The spread of the Gospel across the Roman Empire Map © copyright https://www.freebibleimages.org
The Spread of the Gospel
With the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul the Apostle, the Gospel spread across the Roman Empire, demonstrating its power to transfer people from the kingdom of darkness to the glorious light of Christ and transform lives. But it also roused the savagery of the enemy's oppostion to his territory being plundered. In particular, Roman emperors like Nero, Domitian and Trajan felt threated by this cult that challenged the idea that Caesar is Lord by the declaration that Jesus Christ is LORD. Both Peter and Paul were executed in Rome, Peter crucified upside down on a Roman cross and Paul as a Roman citizen with the sword.
The persecution was especially severe in Asia Minor, where Bishop Antipas of Pergamum was burned alive in a bronze bull at the Temple of Zeus, and in Smyrna, where Bishop Polycarp was paraded in front of a mob baying for his blood in the arena and an attempt made to burn him at the stake, before he was finally despatched with a dagger thrust.
The Blood of the Martyrs Is The Seed of The Church
The witness of martyrs like Antipas and Polycarp was a powerful demonstration of the power of the Gospel against the worship of pagan gods and emperor worship and brought the famous statement by the Roman historian Tertullian that "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." Its power was seen in the prayers of those like Polycarp's below.
The Prayer of Bishop Polycarp, martyred aged 86 years old in the arena at Smyrna on 23rd February, 156AD
"Lord God Almighty, Father of thy beloved and blessed Servant Jesus Christ, through whom we have received full knowledge of thee, 'the God of angels and powers and all creation' and of the whole race of the righteous who live in thy presence: "
"I bless thee, because thou hast deemed me worthy of this day and hour, to take my part in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, for 'resurrection to eternal life' of soul and body in the immortality of the Holy Spirit; among whom may I be received in thy presence this day as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as thou hast prepared and revealed beforehand and fulfilled, thou that art the true God without any falsehood."
"For this and for everything I praise thee, I bless thee, I glorify thee, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, thy beloved Servant, through whom be glory to thee with him and Holy Spirit both now and unto the ages to come. Amen."