Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. [Acts 8.1]
It sure seems like it didn't take long for persecution to come to the new church.
The early belivers first had the opportunity to fall apart over the care of widows. But instead, they overcame the problem by appointing deacons.
Spiritually speaking, it appears then that since internal division was unsuccessful, the enemy's next ploy to divide the church was external in the form of persecution.
I believe yhe church can count on this same pattern today. Conflict will first come internally and then externally
Father, help us to identify and recognize the progression of the enemy's work against Your people!
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