Courage: Personal Bravery: The Apostles, Under Persecution
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The early Christian apostles exemplified remarkable courage and personal bravery in the face of intense persecution. Their steadfastness in proclaiming the Gospel, despite threats to their lives, serves as a profound testament to their faith and commitment to Christ.

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

In the Book of Acts, Peter and John are arrested for preaching about Jesus and healing in His name. Brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, they are questioned about their authority. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declares, "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed" (Acts 4:8-10). Despite being threatened and commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, Peter and John respond with unwavering courage, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20).

Stephen, the First Martyr

Stephen, one of the first deacons of the early church, displayed extraordinary bravery as he faced persecution. Accused of blasphemy, Stephen is brought before the Sanhedrin. In his defense, he delivers a powerful speech recounting Israel's history and accusing the Jewish leaders of resisting the Holy Spirit. His words provoke the council, and they drag him out of the city to stone him. As he is being stoned, Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazes into heaven and sees the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He cries out, "Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). Even in his final moments, Stephen prays for his persecutors, saying, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:60).

Paul's Perseverance

The Apostle Paul, formerly a persecutor of Christians, became one of the most courageous proponents of the faith. Throughout his ministry, Paul faced numerous hardships, including beatings, imprisonment, and shipwrecks. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he recounts his sufferings: "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea" (2 Corinthians 11:24-25). Despite these trials, Paul remained resolute in his mission to spread the Gospel. In his letter to the Philippians, he writes, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness, so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death" (Philippians 1:20).

The Apostles' Unyielding Faith

The apostles' courage under persecution was rooted in their unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. They understood that their earthly sufferings were temporary and that their ultimate reward was eternal. In Acts 5, after being flogged for preaching in Jesus' name, the apostles left the Sanhedrin "rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" (Acts 5:41). Their bravery inspired the early church and continues to serve as a powerful example for believers facing persecution today.
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Acts 5:21,29-32
And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
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Resources
What does the Bible say about assertiveness? | GotQuestions.org

What is the doctrine of the mean? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Annas in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Courage: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Courage

Courage: Asa

Courage: Enjoined by Jehoshaphat Upon the Judicial and Executive officers be Appointed

Courage: Enjoined Upon Joshua

Courage: Ezra, in Undertaking the Perilous Journey from Babylon to Palestine Without a Guard

Courage: Gideon, in Attacking the Confederate Armies of the Midianites and Amalekites With Three Hundred Men

Courage: Paul, in Going to Jerusalem, Despite his Impressions That Bonds and Imprisonments Awaited Him

Courage: Personal Bravery in Entering Into the Tent of Saul, and Carrying Away Saul's Spear

Courage: Personal Bravery: Agag, in the Indifference With Which he Faced Death

Courage: Personal Bravery: David, in Killing Goliath

Courage: Personal Bravery: David's Captains

Courage: Personal Bravery: Deborah, in Leading Israel's Armies

Courage: Personal Bravery: Esther, in Going to the King to Save Her People

Courage: Personal Bravery: Jael, in Killing Sisera

Courage: Personal Bravery: Joab, in Reproving King David

Courage: Personal Bravery: Joseph of Arimathaea, in Caring for the Body of Jesus

Courage: Personal Bravery: Joshua and Caleb, in Advising That Israel Go at Once and Possess the Land

Courage: Personal Bravery: Nehemiah, in Refusing to Take Refuge in the Temple

Courage: Personal Bravery: Othniel, in Striking Kirjath-Sepher

Courage: Personal Bravery: Peter and Other Disciples

Courage: Personal Bravery: The Apostles, Under Persecution

Courage: Personal Bravery: Thomas, in Being Willing to Die With Jesus

Courage: Scriptures Relating To

Courage: Solomon

Courage: The Courage of Conviction in offering Isaac

Courage: The Courage of Conviction: Abraham, in Leaving his Fatherland

Courage: The Courage of Conviction: Daniel, in Persisting in Prayer Regardless of the Edict Against Praying

Courage: The Courage of Conviction: Gideon, in Destroying the Altar of Baal

Courage: The Courage of Conviction: Peter and John, in Refusing to Obey Men, Rather than God

Courage: The Courage of Conviction: The Jews, in Returning Answer to Tatnai

Courage: The Courage of Conviction: The Three Hebrews, Who Refused to Bow Down to the Image of Nebuchadnezzar

Courage: The Israelites

Related Terms

Courageous (24 Occurrences)

Discouraged (19 Occurrences)

Dismayed (69 Occurrences)

Confidence (103 Occurrences)

Fortitude (5 Occurrences)

Dare (19 Occurrences)

Faint (76 Occurrences)

Timid (8 Occurrences)

Tremble (92 Occurrences)

Discourage (3 Occurrences)

Dismay (16 Occurrences)

Bravely (3 Occurrences)

Bold (21 Occurrences)

Affrighted (60 Occurrences)

Absent (15 Occurrences)

Saved (183 Occurrences)

Dread (69 Occurrences)

Warfare (18 Occurrences)

Seemeth (36 Occurrences)

Millo (9 Occurrences)

Forsake (88 Occurrences)

War (529 Occurrences)

Swore (109 Occurrences)

Gideon (45 Occurrences)

Restored (77 Occurrences)

Divide (71 Occurrences)

Play (61 Occurrences)

Psalm (213 Occurrences)

Heart (1223 Occurrences)

Sware (90 Occurrences)

Inherit (98 Occurrences)

Beg (77 Occurrences)

Strengthen (105 Occurrences)

Seems (99 Occurrences)

Prove (83 Occurrences)

Support (135 Occurrences)

Fail (130 Occurrences)

Forefathers (135 Occurrences)

Galilee (73 Occurrences)

Second (2060 Occurrences)

Peter (181 Occurrences)

Venture (10 Occurrences)

Valor (45 Occurrences)

Valiantly (9 Occurrences)

Victory (71 Occurrences)

Virtue (21 Occurrences)

Virtuous (5 Occurrences)

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)

Nun (31 Occurrences)

Non-existent (1 Occurrence)

Nerve (1 Occurrence)

Uncommon (2 Occurrences)

Urge (34 Occurrences)

Oded (3 Occurrences)

Of (369523 Occurrences)

Jephthah (26 Occurrences)

Josephus

Joyful (83 Occurrences)

Lowly (29 Occurrences)

Leah (30 Occurrences)

Lame (35 Occurrences)

Laid (552 Occurrences)

Lystra (6 Occurrences)

Lovable (2 Occurrences)

Lions (50 Occurrences)

Lean (22 Occurrences)

Losest (1 Occurrence)

Gentle (48 Occurrences)

Guided (86 Occurrences)

Gentleness (17 Occurrences)

What (14976 Occurrences)

Won (24 Occurrences)

Whet (5 Occurrences)

Whithersoever (32 Occurrences)

Worldly (25 Occurrences)

Income (7 Occurrences)

Inns (1 Occurrence)

Immanuel (3 Occurrences)

Intend (30 Occurrences)

Courage: Personal Bravery: Peter and Other Disciples
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