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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
After the death of Stephen the disciples were restrained in their
active ministry, and many of the believers who had temporarily resided
in Jerusalem now retired to their distant homes because of the violent
persecution against them. But the apostles dared not leave Jerusalem
till the Spirit of God indicated it to be their duty to do so; for Christ
had bidden them to first work in that field. Although the priests and
rulers bitterly persecuted the new converts, they did not venture for a
time to arrest the apostles, being overawed by the dying testimony of
Stephen, and realizing that their course with him had injured their own
cause in the minds of the people.
Christ had commanded his disciples to go and teach all nations; but
the previous teachings which they had received from the Jews made it
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difficult for them to fully comprehend the words of their Master, and
therefore they were slow to act upon them. They called themselves the
children of Abraham, and regarded themselves as the heirs of divine
promise. It was not until several years after the Lord’s ascension that
their minds were sufficiently expanded to clearly understand the intent
of Christ’s words, that they were to labor for the conversion of the
Gentiles as well as that of the Jews.
Their minds were particularly called out to this part of the work
by the Gentiles themselves, many of whom embraced the doctrine of
Christ. Closely following the death of Stephen, and the consequent
scattering of the believers throughout Palestine, Samaria was greatly
stirred. The Samaritans received the believers kindly, and manifested a
willingness to hear concerning Jesus, who, in his first public labors, had
preached to them with great power. Anything in regard to Christ was
heard by them with intense interest. Here the disciples began to more
fully understand that the gospel was not in any wise to be confined
to the Jews; for conversions occurred among all classes, without any
definite, special effort on the part of the Christian teachers. Many
converts to Christ among the Gentiles demonstrated to the Jewish
believers that they were not the only ones embraced in the message of
Christ.
The animosity existing between the Jews and Samaritans de-
creased, and it could no longer be said that they had no dealing with
each other. Philip left Jerusalem, and preached a risen Redeemer in
Samaria. Many believed, and received Christian baptism. Philip’s
preaching was marked with so great success, and so many were gath-
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