Acts 5:40-42

Picking up where we left off yesterday, we find that the high council heeded Gamaliel’s wise words. The apostles, however, were still flogged—beaten or whipped with rods—as a parting “gift” from the council and were warned once again not to speak in the name of Jesus.

Yet look at the apostles’ reaction: they left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. When was the last time we rejoiced for the privilege of being beaten and disgraced?

The apostles understood the religious behemoth they were up against and were “in it to win it.” Their suffering only gave the message more credence and gave people more courage to do the same. History is replete with courageous individuals filled with conviction who paid the ultimate price because they understood the playing field. In the words of Paul, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Each of these apostles was eventually martyred for their faith, except for John, who was exiled to the Island of Patmos. They died knowing who it was they were representing, and they refused to shrink back, even in the face of death.

As the author of Hebrews recounts the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, he states:

“Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭35‬-‭38‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Are we men and women of whom the world is not worthy? It is all about who and what we live for.