“And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus” (Acts 19:8-9).
With all of the good that is spoken about “the Way” in the Scriptures, it is not without its difficulties. There are troubles that come by following this path and these are clearly shown to us in the word of God. So in this final lesson, we will discuss the troubles that come from following “the Way.”
Speaking Evil of The Way
When Paul was in Ephesus, he first preached the gospel in the synagogue (Acts 19:8). However, when he started to face opposition and some began “speaking evil of the Way,” he left and taught in a different location – the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9). It is important for us to understand that this was not a cowardly move by the apostle. After all, he had boldly proclaimed the gospel in the face of persecution before this point (Acts 13:50; 14:19; 16:19-24; 17:13; 18:6). This was about trying to do what would be most effective in spreading the gospel. This proved to be a wise move as he taught in the school of Tyrannus “for two years” with the result that “all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10).
When Paul came to Rome, he “called together those who were the leading men of the Jews” in order to explain to them why he was there as a prisoner (Acts 28:17-20). They knew “the Way” only as the “sect” which was “spoken against everywhere,” but wanted to know more about it (Acts 28:22). Despite the negative reputation of the disciples and the general rejection of the gospel when Paul explained it to them (Acts 28:24-29), the gospel was able to reach many in Rome. Among the Jews, Luke recorded that “some were being persuaded” (Acts 28:24). But more than this, Paul “stayed for two years in his own rented quarters…welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered” (Acts 28:30-31). If “all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord” as a result of Paul preaching for two years in Ephesus, we can only imagine the impact two years of preaching in the capital of the Roman empire would have.
These two examples – Paul’s preaching in Ephesus and in Rome – show us that the gospel can spread even when others are speaking against it.
However, despite the potential for the gospel to spread in the face of opposition, those who are against the truth will do whatever they can to stop it from spreading. Often this means they will resort to carnal tactics because they cannot give a reasonable answer. The New Testament gives us some examples of how this can be done:
- They will slander us as evildoers – Peter wrote, “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12). This was how the rumor reached Rome – the disciples were “spoken against everywhere” (Acts 28:22).
- They will misrepresent us – This may be done against us as individuals. Paul said it was “slanderously reported” of him that he taught that we should “do evil that good may come” (Romans 3:8). This can also be done against us as a group as was done by the Jews when they referred to “the Way which they [called] a sect” (Acts 24:14).
- They will say we are out of our minds – This was what Festus did when Paul was giving his defense before King Agrippa. He said, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad” (Acts 26:24). This type of charge is an attempt to discredit the one who is endeavoring to teach the truth.
The opponents of truth must resort to carnal tactics like these because the truth destroys the arguments of error. Paul wrote, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV). If we are going to be of “the Way,” we must be prepared for people to talk bad about us and what we believe, teach, and practice. We must also be willing and able to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) in response.
Disturbances About The Way
There was “no small disturbance” that occurred in Ephesus as a result of Paul’s preaching about “the Way” (Acts 19:23). However, Paul was not the one who caused the disturbance; the uproar was led by Demetrius the silversmith who was upset that his idol-making business was threatened by Paul’s message that “gods made with hands are no gods at all” (Acts 19:24-32).
When this happens and disturbances arise “concerning the Way” (Acts 19:23), it should not be the disciples who are instigating the disturbance. We are to strive to “be at peace with all men” if it is “possible” (Romans 12:18). Paul told the brethren in Thessalonica, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11).
In Thessalonica – prior to writing the letter encouraging the brethren to “lead a quiet life” (1 Thessalonians 4:11) – Paul and Silas were accused of having “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6, NKJV). This was certainly the perception, but it was not completely accurate. In the beginning, God created a world that was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). However, not long into the ancient record, sin was introduced into the world and “turned the world upside down.” Paul wrote, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).
The perfect paradise that God created was ruined by sin. “The Way” was given in order to fix this. Paul also told the saints in Rome, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The way to escape the punishment for sin was through Christ – the one who is “the way” (John 14:6). By following His word and being “obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which [we] were committed,” we can be made “freed from sin” and become “slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).
As we have already noticed, we are to pursue peace when “possible” (Romans 12:18). Unfortunately, sometimes it is not possible without compromising the truth. In cases like this, we must continue to follow “the Way” – that which is narrow (Matthew 7:13-14), that which is true (2 Peter 2:2), and that which is righteous (2 Peter 2:21) – regardless of the disturbances that others may cause as a result. We must value peace with God more than peace with men. Some of the Jewish leaders did not do this in Jesus’ day. Because of this, even though they “believed in Him…they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:42-43). Instead of having this attitude, we must have the mindset of Paul: “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). He understood the necessity of choosing to please the Lord over pleasing others. We must as well.
Persecution of The Way
Before Paul obeyed the gospel and began his work as an apostle, he was known as Saul and as a persecutor of the church: “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).
This persecution began with the death of Stephen (Acts 8:1-3), which showed the seriousness of it. This was much more than some people “speaking evil of the Way” (Acts 19:9), this was a life-threatening situation for the Lord’s disciples. As a result, the disciples were “scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria” (Acts 8:1). However, they did not remain silent. Luke wrote, “Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).
Jesus talked about the need for His followers to be willing to suffer persecution for His cause. In the Sermon on the Mount, He said, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me” (Matthew 5:10-11). He said elsewhere, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it” (Luke 9:23-24). We remember that the “cross” was the means by which Jesus was put to death; however, even before His death, this was generally understood as a method of execution by the Romans. Jesus’ teaching is plain – we must be willing to surrender our lives for Him.
When we become a disciple, we are presenting our “bodies [as] a living and holy sacrifice” (Romans 12:1). The Christians in Smyrna were told, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Likewise, we must be “faithful until death” – even if it means death.
Persecution in some form is a certainty for all those who would follow “the Way.” Paul told Timothy, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Though the methods and severity of the persecution will vary, it is a reality. The reason for this is that as disciples we are not of this world. Notice what Jesus told His disciples:
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecute Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also” (John 15:18-20).
The enemies of Jesus put Him to death. If they were willing to do that, it should not seem odd for the world to treat us harshly as well. Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). He went on to explain that when we suffer persecution “as a Christian,” we are “not to be ashamed, but [are] to glorify God in this name” (1 Peter 4:16).
However, it is important to note that this was not just something Peter said but failed to do himself. This was how he reacted when he faced persecution at the hands of the Jewish leaders – the same ones who orchestrated the crucifixion of Jesus: “They flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:40-41).
Though it may not be easy to rejoice when we are persecuted for our faith, we can do so if we will remember why we are enduring and what is the reward that awaits. Jesus said, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:12).
Conclusion
Before making the decision to follow Christ, we must count the cost. Jesus said, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:27-28).
Will there be difficulties, even persecution? Yes.
Is it worth it? Absolutely!
After we become part of “the Way,” we must never forget the commitment that we made. We will face hardships, but we can – and must – endure them. If we do, there will be a great reward.
This material is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.
