Definition: The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Acts 4:26. It’s a really powerful statement about early Christianity and its relationship with power and authority. Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, the verse says that people who were initially opposed to Jesus and his followers – those who weren't believers – started to actively fight against him. Let’s unpack that a bit: “The kings of the earth stood up…” : This refers to powerful rulers and leaders from all over the world. They weren’t just ordinary people; they were influential figures with significant power. “…and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord…” : This highlights that these leaders were actively rejecting Jesus. They were focusing their energy on him in a way that was disruptive and challenging. It suggests they were trying to undermine his message or even silence him. "...and against his Christ." : This is the core of the verse. It means they were actively working to prevent people from accepting Jesus as the Messiah – the promised savior. They were creating obstacles and resistance to bring about the spread of the Gospel (the good news of Jesus). What's the significance? This passage shows that early Christians faced a significant challenge. They weren’t alone in their belief; powerful figures were actively trying to stop them. This suggests: Early Christian Faith Was Challenged: It was a time when many people were skeptical of Jesus and his teachings. Faith Needed Protection: The verse implies that the early Christians needed to be careful because they were being targeted by those who didn’t believe. In short, it's a reminder that the message of Jesus wasn’t always easy to receive, and that believers faced opposition from those who didn't share their faith. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you some context about what was happening at the time?