Today we are taken from the depths to the heights in a few short verses. Stephen was hugely influential and much loved by the early believers. His murder catalysed a new level of violence in the opposition they faced. Those who were not arrested fled (v 1). Again, we might have expected the fledgling movement to fizzle out at this juncture.

But no. Like a dandelion in a gust of wind, the scattering of disciples seeded a whole new group of believers. Where the Messiah was proclaimed, there were signs and wonders and people paid attention (v 6). Philip, rather than keeping a low profile in Samaria, arrived and got the whole city talking.

What are the challenges your church faces? Perhaps you have dwindling numbers of young people, tight finances, division over controversial issues or a hole in the roof. Perhaps you haven’t seen anyone come to faith in recent times, or your leader has had a moral failing. There are so many reasons we could lose heart. But the church is God’s church and in the very worst of times there is always a way through for us.

Are you ready to leave your comfort zone?

The death of Stephen had catastrophic effects, leading to a great persecution of the church in Jerusalem. The disciples, except the twelve, were scattered throughout the districts of Judea and Samaria and they took the gospel with them. This may have seemed a victory for Satan over the church, but actually it was a victory for the gospel. It took persecution, mainly the scattering of the bicultural, foreign Jews, to get the church to fulfil what Jesus had commanded her.¹ The church began to grow outward. Earlier, it was a centripetal witnessing, but now it became a centrifugal evangelism. True growth of the church has to work that way. 

The dispersed Jews had gone to Samaria and preached the gospel. Philip preached in the main city of Samaria. Hearing Philip’s message and experiencing the miracles brought great joy to the inhabitants of the city, who accepted the good news.

The involvement of all people in the local church is essential for mission. The missionaries of the Sudan Interior Mission had to leave Ethiopia during World War II and only a handful of converts remained in that country. When the missionaries returned after the war they found 25,000 new Christians – the local Christians had continued the ministry. Similarly, in Madagascar, the missionaries were expelled in 1845 for 25 years. On their return they found the church had grown tenfold. In other oppressed countries today, without trained missionaries, we hear reports that churches are growing spiritually and numerically. 

The church will only grow if all members witness to their friends and colleagues. Like these anonymous evangelists we need to witness to all we meet in our homes, neighbourhoods or workplaces. Pray that God will help you to leave your comfort zone and witness to your colleagues and friends.

¹ Acts 1:8