Can you remember a time when you were treated unjustly because you were a Christian, trying to do the right thing? Maybe you were mocked or made fun of. Maybe you were ostracized and discredited. Maybe you were overlooked, uninvited, or humiliated for no other reason than trying to do what Christ would have you do. To those of you who can relate, Jesus says this,

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)  

In Matthew 5:10 we stand face to face with a teaching of Jesus Christ that at first glance doesn’t make much sense to us. How can persecution be a blessing? To understand, let’s first consider the idea of blessing.

Blessing is that settled, restful place in the Christian life, where one walks with God, as their full confidence. The rock that their life is built upon. The peace that passes all understanding. Where all their needs are met in Christ. It is living in total submission because God is near, in control, and faithful in all things. It is knowing that we no longer have to turn to the world to meet our needs because our Provider lives within. Blessing is when we walk by His side and His favor is upon us.

Though it may surprise us, at times persecution is even a tool in the hand of a holy God to usher greater blessing into our lives.

Let us look at an example of this in Acts 4.

To understand Acts 4:1-31 we first need to remember what had happened in the previous chapter.

John and Peter went to the temple to pray. As they entered the temple, they encountered a disabled man who had been lame since birth. Every day he was carried and left at the gate of the temple to beg for money, hoping that lovers of God would also be lovers of their fellowman who were in need. 

The scriptures tell us that the disabled man asked them for money. In response Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Peter then took the man by the hand and the disabled man jumped to his feet and walked. . . and then jumped. They proceeded into the temple where the formerly disabled man clung to Peter and John walking and jumping and proclaiming the praises of God before all the people. 

Scriptures tell how “all the people were astonished and came running to them.” Peter then took the opportunity to proclaim the name of Jesus and salvation that could be found in Him. 

All of this took place as they had entered the temple gate called Beautiful. This was the gate that led from the Court of the Gentiles into the Court of the (Jewish) Women. The Court of the Gentiles was the largest temple court where men and women, Jews and Gentiles could enter. This is the area where the sacrificial animals were sold and the money-changers had their booths. This area of the temple was always filled with crowds of people. 

It was here that the healed man was praising God and where Peter began to preach about Jesus Christ to the crowds that had gathered.

This is where today’s scripture in Acts 4 begins.

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

Peter and John were familiar with the spiritual climate of Jerusalem. Yes, the Holy Spirit had come at Pentecost but those who had crucified Jesus were still in power. Although there was threat of persecution their love for Christ and the miracle that had just occurred had fanned the flame of the gospel in their lives. Peter had to preach, proclaiming the name of Jesus. 

It was probably much like what the prophet Jeremiah had written centuries before, 

“His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” (Jeremiah 20:9)

They had to preach. In the past we read how they argued about who was the greatest and who would sit at Christ’s right hand, selfishly seeking their own glory, but now the Holy Spirit had come. Their desires had been transformed. Now they treasured Christ more than life itself.

As Peter and John surrendered their well-being on the altar of God, the Holy Spirt took their faith and their sacrifice and drew many to Himself. At Pentecost 3,000 had believed. As they cared for one another in Acts 2 it says that people were being saved daily. Now, as Peter preached in the temple courts the number of believers grew to 5,000. 

Can you imagine being so overcome by the love and the beauty of Christ that you can’t help but share it with others, because you do not want them to miss out on all that you had found in Christ? That was the heart of Peter and John.

Acts 4:5-7 then continued.

5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

It is interesting here. In John 18:15, on the night of Jesus’ arrest, we read, “Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.” This disciple was John and even though he was a simple fisherman from Galilee he somehow was known by the high priest in Jerusalem. 

In these verses Peter and John were brought before the 71-member Sanhedrin, equivalent to a Jewish Supreme court. It was made up of scribes, experts in the law, Pharisees, elders and influential members of the high priests’ family. The Sanhedrin was led by the High Priest.

In centuries past the high priesthood was hereditary, passed down to the next generations and held for life. In the Romans time all of that changed. The High Priest in Christ’s time was more characterized by bribery, corruption and intrigue. Their only goal was to stay in power and keep the peace so the Romans would let them keep their positions. This supreme court was not a bastion of justice. It was known more for its pride and corruption.

The questioning then began, “By what power or what name did you do this?” Another way to say that is, by whose authority do you teach these things?

We can remember some of Jesus’ final words in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

As the apostles went out to give witness to Jesus as the Christ, they would be going out as ambassadors in the authority of Christ. All authority in heaven and on earth is his, theirs and ours as we join Him in what He is doing. Ambassadors never speak on their own behalf or agenda. They are merely a spokesperson for their king or president. They carry no message of their own, but they do carry the authority of the ruler which they represent. 

We might be able to ask the same question of ourselves. Whether we are ministering inside or outside the church, in whose authority are we doing it? Can we honestly say that we are living at such a level of obedience and humility with Christ that His hand is upon us and we are truly ministering in the authority of His name. Or are we ministering in our own strength, depending on our own abilities, our own strategies and seeking our own glory?

Peter and John were preaching in the name of Jesus Christ, but the authority came not from the quality of the sermon, but from the faithfulness of their lives. 

We then read Acts 4:8-11.

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

Peter, the Galilean fisherman, stood before the most powerful people in all of Judaism, and spoke boldly on account of Christ. He was committed to the truth more than his safety or his image.

He first verified an undeniable truth. The lame man is healed. Peter then goes on to declare them guilty of Jesus’ death and the fact that God raised him from the dead. Peter then connected it to a prophecy that had been written by Isaiah centuries before. “‘The stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’” 

When constructing a building one of the important early steps was to find a cornerstone. It had to be a stone that was big, strong, and straight because it would be the foundation and starting point for all the measurements for the construction. Spiritually speaking Peter was telling them that the “Cornerstone had been here and you totally missed Him.”

Isaiah 28:16–17 said it like this. 

“So, this is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line.’” 

Peter was using prophecy to help the Jewish leaders see who Jesus was. He then finished this short gospel presentation declaring Jesus as the Messiah that they all were waiting for.

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

There is no other gospel. Many would have us think that there are other gospels, or even different paths to God but that is not so. Some would respond, “How can you say that? Why are you against everyone else?!” We are not against anyone else, but we are for Christ. We are for everyone, but we firmly believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Because of that we all desperately need the forgiveness of sin that is only found in Jesus Christ.  Our love for God and true love for man demands that we not back away from the claims of Christ. Otherwise all is lost. He is the only one who came from heaven, lived a perfect life, willingly laid down his life on a Roman cross to pay for our sin, and was raised from the dead, defeating death and the grave. How can we do anything less? To step back and be politically correct denies Christ and disproves any claim of love that we have for our fellow man.

Those in the Sanhedrin were either looking for another kind of Messiah or so focused on protecting their place in society that they had no eyes to see that Jesus the Messiah had come.

In Acts 4:13 we then read, 

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

The most convincing proof of the existence of Christ is a Christian life well-lived. Peter and John lived in such a way that those in the Sanhedrin noted that they had been with Jesus. Do those around us take note that we walk with Jesus? When they did or when they do find out that we are Christians are they going to be surprised or is that finally going to help them make sense of the way that you live?

The Sanhedrin had no idea what to do with this type of faith. Acts 4:18 then shows us their response. 

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

It must have been quite a scene. The most powerful court confronting two simple fisherman who had become spiritual giants. Surely a threat of bodily harm would be good enough, but instead the Sanhedrin received a response that many of them never expected. Peter and John refused to stop speaking about Jesus, but wouldn’t it have been easier to obey the Sanhedrin and live a peaceful life?

If we choose to merely live a nominal Christian life, avoiding all conflict, and keeping our spiritual “heads down,” and blending in with the culture around us, of course we will avoid persecution, but at the same time we will be avoiding the blessing of God. 

The story is told of Tertullian who was a prolific early Christian writer who lived in the ancient city of Carthage in what is now Tunisia, sometime around 200 AD. He was born a member of the educated classes, and clearly gained a good education. Life in his time was not very different in some ways to the modern day. He indulged his passions as he saw fit, enjoying an immoral lifestyle, and like everyone else attended the games where gladiators killed each other and criminals were eaten alive by wild animals, for the enjoyment of the spectators.

Among the sights he saw, was that of Christians being executed this way. He was struck with the courage with which stupid and contemptible slave men and little slave girls faced a hideous death, against all nature; and after investigating, became a Christian himself, and turned his talents to writing in defense of this despised and victimized group.

A man once came to him with this problem. He told of the business difficulties that his Christian values were bringing into his life. He ended by saying, "What can I do? I must live!" to which Tertullian responded, "Must you?"

This same conversation can be easily edited to fit our situations.

If I don’t do the ungodly things that my friends do, then they will leave me. Then let them leave.

If I live like Christ in the work place my coworkers will mock me. Then let them mock.

If I don’t take part in these illegal dealings at work then I will lose my job. Then look for another job.

I know this promotion at work will take me away from my family and my church but, if I don’t take this promotion then I’ll never be able to reach my career goals. Then change your career goals.

If I don’t sleep with my boyfriend then he will go find someone else. Then let him go find someone else.

I don´t say this to sound callous or to make little of your struggle. I say this to let you know that you are blessed and are a child of the King. Because of that you are free to walk in righteousness and blessing regardless of what persecution may come. To give into temptation and to turn away from righteousness will result in your forfeiting of the blessing that God intended for you. 

We live as if we have no choice when we do have a choice. We are free to do as God commands. Is it not a question of faith and desire? Who is the Lord and King of our lives? If our allegiance is to Christ, then any other desire that draws us away from Christ will lose its power over us. God has promised to be sufficient for our every need and that includes poverty, rejection, solitude or even death.

We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that all these things shall be added.

Martin Luther, the Reformer from the 1500s once told how a papal envoy threatened him with what would follow if he did not change his course and warned him that in the end he would be left without any supporters. "Where will you be then? asked the envoy. "Then as now," Luther answered, "in the hands of God." This is our confidence.

Acts 4:23-30 then continued.

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

They did not pray for freedom, vengeance, or pain free living. They praised God. They reminded themselves of His sovereignty. They prayed for courage. They did not pretend that they could face this in their own strength; they turned to a power that was not their own. They did not ask for an escape, instead they asked for the boldness to remain and the ability to speak the word.

We conclude with Acts 4:31.

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

They did what God had decided. Even the evil is under God’s dominion. Even the devil cannot function unless God gives him permission. In this situation they could either focus on the threat or they could focus on the LORD who is above all things. As they kept their focus on the sovereignty and dominion of God they were able to find the power of God as they drew near to Him.