Sermon 12

It's Not In Vain

Acts 8:1-8

At first glance, Stephen's death may seem pointless. Here is another promising Christian career cut short. Here is a powerful voice silenced. His ministry seemed to have ended in failed. He was killed as a heretic, his death triggering persecution against the entire church at Jerusalem. Christians are scattered. So much for Stephen.

Such a view of Stephen's death indicates a lack of understanding in how the Holy Spirit works. A death which seems to be pointless and a persecution which seems so negative, is, in reality, a positive factor. It led to the first great missionary outreach of the early church.

Jesus' last word had been that they should be "witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Up to this point, however, the church had pretty much staying in Jerusalem. It took the death of Stephen and the persecution of the church to force the church into obedience. Before chapter 8 is over, the church will have reached out to Judea, Samaria, and even to one Gentile.

This chapter, then, is a turning point marks the church's first missionary effort as the gospel is taken into new territory. In the first eight verses, three progressive features describing the initial expansion stand out: persecution, which led to preaching, which led to souls.

Persecution, 8:1-3.

Up to this point, all persecution had been directed toward the apostles. Now with the death of a deacon, the persecution is quickly aimed at the entire church. Stephen's death was a catalyst for the storm of persecution that broke on the church. Jesus had predicted as much. (see John 15:20; 16:2).

This persecution was led by a young man named Saul, of Tarsus, see Galatians 1:14; Philippians 3:5-6. Verse 3 says that he ravaged the church, going house to house, dragging off men and women and putting them in prison. At the same time, there was a deep grief over the death of Stephen and a loud lamentation at his burial.

The result of this persecution was that (verse 1), "they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria." With the exception of the apostles, who like faithful watchmen, remained at their post, virtually everyone else was dispersed.

But God used the wrath of unregenerate men for His gospel purposes.

Preaching, 8:4-7.

Verse 4 tells the story. The word for "preaching" is the Greek word from which we get out English word for evangelism. All the scattered believers were involved in evangelism.

Beginning in verse 5, the Holy Spirit focuses on one man as an example of a faithful evangelist. His name is Philip. He is another of the 7 deacons first mentioned in chapter 6. He is the only man in scripture, specifically identified as an evangelist, Acts 21:8. (Not a guy with 10 suits and 10 sermons who goes from church to church holding revivals but an itinerant preacher, a church planter and a soul winner).

Verse 5 says that Philip went to the city of Samaria (40 miles from Jerusalem) and preached Christ unto them. The Holy Spirit had, apparently, prepared their hearts to respond to Philip's message. As a result, his preaching resulted in a wholesale spiritual awakening. Multitudes starting listening to what was said by Philip, miracles were performed by him, the sick and diseased were healed, the demon-possessed were delivered.

Souls, 8:8.

The powerful miracles and preaching of Philip resulted, as it had in Jerusalem, in the salvation of many Samaritans. The result was "great joy in that city."

This passage starts with death and ends with deliverance and life. It starts with one deacon dying for the cause of Christ and ends with another taking his place in the preaching of the gospel. It starts in Jerusalem and ends in Samaria. It starts with a disobedient church (staying in Jerusalem) and ends with an obedient church (being missionary). It starts with great lamentation and ends with great joy!

Was the death of Stephen pointless? No way.