Persecution for the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ | Bible Commentary Forever Ministries

Continuation from “The Teachings from the Book of Acts of the Apostles.”

Introduction

The Lord Jesus came to earth to show the way to the kingdom of God and bring salvation to all humanity. He came among His people, the Jews, and was crucified for declaring who He is, the Son of God (John 5:18; John 19:7; Matthew 27:43), and for telling the truth to the people (John 18:38).

While walking on earth and teaching His disciples, the Lord Jesus told them that the world would treat them in the same way that it treated Him because of His name (John 15:20-21). When people do not accept the beloved Son of God, they will not accept His followers either. Whatever accusations, hatred, and persecution they directed toward the beloved Son of God, they will also direct toward those who carry His teachings to others. When the Lord Jesus sent His twelve disciples to spread the good news of the kingdom, He warned them about hardships, hatred, and betrayal because of His name (Matthew 10:22). Furthermore, the Lord Jesus warned His disciples that after His return to the Father they would suffer both religious and physical persecution because of His name, from their own people (John 16:2) and from others (John 15:20). He also warned that great persecutions would come upon His followers before His return to earth (Matthew 24:9).

Nevertheless, in the Sermon on the Mount, He encouraged His followers by teaching that great rewards and blessings in heaven await those who suffer for His sake (Matthew 5:11-12). Additionally, the Lord Jesus instructed them not to be troubled when persecution come, for He will send the Holy Spirit to be with them, strengthen them, and give them the words to speak (Matthew 10:19-20; Luke 12:11-12; Mark 13:11).

In the Book of Acts, we encounter many victories of ministry and many souls coming to salvation in the Lord Jesus. At the same time, we encounter rejection, beatings, imprisonments, plots against the lives of believers, and even martyrdom. Despite all the dangers and persecutions that followed the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the disciples remained faithful to the name of the Lord Jesus, the Son of God who was crucified for the sins of the world. By the grace of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit, they endured every trial and continued proclaiming the good news in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The passages in this category reveal how believers suffered persecution from religious and civil authorities, from unbelievers, and from false brothers, yet remained steadfast in their faith and service to the Lord Jesus.

Spiritual Themes

One of the fundamental works of the Holy Spirit is to guide the followers of the Lord Jesus in spreading the good news of salvation and to strengthen and protect them in their ministry. The Holy Spirit can work through both believers and unbelievers to protect His servants, and in the Book of Acts we see many examples of God using rulers, soldiers, family members, and fellow believers to protect His servants for further ministry. We also find accounts where the Holy Spirit warns the disciples through visions and prophetic revelations, often delivering them from danger through miraculous means or through the actions of common people.

However, we also see that many times the disciples faced difficult trials, both physical and spiritual, and were even put to death. We may not always understand why the Lord God Almighty allows such trials to come upon His servants, but we must endure and remain faithful until the end (Matthew 24:13). We must take the Lord Jesus as our example, for He endured much persecution, even to the point of death on the cross, for the fulfillment of the plan of God the Father (Acts 2:23, Acts 4:27-28; Luke 22:42; John 6:38; Philippians 2:8).

As followers of the Lord Jesus, we should not be afraid when persecution comes because we suffer righteously for the name of the Lord Jesus (1 Peter 3:14; Philippians 1:28). Though we may wonder why the mighty God allows such persecution to come upon His servants, we must remember that all things work together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). The Book of Acts teaches us that the Holy Spirit sometimes delivers His servants from danger and at other times gives them the strength to endure suffering faithfully for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Under this spiritual category, we find many passages in the Book of Acts that show how the disciples suffered persecution in many forms, including opposition from Jewish leaders, beatings, imprisonments, false accusations, and even death. As the good news of salvation in the name of the Lord Jesus spread among the Jews and throughout the Gentile nations, persecution arose from religious and civil authorities, from unbelievers, and even from false brothers. Yet through every trial, the disciples remained faithful to the Lord Jesus, and by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit they continued proclaiming the good news.

Many passages from the Book of Acts fall within this spiritual category. For the purpose of our study, we have classified these passages into three spiritual themes and grouped the relevant passages from the Book of Acts under each theme.

Persecution from Religious and Civil Authorities
Persecution from Unbelievers
Persecution from Jews and False Brothers

1. Persecution from Religious and Civil Authorities

The Jewish leaders plotted together, with the help of evil men, to put the Lord Jesus to death (Acts 2:23). Because the children of God were under the occupation of the Roman Empire, the leaders used their influence over the people and the Roman authorities to accomplish their evil purpose and crucify the Lord Jesus. Yet the Lord Jesus rose in the body from the dead on the third day and is now seated at the right hand of Power (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69). He sent the Holy Spirit to earth, and a new era of ministry under the guidance of the Holy Spirit began on earth for calling the faithful into the kingdom of God.

The Jewish leaders regarded the Lord Jesus as a threat to their authority, and after His resurrection they also viewed His followers as a threat. They worked with all their might to stop the spreading of the good news and to silence those who proclaimed the name of the Lord Jesus. However, the Lord God Almighty had a plan for His church, and no one could stop His plan of salvation (Acts 5:38-39).

Throughout the Book of Acts, we see many acts of persecution from Jewish leaders and civil authorities against the apostles and disciples of the Lord Jesus. We see arrests, imprisonments, beatings, trials, false accusations, plots against the lives of believers, and even executions. We see the arrests of the apostles Peter and John, the imprisonment of Peter, the beheading of James, the stoning of Stephen, the imprisonment of the apostle Paul, and the persecution of many members of the church of Jesus Christ. We also see rulers, governors, kings, councils, and courts repeatedly called upon to hear accusations against the disciples and to judge their cases. Yet throughout these accounts, the Lord continually protected His servants according to His will, delivered many from danger, and gave them boldness to testify concerning the Lord Jesus.

Despite all opposition and persecution, the disciples remained faithful to the Lord Jesus and continued proclaiming the good news. Through these accounts, we learn that the enemies of the gospel may oppose the work of God, but they cannot stop the purposes of God or prevent the spread of the good news of salvation.

Below, we highlight all the Book of Acts passages that entirely cover this theme, with hyperlinks to our Bible Commentary Forever (BCF) work, where you will find more comments and explanations. In addition, we provide a short description of each passage, characterizing its content.

BCF Links in the Book of Acts: Acts 4:15-18 (The Jewish leaders laid hands on Peter and John and warned them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus); Acts 5:16-20 (The Jewish leaders, motivated by jealousy, arrested the apostles, but the angel of the Lord released them); Acts 5:21-28 (The Jewish leaders try to stop the apostles from teaching people in the name of Jesus Christ); Acts 5:34-42 (The Jewish leaders beat the apostles, released them, and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus; however, the apostles rejoiced and continued proclaiming the good news that the Christ is Jesus); Acts 7:57-60 (The stoning of Stephen. Stephen is a true servant of the Lord; he asks the Lord to forgive those who stoned him); Acts 8:1–4 (Stephen is buried; the church in Jerusalem is persecuted and scattered, and Saul mistreats the church); Acts 9:1–7 (Paul is met by the Lord Jesus Himself on the road to Damascus while on his way to persecute those belonging to the Way); Acts 9:20–26 (Paul proclaims Jesus as the Son of God, but after a plot against his life, his disciples help him reach safety); Acts 9:27–31 (In Jerusalem, Paul is helped by Barnabas; he goes about speaking boldly and disputing against the Hellenists who seek to kill him, but the brothers take him to Caesarea for safety); Acts 12:1-2 (Herod persecuted members of the church and ordered the execution of James); Acts 12:17-19 (Herod ordered the execution of the guard who watched Peter, who had been miraculously freed from prison by an angel of the Lord); Acts 13:50-52 (The Jews in Antioch stir up persecution against the apostle Paul and Barnabas and drive them out of their region); Acts 14:1-7 (In Iconium, many Jews and Greeks believed the gospel; however, the unbelieving Jews stirred up both the Jews and the Gentiles with their rulers to insult and stone the apostle Paul and Barnabas, but they fled to other cities); Acts 14:18-20 (The Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuade the multitude in Lystra to stone Paul; however, the Lord protects him); Acts 18:12-17 (In Corinth, the Jews bring Paul to trial; however, the proconsul dismisses the case, not caring what happens to Paul and Sosthenes); Acts 19:30-41 (In Ephesus, following an uproar against the Way, the fellow travelers of the apostle Paul are brought before the assembly; however, the town ruler dismisses the assembly); Acts 22:1-9 (The apostle Paul describes how he persecuted the Way until the Lord Jesus appeared to him and revealed that he was persecuting the Lord Jesus Himself); Acts 22:22-30 (The Jews ask the garrison commander to put the apostle Paul to death; finding that the apostle is a Roman citizen, he commands the Jewish leaders to come together and bring their case against Paul); Acts 23:1-10 (The apostle Paul continues his trial in Jerusalem; he testifies before the Council of the Jews concerning the resurrection of the dead, causing division among them); Acts 23:11-22 (A group of Jews conspired to kill Paul; the Lord protects the apostle through Paul's nephew, who reports the plot to the Roman commander); Acts 23:23-35 (The apostle Paul is sent to Caesarea to be examined by the governor; the commander prepares a strong escort to protect him from an ambush by the Jews); Acts 24:1-15 (The apostle Paul continues his trial in Caesarea; Jewish leaders accuse him before the governor, but Paul defends himself and testifies concerning the resurrection of the just and the unjust); Acts 24:16-23 (The apostle Paul continues his defense before the governor; he declares his innocence and his hope in the resurrection); Acts 24:24-27 (The apostle Paul testifies concerning faith in Jesus Christ; though innocent, he is kept in bonds to gain favor with the Jews); Acts 25:1-6 (The new governor travels to Jerusalem; the leaders of the Jews request that Paul be brought there for trial, but he directs them to Caesarea); Acts 25:7-12 (In Caesarea, the apostle Paul declares his innocence before the governor and appeals his case to Caesar); Acts 25:13-21 (The governor presents to King Agrippa the case concerning the apostle Paul and the accusations brought against him by the Jews); Acts 25:22-27 (In Caesarea, the apostle Paul is brought before King Agrippa and the prominent leaders of the city to be examined concerning his case); Acts 26:1-21 (The apostle Paul presents his defense before King Agrippa; he testifies about his hope in the resurrection, how the Lord Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, and appointed him to bring the good news to the Gentiles); Acts 26:22-32 (The apostle Paul declares before the king and those present that Christ suffered, rose from the dead, and is the light to the Jews and the Gentiles).

2. Persecution from Unbelievers

As the gospel spread beyond the Jewish nation, the forces of darkness worked through those who were willing to carry out their evil deeds. In John 10:10, the Lord Jesus says, “The thief comes not, if not that he may steal, and kill, and destroy.” The thief here is not a burglar but a deceiver of souls who seeks to draw people away from the truth and from the salvation found in the Lord Jesus. This deceiver comes in many shapes and forms and can easily deceive those who do not remain in meditation upon the Holy Word and in prayer.

In the Book of Acts, we see faithful disciples spreading the good news to the Gentile nations. Yet wherever the gospel spread, opposition also arose as people were influenced by various forms of darkness. Instead of listening to the good news and meditating upon the message of the true Light, many chose to remain in darkness and resisted the gospel of Light. In some places, people resisted the gospel because it threatened their financial gain; in other places, it challenged their loyalty to idols and false beliefs. In these accounts, we see that the gospel confronted deception, idolatry, and the works of darkness. In particular, we find that the apostle Paul in his work of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ faced much persecution from both great and small, just as the Lord Jesus foretold concerning him (Acts 9:16).

Yet despite much opposition, the good news continued to spread, and the power of God proved greater than the power of darkness. Through these accounts, we learn that unbelievers may resist the gospel, but they cannot prevent the Lord from accomplishing His purposes and bringing willing souls into His kingdom.

BCF Links in the Book of Acts: Acts 16:18-23 (In Philippi, the apostle Paul, in the name of the Lord Jesus, delivers a slave woman from a false spirit; however, her masters stir up persecution against Paul and Silas); Acts 19:21-29 (In Ephesus, some idol worshipers rose against the Way and stirred up the multitudes to seize fellow travelers of the apostle Paul).

3. Persecution from Jews and False Brothers

The Lord Jesus came to earth to live among His people, yet they betrayed Him and plotted His crucifixion (Matthew 26:3-4; John 11:53). The evil one uses those who are willing to carry out his evil purposes, and we see that the leaders of the Jews were used to bring about the death of the Lord Jesus. The multitudes joined them and cried out that the Lord Jesus should be crucified, even taking the blame upon themselves and their children (Matthew 27:22-25). We also see that the betrayer of the Lord Jesus was one of His own disciples. The Lord Jesus showed him love and chose him to be among His disciples, to receive light and deliverance from darkness, yet sin overcame him and he betrayed the Son of God into the hands of the authorities (Matthew 26:48-49; Mark 14:44-45; Luke 22:47-48).

In the Book of Acts, we see that the evil one works not only through unbelievers but also through those who oppose the truth while believing they are serving God. We encounter Jews who were darkened by traditions and failed to rely upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their study of the Word of God. We also encounter false brothers who troubled believers and sought to place burdens upon them that the Lord had not required. In several passages, opposition arose because some could not accept that salvation comes through the grace of the Lord Jesus and not through the traditions of men.

The apostle Paul himself was once a persecutor of the Lord Jesus, driven by false zeal. However, despite every obstacle, the Lord God Almighty continued to advance His work of salvation in the name of the Lord Jesus and to bring willing souls into His kingdom. Paul himself, after the Lord Jesus revealed Himself to him, became a faithful servant and preacher of the gospel as the apostle to the Gentiles.

BCF Links in the Book of Acts: Acts 15:1-2 (The apostle Paul and Barnabas face opposition in Antioch of Syria concerning circumcision); Acts 15:3-6 (The apostle Paul and Barnabas travel to Jerusalem and report God's work among the Gentiles; however, some believers of the sect of the Pharisees insist that the Gentiles must keep the law of Moses and be circumcised); Acts 17:1-7 (In Thessalonica, the apostle Paul and Silas minister in the synagogues; however, the Jews stir up the city against them and their followers); Acts 21:27-40 (Jews from Asia stir up the people at the temple in Jerusalem against the apostle Paul and seek to kill him; the Romans seize him, bind him with chains, and bring him to the camp to inquire who he is); Acts 22:19-21 (The apostle Paul recounts how he persecuted those believing in the Lord Jesus and consented to the death of Stephen).

Conclusions

In conclusion, from the passages found under this spiritual category, we see that the Lord God Almighty has not removed all trials, tribulations, and persecutions from the followers of the Lord Jesus. We see that the Holy Spirit is the protector and guide in the believer's walk on this earth, yet we are not spared from persecution. Nevertheless, we must endure until the end and take the Lord Jesus Himself as our example in all things, remembering His ultimate sacrifice and suffering on the cross because of the great love He has for all humanity. Just as the Lord Jesus remained faithful to the plan of God the Father (John 19:28-30), so we must remain faithful to Him despite the trials and persecutions that may come upon us.

Under the power of the Holy Spirit, we must continue to show His love to all people and continue the work of spreading the gospel of the Lord Jesus, bringing people from the power of darkness into the marvelous light found in His name.

We must remember that when persecution comes, we should not fear men but fear God. As followers of the Lord Jesus, we must remember His words in Matthew 10:28: “And you should not be afraid of those killing the body, but are not able to kill the soul; however, rather fear Him being able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” There is eternal life for our souls, and that should be our greatest concern on this earth: to remain on the path that leads to heaven regardless of what circumstances may come our way.

The only way of salvation is found in the Lord Jesus, and no persecution, suffering, or opposition should draw us away from serving Him until the end. Through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, believers today can remain faithful to the Lord Jesus just as the apostles and disciples remained faithful throughout the Book of Acts.

We encourage all readers to consult our other blog article, “Teachings about the Cross of the Lord Jesus: Persecution, Betrayal, Trial, Suffering, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial.”