Prepared to face persecution

30th Jul 26 | 04:00

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Acts 16 - Series 04/Episode 14 - Thu, 30th July 2026 - Prepared to face persecution - Acts 16:16-40 - EXPERIENCES AT PHILIPPI - II Corinthians 12:10

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Acts 16:19-21 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. (20) And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; (21) and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe."

The issue that the masters of this slave girl had against Paul and the team was that their money-spinning racket had come to an end. They dragged them to the marketplace and to the authorities and levelled a false accusation against them. Philippi was a Roman colony. The feelings of the native people toward Rome would be one of camouflaged resentment and anger. Here, this crowd was leveraging their being Roman citizens to go against the apostles and shut them down.

These slave masters should have explained to the authorities how the action of the apostles had stopped their vile money-earning business. This, they did not do; instead, they turned the tables on the apostles and accused Paul and the team of teaching customs that were not lawful for them as Romans to observe.

We see that the administrative system was such that all the people, including the magistrates, rose up against Paul and the team. They had them beaten with rods, thrown them into prison, and had the prisoner throw them into the inner prison, and their feet fastened to stocks. There was no inquiry done to find out if what the masters of the slave girl accused the apostles of was justified. Acts 16:22-24 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. (23) And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. (24) Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. These are the realities in our world into which the Lord sends us as His disciples. John 17:18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

How would we have responded had we been there with Paul and his team? How would we have perceived God? Would we have rejoiced in the suffering? Would we have doubted and questioned God?

Yes, we see later in this narrative that Paul challenged the unjust administrative system and confronted them. This is a road for us to travel, but throughout the entire process, the response we see from the apostles to all the evil done to them is praise and worship of God.

Let us look at the response of the early church to suffering. Acts 5:40-42 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (41) So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. (42) And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

The church rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus. The church prayed for boldness in the place of suffering for the name of Jesus. Acts 4:29-31 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, (30) by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." (31) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

The church never questioned God about the unfair and evil way that suffering was meted out to them for preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus. They rejoiced and prayed for boldness. The Lord filled them with boldness, and they continued to preach and teach in the name of Jesus. No amount of wicked and evil way of suffering dispensed on the apostles could stop the church from preaching and teaching Jesus. Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

This is the legacy that we have received from the early church to face all the unfair and wicked ways of suffering that are being piled up on the church in our times. This is the promise of our Lord. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." In Jesus, we have the Shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding. II Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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