Persecution and Presence
With our third installment of this series, I am reminded of the jaw-dropping moment I first read the book of Acts and truly understood what I was reading. It still brings more conviction to me than any other book of the Bible. The characters Dr. Luke speaks of seem almost fantasy-full to me still. They were truly men and women of God! What was done with seeming ease, is just fairy-tell to so many believers today. In the pages of this historical accounting we see every promise of persecution and pain that Jesus promised these men. Jesus said in Luke 21.12- “But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.” Also in John 15.20 Jesus said, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” They were promised two things that went hand in hand… persecution and presence. He would be present with them while in the persecution. Again, reflecting back to Psalm 23, why would one need someone else in a good time and in a good place? They wouldn’t. That interpretation is relevant only to our present needy-christian style churches. In a dark place and a dark time promises like: ” I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28.20); or “I will never leavethee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13.5) have much more meaning.
In Acts 5.40-41 we read, “And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
40 said, “And to him they agreed.” The to him was Gamaliel, a doctor of the law (34). The they agreed is the counsel of Pharisees and Sadducees. The very same group who convicted Jesus through a series of illegal trials. What Gamaliel said is important to note. The counsel wanted to stone these men to death, which would have been custom for blasphemy. Gamaliel, a respected man, stopped them. If that was the end of this passage that would be cool wouldn’t it?! I mean, God just swooped down and brought a miracle and one of those mean guys stood up among the others and gave some wisdom and stopped the hand of Satan from hurting those godly men doing their godly deeds. After all, God will help you through unscaved in the worst of circumstances… right? No. Not even close. Gamaliel made the appeal, “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (38-39). What followed? 40 says, “…and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.” They were beaten! Kind-of a dark place if you ask me. If someone goes to beating on me, I am not sure I would just sit there and take it, much less would I respond to the circumstance like they did- “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” (40).
God commanded them to work the Great Commission; they did. God led them into this circumstance and allowed for them to be brought to the council; they did. God allowed their life to be spared; they were. God allowed for them to be beaten; they were. But the response convicts me to my core… they rejoiced! I’m floored. I cannot hardly believe it. Their perspective was solely controlled by the Spirit, obviously. They didn’t laugh with hilarity, yippee we got beat! The text of verse 41 allows for the insight on their perspective- “they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” Shame for his name. To be counted worthy to take a beating for Jesus… wow! Today we are such the opposite. If so-called persecution even comes close to our proximity we defend ourselves and raise cane. Where was Jesus in this dark time and dark place? He was with them as He promised! Their flesh would have screamed out and pitched a royal fit! Their soul was more dependent upon the prompting and leadership of the Spirit more than the prompting and leadership of their flesh. They waged war before the war began. They waged war internally first. Persecution is promised…but so is presence. They grew dependent upon the presence and leadership of the Holy Spirit way before this day came. They were dependent upon His promise of His presence before His promise of persecution came. Then as the two converged and came to a point of critical mass, they automatically fell back into their daily fellowship and allowed the One who led them there to lead them through it.
Are you dependent upon His presence now, before the war?