THE FIRST PERSECUTION by J. O. Corliss

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 29, 1902

THE FIRST PERSECUTION.

By J. O. Corliss

The first sin known in the universe was that of rebellion against the kingdom of God. This was generated through jealousy against the Son of God, by Satan, and developed finally into open discord, until it was necessary to drive out from heaven all who were found united against the authority of heavenly rule. Rev. 12:7-10. Finding himself cast off from his earlier connection, Satan came to earth, and began to persecute the seed of the Son of God, who had been made in the image of God (Rev. 12:13; Matt. 13:38, 39; Gen. 1:26), and through falsehood, led the first pair to join him in his rebellion against heaven. Gen. 3:1-6.

Ever since that time, every work of God in the earth has been bitterly opposed by man's arch-deceiver, and God's inveterate enemy. So strong has been his opposition, that he has influenced earthly governments to enforce, by human enactment, systems of religion which were contrary to the principles of heaven. This, of course, has always created antagonism between these earthly governments and the government of heaven, as these have exercised authority over God's loyal citizens dwelling in what Satan claims to be his domain. Luke 4:5-7.

This was the situation in the days of Christ and of the early disciples, as it has been in all succeeding centuries. The rulers of Judea were very zealous for the traditional religion of their ancestors, and took every occasion offered to persecute those who worshiped in some other form than that which their laws decreed. When Christ appeared as a teacher, and undermined confidence in the existing religious system, a bitter hatred sprang up toward Him, and the rulers could not be satisfied until they had put Him to death. It mattered not that He displayed the credentials of heaven in the mighty power He manifested in healing the sick, cleansing the leper, and raising the dead. The delivery of these souls from mortal ills was nothing to them when weighed against the thought that He did the work in another way than that which their customs sanctioned. It was easy for the influential ones of that day, in order to carry out their purpose, to say His were the works of the devil (John 8:52), altho some in high rank secretly acknowledged that no one could do those things He did except God were with him. John 3:1, 2.

With this condition of things, it could not well be expected that the rulers at Jerusalem would let pass without notice the incident of the healing of the lame man before the temple, when done in the presence of so many people who were likely to be influenced by it to unite their interests with the same power by which this work had been accomplished. There can be no question but that the enemy of all good must be at the head of any movement designed to stop the work of a power which could restore defective ankle-bones, to the relief and comfort of a poor outcast. But when fellow-men, who themselves are liable to need the same sort of help, unite against such work, their mental blindness is indeed lamentable.

But as it was then, so it has ever since been, to a greater or less extent. In the particular case under consideration, so great a stir was

made among the people at the manifestation of the witnessing power of God through Peter and John, that toward evening, while they were yet speaking, the priests, with the captain of the temple and others, came on the scene, and, arresting the disciples, and probably the man who had been healed of his lameness, put them in prison, where they remained till the next day. Acts 4:1-3, 10. This did not, however, arrest the power of God; for about five thousand people, having seen and heard the wondrous things of the day, gave their hearts to the Lord.

The next morning all the dignitaries of the temple came together to question the disciples as to the authority they had for doing the work of the previous day. Verses 6, 7. So great was the interest, or curiosity, to see and hear about this affair, that all the relatives of the high priest were permitted to find a place in the court of inquiry thus instituted. Upon being questioned about the power, and the name by which the lame man had been healed, Peter told again the simple story that he had repeated so often of late: “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.” Then, calling attention to that scripture in Ps. 118:22, so familiar to all Jews because of being chanted at each Passover, he decisively said: “This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12.

Under the circumstances this was unexpected boldness. It was probably supposed that, finding themselves under the ban of the law, these men would become very submissive, and perhaps beg to be released on promise not to preach these things again. But when they spoke so promptly and firmly, yet without any display of oratory, their simple yet resolute manner struck conviction to the hearts of their persecutors, because it could be plainly seen that they had been with Jesus, and were not simply talking hearsay.

Then, too, there was the man who had been healed, right before them, in evidence of the power of Christ. What could they do under the circumstances? Many people had been influenced in favor of the work accomplished, and, since there was no way by which to compass the destruction of the men through which it was performed, it was decided to let them go for that time. Had the rulers been able to produce any plausible reason for holding them longer, that would probably have been the sentence. But in private consultation, they acknowledged that a most notable miracle had been performed, of which all the people were cognizant. What, then, could they do with these men, while the attitude of the people was favorable toward them? Plainly nothing; so they decided to let them go, but with the threat that if they taught those things again they would pay the penalty.

This threat was intended to have its effect on the people, as well as upon the disciples, to deter them from giving ear to these things again. But the disciples would not compromise the truth, nor their relation to the power of God, by promising not to preach Christ again. They replied to the threat: “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we can not but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Verses 19, 20. Noble men! Even under persecution they would not abate their zeal in the least. While they did not design to fling defiance at the government of earth under which their lot was cast, yet they were determined to maintain loyalty to heaven under all circumstances. Theirs is indeed a worthy example for any age, especially the present one, when so many are led to feel that the civil government should have a part in maintaining respect for certain religious forms.

J. O. CORLISS.