Acts (7)

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.  Luke 24.27

Be sure to view the video introducing our study of Acts 8 (Lesson 7) by clicking here.

Read and meditate on Acts 8.4-8.
Only the apostles, and probably a small contingent, remained in Jerusalem (v. 1). The religious leaders probably allowed the apostles to remain free so they could observe the wholesale imprisoning of their flocks. Maybe that would finally shut them up?

For reflection
1.  The people “were all scattered” in all directions. Were they chased out of Jerusalem, or did they simply flee before they could be arrested? (The verb could just as easily be translated “scattered themselves”.) But how can you from verse 4 that, though perhaps frightened, these believers were not cowed? What’s the difference?

2.  If the religious leaders in Jerusalem hoped their problem had at last been solved, they were in for a rude awakening. Michael Green (Evangelism and the Early Church) says these dispersed believers went everywhere “gossiping the Gospel.” What would “gossiping the Gospel” look like in your life, if it were to become a feature of your relationships?

3.  These believers had Jesus on the brain and in the heart. “Why are you fleeing?” “Because we love Jesus!” “Who’s Jesus? I thought He was dead?” “Well, let me explain…” And so forth. They talked about Him as they were going here and there, just as He had commissioned them to do (Matt. 28.18-20). How can we learn to become more conversational in our witness for Christ?

4.  Throwing aside all ancient prejudices, Philip, following the example of Jesus (Jn. 4), went among the Samaritans to proclaim the Good News. Were there people in Samaria who had remembered Jesus’ visit, not that long ago? Perhaps. At any rate, the harvest was substantial, both because of Philip’s preaching and because of the good works done in Jesus’ name. Good works and good words go together in carrying out the ongoing work of Christ. The result? Joy all around! Don’t you wonder how the news of this played in the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem? How does the Gospel help us to overcome fear, prejudice, and lack of experience so that we can fulfill our calling as ambassadors of the Kingdom?

5.  Threaten them, beat them, throw them into jail, take away their freedom, kill them – the Lord Jesus knows how to use all such trials, and more, to strengthen His people and further His ongoing work. We need not fear the rage, threats, conniving, or schemes of unbelievers. It comes naturally to them in the face of the Gospel, just as gossiping the Gospel should come naturally to those who go everywhere as ambassadors of the risen Christ. But – why doesn’t it?

Summary
The believers in Jerusalem had experienced the Kingdom. They knew the reality of Jesus Christ alive and ruling over them and living in them. They’d seen the changes in their lives and those of their neighbors. They’d experienced the love and generosity of their neighbors. They had known the power of the Spirit to bear witness to Christ. Why should anything change, just because they had to move to some new place? In what ways do you experience the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God?

Closing Prayer
Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked,
Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
For You are my hope, O Lord GOD;
You are my trust from my youth.
By You I have been upheld from birth;
You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb.
My praise shall be continually of You.
I have become as a wonder to many,
But You are my strong refuge.
Let my mouth be filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all the day.
Psalm 71.4-8

T. M. Moore

Each week’s studies in Acts are bound together into a free PDF that you can download for personal or group use (click here). Each week also features a video related to the studies of the week, which you may find helpful as you work through our studies in Acts.

Acts is the record of Christ’s ongoing work as King and Lord. For more insight into His work in our here and now, order the book, The Kingship of Jesus, from our online store by clicking here.

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