So, the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7 NIV
During the time of Jesus’ ministry, scripture teaches of the twelve disciples hand selected by Jesus to follow and work with him. However, the word disciple simply means a student or follower. In this sense, many people, men and women could aptly be called disciples of Christ, even during his life here on earth.
A disciple of Christ is anyone who devotes his life to the teaching of Jesus. All who repent from sin and dedicate their lives to the Lord are therefore disciples. Since the day of Pentecost, the New Testament writers refer to all of Christ’s followers as disciples.
The assertion that the number of disciples increased rapidly in Jerusalem as the word of God spread is not surprising. It is, however, extraordinary that the church grew so quickly in number and maturity that the number of priests obedient to the faith swelled to large numbers.
Persecution in the Early Church
This is particularly astonishing because of the level and frequency of persecution in the time of the early church. The Jewish Sanhedrin, the legal authority of the Jewish faith, stood in strict opposition to the teaching of Christ. Because of this, apostles were arrested and otherwise persecuted.
The Sadducees did not like that apostles such as Peter and John taught the resurrection of Christ. These religious leaders did not believe in life after death and the teaching threatened their ministries. Because of this priests that taught the resurrection of Christ were subject to beatings and imprisonment.
Reliable Witnesses
Given this knowledge, we have a context for the level of enthusiasm for the truth of Jesus Christ in this period. The original apostles witnessed the risen Christ. Due to their reliable testimony and the hopefulness of the teaching of Christ, the effectiveness of their teaching overwhelmed their opposition.
In spite of strong opposition and severe consequences, the word of God spread due to the faith of these original apostles and the hopeful message of the gospel. As the number of priests increased the word of God in Jesus Christ spread so quickly that those who opposed it could not overcome the flood of new believers.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the boldness and endurance of the first Christians. Thank you for my salvation in Jesus Christ. Help me to be bold in proclaiming the truth of the gospel message. Help me to effectively serve the kingdom of heaven. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Ask of God
