阅读经文 

看了这个故事后，我们或许会希奇，初期教会跟从耶稣的人因信仰受到逼迫，他们又怎能在这种境况中找到喜乐呢？而在我们今天的世代，基督徒又会面对什么逼迫呢？

我们可以想像得到，逼迫并不是耶稣的跟从者自己的意愿；然而，他们明白耶稣是神，祂希望我们每一个人都能永远与祂同享丰盛的生命，所以他们愿意抵制宣讲与此背道而驰的教导的掌权者，纵使要面对逼迫和甚至可能因信耶稣被处决，他们也在所不辞。

今天，世界上有些地方的基督徒，仍然会因他们所信的，要面对严厉的逼迫甚至死亡的威胁；而在那些容许宗教自由的社会（例如北美洲），甘心为耶稣而活的人，也可能会面对不明显的压力和逼迫。

假若我们努力奉耶稣的名去爱周围每一个人，假若我们为破碎的生命哀伤和饥渴慕义，又致力以分享神的平安为目标，我们就与我们这个社会的主流格格不入了。每当我们以基督为主的价值观和生活方式与社会主流抗衡时，逼迫便会出现了。然而，我们受到鼓励，要奉耶稣的名继续去行善，好叫别人看见我们的好行为，便将荣耀归给我们在天上的父。（参太 5:16）这些美好的果效，便会为耶稣的跟从者带来喜乐，我们也可以经历到这种喜乐的。

When we read this story, we might wonder, How could Jesus’ followers in the early church find joy in being persecuted for their faith? And what kinds of persecution do Christians face in our world today?

As we can imagine, persecution was not something that Jesus’ followers wanted. But because they understood that Jesus is God and wants all of us to have full life forever with him, they were willing to stand against authorities who taught otherwise, even if that meant they would be persecuted and perhaps even executed for having faith in Jesus.

In some parts of the world today, Christians still face severe persecution and even death for their faith. And in other societies, where religious freedoms are allowed (as in North America), there can be subtle pressures and persecution as well for people who seek to live for Jesus.

If we seek to love everyone around us in Jesus’ name, if we mourn over brokenness, and we hunger and thirst for righteousness, and we aim to share God’s peace/shalom in every way, we are not going to fit in with the mainstream of society where we live. Persecution can arise wherever our values and lifestyle focus on Christ and contradict the mainstream. But in Jesus’ name we are encouraged to keep doing good so that others will see it and praise our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Results like these brought Jesus’ followers joy, and we can experience that too.