19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. Acts 15:19-24

The corrupt businessmen went to the politicians in the city to get them to take care of their problem. The politicians were all too happy to take care of their problem for them. Of course the politicians only put a band aid on the problem. The problem – Paul and Silas – was not going away despite the politicians’ mediocre efforts.

This scenario plays out in all cultures and in all nations around the globe. The type of money is different as is the punishment, but Christians still undergo persecution at the hands of corrupt and greedy politicians every day of the year. Some countries are worse than others.

Join with me in praying for the Persecuted Church around the world. Pray for the women and children left behind when pastors and lay preachers get taken to prison. Pray that the rest of the Western World will awaken to this horrible plight.