From Jerusalem to Samaria
Acts 8:1-4
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.
Introduction:
The Turning
Points and Transitions in the Book of Acts
Between the First
Two of the Four “Pentecosts” in the Book of Acts
The First Major
Geographical Shift in the Book of Acts
The Entrance and
Introduction of the Second of the Two Major Persons in the Book of Acts
The Issues
related to Paragraphing and Chapter Divisions
Outline:
I. The Second Mention of Saul (8:1a) - Consenting
II. The Persecution of the Church (8:1b-d) - Scattering
III. The Burial of Stephen (8:2) - Lamenting
IV. The Third Mention of Saul (8:3) - Persecuting
V. The Witness of the Church (8:4) - Preaching
I. The Second
Mention of Saul (8:1a) - Consenting
And Saul was consenting unto his death.
Acts 7:57-60 - 57 Then they cried out with a
loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58
And cast him out of the city, and
stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a
young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned
Stephen, calling upon God, and
saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and
cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he
had said this, he fell asleep.
Compare Acts 8:3.
Acts 22:20 - And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was
shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the
raiment of them that slew him.
By the time Acts was written many knew “the rest of the
story”. However, this apologetic for
Christianity, and legal defense of the great Apostle then under house arrest in
Rome, wove a tale beyond imagining. Here
is the beginning of a development in the historical account of truth stranger
than fiction, of the supernatural power of the enthroned Messiah at work in a
city, and a man, and an empire. The
geographical and personal transition found in the few words of these four
verses bridges from Jerusalem to the next leg of the geographical expansion in
Judea and Samaria, and begins the move from Peter to Saul/Paul. All of this flows from the ascendancy of
Stephen, the words of Stephen, and the reaction to Stephen. Saul would never be the same. He will not be mentioned again until the next
chapter. When the Lord has finished
preparing him for his great ministry the door to the Gentiles will already have
been opened by Peter, and Paul will be ready to take that baton and run through
that door to the ends of the earth.
II. The Persecution
of the Church (8:1b-d) - Scattering
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.
1. Great
Persecution (8:1b)
And at that time there was a great
persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem
Mt. 22:6 - And the remnant took his servants, and
entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Mt. 23:34 - Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets,
and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some
of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to
city:
Lk 11:49-50 - 49 Therefore
also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some
of them they shall slay and persecute:
50 That the blood
of all the prophets, which was shed from the
Jn 15:20 - Remember the word that I said unto you, The
servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will
also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Jn. 16:2 - They shall put you out of the synagogues:
yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God
service.
2. Scattered to
Samaria (8:1c)
and they were all scattered
abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria
Acts 1:1-11 - 1 The
former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do
and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he
through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had
chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by
many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the
things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled
together with them, commanded them
that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the
Father, which, saith he, ye have
heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When
they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou
at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto
them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath
put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of
the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld,
he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And
while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood
by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why
stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you
into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Acts 1:7-8 - 7 And he said unto them, It is not
for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own
power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,
and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts
11:19-21 - 19 Now they which
were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled
as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto
the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of
Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the
Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the
hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto
the Lord.
Jn. 4:39-42 - 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city
believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all
that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought
him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many
more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we
believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know
that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
3. Apostles
Abide (8:1d)
except the apostles
III. The Burial
of Stephen (8:2) - Lamenting
And devout men carried Stephen to his
burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Great Lamentation
But I would not have you to be ignorant,
brethren, concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others which
have no hope. (1 Thess. 4:13)[1]
1. Sorrow
Affirmed - ye sorrow
1) Corporate
Sorrow
May I emphasize the “we”, the plural subject, rather than
the verb “sorrow”?
Consider the basis of the difference asserted in this
verse.
The difference between those who have hope and those who
have none is their corporate identity.
Those who have hope, all who have hope, each and every
one of them, and only those who have hope, are those who have been united with
Christ.
Those who have this true, real, abiding hope in Christ
are members of His body, united to all those who share in this hope and are
identical in their relationship of union with Christ.
The “we” in this verse involves a corporate identity that
may not be severed from the sorrow experienced.
2) Genuine
Sorrow
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor,
yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (2
Cor. 6:10)
And yet the reality remains that we do indeed
sorrow. The negative in this verse while
connected to the verb “sorrow” does not negate the reality of sorrow itself,
but rather any identity with the hopeless sorrow of those outside of
Christ.
Our sorrow is all too real. It is definitely genuine sorrow. There is no getting around the harsh reality
of sorrow itself, nor the grievous life events that produce it.
The Apostle Paul, the human author of these words of Scripture, knew
this full well.
3) Shared
Sorrow
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep
with them that weep. (Rom.
12:15)
But it is not ours alone.
We are not alone in our sorrow.
We are not isolated or unconnected when we experience grief. We have a corporate identity that cannot be
left out of the dark aspects of life.
Our sorrow is shared. All members
of the Body of Christ are affected when one is.
And we are all united to a Savior who wept over His people. There are no tears in that great day that is
coming or ever afterwards, but now there are tears.
2. Sorrow
Negated - not even as others who have no
hope
Others sorrow, but not as we do. Their sorrow is just as real, and
genuine. It is equally heartfelt and
grievous.
1) Different
Sorrow
There are different kinds of sorrow, and there are also
different mixtures of sorrow.
There is godly sorrow and there is the sorrow of the
world.
The differences between them may be seen in their eternal
effects.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to
salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (2 Cor. 7:10)
2) Hopeless
Sorrow
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time
past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is
called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time ye were without Christ,
being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants
of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Eph. 2:11-12)
There is a reality described as being “without Christ”
and “without God” that necessarily includes the absolute absence of hope.
To be without Christ is to be without hope.
When we begin to understand the difference that hope
makes it should shed light on what sorrow without such hope means.
3) Christless
Sorrow
The hopelessness of being without Christ in the world
only aggravates the sorrow of those who are in this condition. Such sorrow is the ultimate of loneliness in
grief. The corporate identity in a
Mediator who shares in our grieving is not part of the experience of those
outside of Christ. There is no sense of
shared sorrow in fellowship with those bonded to Christ by the Holy
Spirit. There is only isolation in
hopelessness with no living faith in a kind Father’s providences or promises of
ultimate deliverance.
Those who are in Christ sorrow, yes, but through the
tears of their sorrow they yet glimpse a great brightness coming soon. And their very sorrowing drives them to
embrace that hope with increasing fervency as the time draws near.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Rev. 21:4)
Wherefore
comfort one another with these words. (1 Thess. 4:18)
IV. The Third
Mention of Saul (8:3) - Persecuting
As for Saul, he made havock of the
church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to
prison.
1. The Impact
of Saul’s Persecution
As for Saul, he made havock of the
church
Compare Acts 7:58 and 8:1.
made havock - NASB,
ESV, HCSB: “ravaging”; NIV, NLT: “destroying”
2. The Extent
of Saul’s Persecution
entering into every house
every House -
NIV, NLT: “house to house”; NASB, ESV,
HCSB: “house after house”
3. The Activity of Saul’s
Persecution
and haling men and women committed them
to prison
haling -
NASB, NLT: “dragging off”; NLT: “dragging out”; ESV, NIV: “dragged off”; HCSB:
“drag off”
Acts
9:1-13, 21 - 1 And Saul, yet
breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,
went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the
synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women,
he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near
Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And
he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art
thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for
thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he
trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord
said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou
must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him
stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes
were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into
Damascus. 9 And he was three days without
sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to
him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into
the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one
called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12
And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand
on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then
Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath
done to thy saints at Jerusalem:….21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said;
Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and
came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief
priests?
Acts
22:3-4, 19 - 3 I am verily a man
which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city
at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law
of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I
persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both
men and women….19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in
every synagogue them that believed on thee:
Acts
26:9-11 - 9 I verily thought
with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of
Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I
shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when
they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them
oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly
mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
1 Cor. 15:9 - For
I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.
Gal. 1:13 - For
ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that
beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
Phil. 3:4-6 - 4 Though I might also have confidence in
the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the
flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of
the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a
Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the
righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
1 Tim. 1:13 - Who
was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy,
because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
V. The Witness
of the Church (8:4) - Preaching
Therefore
they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Compare Acts 8:1.
Every Where - NIV
and NLT: “wherever they went”; NASB and
ESV: “went about”; HCSB: “went on their way”
Jas. 1:1 - James,
a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are
scattered abroad, greeting.
1 Pet. 1:1 - Peter,
an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Conclusion:
I. The Second Mention of Saul (8:1a) - Consenting
II. The Persecution of the Church (8:1b-d) - Scattering
III. The Burial of Stephen (8:2) - Lamenting
IV. The Third Mention of Saul (8:3) - Persecuting
V. The Witness of the Church (8:4) - Preaching
Some may respond to such events by questioning whether
there is a God and whether He cares for His own. Let there be no doubt about this! Be not faithless, but believing! The ascended Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of
the Church, is on the throne. He is
building His Church, and moving His people.
He is using opposition to His Gospel to advance the witness to Him. He is in control. He is directly involved in every aspect of
what is recorded here, and He still is!
[Sermon preached 10
NOV 2013 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Resources:
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament
(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W.
Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007)
F. F. Bruce, The
Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd
ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And
Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries,
gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed.
David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).
William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching,
series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville,
KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
[1] The following points were written 2 NOV 2013 on the
passing of Gina Ruth Zaspel into glory (31 OCT 2013).
