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From: Acts 8:1b-8

Persecution of the Church (Continuation)

[1b] And on that day a great persecution arose against the Church in Jerusalem;
and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except
the Apostles. [2] Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over
him. [3] But Saul laid waste the Church, and entering house after house, he
dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip’s Preaching in Samaria

[4] Now those who were scattered went about preaching the Word. [5] Philip
went down to a city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. [6] And the
multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they
heard him and saw the signs which he did. [7] For unclean spirits came out of
many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were para-
lyzed or lame were healed. [8] So there was much joy in that city.

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Commentary:

1. Stephen’s death signals the start of a violent persecution of the Christian com-
munity and Hellenist members in particular.

A new situation has been created. “Far from diminishing the boldness of the dis-
ciples, Stephen’s death increased it. Christians were scattered precisely in order
to spread the Word further afield” (Chrysostom, “Hom. on Acts”, 18). This scat-
tering of the disciples is not simply flight from danger. It originates in danger, but
they avail of it to serve God and the Gospel. “Flight, so far from implying cowar-
dice, requires often greater courage than not to flee. It is a great trial of heart.
Death is an end of all trouble; he who flees is ever expecting death, and dies dai-
ly. [...] Exile is full of miseries. The after-conduct of the saints showed they had
not fled for fear. [...] How would the Gospel ever have been preached throughout
the world, if the Apostles had not fled? And, since their time, those, too, who
have become martyrs, at first fled; or, if they advanced to meet their persecutors,
it was by some secret suggestion of the Divine Spirit. But, above all, while these
instances abundantly illustrate the rule of duty in persecution, and the temper of
mind necessary in those who observe it, we have that duty itself declared in a
plain precept by no other than our Lord: ‘When they shall persecute you in this
city,’ He says, ‘flee into another’” (John Henry Newman, “Historical Sketches”,
II, 7).

4. “Observe how, in the middle of misfortune, the Christians keep up their prea-
ching instead of neglecting it” (Chrysostom, “Hom. on Acts”, 18). Misfortune
plays its part in the spread of the Gospel. God’s plan always exceeds man’s cal-
culations and expectations. An apparently mortal blow for the Gospel in fact plays
a decisive role in its spread. What comes from God cannot be destroyed; its ad-
versaries in fact contribute to its consolidation and progress. “The religion founded
by the mystery of the Cross of Christ cannot be destroyed by any form of cruelty.
The Church is not diminished by persecutions; on the contrary, they make for its
increase. The field of the Lord is clothed in a richer harvest. When the grain which
falls dies, it is reborn and multiplied” (St. Leo the Great, “Hom. on the Feast of St.
Peter and St. Paul”).

The disciples are disconcerted to begin with, but then they begin to have a better
understanding of God’s providence. They may well have been reminded of Isaiah’s
words: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways” (55:
8), and of the promises of a Heavenly Father, who arranges all events to the bene-
fit of His elect.

The different periods of Church history show certain similarities, and difficulties
caused by hidden or overt enemies never create totally new situations. Christians
always have good reason to be optimistic—with an optimism based on faith, self-
sacrifice and prayer. “Christianity has been too often in what seemed deadly pe-
ril that we should fear for it any new trial now. So far is certain; on the other hand,
what is uncertain [...] is the particular mode by which, in the event, Providence
rescues and saves His elect inheritance. Sometimes our enemy is turned into
a friend; sometimes he is despoiled of that special virulence of evil which was so
threatening; sometimes he falls to pieces himself; sometimes he does just so
much as is beneficial, and then is removed. Commonly the Church has nothing
more to do than to go on in her own proper duties, in confidence and peace; to
stand still and to see the salvation of God” (J. H. Newman, “Biglieto Speech”,
1879).

Those who do not know Christ may resist the Gospel, but that resistance makes
good Christians spiritually stronger and helps to purify the Church. “The storm
of persecution is good. What is the loss? What is already lost cannot be lost.
When the tree is not torn up by the roots—and there is no wind or hurricane that
can uproot the tree of the Church—only the dry branches fall. And they...are well
fallen” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 685).

5. This is not Philip the Apostle (1:13) but one of the seven deacons appointed to
look after Christians in need (6:5). The Gospel is proclaimed to the Samaritans —
who also were awaiting the Messiah. This means that it now spreads beyond the
borders of Judea once and for all, and our Lord’s promise (Acts 1:8) is fulfilled:
“You shall by My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria.”

The despised Samaritans became the first to benefit from the Gospel’s determi-
nation to spread all over the world. We can sense St. Luke’s pleasure in reporting
its proclamation to the Samaritans; earlier he had already showed them in a favo-
rable light: he is the only Evangelist to recount the parable of the Good Samaritan
(cf. Luke 10:3-037) and to mention that the leper who came back to thank Jesus
after being cured was a Samaritan (cf. Luke 17:16). On the Samaritans in general,
see the note on John 4:20.

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.