Acts 8:4

⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

Acts 8:4-8 shows Philip’s ministry in Samaria, who had fled Jerusalem because of persecution. Persecution became the impetus for the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem, just as Jesus predicted (Acts 1:8). We find Philip’s ministry in Acts 8:4-40. Both Peter and John also ministered to the Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17).

8:4

Therefore

The persecution and death of Stephen signaled a broader attack on the church in Jerusalem, especially against Hellenist believers.

those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

Persecution became the cause of expanding the gospel to other geographical regions. Although persecuted, the church did not cower to persecution but continued to grow. Their scattering triggered the gospel to spread to different geographical locations.

PRINCIPLE:

Persecution is a multiplier for the church.

APPLICATION:

Persecution did to the church what seed scattered by the wind does for the harvest–it multiplies. The word “scattered” means to scatter seed. The church is God’s seed to the world. This scattering was the next step in Jesus’ command in Acts 1:8 to go to “all Judea and Samaria.”