Why did Jesus' disciples go into hiding?

Question

Why did they get scared? If they believed Jesus was the son of God shouldn't they have been brave?

There are future stories of them dying martyrs.

Seems a little fictionalized. How did these cowards turn into martyrs?

Answer 1

There's a dynamic that was going on that needs to be taken into account. Prior to the time of Jesus' arrival, the predominant (but not exclusive) Jewish understanding was that, when the Messiah came, He would immediately establish the Messianic age and all the evils done against the Jews would be avenged. So when Jesus told His disciples that He would be betrayed and die at the hands of His enemies, this was extremely confusing to them (as it is even to this day with Jews who disbelieve). What were they to think? The scribes taught them one thing, but Jesus taught them the opposite. They knew He was sent from God because of the miracles done in their presence. Because of their devotion to Him, it wasn't a matter of whom to believe -- it was a matter of changing their own pre-conceived notions to conform with what Jesus said would happen.

After His death, the disciples fled in fear for their lives. Even Peter, who vowed to accompany Jesus into death, disavowed Him three times and fled for his life. Thomas refused to believe Jesus has been resurrected until he saw Him for himself. All this shows the emotional turmoil the disciples suffered after their Master died on the cross. They knew in their hearts that the Pharisees wanted to eradicate Jesus' teaching completely and logically concluded they were next.

However, this changed on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples received the Holy Spirit. In that instant, they turned from mere humans shocked to know Jesus had been resurrected, into humans who were "in-dwelt" by God Himself! Although they saw Jesus' miracles first-hand and knew He had been resurrected, the Holy Spirit placed a new sense of bravery and committment into their hearts. This gave them the strength to preach what they had seen and refuse to compromise the message they KNEW was the truth -- even to the death.

The Bible tells us this patience to endure intense persecution is supposed to provide strength to all other Christians. And it has.

Answer 2

Jesus' disciples did not fully understand what was going on. The Jews had been waiting for the Christ to arrive that would bring Israel back to the power and splendor it had been during the reigns of David and Solomon. They were expecting the Christ to overthrow the Roman government and throw them out of their land.

The disciples saw all of the miracles that Jesus had performed to confirm that He was the son of God so they no doubt believed. However, when Jesus was executed, they were thrown into a state of confusion because Rome just killed the son of God. Now what was going to happen????

It was not until Jesus was resurrected that many of them started to remember that Jesus had taught that His kingdom was not of this world but was a spiritual one. Then on the Day of Pentecost when Peter and the other Apostles taught about Jesus being the Christ and how His crucifixion was not only expected but was required, thousands of people responded.

"The Way" (as the Christian movement was called among the Jews) was growing in such number and strength in Jerusalem after the Day of Pentecost that the Roman government started to crack down and disperse them. So the many of the newly converted Jews (now Christians) went back to the cities & countries they were originally from. They were boldly teaching & preaching which is why Christianity spread so quickly and far-reaching.

Just as today, many people of the world did not like the Christians because they were teaching God's Word/Will rather than what they wanted to hear and how they wanted to live their lives.

Hope this helps your understanding.

Think about it -- figure it out.

Answer 3

The Holy Spirit did it.

I can trust apostles' testimonies because, of those twelve men, eleven died martyr's death on the basis of two things ; the Resurrection of Christ, and their belief in him as the Son of God. They were tortured and flogged, and they finally faced death by some of the cruelest methods then known.

What most people usually say is: "Why, a lot of people have died for a lie, so what does it prove?"

Yes, a lot of people have died for a lie, but they thought it was the truth. Now if the Resurrection didn't take place (i.e., was a lie), the disciples knew it. I find no way to demonstrate that they could have been deceived. Therefore, these eleven men not only died for a lie - here is a catch - but they knew it was a lie. It would be hard to find eleven people in history who died for a lie, knowing it was a lie.

This was the one belief that separated the followers of Jesus from the Jews and turned them into the community of the Resurrection. You could imprison them, flog them, kill them, but you could not make them deny their conviction that 'on the third day he rose again'.

I believe I can trust the testimony of these men more than that of most people I meet today, people who aren't willing to walk across the street for what they believe, let alone die for it.

Answer 4

Many hid because they knew the Roman soliders were looking for Jesus. They were afraid that they would also arrest them and possibly kill them for believing Jesus was who He said He was. They were cowards to a point but they were only men, Jesus was the Son of God. Look at Judas, he still betrayed Jesus even after Jesus told he would and Judas didn't believe he ever would. And Peter still denied Jesus 3 times even after Jesus told he would and Peter said he never would deny Hima dn would die with Him. Jesus knew what these men would do and forgave them. Later they returned, like being 'reborn'. Not every apostle became a martyr but they are all saints. There's a difference.

Answer 5

You know, that's a very good question.

You're right. But they were humans. They were, as you said afraid. However, keep in mind that these events took place after Jesus death and before his resurrection. Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection giving them final and definitive proof of the fact that he WAS the Son of God. This strengthened them to carry on the work they were assigned, being martyred if necessary in the process. This was particularly true of Peter, who not only scattered with the rest of them, but publicly denied his Lord twice. Yet Jesus used him to strengthen the rest of those early Christians.

Answer 6

Good question, two answers.

1) Because their leader was killed! If their leader could be killed, how much easier would it be for them to be killed. No one is eager to die, and by them being afraid that point is proven. These were real men, they had families and realized that they were not going to be kings on earth, they were going to be persecuted. They were left alone without their leader and they were scared. Perfectly natural feeling.

2) They did not have the Holy Spirit yet. Until it came, they were powerless. But when it did arrive, they were able to preach publicly with the love of God in their hearts. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, they were strengthened.

Seems very logical to me.

Answer 7

When Jesus died on the cross from the hands of Ciaphas and Rome they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. They thought they were next to be found and crucified. Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit. Once the Holy Spirit comes upon believers you are empowered with power from on High. They were not the same men when the Holy Spirit came in. The same happened to me. I fear no man. He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world. No man can touch me unless the Lord allow it.

Answer 8

THey were scared at first. But read in Acts how they changed after the day of pentecost. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and most of them began to preach with power even though it cost them their lives. What a change!

Read the whole 2nd chapter of Acts. See how Peter was turned into a man who lied to escape the people who accused him of being with Jesus into a man who spoke boldly of the power of God even though he knew it would eventually cost him his life.

Answer 9

They were not cowards.They died for what they believed in.
They also were only human.They of course believed that Jesus was the Son of God,however to witness what had been done to Christ of course would have scared anyone.So what if they were afraid and went into hiding for awhile.
You need to study the Bible before you make unjustified criticisms

Answer 10

They scattered on the night of His arrest (just like He said they would)....

But...

They didn't stay scared. The Holy Spirit of promise filled them on the day of Pentecost and they were given power and courage to preach the word.