This section will feature the last moments and words of some of the men and women
who gave their lives for the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Even into the 3rd century the persecution of Believers continued as it spread into Africa where many were martyred in that quarter of the globe.

Among them was Perpetua, a 22 year old married lady. Several others who suffered along with her were Felicitas, Revocatus, Saturninus, Secundulus, and Satur. Revocatus was a slave and a convert of Carthage. Revocatus, Saturninus, and Satur were ordered to run between the "hunters," who were the men in charge of caring for the wild beasts. The "hunters" were aligned in two ranks, the Believers ran between them and were severely whipped as they passed into the amphitheater of wild beasts. Revocatus and Satur were destroyed by these wild beasts; Saturninus was beheaded; and Secundulus died in prison.

Felicitas was also married and was great with child at the time of her arrest and execution. She and Perpetua were stripped of their clothing and thrown to a mad bull. The bull made his first attack upon Perpetua, and knocked her unconscious; he then darted at Felicitas, and gored her dreadfully; but neither woman was killed by the bull. The executioner then ended their lives with a sword.

These executions were on March 8, 205 A. D.

Speratus and twelve others were also beheaded; as was Andocles in France.

Asclepiades, bishop of Antioch, suffered many tortures, but his life was spared.

Cecilia, a young lady of good family in Rome, was married to a gentleman named Valerian. She converted her husband and brother, who were both subsequently beheaded. The officer who led those men to execution, became their convert, and suffered the same fate. The lady, Cecilia, was placed naked in a scalding bath, and having continued there a considerable time, her head was severed from her body with a sword. This was in the year 222 A. D.

Two bishops of Rome, Calistus in 224 A.D., and Urban in 232 A. D., were both martyred, but the manner of their deaths was not recorded.

May the Lord prepare us to be as steadfast in the faith as those who believed this Apostolic message even unto death. [][][][]