Acts 8:1b-8

Acts 8:1b-8

There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,

and all were scattered

throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,

except the Apostles.

Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.

Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;

entering house after house and dragging out men and women,

he handed them over for imprisonment.

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria

and proclaimed the Christ to them.

With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip

when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.

For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,

came out of many possessed people,

and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.

There was great joy in that city.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, send your Word and grant me the gift of wisdom. Send your Spirit and grant me the gift of charity. May I preach the Gospel today in both word and example. Help me to know what to say, how to pray, and what to do to spread the Gospel of your loving mercy.

Encountering the Word of God

1. A Severe Persecution of the Church: Stephen’s martyrdom was followed by the persecution of the Hellenistic Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. These disciples of Jesus – not the Apostles – had to flee Jerusalem and were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. This was providential. This was the way the Gospel was initially spread beyond the confines of Jerusalem. This spreading of the Gospel was a fruit of suffering persecution for the name of Jesus. Stephen gave his witness to Jesus through the shedding of his blood. The Hellenist Christians who were close to the deacon Stephen were the initial target of the persecution.

2. Saul Tried to Destroy the Church: Saul of Tarsus is mentioned as one of the early persecutors who tried to destroy the Church. Saul “was highly effective in this endeavor and sought not only to imprison the disciples but also to put them to death. By his own testimony, his goal was no less than to destroy the Church (cf. Gal. 1:13)” (Pimentel, Witnesses of the Messiah, 85). God, however, was able to bring about good from evil and used this persecution to spread the Word of God and expand the Church. This was the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to the Apostles that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, 136-137).

3. The Preaching of Philip the Deacon: While the Apostles remained in Jerusalem during the persecution, one of the seven Hellenist deacons, Philip, was forced to flee and took the word of God to the region of Samaria, and there he proclaimed the Gospel that Jesus is the royal Messiah. Philip worked great signs: he cast out demons and healed the paralyzed and crippled. Signs like these were done by Jesus to bring the people to faith in him as the Messiah. In like manner, his disciples accomplished similar works and sought to bring the people to encounter Jesus. The preaching of the Good News by Philip and the miracles he worked filled the people with great joy. Today’s psalm sings God’s praises on account of his deeds and works. The Psalmist invites all nations to see the great works of God and to worship God and sing praise to his name. The great historical deed mentioned by the Psalmist is the crossing of the Red Sea and the crossing of the Jordan River by the people of Israel. God freed his people from slavery and brought them into the promised land. The great deed proclaimed by the Gospel is Jesus’ victory over death and the slavery of sin. Through our baptism, our spiritual crossing of the Red Sea, we share in Jesus’ victory and are set on the path that leads to heaven.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, Word of God made flesh, you are the Savior and Redeemer of all humanity. All men and women are called to know and love you. Guide my thoughts, words, and actions today so that I may share more effectively in the mission of spreading the Gospel.

Living the Word of God: Do I see how God has brought good from evil in my life? What have I learned from my failings and sins? Has this experience brought me to a greater humility and trust in God’s mercy?