Bible Study April 26, 2024
Acts 17:5 – 6 (ESV)
“But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,”
Every disciple of Jesus died a horrible death except John who as exiled to the island of Patmos by the Emperor Domitian.
Peter was crucified upside down, James was beheaded, Andrew was crucified on an X shaped cross, Philip, Jude, and Simon were also crucified, Barthalomew was skinned alive and beheaded, Matthew was stabbed to death, Thomas was speared to death, James was toned, crucified, and beaten, Matthias was stoned and beheaded.
Each faced a horrible death at the hands of non-believers. Jesus had warned them they were to be persecuted because they persecuted Him.
If you remember they were at one time acting cowardly before the death of Jesus but something happened after His death and resurrection. But that all changed after His resurrection.
What might you think occurred to make a difference? 1 Corinthians 15:3 – 8 says, “3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
It was the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that changed them.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 