Jesus told that his disciples that they would encounter opposition as they proclaimed the Gospel of salvation. Today's passage from Acts shows that this opposition began to appear very early on in the life of the Church.

Jesus also warned the disciples that this opposition would develop into violent persecution: it would not remain on the level of polite intellectual debate, as it did on this occasion. Yet, even such mild opposition demanded courage, the courage to be strong in the face of criticism, the courage to refuse to act in a different way but to continue to affirm the resurrection of Jesus. Even in this apparently urbane situation with the leaders, the elders and the scribes, Peter and John were already fulfilling their role as martyrs simply by courageously defending the truth of Jesus' resurrection. The martyr is one who testifies to Jesus no matter what such testimony and witness may demand. We probably will never be called to witness like Peter, but we are all called to witness like John. Peter would testify to Jesus by dying for him. John would testify to Jesus by living for him.