Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. Acts 7:57-58

Saul of Tarsus was present when Stephen was stoned to death for his faith in Jesus. And as time went on, Saul’s participation—and in fact, leading role—in the persecution of believers escalated. He became the chief persecutor. Not content to persecute the faithful in Jerusalem, he ventured as far as Damascus Syria to hunt down those of The Way for arrest, imprisonment, and even death.

How should we pray for the persecuted Church? That the persecution would cease? That the saints would have strength, courage, and boldness in their sufferings? For the persecutors? What should we pray for regarding persecutors? That they would stop? Of course, but what about for their salvation? I wonder how many believers prayed for Saul’s salvation—much less that he would one day become an Apostle?

But that is what happened. Saul of Tarsus was converted and he became the Apostle Paul, writer of thirteen books of the New Testament.

We never know what God may be pleased to do—no matter how unexpected and dramatic.

Pray for the persecuted Church—and don’t forget to pray for the persecutors.