26 March - Acts 8

Today we’re reading Acts 8 together in the Tattoo Church Reading Plan. Below are a few quick thoughts:

1. First, notice that a guy “Saul” was mentioned in verse one as being present at the stoning of Stephen and giving approval to his death. 
2. Then the book of Acts records that on this day a “great persecution” broke out against the believers of Jesus and Saul was at the forefront dragging Christians off to jail.
3. Because of this persecution many of the believers were scattered. Interestingly though, as they each went their own way they told people about Jesus and tons more people decided to become followers of Jesus.
4. One such person was a guy named Simon, who was a sorcerer of some sorts but when Phillip preached about Jesus this guy Simon decided to be baptized and become a Christian. Then he followed Phillip around amazed at the miracles God was doing through Phillip. That’s just nuts that this guy who was famous throughout the country for practicing sorcery wanted to follow Phillip and see the miracles God was doing. 
5. Then Phillip was led by God to have an encounter with a guy from Ethiopia and share the good news of Jesus with him. The guy believed and wanted to be baptized that moment. Then Phillip does a crazy David Copperfield disappearing act with the guy. Well, technically God does but you get the picture.

A lot of stuff happens in each of these chapters in Acts, doesn’t it? Chapter 8 is no exception. The chapter opens talking about this guy Saul who was a rather mean sounding guy, standing by as Stephen was stoned to death and then leading the charge dragging Christians off to prison. It may seem arbitrary for Saul to be mentioned here but it’s not. Saul is later renamed Paul after being confronted by God and chooses to follow Jesus. Paul became one of the key leaders in the early church after his heart change. Paul also wrote 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament. Talk about a serious transformation. This guy, Paul, gives me hope because often I feel like I’ve screwed up too much for God to want to love me. Do you ever feel like that? But if Paul can be loved by God then I guess we can too. 

Did you notice that it was because of the persecution Christians went out and started spreading the good news of Jesus to other cities? What does it make you think about when all these other people decided to believe in Jesus too? Does it seem strange to you that the Ethiopian guy wanted to be baptized right away?