Persecution of the early Jewish Church by Jews?Did it happen? The modern day emphasis on the Jewish influence on Christianity and their historical connection has produced a cover up. It is now religiously and politically incorrect to refer to the following facts. There is now the mistaken idea that Jews, in a racial context, are God's chosen people. The Apostle Paul wrote extensively on just who are accepted by God and he never ever said a certain race of people were God's chosen people. He explained that only those who were of promise, or who were of faith were ever accepted. Yes, the Hebrew people were especially blessed, but many of them died in the wilderness. Following are verses predicting a persecution to come and others portray that persecution. I have added this article here to portray a sound reason for early Christians to quit attending synagogues on the Seventh Day. Many of these same verses and arguments can be found here.
Jesus' Prediction of Coming Persecution by their own people.
Acts 4-5 Peter and John brought before the Sanhedrin and
beaten. Forbidden to preach Christ. Acts 7 Stephen is stoned to death in the Temple, by the Jews, with Saul witnessing. . Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that
time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem;
and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria,
except the apostles. (KJV) Acts 12:1f "Herod the king stretched out his hand to
harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the
sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize
Peter." Acts 13:42-51 The Jewish persecution of Paul and his ministry
was so acute that Paul shook the dust from his feet. This was a sign of
assigning them to judgment. Acts 14:2-5 The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and
poisoned their minds against the brethren. As a result, a violent assault was
made on them. Acts 14:19 The Jews roused the mob against Paul to the point
that he was stoned and left for dead. Acts 14:22 It is interesting that in the context of these
persecutions, Paul wrote "We must through much tribulations, enter the kingdom."
Many make the Jewish resistance against the church minimal. Paul referred to
it as "many tribulations" and linked it with entrance into the kingdom. Acts 16 We find here, and in Acts 19, a persecution based
primarily on financial issues. The young woman possessed with "Python" spirit,
and the situation with Demetrius the Silversmith, were not "religious"
persecutions at all. They were financially motivated. Acts 17 We have already seen how the Jews were at the root of
this persecution that drove Paul out of Thessalonica. Acts 18 We have already seen the Jewish nature and instigation
of this persecution. It is also of importance to realize that the Roman
proconsul wanted no part in this persecution. At this juncture, the Romans could
not care less about the Christians. Acts 23-26 It was the Jews that threatened Paul's life and put him on trial that ultimately did take his life. Acts 24:1 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to
Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought
their charges against Paul before the governor. 1Thes 2:14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God's
churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered
from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews,
15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They
displease God and are hostile to all men 16 in their effort to keep us from
speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap
up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last. There are more verses, but this should show they were being persecuted, by both Jews and Gentiles. They were persecuted at times for being identified with the Jews, for the Jews rebelled against Rome while some of the Christians were still going to their synagogues.
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