I’m coming to you today with a story that’s both historical and spiritual—a story about how a small group of believers turned the mighty Roman Empire upside down. At a time when faith in Christ could get you thrown to the lions, it was precisely faith in Christ that would outlast emperors, outshine pagan gods, and forever change the course of history.

 The Pagan World Meets the Cross

In the first century AD, the Roman Empire was the superpower of the world. Its streets bustled with trade, culture, and countless religions. You could worship Jupiter, Mars, Isis, Mithras—just about any deity you wanted. But one thing was non-negotiable: you had to show loyalty to Caesar, even by offering incense at his altar.

And that’s where Christianity drew the line.

Christians refused to call Caesar “Lord.” They refused to bow the knee to anyone but Jesus Christ. And for that, they were branded as enemies of the state, accused of treason, atheism (yes, atheism—for rejecting the Roman gods), and even cannibalism (a misunderstanding of the Lord’s Supper).