Sermon Cloud

Acts 4:1-31 tells of the outcome of the miracle by Peter and John when they healed the lame beggar. Peter had shortly before delivered his first sermon (at Pentecost) and when the spreading of the news of Jesus's resurrection, and the miracle carried out by Peter and John became known to the Sadducees, the apostles were taken before the Sanhedrin to account for their preaching of the gospel. However, Jesus had equipped His apostles to expect the persecution they faced. This served as the first persecution that the early church experienced. This account demonstrates that a believer can expect to be persecuted when the gospel is boldy shared with others - when we strive to be faithful to share the gospel. But we should rejoice in knowing that the church is the most amazing and invincible organism ever created by God. In fact, the church has grown as a direct result, and in direct proportion to the amount of persecution brought upon it. Indeed, persecution is all part of God's plan for growing the church.