With the martyrdom of Stephen, opposition to the church in Jerusalem grows until believers are dispersed, scattered out into the world. Acts, chapter eight, is the beginning of a major shift, a gargantuan transition in the life and make-up of the church. There is a shift geographically from Jerusalem to Samaria. There is a shift in focus from the apostles to other Christian believers who spread the message about the Messiah. And there is the discrimination-shattering transition from Jew to non-Jew. Philip is the main figure at the beginning of this momentous transition.

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