Pastor's Point - Acts 9

Chapter eight ends with Philip traveling around and preaching the gospel.

Acts 8:40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

As this was happening Saul was on a rampage.

Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples.

He was on his way to arrest more people who belonged to the Way when his life changed forever. On the road to Damascus Jesus came and met him.

Acts 9:4-5 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.

The persecution that Paul was spearheading was not only against the followers of the Way but against The Way Himself.

Next Jesus told him to go into the town and wait. Saul did what he was told even though he was blind. There Ananias came to him and his sight was restored.

Point One - No one is beyond God's reach

Point Two - God specializes in the impossible

Point Three - When God touches someone they are changed forever

Pastor's Points Acts 8

After Stephen was stoned a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem. At the forefront of the persecution was Saul. Verse three says, "Saul began to destroy the church." One of the results of this persecution was that the disciples were scattered all over the place. Another result was what verse 4 tells us:

Acts 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Something great happened as a result of the persecution. The gospel was spread in ways it wouldn't have been if they had faced such hard opposition.
John Stott say, "What is plain is that the devil (who lurks behind all persecution of the church) over-reached himself. His attack had the opposite effect to what he intended. Instead of smothering the gospel, persecution succeeded only in spreading it."

Point 1 - God doesn't cause bad things to happen
Point 2 - God can take bad things and make them into something good
Point 3 - When we are facing hardship we must look and see what God is doing.

Another commentator puts it this way, "The wind increases the flame."