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Martyrdom Of The Early Christians
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From the time that Jesus walked the earth. for a period of several centuries, persecution of Christians was an ongoing thing. These things are recorded by early writers such as church leaders and historians. Those doing the persecuting ranged from the Jewish hierarchy to the Roman rulers and later to the Church of Rome after it became a political power of it’s own. All of these were ruthless and caused much suffering and death toward those who were devout followers of Jesus.
Jesus, himself was crucified for teaching a new law contrary to that of the Law of Moses.. After His death and resurrection, and after his kingdom (church) was established on the first Pentecost after the Passover Feast and is recorded in the second chapter of Acts, the persecutions intensified. Saul of Tarsus, later to be called Paul and who became an apostle , was engaged in imprisoning Christians and even having some put to death
The first mention of the man Paul (or Saul) was at the stoning of the righteous evangelist, Stephen and held the cloaks for those doing the stoning. However, after his conversion he began the most extensive effort of evangelizing for the gospel of Christ of anyone else recorded in the Bible.
Paul, himself was the object of extreme persecution and hardships on behalf of the gospel. He tells of the things he underwent in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27:
“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness”.
And after all that he was beheaded because of his devout teaching of God’s word. Eleven of the other twelve apostles also died a martyrs death, by one method or another as did many, many other Christians.
Eusebius, an early Christian historian recorded many instances of tortuous deaths which occurred before 324 A.D. A few are quoted below:
Alpheus: (Along with Zaccheus who was with him and subjected to the same)
He was scourged and scraped with iron hooks and severe bonds. He received different tortures on the rack, having his feet stretched a night and a day to the fourth hole in the stocks. At length, he was beheaded. (350)
Theodosia:
She was not yet eighteen years old, yet was distinguished for her faith and virtue. As she approached some prisoners before the judgment seat to salute them, she was seized by the soldiers and led away to the commander. She was tortured cruelly, having her sides and breasts furrowed with instruments even to the bones. She kept a cheerful and joyful countenance throughout. Then she was ordered to be cast into the sea. (359)
Metra:
An aged man, he was called upon to utter impious statements. When he did not obey, his tormentors beat his body with clubs, and pricked his face and eyes. After that, they led him to the suburbs, where they stoned him. (257)
Julian:
He was an old man who was afflicted with gout. Having confessed the Lord in front of his accusers, he was carried on a camel throughout the city. In this elevation, he was scourged and finally consumed in an immense fire, surrounded by the thronging crowds of spectators. (259)
These are but a sampling. Many more are recorded in Eusebius’ account as well as other early historians. Foxes Book Of Martyrs is filled with such from the time of the apostles on up through much of the tortures and slaughter by the Church of England against “heresy”.
Reading of these is sometimes difficult, yet it cannot help but increase one’s faith to see how those, during the time of Christ and for centuries thereafter were so thoroughly convinced of he gospel left by Him, that nothing could break their stand. It would be encouraging if people today held such devout faith
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