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[0:00] Thank you for tuning into this message by David M.! Every true revival is a product of the strong preaching of God's word.! May you receive a word from this message that will spark a revival in you.

[0:12] Acts chapter 8 verse 1 to 5. And Saul was consenting unto his death.

[0:23] And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles.

[0:38] And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house.

[0:54] And hurling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.

[1:08] And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. Here ends the reading of God's word. Shall we please pray?

[1:18] Father, we thank you for the privilege to get into your word. I pray that as you give me the privilege of teaching your word, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to thee, O Lord, my Father.

[1:35] I pray that as your word is taught, grant us access and insight into dimensions of you that humans cannot take us.

[1:47] Holy Spirit, brood upon us and reveal Jesus from the pages of scripture. Who do you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what you do what so we go into a new chapter chapter 8 of Acts we saw in chapter 7 how chapter 7 was primarily about the preaching of Stephen and for that matter you can't separate the preaching of

[2:50] Stephen from Stephen so the chapter introduces us to Stephen beginning to submit his apologia and the chapter closes with us being told about Stephen's death so Acts chapter 7 the very last verse says that and Stephen kneeled down or knelt down and cried with a loud voice Lord lay not the sin to their charge wow last Sunday we heard a lot about that and we thank God for it so he says that and when he had said this he fell asleep believers don't die they do good night see you in the morning believers check out of here expecting to wake up on the other side so Paul puts it this way for me to be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord so he says that when I'm not here I know I'm going to be with the Lord because God will change verse 21 said I will change our vile bodies so he said I'm actually torn in between two whether to live which is nicer to be with Jesus or to stay alive here for the church so you see what should preoccupy a believer's life on earth is the work of God because

[4:31] Paul said if I leave is better for me but for your sake I'll stay because if I stay is better for you talking about is better for the church uh for church sorry Philippians chapter 1 is better nevertheless to abide here in the flesh is more needful for you for the church so Paul said that for me to be absent in the flesh is to be present second Corinthians 5 yeah to be absent in the flesh is to be present with the Lord wow as soon as you check out from the body you are present with the Lord that's the beauty of being a believer so Stephen before he left he saw the master standing and he said master lay not this to the church and he fell asleep but there's something very interesting in the verse 58 an introduction was made before Stephen's introduction came into Acts chapter 6 and before

[5:32] Stephen left the scene an introduction of a certain important person was made in verse 58 Acts chapter 7 verse 58 and cast him thus the people were upset with Stephen angry and cast him out of the city and stoned him and now watch this and the witnesses and I told you about before you stoned somebody you need at least two witnesses two or three the first witness will cast the first stone and then the second if he doesn't die the second witness will follow by casting the second stone now if he doesn't die the rest of them so the first witness will push him into the ditch or the pit and then cast the first stone and then the others will follow so the witnesses those who were the chief mastermind or the those who actually oversaw his execution they laid their garments with Saul he wasn't in Bible calling a young man so Saul was a young man don't wait till he are old even though there's a future for old people I'm talking about did you hear what I said there's a future there's a future for old people most people have squandered all their future already but God will help us all amen when I consider my age I begin to get concerned because I am older than I was supposed I'm expecting

[7:12] I realize I'm older than I'm expecting sometimes when I see what God has done with people who are younger I'm wondering but I could have done maybe I should have done more so wake up bro you are seriously running out of time when you go to sleep and you wake up on the other side Jesus will be asking you he said we need to have a serious conversation I like the way the place gets inquired because everybody is aware they are growing everybody is aware they are growing so young man somebody is a young man tell somebody I'm a young man or I'm a young woman a young man they laid their garments at the young man's feet whose name was Saul so that's the first introduction of this iconic figure in the scripture the Bible introduced him where was he introduced at the execution of Stephen and that also became his turn around in life it wasn't necessarily his encounter with Jesus that started it it was the death of Stephen that started it he shouldn't have witnessed it because his witnessing of what happened to Stephen became the torture and torment for the rest of his life if he was going to stay away from the mission of God he saw something in Stephen and he heard something from Stephen so in Acts chapter 26 verse 16 he says that God told him arise stand up on your feet for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose to make thee a minister and a witness most of the things which you have seen he saw some things and not only that and those of the things which thou hast seen and of those things which I will appear unto so he says that Paul saw things one of the things he witnessed was Stephen

[9:22] Stephen's apologia and Stephen's death I believe Stephen was making a statement come and see how a believer dies a man many years ago was about to die he was very unwell in the hospital many years ago an old man so and he's a believer he preaches everywhere and when he was the doctors told him he has got about six days to live or something like that but he was very old and he sent a letter this is many years ago in mid England or somewhere he sent letters around to all his loved ones and friends and those letters he said come and see how a believer dies come and see how a believer dies a believer never fears death well so Paul or Saul was introduced at that point and now when you go to the chapter 8 verse 1 look at what it says do you see that this guy this guy he said the Bible has a way of doing some things

[10:27] Luke introduced him just a little bit he mentioned because what how significant was he for Luke to have mentioned him that day witnesses lay their garment at his feet who was he how important he was a theological student of Gamaliel a very important person in the synagogue of the Cyrenians Saul very prominent and important person highly academic and highly intellectual and very passionate for the things of God and yet he didn't know God because the Judaism that was being practiced at the time of Jesus and the early church was different from the Judaism Moses gave it had been severely infiltrated with all kinds of human traditions and natural elements that it was just that the way the church sometimes can look now when Apostle Paul and Peter some of them when they visit the church they will be saying what is going on are they at church is that I believe Peter will say is that pastor preaching or what is that pastor preaching what's that is that preaching what in church oh no that's a university lecture he's giving that's the political speech the person is doing

[11:46] Peter will be baffled you know so it's human as generation comes and generation goes it's very likely to drift drift the only thing that saves us from drifting is not our strength and our intelligence but our dependence and reliance on the Holy Spirit our dependence and reliance on the Holy Spirit is the only thing that can help anybody from drifting even Peter after saying that you are the son of the living God six or seven verses down he was drifting and Satan was comfortably operating in Peter so Jesus wouldn't have built a church on somebody like that he was drifting we all drift easily naturally and leak we also leak naturally that's why we have to be Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18 he said being filled that's the original Greek is be being filled so it's a present continuous term be being filled why because you are always leaking spiritually we are all all of us all of us keep leaking that's why we all have to be constantly filled so we saw how Saul a theological student was actually endorsing look at that chapter 8 verse 1

[13:12] Acts chapter and Saul did you see that was what was what let's try another translation and see and let's start from the New King James instead of we walk down through the good ones till we get to the different ones the New King James says that the same was consenting now let's go to the New American Standard and then the English Standard then we go to the NIV then we go to the NLT before we arrive at and then we save it with Amplified okay and Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death yes he was very happy with joy let's look at the English before the NIV English that's the main words I was looking for Saul approved of his execution and so he was an important person to approve it to endorse it they needed his endorsement for that political move in the synagogue so Paul endorsed it go on he was standing there give me your clothes first one this young man this young man so young man

[14:30] Saul was a very important person and he approved to the NIV NIV says that Saul was there giving approval to his death he was there Saul who is this Saul the scripture is trying to draw attention to something who is this Saul first of all he says that he was holding the garments keeping the garments of the witnesses now Bible introduced him again he was approving his death he was there Saul was there who is this Saul and let's NLT then we go to amplify is okay are you tired of the scriptures so Saul was one of the witnesses and he NLT and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen message message says that that set of traffic persecution of a church in Jerusalem where Saul you see what I told you do some of the text

[15:37] I don't see your text maybe I can't read properly but where is Saul clean my glasses for me I can't see Saul praise the Lord let's go to amplify it it's my help us so Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen's death and on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles look at chapter 9 verse 1 and 2 it says that Saul has come again so Saul was in chapter 7 just his name chapter 8 his behavior and approval his authority chapter 9 was now he is the one you see the idea is opening up more he was breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the

[16:43] Lord Saul who is this guy he seemed to be behind the scenes but he was pulling a lot of strings behind the scenes and now he moved from behind the scenes really he was coming to the forefront Saul was this young man this young man was approving of his death Acts chapter 8 verse 1 now let's look at the text again Acts chapter 8 verse 1 it says that and Saul was consenting unto his death and at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem interesting say the church at Jerusalem but where else was the church nowhere else but why did the scripture say that if the scripture said against the church it should have still implied Jerusalem because there was no church anywhere at that time the church was born in Jerusalem and stayed in Jerusalem even though Jesus was telling them they should go to all over the Acts chapter 1 verse 8 you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem in Judea in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the world

[17:47] Jesus came on 20 chapter 28 verse 18 all authority in heaven and the earth is given to me therefore go ye into verse 19 says that therefore go and make disciples of all nations all nations and Peter on the day of Pentacles told them that this gift verse 39 chapter 2 Acts verse 39 this gift for the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off as many as that Lord so it's not only those in Jerusalem but they were comfortable in Jerusalem having a good time remember on the day of Pentacles people who have come from the diaspora Jews who have come from the diaspora to celebrate Pentacles stayed there they didn't leave so it was where things were happening why would you leave people are actually leaving other places to come to Jerusalem for the purpose of church they come and get born again and they won't leave they actually leave every other thing and stay in Jerusalem to actually be part of their disciples and so they won't leave but God had told them that you are supposed to be witnesses unto me in Judea in Samaria and to the uttermost part of the world and so the Bible says that at that material moment the church was only in Jerusalem because from chapter 2 when the 3,000 joined the church and chapter 3 leading to chapter 4 where 5,000 joined the church and then chapter 5 multitudes were joining the church all was happening in Jerusalem to the chapter 6 says that the disciples had multiplied so there was a problem and so they had to put in a system of management because the church was multiplied and then in verse 7 of chapter 6 the church greatly multiplied the word of God increased and the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem and many great number of priests became so this thing was a

[19:30] Jerusalem thing and then after that Stephen the next verse look at verse 8 Stephen verse 8 Stephen comes on the scene because Stephen said now we are growing here there's going to be scattering Stephen didn't say that but that was the agenda of God Stephen's death was a seed of God for the scattering of the church or for the spreading of the gospel so Stephen was used as a seed to send the gospel forth because the guys were having too much good time in church and they didn't have plans to leave and go anyway so the Bible says that there was a great persecution that arose verse it says that and Saul was consenting to his death and at that time there was a great persecution that arose against the church which was at Jerusalem now what does that mean I need to explain something to you very carefully when the Bible used the word the church it's referring to one of two things when the Bible used the word the church it's either talking about the universal church which is also called the body of Christ

[20:39] Ephesians chapter 1 verse 22 23 which is the body of Christ okay so it's the and has put all things under his feet and given to me the head over all things to the church the next verse which is his body so when you use the word the body of Christ talking about all believers of all time that we are the church Peter is still part of the church Apostle Paul is still part of the church Stephen is still part of the church Charles Wesley is still part of the church Calvin John Calvin is still I mean all people who have slept they are still part of the church they are still part of the church so that's why Hebrews says that therefore seeing we are surrounded with such great cloud of witness so when we gather it says that Hebrews chapter 12 we've come to the heavenly Jerusalem a company of inumerable angels verse 23 the general assembly and the church of the first world so when we come together everybody and he used the word the spirits of just men made perfect just men is church men who have been made perfect now they are alive as they are in a state of glory and the spirits when we are gathered

[21:48] I'm not saying that spirits have come here the only spirit that comes here when we meet is the Holy Spirit okay so please let's get before someone says let's pray to saints Antonio they are not here they are asleep they are asleep but the scripture says that we are still one it's called the mystical union or the mystical body of Christ universal body but then we also have the local church so when Jesus said in Matthew chapter 16 verse 18 to Peter you are Peter and I tell you upon this rock I will build my church Jesus was the first person in scripture to introduce the word church and this is the first time the word church in the sense of church was introduced in scripture Jesus said I will build my church that my church is talking about the universal church but in Matthew chapter 18 verse 17 Jesus mentions again church over there 18 Matthew 18 17 Jesus mentions that if he needs someone that's someone who has offended you a brother so go and talk to him and if he neglects to hear you tell it to the church now this church is different from the previous church in Matthew chapter 16 verse 18 this is what is called the local church the local church is where the people of God have gathered can see each other can fraternize fellowship with each other there are people who have gathered somewhere else in the world and we don't know them they are not part of this local church as we speak we have some of our branches are also having church that's the local churches so here

[23:29] Caris London is a local church and every believer is supposed to be part of a local church you are part of the universal church when you become born again but the universal church must have an expression in the local church how do you serve the church if it's not within the local context your commitment your faithfulness your consistency must be expressed within the local setting of the universal church and so when the Bible says that the church oh that's where I'm going the church at Jerusalem is trying to put emphasis on the localness of the church so this is the church at Jerusalem not every church everywhere the particular problem was a Jerusalem problem the local church in Revelation chapter 1 verse 4 and verse 11 we see the representation of the local church there in 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 verse 1 we see the representation 2nd

[24:31] Corinthians chapter 8 verse 1 more of our brethren we do you with that this yes it will help we make known to you the grace of God bestowed you see that phrase churches churches is different from the church churches is local individual so church A church B church C churches in the same way Revelation Revelation chapter 1 verse 11 write this and send it to the churches write in the book and send it to the churches he that has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the church so Revelation 1 4 it talks about local churches local churches in 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 2 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 2 the Bible talks about that to the church of God which is at

[25:34] Corinth a particular jurisdiction in Acts chapter 13 verse 1 the church that was in Antioch that is different from the Jerusalem church the Antioch church was different from the Jerusalem church even though we are still all one church and so this text that was this phrase that the scripture said the church in Jerusalem is trying to point to the importance of local churches distinguishing local church from the universal church in Acts chapter 14 verse 23 they appointed elders in the local church it says that so so when we had appointed elders in every you see that that word every tells you that not the general church is this one and that one and that one and that one and that one we are the local church so in London Caris London here is a local church and local church are led by elders and a presiding elder or a senior elder and a team of elders that's how the church works so now back to the text it says that the great persecution can I talk about great persecution and this

[26:52] Saul this Saul boy he was a very strong character strong personality because the persecution that arose against the church this time it wasn't coming from the Sahindrin this is actually that guy was very powerful he guarded all the anger and the bitterness and the strength of the Sahindrin he guarded it and he championed it so that's why chapter 9 says that this Saul was causing havoc to the church breathing threats and going from city to city now he stopped his job he was going from he was a full time missionary yeah he was a full time missionary but his mission was to close down churches not to start churches so God said okay yeah

[27:53] I like the way you like traveling around for church work so God said okay let's change it around that's why he became the greatest missionary ever because he started missions work going from place to place closing down churches in Acts chapter 22 verse 4 in Acts chapter 22 talks about persecution Paul said me I persecuted the name for the church is the way I persecuted the way to can you imagine to death binding and delivering into prison both he didn't care your gender if you do church he will do you yeah binding both men and women and throwing them he said

[28:53] I did it he said I did it that was my job that was my commitment I persecuted the church I troubled the church I afflicted the church I made sure some elements of the church would die killing human beings in the church in Philippians chapter 3 verse 6 he spoke about his persecuting the church again concerning zeal me persecuting the church Paul he want to talk about zeal for God people were boasting that who is Saul he said listen I am a Hebrew of Hebrews he says circumcised on the eight day of the stock of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of Hebrew concerning the law a Pharisee and watch the next statement concerning zeal I was more zealous about the law of the Jews more than because me I took it further persecuting the church because they are to their system so those who are zealous and who are interested in this religious system must fight these opponents who are coming to spoil their job by preaching all kinds of messages that now in some places that people are preaching all kinds of things some people are so so is it concerning zeal persecuting the church persecuting the concerning zeal

[30:36] I persecuted the church how about 1st Corinthians chapter chapter 15 verse 9 he said I'm the least of the me for I am the least of the apostles whom I'm not worthy to be called an apostle why why God has a sense of display of mercy be careful how you are judging people you know be careful how you write people love be careful you know I don't see why Saul should be used he should have been executed by God but God said I know what I'm doing God was trying to make a statement that I'm more in control than what people do he was closing down churches!

[31:26] he's just like a rabbit going to stand in front of a lion what do want to you threaten me you threaten me praise God God God had a way of arresting Paul he says that I persecuted the church because I'm not worthy to be called an apostle but now I'm an apostle someone who was persecuting the church of God God has made me an apostle in the church and in fact one of the greatest apostles so now you understand why the scripture makes special mention of Saul consenting to his!

[32:02] because that guy Saul is a man of God in the nightclub never think any opposer is too far for the Lord the leader to receive he made him the Lord to grant repentance remember Acts chapter 5 32 God made him Prince and Lord anytime he wants to save somebody just go wherever he can go to Antanamobie and just say okay it's time for you to be saved because if you look at you in church today you saved I think it's a big news that God can save anybody most of us you sitting we are so well behaved so quiet and interested in the word of God you God can save you tell somebody only

[33:03] God can do this so so he persecuted the church first Corinthians chapter 15 verse 9 he said I'm not worthy to because I persecuted the church of God how about first Timothy chapter 1 verse 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer a persecutor and an insolent man but I obtained!

[33:26] Do you remember Stephen said don't lay this charge again for they know not what they are doing yes said Lord do not lay this charge against them yes because he knew they didn't know what they are doing Paul said I did it ignorantly I was zealous but ignorantly zealous thinking I'm the one who saved the church this is not right we need to talk and you are pulling down the work of God and so the Bible says that so you see the mastermind behind the persecution it was Saul so Saul approved his death and a great persecution because Acts chapter 1 verse 8 didn't happen Acts chapter 8 verse 1 had to happen Acts chapter 1 verse 8 Jesus said you shall be my witnesses You shall receive power and you shall be witness in Jerusalem Judea but they stayed there so Acts chapter 8 verse 1 had to happen to drive them out so look at

[34:29] Acts chapter 8 verse 1 great persecution against that church which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered throughout the region they scattered persecutions scattered them but God has always been God of migration I need you to consider think a little bit about it God uses migration a lot in fact he uses it far better God likes movement yes I'll say it again God likes movement because it takes movement to send the gospel so when God was calling Abraham he said the first thing I'm going to tell you is to move whatever you're going to do with me why don't you do it with me wherever I am no he said I don't do it like that I'm not going to do with you wherever I am because I'm sending you somewhere and you need to cross over to the other side every one of us one way or the other will have to cross will have to cross because human beings were created for movement

[35:37] God told Abraham move he had to send but he told Jacob go to Egypt go to Jacob go down to Egypt send him to Egypt send the whole family the royal family of God send them to be to Egypt for them to be incubated God is a God of migration he's always moved people he's always moved people and so don't resist the movement I'm not saying leave church but don't don't resist their movement sometimes all the points all the signs are telling that okay let me get it within context if the movement is fulfilling God's agenda it must fulfill God's agenda it must it's not just your pocket it's not just your call people move many people move for convenience the early church in Jerusalem people scattered because they are running for their dear life but how do we know it's of God look at the results we only know it's of God when we look at the results the godly results is produced the churchly results is produced or ecclesiological results ecclesiatical results it's produced it's making a difference the movement was making

[36:56] God uses migration he used Daniel to impact Babylon it's always used the Jews to move them around to places God has always used relocation to advance his cause when you hear my accent you will know that I didn't grow up in UK yes yes but so why is he standing and talking to us because God sent me God sent me so you can tell from the scriptures that they scattered and Acts chapter 11 verse 19 it says that those who scattered now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia Cyprus Antioch preaching their word to no one but Jews only they went look at the next verse some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene who when they had come to

[37:56] Antioch spoke to the Hellenists and preaching the Lord Jesus Christ that's what they were doing they were going everywhere and everywhere they went they went with their message they went with their conviction and they were preaching and they were preaching and they were preaching now look at the text again quickly so that I can end chapter 8 verse 1 it says so and the great persecution arose!

[38:27] because they are all there is a metaphor it doesn't mean every individual apart from the twelve why are you saying that pastor because not everyone left in chapter 15 tells you about how some judaicists came from Jerusalem to Antioch after the preaching of God actually Barnabas was still there because in chapter 11 when what I just read they preached men of Cyrene chapter 11 verse 20 look at verse 21 and the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord look at verse 22 and the news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem and they sent out who was he an apostle he wasn't an apostle that means he was there he didn't join the people who got it so not everybody got scattered they stayed there the work going now why didn't the apostles go because they were there it's like the core behind the work and

[39:33] Jerusalem was the epicenter of the move of God they couldn't go they all ran away for their lives they stayed there to keep the work alive and so when the Antioch church had problems they had to go back to Jerusalem to sort it and when the apostles heard Samaria received the he tried to join himself the church was still going on tried to drive himself to the disciples but they were all afraid of him well they should be they should be and he called security there's somebody coming please don't let him come in and did not believe that he was a disciple wow the next verse 27 but

[40:49] Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles the apostles were there the disciples you see so there's a distinction between the disciples and the apostles the apostles were there the disciples were there and declared unto them how Paul had seen the Lord on his road and that he had spoken to him and all that Paul had changed so the disciples were there and the apostles were there so when they scattered it is not all disciples scattered but particularly it is believed that the the Grecian Jews because Stephen was not he break Jew he was Grecian I have explained this already in chapter so the Grecian Jews that is why in chapter 11 verse 19 it speaks about they preached to none other but the Jews so these were men of they were Jews but Grecian Jews so when they got into those territories they only preached to the Grecian Jews their own people and they didn't cross over until someone from Cyprus announced tried to talk to the indigenes of the place did you understand that so it's believed by some theologians that really because

[41:56] Stephen was a Grecian Jew and they killed him the rest said let's get out of here so many of them left they scattered and went to the places they came from and Bible talks about I want to!

[42:08] too man the man carried Stephen and buried him and made great lamentation the guy was so good that people his demise was a big heartbreak those days when you are executed by stoning your family don't come for you like Jesus when you die on the cross execution is like you are a disgrace to society so it's actually the government that normally you are taken and thrown into a garbage you are not actually buried that's why Jesus' burial had to be recorded he was given a glorious rich man's burial in a tomb that no one has wow fresh tomb tear rubber yeah Jesus Joseph was a good man he was a very wealthy man and he had access to all the political powers and he had prepared those days that's what the rich people do they had their own garden they bought and they prepared so when donated that tomb for

[43:12] Jesus so Bible says that he made his grave with the rich in his death that was when his elevation started after the cross not after the grave he died a sinner's death after the death God started elevating by putting him in the tomb of a rich man and he didn't even use it he just stayed there three days it's like and then yeah in Isaiah chapter 53 he made his grave the wicked but with the rich at his death so he died with the wicked but when he died he was with the rich because that was where the elevation started and so that's why Joseph went to Pontius and requested can I have the body because as soon as you are executed you are supposed to be disowned and thrown away so they so

[44:13] Jesus was glorified in his death that's why Joseph of Arimathea went to the pilot can I have him because Pilate had to give an endorsement so in the same way Stephen's death devout men went for the body they said we will not let this guy be buried!

[44:31] He's a good man so devout men went for his body and gave him a decent! and then the verse 3 says that the persecution is as for Saul let's all say as for Saul please say it again as for Saul he made havoc of the church entering into that means church was in the houses entering into every house he would go into the house looking for those who were calling on the name of the Lord yeah that's what Ananias said in Acts chapter 9 verse 14 I've heard about this guy he told God in a vision God said go and get him talk to him he said God no I can't go I've heard about this guy that he goes from place to place and killing people and now he has come to Damascus with authority with authority from the chief he will go behind the house and then we hear people say

[45:41] Lord Jesus they are here yes the guys are here that's why it says that he wrote a letter to the church in Corinth 1st Corinthians chapter 1 I was saying earlier 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 2 to the church in Corinth and to also all who in every place that is what Christians do that is so great Christians were they were callers and when they are having service sometimes you hear the singing but you hear calling Lord Jesus for whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved as soon as you hear Lord Jesus they are there they are there they are there and Paul will go in and then cause havoc drag them into verse 3 chapter 8 verse 3 drag them into prison dragging of men and women committing them to prison verse 4 verse 4 says that therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching next week

[46:46] I might touch on that word word preaching the word the word must be in you to preach the word 2nd Timothy chapter 4 he said preach the word they went there preaching but the 5 says that and Philip went down then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ is there a difference between preaching Christ and preaching the word he preached!

[47:18] He preached! Christ he preached Christ he went down Philip which Philip are you talking about because according to Acts chapter 1 verse 13 there was an apostle called Philip there was an apostle called Philip he says that they were there and Peter entered and went into the upper room the apostle Peter James John and Andrew Philip and Thomas Philip Philip asked Jesus in John chapter 14 from verse 6 also show us the father and it's enough for us Philip said to him so and then some Christians came to Philip in John chapter 12 I think from verse 21 22 23 some Greeks they came to Philip was Greek it's a Greek name now there were 13 Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast the next verse then they came to Philip they came Philip was so so that is why when it came to choosing of the seven to serve the tables Bible said they chose

[48:19] Stephen and then the next name the Bible mentioned and they chose Philip they chose Stephen a man full of the Holy Spirit and Philip and Philip now is this the same Philip no this Philip in Acts chapter 6 verse 5 is different from the Philip in Acts chapter 1 verse 13 in Acts chapter 1 but in Acts chapter 6 verse 5 the apostles summoned all the believers and the disciples and told them it is not reason for us to abandon the word of God and serve tables therefore choose from amongst you other people who are not apostles and so they chose Stephen verse 5 and Philip and the verse 8 says that Stephen was doing great things and then after they killed him the focus moved on to Philip and he in

[49:19] Acts chapter 21 verse 9 was an evangelist they called him Philip the evangelist now Philip the verse 8 on the next day we who were with Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea and entered into the house of Philip the evangelist and he had four virgin daughters I think that was what is more important Philip the evangelist let's say Philip the evangelist so now in a nutshell what I'm trying to submit to is that Saul was the mastermind behind the death of Stephen God God was the instigator he allowed it so that he can move people out because he a god of migration he uses migration for his purpose his assignment his agenda to spread his economy or to spread his oracles into other territories that hitherto wouldn't have been exposed to that territory and

[50:22] Saul was being used by God he thought he was doing his own thing but God allowed it to happen because God needed the spread and after the spread one of the key people who became a victim of the spread or not a victim but key agents of the spread those who spread one of the key ones who spread is Philip who Samaria why don't the Jews like the Samarians and why must that be the first stop of global evangelism Samaria did you receive something today hallelujah praise God thank you for listening to this message by David Entry we pray you have been revived to all spot you can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms including Instagram and LinkedIn you can also hear more messages from

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