The Spirit of Prophecy
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.” (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17) One of the most inspiring stories of martyrdom in the early church is the firsthand account from the diary of a young Roman woman of Carthage, North Africa, who wrote from prison in the weeks before she met her death in the arena. Her name was Vibia Perpetua, and the words and visions she recorded have been read by Christians worldwide since she penned them over eighteen hundred years ago.
Christianity in Carthage
At the dawn of the third century, Carthage was the second most prosperous and famous city in the Roman Empire, second only to Rome. Carthage was located at the northern tip of North Africa (modern-day Tunisia), and had been nearly leveled by Roman legions in 145 BC and then rebuilt by the Romans as a beautiful seaport entrance into Africa. By AD 203, the Roman governor, Hilarianus, in a political move to ingratiate himself with the Roman emperor, was planning a lavish birthday celebration in Carthage to honour the emperor’s youngest son, Geta.
At the same time, the Christian church in Carthage was flourishing. One of the greatest early church theologians, Tertullian (AD 160-220), lived in Carthage and was an outspoken Christian teacher. He also wrote extensively on the power of the Holy Spirit and was the first Christian writer to use the Latin word Trinity to describe the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He adamantly believed that the Holy Spirit’s presence still moved among God’s people in signs and wonders, in prophecies, and in visions.
Tertullian defended the Christian faith with the boldness of a lion. He wrote a daring letter to Governor Hilarianus, recorded in his Apologeticus, pointing out the growing presence of Christians and their importance in the productivity and growth of the Roman Empire. Even though Christianity was founded just a century earlier, he wrote that Christians “have filled every place among you – cities, islands, fortresses, towns, market places, the very camp, tribes, companies, palace, senate, forum we have left nothing to you but the temples of your gods.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Date: 24th February 2024
Martyr: Vibia Perpetua & Felicity
Location: Carthage (modern-day Tunisia), North Africa
Source: God’s Generals – The Martyrs
Author: Roberts Liardon
Suffering Saturday 079
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