‘Crucify, torture, condemn, crush us. For the proof of our innocence is found in your injustice. It is on this account that God suffers us to suffer this… Yet no cruelty of yours, though each were to exceed the last in its exquisite refinement, profits you in the least; but forms rather an attraction to our sect. We spring up in greater numbers as often as we are mown down by you: the blood of the Christians is a seed.’
This famous quote was written by the great church leader and writer Tertullian at the end of the second century, in the face of severe, ongoing persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire. It is usually paraphrased as ‘the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church’, but it’s worth sharing this longer portion, to set the quote in context. It comes at the end of his long defence of our faith (Apologeticus – from where we get the word apologetics), and the details he includes in his text are often harrowing.
It’s a good reminder that Jesus’ words in today’s passage, foretelling the trials that would come to his followers (v2), are not exaggerated. Indeed, the word we translate as ‘witness’ in today’s bibles, is martus – from which we also get the word ‘martyr’. Such was the persecution the early Christians faced that the two ideas became synonymous – to witness was to suffer.
And yet, this apparently powerless (in human terms), persecuted group went from 120 souls on the Day of Pentecost, to an estimated 20 million by the time of the Emperor Constantine’s conversion in 312AD. Why? It’s not just the impact of human testimony, although Jesus’ disciples were outstanding in giving courageous voice, just as Jesus commanded (v27).
It is due to another power, a divine power, a strength beyond our strength, one that could only come when Jesus left this earth (v7): the power of the Holy Spirit, who will testify about Jesus (v26). Our divine Advocate is sent by the Father to bear witness to Jesus. Indeed, everything the Holy Spirit does points to Jesus – we’ll look at this in more detail tomorrow.
When we think about the suffering of our sisters and brothers, it naturally fills us with grief (v6). But we are not left on our own. The Holy Spirit has the power to keep us (v1) and anoint us, for the glory of God. Today, let’s give thanks for all martyrs, all who have paid the ultimate cost for their love of the Lord. Truly their sacrifice is the seed of the church. Let’s also pray for all those who witness powerfully in our age, and for our small acts of witness, that they too may testify to the One in whose wonderful name they are done.