Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 189
? 182 the Jews and, since the entire teaching appeared to be common to both, therefore whenever the Romans would get inflamed against Christians 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.