Those Who Were Scattered
Kent Heaton
The historian Luke described the actions of Saul as a “great persecution” as the man from Tarsus “made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:1,3). The young Pharisee created a maelstrom against the disciples seeking to destroy them. This persecution did not confine itself to Jerusalem but he “persecuted them even to foreign cities” (Acts 26:11).
Three times Luke shows the early disciples scattering because of the magnitude of Saul’s unrelenting hatred of them. In the first two references it is in direct response to the “great persecution” and “they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1). As the people were scattered we find they “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Later, Luke refers to those who “were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only” (Acts 11:19).
Life changed dramatically for many of the early disciples. They had embraced the new teaching of God that salvation was in Jesus Christ. The Law of Moses could not save them nor the law of the Gentiles (Romans 2). On the day of Pentecost three-thousand Jews gave up their allegiance to the Law of Moses and embraced the doctrine that Jesus of Nazareth was Lord and Christ (Acts 2). Circumcision was no longer a sign of covenant between Jehovah and His people (Acts 15; Galatians 6:11-15). Gentiles turned from the pagan worship of many gods to the one and true living God (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Saul wanted to wipe out the sect known as the “Way” (Acts 9:2). The reaction to the persecution is found in the lives of the hundreds if not thousands who fled the persecution and went everywhere preaching the word. Those who were scattered left their homes and familiar surroundings to places unknown. Could they have imagined their lives turning out in such a dramatic fashion? What plans can be made when you leave home and hearth and go to places unknown to share the gospel of Jesus Christ? How the fire burned within these early children of God to sacrifice so much for what they loved with all their hearts.
Jesus told His disciples early on the blessings found in those who sacrificed. “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30). This was unfolding before the persecution of Saul. Those who were scattered were wanted criminals in the eyes of Saul. If there were found they would be arrested, jailed and even executed. Yet they kept on preaching.
Faith is seen in the lives of those who were scattered. Their faith was not passive or bored each Sunday with worship. They had a fire kindled within their hearts that yearned to live for Jesus Christ and they were willing to be scattered – even to foreign cities. Our hearts must be in tune with the faith of the early disciples to sacrifice for the cause of Christ. It is too easy to become comfortable with our faith and be lulled into a false sense of security. Faith is active and powerful. Would we have taken the banner of faith and scattered away from home, job, friends and family in the face of persecution? The answer may still lay in an uncertain future but one thing is certain: 2 Timothy 3:12.