Persecution: Why Does the Gospel Face Rejection? || Acts 7

Why does the good news of Jesus often face rejection? In this episode, derived from Guide Through the Bible, Anthony High serves as Bible teacher and unpacks Acts 7. Along with host Arlin, he explores Stephen’s defense before the Sanhedrin. Stephen recounts Israel’s history to reveal a pattern: God sends deliverers only for them to be rejected by His people. Stephen exemplifies this pattern by confronting the leaders with their rejection of Jesus. This account ends with Stephen’s martyrdom, which fulfills Jesus’ warning about persecution. Yet even in tragedy, God’s purposes prevail—the persecution scatters the early church, spreading the gospel beyond Jerusalem. This episode challenges listeners to consider whether they will recognize and respond to God’s voice or resist Him.