Acts 8
February 15, 2022
“And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” (v 1)
It’s been said, “God’s people will either obey Acts 1:8 or experience Acts 8:1. But God will get the gospel to the ends of the earth.” It’s persecution (Acts 8:1) that causes the Christians in Jerusalem to scatter to Judea and Samaria, two of the places where Jesus predicted they would be his witnesses (Acts 1:8).
Father, I praise You that You are sovereign, and that nothing can thwart Your redemptive plan - not even persecution! Help me to see the hardship and pain of my life through the lens of how You are giving me an opportunity to be a witness for Jesus in the midst of it. Empower me by Your Spirit to (like Philip) see those open doors to be Your witness, and the courage to step through those open doors, testifying to Jesus, in obedience to Your assignment in Acts 1:8!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
