CTG 0011

Acts 9:31; 12:24 - Multiplication

One of the seven men who helped organise daily provisions for widows, was falsely accused and martyred, because of his loyalty to Jesus Christ. Opposition against the church in Jerusalem, which had grown to multi-thousands, intensified. Persecution of believers, both men and women, became vicious. Some were imprisoned. The majority were scattered.

Far from keeping silent about their faith, those who were scattered talked about Jesus everywhere they went. The good news about salvation and forgiveness was spread throughout areas that are known to us today as Israel, Palestine, Cyprus, Lebanon and Syria.

Initially the gospel was only shared with Jews and converts to Judaism. But it soon became clear that God wanted the message of his grace to cross all social, ethnic and cultural barriers, reaching all nations. The Old Testament had indicated this. Jesus had instructed his apostles with this in view, though at first they hadn't grasped it. The Holy Spirit was now making it abundantly clear that the victory achieved by God's Son, through his sacrificial death and resurrection, was to be effective among all peoples throughout the earth.

God's promise to bless all nations through Abraham's offspring, Jesus Christ, was now in its initial stages of being fulfilled. And those on the frontline of this first wave of mission were Jewish followers of Christ, who faithfully shared the message with others. It's probable that the majority of them weren't even aware that they were fulfilling the prophecies recorded centuries before. They simply and spontaneously evangelised, encouraged by God's Spirit, commencing in Jerusalem and increasingly extending beyond.

One of the foremost protagonists opposing the church and the spread of the gospel at that time was Saul/Paul (derived from his Hebrew/Greek names). But his life was turned right around, when he himself believed and became a follower of Jesus Christ. The persecution eased off. "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied (Acts 9:31 ESV)." 

Herod (Agrippa I, a grandson of Herod the Great) reignited the fires of persecution and put James (one of the apostles, John's brother) to death. He planned to do the same with Peter, without success. His pride was his downfall and he came to a tragic end. "But the word of God increased and multiplied (Acts 12:24 ESV)."

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For further reading:

Acts 6:8 - 12:25

Galatians 3:8

Galatians 3:16

Romans 15:8-21

Luke 24:45-47

John 10:16

Ephesians 2:11 - 3:6

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