The Persecution of God's Church

Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, indignation...: Or, enuie And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. obeyed...: Or, believed After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. - Acts 5:17-42

    The church of God has always had to endure persecution. Her history is written in the blood of faithful martyrs. Sometimes the persecution is fierce, sometimes more subtle, but it is always there. Usually the persecution comes not from profligate, base men, but from devout, religious men. The bloodiest persecutions in history have been executed in the name of God! Until Christ comes again, the persecution will not cease (John 15:18,20; Matt. 10:22).

    In Acts 5:17-42the Holy Spirit gives us a brief description of the second persecution of the church after the resurrection of Christ. (The first was in Acts 4: 1-22.) Why were these men of God thrown into prison? Why did the religious leaders of their nation want to murder them? The apostles had not held any political rallies, trying to overthrow the liberal Roman government. They had broken no laws. They were not raising a social protest. They were not even crusading against pornography, prostitution and homosexuality, the common social ills of their day. They were being persecuted for only one reason—preaching the gospel of Christ! That is all. They plainly exposed the evil of man's depraved heart, declared the necessity of a substitute, proclaimed the forgiveness of sins by the grace of God through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and pressed upon all men the claims of Christ, the risen, sovereign Lord. They had also committed the terrible evils of improving their society by healing the sick and teaching their followers to live in righteousness and peace! For these things, and these things alone, they were persecuted, imprisoned, beaten and threatened with death!

    Here are six lessons which the Holy Spirit intends us to learn from this brief history of the church's second persecution at Jerusalem.

    1. The cross of Christ is an offence to men (5:17-18)

    This persecution was primarily instigated and carried out by the sect of the Sadducees. They were the liberal, freethinking, broad minded, religious gentlemen of the day. They did not agree with the fanatical Pharisees. They disapproved of the philosophical pagans. Yet, they were tolerant of both. However, when the apostles came preaching the gospel of Christ, these supposedly tolerant religious men were filled with rage and ready to kill! The fact is, those who claim to be broad-minded and tolerant in matters of religion are broad-minded enough to accept any form of religion that leaves salvation in the hands of man, but the message of salvation by grace alone through the merits of Christ, the sinners' crucified substitute, is an offence to them (Gal. 5:11). The gospel of Christ is offensive to all, except those who are saved by it (1 Cor. 1:23-24; Rom. 1:15-17).

    2. God takes care of his own (5:19-26)

    It is written in the Scriptures: 'Them that honour me I will honour' (1 Sam. 2:30). If we belong to God, if we serve the interests of his kingdom, if we are seeking his will and his glory, we have no reason to fear any man. 'If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).

    So now the future holds no fear,

    God guards the work begun,

    And mortals are immortal here,

    Until their work is done!

    Until a believer's work on earth is done, so long as he can be useful in the cause of Christ, until his appointed days are fulfilled and the Lord calls him home, he can be assured of these three things:

    1. God will direct his path (Prov. 3:5-6).

    2. God will protect his life (Heb. 13:5-6).

    3. God will supply his needs (Ps. 34:10).

    3. It is the responsibility of every believer in this world to obey God (5:27-32)

    The proof of faith in Christ is obedience to him. The fruit of God given faith is obedience to God (l John 5:1-3). Hebrews 11 is faith's hall of fame. It records the great deeds of faith performed by men and women in obedience to God. The apostles followed their example. When they were commanded not to preach the gospel of Christ, they not only said they must continue to do so, but they preached Christ to their persecutors. And they did it publicly! They did not consider the consequences of their actions. They knew their duty and they did it. That is faith in action. Our lives, our course of action at any given point in life, must be determined by four things:

    1. What does the Word of God require of me?

    2. What is the will of God in my present situation?

    3. What will best serve the glory of God?

    4. What is in the best interests of God's people?

    4. God's truth cannot be silenced, God's cause cannot be defeated and God's kingdom cannot be overthrown (5:33-40)

    What an encouraging lesson this is! The truth of God, the cause of God and the kingdom of God are not in any way dependent upon men and circumstances! If God is in a thing, if it is of God, it will be successful. Nothing can stop it. God will even use the counsel of Gamaliel to preserve his work!

    There is much in these verses of Scripture for the comfort and encouragement of every preacher and every congregation of believers. God's man in God's place doing God's work will be maintained by God's hand. There is no need for compromise, fear, or even hesitation. God will promote the gospel we preach by the power of his Spirit. He will provide for the needs of his church by the hand of his providence (Ezra 4:2-3; Gen. 14:22-23). God will protect his cause in this world (Ezra 8:22-23).

    5. It is an honour for anyone to serve the cause of Christ in this world, even if your service is to suffer for the honour of his name (5:41)

    Shortly after I was converted, I was asked to serve as caretaker at our church. I counted it an honour to keep the house of God clean and comfortable as a place where sinners could hear the gospel and worship Christ. It is a great mercy and honour that now I am called to preach the gospel of Christ. If I am counted worthy of suffering abuse, reproach and scorn for doing so, that too is my honour. I am astonished that God is pleased to use me in any way for his honour!

    6. Our one business and responsibility in this world is to preach the gospel of Christ

    These apostles were given an angelic commission (5:19-20) and they were obedient to it (5:42). You and I have the same commission. Every man and woman who is born of God is a missionary sent by God into the world to preach the gospel. Not all are called and gifted to be public preachers. (No woman is allowed to do that, 1 Tim. 2: 11-12.) But all who have seen Christ are his witnesses. All who know him are to proclaim him (Matt. 28: 18-20; Acts 1:8).

    God has chosen to save sinners by using saved sinners to tell them of his great grace in Christ (Matt. 22:8-9; Luke 14:21-23; John 1:35-45). 'Go . . . and speak ... to the people all the words of this life!'