After the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60), a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, resulting in a great number of the disciples moving away from Jerusalem to the smaller communities out in the countryside of Judea and Samaria (8:1), in order to avoid being imprisoned by Saul the persecutor (8:3).

Jesus had specifically commissioned his disciples to bear witness not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea, into Samaria, and beyond to the whole world (1:8); instead, they had mostly remained in Jerusalem – at least, until the persecution pushed them out into the new territory. It surely would have been better if they had had the gumption to start missionary outreach to those places just because Jesus gave them that instruction; but it often turns out that we don’t get going until something forces us to go.

What’s really significant, though, is this: while they were moving away from the persecution that came from being Christian, they didn’t stay silent about being Christian. The temptation would be pretty strong to keep your head down, move into a new neighborhood and not tell anyone there about your commitment to Jesus. You’d still be a disciple, but you wouldn’t be vocal about that in public. Yet those persecuted disciples did not aim for private, hidden faith. They would tell the world about Jesus: “Those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word” (8:4).

Perhaps it is only when we face painful trials that we will discover what is truly important to us. Perhaps only when following Jesus is costly, in terms of social status or job prospects or physical danger, that we will be able to see how much following Jesus really matters to us.

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We love you, Jesus: but the strength of our devotion mostly hasn’t been tested. We know we need courage, but we are often too timid to pray for it: it would be scary if you answered by giving us opportunities to be brave. Yet teach us boldness in proclaiming your gospel: so that all the world may come to know of your redeeming love.

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