482 – The Martyrdom of Stephen and the Dispersion of the Church

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY VI LESSON # 82

THE MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN AND THE DISPERSION OF THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTION:

1. It is often assumed that the strength of our ministry lies in our freedom to preach.
2. Conversely, the New Testament records some of the greatest strength and best results during the harshest persecution.
3. At no period is this better demonstrated than during the trying days of Acts, (Acts 6-8

I. THE PERSECUTION THAT AROSE ABOUT STEPHEN

1. This was a martyrdom to terrorize and disperse the church, and a definite statement is made regarding this in Acts 11:19

.
2. Stephen’s offense was simple, he spoke and performed miracles in the name of Jesus. (Acts 6:8-10

)
3. His offense was precisely that of Peter and John in Acts 4:16

.
4. He was full of the Holy Ghost and thus they could not resist him. (Acts 6:10

)
5. This “movement,” the Lord’s church was so prospering that the rulers of the Jews felt forced to stop it at any cost.
6. Thus, they enlisted deliberate liars to charge Stephen, but it was Jesus, not Stephen who they hated.
7. When brought to trial, Stephen defended himself by preaching Christ (a legitimate defense). (Acts 7:1-53

)
8. These accusers and the High Priests were cut to the heart. (Acts 7:54

)

i. This is quite the opposite of what happened when they were pricked in their hearts. (Acts 2:37

)
ii. Men will always act this way unless God gives repentance.

II. THE UNEXPECTED EFFECT OF THE PERSECUTION

1. The powers of the day were against the church and were set to destroy it. (Acts 8:1

)
2. These Christians suffered just as we would have. (Acts 8:2

)
3. The adversaries actually distributed what they simply intended to disperse. (Acts 8:4

)

IIIs: by sun and wind apparently destroying seed pods.

III. THE IMMEDIATE OUTREACH OF THIS DISPERSION

1. Philip went to Samaria. (Acts 1:8

and Acts 8:5-8

)
2. Philip went to the eunuch and the eunuch to Ethiopia. (Acts 8:39

)
3. Philip continued on to Azotus, other cities and all the way to Casarea. (Acts 8:40

)
4. Others went as far as Phenice, Cyprus and Antioch. (Acts 11:19

)

IV. THE EXTENDED OUTREACH OF THE DISPERSION

1. The unthinkable happens to one of the persecutors. (Acts 9:1-9

)
2. Saul the persecutor and disperser of Christians becomes one of Christianity’s greatest forces.
3. He joined the dispersion movement which had come to Antioch. (Acts 11:19-26

)
4. He then went out to spend his life preaching the gospel every-where. (Acts 13:1-3

, Rom. 15:19-20

)
5. Through the centuries persecution has not been the great deterrent of the gospel, but comfort.

Berean Baptist Church