The Cost of Discipleship

From the first century to the twenty-first century, there continues to be a cost for following Christ.  Here's a brief look at a first century Christian and how his faith cost him.

In Acts 18 we are told of the apostle Paul's missionary trip to Corinth.  Paul begins by going to the synagogue and preaching and teaching about Jesus Christ.  The Bible tells us, "But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook his robe and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent.  From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” So he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue." (Acts 18:6-7)  

Then in verse 8 we are told that the leader of the synagogue, a man named Crispus, believed on the Lord and was saved.  Crispus had heard Paul's teaching and preaching and was led to faith and salvation in Jesus Christ.  While many other synagogue members resisted Paul's teaching, Crispus did not.

But later on in verse 17 we are told that there is a new leader of the synagogue. Crispus no longer is the leader, he has been replaced by a man named Sosthenes.  (Taking a look at verse 11, this could have been about a year and a half after Crispus had become a Christian.)

Crispus had been in a place of leadership and respect in the synagogue and in his community.  But after becoming a Christian all of that changed.  The Bible is silent as to why Crispus lost his job as leader.  We can assume that based on the hostility there was against Christianity he was thrown out of the synagogue and no longer allowed to lead there.  But Crispus made his decision to follow Christ, knowing the opposition and that it would probably cost him - and it did.

There is a cost for following Christ - even in our world today - but it is worth it!