come back to Jerusalem. This why many to the Christian there were so hesitant to receive Paul as one of them.

d. What Saul was doing cause many to leave to city. Which would really make Saul made because when they left, they took the gospel with them.

III. The Persecution can work in our favor. VS 4

The View (Joy) V.P Mike Pence. He used and other Christians on TV the news have used that to share their faith.

VS 4

They were preaching the gospel. This doesn’t mean that they had to be preachers or pastors. That word preaching is speaking of proclaiming.

a. Every born again believer, every follower of Jesus is called to proclaim the good news (gospel of Jesus)

b. When persecution came and the gospel had gone beyond Jerusalem. The presentation of the church is why this happened.

c. I watched and old video of Billy Graham being interviewed by Woody Allen. He was (Woody) really wanted to make Billy Graham look bad. He was asked one time, why go on a show like that were they are going to put you down?

d. He said, because it like give me the opportunity to share the gospel with millions of people. He let it work in his favor.

e. When we are told we can’t, we have to find ways that we can.

f. When we are told we can’t go certain places, we have to find others places to go.

g. But the one thing we cannot do is stop, give up.

h. When someone is working out, resistance training (free weights, weight machines, resistance bands) it has a lot of great befits. some of the greatest things are it improves muscle strength. (Make you stronger)

i. Gives you greater stamina so you can endure more.

j. It enhances your performance for everyday task.

k. Resistance to the gospel is what we are dealing with today. Like the first church, it should should make us stronger, it should help us endure more, it should help us perform what God had called us to do.