Read: Acts 17:1-15
These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also. (v. 6)
Jesus had made a foreboding promise to his disciples: “I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33 NRSV) Jesus’s closest followers would endure unimaginable hardships for the sake of the gospel. They would have multiple opportunities to reflect on Jesus’s prophecy for their lives.
But Jesus also promised them a blessing. Do you remember these words of Jesus in Matthew 5? “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (vv. 11-12).
On a personal level, I’ve never known the kind of persecution the disciples knew. I’ve sometimes wondered if I was living boldly enough. But I’ve had many students over the years, mostly African students, who have felt the bitter sting of the whip, the searing pain of being beaten with rods, and certainly knew the struggle of limited food and water. I’ve always held them in the highest regard and rejoiced in their testimony to the faithfulness of God. Through their testimonies and hardships they’ve turned their part of the world “upside down.” Let their testimony inspire you to be bold today.
As you pray, ask Jesus, who suffered much, to give you the grace to endure in faith.
Dr. Timothy Brown is the Henry Bast Professor of Preaching and President Emeritus at Western Theological Seminary where he served from 1995-2021. Tim continues to actively coach and encourage former students and pastors who seek help in their preaching life and he has become a certified public school substitute teacher so that he can continue investing in the lives of young people. He is married to Nancy and together they have three children and ten grandchildren.
