The Apostles (as a whole)
Category: Endurance in mission & persecution
Could avoid: Stay hidden after Jesus’ death.
“Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’” (Acts 1:6)
Cross-Refs: John 20:19; Matthew 26:56.
Chose: Boldly preached Christ after Pentecost.
“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news.” (Acts 5:42)
Cross-Refs: Acts 4:20; 2 Timothy 4:2.
Endured: Imprisonments, beatings, threats.
“They called the apostles in and had them flogged… rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” (Acts 5:40–41)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 5:11–12; 2 Corinthians 4:8–9.
Why: Empowered by the Spirit, obedient to Christ’s commission.
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)
Cross-Refs: Luke 24:49; John 15:27.
Result: Gospel spread, church multiplied.
“The word of God continued to spread; the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly.” (Acts 6:7)
Cross-Refs: Colossians 1:6; Revelation 7:9.
Peter
Category: Endurance in leadership & boldness
Could avoid: Stay silent before rulers.
“Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!” (Acts 4:19)
Cross-Refs: Daniel 3:16–18; Galatians 1:10.
Chose: Preached Christ crucified and risen.
“Salvation is found in no one else.” (Acts 4:12)
Cross-Refs: John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5.
Endured: Arrests, threats, imprisonment.
“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” (Acts 12:5)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 10:19–20; Psalm 34:19.
Why: Believed in the power of Christ’s resurrection.
“We are witnesses of this fact.” (Acts 3:15)
Cross-Refs: Luke 24:48; 1 Corinthians 15:3–5.
Result: Thousands converted, doors opened to Gentiles.
“Then I remembered what the Lord had said… So if God gave them the same gift he gave us… who was I to think I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:16–17)
Cross-Refs: Acts 15:7–9; Romans 10:12.
Stephen
Category: Endurance in witness & martyrdom
Could avoid: Stop preaching before hostile leaders.
“They could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.” (Acts 6:10)
Cross-Refs: Luke 21:15; 1 Peter 3:15.
Chose: Boldly proclaimed Christ even in trial.
“You stiff-necked people!… You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 7:26; John 15:20.
Endured: Lies, trial, stoning.
“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” (Acts 7:59)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46.
Why: Saw the glory of Christ.
“Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55)
Cross-Refs: Daniel 7:13–14; Hebrews 12:2.
Result: Became the first Christian martyr, inspiring the church.
“And Saul approved of their killing him.” (Acts 8:1)
Cross-Refs: Revelation 12:11; Philippians 1:20.
Paul (Saul of Tarsus)
Category: Endurance in mission, suffering, and apostleship
Could avoid: Remain a Pharisee with status and power.
“As for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.” (Philippians 3:6, cf. Acts 22:3–5)
Cross-Refs: Galatians 1:14; Acts 26:9.
Chose: Obeyed Christ’s call after his conversion.
“I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” (Acts 26:19)
Cross-Refs: Acts 9:15; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15.
Endured: Beatings, stonings, imprisonments, shipwrecks.
“I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.” (Acts 20:24)
Cross-Refs: 2 Corinthians 11:23–27; 2 Timothy 4:7.
Why: For the gospel of grace and salvation of others.
“I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16, cf. Acts 9:15–16)
Cross-Refs: Romans 1:14–16; Philippians 1:21.
Result: Churches planted, letters written, gospel spread across empire.
“Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28:31)
Cross-Refs: Colossians 1:6; 2 Timothy 4:17.
The Early Church (Believers as a Whole)
Category: Endurance in community & persecution
Could avoid: Hide, scatter permanently.
“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem.” (Acts 8:1)
Cross-Refs: John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12.
Chose: Continued steadfast in fellowship, prayer, and witness.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
Cross-Refs: Hebrews 10:24–25; Colossians 4:2.
Endured: Persecution, imprisonment, scattering.
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” (Acts 8:4)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 10:23; 1 Peter 1:6–7.
Why: Believed Jesus was risen and the Spirit was with them.
“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 4:33)
Cross-Refs: Romans 8:11; Philippians 1:6.
Result: Gospel reached Judea, Samaria, and the Gentile world.
“The word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly.” (Acts 6:7)
Cross-Refs: Acts 1:8; Revelation 7:9–10.