Published on 04/7/2008

Now we'll see Christianity becomes the first universal faith in human history, transcending local religions and local gods to reach across the globe and across the centuries to you and me today. We can chart its growth by key statements of the movement's progress and success.

We're watching Christianity grow from 120 mostly-anonymous followers to a global phenomenon, and learning how God can do the same with our lives and churches today. On Friday we saw God use persecution against Stephen to scatter his people from Jerusalem across Judea and Samaria, as Acts 8:1 fulfilled Acts 1:8.

First, the apostolic Christians expand geographically to Judea, Samaria, and Galilee (Acts 8:1-9:31). Philip evangelizes the hated Samaritans as the first "foreign" missionary in Christian history; "when the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said" (8:6).

Then Philip reaches the Ethiopian eunuch, the national treasurer of his country (the Ben Bernanke of his day): "both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him" (8:38). Now the gospel moves north to Damascus and Syria through Saul's conversion: "Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God" (9:19-20).

Here's the result of this expansion: "the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord" (9:31).

Next, the first believers move racially across the most dangerous barrier of all: the Gentile world. Remember that the Jewish people had been taught that God made Gentiles only so there would be fuel for the fires of hell. Now Peter preaches the good news to Cornelius, a Gentile and, even worse, an officer in the Roman army which occupied and oppressed Israel. Here's the result: "Then Peter said, 'Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have'" (10:47). This was an astounding admission for a Jewish man to make.

From this courageous decision, the Church opened its arms and ministry to the Gentile world. If you're a Gentile like me, you have Peter to thank for your acceptance into the family of faith. Will you invite someone to join you today?