This persecution dispersed the church into various countries but was for the great advantage of the church.
This persecution dispersed the church into various countries but was for the great advantage of the church. The apostles were left alone at Jerusalem while the rest, of whom there were some thousands, (ACT 2:41 4:4) were dispersed into the regions of Judea and Samaria. They preached the gospel wherever they went. (ACT 8:1-4) Others went to Damascus, (ACT 9:19,25) among whom was Ananias, a devout man according to the law and one who had a good report among all the Jews who lived there. (ACT 22:12) It is very likely that others went even to Rome itself and among them Junias and Andronicus who were of note among the apostles and relatives of this persecutor, Paul. They had embraced the faith before him. (ROM 16:7) Others travelled as far as Phenice, Cyprus and Antioch and preached the word of God to the Jews only. (ACT 11:19) That is to those who were dispersed among the Gentiles. (JAS 1:1, 1PE 1:1)