God Saves the Worst - Acts 7-8

Acts 8:1-3 (ESV Strong's)

And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

God Saves The Worst

In the above passage we read about Saul (who would be latter renamed Paul and write the majority of the New Testament books).  Saul, before God granted him forgiveness of sins, was a main persecutor of the early church believers.   In the previous chapter, Stephen, the deacon in the early church, was stoned to death for his faith.  Saul stood by holding the coats of those who throw the rocks that killed Stephen.   Saul “ravaged” the church.   Yet, God gave him forgiveness.  The author of the book of Acts (Luke) is giving us an account of how the early church unfolded (see Acts 1:1-4).   Luke wants us to know about origins of Saul (Paul).   It is ironic what Jesus says to Saul when He meets on the road and grants Him forgiveness of sins.  Note, years later, Paul’s own memory of that moment he was granted forgiveness of sins:


Acts 26:16-18 (ESV Strong's)
But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Saul, who was persecuting the church, would, himself, be sent out to win souls for the church and would, eventually, die from persecution.   Yet, in His grace, God saved him.   We can rejoice that God can save a murderous persecutor of the church.   If His love and grace are powerful enough to save Saul, they can save the least of us.