What an irony! In the places where Paul declared God’s love, he was greeted with hatred. Where Paul preached “the Gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15), he suffered in violent riots.25 The reason is simple: Satan hates true Christians so fiercely that he stirs the same hatred in darkened minds.26
… people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed (John 3:19-20).
[Jesus prayed to the Father,] I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world (John 17:14).27
Here is an added irony! Satan deludes his subjects into sincerely thinking themselves right.28 “The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God” (John 16:1-2). If you follow Jesus as the apostles did, you too will be misunderstood and mistreated. Jesus warned, “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). Even today, we should expect that this basic rule has no exceptions.
…all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).29 M
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you (1 Peter 4:12).
The greatest temptation may be to turn bitter, to strike back, to fight in the ways the world fights. But that would be spiritual defeat. Instead, “when reviled, we bless” (1 Corinthians 4:12).30 We take our war “against the spiritual forces of evil” with utmost seriousness. We leave no defenses down. We take no chances. Too much is at stake; the outcome has to do with eternal life with God.31 Therefore we keep our weapons spiritual, 32 and we “take up the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13).33
25. Riots: Acts 19:23-41; 14:5,19; 16:22-23; 17:5; 18:12-17; 21:30-31
26. Dark, hard minds: Ephesians 4:18-19; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 2:11
27. Hatred: John 15:18-25; 1 John 3:1,12-13
28. Sincere opposition: Acts 3:17; 22:3; 26:9; Romans 10:2; 1 Timothy 1:13
29. We do not want to be the exception to this rule; see Luke 6:26. Satan works very effectively in times that seem easy and prosperous, Deuteronomy 8:10-14; 31:20; 32:15; 2 Samuel 11:1-4; Jeremiah 5:24; Daniel 4:30; Amos 6:1; Luke 12:16-21; 16:19-25; 18:18-25; 2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 6:12; Hebrews 12:1; Revelation 3:17 cf. Isaiah 32:9-11; Jeremiah 12:1; 49:31; Hosea 7:11; Luke 6:24-26; 8:14.
30. Research Subject – Bless enemies: Matthew 5:39-44; Luke 6:28; Romans 12:14,17-21; 1 Corinthians 4:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 2:20-23; 3:9 cf. Proverbs 20:22; 24:29
31. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27; 1 Timothy 4:16; 6:12
33. Armor: Ephesians 6:11-17; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 6:7; 10:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:8
Picture: Rioting mobs took over this theatre in Ephesus when “the whole city was in an uproar” over Paul’s peaceful preaching (Acts 19).