“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.” -Acts 8:1b-3
God’s Purpose in the Midst of Persecution
The blood of Stephen became the seed of the Church to be scattered to the surrounding regions. It was the catalyst that sent the seed of the gospel to be carried by the wind of the Spirit. And the time was now—no more waiting. Jesus would fulfill what He spoke in Acts 1:8!
I found this commentary insightful:
“The resulting good of the spread of the gospel leads some to see this persecution as being the will of God. God can and will use pressing circumstances to guide us into His will. Sometimes we have to be shaken out of our comfortable state before we do what God wants us to do.” -David Guzik
His word will be accomplished even in the face of the hardest odds! It was time for Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the Earth to be reached, and He would compel His people to take the ground He had assigned to them. How great is the redeeming love of God!
The Transformation of Saul: A Testament to God’s Grace
As I sat before the Lord, pondering this passage, I wanted us to see what God saw in Saul before Saul saw it in himself. He would become someone who brought life and not death to the Church. His self-righteousness and religious perfection would crumble in the shadow of the cross. He would one day preach the freedom of the New Covenant. The gospel would transform Saul. From the looks of it in this passage, he had a ways to go. But the Spirit was at work! Do you think you are any different—too much, too old, too sinful, too cynical for God to transform and send?
There is nothing too great to keep you from bearing witness to the work of Christ in your life. A man who imprisoned and killed followers of Jesus and forced them to blaspheme against Christ was transformed. This is the work of Christ that leaves me speechless. It was the same for David in the Old Testament—a man who murdered, committed adultery, and had the blood of thousands on his hands was a man God said was after His own heart.
Nothing you have done or will do is outside of the extravagant love of God, the sacrifice of Jesus, or the indwelling of the Spirit. He will accomplish the purposes for which you have been created!
Saul was chained to self-righteousness, a law-abiding Pharisee, persecuting those who belonged to Jesus. Look at the words he would one day write:
“But now faith in Christ has come. So the law is no longer in charge of us.” -Galatians 3:25, NIRV
“By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am ‘timid’ when face to face with you, but ‘bold’ toward you when away!” -2 Corinthians 10:1
“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel … .” -Ephesians 6:19
“Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” -1 Timothy 1:13-14
The Gospel Transforms Lives Today
The same God who transformed Saul’s life, gave him a new name, and set him on a radical course for the gospel is your same Savior and Perfector! Nothing you have done or will do will change the promises of God toward you. Nothing. We will see, just around the corner, Saul’s encounter with Jesus. However, what we must glean from this Scripture is that the Person of God met a man who was far from the truth of Christ and ended up having a foundational impact on the Church through his writings. This is both miraculous and profound.
God will accomplish His purposes for your life. He will transform you. Your life is never too far from the love of Christ.
“Jesus can no more bring himself to stiff-arm you than the loving father of a crying newborn can bring himself to stiff-arm his dear child. Jesus’ heart is drawn out to you. Nothing can chain his affections to heaven; his heart is too swollen with endearing love.” -Dane Ortlund, “Gentle and Lowly”
We have the before and after of Saul’s life. I wonder if every day he grieved the pain he caused his brothers and sisters in Christ. I wonder if the thorn in his flesh was the piercing of these memories he could never shake. But even in that, Christ became everything to Saul, and the Church would be the very thing he would champion and build up till he breathed his last.
A Call to Prayer and Action
Beloved of the Lord, it’s time to get back to the truth of the gospel, the truth that transforms us. The cross is our saving grace. The love of God is unwavering despite our behavior because the victory of the cross stands for itself. May we agree with who God says we are and hold on to the promises He has declared over our lives in Scripture. He makes all things new, and He’s doing that work in you. Will we be receptive and surrender to His intimate work in and through us?
This week, I am taking a team to the poorest country in Latin America. We will each preach the gospel nearly 75 times in four days. May our hearts receive, may our minds be transformed, and may we make Christ known. Please pray for a great harvest of souls! Pray Acts 8:4-7 over our team. I will see you next week in that portion of Scripture!
