Jesus says, “I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” At that time, people were spreading false stories about the Christians. These lies caused many people to hate and fear them.
Christians Were Misunderstood and Accused
In old writings, we read that Christians talked about “eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ” during communion. Because of this, people wrongly believed they were cannibals—eating human flesh. This idea made others afraid of them Private Ephesus Tours.
Also, Christians refused to worship the Roman gods or go to the pagan temples. Because of this, people called them atheists, even though they believed in God. As a result, they were looked down on by society.
False Accusations About Their Gatherings
Christians often spoke about loving one another and being united like a family. But people twisted this and said they were having wild and immoral parties. These lies made things even worse and led to more hatred and persecution Hard Times During the Great Depression.
The Source of the Slander
The Bible says these lies came from people who claimed to be Jews but were not truly following God. Even though they were descendants of Abraham and had a synagogue in Smyrna, they acted more like enemies of God. They were like the Pharisees who attacked Jesus. Because they lacked true spiritual understanding, Jesus called them “a synagogue of Satan.”
The Pain of Being Lied About
Being lied about is painful and hard to deal with. I recently saw interviews with Dr. Everett Koop, a former Surgeon General, and Judge Robert Bork, who was denied a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Both of them shared how deeply they were hurt by false accusations in the media. They were blamed for things they didn’t do, and it was very hard for them to endure.
That’s exactly what the early Christians in Smyrna were going through—facing lies, hatred, and pain because of their faith.
