Read Acts 18.
The current world-wide persecution of believers in Jesus is little reported in
the news and, in fact, is not new.
Such reactions to the proclamation of the gospel are recorded in many of the
chapters in the book of Acts. Peter and John were arrested and even
beaten. Their crimes were healing a lame man and preaching that Jesus is
the only way to be saved from sin. Deacon Stephen was the first recorded
martyr of the church. His crime was preaching Jesus. Many believers
fled Judea due to persecution, fearing for their lives. Saul pursued them
in order to arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem. Then, he became
the object of assassination attempts by religious leaders.
The Apostle James was beheaded. Paul and Barnabas were met with
opposition wherever they went. Paul was stoned by the Jews in Lystra and
left for dead. Paul and Silas were arrested in Philippi and beaten.
In Thessalonica, a mob ran them out of town. Jason and other
believers were detained and let go only after they paid money.
Claudius, the Roman Emperor from 41-54 A.D., "commanded all Jews to leave
Rome". Aquila and Priscilla, a godly and spiritually mature Jewish
couple, found their way to Corinth. Then, joining Paul in ministry with others,
they again experienced persecution. By verse 12, it became a "united
attack" as the group of believers were brought before Gallio, the
proconsul. Their crime was that they believed Jesus to be the Messiah.
Despite the fact that the case was dismissed as malicious prosecution,
the revilers publicly beat Sosthenes. The government stood by and did
nothing.
Christian pilgrims left various parts of Europe and sailed to the new world due
to religious persecution. The organizing of several states in the
colonies were for the express purpose of protecting Christian beliefs.
(For examples, see the history of the founding of Virginia and Rhode
Island.) Today, the United States, once the world leader of freedom and
individual rights, is on the verge of attempting to force Biblical Christians
to not only accept sinful behaviors but to publicly participate and approve
them.
Are we disappointed? Often. Yet, wherever the good news of Jesus is
presented lives are eternally changed. There is no reason for the ones
who have committed themselves to Christ to be discouraged. Our hope and
peace was never in this world. The Scriptures have well-prepared us,
including the final chapters of earth's story. "I have said these
things to you, that in me (Jesus) you may have peace. In the world you
will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
(John 16:33)
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