08: Persecution spreads the gospel more (Acts 8)

Saul tried to stop the church, but his persecution only accelerated the spread of the gospel. More churches were established because the Holy Spirit was at work.

πŸ‘‰ Read Acts 8


Q1. What did Saul intend to do?

He tried to destroy the church. 

He might have been willing to tolerate the disciples of Jesus remaining in Jerusalem, but he did not want people to continue following Jesus and forming a church. This was in direct opposition to God’s will, for God had poured out the Holy Spirit upon them to establish a living organism, the body of Christ, in which the Holy Spirit binds believers together more strongly than any human bond.

Satan might say, ‘it is OK for you to believe but do not start a church.’ 



Q2. When the persecution in Jerusalem scattered them, what did they do? 

Go to another place and proclaim the gospel

Through the persecution, the gospel was spread even to the Gentiles. From Jerusalem to Samaria

They were not running away to hide. The persecution disrupted the gatherings of the Jerusalem church, but it could not stop them from proclaiming the name of Jesus. Nothing could silence their mouths except death. So should we be!



Q3. A man named Simon also believed. However, his heart was not pure. What was his interest? (You can summarize his focus on two things from these verses. v6, 9, 10,11, 13, 19, 20)

Money and glory

Even after Peter's warning, he didn't repent but only asked for a prayer to remove the curse.


Q4. As Philip preached the gospel to the Samaritans, they believed and got baptized. What happened to them when Peter and John prayed for them with their hands on them? 

They received the Holy Spirit

When Peter and John prayed for them, they received the Holy Spirit. Was this the purpose of their visit? In the early church, as the gospel spread to the Gentiles, such visible manifestations of the Holy Spirit confirmed their belonging to God’s household.

Importantly, whether visibly or invisibly, everyone who accepts Jesus receives the Holy Spirit according to God’s promise. Sometimes, confirmation of the Holy Spirit might be important.



Q5. From the episode of Philip's evangelism to the Ethiopian Eunuch, find the verses that tell that evangelism is the work of the Holy Spirit? (three)

- v26, v29, v39

After the baptism, the Holy Spirit transported Philip to Azotus (Ashdod), probably 20- 30 km (? Not sure) away from the place of baptism





Q6. What book of the Bible was the eunuch reading?

Isaiah 53. God's providence to save sinners through the suffering of His servant cannot be comprehended until one encounters the cross.


When they accepted the gospel, there was great joy (8, 39)




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