What were New Testament believers persecuted for?

There has been a renewed worry about the changes in American society and how churches and pastors will be persecuted for taking a Biblical stance against any number of social issues.

Here’s my question: In the book of Acts, why are believers persecuted?

They seem to be persecuted because they are proclaiming the Gospel… Persecution is caused by both the message of the Good News itself and the ensuing changes that responses to the Gospel bring.

Peter and the apostles were beaten because they wouldn’t stop teaching about Jesus’ resurrection. They were not persecuted because they spoke out against the legalism of the Pharisees.

Paul and his companions caused a riot because so many people turned to the Lord that the industry of idol-making was impacted. The riot was not because Paul was speaking against the vices of Ephesus.

If I’m going to be locked up or have an order of protection written against me, may it be because I’ve shared the Gospel, not because I spoke up about a social issue.*

*I hope that I have the correct Biblical stance about social issues, but that’s not what I want to go to jail for.