A study of the history of the early church will show the workings of Satan although his name is not always mentioned in connection with events for which he was no doubt responsible. Soon after Pentecost, Satan stirred up the Jewish leaders to arrest and try to hinder the apostles from preaching the gospel. Acts 4:1-3: "And as they (i.e. Peter and John) spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide." Then we have this additional information in verse 18: "And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus." Satan knew only too well the power there was in the name of Christ, and so he saw to it that the disciples were forbidden to use that name in their preaching. But all the threatening in the world could not stop these followers of Christ from proclaiming that name from the housetops.  

SATAN STIRRED UP OPPOSITION FROM . WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE CHURCH  

     One of the devil's clever methods is to cause trouble or disgrace within the midst of the church in order to bring reproach on the cause. The fourth chapter of Acts tells the story of how the disciples were living together and sharing their goods with one another. Barnabas had brought the price of some land he had sold and gave the money to the Apostles. This suggested to Ananias and Sapphira that they sell some property and they did so. But they wanted to get the credit for giving all while they were withholding part of the price. Acts 5:3: "But Peter said, Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" And we know how God brought upon this couple the judgment of death in order to make them an object lesson to the church down through the centuries.  

SATAN'S PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH FROM WITHOUT  

     Things did not go smoothly very long for the early church. The devil soon began a great persecution against it. That is his usual method when a real work of God is being done. Acts 8:1: "And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." The Lord, however, overruled the persecution and caused good to come out of it for the church as a whole. Acts 8:4 tells what took place: "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word." The persecution actually causd the spread of the gospel in places that might not otherwise have had the gospel at that time.  

SATAN'S EFFORTS TO BRING THE CHURCH INTO LEGAL BONDAGE TO JUDAISM  

     Diversity of opinion and sharp controversy arose in the New Testament church over the matter of the relationship between Christianity and Judaism. Satan* did his best to bring the whole Gentile church as well as the Jewish Christians into bondage to the legalism of Judaism. Acts 15:1: "And certain men which came down (i.e. to Antioch) from Judea taught the brethren and said, Except ye be circumcized after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." The fifteenth chapter of Acts goes on to tell the story of the Council of Jerusalem which discussed the issue and gave forth the decision that it was not necessary for Gentile Christians to become Jews in order to become Christians. The whole future history of the Christian church was influenced by this important decision. Even to-day, however, there are those who have not profited by this decision and who are trying to make the keeping of certain laws of Moses the criterion of real Christianity rather than faith in Christ crucified, and thus they would bring many into legal bondage. All of this is clearly seen to be the work of the Evil One.  

SATAN TRIED TO HINDER PAUL'S MISSIONARY LABORS  

     On more than one occasion Paul was hindered by the work of Satan. Acts 16:16-18: "And it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this she did many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour." There was nothing the matter with this girl's testimony. What she said was the truth. But everything was wrong with her character, because it was under the control of the demon who indwelt her. By this means Satan was tormenting Paul in his work for the Lord for a period of many days. When he took a stand and commanded the evil spirit to come out in the name of Christ, then Satan was defeated in his efforts.  

     Again we read where Paul was hindered by Satan. First Thessalonians 2:18: "Wherefore we would have come upon you, even l Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us." That is the devil's main business to hinder every person who is doing a worthwhile work for God. Surely Christian people everywhere do not pray enough against the hindering work of Satan in the lives of home and foreign missionaries and other Christian workers.  

     Paul also had other experiences with Satan. 2 Corinthians 12:7: "There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me." Thus Satan was trying to torment Paul, but actually God overruled it for good to Paul. In 2 Corinthians 2:11 we read: "Lest Satan should get advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." Paul was thoroughly acquainted with the devices of the devil. The more good we do for God the more opposition we are apt to have from Satan. That is to be expected.