Through the Eyes of Faith
The Apostles: Witnesses Who Could Not Stay Silent
We can be sure that the Apostles could not stop speaking of their Lord—simply proclaiming all the things they had seen to anyone who would listen. There were so many amazing stories to tell.
These men had witnessed the incredible life and ministry of our Lord and Savior. While many of their accounts are preserved forever in the canon of Scripture, there are countless others that were not recorded. The Apostle John reflected on this when he wrote,
“If they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written.”
(John 21:25, LSB)
The explosive growth of the early church can be directly attributed to these men and their insatiable desire to spread the good news of the risen Savior. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they literally turned the world upside down—recounting the miracles of the Messiah and attesting to the truth of all they had seen with their own eyes and touched with their own hands.
The Darkness Could Not Overcome the Light
But as one might expect, the powers of darkness were not pleased as the light of the gospel shined through these men. Beginning with the stoning of Stephen, the church began to endure fierce persecution from those who sought to silence the message of Christ.
All of the Apostles, with the exception of John, were martyred for their faith. John himself was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil—yet was miraculously spared by the hand of God. Failing to kill him, the emperor Domitian exiled him to the rocky Isle of Patmos, where he received the visions that became the book of Revelation.
These men had witnessed the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were prepared to continue preaching in His name even in the face of certain death. For this reason, their reward in heaven will be great. Yet Jesus spoke a special blessing to those who would believe later—those who, unlike Thomas, would not see and yet believe:
“Because you have seen Me, have you believed?
Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
(John 20:29, LSB)
Even now, those who did not see still believe—through the eyes of faith—and are no less willing to live and die for the Savior they love.
The Miracle of the Church
The Apostles lived extraordinary lives for the glory of Christ. Jesus used them to establish His church in a dark and dying world. In fact, the church itself stands as one of the greatest miracles of the Apostolic Age.
Despite persecution, imprisonment, and death, the church did not wither—it grew. Its endurance is nothing short of a miracle wrought by God. The forces of darkness hated the message of the Apostles precisely because it was effective. Men and women were turning from idols to serve the living God. They were being transformed by the message of a crucified and risen Savior whom they had never seen with their physical eyes.
The establishment viewed this growing movement as a threat, but the more they tried to suppress it, the more it flourished. The harder they struck the church, the brighter its light shined.
A Bridge Between the Apostles and the Fathers
Among the many stories of faith in this era stands one man who bridged the world of the Apostles and the early church fathers—Polycarp of Smyrna (A.D. 70–155).
Polycarp sat under the teaching of the Apostle John. One can only imagine how his heart must have burned within him as the aged Apostle recounted stories of walking with the Lord Jesus. Perhaps John told him about the raising of Lazarus, the feeding of the five thousand, or the moment he leaned upon Christ’s chest in the upper room. These stories must have left an indelible mark on the young disciple.
But more than the miracles, Polycarp listened intently as John proclaimed the truth of the gospel—the message of grace, forgiveness, and eternal life in Christ. The truths that flowed from the Apostle’s lips became the very foundation of Polycarp’s faith.
A Man Saturated with Scripture
Polycarp drank deeply of the gospel truths passed down by John. His heart and mind were saturated with the Word of God. A brief reading of his writings reveals a man whose thoughts were drenched in Scripture.
In his Letter to the Philippians, Polycarp echoes the teachings of Christ:
“Remembering what the Lord said when He taught: Do not judge so that you may not be judged; forgive and then you will be forgiven; show mercy so that you will be shown mercy; with what measure you measure out, it will be measured again to you; and that blessed are the poor and those being persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of God.”
These words reflect a deep reverence for Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5–7 and demonstrate how early the church held Scripture in the highest regard.
Polycarp also affirmed the apostolic authority of Paul’s letters, writing:
“For neither I nor another like me is able to follow after the wisdom of the blessed and glorious Paul, who, when he was with you, taught the word of truth accurately and reliably; who also, being absent, wrote letters to you, regarding which, if you examine them, you will be able to build yourselves up in the faith given to you…”
This humble statement not only honors Paul but also underscores Polycarp’s submission to the authority of Scripture—a hallmark of genuine faith.
Faith That Sees the Unseen
Polycarp never met Jesus in the flesh. He never saw the nail-scarred hands, never heard the voice that calmed the storm, and never witnessed the empty tomb. Yet, he believed.
He believed as firmly as if he had seen. His faith did not rest on sight but on truth—the truth revealed through the Word of God and proclaimed by faithful witnesses.
His life reminds us that saving faith is not born of physical evidence but spiritual conviction. It is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. This is the miracle of the church: a body of believers across centuries who love their unseen Lord, who trust His promises, and who are willing—even unto death—to confess His name.
The Martyrdom of Polycarp
The final chapter of Polycarp’s life is among the most powerful testimonies in church history. Before his death, the Apostle John had appointed him as the bishop of Smyrna, where Polycarp faithfully shepherded the flock for many decades.
He defended the faith against heresies like Marcionism and Gnosticism, standing firm for the truth of Scripture. But at the age of eighty-six, his earthly ministry came to an end.
Persecution again raged against the Christians. The account of Polycarp’s martyrdom, recorded by eyewitnesses in Smyrna, tells of a young Christian named Germanicus who was thrown to wild beasts. His bravery stirred the Roman crowd to fury. They cried out, “Away with the atheists! Let Polycarp be found!”
When the authorities finally captured the aged bishop, they were astonished at his peace. “Was so much effort made to capture a man so old?” they asked.
Polycarp could have saved his life with a simple declaration: “Lord Caesar.” A pinch of incense, a token act of worship to the emperor—that was all it would take. But Polycarp refused. He would not deny his Lord. Instead, his confession grew stronger.
When the Roman proconsul urged him to revile Christ, Polycarp replied with words that echo through history:
“Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He never did me any wrong. How then dare I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
He went to his death calmly, his faith unshaken. As he faced the flames, one can imagine the old bishop remembering the words of John—the one who had leaned upon Christ’s chest—and feeling, perhaps for the first time, that soon he would see his Lord face to face.
Faith for Every Generation
The story of Polycarp has been repeated countless times throughout church history. In every age, men and women have believed without seeing. They have endured persecution, ridicule, and even death for the sake of Christ.
Their courage is not the result of sight but of faith—faith that looks beyond this world to the glory to come.
Each of us has our own story of faith—our own journey of believing in the One whom we have not seen. Like Polycarp, we live between promise and fulfillment, between sight and faith. But one day, what we now see dimly through the eyes of faith will become radiant reality.
And in that day, we will stand with the Apostles, with Polycarp, and with all the saints who have gone before us. Together, we will behold our Lord face to face and worship Him forever—the Savior whom we believed, loved, and followed through the eyes of faith.
Reflection
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;
now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.”
(1 Corinthians 13:12, LSB)
Until that day, may our lives be marked by the same steadfast devotion.
May we proclaim the truth, endure the trials, and walk daily—through the eyes of faith.
About the Author
Pastor Brandon Phillips serves as pastor at Grace Bible Church Gainesville, where he teaches the Word of God verse-by-verse with a focus on the exaltation of Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the equipping of the saints for ministry.
He also writes and podcasts to help believers grow in sound doctrine and steadfast faith in a world that desperately needs the truth of the gospel.