Following the Suffering Servant

 “You have followed...” – Part 3

(2 Timothy 3:11)

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

...my persecutions and sufferings

that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—

The Apostle Paul faced great persecutions from Jesus-rejecting Jews wherever he went. Timothy knew about this, and apparently faced his own trials. See Hebrews 13:23.

But about Paul, we read in Acts 13 and 14 of his adventures noted here.

At Antioch in Pisidia:

The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. (Acts 13:44-45)

...And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:48-52)

At Iconium:

Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country,... (Acts 14:1-6)

At Lystra:

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:19-22)

which persecutions I endured;

Paul did not organize a band of followers to fight for him and to put his enemies to death. He did something much more powerful and surprising. He endured these persecutions. He kept on teaching from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ, and that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, die, and be raised from the dead.

yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

He also entrusted himself to God. Jesus, who died for us, is the reigning King of the Jews and the King of the church. He is not in a place of weakness, but in a place of power.

Do not forget what He said to His followers immediately before He told them to go forth into the world to make more disciples:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)

He wins through our cross-following endurance. He rescues us and vindicates His Name.