Moving Out January 13, 2019

Overview

The Outline of Acts and the Witness Pushed Outward

The book of Acts unfolds along the pattern Jesus gives in Acts 1:8: "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Three concentric circles—Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth—chart the spread of the gospel. Acts 8 marks a decisive transition into that second circle, roughly five years after Pentecost.

From Stephen's Stoning to a Scattered Church

The narrative picks up in the wake of Stephen's ministry. Chosen to help with the daily distribution to widows, Stephen was falsely charged and brought before the Sanhedrin. His recounting of Israel's history was beyond reproach—until he applied it: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit" Acts 7:51. For that prophetic application, he was dragged outside the city and stoned, with the witnesses laying their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul Acts 7:58.

Saul approved of the killing Acts 8:1. As a Pharisee convinced that righteousness came through scrupulous law-keeping, the gospel of grace through the crucified and risen Jesus was repulsive to him. He set out to eradicate it, "ravaging the church" by dragging believers from their homes Acts 8:3—the Greek language portrays him as a wild, out-of-control animal. The result: severe persecution, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

God Turns Evil for Good

What looked like the unraveling of the church was actually the engine of its expansion. The pattern is the same one Joseph names to his brothers in Genesis 50:20: "Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good in order to preserve a numerous people." Saul aimed to destroy the church; God used the persecution to scatter witnesses into the next concentric circle—exactly where Jesus said they would go. This is the promise of Romans 8:28 at work.

So Acts 8:4 reports, "Now those who were scattered went from place to place proclaiming the word." Imagine the natural conversations: What brought you here? The answer was the gospel itself. Philip, another of the seven, went down to Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah—Jesus crucified for the sins of the world, raised on the third day, the fulfillment of Scripture, the source of forgiveness given in baptism. Signs accompanied his preaching, validating the message in a time before the New Testament was written down (a confirming gift given especially to the apostles, Stephen, and Philip). The result: "there was much joy in that city" Acts 8:8.

Bringing People to the Word, Sending the Word to People

God works in two directions at once: He brings people to His Word, and He sends His Word to people. At Pentecost, the sound drew a crowd to hear the apostles. In the scattering, He sent His people outward with the message. The same dynamic is still at work today—and even hard seasons can be the very means by which He propels His people into witness.

That same word claimed you in the waters of baptism and names you His child. Now consider two questions: Who has God brought into your life—a neighbor, coworker, family member—who needs to hear the gospel from you? And where is God sending you, perhaps through a new job, a move, or an unexpected change, to carry His Word to people you have not yet met? You likely already know their names. The bad things in life have not derailed God's mission; in His hands, they often advance it.

Transcript

Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the book of Acts the 8th chapter this morning? 0s

As we return to our study of this great book. 5s

The book of Acts, you will recall, gives us 30 years of history. 10s

From the time of the crucifixion resurrection and ascension of our Lord, 16s

so we have this early church history. 20s

And just to refresh your memory as we return now to the book of Acts, 24s

how we can conceive of or understand the book of Acts in a very simple outline. 27s

Our Lord really gives it to us in the first chapter of the book of Acts. 35s

So keep your finger here, would you? 39s

And go to Acts the first chapter, verse 8, Acts chapter 1, verse 8. 42s

And here our Lord is giving us really the outline for the book of Acts. 52s

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 60s

And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Old Judea and Samaria, 65s

and to the ends of the earth. 72s

There if you're a Bible writer, you might want to circle that verse and put outline right next to it. 75s

Because the book of Acts is divided into those three sections. 81s

You have the witness to Jerusalem, then you have the next concentric circle, 84s

that's Judea and Samaria, and then you have the next concentric circle, 88s

which is the ends of the earth. 93s

There's the outline for the book of Acts. 95s

So when we come now to the eighth chapter of the book of Acts, 99s

it's a transition point, isn't it? 105s

It's moving us into this next concentric circle with regard to the witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. 107s

And as we come to the eighth chapter of the book of Acts, it is five years after the events of 117s

the Holy Spirit, we have the first time to be in the second chapter. 124s

Now to get the setting again. 128s

Remember, we had been studying with regard to a person by the name of Stephen. 130s

Stephen was one of those that were chosen to help in the daily distribution of food to the widows. 135s

Remember, a problem had arose. 140s

Some were saying that they were being neglected in the distribution, and so a plan was devised 142s

it seemed good for the people. 147s

They chose these people to help in the distribution, and Stephen was one of them. 149s

Charges were brought against Stephen. 156s

They were false charges. 157s

And Stephen, remember, winds up in front of the Jewish Supreme Court, the Sam, 160s

Headrun. 165s

And he starts to recount Old Testament history. 166s

As we move through the seventh chapter, you'll recall, 170s

the Supreme Court would have had nothing, nothing bad to say about Stephen in his recounting 173s

of the history. 180s

Not a thing. 181s

But then Stephen came to the application of his sermon. 184s

Take a look when we please at chapter 7, verse 51. 188s

This is after the recounting of the Old Testament events, 193s

Stephen then turns and says, you stiff-necked people. 198s

Uncircum sized in heart and ears, you're forever opposing the Holy Spirit just as your ancestors 207s

used to do. 213s

Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? 216s

They killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, 221s

notice how that's capitalized, that's Jesus. 224s

And now you have become his betrayers and murderers, you are the ones that receive the law 228s

as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it. 234s

And for that, Stephen's guilt. 242s

Look at verse 58, chapter 7. 247s

Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stony. 251s

Move down out of chapter 8, verse 2, 259s

devout men, varied Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 263s

During the course of the stoning of Stephen, an important detail arises, 273s

back up into verse 58, chapter 7. 278s

They dragged him out of the city, began to stony, 282s

and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 286s

Why did they lay their coats at the feet of Saul so they could hurl the rocks with greater velocity? 293s

So they would not be inhibited by their garments. 300s

And notice his mention. 305s

It's Saul. 307s

Jump down to verse 1 of chapter 8 of Acts. 310s

And Saul approved of their killing. 315s

He approved of their killing. 322s

You see what the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ were proclaiming 327s

was revolting to Saul. 333s

He was just simply put off by what was being said, 338s

because he was a Pharisee and as a Pharisee, he believed that you attained right standing before God 343s

by your following, scrupulously, the law. 350s

And so when you have the followers of Jesus coming along saying, 356s

that Jesus died for their sins on the cross and was raised on the third day, 359s

that we are saved by the grace of God through faith and the Lord Jesus Christ. 364s

And this is something that we do. 369s

It is a gift of God that was repulsive to Saul. 371s

And so Saul then dedicated himself to eradicate this false teaching from the face of the earth. 378s

And notice what he does. Verse 3 of chapter 8, 386s

but Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house, 392s

dragging off both men and women he committed them to prison. 400s

The Greek here in describing Saul, the Greek here describes him as a wild, out-of-control animal. 406s

And he's not alone. He's got the temple police too, who are dragging people out of their homes 416s

that confessed the Lord Jesus Christ. And what is the result of this? 424s

Go back, please, to verse 1, chapter 8, second sentence. 436s

That day, so what they would that have been, that would have been the day that Stephen was stone, 442s

that day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem. 449s

And all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. 456s

You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth. 465s

Why they go to Samaria? Well, it was part of the concentric circle. 481s

Certainly it was part of the prophecy of our Lord certainly. But in Samaria, they could find 486s

safe haven from the Jewish authorities because the Jewish authorities didn't have jurisdiction 491s

in Samaria. And so you have these early Christians then being scattered because of the 497s

persecution and they go right to Samaria. Let's just summarize now. 503s

You have Stephen, he's part of the group helping with the widow distribution, false charges against him. 516s

He appears before the Sanhedrin, he's preaching to them, everything is just fine. Couldn't disagree with the word he said 523s

until he applied the law and then they killed him for it. And is the people stone him? Who do they put their coats by? 530s

Soul. And soul approves of the killing and dedicates his life to the eradication of Christianity. 542s

And the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem are scattered now. They're scattered. They are 555s

and they go to Jerusalem. Are they go to Judea and Samaria from Jerusalem? And when you step back and 571s

you look at that, you say. The prospects for the church here looks rather bad, doesn't it? 580s

And here you have the followers of Jesus Christ and they're just getting scattered all over the place. 595s

Persecution people being taken out of their homes and thrown into prison. 602s

It's not looking to bright for the church. Is it? 608s

Think in the Old Testament, the story of Joseph. Joseph was son number 11 of 12 of Jacob. 619s

Jacob gave his son Joseph this beautiful coat. His brothers didn't like it. They became jealous. So 629s

they throw him into a pit. 636s

Not too long after being thrown into the pit. He sold into slavery. He's then sold into slavery again. 640s

And he winds up being a slave in the house of 646s

Potter, who is the captain of the guard to Pharaoh in Egypt. 650s

Well Potter's wife falsely accuses Joseph of rape and so Joseph winds up in prison. 658s

In prison, he interprets a dream of the Pharaoh. He's released from prison, 667s

presents this plan of how the Pharaoh should deal with the famine. And before long, 674s

the Pharaoh appoints him the Prince of the land. So he has really gone literally from pit to Prince. 681s

His brothers come before him and Joseph forgives his brothers. 694s

And now the people of God are going to be welcomed into Egypt as guests. 702s

This was of course before scripture tells us when there's a change of power. 712s

But initially they're welcomed into Egypt as guests. And Joseph says this. 717s

Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good in order to preserve 725s

a numerous people. Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good. 738s

In Acts, the aim was to destroy the church. But the persecution gives rise to what? 755s

The people being scattered and the persecution then leads to the witness where? 774s

You'll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 789s

And God takes that which is bad and brings good out of it. God is really good at doing that, isn't he? 802s

It's really good at doing that. It's his promise in Romans. 824s

So notice what happens. Look at verse 4, please. 832s

Now those who were scattered went from place to place proclaiming the word. 838s

So the persecution that which is bad, God uses it for good, 844s

scatters his people and now they're proclaiming the word, reflect on this when someone new 849s

comes into your into your neighborhoods and you meet them. What do you so often ask them? 855s

You say so, so what brought you here? Where did you move from? Why did you move? 862s

Those are common questions we ask. Step into the sandals now of the people of old, 871s

persecution propels them out into Judea and Samaria, they're scattered. What question are they going to get? 877s

What brought you here? Talk about a natural way to witness, right? Well let me tell you why. 886s

We're followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. We were being persecuted for following the Lord Jesus Christ. 894s

And so we scattered here whose Jesus? I'll tell you about Jesus. 901s

See what happens. The bad of the persecution God uses it to good and propels the people forward. 907s

We then have a specific example. Verse 5, 917s

fill up went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 922s

This is the fill up now. It's not the apostle. It's the fill up who was part of the group that 928s

we're distributing the food to the widows. Fill up went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 933s

So what would he have said? Jesus Christ is the anticipated Messiah. What did Jesus Christ do? 944s

Jesus Christ went to the cross. Why did he go to the cross? To bear the sin of the world. 951s

The wrath of God fell upon Jesus. The world has been reconciled on the third day. 957s

Jesus was raised from the dead. I witness is abound with regard to this. It's the fulfillment of 964s

Scripture. Can I show you in Scripture where it's the prophecy of the cross and the resurrection? 973s

What's the result then of the cross? This reconciliation, this forgiveness, these gifts then that are given to us in baptism. 981s

That same word has been proclaimed to you, beloved. That same word of the gospel has come to you. 990s

You have been claimed in the waters of baptism. God has called you his child. 998s

The bad, the persecution gives rise to the scattering and what happens in the scattering. 1005s

But the word of God goes for. Verse 6. 1013s

The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, 1019s

hearing and seeing the signs that he did. For unclean spirits crying with loud 1025s

shrieks came out of many who were possessed and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. 1031s

Notice something. In Scripture, you only see it's the apostles and Philip and Steven 1042s

that are given the special gift of healing. So only that. 1054s

And what do we see? Why was that given to substantiate the truthfulness of the message? 1060s

It's before the word had been codified before the word had been written down. What happens 1066s

and you start to see a decrease? You see it in Scripture. You start to see a decrease in these 1070s

healings. Why? Because the apostles are dying off. So it's the apostles and Philip and Steven 1077s

that are given this gift to validate the message that they are given. Does that mean that God 1085s

doesn't still do healings? Of course God still does healings. But does God give people the gift of 1092s

healing like he gave to the apostles and Philip and Steven? No. We see the cessation of that inscription. 1099s

What's the result? Versailles. So there was great joy in that city. There was great joy in the city. 1107s

Now remember, there's a few verses earlier. You've got Saul who's saying, 1121s

I'm going to wipe Christianity off the face of the earth. And eradicate 1128s

Christians. Get it and running. And now what do you have? You have a people being brought to faith 1135s

by the Holy Spirit. You have the witness of the early church of those that are scattered. 1145s

You have God taking that which was intended for harm and turning it into God. And what you have is 1151s

joy. Joy. God is at work. Bringing people to his word or bringing his word to people. 1161s

He's at work. Bringing his people or bringing people to his word or bringing his word 1184s

to people. Think about this from them. Back in the second chapter of Acts, when you had the sound, 1195s

that sounded attracted people to come. God brought his people to hear the word. 1204s

Then you see in the pages that follow, you see the apostles moving out into Jerusalem 1217s

with the word. Bringing what to the people. Bringing the word to the people. God is at work. 1223s

Bringing people to the word and bringing his word to the people. Sometimes God uses the difficult times 1231s

in someone's life to where they are brought to the word and by the grace of God, they open it. 1246s

And other times God sends someone with the word to them. Bringing sending. He's always doing that. 1257s

So ask yourself this. Who is it that God has brought into your life? 1273s

They are right there. We've all got people like that. That God has brought into your life 1285s

bringing them to you who have the word. They might be people that you work with. It might be your 1298s

next door neighbor. It might be a family member. They're right there. You don't have to go anywhere. 1307s

Okay, ask yourself this. Who is it that God is sending the word to through you? 1318s

We all have people like that too. These are the people that perhaps a circumstance or event 1329s

has happened in your life and all of the sudden you have met these other people. 1339s

And you now are there. And you are surrounded with people that God has brought you 1346s

to share the word to. Remember what is the up to? He's bringing people to the word or sending 1356s

the word to people. And we all have these people in our lives. And so who is it that God is sending 1362s

you with the word? Perhaps it's a new job. Perhaps it's going to be a geographical relocation 1372s

where you change neighborhoods or cities or states. But God is always bringing and sending 1380s

at the same time. And God will use even the most difficult times in life. 1388s

Periscution even to propel us to be witnesses of his word. This is the question. 1396s

Who is it? Who is it? I identify them before you leave today. My suspicion is you already 1415s

can name them. Who is it? That God has brought them into your life so you can share with them 1428s

the word. And who is it that in the places that he sends you? Who is it that he is sent you to 1438s

with the word? Let's pray. Gracious Heavenly Father, we praise you for this time in your word. 1454s

We thank you that you indeed take so often that which is bad and bring good out of it. 1462s

Indeed, that is your promise for us as your children. And Father, we give you thanks for how you use 1471s

the bad time of the early church to lead to propelling of the people forward into witness. 1479s

Give us eyes, O Lord, to see your work and where you are working. And the people that you've 1489s

brought into our lives and the people that you are sending us to. As you bring people to the 1497s

word and send the word to people. May you be glorified and praised by the faithful witness 1506s

of your people today and this week in Jesus name. Amen. 1517s