Stephen, a new convert to following Jesus had been hauled before the Sanhedran because he was accused of blasphemy.
Stephan had made an impassioned speech about Jesus was the Son of God, they crowd went nuts, & stoned Stephen to death.
Saul (who later became Paul, the apostle) was present at the stoning & approved of Stephen'smurder.
Acts 8
1b A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem;
and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.)
3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church.
He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
1b A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem;
and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.)
3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church.
He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
Here's the thing...
Each time I read this I wonder something...
All the followers of Jesus - new & old - were hanging out in Jerusalem, seemingly not very willing to get on the move.
But this persecution by Saul had cranked up, causing the need for them to escape.
What I have wondered each time I've read this:
I wonder if God allowed &/or used the persecution of Saul & his cohort to scatter the followers of Jesus so that they would start telling other people about Jesus?
And I've wondered if God not only allows &/or uses uncomfortable situations that cause us to move out of our comfortable places,
placing us in different surrounding where we can share the love of Jesus with new & different people?
Something to think about...
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