The church of the 1st century experienced opposition and persecution. The same is true of the church of the 21st century. How should we understand persecution? How should we handle it? The example of the early church is very helpful.
When Peter and John returned with the threats of the elders ringing in their ears and reported what had been said to them, the response of the believers was to raise their voices together in prayer to God. They didn't scatter out of fear, but together they sought God. Here we see both the value of community and the comfort of being able to call on God.
But what exactly did they pray? Let me mention 4 things.
1. God the Creator
The first part of their prayer addresses God as the Creator of all things. Some don't see much of a connection between this and the rest of the prayer and assume it was simply a standard way of praying for them. But that is to miss something vital about prayer and about persecution.
They raised their voices to the God who had made all things. They were in a situation where creatures were trying to oppose the will of the Creator. We need to grasp that as being truly terrible. Our lack of outrage at the Creator being opposed shows us what a low view of God we have.
The Bible's teaching of God as Creator is fundamental to understanding history and the whole existence of the church. It is the Creator who sends his Son to rescue his creatures from their sin. Creation is at the heart of who God is and what he does. It's not by accident that the Bible starts with creation and ends with new creation!
2. God, the Bible & the Messiah
The next aspect of their prayer that is noteworthy is the way they understand their situation from the scriptures. Before we see what they referred to, it's vital to learn from what they did. It isn't just that the scriptures would hold some answers for them, but that they saw their situation as being in continuity with the great history and storyline of the Bible. They knew that they were those "on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come" (1 Cor. 10:11).
We need to approach our understanding of life from this perspective. There is a continuity in our experience that stretches back into the OT and the eternal plans of God. It isn't just that we go through similar experiences but that we share the same story. It is vital to grasp that if we are to react aright to what happens to us.
In terms of detail, they quote from Psalm 2 which speaks of the rulers and peoples taking their stand against the Lord and against his King. Originally, it referred to Israel suffering at the hands of the nations but it always spoke of more than that. These early believers saw how it ultimately relates to Jesus and his treatment by the Jews and Romans.
This is the big picture that explains why they themselves are being persecuted. It is for this reason that Peter, in his first letter, says to persecuted Christians, "Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ." (1 Peter 4:12,13).
Our sufferings are of a piece with those of Jesus. The church is oppressed because of its relationship with the Messiah. This isn't something that can be avoided; in fact, Jesus himself encourages us to "rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven" (Mt. 5:12). Beyond the pain, we are to behold the glory.
3. God in Control
Not only do they grasp why they are suffering, they are also confident that God is with them in their suffering, that he is in control and is able to bring good out of what they suffer. Recalling what happened to Jesus they recognise that "They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen" (v.28). The cross was not an accident.
Did that mean the Jews and Romans were not guilty of their sin? No, they would have to answer for that. What it does say is that, even when evil seems to triumph, God is still in control and can and will forward his own plans through such times. It's not that he just about manages to hold things together but that he is so powerful he can use it to his ends.
Shouldn't this give us great encouragement in our own day, for the church in this country and for the church worldwide? These are dark days and there is much raging against the Lord and his Christ but he remains as the supreme sovereign of all. That is true in terms of the large affairs of nations; it is also true in terms of the details of our own small lives.
4. Praying for Boldness
Knowing that God is sovereign and can bring to nothing what men plan, presumably they will pray for protection and peace? Certainly Paul tells Timothy that we should pray for these things (1 Tim. 2:1,2). That is no doubt included when they ask the Lord to "consider their threats" (v.29).
But the burden of their request is for God to work in power, giving them boldness to go on speaking, despite the threats, and for the Lord Jesus to be glorified and honoured as they do so. Here are people who value, above their own comfort, the glory of God in the gospel of his Son. Yes, they are asking for protection but beyond that they are praying for blessing on what they will speak.
They clearly know their own frailty and so pray for boldness. In his letters, Paul also regularly asks for this. Threats worry us, we have fears and concerns and can often buckle under them. But when our heart's delight is God and his glory, we will pray for a boldness of lip and life that will bring honour to Jesus.
We should also notice that they ask God to perform miracles and to accompany their ministry with signs and wonders. Is that something we should make a part of our praying today? Some would urge us to do so but we need to consider their prayer in the wider context of the place of miracles in the book of Acts and the experience of the early church.
We don't have time to enlarge particularly on this so what I want to do is recommend something that John Stott has written in his commentary on Acts. Responding to claims that signs and wonder should be a normal part of church life today and are indispensable for the progress of the gospel, Stott makes three key points: Sings and wonders were not the main secret of church growth in Acts; they were not an everyday part of church life but were exceptional; they were substantially different to much of what is claimed today.
The great concern of the early church was for Jesus to be authenticated and honoured. That must be our great concern too. If the Lord chooses to do that at times through signs and wonders, we must be open to that but without making it an unrealistic expectation.
Conclusion: God's Amen
As we close, let's notice how the Lord responded to their prayer. He did so by uttering his own 'Amen!' , shaking the building and filling them with his Spirit to boldly proclaim the word. He delights to answer prayer that has, at its heart, a concern for his glory in the gospel. Let's pray like that too.
