The Master Plan

On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judae and Samaria. Devout men buried Stoehen and mourned deeply over him. Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women and put them in prison. Acts 8:1-5

I imagine that Saul was noticed, his standing in the Jewish community approved and was given the task of cleaning up the mess. He probably indicated that these crazy Christians needing sorting and he was the man to do it.

The party was over. The joyful time of meeting regularly, sharing meals, studying the word and experiencing good fellowship had come to an end. Now secrecy and escape were paramount. How would the disciples manage? Where would they go, how would they finance such a plan.

Fortunately Jesus had trained the disciples in not taking a purse and being received into a stranger's home. The apostles could educate and advise and send them on their way.

After all, the Holy Spirit was in this, in the spreading of the good news. He would not allow them to go without for long, there was a magnificent plan, they just had to discover it. Although it appeared that the enemy was moving in, God had a better plan. Amen!