The Birth of the Church: Acts 8:1-8 God’s Sovereign Grace in Persecution

Acts 8:1-8 // Matthew 8:12 // Matthew 13:42

“The fires…in the olden days never made martyrs; they revealed them. No hurricane of persecution ever creates martyrs; it reveals them. Stephen was a martyr before they stoned him. He was the first martyr to seal his testimony with his blood.” – Dr. George Campbell Morgan

Persecution may scatter the church, but the gospel will not be silenced.

Matthew 5:10-12 // 1 Corinthians 2:8 // Genesis 50:20

Persecution fulfills the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:18-20 // Acts 1:8 // Acts 8:1, 4-5 // Romans 1:6 // Job 42:2 // Isaiah 46:9-10

Persecution reminds us of our eternal hope in Jesus.

John 15:18-20 // 2 Corinthians 4:17

Persecution for the cause of Christ is a reason for rejoicing.

Acts 8:6-8