Persecution

Early Church Persecuted for their Faith - Acts 4:1 – 4:12 (commentary)

This chapter records the first persecutions of the early church. In the Gospels we find great opposition coming from the Pharisees. However as Peter and John were speaking to the people they were confronted by a group of Sadducees and arrested (vv. 1-4). In Acts it is the Sadduce …

Gamaliel Convinces the Council – No Persecution - Acts 5:33 – 5:42 (commentary)

On their second appearance before the Sanhedrin the apostles found an unexpected helper - Gamaliel, who was a Pharisee (vv. 33-34). He was more than respected; he was loved. He was a kindly man with a far wider tolerance than his fellows. When the Sanhedrin seemed likely to resor …

Stephen Summoned before Synagogue Leaders - Acts 6:8 – 6:15 (commentary)

Up to this point, the sign gifts seem to have been administered only by the apostles, but now we find Stephen, a newly appointed deacon, also demonstrating these extraordinary powers. Apparently his ministry was primarily among the Hellenistic Jews, referred to here as the “ …

Persecution Scatters Believers / Philip Boldly Preaches - Acts 8:1 – 8:8 (commentary)

The death of Stephen was the signal for an outbreak of persecution which compelled the Christians to scatter and to seek safety in the remoter districts of the country. However the apostles stood fast. They braved whatever perils might come; and this was for two reasons: &n …

Persecution of Followers - Matthew 4:12 – 4:17 (commentary)

It appears that a widespread persecution of the followers of John and Jesus took place at this time.  When Jesus heard about John’s imprisonment He went from Nazareth to live in Capernaum (v. 12-13). Luke explains the reason for Jesus leaving Nazareth was an attempt on his l …

Exodus 10:21 – 10:29 (commentary)

This ninth plague of darkness came quickly without warning to Pharaoh. God  just tells Moses to stretch out his hand toward Heaven and there would be darkness all over the land (v. 21).  It was so dark  in Egypt that the darkness could be felt while the land  …

Previous Persecutor Begins Preaching Ministry - Acts 9:19b – 9:31 (commentary)

Soon after Paul’s conversion and his arrival in Damascus, he stayed with the Lord’s followers and began to preach in the synagogues (vv. 19-20). They found it difficult to believe that the man who had been the chief persecutor of Christians was now preaching the faith that …

The Persecuted Church - Revelation 2:8 – 2:11 (commentary)

The letter to Smyrna, the shortest of the seven letters, was written to Christians being persecuted not only by pagan Gentiles but also by hostile Jews and by Satan himself. Smyrna, a large city, rebuilt by Alexander the Great, was wealthy and famous.I. Smyrna w …

A Prayer for Protection - Psalms 129:1 – 129:8 (commentary)

The church has been often greatly distressed by its enemies on earth: Israel may now say, “I am the people that has been oppressed more than any people, that has been as a speckled bird, pecked at by all the birds round about,’’ Jer. 12:9. It is true, they brought their trou …

Follow Those Who Are True - II Timothy 3:10 – 3:17 (commentary)

Paul turned from the false teachers to remind Timothy to follow those who are true (vv. 10-15). He talks about their past relationship but now that relationship will soon be terminated and Timothy will need to stand alone. It is important in these difficult days that we listen …

Following Christ May Bring Persecution - I Peter 4:1 – 4:6 (commentary)

Peter explains how the Christian who stands true to Christ during persecution doesn’t do evil. Christ never returned evil for evil and the Christian who has the right attitude of Christ toward suffering will not strike out against his persecutors.We find in this passage a big con …

The Evil King From The North - Daniel 11:21 – 11:39 (commentary)

The successor to the throne was Antiochus IV Epiphanes who succeeded his brother, a worthless nobody who gained control of the kingdom by treachery (Seleucus IV) (vv. 21-22). The next few verses describe how he destroyed armies and removed God’s chosen high priest but in th …

Giving is More Important Than Getting - Jeremiah 37:1 – 37:21 (commentary)

This is the story of the persecution of Jeremiah. Zedekiah is now the king, but he, like his predecessors, refused to listen and obey the word of God as delivered by Jeremiah (vv. 1-2). The king calls for Jeremiah to pray for the land (v. 3). Jeremiah’s reply was not what …