The Onset of Gentile Opposition

Persecution is a pervasive theme in the book of Acts. It emerged the moment Jesus' disciples began to preach His gospel; those who had persecuted Him persecuted those who carried on His message and works. But, to this point in Luke's account, opposition against the Church and its message had been entirely Jewish for the simple reason that the Church's witness hadn't yet extended to the Gentiles. Now, Gentile mission lay on the horizon, and Luke interrupted his treatment of Paul and his ministry to provide an account of the first instance of Gentile persecution. Jesus had warned His disciples that their testimony to Him would bring them before kings and rulers (Matthew 10:16-18), and now that day had dawned. The Church's expanding witness would mean increasing opposition. But the Jews had been unable to prevail against Christ and His gospel, and the Gentiles would fare no better. The adversary Saul had been conquered through death unto life; Herod would be conquered through death unto destruction.