“You will be my witnesses,” declares the risen Jesus to his apostles, “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

David Cook observes that the gospel is indeed unstoppable, despite:

• external religious opposition (Acts 4:1ff; 5:17ff; 6:8ff);
• economic opposition (Acts 16:16ff; 19:23ff);
• internal hypocrisy (Acts 5:1ff);
• church friction (Acts 6:1–7; 15:36–41);
• persecution (Acts 5:17ff; 8:1ff; 12:1ff; 13:49–52; 14:19–20; 17:1ff; 21:27ff);
• martyrdom (Acts 7:54–8:4; 12:1–4);
• storms and shipwrecks (Acts 27:13ff);
• courts (Acts 4:5ff; 18:12–17; 24:1ff; 25:1ff);
• imprisonment (Acts 12:5ff; 16:16ff);
• orthodox religious tradition (Acts 15:1ff).

(Teaching Acts)