The persecution of Stephen was the turning point. His arrest and defense resulted in an explosion of rage. The believers in Jerusalem went from being in favor to being hunted down, arrested, and thrown into prison. But the enemies of the church didn’t put out the fire, they poured gasoline on it. And the church exploded across Judea, Samaria, and into the world.
From Stephen’s arrest to Peter’s baptism of a Gentile named Cornelius, we witness the transition of the church from a Jewish sect that followed the Messiah of Israel to a movement of believers who worshiped Jesus as the Lord of all.
God never calls us to do something He does not give us what we need to do it.
