How do we respond in the face of opposition?

Icon of the Pentecost (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Acts 5:12–42
“But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ‘Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.’ And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.” Acts 5:17–21

According to the World Watch List, there are twenty-seven countries in the world today where Christians experience “severe” to “extreme” persecution. Most of us in the western world have never experienced opposition of this magnitude, but being challenged for speaking the truth of the gospel is hardly uncommon, even for those of us who enjoy laws protecting our religious freedom. Whether it’s workplace policies that prohibit talk of Jesus, ridicule from friends and family for expressing our faith, or opposition to church involvement in local affairs, Christians are still often asked to remain silent when it comes to sharing the gospel of grace through faith in Jesus.

Up to this point in the book of Acts, life has been fairly peaceful for the early church. They had been filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, enabling them to spontaneously communicate with people from other nations. They witnessed supernatural healing of all the sick who were brought to their community. The church was growing in leaps and bounds with new believers being added every day. Other than Peter and John’s brief imprisonment and the subsequent warning to stop spreading the gospel, we have no indication that any physical opposition to their teaching had yet come. Miracle after miracle continued to characterize the apostles’ ministry.

Imagine seeing these amazing signs and wonders day in and day out . . . but suddenly something changes. The apostles are introduced to persecution at the hands of the religious and political leaders (i.e., the high priest and the Sadducees) for publicly preaching the gospel. It’s really no surprise that when God moves powerfully, Satan is there to oppose the church at every turn, using whatever means necessary to bring discouragement. The apostles were imprisoned; when that didn’t hold them back, they were again retained, and this time beaten. But their firm belief in the message of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins was stronger than their desire for physical comfort and safety. Even in the face of difficulty, the apostles pressed on, through the power of the Spirit, and continued speaking boldly.
Observation

Read this week’s Scripture passage and make some observations about the apostles’ message, the resistance it received, and how they were ultimately undeterred.
What message were the apostles teaching?
Why were the high priest and Sadducees so opposed to their message? Where were the apostles teaching, and why was this a threat to the council?
For what purpose did the angel of the Lord release the apostles from jail?
What kept the apostles from being killed, thus enabling them to continue  teaching about Jesus? Why was this an unlikely way for them to be spared from death? (Read Matthew 12:1–13 and John 18:1–12.)  

From the beginning of time, God had a plan for the salvation of his people. While we can glean much from this section on its own, it is really part of a greater story—one that started long before the apostles arrived on the scene, and one that involves us today.

Read Psalm 65 and Isaiah 46:6. What has God’s plan been for his people, both Jews and Gentiles, all along?
Read Acts 1:8. According to this verse, for what purpose was the power of the Spirit given?
What does this week’s passage tell us about God’s dedication to this plan? In what ways do you see the Holy Spirit actively working to ensure that the gospel was preached?
What assurance does this give us for our ministries today?
According to the ESV Study Bible, the beating described in verse 40 would  have likely included up to thirty-nine lashings, with a whip made of calf ’s hide, on each of the apostles’ bare backs and chests. Why do you think the apostles walked away from being scourged like this, “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name”?

Application

Like the apostles, we too have the privilege of participating in God’s plan to expand his church through proclamation of the gospel. And while it’s unlikely that most of us will experience the severe opposition the apostles did, we still expect to face resistance.

The same Holy Spirit who worked miracles through the apostles (vv. 12–16) is the same Spirit who empowers Jesus’ mission of bold gospel proclamation (Acts 1:8). How can you specifically ask the Holy Spirit to come upon you so you are the kind of witness Jesus is calling you to be?

Have you experienced hostility of any kind toward your belief in the gospel? How does your own salvation and conviction that Jesus is “exalted . . . at [God’s] right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31) give you confidence to press on?
In what ways have you been fearful of sharing the gospel? Does the knowledge that the Holy Spirit actively works to bring salvation to God’s people affect this?

In what ways do you relate or not relate to the apostles’ rejoicing in the face of resistance?

When the church is on mission and the gospel is proclaimed, the church will experience difficulty. Our enemy is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Have you experienced opposition to the gospel? Personal difficulty or trials? Be mindful of the schemes of the enemy and take time to pray for strength and endurance for one another.