How do you defeat a movement that you regard as a threat to society? That’s a question that is very much at the forefront of peoples thinking here in Britain today. Do you take away its leaders; or do you outlaw the movement and imprison all who belong to it?

I’m asking that question because the Jewish leaders, there in Jerusalem around 30AD. Felt that their society, their way of life was threatened. They felt that the new Christian movement threatened their control of religious worship, economic stability and their authority.

They had tried to get rid of it’s leaders; they had had Jesus crucified; they had arrested and flogged the apostles, but that had proved ineffective at stopping the influence of Christianity. Another of the Christian preachers, a man named Stephen had now been brought before the Sanhedrin on charges of subverting the law and defaming the temple. Stephen had turned his trial into a forceful verbal attack on the religious authorities, accusing them of actually opposing God.

This had just been too much. In anger they had taken Stephen out and executed him by stoning. But they didn’t stop there. They knew that executing the leaders of the Christian movement would not stop it, so now began a new strategy. They began a systematic persecution of all followers of Jesus.

Christians were hunted down and imprisoned. The church in Jerusalem that had rapidly grown in number to several thousand was suddenly faced with disaster. Instead of the regular meetings in the temple and enjoying a degree of popularity within the community, Christians were on the wanted list. Both men and women were imprisoned. In fact the bible tells us that things were so bad, virtually all the Christians, apart from the apostles fled from Jerusalem.

It’s the sort of scenario that is all too familiar in our world today; it is the sort of thing that is happening in Zimbabwe today, a government trying to stamp out all opposition, the only real option open to many people to flee their homes and become refugees. What a disaster for the church. The wonderful joyful sense of community and belonging that was characteristic of the church shattered by fear and uncertainty.

What were they to make of it all? Why had God allowed it to happen? In our experience, how can we make sense of what is going on when disasters strike? Life for each of us at times involves facing tough situations. They may even be as tough as what those fist believers faced there in Jerusalem. That certainly is the case for many of our fellow Christians across the world today.

I believe there are answers for us in our story this morning. I think first we need to acknowledge that the initial reason that such troubles come is because of human sin and hatred. It was the pride and hatred of the Jewish authorities that caused the persecution of the Jerusalem church; just as it is the fanatical hatred of individuals that caused the carnage and suffering in London on Thursday.

Jesus faced hatred and persecution, and he told his followers that they would face it too. Christianity is not a means of escaping life’s dangers and problems. In fact there may even be dangers and problems that come your way simply because you are a Christian. We should not be surprised when such things happen. Jesus said to his disciples; ‘in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’ Christ is with us; he will help us to overcome.

The second thing that we can say however as we look at our story in Acts chapter 8, is that in a very real way, God was still in control, making things work together for good. There was a plan for the church; Jesus had left instructions with his disciples. They were to go into all the world with the gospel. They were to begin in Jerusalem, and then to go to Samaria, and eventually to the ends of the earth.

The plan was for the gospel to reach out across the world. Up until that point, the church was made up entirely of Jewish believers located in Jerusalem. We did notice a couple of chapters earlier however, how the gospel was reaching not just the Jews from Jerusalem and Galilee, but also Jews from what is called the Diaspora, Jews who had settled in many other parts of the world.

One characteristic of these believers would be that they spoke Greek, and we noted how Stephen and the other six appointed to help the apostles had Greek names, and were therefore most likely believers from this wider group. We find in fact that Stephen was arguing with Greek speaking Jews when he was arrested. There is a pattern emerging even in the earlier chapters of Acts that the gospel is beginning to spread out to a wider circle.

When the church faces this aggressive persecution; the effect is that the gospel just continues to spread further afield. Even though the Christians have been persecuted, it doesn’t take away the reality of their faith. They continue to spread the good news wherever they go. In his story, Luke follows the activities of Philip. He is one of the seven appointed with Stephen to help the apostles, but like Stephen he is also a gifted preacher.

He goes to Samaria and preaches the gospel there. The Spirit is guiding him in this. The Spirit enables him to perform miraculous signs just as Jesus had. The people of Samaria are impressed; they believe and are baptized; and we are told there is great joy in the city.

There is a lovely picture of a community affected by the gospel. The Samaritans were alienated from the Jews. Yet they also shared the hope of a messiah who God would one day send to them. When they hear the good news of Jesus they recognize the messiah and believe. There is joy; there is transformation.

This is quite a significant step for the church. Philip is breaking new ground. For the first time non-Jews have become believers. When the apostles hear of it in Jerusalem, Peter and John are sent to Samaria. For one thing this would affirm the fact that the Christians in Samaria are part of the one church, not a breakaway denomination. And also we read that the apostles pray for the new believers and lay hands on them and as a result the Christians in Samaria receive the Holy Spirit.

Why hadn’t they received the Spirit when they had been converted and baptized? Was Philip’s ministry a bit second rate? Was it only the apostles who could impart the Holy Spirit? I do not believe that was the case. Or what about the Ethiopian eunuch? I’m sure when Philip baptized him he received the Spirit.

Perhaps the best explanation, is that God guided events in the way he did with the Samaritan believers receiving the Spirit through the apostles prayer and laying on of hands as a special conformation for all to see that Samaritans were accepted by God as part of his family through the gospel. It was such a major step for those who had been brought up in the Jewish faith to see Samaritans welcomed into the family of God, that it was important for God to demonstrate it in a very clear way, just as he did when Cornelius and his household became the first gentiles to become part of the church.

But we also have an example of a danger that can accompany Christian conversion. Luke tells us about a man called Simon who lived in Samaria. He was a sorcerer. He had supernatural powers, and he was very much revered by the locals. But when Philip comes on the scene and God performs miraculous signs through him, Simon’s efforts seem quite insignificant by comparison. Along with many others, Simon is impressed and he is baptized. He seems to be quite enthusiastic about his new-found faith.

He spends a lot of time with Philip. Then the apostles arrive and as they pray and lay their hands on the new believers they receive the Holy Spirit. Simon approaches Peter. ‘How much do you want me to pay for you to teach me to do that?’ But Simon has got it sadly wrong.

The Christian way is completely different to the world’s way of operating. The Christian gospel is one of repentance. It is about a change of heart. It’s to do with accepting the standards of Jesus. Peter tells Simon, ‘your heart is not right, you cannot buy your way into the kingdom of God.’

You see, conversion is not about how enthusiastic you are. It is not about how many meetings you go to. It is about repentance. It is about turning away from a self-centred way of life, and putting Jesus at the centre of things. It’s about grace and generosity. If we have those wrong attitudes, then we need to seek God’s forgiveness and help. It’s a matter of getting the heart right with God.

Then finally God tells Philip to move on. This is in some ways rather strange. Wouldn’t have been best for Philip to continue teaching in Samaria? Good thing are happening there, there must be far more for him to do there? But God’s angel tells Philip to move on; he has another task for him to do. Philip is told to take the road to Gaza.

It’s a road that leads out into the dessert. In fact it is the road that leads out of Israel towards Egypt and Africa. There is a man travelling that road who needs help. He is African. He is an important official from Ethiopia, in charge of the Queen’s treasury. He is returning from Jerusalem where he has been to worship. He is reading from a scroll, from the writings of Isaiah. He is perplexed. The prophet is talking about a man who is led like a sheep to the slaughter.

You know the passage, Isaiah 53. Philip asks the man if he understands what he is reading. The man says he needs some help, and so Philip joins him in his chariot, and he explains that the scripture he is reading refers to Jesus, he explains the gospel to him. The man takes it in; God is working in his heart.

They pass some water; the man asks if he can be baptized. He orders the chariot to stop; he goes down into the water with Philip who baptizes him there and then. The man goes on his way rejoicing.

You see, the good news of the gospel was spread across the world, carried in the hearts of those who had come to believe. There are some vital ingredients; there are the scriptures, repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit. There is no strict pattern that had to be followed in every case. In Samaria God leads Philip to preach and form a church.

On the Gaza Road, after a brief encounter a solitary man heads for Africa with the scroll of Isaiah in his hand and the joy of the Lord in his heart. God continues to work today. May we continue to know the joy of his love and grace shown to us in Jesus; even in the face of adversity.

May we also have the assurance in our hearts that God is working his purpose out in our lives, and may we have the peace and joy that comes from trusting in him, a peace and a joy that overflows to others.

Amen.

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