Acts 5: 41-42

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The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Just like Jesus before them, Peter and the apostles found themselves at odds with Jewish authorities. And again, their conflict led to enduring physical violence. In that moment, Jesus’ reminder to them—“If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also,”—was fulfilled. But the apostles weren’t woeful or discouraged. The account in Acts records the opposite: they rejoiced because they were “counted worthy” to suffer for Jesus’ name. Not only that, but they weren’t deterred from their mission of preaching about Jesus—the very task that led them into suffering.

In most cases, we won’t experience physical suffering for sharing the gospel in our country today. We may experience negative consequences, like relationships ending or ridicule, and we may be tempted to proclaim the Name a little less loudly because of it. Instead, we can follow in the example of the apostles who knew this news was too good not to share and even to suffer for.

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Take a moment to reflect

1 // Have you been met with challenges that tempt you to give up on Jesus’ mission?

2 // Do you fear repercussions for sharing the gospel? How can you change your perspective as the apostles did?