![]() As often happens in Acts, the proclamation of the gospel brings with it what Jesus "began to do and to teach" (1:1), especially an assault on the kingdom of demons and healing of the sick. Philip, another one of the deacons from chapter 6, along with Stephen, began to preach in a Samaritan town. They had cobbled together a brand of Judaism which was abhorrent to the leaders in Jerusalem, and thus were a despised people. Its population was partially made up of people who had been transported to that location by the Assyrians centuries before. Samaria, while not many miles away from Jerusalem, was religiously distinct. ![]() Far from destroying the church, Saul's deadly persecution fuels its growth by spreading it out, first in Samaria: "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went" (8:4). In this case, it's the persecution that breaks out after Stephen's death under the leadership of the church's archenemy, Saul of Tarsus. Luke clearly ties the growth of the church to persecution. This church includes believers of every time, place, race, and language" (QA 37). The Spirit is slowly teaching the early Christians a very important truth-that he "builds one church, united in one Lord, one faith, one baptism. In this chapter we see the first big expansion beyond Jerusalem into Samaria. Remember Jesus' words to the disciples at the beginning of Acts, just before his ascension: "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (1:8).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |