Before the church could defend the faith, it first had to bleed for it. Today we step into that sobering transition as we read from John Foxe and his Book of Martyrs, opening with the early persecutions that shaped the church’s identity. Foxe reminds us that Christian history is not merely a story of theology, but of suffering—beginning with John the Baptist, continuing through the crucifixion of Christ, and unfolding in the stoning of Stephen and the execution of James under Herod Agrippa. The gospel, which breathes peace and love, did not fail; rather, it exposed the darkness of the human heart. The resurrection transformed frightened apostles into bold witnesses, and that boldness provoked fury. Stephen preached and was stoned. James was beheaded. Thousands scattered. Christianity did not spread because it was politically convenient,  ...