And again he sent another, and they killed him too. And he sent many others: some they beat, and some they killed.
This verse shows the long history of God’s prophetic callings and the deepening of human rebellion. The Lord spoke many times through His servants, but many of them were dishonored, persecuted, or killed. This reveals not only the sin of the leaders, but also God’s astonishing patience. He could have judged immediately, but again and again He sent His word. On the other hand, every rejected message increased their responsibility. When a person rejects the voice of God for a long time, his sin ceases to be merely the result of ignorance and becomes conscious rebellion.