Acts 8:2-4 ESV

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

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Nang araw na iyon, nagkaroon ng malawakang pag-uusig laban sa iglesya na nasa Jerusalem; at lahat ay nagkahiwa-hiwalay sa buong lupain ng Judea at Samaria, maliban sa mga apostol. 2 Inilibing si Esteban ng mga taong masipag sa kabanalan, at sila'y tumangis nang malakas dahil sa kanya.3 Ngunit winawasak ni Saul ang iglesya sa pamamagitan ng pagpasok sa bahay-bahay, kinakaladkad ang mga lalaki't babae, at ipinapasok sa bilangguan. 4 Ang mga nagkawatak-watak ay naglakbay na ipinangangaral ang salita.


SCATTERED

The religious leaders were infuriated during this day that Stephen preached the truth to them. Like a hornets’ nest, they launched an extensive persecution against the new church. The young guy who was responsible was Saul. He was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

As a result, most if not all, had fled to the outskirts of Judea and Samaria, except the apostle. Unbeknownst to the authorities, what they did had aided the spread of the gospel. As someone wanting to remove an ink stain by pouring tap water and washing it, the gospel message spread. Persecution had scattered them to the different places. Likewise, the spread of the gospel had gone far and wide too. It’s because those who were scattered went about preaching the word. In other words, they gossip [in a good sense] the gospel wherever they went. Somehow, you can’t keep the story by spreading the ‘gossipers’ all over the place, can you?

Moreover, hardships may purify God’s church. During persecutions, the ‘fake’ would fade away but the ‘genuine’ would shine. As Paul said, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”[2 Tim 3:12] That is to say, the persecution would make the godly shine for Christ more effectively because they are real. They ‘do all things without grumbling or disputing, [so] that they may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom [they] shine as lights in the world.’[Phil 2:14,15] The purer the church becomes, the more effective is their witness.

Having been scattered was not a bad thing after all. Rom 8:28 is really true. God ways are higher than ours. Paul had the same experience in Rome when he was imprisoned. He explained to the church at Philippi,” I want you to know, brothers,[e] that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word[g] without fear.”[Phil 1:12-14]

Today, you and I might have been ‘stirred and displaced’ from our places of work. Our initial feeling as a ‘victim’ perhaps appears. But, in the economy of God, there is no displacements, only ‘relocation’ to shine more for Jesus. He orders all our steps, as well as stops. [Psa 37:23] Like lamp posts, He may post as at the dark corner where the gospel witness is much needed.

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