1. BIBLICAL RESPONSES TO PERSECUTION

     

    *According to the following examples in the Scripture there can be different responses to persecution when it occurs.  How to response depends upon the direction of the Holy Spirit and the sovereignty of God.

     

    1. Time to go to jail! (Acts 4:3) “They laid hands on them(Peter and John)and put them in hold.”
    2. Time to defy the authorities! (Acts 4:18-21) “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
    3. Time to go to prison! (Acts 5:18) “And they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”
    4. Time to break out of prison! (Acts 5:19) “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them(12 apostles)forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the Temple to the people all the words of this life.”
    5. Time to ignore the authorities! (Acts 5:29) “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
    6. Time to be beaten! (Acts 5:40-42) “When they had beaten the apostles, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  And they(apostles)departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
    7. Time to die as a martyr! (Acts 7:59-60) “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
    8. Time to scatter abroad! (Acts 8:1a, 4) “And Saul was consenting unto his death.  And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria…Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
    9. Time for leaders to remain under persecution! (Acts 8:1b) “All scattered abroad except the apostles.”
    10. Time for men and women to go to prison! (Acts 8:3) “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”
    11. Time to escape in a basket! (Acts 9:23-25) “And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul.  And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.”
    12. Time for apostles to become martyrs! (Acts 12:1-2) “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”
    13. Time for apostles to go to prison! (Acts 12:3-4) “Herod proceeded furtherto take Peter also.  And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”
    14. Time for apostles to escape prison! (Acts 12:5, 7-8) “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.  That same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly.  And his chains fell off from his hands…”
    15. Time to witness in jail! (Acts 16:25) “And at midnight Paul and Silas
    16. prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
    17. Time for apostles to appeal to higher authority! (Acts 21:27; 22:24) “The Jews stirred up the people and laid hands on Paul.  The chief captain commanded Paul to be bound, scourged and imprisoned and Paul appealed to Caesar.”
    18. Time to use house arrest to preach the gospel! (Acts 28:30) “Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

     

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