Sermon Tone Analysis

Acts 8:1-8 "In All Judea and Samaria"

Marc Transparenti / General

Acts of the Apostles / Persecution; Paul / Ac 8:1-3; Ac 8:4-8

The Gospel goes beyond Jerusalem because of Persecution.

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Please turn in your Bible to Act 8. Acts 8:1-8 today.

• Last week we covered 60 verses... just 8 verses today.

Recap: In Chapters 6 of Acts, we were introduced to Stephen, a man chosen as one of the seven men to serve tables... helping to ensure the Hellenist Widows were cared for in the daily distribution of food

• And, ensuring the Apostles could be committed "to prayer and the ministry of the word."

(Acts 6:4)

• These were men "of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom."

• Character is important for the Lord's service.

Stephen was this kind of man... so much... that his ministry went beyond serving tables.

He "did great wonders and signs among the people."

• Then he was challenged by certain Jews who disputed with him... but, they could not "resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke."

• So, they secretly colluded with men who would charge him with speaking against Moses and God... which got Stephen arrested... and as he stood on trial before the Sanhedrin...

• Which led us to Acts 7, where Stephen spoke the longest message in the Book of Acts.

• Stephen, the server of tables, filled with the Holy Spirit... spoke a powerful message... designed to expose the Sanhedrin's hypocrisy of accusing him of speaking against three pillars of Judaism (the law, the land, and the temple)...

• ... when they elevated these traditional holy things over God's plan to deliver them by the Christ.

• They repeated the mistakes of their forefathers who denied God's deliverer in his first coming (Joseph or Moses for example), but accepted the deliver's second coming.

• Just like the Sanhedrin denied Jesus in His first coming, but will receive Him when He comes again.

As Stephen charged the Jewish leaders with being stiff necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears, resisting the Holy Spirit, repeating history, and killing their Messiah...they were enraged

• Then Stephen caught a glimpse of Jesus standing at the right hand of God... and this was too much for the Jews, so they cast Stephen out of the city and stoned him to death.

• Then, we were introduced to a young man named Saul who observed all of these things... and was no doubt negatively influenced by the zeal of the Jews... and inspired by the conviction of Stephen.

This leads us to Act 8... and the next fulfillment of Jesus' plan in Acts 1:8 where He said, "you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

• What Jesus didn't say in Act 1:8 is HOW the church would be mobilized to begin witnessing in Judea and Samaria.

• That's what we will be looking at here in Acts 8.

The Title of today's sermon is, "In All Judea and Samaria."

Let's Pray!

Acts 8:1-3 "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.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

• In contrast to Saul, Godly men... likely devout Jews similar to Acts 2:5... they gave Stephen an honorable burial.

V3 As for Saul, he made havoc of [or violently maltreated] the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison."

1.

In V1 we read "Now Saul was consenting to his death."

a.

This clause points back to the end of Chapter 7...

i.

It's a little clunky at the beginning of Chapter 8.

b.

If you are familiar with the book, "Treasury of Scripture Knowledge" (an excellent resource for cross-references)... there is a a rare note about this first part of V1 that struck me as funny.

c.

They wrote, "This clause evidently belongs to the conclusion of the preceding chapter; there is scarcely a worse division of chapters than this."

-TSK

i.

And, I would agree... not as passionately, but I would agree with the Treasury authors.

ii.

Chapter and verse divisions were introduced to the Bible by several different men between 1227 A.D. to 1560 A.D.

iii.

Divisions are not perfect, but have been a helpful addition to the Bible.

d.

Now from V1, we now know Saul was not only present for Stephen's death (Acts 7:58), but also approved by casting his vote in favor of Stephen's stoning.

i.

The word "consenting" means "to join in approving."

ii.

He wasn't just an innocent "coat boy"...

e.

I've heard people question... "Is Saul the same person as Paul the Apostle?"

i. Good question... always good to verify... to be a Berean.

1. But, yes...Saul becomes Paul...

2. And we are going to be spending a lot of time with Paul in Acts, so let's get to know him a bit.

ii.

First his name...

In Act 13:9 we read, "Then Saul, who also is called Paul..."

1.

This verse not only confirms that Saul becomes Paul, but this verse is also the first time Saul's Jewish name is replaced with the Roman name Paul.

2. The name Saul... is of Hebrew origin... and means "asked for or required."

a. And, biblically, names often reflect character.

b.

Saul was sought after, but also was demanding himself.

3. Paul means "little."

Possibly reflecting on how Paul was humbled.

a.

His name change seems to reflect his heart change.

iii.

In Acts 22:20, Paul confirms this was him in Acts 7... "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.'"

1.

In Acts 7, Saul heard the message of Stephen and observed his bold conviction before the Sanhedrin...

2. ... and heard him proclaim his vision of the Lord in heaven...

3. ... and heard him proclaim forgiveness to his murderers as they stoned him.

4. Stephen's message and death no doubt impacted and influenced the young man Saul to eventually accept Jesus as Lord.

f.

But, there were other... more immediate influences on Paul from the Sanhedrin...

i.

Their zeal for the traditional pillars of Judaism (the Law, the Land, and the Temple)... and their hatred for Jesus.