The Suffering ChurchTo describe how early Christians

were persecuted.

To explain why they were persecuted

To reflect upon how St Paul, Peter and St Stephen can be an example

for us today.

What would you do if someone wanted to stop you worshipping or learning about Jesus ?

Acts 2:36What was Peter preaching ?Acts 5:12-18Why did the high priests arrest the apostles and Peter ?Acts 12:1-4What happened to the apostle James, the brother of John?Why did King Herod put Peter in prison as well ?

Peter

Acts 7:52-56 What did Stephen say that annoyed the Jews ?Acts 7:54-58What did the Jewish people do to him? Why do you think they hated him so much?

Acts 9:20-22. What was Paul preaching?Acts 9:22-24; Acts 13:44-45Why did the Jews want him to kill or arrest him ?2 Corinthians 11:24- 28What did Paul suffer during his travels and preaching?

Paul

Stephen

Answer the questions for your Saint.

***How could have your apostle have avoided their suffering ? Why didn’t they avoid it?

Sharing the information you have learnt, work out which answer cards go where in the table. Then copy out the completed table in your books.

What was he preaching ?

Acts 2:36 Acts 9:20-22. Acts 7:51-56

Why did this happen?

Acts 5:12-18 Acts 9:22-24; Acts 14:44-45

Acts 7:51-56

What did he suffer ?

Acts 12:1-4 2 Corinthians 11:24- 28

Acts 7:54-58

Peter Paul Stephen

What was he preaching ?

That God has made this Jesus both Lord and Messiah

That Jesus is the Son of God

I can see heaven thrown open, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

Why did this happen?

The Jewish priests were jealous.

It pleased them to have the apostles in prison.

Because he proved to them that Jesus was the Messiah. They were jealous of the crowds who believed his preaching.

He said that the Jews were opposing the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus was in heaven

What did he suffer ?

He was arrested. He might have been executed.

He was flogged, stoned, arrested, shipwrecked.

He was stoned.

Peter Paul Stephen

Homework

• Choose one of the Saints you have looked at.• Describe – what he suffered• Explain – why he suffered for Christ

• why he didn’t give up• What you think he achieved by not giving up

Speaking up for Christ

1. Why didn’t the Apostles give up their preaching to try and avoid suffering?

2. Why is it important to speak the truth ?

Draw the picture, and write each answer in one of the speech bubbles. FULL SENTENCES !!

Artist...?• Draw either– St Stephen being stoned– St Paul being flogged, or stoned, or shipwrecked,

or in prison– St Peter in prison, or crucified upside down

What inscription/ motto would they want you to write above your drawing of them ?eg “I lived and died for Christ!”