Related commentaries – Persecution

Paul Rader Watched Christians Die

Paul In ancient Rome, crowds by the tens of thousands would gather in the Coliseum to watch as Christians were torn apart by wild animals. Paul Rader, commenting on his visit to this famous landmark, said, “I stood uncovered to the heavens above,  and asked myself, ‘Would I, could I, die for Him tonight to get this gospel out?” Rader continued, “I prayed most fervently for the spirit of a martyr, and for the working of the Holy Spirit in my heart, as He worked in Paul’s heart when He brought him on his handcuffed way to Rome.” Those early Christians “lived on the threshold of heaven, within a heartbeat of home, no possessions to hold them back.” (Our Daily Bread).