Thematic Bible: Instances of persecution
Thematic Bible
Christian ministers » Instances of persecution » Zechariah
Christian ministers » Instances of persecution » Micaiah
Christian ministers » Instances of persecution » Apostles
This aroused bitter indignation among the high priest and his followers who were of the sect of the Sadducees, and they apprehended the apostles, and threw them into the public prison. But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors during the night, and let them out. read more.
He said to them, "Go take your stand in the Temple, and continue to tell the people all the words of this Life." When they heard this they went at early dawn to the Temple, and began to teach. Meantime when the high priest and his followers arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin and all the Council of the Elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch the apostles. But the officers who went did not find them in the prison; so they came back and reported, "The prison we found locked fast, with the guards stationed at the doors, but when they were opened we found no one inside." When the officer in charge of the Temple and the high priest heard these words, they were perplexed concerning them, wondering what would come of it. And some one came and told them that the very men whom they had put in prison were standing in the Temple, and teaching to the people. On this the officer went off with his men and fetched them, not, however, by force, for they were afraid that the people would stone them. So they brought them, and stood them before the Sanhedrin. Then the high priest questioned them. "We strictly forbade you, did we not, to teach about this Name, and here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles said in reply. "We must obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew by hanging him on a tree. "Him God has exalted at his right hand as Prince and Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. "And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." When they heard this they were infuriated, and were minded to kill the apostles; but Gamaliel, a Pharisee, a teacher of the law, and held in honor by all the people, rose from his seat, and ordered the apostles to be put outside for a little while. He said: "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. "Years ago Theudas arose, claiming to be somebody, and was joined by about four hundred men. He was killed, and all of his followers dispersed and annihilated. "After him Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some of the people after him. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. "And now, I say to you, hold aloof from these men. Let them alone; for if this scheme or work be of human origin it will come to nothing; "but if it is from God, you cannot put it down; you may even find yourselves fighting against God." They gave in to him; and called the apostles in, and after flogging them, released them, with instructions not to speak about the name of Jesus. So they left Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name; but not for a single day did they desist from teaching and preaching in the Temple, and in private houses, the Gospel of Jesus, the Messiah.
He said to them, "Go take your stand in the Temple, and continue to tell the people all the words of this Life." When they heard this they went at early dawn to the Temple, and began to teach. Meantime when the high priest and his followers arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin and all the Council of the Elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch the apostles. But the officers who went did not find them in the prison; so they came back and reported, "The prison we found locked fast, with the guards stationed at the doors, but when they were opened we found no one inside." When the officer in charge of the Temple and the high priest heard these words, they were perplexed concerning them, wondering what would come of it. And some one came and told them that the very men whom they had put in prison were standing in the Temple, and teaching to the people. On this the officer went off with his men and fetched them, not, however, by force, for they were afraid that the people would stone them. So they brought them, and stood them before the Sanhedrin. Then the high priest questioned them. "We strictly forbade you, did we not, to teach about this Name, and here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles said in reply. "We must obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew by hanging him on a tree. "Him God has exalted at his right hand as Prince and Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. "And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." When they heard this they were infuriated, and were minded to kill the apostles; but Gamaliel, a Pharisee, a teacher of the law, and held in honor by all the people, rose from his seat, and ordered the apostles to be put outside for a little while. He said: "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. "Years ago Theudas arose, claiming to be somebody, and was joined by about four hundred men. He was killed, and all of his followers dispersed and annihilated. "After him Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some of the people after him. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. "And now, I say to you, hold aloof from these men. Let them alone; for if this scheme or work be of human origin it will come to nothing; "but if it is from God, you cannot put it down; you may even find yourselves fighting against God." They gave in to him; and called the apostles in, and after flogging them, released them, with instructions not to speak about the name of Jesus. So they left Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name; but not for a single day did they desist from teaching and preaching in the Temple, and in private houses, the Gospel of Jesus, the Messiah.
Christian ministers » Instances of persecution » Peter
And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (This was during the days of unleavened bread.) He had him arrested and thrown in prison, and put under guard of sixteen soldiers. He intended, after the Passover, to bring him forth to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God was made by the church for him. read more.
Now when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that very night, while Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison, suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him saying, "Rise up quickly." At once the chains dropped from his hands. "Gird yourself," said the angel, "and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said unto him, "Throw your cloak about you, and follow me." So Peter went out, following him, but did not realize that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he was seeing a vision. And when they had passed the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led to the city. This opened to them of its own accord; and they went out passed on through one street; and suddenly the angel left him. Peter, coming to himself, said, "Now I know for a certainty that the Lord has sent his angel and released me from the hand of Herod, and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating." So, after he had thought things over, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where a large number of people were assembled, praying. When he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid servant named Rhoda came to answer. And when she recognized Peter's voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing in front of the gate. "You are mad," they said. But she confidently insisted that it was so. "It is his angel," they said. Meanwhile Peter continued to knock, until at last they opened the door, and were amazed to see that it was really he. He motioned to them to keep quiet, and told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell all this to James," he said, "and to the brothers," and away he went to another place. When morning came there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what could possibly have become of Peter. Then Herod had search made for him, and could not find him. After sharply questioning the guards, he ordered them off to execution. He then went down from Judea to Caesarea, where he stayed for some time.
Now when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that very night, while Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison, suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him saying, "Rise up quickly." At once the chains dropped from his hands. "Gird yourself," said the angel, "and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said unto him, "Throw your cloak about you, and follow me." So Peter went out, following him, but did not realize that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he was seeing a vision. And when they had passed the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led to the city. This opened to them of its own accord; and they went out passed on through one street; and suddenly the angel left him. Peter, coming to himself, said, "Now I know for a certainty that the Lord has sent his angel and released me from the hand of Herod, and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating." So, after he had thought things over, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where a large number of people were assembled, praying. When he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid servant named Rhoda came to answer. And when she recognized Peter's voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing in front of the gate. "You are mad," they said. But she confidently insisted that it was so. "It is his angel," they said. Meanwhile Peter continued to knock, until at last they opened the door, and were amazed to see that it was really he. He motioned to them to keep quiet, and told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell all this to James," he said, "and to the brothers," and away he went to another place. When morning came there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what could possibly have become of Peter. Then Herod had search made for him, and could not find him. After sharply questioning the guards, he ordered them off to execution. He then went down from Judea to Caesarea, where he stayed for some time.