The church of God has always had to endure persecution. Her history is written in the blood of faithful martyrs. Sometimes the persecution is fierce, sometimes more subtle, but it is always there. Usually, the persecution comes not from profligate, base men, but from devout, religious men. The bloodiest persecutions in history have been executed in the name of God! Until Christ comes again, the persecution will not cease (John 15:18, 20; Matt. 10:22).

In Acts 5:17-42 the Holy Spirit gives us a brief description of the second persecution of the church after the resurrection of Christ. (The first was in Acts 4:1-22). Why were these men of God thrown into prison? Why did the religious leaders of their nation want to murder them? The Apostles had not held any political rallies, trying to overthrow the liberal Roman government. They had broken no laws. They were not raising a social protest. They were not even crusading against pornography, prostitution, and homosexuality, the common social ills of their day. They were being persecuted for only one reason - Preaching the gospel of Christ! That is all. They plainly exposed the evil of man's depraved heart, declared the necessity of a Substitute, proclaimed the forgiveness of sins by the grace of God through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and pressed upon all men the claims of Christ, the risen, sovereign Lord. They had also committed the terrible evil of improving their society by healing the sick and teaching their followers to live in righteousness and peace! For these things, and these things alone, they were persecuted, imprisoned, beaten, and threatened with death!

Here are six lessons which the Holy Spirit intends for us to learn from this brief history of the church's second persecution at Jerusalem.

First, THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS AN OFFENSE TO MEN (vv. 17-18). This persecution was primarily instigated and carried out by the sect of the Sadducees. They were the liberal, freethinking, broad-minded, religious gentlemen of the day. They did not agree with the fanatical Pharisees. They disapproved of the philosophical pagans. Yet, they were tolerant of both. However, when the Apostles came preaching the gospel of Christ, these nice, religious men were filled with rage and ready to kill! The fact is, broad-minded religionists are broad-minded enough to accept any form of religion that leaves salvation in the hands of man; but the message of salvation by grace alone through the merits of Christ, the sinner's crucified Substitute, is an offense to them (Gal. 5:11). The gospel of Christ is offensive to all, except those who are saved by it (I Cor. 1:23-24; Rom. 1:15-17).

Second, THE HOLY SPIRIT HERE SHOWS US THAT GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS OWN (vv. 19-26). It is written in the Scriptures, "Them that honor me I will honor" (I Sam. 2:30). If we belong to God, if we serve the interests of his kingdom, if we are seeking his will and his glory, we have no reason to fear any man. "If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).

"So now the future holds no fear, God guards the work begun,

And mortals are immortal here, Until their work is done!"

Until a believer's work on earth is done, so long as he can be useful in the cause of Christ, until his appointed days are fulfilled and the Lord calls him home, he can be assured of these three things:

1. God will direct his path (Prov. 3:5-6).
2. God will protect his life (Heb. 13:5-6).
3. God will supply his needs (Psa. 34:10).

Third, THE SPIRIT OF GOD HERE SHOWS US THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY BELIEVER IN THIS WORLD TO OBEY GOD (vv. 27-32). The proof of faith in Christ is obedience to him. The fruit of God given faith is obedience to God (I John 5:1-3). Hebrews 11 is faith's hall of fame. It records the great deeds of faith performed by men and women in obedience to God. The Apostles followed their example. When they were commanded not to preach the gospel of Christ, they not only said they must continue to do so, but they preached Christ to their persecutors. And they did it publicly! They did not consider the consequences of their actions. They knew their duty and they did it. That is faith in action. Our lives, our course of action at any given point in life, must be determined by four things:

1. What does the Word of God require of me?
2. What is the will of God in my present situation?
3. What will best serve the glory of God?
4. What is in the best interest of God's people?

Fourth, THE SPIRIT OF GOD TEACHES THAT GOD'S TRUTH CANNOT BE SILENCED, GOD'S CAUSE CANNOT BE DEFEATED, AND GOD'S KINGDOM CANNOT BE OVERTHROWN (vv. 33-40). What an encouraging lesson this is! The truth of God, the cause of God, and the kingdom of God are not in anyway dependent upon men and circumstances! If God is in a thing, if it is of God, it will be successful. Nothing can stop it. God will even use the counsel of Gamaliel to preserve his work!

There is much in these verses of Scripture for the comfort and encouragement of every preacher and every congregation of believers. God's man in God's place doing God's work will be maintained by God's hand. There is no need for compromise, fear, or even hesitation. God will promote the gospel we preach by the power of his Spirit. He will provide for the needs of his church by the hand of his providence (Ezra 4:2-3; Gen. 14:22-23). God will protect his cause in this world (Ezra 8:22-23).

Fifth, learn this lesson - IT IS AN HONOR FOR ANYONE TO SERVE THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN THIS WORLD, EVEN IF YOUR SERVICE IS TO SUFFER FOR THE HONOR OF HIS NAME (v. 41). Shortly after I was converted, I was asked to serve as the janitor at our church. I counted it an honor to keep the house of God clean and comfortable as a place where sinners could hear the gospel and worship Christ. It is a great mercy and honor that now I am called to preach the gospel of Christ. If I am counted worthy of suffering abuse, reproach, and scorn for doing so, that too is my honor. I am astonished that God is pleased to use me in any way for his honor!

Sixth, WE ARE HERE TAUGHT THAT OUR ONE BUSINESS AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS WORLD IS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Those Apostles were given an angelic commission (vv. 19, 20) and they were obedient to it (v. 42). You and I have the same commission. Every man and woman who is born of God is a missionary sent by God into the world to preach the gospel. Not all are called and gifted to be public preachers. (No woman is allowed to do that - I Tim. 2:11-12). But all who have seen Christ are his witnesses. All who know him are to proclaim him (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

God has chosen to save sinners by using saved sinners to tell them of his great grace in Christ (Matt. 22:8-9; Lk. 14:21-23; John 1:35-45). "Go, and speak to the people all the words of this life!"

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