crucified the Messiah. Each spread throughout the empire and competed for the people’s worship. When they could not persuade adherents to turn away, these adversaries persecuted and sought to destroy the teachings and disciples of the humble Carpenter from Galilee. None succeeded. Using legal channels, authorities fined, imprisoned, confiscated the property of, tortured, dismembered, burned and killed many believers, who became known as martyrs. However, the more Christians they killed, the more