The apostles, as foundational figures in the early Christian church, faced numerous afflictions and hardships in their mission to spread the Gospel. Their experiences serve as profound examples of faith, perseverance, and dedication amidst trials. The Berean Standard Bible provides several accounts of these afflictions, highlighting the apostles' steadfastness and reliance on God's strength.

Paul

The Apostle Paul is perhaps the most documented example of an afflicted saint among the apostles. His epistles frequently recount the trials he endured for the sake of the Gospel. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 , Paul provides a detailed list of his sufferings: "Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death. 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; in my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea, and in danger from false brothers; in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches."

Paul's afflictions were not only physical but also emotional and spiritual, as he carried the burden of the churches he established. Despite these hardships, Paul remained resolute, famously declaring in Philippians 4:13 , "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Peter

The Apostle Peter also faced significant trials. In Acts 12:1-5 , we read about Peter's imprisonment by King Herod: "About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. And seeing that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him."

Peter's imprisonment was a direct result of his unwavering commitment to preaching the Gospel. His miraculous escape, facilitated by an angel, underscores the divine intervention and support that accompanied the apostles in their afflictions.

John

The Apostle John, known as the "beloved disciple," also experienced affliction, particularly in his later years. According to Revelation 1:9 , John was exiled to the island of Patmos "because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus." This exile was a form of persecution, isolating John from the Christian community. Despite this, John received the Revelation, a profound vision of Christ's ultimate victory, which he recorded for the encouragement of the church.

James

James, the brother of John, was one of the first apostles to face martyrdom. Acts 12:2 succinctly states, "He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword." James's execution marked a significant moment of persecution for the early church, demonstrating the severe opposition the apostles faced.

Conclusion

The apostles' experiences of affliction highlight their unwavering faith and commitment to their divine mission. Their lives serve as enduring examples for believers, illustrating the cost of discipleship and the sustaining power of God's grace amidst trials.1 Corinthians 4:13
Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things to this day.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Corinthians 6:4-10
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts
... PSALM 102 PART 1 A prayer of the afflicted. PSALM 102 PART 2 Prayer heard, and
Zion restored. ... HYMN 140 The examples of Christ and the saints. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/

Perseverance of Saints.
... 6. Now these things were our examples, to the ... feet, if she have relieved the afflicted,
if she ... individuals they addressed were ever true saints, but meaning ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture li perseverance of saints.htm

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... to the extent of his requirement; that afflicted saints may be ... over the lives of
the old Testament saints, you will ... We have also examples in the Acts of the ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

The Resemblance Between the Old Testament and the New.
... Continuation of the fourth proof from the examples of Isaac and Jacob ... to heaven,
they saw that the period during which the Lord afflicted his saints was but ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 the resemblance between.htm

A Cloud of Witnesses.
... in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, evil-entreated ... on the faith
of the other saints of the ... as much of an accumulation of examples as of ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xiii a cloud of.htm

Hebrews xi. 37, 38
... reflect upon the achievements of the saints, it comes ... sins, but always doing rightly
and yet always afflicted. ... this passage, and in him his examples end: which ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxviii hebrews xi 37.htm

Articles vii and viii: of the Church.
... glorified is the same Christ who was before afflicted. ... so called, is the congregation
of saints [of those ... teaching, but also through these examples they might ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 11 articles vii and.htm

Weak Hands and Feeble Knees
... being hard and untender towards those who are so afflicted. ... Surely the examples of
eminent saints should spur us ... Why look upon the saints of olden time as if ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/weak hands and feeble knees.htm

In the Second Place, Repentance and Grace are Obscured. ...
... From these examples they derive the universal rule that ... Job is excused that he was
not afflicted on account of ... and John the Baptist and other saints were killed ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 17 in the second.htm

Of the Modes of Supplementing Satisfaction --viz. Indulgences and ...
... He also writes to the Corinthians: "Whether we be afflicted, it is ... only are passages
of Scripture wanting, but in the examples of all the saints of whom we ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 of the modes.htm

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