And Saul was consenting unto his death. 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 Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Stephen was a leader in the early Christian church who had just been stoned to death for his faith — the first recorded Christian martyr. Saul (who would later become the apostle Paul) was standing there, actively approving the killing. Rather than silencing the church, this act of violence triggered a wave of persecution that forced believers to flee Jerusalem and scatter into surrounding regions. The apostles stayed behind, but ordinary followers spread out across Judea and Samaria — lands Jesus himself had specifically named as places the gospel should reach. What the persecutors intended as an ending was, without anyone realizing it, a beginning.
God, it's hard to see purpose when things fall apart. Give me eyes to notice where you are working in the scattering — in my own life and in the lives of people around me. Help me trust that you waste nothing. Amen.
There's a brutal irony at the heart of this verse — the people trying to stamp out a movement ended up spreading it. Every scattered believer carried their faith like a seed shaken loose from its pod into new soil. Saul stood there thinking he was watching a victory. He had no idea he was watching a planting. Think about the moments in your life when everything came apart — the job loss, the move you didn't want, the relationship that dissolved without warning. It's nearly impossible in those moments to see anything but the ending. But sometimes the scattering is the story. Not a consolation prize, not a spiritual silver lining offered too soon — the actual plan. Where in your own life has something that felt like pure loss quietly become something else entirely?
Why do you think the apostles stayed in Jerusalem while everyone else scattered — and what does that tell you about the different roles people play in a faith community?
Can you think of a time when something painful or disruptive in your life ended up taking you somewhere you needed to go?
Is it too easy — or even harmful — to frame suffering as 'part of God's plan'? Where does that idea help, and where does it hurt?
How do you tend to show up for people in your life who are going through a 'scattering' — do you help them hold possibility, or do you mostly sit with them in the loss?
What is one area of your life right now that feels like a dead end, and what would it take to hold it with even a little more openness?
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:8
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James 1:1
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Daniel 3:16
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Daniel 3:18
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1:32
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Matthew 23:13
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 for the apostles.
AMP
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.
ESV
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. 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.
NASB
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. The Church Persecuted and Scattered On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
NIV
Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
NKJV
Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. Persecution Scatters the Believers A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
NLT
That set off a terrific persecution of the church in Jerusalem. The believers were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. All, that is, but the apostles.
MSG