Acts 8
When Pain Produces Growth – Acts 8
Growing Pains Still Equals Growing
As we dig into Acts 8 together, we find ourselves reflecting on something that hits both our heads and our hearts: pain and persecution don't stop the church—they often accelerate its growth. It's kind of wild when we think about it. The early church was scattered, bruised, and grieving, yet God used all of that to spark a spiritual wildfire. What was meant for harm, God turned for good—just like Joseph reminded his brothers in Genesis 50.
We remember having literal growing pains as kids—waking up in the middle of the night, legs aching, unsure of why it hurt so badly. And yet, pain meant something good was happening beneath the surface. Acts 8 shows us the same thing spiritually. The church was under fire, but rather than being extinguished, it spread. Equipped believers were pushed out into Judea and Samaria—just like Jesus had told them—and the gospel went with them.
The Church Becoming the Church
This chapter gives us a stunning picture of the church actually becoming the church. Not just a group of similar people gathering together, but a diverse body made up of former enemies—Jews and Gentiles, Samaritans and outcasts—all brought together under the name of Jesus.
What really strikes us is the shift that happens in Samaria. This is the same place where, back in John 4, Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, breaking barriers. Now, in Acts 8, we see those barriers crumble entirely as the apostles hear that Samaria has accepted the word of God. Peter and John go, pray, and the Holy Spirit shows up—clearly, visibly.
Some people see this as a "second blessing" or a requirement for empowerment. But when we look at the broader context, we see it less as a required second event and more as a divinely-timed confirmation. God was making sure everyone—especially the Jewish believers—understood that these Samaritans were in. Fully accepted. Fully empowered. Fully part of the mission.
The Spirit Within and the Spirit Upon
This passage opens a beautiful discussion about how the Holy Spirit moves. We see two main ways the Spirit works: within us and upon us.
The Spirit within is about sanctification. It's that slow, steady transformation. It's when we see the fruit of the Spirit cultivated in our lives over time—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and all the rest. It’s that process where we look back years later and realize God has slowly changed our hearts, our habits, even our personalities.
The Spirit upon is different. It's a moment of empowerment—often for a specific purpose, person, or situation. We’ve experienced this personally in ways that leave no doubt that it’s all God. Moments in prayer when we received a word or image for someone, not knowing what it meant, only to find it was exactly what they needed. Times in worship when God pressed a word on our hearts that seemed random—until others confirmed it changed everything for them.
We remember one Wednesday night when the Spirit gave a picture of a sheep and the Good Shepherd during prayer ministry. It felt vague—until the person we prayed over said her name literally means "little sheep." Or a young adult group night where the Spirit prompted us to pray for people struggling with nightmares. At first, silence—but then hands went up, healing prayers were spoken, and peace followed.
Those were Holy Spirit upon moments. They weren’t about us. They were about obedience, listening, and being willing to step into what God was already doing.
Pain, Diversity, and the Power of the Spirit
So what do we take away from Acts 8?
Pain doesn’t mean we aren’t growing. It often means we’re growing faster than we realize.
The Church is a diverse, Spirit-filled body made up of people who might have nothing in common except Jesus—and that’s enough.
The Holy Spirit is with us and upon us. He is constantly at work in us and sometimes moves in power for moments that change lives.
Obedience is key. Will we listen when the Spirit nudges us? Will we speak when he gives us a word? Will we pray boldly and trust him to do the rest?
As we face our own challenges, whether it's growing pains in faith or tension in our communities, we’re reminded: God redeems, restores, and grows his Church through it all. May we be a people who respond with faith, hope, and boldness.
