The Bible Teacher's Commentary

Paul J. Bucknell

Steps to Participation in an Expanded Mission

Acts 7:1-8:25

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B) God's Expansion Program to Extend His Kingdom (Acts 8:2-25)

God had every intention to expand His kingdom as detailed in Acts 1:8. If God's people were not going to go as commanded, then He would make them go. This is the difference between motivation persecution (chiefly done to move God's people) and confrontation persecution (chiefly done because the gospel is clashing with the enemy).

Below are the three different kinds of evangelism: E1, E2, and E3. They are tied into God's great expansion program to take the gospel to every culture around the world.

• E1: Same culture, same language
  Gospel in Jerusalem: Origin (1:12-8:3)
• E2: Different culture, same language
  Gospel in Samaria and Judea & Samaria: Transition (8:4-11:18)
• E3: Different culture, different language
  Gospel in the Uttermost Parts: Expansion (11:19-28)

“And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1).

The leaders finally catch on! If the apostles were more deliberate in fulfilling Christ’s mission, perhaps persecution would not have been needed. The apostles eventually recognized God’s work and sent a delegation to Samaria. The apostles' giving of the Holy Spirit showed that the church had authoritative leaders to guide this transition.

Questions for Reflection:

• Do we believe God wants to work through us?
• Who do we evangelize to?
• Who does God want to reach out through us?
• How dedicated are we to be God’s instrument?

Resolve: I will choose to advance the Gospel rather than having to be prodded by my circumstances.