Acts 9

“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up” (v31).  The young church was facing intense threats yet surviving.  After Stephen’s death, “great persecution” arose (8:1), and Jerusalem believers were scattered to other cities. Further, people like Ananias, Saphira, and Simon the magician tried to leverage the church’s power for personal gain. But the Lord was at work. The transformation of Saul into a passionate evangelist demonstrated the Spirit’s power to overcome any obstacle.    

And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied” (v31).  Keeping our eyes on Jesus, we know nothing can stop God’s work in our lives and in our world.