Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 139
139 and start oppressing them, they would oppress the Jews as well taking them as part of them. No doubt the Jews were first responsible for their persecution, but the position changed later and whenever the Romans oppressed, they oppressed both the Christians and the Jews, making no distinction between the two. Therefore whenever Christians sought for shelter, the Jews also would go into hiding with them. . Some ruins found in Rome confirm this. . EARLY CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED. I think the Christians showed great courage in the face of bitter opposition in Rome and the cruel hardships which the. Government inflicted on them in concentrating heavily on preaching there. They had powerful missions in Rome. . There, people used to oppose them on account of their missionary activity, oppress them and take over their properties. . But tyranny does not last long. They used to beat them up at first but would leave them alone later as Hindus lose their temper in contemporary India at certain places and start. Muslim-baiting but after a time conditions become calm. The tyranny raises its head in another area and after some time calm settles down there. . Their first main centre was in Rome, another in Antioch and the third centre was in Alexandria. In all the three centres, Christian missionaries used to be assaulted and the enemy would either kill them or hurt them. Because of these recurring attacks, Christians would take to hiding in their houses or run away to suburban villages or make hide-outs underground. In those days some people used to make their sepulchres underground and would excavate stones for the purpose from the earth. Christians would clear up the cavaties that were made after excavating stones and make their