Jesus said His followers would endure persecution (Matthew 5:10-11). He urged those following him to not fear those who could, at most, kill the body but not destroy the soul, but rather fear God, who could cast both soul and body into hell (Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:4). These passages reveal that persecution can range from angry, insulting criticism and false testimony all the way to death.
The Lord indicated persecution began not long after the creation of the world when Cain killed Abel because of his offering by faith (Matthew 23:35). The Savior’s Sermon on the Mount served to remind the listeners that God’s Old Testament spokesmen had suffered persecution (5:12). A brief summary of things they endured is found in Hebrews 11:36-38.
God’s Son said persecution is an inevitable result of giving up all for the sake of the Gospel (Mark 10:29-30). He described those with stony ground hearts as stumbling because of persecution (Matthew 13:20-21). Following Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Son of God, our Lord forewarned His disciples of His impending persecution and death (Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31-33). He spoke of those upcoming events again during a stay in Galilee (17:22-23).
Persecution of the early church began with casting Peter and John in prison and bringing them before the Sanhedrin. They were threatened and warned not to teach again in the name of Jesus. Rapid church growth led to all of the apostles being arrested, imprisoned, put on trial, beaten and warned not to preach in Jesus’ name (Acts 4:1-22; 5:17-40). Stephen was stoned for preaching the truth, and great persecution followed (7:54-8:1). Paul boasted of the faith and patience of the church in Thessalonica because it held up while they endured persecutions (2 Thessalonians 1:4).
The Jews stirred people up against Paul and Barnabas, expelling them from the region of Pisidia (13:50). The apostle made it clear that persecution could not separate Christians from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35). He took pleasure in persecution because the strength of God could be shown in his time of physical weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10). Timothy’s father in the Gospel reminded him of the things he suffered and went on to say, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:11-12).
Persecution is real, but it cannot keep God’s people out of heaven. Praise God!
