To see the full force of this early Christian witness, let us glance at the transcripts of some hearings of the first century Committee on Un-Roman Activities. The Christians are being investigated as a menace to the Roman way of life:
FIRST HEARING
Q: Your name?
A: Simon Bar-Jona, now known as Simon Peter, or Cephas, the Rock.
Q: Married?
A: Yes.
Q: Occupation?
A: Formerly a Galilean tradesman, a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. Now an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Q: You are, then, an active member of this band of Christians?
A: I certainly am.
Q: Where were you a year ago today?
A: A year ago today? Probably somewhere in Jerusalem.
Q: No evasions please. . . . Is it true that on the day in question you were appearing before the Jerusalem council?
A: Yes, I appeared before the council on two occasions.
Q: What happened on those two occasions?
A: On the first occasion, another disciple and I were warned not to preach or teach any more about Jesus of Nazareth. (Reminiscently) They seemed pretty insistent about it.
Q: Did the two of you promise to obey the orders?
A: Certainly not. We replied, as I remember it, "We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
Q (to committee members): Note that, please, gentlemen. The witness admits that he did not take the demands of the council seriously. (To Peter) And the second occasion?
A: We were called before the council again, and reminded that we must keep quiet.
Q: And what was your reply?
A: Our reply was, "We must obey God rather than men."
Q: H'mph . . . That's all, Mr. Cephas. Witness dismissed. (Peter leaves) There it is, gentlemen, plain as the nose on your face. These Christians won't even obey religious councils, let alone Caesar. Mr. Cephas' statement, "We must obey God rather than men" is anti-Roman. These Christians are a menace!
SECOND HEARING
Q: Your name, please?
A: Demetrius.
Q: Home?
A: Ephesus.
Q: Occupation?
A: I am a silversmith.
Q: What do you make?
A: Shrines for statues of the beloved goddess, Artemis of the Ephesians.
Q: Are you acquainted with the name of Paul of Tarsus?
A: I am indeed.
Q: Does that mean that you are a Christian?
A: Oh, no, sir! I am not and never have been sympathetic to Christian ideas. Paul of Tarsus is an enemy, not a friend.
Q: Do the other artisans share your antagonism to Paul of Tarsus?
A: Oh, yes, indeed, your honor-I mean, sir. I speak on behalf of eighty-three of my fellow artisans.
Q: just what has Paul done to you?
A: He preaches a false religion, and he's ruined our business.
Q: Just how has he ruined your business?
A: Well, he tells the people there's only one God, his God. Now the fellow's got a gift of gab, so a lot of Ephesians believe him, see. Well, naturally, if they believe in his God, they stop believing in Artemis, and we don't sell any shrines. (Then, hastily) I mean, it's an insult to our beloved Artemis, that's what it is, sir.
Q: Did you people do anything to try to stop him?
A: Oh, yes, sir, we put on a demonstration, as you might say. We . . .
COMMITTEE MEMBER (interrupting): We've got all that information in writing; I don't believe it will be necessary to repeat it now. Here it is, sir, confidential document S-2934j, taken from a Christian house of worship. An account by Dr. Lukas of the whole thing, in a manuscript called The Acts of the Apostles, section 19, the last couple of long paragraphs.
Q: Very well. (Ponders the document, which you had better read yourself, right now) You are dismissed. (Demetrius leaves) Well, gentlemen, here is the same sort of thing all over again. Wherever these Christians go, they stir up trouble. All on account of believing in only one God. It's too dangerous to go on. Oh, I don't mind a man having his own private religion, so long as he obeys the laws of the state, and doesn't stir up any trouble. But this Paul-he has to up and suggest that Artemis isn't real, and bash! the whole economy of a city goes blooey. This Christianity is too revolutionary. We must stamp it out.
THIRD HEARING
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Gentlemen, an extremely dangerous and subversive document has just found its way into my hands, a "letter to the Hebrews." Let me read you a few excerpts. (Reads)
These [and here the writer is referring to the people he has just been praising] all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. [Note that, gentlemen, "strangers and exiles on the earth," not willing to acknowledge that the Roman Empire is all that a man could want.] For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. [Seeking a homeland, gentlemen. The Roman Empire is apparently not good enough for them.] If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is [and notice this particularly, gentlemen] as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. [And one last sentence, gentlemen. Yes, here it is. Listen to this if you will, please.] Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come. [These people think the glorious Roman Empire is second-rate! There is something better, some heavenly country or other. If people begin to think this way, the Empire will go to pieces. People who think this way must be silenced.]
The point should be clear. If you give your final allegiance to God, you cannot give final allegiance to anyone else. This may have difficult consequences. The time may come when, in the name of your faith in God, you have to say no to the president of your boys' club, or to a fraternity house brother, or to a business associate, or to your boss, or even to your Government. German Christians found this out when the Nazis came to power. Russian Christians find it true every day. The same principle applies to American Christians if their Government orders them to do something that is a betrayal of the Commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me." At such times Christians have no choice but to say with Martin Luther: "Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me."
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