Following the murder of Stephen, " great persecution arose agaisnt the congregation that was in Jerusalem; all except the apostles were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria." (Acts 8:1) Did persecution put a stop to Christian witnessing? On the contrary the accoints tells us that " those who had been scattered went to the land declaring the good news of the word." ( Acts 8:4)) They must have felt as the Apostle Peter did when he stated earlier: " We must obey God as ruler rather than men. "( Acts 5:29) In spite of the persecution, those faithful and courageous disciples stuck with the work if bearing witness to the truth, even though they knew that this would to more hardship.__ Acts 11:19-21. Indeed there was no let up as far as hardship must concerned. First we learn that Saul__ the man who approvingly witnesses the stoning of Stephen__" still breathing threat and murder agaisnt the disciples of the Lord, went to high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that, he might bring bound to Jerusalem any whom he dound who belong to the Way, both men and women." __ Acts 9:1,2) Then in about the year 44C.E., " Herod thenKing applied his hands to mistreating some of those of the Congregation. He did away with James the brother of John by the sword."_Acts 12:1,2.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 23:24:51 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015