1 Thessalonians 3:7-10 Therefore, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:… An image of Cybele was carried round in one of her usual cars on one occasion, in the reign of the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and accompanied by a great multitude of people. All fell on their knees; but Symphorianus, a young man of high family, conceived that his conscience would not allow him to participate in this rite, and most probably, on being taken to task for it, took occasion to speak of the vanity of idolatry. He was instantly seized, and conducted before the governor, Heraclius, a man of consular dignity, as a disturber of the public worship, and a seditious citizen. The governor said to him, "You are a Christian, I suppose. As far as I can judge, you must have escaped our notice; for there are but a few followers of this sect here." He answered, "I am a Christian; I pray to the true God, who rules in heaven, but I cannot pray to idols; nay, if I were permitted, I would dash them to atoms, on my own responsibility." The governor, on this avowal, declared him guilty of a double crime, one crime against the religion, and another against the laws of the state; and, as neither threats nor promises could induce Symphorianus to abjure his faith, he was sentenced to be beheaded. As they led him to execution, his mother cried out to him, "My son, my son, keep the living God in thy heart; we cannot fear death, which leads so certainly to life: up, my son I let thy heart be up, and look to Him who rules on high. Thy life is not taken from thee today, but thou art conducted to a better. By a blessed exchange, my son, thou wilt pass this day to the life of heaven." (Neander.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: |
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