• The persecution

    Article ADA031 examines the great persecution of the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 8.1-3), around AD 34-35. After Stephen’s martyrdom, the repression extends to all believers, women included. Saul of Tarsus is its chief architect, driven by a sincere but misdirected zeal for the Jewish traditions. This text illustrates the fulfillment of Jesus’ warnings about persecution and foreshadows Paul’s future conversion.

    John 19.38-39 (King James Version) :
    And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
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