Persecution in America! Really?
It’s a scene played out in homes across America every day: kids arrive home from school, scan the kitchen shelves and refrigerator, and then yell out, “Mom! I’m starving, and there’s nothing to eat in the kitchen!” Translate this into first world language, and what he means is, “Mom, I’m hungry, and there’s nothing that looks good to me in the kitchen!”
Words mean different things in our culture than in third world cultures. In the third world, starving means life and death. We’ve seen the pictures of children so thin and ravaged with starvation that they are nothing more than a skeleton with skin.
So it is with the concept of persecution.
In America, Christians often label battles in the values war as “persecution.” If a public school systems moves to take the closing benediction out of a high school graduation, it’s labeled persecution. If a town decides to no longer have a nativity scene in front of city hall, it’s labeled persecution. Even when the law and religion collide, such as when a court rules the tradition of a National Day of Prayer as unconstitutional (which was later overturned by a federal appeals court), these acts are often described as persecution by over zealous Christians. The truth is, in the first world, Christians may experience open discrimination, but not true persecution, especially government-sponsored persecution.
Historically, God has not spared His people from persecution. In fact, Jesus went so far as to warn his followers that persecution and tribulation should be expected (John 15:18, 19). Many of the New Testament epistles were written to encourage the early church as persecution spread throughout the Roman Empire. In Acts 8, part of our text for this week, Luke tells us that the church was “ravaged” by persecution (Acts 8:3).
Never forget, however, that God has His purposes, and that many times His ways seem to make little sense from a human perspective. In the case of the first century church, God used persecution to facilitate the spread of the gospel and accomplish His plan as outlined in Acts 1:8.
As you study this week’s Scripture, ask the Holy Spirit to give you a renewed sense of urgency as we pray for and intercede on behalf of those enduring strong persecution in the world today. Commit to be a part of the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting, and make the persecuted church a part of your focus for the next six weeks. At the same time, recognize that the Lord uses trials to accomplish His purposes. Are you in the midst of a trial right now? Pray that God will use these trials to deepen your relationship with Him.–Chris Eller
Paul and the Acts of the Apostles
The Early Church
The Church is a present-day phenomenon that was completely hidden from the Old Testament prophets. The ”400 years of silence” between the Old and New Testaments was foretold in detail by the prophet Daniel. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ were foretold in great detail through hundreds of prophecies found in the Old Testament. The sequence of events detailing the end of this world is foretold in detail through the Old Testament prophets. The Church, however, was a mystery to the Old Testament prophets, and was not revealed until Jesus began speaking of it during his earthly ministry.
Influences from the Roman Empire
By God’s design, the Church was born in the midst of one of history’s great and powerful empires—the Roman Empire. With its influence of iron stretching from the Atlantic in the west to Asia in the East, Rome ruled the known world. It was within system that Jesus was born and ministered, and it was by means of Rome’s most cruel of human experiences—crucifixion—that the Lord Jesus would die.
In Church History in Plain Language, author Bruce Shelley begins his book:
CHRISTIANITY is the only major religion to have as its central event the humiliation of its God.
“Dear dying Lamb,” believers sing,
“thy precious Blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved to sin no more.”
Crucifixion was a barbarous death, reserved for agitators, pirates and slaves. Jewish law cursed “everyone who hangs on a tree” and the Roman statesman, Cicero, warned: “Let the very name of the cross be far, not only from the body of a Roman citizen, but even from his thoughts, his eyes, his ears.”[1]
Just as any seedling needs a suitable environment to take root and grow, so Rome provided such a culture for the early church. Rome provided an effective means of transportation for the gospel to spread from Palestine to the outer reaches of the Empire via the Roman Roads; Rome provided a civilization and rule of law that allowed citizens easy access to a multitude of countries and provinces; and, in an ironic twist, Rome provided the persecution under Nero that would cause the Church to explode in growth throughout the empire and ultimately to the ends of the world.
Pentecost
While Jesus spoke of the Church during His ministry, it was at Pentecost that the Holy Spirit fell on the believers gathered in Jerusalem and the Church was born. Men like Peter, who only a short time earlier had denied Christ to a small group of people, now stood in front of large crowds and boldly proclaimed Christ’s death and resurrection. Moreover, Peter proclaimed that Jesus was indeed the Messiah (Acts 2:32). During this one sermon 3,000 people were saved when Peter encouraged them to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38).
The Early Christians
The early Christians formed a tight community within Jerusalem. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowshipped together, to the breaking of bread and prayer. There was a sense of awe; and many signs and wonders were performed among them. They had all things in common, and sold their belongings and shared with anyone in need. They exemplified a spirit of unity as they spent time at the temple and from house to house. Moreover, the Lord added to their numbers daily, and the church expanded from Jerusalem throughout Judea. (Acts 2:42-47)
Persecution of the Early Church
While the early Christians lived for the most part in harmony, there was a lot of strife between the Christians and the Jews. Early on, the Church found itself the target of riots and persecution. At first, some of the apostles were arrested and held then released. One day, however, a disciple by the name of Stephen began preaching at a synagogue in Jerusalem. Soon a riot broke out and before it was over, the crowd had stoned Stephen to death. He was the first of many to die because he was a Christian. (Acts 7:54-60) The persecution only intensified from this point forward. A young man named Saul of Tarsus brought down a reign of terror on the Christians as he arrested and hauled off to prison many who claimed the name of Christ. The persecution only caused the church to spread, however, as the Christians fled away from Jerusalem, into Judea, and now into Samaria. (Acts 8:1)
The Spread of the Gospel
While the persecution intensified, so did the spread of the gospel. One of the most incredible examples of the gospel’s influence came when news began to spread that the feared persecutor of the Church, Saul of Tarsus, believed in Jesus Christ. Few accepted the news at first, but a man named Ananias was obedient to the Lord and went to Saul, laid hands on him, and Saul received the Holy Spirit. Saul was baptized and he immediately began to preach the gospel. (Acts 9)
Starting about A.D. 50, Paul (formerly called Saul) was sent on a series of missionary journeys that would carry the gospel throughout Asia Minor and into Europe. The Church started as a small group of people meeting in Jerusalem in A.D. 33-34 and spread throughout Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world, just as Jesus had commended. (Acts 1:8)
Key Individuals Influenced by the Spread of the Gospel.
Who were some of the key individuals influenced by the gospel? The most significant man would be the Apostle Paul. No man (apart from the Lord Jesus) had more influence or contributed more in the form of his instruction and writings to the Church than the Apostle Paul. His life is a picture of transformation, from a man who persecuted and killed Christians to a man Jesus used more than any other to build His church.
Another significant individual to hear the gospel message was a Roman centurion Cornelius who lived in Caesarea. Prior to the conversion of Cornelius to Christianity, the Church was made up of Jewish Christians. Cornelius proved to be the first Gentile to accept Christ. When the Holy Spirit filled Cornelius, the Jewish believers were amazed to see a Gentile filled with the Spirit. (Acts 10)
As the gospel spread outside of Palestine, more and more Gentiles received Christ. One example was a woman named Lydia, who lived in the city of Thyatira. The Lord opened her heart to the truth of the gospel as proclaimed by Paul, and she believed, becoming the first citizen of the European continent to believe in Christ. (Acts 16:14-15)
The Life of the Apostle Paul
I. Background and Conversion (c. A.D. 5-40)
A. Born Saul of Tarsus in c. A.D. 5-9
B. Student of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)
C. Roman Citizen
D. Strong Persecutor of the Early Church (Acts 8; Galatians 1:13-14)
E. Was a Pharisee
F. First mentioned as a witness to the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58)
G. Converted to Christianity following direct encounter with Jesus Christ (Acts 9)
II. Early Ministry (c. A.D. 40-48)
A. Damascus
B. Jerusalem
C. Tarsus and Antioch
III. Ministry in Asia Minor, Syria, Macedonia and Achaia (c. A.D. 48-58)
A. First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14)
B. Saul’s name changed to Paul
C. Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15)
D. Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15:36-18)
E. Third Missionary Journey (Act 18:23-21:14)
IV. Imprisonment and Death (c. A.D. 59-64)
A. Paul arrested in Jerusalem (Acts 21)
B. Paul before the Sanhedrin (Acts 23)
C. Paul before Felix (Acts 24)
D. Paul before Festus (Acts 25)
E. Paul before Agrippa (Acts 26)
F. Paul travels to Rome; shipwrecked (Acts 27)
G. Paul arrives in Rome (Acts 28)
H. Paul is executed by Nero c. A.D. 64 (tradition)
Paul’s First Missionary Journey
(c. A.D. 48-50)
Antioch, Syria
Missionary Team
Paul, Barnabas, John Mark
The Purpose of the Missionary Journey
Paul’s First Missionary journey marks the turning point in the early church. To this point, the gospel of Jesus Christ was centered in Jerusalem and Palestine. It is in Acts 13 that Paul begins taking the gospel to the Gentile world. Starting in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas travel northward into Asia Minor. Paul follows the same model of ministry in each location: starting first at the synagogue and then preaching to the Gentiles. Along the way, people are saved and churches are planted.
Places Traveled While on the Journey
|
Antioch, Syria Seleucia Salamis Paphos Perga |
Attalia Antioch, Pisidia Iconium Lystra Derbe |
The Missionary Message
The message of this journey centered on God’s preparation for Christ’s saving ministry through Old Testament times and on Jesus’ death and resurrection (13:16-41). This message met both glad reception (13:48; 14:1, 21) and bitter rejection (13:50; 14:2, 19)[2]
Scriptural Reference
Acts 13:1-14:28
End of the Journey
Antioch, Syria
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
(c. A.D. 50-53)
Origin of the Journey
Antioch, Syria
Missionary Team
Paul, Silas and later joined by Timothy
The Purpose of the Missionary Journey
On His second missionary journey, Paul was accompanied by Silas, and later joined by Timothy at Lystra. When Paul reached Troas, a city on the Aegean sea, he received a vision to go to Macedonia. Paul’s world-changing outreach to the continent of Europe was about to begin. In Athens, Paul preached about the “unknown God.” He stayed in Corinth about a year-and-a-half where he worked at his trade as a tentmaker while preaching every Sabbath. As the gospel was received, churches were planted. Upon his return to Caesarea, he went to Jerusalem to make a report of his work to the other apostles, and then returned to the Hellenistic Christian base at Antioch.
Places Traveled While on the Journey
|
Antioch, Syria Tarsus Derbe Lystra Iconium Antioch, Pisidia Troas Samothrace Neapolis Philippi Amphipolis |
Apollonia Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinth Cenchrea Ephesus Caesarea Jerusalem Antioch, Syria |
The Missionary Message
Paul, Silas, and Timothy took the gospel to towns or cities that included Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. The message was received warmly by some and coolly by others. In several instances there was extreme hostility. More than once Paul faced physical intimidation and outright violence.[3]
Scriptural Reference
Acts 15:36-18:22
End of the Journey
Antioch, Syria
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
(c. A.D. 53-57)
Origin of the Journey
Anticoh, Syria
Missionary Team
Paul, Silas, Timothy
The Purpose of the Missionary Journey
On his third missionary journey, Paul spent two-and-a-quarter years at Ephesus where he was joined by Apollos. As was his regular custom, Paul began his preaching in the synagogues. Once he had established a discipleship he moved to another meeting place where he could reach Gentiles as well. An enraged crowd in Ephesus, fanned by the silversmiths (who made idols), brought his residence there to a close, encouraging him to leave for Macedonia where he tried to patch up quarrels that had erupted in the Corinthian church. On his way home, Paul stopped at Miletas to bid farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus.
Places Traveled While on the Journey
|
Antioch, Syria Tarsus Derbe Lystra Iconium Antioch, Pisidia Ephesus Neapolis Philippi Amphipolis Apollonia Thessalonica Berea Athens |
Corinth Troas Assos Mitylene Samos Troggyllium Miletus Cos Rhodes Patera Tyre Ptolemais Caesarea Jerusalem |
The Missionary Message
In Ephesus, Paul began his longest known continuous ministry in one particular location. Beginning in a synagogue, as was his custom (19:8), Paul preached until opposition forced the disciples to relocate in a lecture hall. Over a span of three years (roughly A.D. 54-57) Paul witnessed miraculous cures (19:11-12), the effect of demonic oppression (19:13-16), and the conversion of many who were formerly involved in occult practices (19:17-20).[4]
Scriptural Reference
Acts 18:23-21:26
End of the Journey
Jerusalem
[1]Bruce L. Shelley, Church History in Plain Language, Updated 2nd ed. (Dallas, Tex.: Word Pub., 1995), 3.
[2]Walter A. Elwell and Robert W. Yarbough, Encountering the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1998), p. 240.
[3]Elwell and Yarbrough, p. 242.
[4]Elwell and Yarbrough, p. 243.