"Preaching the Word"
Acts 8:4
"Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every
where preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). Stephen was dead, Saul was on a
rampage, the apostles were left alone in Jerusalem, and persecuted Christians
were preaching the word. What a remarkable story! Hearts were saddened at the
loss of Stephen, that young man, "...full of grace and power," who had,
"...wrought great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8). Yes, we
can read his sermon on the pages of inspiration; but wouldn't you like to have
been there, to have heard his eloquence, and to have seen the convicting power
of God's word? Surely the Christians left behind mourned the loss of this man of
great faith. Surely they were encouraged at his last words: "...Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit...Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:59-60).
Then, there was another young man, Saul of Tarsus. How could a young man be so
full of hatred for those dreaded Christians? Later evidence suggests a thorough
education in Judaism (Acts 22:3). Most will admit being influenced in at least
some way(s) by their teachers; Saul more so than perhaps most. His zeal for the
Law of Moses and for the traditions of the fathers produced a rabid, zealous
disciple of what he believed to be
absolutely right. He was willing to openly declare his allegiance to Judaism.
But the change that came over Saul on the Damascus road is a watershed, too. So
ferocious was Saul's opposition to Christ, that his conversion the one he had
been persecuting is more remarkable and glaring. Some of the Christians wondered
if the change was real. But it was, as the life of the Apostle Paul bears out.
What about the apostles who remained in Jerusalem? The Lord had commanded them
to wait in the city for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4), but how long after
this they were to remain is unclear. Undoubtedly, by this time there were
Christians in prison; and they would need comforting and assistance. Luke does
not tell us if Peter and John and James and the others became the immediate
target for more opposition. They had already suffered much, with more to come
(Acts 5, 12). Did Peter ever forget his denial of the Lord? Did John ever forget
the great love he had for his Savior, and the Savior for him? Each man had his
own story to tell. The statement made by Paul sums up the reality of each
apostle: "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" (Phil.
3:10).
And then, there were those persecuted Christians who were scattered throughout
the region of Judea. They did their work well. Again from Paul: "For ye,
brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ
Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as
they have of the Jews" (1 Thess. 2:14). There was something lasting about the
work these people did. Their emphasis was God's word. They were happy to
announce the good news of salvation to lost men and women. "The people doing
this evangelizing were not elders, deacons, and preachers. They were disciples,
great hosts of them, seeking a place of refuge from the destruction of
Saul. As they found places to sleep or stay for a few days, they would have to
explain the purpose of this plight and flight. In so doing, they went everywhere
telling the bad news of their persecution and the good news of salvation in
Christ" (Reese, New Testament History: Acts, 317).
These early Christians preached the word in spite of losing loved ones and
friends. These early Christians were sometimes isolated and alone, but they
still preached the gospel. These early Christians were forced to leave home and
hearth behind, but they still preached the word. They faced enemies. If they
preached the word in the midst of their circumstances, can't we preached the
word in the midst of our circumstances?
By Randy Harshbarger
From Expository Files 7.2; February 2000
