Persecution, as against opposition, began in the third year of Christ's ministry.  Up until the feeding of the 5,000 the emphasis was upon healing and providing, until that watershed moment when Jesus accused the people of being what we to term as `rice Christians'.

"You seek me because you ate of the loaves and were filled!"  John 6:26.

Until this moment, well into the third year, the Cross has never been mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels.  But, following the confession of Peter at Caesarea Philippi each of the gospels introduce the teaching of the Cross.

Whatever the reason for this seeming change in emphasis it is perfectly obvious that Jesus had publicly recognised that Social Welfare without the Gospel is not enough.  "From that time began Jesus to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem...and suffer many things...and be killed."  Matthew 16:21.

Though it is not until later that we are actually told how Jesus should die.  "The Son of Man shall be betrayed to be mocked and scourged and crucified"  Matthew 20:19.

And those who choose to follow Him must share in this persecution.   "Whosoever will come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me."  Mark 8:34.

Persecution, says Paul to Timothy, is the heritage of every true Christian.  "All that will live Godly shall suffer persecution."  2 Timothy 3:12.

God expects every Christian without exception to make an open confession of their faith whatever the consequences.  In the end we cannot escape persecution by having a secret faith.  As Barclay so rightly says "Either the witness will kill the silence or the silence will kill the witness."

TWO SECRET DISCIPLES WHO TRIED AND FAILED - JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEAE AND NICODEMUS.
"Joseph of Arimathaea being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews."  John 19:38.
"There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;  the same came to Jesus by night."  John 3:1.
 

Nicodemus, as a secret disciple, must have squirmed when the officer of the Temple Guard that had been sent to arrest Jesus and, having been challenged by his fellow Pharisees as to why he had not brought Him as he had been commanded, replied   "Never spoke man like this Man!"  John 7: 45-46.  To which the Pharisees demanded  "Are you also deceived?  Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed on Him?" John 7: 47-48.   Nicodemus can but summon a feeble protest on behalf of his secret Friend.  "Nicodemus says to them, he that came to Jesus by night, `Does our law judge any man before it hears him?'"  John 7: 50-51.  The Pharisees round on Nicodemus with a classic insult.  "Are you also of Galilee?" John 7:52.   Then "Every man went to his own house" John 7:53. - including Nicodemus, a troubled and defeated man!
But when the crisis did come it is good to know that both Joseph and Nicodemus had the courage to declare and stand up and be counted as friends of Jesus - especially on that day when even the apostles had gone into hiding!  "Joseph of Arimathaea besought Pilate that he might take the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him leave.  He came therefore and took the body of Jesus.  And there came also Nicodemus, who at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound in weight."  John 19: 38-39.   John was eager to make the point as to who Nicodemus really was!  "Then they took the body of Jesus and wound it in linen clothes with the spices as is the manner of the Jews to bury."  John 19:40.
Joseph and Nicodemus were exceptionally brave men to be one with Jesus on such a frightful day as that of the Crucifixion - maybe in their utter despair they no longer cared!
 

PERSECUTION OF THE EARLY CHURCH
Persecution was something that was expected in the early church because Jesus had warned that this was to be so.
FIRST WAVE OF PERSECUTION.  This involved Peter and John after healing the lame man at the Gate Beautiful. "As they spoke to the people the priests and the captain of the guard and the Sadducees came upon them and they laid hands upon them and put them in hold until the next day."  Acts 4: 1-3.
SECOND WAVE OF PERSECUTION.  This was also in Jerusalem.  "Then the high priest rose up and all they that were with him, and were filled with indignation, and laid hands upon the apostles, and put them in the common prison."  Acts 5: 17-18.
THIRD WAVE OF PERSECUTION.  This was when Stephen was arrested.  "They stirred up the people and came upon him and caught him, and brought him to the council.  Acts 6:12.  Following his long defence Stephen was martyred, the first of all Christian martyrs.  "They stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying `Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'  And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice `Lord, lay not this sin to their charge'.  And when he had said this he fell asleep."  Acts 7: 59-60. after healing the man at the Gate Beautiful in Jerusalem. "As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the guard and the Sadducees came upon them and they laid hands upon them and put them in hold until the next day."  Acts 4: 1-3.
 
FOURTH WAVE OF PERSECUTION.  The death of Stephen marked the beginning of organist persecution.  "Saul made havoc of the church entering into every house and arresting men and women committing them to prison."  Acts 8:3.
 

In the early church martyrdom became the highest accolade, so much so that rules were introduced to define a martyr.  At first the Greek word martyr simply meant a witness. Then it became reserved for a person who made a witness by dying for their faith under any circumstance.  The eventual definition was reserved for a person who, having been offered their freedom, died for their faith by choice.

In the days of the Roman Empire when Constantine became the first Christian Emperor and embraced the church as the official state religion life became much easier for Christians everywhere.  But as ease comes in one door so sacrifice goes out by the other.  Jerome, disgusted with a church that had become affluent and indolent, took himself off to a hermit cell miles from anywhere in Egypt. To his great joy he heard that persecution had broken out in Alexandria and he hurried there in the hope that he might be made a martyr.  But the persecution was short-lived and nobody touched him, so he returned to his hermit cell a disappointed man!

In our own age when Pastor Martin Niemoellor was released from prison in 1945 having spent seven years there for his outspoken opposition to Hitler some friends asked him  "Why did they do this to YOU?"  And his answer was simply "Why did they NOT do it to YOU?"

When we were lads at college we had a training officer called Tribble.  And the saying was "Never trouble Tribble till Tribble troubles you!"

So long as we trouble no-one with our faith the chances are no-one will trouble us, but when we have climbed the heavenly ladder and matured enough to declare our faith openly we will set ourselves up for a target for opposition and persecution!

People will revile us.  People will on occasion go out of their way to persecute us, saying all manner of evil against us falsely, throwing doubt on our noblest actions, twisting the truth we proclaim to make it sound like lies.  All this for His sake!  But God says when this happens "Rejoice and be exceeding glad!"

For persecution is the world's own judgment upon our faith, yet, in the sight of God, this very judgment of the world is counted by Him to us for righteousness!