And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. (Acts 8:1-3 ESV)
Throughout history, God's people have often been forced to flee for safety from persecution. They still do today. But some choose to stay, as the apostles did here? Why stay? There work was not yet complete. He had called them to stay, despite the opposition, the persecution, the suffering. Eventually most would move on, but for them, in that critical hour, the call was to stay. They were ready. When things get intense, when opposition to all we believe becomes overwhelming, are we prepared to hear what the Lord wants US to do: scatter or stay?
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