EVERY BELIEVER REACHING EVERY CREATURE FOR CHRIST
Acts 8:1-4
This chapter is such a
special chapter, a transitional chapter, a gateway to the next phase of
Christ’s plan for the Church, that we cannot hurriedly read through. From man’s
perspective, it begins with the death of Stephen, in God’s plan, it reveals the
dispersion of the saints. Men raised persecution against the Church but God
turned it to proclamation of the gospel to save multitudes of sinners. “Surely
the wrath of man shall praise Thee” (Psalm 76:10). The outbreak of
persecution which would have destroyed the Church actually produced positive
results, moving the Church forward to further
fulfil the Great Commission.
From this chapter, the
Church took a giant step towards fulfilling Christ’s plan of preaching the
Gospel to every creature. The Church had remained in Jerusalem until this time.
Through the persecution, gospel-preaching extended to Judaea and Samaria,
following the pattern of expansion previously outlined by Christ, the Lord and
Head of the Church (Acts 1:8). Though many Christians were scattered, they
became preachers, witnesses and soul-winners for Christ everywhere they went.
Many people repented, believed and turned wholeheartedly to the Lord.
1. GREAT
PROGRESS DESPITE GREAT PERSECUTION
Acts 8:1-3; 9:13,14;
26:9-11; 9:26-28; 11:22,27-30; 12:24,25; 15:1-6; 16:4,5; 21:17-22; Romans
15:19,25-33.
“At that time there
was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem.”
From the earlier chapters, there had been great persecution against the
Apostles, the leaders of the Church at Jerusalem. They were threatened, beaten
and imprisoned (Acts 4:3,21; 5:17-21,40-42), yet thousands believed, the number
of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly and they filled Jerusalem with
Christ’s doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. With this renewed wave
of persecution, the believers “were all scattered abroad throughout the
regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the Apostles.” The
persecution was so intense that only the Apostles remained in Jerusalem. These
Apostles, the pastors, who had already suffered much persecution were not
intimidated or frightened to flee Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Church was
drastically reduced in number but the Apostles kept on preaching and
ministering. The Great Commission was worth living and dying for. Saul, the
great persecutor, went “into every house, and haling men and women
committed them to prison.” That did not weaken or stop the Apostles’
resolve to “preach the gospel to every creature.” Why should
messengers of Satan be more zealous than the ministers of Christ? Soon, there
were thousands of true believers won to Christ in Jerusalem.
2. GOSPEL PROCLAMATION BY GOD’S PEOPLE
Acts 8:4; 11:19-24; Psalm 68:11; Mark 16:15,16,20;
Luke 8:38-40; John 1:40-49; 4:28-30,39-42; 1 Peter 1:1-5; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts
17:6,30,31.
“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.” Persecution scattered the believers. They were driven away
from their houses and dispossessed of jobs and properties. They lost much of
this world’s goods but the suffering did not lead to backsliding. Instead of
becoming backslidden cowards, their loss turned them to courageous preachers. “Therefore...”
(Acts 8:4; 14:1-3; 26:21,22). The word ‘therefore’, means that their
preaching was because of their scattering abroad. Persecution should
never lead the believer to compromise, fear of man or backsliding. It should
always drive us to greater prayerfulness, consecration, heavenly-mindedness and
courageous preaching. The Lord had commanded, “Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.” They had been negligent and
disobedient. Scattered abroad by persecution, they “went every where
preaching the word.” Their salvation was real and genuine. They knew
the value of their souls and counted earthly loss or gain to be nothing in
comparison to ‘eternal life’ which they possessed. “For what shall it
profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
They were persecuted but they kept
preaching to offer salvation to sinners.
3. GLORIOUS PATTERN FOR
GLOBAL PENETRATION
Acts 8:4; Luke 9:6,59-62; 10:1-3,17-20; John
4:34-38;
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 1
Corinthians 9:16-22; Matthew 24:12-14; Romans 10:17,18; 2 Corinthians 5:10,11,
17-20; James 4:17.
“Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature” is a command, Christ’s
command. Christ gave that command to all believers, not only to the Apostles.
All those Apostles have died but believers are still alive to obey Christ’s
commands. Even if pastors, ministers and all other believers are obeying Christ
effectively, you must still render obedience to the Lord. He commands us to
love God and our neighbours. Even if all other believers love as He has
commanded, their obedience will not excuse you. You still must do as He
commands. Personal evangelism is every believer’s duty and responsibility;
nothing else, however good and commendable, can be an acceptable substitute.
Personal salvation, church attendance, Bible reading and praying, heart
holiness, faithfulness in Christian work in the church are all good and
necessary; yet, “preach the gospel” is a command that must be
obeyed. Our obedience to a few of God’s commandments must not be used as excuse
for disobeying another commandment of God. Faithfulness in the church will not
excuse unfaithfulness at home, at work, in the society, in the community.
Everywhere you go, “preach the gospel to every creature.”
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