59-60 As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 8 vs 1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2-3 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5-8 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city. Acts 7:59-8:8 English Standard Version

The death of Stephen marked the start of severe persecution against Christians. This was despite his gracious prayer that God would not hold the sin of his persecutors against them. Persecution began at Jerusalem, but over the years spread throughout the Roman empire. Hundreds of years later it was still just as fierce, and Christian writers like Tertullian and Augustine spoke of it in their generation. We see from vs 2-3 that Christians were not indifferent to the pain and sorrow caused by persecution. Yet, despite the anguish persecution brings, what was an unexpected, but wonderful outcome? (vs 4)

It led to Christians having to seek safety in other places. And as they moved to other towns, so the message of the gospel was spread in the world. The word 'scattered' (vs 4) is the same word used for when seed was scattered, seed which would lead to a harvest. It's a picture seen also in the Gospel of Matthew. We read there of a time when Jesus saw crowds flocking to Him for help and healing, that “He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” And He said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-37)

The disciples may not have realized that one of the ways such a prayer would be answered would be through persecution. But it was just this that led men such as Tertullian and Augustine many years later to say: “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” The writer of the New Testament book, Hebrews, told how, even in Old Testament days, many of God's people were persecuted. He says: “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.” (Hebrews11:35-36)

What led those Christians to be willing to suffer cruel death, and yet pray for forgiveness for those who were persecuting them? Surely it's because they knew that death wasn't the end, but that their spirit, like Stephen's, would be 'received by Jesus'. They would enter eternal life. Also, because they remembered how Jesus had laid down His life for them, and had prayed for forgiveness of those who crucified Him.

So it was that Philip went to the city of Samaria, a place Jewish people usually avoided when possible, and told them about Jesus Christ. When Jesus was still in the world He had sent disciples out to towns and villages, but had said: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:5-6) But now the time had arrived for the gospel to go everywhere! And, as happened when the disciples had gone out, so God now endorsed Philip's message with miracles of healing, and the city was filled with joy. I'm sure that the Christians who had been made sorrowful through persecution were also filled with joy at the harvest taking place. Would that be true of you and me today? If persecution came our way, would we, joyfully, be faithful to Christ, and would we pray for those who were causing us sorrow?