As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
Acts 8:3-4

When Jesus issued the Great Commission, He commanded the Church to take the good news of the gospel to the “ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), “beginning in Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). The Church, which began in Jerusalem, pretty much remained in Jerusalem. So God whisked them out of the safety and security of Jerusalem—How? Persecution.

No one would argue that persecution is good. It is born in the hateful hearts of evil people. It is unleashed on the faithful flock of God. Persecution is not good. But in the providence of God, the Almighty uses even bad things for the accomplishment of His supremely good purposes. In this case in particular, He used persecution (which is bad) to scatter His people “everywhere preaching the word” (which is good).

Paul spoke of this phenomenon in which God providentially uses even what is bad to bring about good. He says (Romans 8:28), “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Clearly all things are not good, but God works “all things” (including that which is bad) “for good.” The London Baptist Confession (chapter 3, paragraph 1) puts it this way: “God [does]this in such a way that he is neither the author of sin nor has fellowship with any in their sin. This decree does not violate the will of the creature…”

Stuffy irrelevant doctrine? Not at all! This truth is of supreme comfort to the redeemed as “we know” (Romans 8:28) that God is is in control of everything so that we need not be afraid or dismayed by whatever “bad things” we may encounter. We may therefore be comforted that God is working all things for “good.”