•Persecution Scatters the Believers•
Background @ Acts chapters 6 & 7 (Stephen is arrested and addresses the council)
@ Acts 8:1
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
Story @ Acts 8:1-8

•Simon the Sorcerer•
Background @ Acts 8:1-8 (persecution scatters the believers)
@ Acts 8:9
A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great.
Story @ Acts 8:9-24
Painting – Dr Pozzi at Home | John Singer Sargent

•Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch•
Background @ Acts 8:1-3 (persecution scatters the believers)
@ Acts 8:4-25 (Philip preaches in Samaria)
@ Acts 8:26-28
As for Philip, the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. Note: Philip presents one way to study the Bible.
Story @ Acts 8:26-40
Painting – A Bedouin Arab | John Singer Sargent

•The Conversion of Saul to Paul•
Background @ Acts chapters 6 & 7 (Stephen is arrested and addresses the council)
@ Acts 8:1-4 (persecution scatters the believers)
@ Acts 9:1a
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers.
Story @ Acts 9:1-19a

•Paul in Damascus and Jerusalem•
Background @ Acts 9:1-19a (Saul’s conversion)
@ Acts 9:19b-20
Now, after coming back from Arabia (Galatians 1:17), Paul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”
Story @ Acts 9:19b-31

~ §tacy §weeney