When Obedience Needed a Push

Jesus told His followers to go. Not just across the street. Not just to their neighbors. He said go into all the world. That’s what He meant. That’s what He commanded.

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

He had already risen from the dead. He had already appeared to the disciples and taught them. Now it was time to move. But when you read through the first part of Acts, you notice something—they didn’t go. Not right away.

They stayed in Jerusalem.

Now to be fair, Jesus had told them in Acts 1:8:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

So Jerusalem was where it started—but it wasn’t where it was supposed to stop.

It was exciting at first. Thousands of people came to faith. Miracles were happening. The early Church was full of joy, prayer, and unity. But it was all still happening in one place. Maybe they thought it was best to build from a strong center. Or maybe it was fear. Maybe they couldn’t imagine how God would open doors beyond Jerusalem.

But God had other plans. And He used something no one expected to make it happen.

Stephen was one of the seven chosen to help care for the growing number of believers. He was full of the Holy Spirit, strong in his faith, and bold in his preaching. That boldness got him in trouble with the religious leaders. They couldn’t argue with his wisdom or the Spirit working through him, so they did what they’d done to Jesus. They stirred up false witnesses and brought him before the council.

Stephen didn’t hold back. In Acts 7, he gave one of the most powerful sermons in the Bible, walking through Israel’s history and pointing out how they had resisted God time and time again. He said something that cut deep:

“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 7:51)

They were furious. They gnashed their teeth at him. Then they dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death.
And who was standing there, holding the coats and giving his approval? A young man named Saul.

And right after that, everything changed.

Acts 8:1 says:
“On that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.”

It’s hard to miss the connection. Stephen’s death—tragic as it was—marked a turning point. It was the push that scattered the Church.

Now the gospel began to move outward. Just like Jesus said it should.

And here’s something else that caught my attention: the apostles stayed behind.
“Except for the apostles.” (Acts 8:1) That means it wasn’t just the leaders doing the preaching. It was everyday believers—new Christians, men and women who had only just come to faith—who were now carrying the message with them as they fled.

God used persecution to scatter seed. And the seed was the Word of God.

One of the reasons Stephen may have died was to hasten the spread of the gospel. And if that’s true, then what looked like a loss was actually the beginning of great gain. God was using it for His purpose.

And Saul—who we know better as Paul—was being used too, even before he believed.

That may sound strange, but look at the outcome. Paul’s persecution caused believers to run—but they didn’t run silently. They ran preaching. And when Paul finally did meet Jesus on that road to Damascus, the same zeal that once tore down the Church was now building it up.

It makes you stop and think: God was already working through Paul before Paul ever knew Him.

Later, when Paul became the most well-traveled missionary of them all, he would write this in Romans 8:28:
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

He had lived that truth. He had seen God take persecution, pain, even death—and turn it into something that spread hope and salvation.

God does that. He works behind the scenes. He uses things that don’t make sense in the moment. He moves His people when they’re hesitant, and He stirs up hearts in ways we can’t predict.

Sometimes He uses trials to get us to obey.
Sometimes He uses pain to push us where we’re supposed to be.
And sometimes the very thing that looks like a setback becomes the spark for revival.

The Church in Jerusalem needed a push.
So He sent it.
And the gospel started to go into all the world.

Just like He said.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler

I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.

This work may be shared for ministry or personal use, but please credit the author when doing so. © Dean Butler – Dean’s Bible Blog. All rights reserved.

Please reach out at: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service.” (1 Timothy 1:12)