[printable PDF of article]
[review previous article][advance to next article]
     Even a quick reading of the first seven chapters of the Acts of the Apostles reveals the violent opposition against the newly established church in Jerusalem.  At first it seems to have been isolated incidents against the Apostles preaching in the temple (Acts 4:1-21; 5:12-41).  As the months passed, the Jewish leadership sought to eradicate the church from the face of the earth (Acts 9:1; Galatians1:23).  It seems reasonable that an author recording this would “paint the picture,” describing the terrible scenes of temple zealots breaking into homes, dragging the people from their houses, warnings by the church leadership, encouragements to be faithful, what the Christians thought, preparations to escape, the public’s attitude, the beatings, the prison conditions, the unjust deaths and the indifference of the Roman government.  However, none of it is recorded!  Where are the numbers of those who were put in prison and those killed?  That such a persecution of 10,000 or more Christians being scattered in all directions, leaving only the apostles in Jerusalem, would be a paragraph in church history that even a large volume could not do it justice.  Yet, the book of Acts, and only here in the Bible, calmly gives us only four verses in merely a passing summary of this cataclysmic happening (Acts 8:1-4).  After all, the existence of God’s new church was threatened!  Shouldn’t there be volumes written about this outrage?  How do we explain this obvious omission?
     Of Jesus disciples, Peter, and brothers, James and John were closest to Him.  The first 13 chapters of the Acts of the Apostles focus upon Peter and John, especially Peter.  But we know nothing of the activities of James in Acts.  In fact all we know is that Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee, killed him with a sword (Acts 12:1-2).  Not only do we not know anything about James’ evangelistic works during that 8-10 years, we know nothing about the circumstances leading to his death.  One would think a person that close to Jesus and considering the thoroughness of Luke’s investigation about Jesus and the early church (Luke 1:1-3; Acts 1:1), that pages, even chapters would be devoted to James’ work and tragic death.  This stark omission can only be explained as part of God’s plan and that Luke wrote by divine inspiration.

[review previous article][advance to next article]