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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.
- Time to go to jail! (Acts 4:3) “They laid hands on them(Peter and John)and put them in
hold.”
- 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.”
- Time to go to prison! (Acts 5:18) “And they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in
the common prison.”
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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.
- 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.”
- 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.”
- Time for leaders to
remain under persecution! (Acts 8:1b) “All
scattered abroad except the apostles.”
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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…”
- Time to witness in
jail! (Acts 16:25) “And at midnight Paul and Silas
- prayed, and sang
praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
- 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.”
- 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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