Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 8:1-3
Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.
A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.
A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
Commentary:
8:1 they were all scattered. The scattering or “dispersion” (Gk. diaspeirō, “to scatter, disperse”) of the believers throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria was similar to the earlier diaspora (“dispersion”) of Jews throughout the world (see note on John 7:35), but this “dispersion” led to the fulfillment of the promise in Acts 1:8 that the gospel would go to the end of the earth (cf. James 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:1).
8:3 Saul was instrumental in the persecution, as he testifies later in Acts (22:4–5; 26:10–11) and in his epistles (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13, 23; Phil. 3:6; 1 Tim. 1:13).
8:3 Saul was instrumental in the persecution, as he testifies later in Acts (22:4–5; 26:10–11) and in his epistles (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13, 23; Phil. 3:6; 1 Tim. 1:13).
Questions:
- In Acts 8, we learn that the killing of Stephen begins a wave of persecution of the church that was lead by Saul. Verse 3 says that he was "going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison." Spoiler alert... Saul will eventually meet Jesus and become "Paul," who would end up authoring 2/3 of the New Testament and bring the Gospel to the gentiles. But at this point in the story, if you'd have asked the Christians that Saul was throwing in prison and having executed if there was any hope for him, what do you think their answer would be?
- We all have people in our lives that we think God could never reach. Who are those people in your life? Have you let the feelings of impossibility stop you from praying and trying to reach them?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would never give up praying for the impossible people.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
No Comments