Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

THE FIRST AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.189and imputes to him "sedition." Then many aGallio, many a Felix, many a Festus have as itwere unwillingly to enter into and decide thesequestions of the Jewish law. It would seem thatconverts to the Christianfaith in these its earnestdays might long have escaped the notice of themagistrate, as belonging to a Jewish sect, but forthis enmity of the Jews themselves. But as theteachers of the new faith everywhere addressedthemselves first to their countrymen, so everywherethey found these countrymen alive to their progressand bitterly set against it.8 This state of thingsis pretty well expressed by that answer of theEoman Jews to S. Paul when he excuses himselfbefore them for having been compelled to appealto the Emperor Nero: " as concerning this sect,we know that it is spoken against everywhere."9This, however, was Jewish, not Koman, contradiction.So far as everywhere Jewish hatred and jealousycould malign and counterwork the progressof the Christian Faith, and bring suffering on itsteachers, it had been done. But nevertheless withthis exception it would seem that for thirty-fiveyears after the day of Pentecost that Faith hadbeen freely and publicly taught throughout theempire. It was through the malignity of his owncountrymen, stirring up a dangerous conspiracy8 See Justin Martyr, Dial. c. Tryph. 17, who speaks of the Jews asmsending everywhere deputies in order to defame Christians.9 Acts xxviii. 22.