As we've been exploring the events and characters in the history of the early church, we've recognized that as the gospel of Jesus Christ was spread and the church grew, it gained interest and attention. But not all the attention was positive, especially from the religious leaders of the time. While the initial persecution the church experienced was fairly mild, we'll be learning how that began to change, as Pastor Kent is back this week to bring a sermon titled "The Persecution Escalates" focusing on Acts 5:17-42.