Persecution to Promotion 5/2/2026

The book of Acts is the story of the birth of the church and the spread of the gospel. The church had been growing rapidly in the city of Jerusalem facing immediate opposition from religious authorities including threats and arrests. But this was largely localized until the martyrdom of Stephen in chapter 7. This passage of Acts marks a pivotal turning point where the gospel breaks out of Jerusalem north into Samaria. These ordinary believers (like you and I) essentially promoted to missionary status. Scattered by persecution, they took the gospel message with them and continued to spread the word alongside Philip who was a deacon and one of the original leaders appointed to serve the Jerusalem church. Persecution failed to stop the gospel; instead, it scattered believers who shared the message of Christ everywhere they went, including Philip, whose miraculous signs and healings in Samaria led to conversions, baptisms and great joy in the city.