Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Afflictions made beneficial » In furthering the gospel
But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison.
Those, however, who had been driven in various directions by the persecution which broke out on account of Stephen made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, delivering the Message to none but Jews. But some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks also and told them the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, and there were a vast number who believed and turned to the Lord.
Now I would have you know, brethren, that what I have gone through has turned out to the furtherance of the Good News rather than otherwise.
For preaching the Good News I suffer, and am even put in chains, as if I were a criminal: yet the word of God is not imprisoned.
At my first defence I had no one at my side, but all deserted me. May it not be laid to their charge. The Lord, however, stood by me and filled me with inward strength, that through me the Message might be fully proclaimed and that all the Gentiles might hear it; and I was rescued from the lion's jaws.