Acts 6:8

"The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."

Key Reflection

This passage illustrates the transformative power of the gospel, showing how it not only spread widely but also brought about significant spiritual changes, even among religious leaders like the priests, who began to embrace the faith despite their initial resistance. The growth in both the number of followers and the conversion of key figures underscores the effectiveness of the apostolic witness and the impact of the early Christian message on diverse audiences within Jerusalem.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 8. And Stephen. The remarkable death of this first Christian martyr, which soon occurred, gave occasion to the sacred writer to give a detailed account of his character, and of the causes which led to his death. Hitherto the opposition of the Jews had been confined to threats and imprisonment; but it was now to burst forth with furious rage and madness, that could be satisfied only with blood. This was the first in a series of persecutions against Christians that filled the church with blood, and that closed the lives of thousands, perhaps millions, in the great work of establishing the gospel on the earth. Full of faith.

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