Early Enemies of Christianity #2

Jesus made a most powerful statement that must have shocked his fellow Jews at that time when He said that many from far away places would sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God. But that the "sons of the kingdom" (meaning the His own people right there) would be cast out into outer darkness where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 8:11-12).

Matthew records that in order to cover up the reality of Christ’s resurrection, the Jewish elders (Sanhedrin) plotted to bribe the soldiers to say that "his disciples came and stole the body." They even said they would cover for the soldiers if they got in trouble for saying it happened while they slept (Matt. 28:12-15). This story made the rounds among the Jewish people for quite some time. Later Christian thinkers began to say that it would not make sense for His disciples to suffer even death for something they knew to be false if they had stolen the body!

The early Christians were all Jews and considered themselves a part of Judaism at that time. They went to the temple to pray but used the name of Jesus to perform healings (Acts 3). Even after a major healing the disciples of Christ were commanded not to talk or speak about His name (Acts 4:18). The Sadduccees especially were upset because the disciples were referring to the resurrection of the dead.

They were thrown in prison but God took them out. They continue to preach in Christ’s name though threatened. They were finally beaten and had it not been for Gamaliel’s admonition to his fellow Jews they would have been slain (Acts 5:14-42). When Stephen was ordained he was so full of faith and power that he did many miracles among the people. So, men from the Hellenistic branch of the Jews put up false witness to say that Stephen spoke blasphemous words against Moses and against God. As a result he was ultimately stoned to death (Acts 6:8-15; 7:54-60).

After the death of Stephen a major persecution broke out against the disciples of Christ led by Saul of Tarsus (Acts 8:1-5). The Bible describes Saul like a dragon "breathing out threatening and slaughter"(9:1). He even initiated going to Damascus to persecute the disciples. But it was on that road that Christ converted him. Now he began to preach what he once had destroyed. Immediately there was a plot by Jews to kill him (9:20-31).

Peter was brought into contact with Gentiles who were God-fearers but who were not circumcised. The structure of the early synagogues was such that male circumcised Jews sat in the most prominent area by themselves. Gentiles who had been converted to Judaism and had been circumcised as full converts sat in the next most prominent section. The Jewish women sat in a section by themselves. And then there was the least prominent section reserved for those who had come to honor, reverence and fear the God of Israel but who had not taken the agonizing step as males to be circumcised. These were called "God-fearers." Cornelius was such a man.

The Bible calls him a devout man who feared God (a God-fearer). He prayed to God and gave money to the poor in the synagogue. God sent an angel to him who told him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God." He was then told to send for Peter who was in Joppa. After a perplexing vision Peter came to Cornelius and entered his house and had a meal with him. While there the Holy Spirit came on Cornelius and his family and they were baptized immediately following the receiving of the Holy Spirit. But Peter got into trouble for entering into the house of one who was not circumcised and partaking of their hospitality by eating the food they served. Why?

Because uncircumcised Gentiles, even though they were God fearers, were looked on as perpetually unclean. You see, because they were not allowed to partake of the rules of the covenant, they had no access to the temple and to the priests. Therefore, they had no way of becoming clean. Thus, everything they touched was "common" or "unclean." Everything they served was considered by the Jews common or unclean. No strict law-keeping Jew would ever enter into such a house as they would become ceremonially unclean.

Peter did and was called on the carpet for it (Acts 11:2-3) Once he explained everything and told them that he could not go against God, they were amazed exclaiming, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life"(RSV).

In our next Sabbath Thoughts we'll see how Paul continued to be persecuted in his visits to various synagogues throughout the Roman world and just who the main persecutors were!