Repentance to Life

Acts 11:18-21 
18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” 19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

After Jesus rose from the dead and the church began growing, much was due to the scattering of the followers after the persecution and stoning of Stephen.  The message was made possible not only by Jesus suffering and dying, but life was possible and proven by His resurrection.  Without the resurrection, we are fools with an unsubstantiated message.  But with this reality, we risk even death to preach the Lord Jesus, both to Jews and the other nations and peoples.  He is risen indeed!