Back in Acts 7, Luke recorded the account of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. Saul was there to witness the execution, and persecution would only increase as the early church grew. But the Lord was not shocked by this persecution; He was still ruling and reigning over all. He had a plan and a mission to spread the gospel beyond Jerusalem's borders. The Lord would use this persecution to further the gospel as the church continued to spread to the ends of the earth.

In the book of Acts, the first part primarily focuses on the apostle Peter, and all God did through His ministry to propel the gospel to the ends of the earth. After a quick detour to demonstrate the power of God through the conversion of Paul, Luke turns his attention back to Peter, here in Acts 9, for a few more episodes before he pivots completely toward the telling of the ministry of Paul.

Persecution of the early church was increasing in the book of Acts. The leaders in the early church had been imprisoned, beaten, and threatened with murder, but so far none of them had been put to death. However, all of the opposition boiled over in Acts 6–7. The religious leaders took extreme measures to stop the spread of the gospel. Stephen’s account teaches us that even through suffering, God is sovereign and on His throne. Stephen preached the gospel faithfully, yet the religious leaders responded with hate and murder. Our calling is to trust God’s goodness and care over our lives at all times.

The book of Acts describes the growth of the church from Jerusalem out toward the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). But as the disciples preached, the religious leaders opposed God’s will for the gospel to go forth. In Acts 5, these leaders thought they could keep the apostles from preaching by throwing them in jail. However, an angel of the Lord opened the jail so they could escape and continue the preaching.

The church continued to grow through the sovereign Lord pouring out His Spirit on people as they came to trust in Christ. But this happened in the midst of persecution and opposition.

After Peter’s preaching and the group’s prayer for God to work miraculously, they showed a unity perhaps never seen before. One of their first actions was to give generously to meet the needs of fellow believers in Christ. No one claimed ownership of anything; instead, everything belonged to God. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, these believers were transformed from the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders in chapter 3 to living out an authentic faith in Jesus’ resurrection. Then, in response to an act of deception in chapter 5, God shows His desire for purity in the church, which He died for and purchased with His own precious blood.

Peter and John boldly declared that salvation is found in Jesus alone, even when threatened to stay silent. Their courage came from conviction, not pride. The early church shows us that standing firm means holding to truth with boldness and grace—refusing to compromise the gospel no matter the pressure.

As we continue in the book of Acts, we notice brokenness entered the story quickly. The first Christians had been together—sharing their resources and possessions with one another as any had need (Acts 2:42-47). They now moved out into the world, and there they met a man who had been lame from birth. Through this story, we will see how the faith and generosity that marked the people of God in the church spilled over into their care for those on the outside, especially those who were hurting and broken.

The Holy Spirit came to the first followers of Jesus. They then had the power they needed to take the gospel to the nations (Acts 1:8). This work began with Peter, who boldly and clearly proclaimed the good news about Jesus to the people gathered for the Pentecost celebration. God’s power through the Holy Spirit was on display, both in the message Peter proclaimed and in the response of those who believed.