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 Sadducees ...

Gamaliel Convinces the Council - Acts 5:33 – 5:42 (commentary)

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

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 - Acts 8:1 – 8:13 (commentary)

The death of Stephen brought on a wave of persecution against the Jerusalem church (vv. 1-2). One of the chief perse¬cutors was Saul, from Tarsus (Acts 22:3), a “Hebrew of the Hebrews” (II Corinthians 11:22), the “son of a Pharisee” (Acts 23:6) and a Roman citizen (Acts16:37). In fact ...

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 …

The Plague of Darkness - 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 of Goshen ha …

The Persecuted Church at Smyrna - 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...

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 troubles upon themselves ...

An Example from Paul’s Life - II Timothy 3:8 – 3:12 (commentary)

Paul offers his own life as an example to Timothy (v. 10). Timothy has seen for himself how Paul has lived, taught and suffered for the sake of the gospel. Now he must also expect to suffer if he truly follows Christ. On his first missionary journey, Paul was expelled from Pisidi …

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 ...

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 t …

The Abomination that makes Desolation - Daniel 11:29 – 11:39 (commentary)

Once again, Antiochus IV tried and failed to conquer Egypt (v. 29). Egypt had a powerful ally in this fight. A Roman Navy came and defeated the navy of Antiochus IV off the coast of Egypt (v. 30). After the battle was lost, the Romans gave Antiochus an ultimatum, Surrender or be destroyed...