Fox's Book of Martyrs
Chapter I
History of Christian Martyrs to the First
General Persecutions
Under Nero
Christ our
Savior, in the Gospel of St. Matthew, hearing the confession of Simon Peter,
who, first of all other, openly acknowledged Him to be the Son of God, and
perceiving the secret hand of His Father therein, called him (alluding to his
name) a rock, upon which rock He would build His Church so strong that the
gates of hell should not prevail against it. In which words three things are to
be noted: First, that Christ will have a Church in this world. Secondly, that
the same Church should mightily be impugned, not only by the world, but also by
the uttermost strength and powers of all hell. And, thirdly, that the same
Church, notwithstanding the uttermost of the devil and all his malice, should
continue.
Which
prophecy of Christ we see wonderfully to be verified, insomuch that the whole
course of the Church to this day may seem nothing else but a verifying of the
said prophecy. First, that Christ hath set up a Church, needeth
no declaration. Secondly, what force of princes, kings, monarchs, governors,
and rulers of this world, with their subjects, publicly and privately, with all
their strength and cunning, have bent themselves against this Church! And,
thirdly, how the said Church, all this notwithstanding, hath yet endured and holden its own! What storms and tempests it hath overpast, wondrous it is to behold: for the more evident
declaration whereof, I have addressed this present history, to the end, first,
that the wonderful works of God in His Church might appear to His glory; also
that, the continuance and proceedings of the Church, from time to time, being
set forth, more knowledge and experience may redound thereby, to the profit of
the reader and edification of Christian faith.
As it is not
our business to enlarge upon our Savior's history, either before or after His
crucifixion, we shall only find it necessary to remind our readers of the
discomfiture of the Jews by His subsequent resurrection. Although one apostle
had betrayed Him; although another had denied Him, under the solemn sanction of
an oath; and although the rest had forsaken Him, unless we may except "the
disciple who was known unto the high-priest"; the history of His
resurrection gave a new direction to all their hearts, and, after the mission
of the Holy Spirit, imparted new confidence to their minds. The powers with
which they were endued emboldened them to proclaim His name, to the confusion
of the Jewish rulers, and the astonishment of Gentile proselytes.
I. St. Stephen
St. Stephen
suffered the next in order. His death was occasioned by the faithful manner in which he preached the Gospel to the betrayers and
murderers of Christ. To such a degree of madness were
they excited, that they cast him out of the city and stoned him to death. The
time when he suffered is generally supposed to have been at the passover which succeeded to that of our Lord's crucifixion,
and to the era of his ascension, in the following spring.
Upon this a
great persecution was raised against all who professed their belief in Christ
as the Messiah, or as a prophet. We are immediately told by St. Luke, that
"there was a great persecution against the church which was at
Jerusalem;" and that "they were all scattered abroad throughout the
regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles."
About two
thousand Christians, with Nicanor, one of the seven deacons, suffered martyrdom
during the "persecution that arose about Stephen."
II. James the Great
The next
martyr we meet with, according to St. Luke, in the History of the Apsotles' Acts, was James the son of Zebedee, the elder
brother of John, and a relative of our Lord; for his mother Salome was
cousin-german to the Virgin Mary. It was not until ten years after the death of
Stephen that the second martyrdom took place; for no sooner had Herod Agrippa
been appointed governor of Judea, than, with a view to
ingratiate himself with them, he raised a sharp persecution against the
Christians, and determined to make an effectual blow, by striking at their
leaders. The account given us by an eminent primitive writer, Clemens Alexandrinus, ought not to be overlooked; that, as James
was led to the place of martyrdom, his accuser was brought to repent of his
conduct by the apostle's extraordinary courage and undauntedness,
and fell down at his feet to request his pardon, professing himself a
Christian, and resolving that James should not receive the crown of martyrdom
alone. Hence they were both beheaded at the same time.
Thus did the first apostolic martyr cheerfully and resolutely receive that cup,
which he had told our Savior he was ready to drink. Timon and Parmenas suffered martyrdom about the same time; the one at
Philippi, and the other in Macedonia. These events took place A.D. 44.
III. Philip
Was born at
Bethsaida, in Galilee and was first called by the name of "disciple."
He labored diligently in Upper Asia, and suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in
Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, A.D.
54.
IV. Matthew
Whose
occupation was that of a toll-gatherer, was born at Nazareth. He wrote his gospel
in Hebrew, which was afterwards translated into Greek by James the Less. The
scene of his labors was Parthia, and Ethiopia, in which latter country he
suffered martyrdom, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A.D. 60.
V. James the Less
Is supposed
by some to have been the brother of our Lord, by a former wife of Joseph. This
is very doubtful, and accords too much with the Catholic superstition, that
Mary never had any other children except our Savior. He was elected to the
oversight of the churches of Jerusalem; and was the author of the Epistle
ascribed to James in the sacred canon. At the age of ninety-four he was beat
and stoned by the Jews; and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller's
club.
VI. Matthias
Of whom less
is known than of most of the other disciples, was elected to fill the vacant
place of Judas. He was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.
VII. Andrew
Was the
brother of Peter. He preached the gospel to many Asiatic nations; but on his
arrival at Edessa he was taken and crucified on a cross, the two ends of which
were fixed transversely in the ground. Hence the derivation of the term, St.
Andrew's Cross.
VIII. St. Mark
Was born of
Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi. He is supposed to have been converted to
Christianity by Peter, whom he served as an amanuensis, and under whose
inspection he wrote his Gospel in the Greek language. Mark was dragged to
pieces by the people of Alexandria, at the great solemnity of Serapis their
idol, ending his life under their merciless hands.
IX. Peter
Among many
other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified,
as some do write, at Rome; albeit some others, and not without cause, do doubt
thereof. Hegesippus saith that Nero sought matter
against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they
entreated Peter with much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their
importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But, coming to the
gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping, said,
"Lord, whither dost Thou go?" To whom He answered and said, "I
am come again to be crucified." By this, Peter, perceiving his suffering
to be understood, returned into the city. Jerome saith that he was crucified,
his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was
(he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord
was.
X. Paul
Paul, the
apostle, who before was called Saul, after his great travail and unspeakable
labors in promoting the Gospel of Christ, suffered also in this first
persecution under Nero. Abdias, declareth that under
his execution Nero sent two of his esquires, Ferega
and Parthemius, to bring him word of his death. They,
coming to Paul instructing the people, desired him to pray for them, that they
might believe; who told them that shortly after they should believe and be baptised at His sepulcher. This done, the soldiers came and
led him out of the city to the place of execution, where he, after his prayers
made, gave his neck to the sword.
XI. Jude
The
brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa,
A.D. 72.
XII. Bartholomew
Preached in
several countries, and having translated the Gospel of
Matthew into the language of India, he propagated it in that country. He was at
length cruelly beaten and then crucified by the impatient idolaters.
XIII. Thomas
Called
Didymus, preached the Gospel in Parthia and India, where exciting the rage of
the pagan priests, he was martyred by being thrust through with a spear.
XIV. Luke
The
evangelist, was the author of the Gospel which goes under his name. He
travelled with Paul through various countries, and is
supposed to have been hanged on an olive tree, by the idolatrous priests of
Greece.
XV. Simon
Surnamed Zelotes, preached the Gospel in Mauritania, Africa, and
even in Britain, in which latter country he was crucified, A.D. 74.
XVI. John
The
"beloved disciple," was brother to James the Great. The churches of
Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira, were founded by
him. From Ephesus he was ordered to be sent to Rome, where it is affirmed he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He
escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian afterwards banished him to the
Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Nerva, the successor of
Domitian, recalled him. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.
XVII. Barnabas
Was of
Cyprus, but of Jewish descent, his death is supposed to have taken place about
A.D. 73.
And yet,
notwithstanding all these continual persecutions and horrible punishments, the
Church daily increased, deeply rooted in the doctrine of the apostles and of
men apostolical, and watered plentously with the
blood of saints.
Chapter 2 - The Ten Primitive Persecutions
Fox's Book of Martyrs - Introduction