“And Saul approved of their killing [Stephen].
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.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.“
Acts 8:1-5

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NOVEMBER 11, 2024

This week, we’ll be talking about Samaria, and the surprising news of the Jewish gospel and Messiah spreading there. But let’s start the week with a note of irony—irony surely not lost on Luke as he wrote this book, nor on the early Christians who lived it.

This passage—the stoning of Stephen and all the persecution that came after—is a watershed moment for the young community. No longer will they be able to gather primarily in Jerusalem. From now on, the disciples of Jesus will be largely following Him outside the bounds of their homeland, spread all over the known world. The community gathered together at Pentecost (when the diaspora came back to celebrate the holiday) will now be scattered again in diaspora.

The source of this scattering? Threat of death, torture, imprisonment.

The man at the helm of all this persecution? Saul.

The man who will be the primary servant to the many, many Christ-communities that these scattering-for-their lives men and women will plant around the Greco-Roman world?

Also Saul.

Have you given thought to this reality? I wonder what it was like for Saul/Paul to serve the churches that exist because he himself killed and tortured Christians so badly they had to flee? I imagine it would take an enormous amount of humility to face this calling, this servanthood, these people.

I wonder what it was like for those who fled their homes and beloved community, at the threat of death—after watching family or dear friends murdered—to have their tormentor and greatest enemy become their respected partner?

Friend, the invitation for us today is to sit with this aspect of the Christ story and see what it asks of us. The depths of repentance, humility, and ego-less service required; the depths of forgiveness and unity Christ demands if we are to follow Him.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • Take the time to imagine yourself in the shoes of Saul, as well as in the shoes of those whom he terrorized. Now fast forward a few decades. What do you feel, if you’re Saul/Paul?
  • What do you feel if you’re the Christ followers he threated, harmed, and exiled? What does this show us about the path of discipleship for Jesus followers?
  • What does it ask of you, today?

 

Church Reading Plan: Joel 3; Psalm 143