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Also, more historical facts, Pliny, a Roman governor in Asia Minor in the early second century was so puzzled about the Christians that were brought before him for trial that he wrote his famous letter to the emperor, Trajan, asking him for advice. This was the kind of thing that he found himself up against.

He said that a certain unknown Christian was brought before him, and Pliny, finding little fault in him proceeded to threaten him.

“I will banish thee,” he said. “Thou canst not, for all the world is my Father’s house.”

“Then I will slay thee,” said the governor. “Thou canst not, for all my life is hid with Christ in God.”

“I will take away thy possessions,” continued Pliny. “Thou canst not, for my treasures are in heaven.”

“I will drive thee away from man, and thou shalt have no friend left,” was his final threat. And the calm reply, once more was, “Thou canst not, for I have an unseen Friend from who thou art not able to separate me.”

In that statement you are going to see that way back then, there was doctrine. Don’t let nobody fool you.

And it goes on.

He says, “What was a poor, harassed Roman governor with all the powers of life and death, torture and the stack at his disposal, to do with people like this?”

That’s his letter, to the emperor! He didn’t know what to do with him.

LEAVE HIM ALONE! BE CONVERTED!

Then, lastly, Eusebius.

Now these are way back in the earlier centuries. I’m reading this just to let you know, that when He established His church—the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. I’m telling you. It’s going to go and do its course—just like God said.

When the emperor sent messengers to lure Eusebius into heresy by fair words and glowing promises, the saint answered them, “Alas! Sirs, these speeches are fit to catch children. But we who are taught and nourished by the Sacred Scriptures are ready to suffer a thousand deaths rather than to permit one little tittle of the Scriptures to be altered.”

Then the emperor threatened to take by force all his goods, to torture him, to banish him, even to kill him. Answered the courageous Christian, “He needs not fear confiscation who has nothing to lose, nor banishment to whom heaven is his country, nor torments when his body can be destroyed at one blow, nor death which is the only way to set him at liberty from sin and not sorrow.”

Now if you can’t read into all that, man, you’ve got so much doctrine—including the crucified life—they had the Scriptures. And just like he said, NOT ONE TITTLE. You’re not changing nothing. That attitude was from the start—don’t mess with the Word of God.

We are going to study Stephen’s time to shine. Chapter six of the Book of Acts.

The name, ‘Stephen’ means a crown, and this person, Stephen, receives the martyr’s crown of Revelation 2:10. He is the first Christian martyr, and ‘martyr’ means ‘witness.’ He died for his witness about Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not die as a martyr, but as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. In a sense, Stephen died for exposing the sins of man. People get mad when you expose their sins.

Some comparisons. In both cases, the Lord and His . . .

- Their enemies could not answer them, and false witnesses were hired against them.
- Both were charged with blasphemy.
- Religious leaders stirred up people against them.
- Both were accused of breaking the Mosaic Law.
- Both were accused of destroying the Temple.
- Caiaphas, the high priest, was the final judge in both cases.
- Both of them made the same supplication when dying

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).

“And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:60).

So, here we find in Acts chapter 6, the early church needed help with their widows, and those not able to care for themselves.

“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:1-4).

“It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” … Someone says that that is pretty arrogant. No, they didn’t think that they were arrogant, they just knew where their priority was.”

Now those chosen were ordained by the apostles according to verse 6, whom they set before the apostles and when they prayed, they laid their hands on them, and God’s plans—you have to understand this—God’s plan always works.

“Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:6-7).

The results of obeying God. If we would have preached on just this one verse—we would have thought—they were just so arrogant. Who do they think they are, not taking care of the widows. Isn’t there is a commandment for them to do that? There’s a commandment for everybody to do that, but when God calls you to a position, you do that position first. You do what God called you to do.

When it seemed to Diocletian that he had made an end of them, he had a medal coined with this motto on it: “The Christian religion is destroyed, and the worship of the Roman gods are restored.”

It is even more fun to put this into historical context. Diocletian [244-311] ruled 20 years from 285-305 AD and then abdicated to his Son-in-Law, Galerius. A mere single YEAR after his abdication, while he was still alive, Constantine I (the Great) [272-337], became Galerius' heir.

In the consolidation of his power and in ending the shared rule of the Roman Tetrarchy, he defeated his rivals in a series of civil wars [312-24], and made all religions equal to that of the Roman Gods with the 'Edict of Milan'! While remaining Pagan for most of his life, his mother was a devout Christian and he converted to Christianity on his deathbed in 337.

Who follows in his train?

The Son of God Goes Forth to War

The Son of God goes forth to war
A kingly crown to gain;
His blood-red banner streams afar
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink His cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain
Who patient bears his cross below,
He follows in His train.

The martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw is Master in the sky,
And called on Him to save.
Like Him, with pardon on His tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them that did the wrong!
Who follows in His train?

A glorious band, the chosen few
On whom the Spirit came,
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
The lion’s gory mane;
They bowed their necks the death to feel:
Who follows in their train?

A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Savior’s throne rejoice
In robes of light arrayed..
They climbed the steep ascent of heav’n;
Through peril, toil and pain;
O God, to us may grace be giv’n
To follow in their train.

—Reginald Heber, 1827.