The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as a central tenet of Christian faith, symbolizing victory over sin and death. The preaching of the resurrection was not only foundational to the early Christian message but also a catalyst for significant persecution against the early church. This entry explores the implications of preaching the resurrection and the resultant persecution faced by the apostles and early Christians.

Biblical Foundation

The resurrection of Jesus is proclaimed throughout the New Testament as the cornerstone of the gospel message. The Apostle Paul emphasizes its importance in 1 Corinthians 15:14, stating, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith." The resurrection validated Jesus' divine nature and His victory over death, providing hope for eternal life to believers.

Preaching of the Resurrection

The apostles were commissioned to be witnesses of the resurrection, as seen in Acts 1:22, where Peter insists that a new apostle must be "a witness with us of His resurrection." The early church's preaching centered on this event, as demonstrated in Peter's sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:24-32), where he boldly declares, "God raised Him up, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches."

Persecution Arising from the Preaching

The proclamation of the resurrection was met with fierce opposition, particularly from Jewish religious leaders who saw it as a threat to their authority and teachings. In Acts 4:1-3, Peter and John are arrested for "proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead." The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, were particularly incensed by this message, leading to further hostility.

The persecution intensified as the apostles continued to preach. In Acts 5:17-18, the high priest and his associates, filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles. Despite being imprisoned, the apostles were miraculously freed by an angel and continued to teach in the temple courts, leading to their re-arrest and flogging (Acts 5:40).

Stephen, one of the first deacons, became the first Christian martyr as a result of his bold proclamation of the risen Christ. His speech before the Sanhedrin, recorded in Acts 7, culminated in his vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God, which incited the crowd to stone him to death (Acts 7:55-60).

Continued Persecution and Expansion

The persecution following Stephen's martyrdom led to the scattering of believers, which paradoxically resulted in the further spread of the gospel. Acts 8:1 notes that "a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." This dispersion facilitated the spread of the message of the resurrection beyond Jerusalem, as those who were scattered "preached the word wherever they went" (Acts 8:4).

The Apostle Paul, initially a fierce persecutor of the church, encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6). His subsequent conversion and preaching of the resurrection led to his own experiences of persecution, as he recounts in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, detailing imprisonments, beatings, and various hardships endured for the sake of the gospel.

Conclusion

The preaching of the resurrection was a powerful and transformative message that not only affirmed the core of Christian belief but also provoked significant opposition and persecution. Despite the challenges, the early church remained steadfast in its mission, driven by the conviction of the risen Christ and the hope of eternal life.Acts 23:6
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 24:11-15
Because that you may understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Calvin -- Enduring Persecution for Christ
... is thus exprest in his own words: "True preaching must not ... At all events, God has
caused that tho she ... that they might obtain a better resurrection; others were ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/calvin enduring persecution for.htm

From Persecutor to Disciple
... to the newly organized church, and caused many to ... Jerusalem by this persecution
"went everywhere preaching the word ... that the story of the resurrection was an ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 12 from persecutor to.htm

Letters to Olympias.
... did not know the prediction of the resurrection (and no ... then the death of Stephen
again caused a severe ... this cause when Paul prayed that the preaching of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/letters to olympias.htm

Index of Subjects.
... than Christ's, [92]77; their holiness not caused by miracles ... he gave to Christ,
[758]384; preaching at Rome ... Pharisees, their zeal for the resurrection, [762]311. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/index of subjects.htm

The Lord Seen by the Apostles.
... were discussing the story of the resurrection of which ... in the New Testament that
has caused more discussion ... also, they, do in their preaching recorded through ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the lord seen by the.htm

The Foundation of the Church among the Jews
... fill up the vacancy in the Apostolic Body caused by the ... Stephen's preaching rouses
Hebrew prejudices.] By this conduct he ... did, a belief in the Resurrection[46 ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter i the foundation of.htm

The Acts of the Apostles.
... it closes with the joyful preaching of the ... Festus and Agrippa, emphasizes the
resurrection without which ... affected Judaea and Syria, and caused great distress ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 85 the acts of.htm

The Progress of the Gospel from the Death of Christ to the Death ...
... spake unto the Grecians, [64:1] preaching the Lord ... accompanied His death, of His
resurrection and ascension ... faithful inscription, [65:1] also caused this mocker ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter iv the progress of.htm

Heralds of the Gospel
... men had journeyed to Antioch, "preaching the Lord ... This desertion caused Paul to judge
Mark unfavorably ... And after His resurrection He commissioned His disciples ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 17 heralds of the.htm

In Jud??a and through Samaria - a Sketch of Samaritan History and ...
... locality, as had submitted to the preaching and Baptism ... denying in their books that
the Resurrection can be ... To the same hatred, caused by national persecution ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in judaea and.htm

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