Despite Paul's and the Sanhedrin’s best attempts, the church of Jesus Christ continues to grow. As they clamp down on believers in Jerusalem, they actually serve to spread the Christian faith into the surrounding towns and villages. Even their efforts in Jerusalem are not entirely successful since the apostles manage to remain in the city and the church itself is not destroyed.
In these events we can see how God uses the evil plans of people to accomplish good (cf. Genesis 50:20). We can also be encouraged that the attempts to stop the growth of the Christian faith will not ultimately succeed. Certainly for a period of time it might seem as if those opposed to the gospel have success. In countries like North Korea and the wider Muslim world the church has been put under great pressure. But in the course of time, dictatorships will fall and the gospel will continue to penetrate. Christ will build his church and the gates of hell will not overcome it (Matthew 16:18).
1 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.