Acts 8:4 - They Went Everywhere

In summarizing Acts 8 from the perspective of evangelism, we see the church in Jerusalem persecuted. This scatters the believers, and the gospel; "those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word." (v. 4). Notice the universal language, they went "everywhere."

This coincides with what we have seen in the universality of Christ's kingdom. The scriptures speak this way again and again in most books of the New Testament. Here are a few examples;

Romans 1:5,8; Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, ... "

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world."

Romans 16:26, 27; "... but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith - to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen."

1 Corinthians 1:2; "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of the LORD, both theirs and ours:"

2 Corinthians 2:14; "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."

Ephesians 1:10; "... that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him."

Philippians 2:9-11; "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father."

Colossians 1:6; "... which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; ... "

Colossians 1:23; "... if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister."

1 Thessalonians 1:8; "For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything."

Recall that Jesus Himself foretold the end of the old covenant creation with similar language; "this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14. And that end did come. It came definitively when Jesus died, rose, and ascended to His throne. It ended progressively through out the time of the New Testament writings, the disciples spreading the word, preaching the gospel, confirming the word with many signs and wonders. And it ended finally when old wicked Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and demolished.

DR