THE LIVING CHURCH
Meditations in the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 17:5-9

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FOLLOWING ON from the previous four verses we find that the Jews, not only wishing to refuse belief in the Gospel themselves, did not wish anyone else to believe. No doubt they justified the opposition in their minds by saying they were defending the truth, and then defended the way they went about it by saying that the end justifies the means. Yet the truth is given in the passage. The Jews were jealous of the success of the ministry of Paul. Perhaps the synagogue was not too well attended in the normal way, yet when Paul came the place was full. It is so easy to find jealousy clouding our judgement and driving us into evil opposition against God's work. Jealousy is a very powerful weapon in the armoury of Satan. He can usually get good results, from his point of view, from exciting this sinful trait in people.

We have in this incident of the persecution and brutal treatment of Jason, and some other believers, an example of the hate of the world which Jesus warns us about in John 15:18-25. We tend to think of the world as the really bad and evil people. We don't expect religious people to be of the world in this respect. The fact is that being religious and moral outwardly as the Jews were in Thessalonica does not mean that a person is not of the world and under Satan's dominion. Satan is quite happy with religion and outward morality as long as the heart is not changed. In fact he encourages this because he knows that the result will be that people are more securely held in his toils, and also that he can exploit this morality into self righteous opposition against God. In our own country just over 200 years ago, some Anglican clergy acted just like these Jews here, and stirred up the mob to attack and harm the preachers in the evangelical revival.

No doubt Jason, and the other Christians with him, never expected this sort of suffering when they believed, but as Jesus warned his disciples in John 15, the world under Satan's dominion is implacably against God and the Gospel, and the greater the attack on Satan's kingdom by the preaching of the Gospel, the more virulent will be the hate of the world. If we would serve Christ faithfully and be witnesses, we must not be surprised when we find opposition and persecution.

We have here what it means to bear our cross. Jesus spoke to his disciples and taught them that if we would follow him we must take up the cross. The cross is this persecution and harm that comes to us when we are serving Jesus and doing good. Our cross is nothing to do with sickness, or problems with neighbours, or the hundred and one problems all humanity is prone to. Our cross is those troubles and hurts which come to us because of our service and following of Jesus. Our cross is the expressions of the hate of the world against the Gospel. Just as Jason found that the cross he had to bear was persecution which was malicious and unjust, so we will find the same. This must not put us off serving Jesus.

The fact is that Jesus is particularly near his people in such suffering, and he brings us through safely, one way or another. Here we see this happening in the fact that the authorities began to realise what dangerous ground they were on if they supported this rioting against Jason and the church, and took responsibility in freeing Jason and his friends. However severely the trials which a Christian may have to suffer in following Jesus, we are always under the direct care and protection of the Lord, and he will bring us safely through, and at last, bring us safely to his heavenly home. Let us not fear but go forward in the strength of the Lord.