Publisher's Synopsis
Have you ever wondered what it was like to live in the First Century? What were the conflicts like? How did Christians overcome persecution? What kind of opposition did believers face? This novel is the fourth in a series of seven; it takes place in Philadelphia located in southwestern Turkey.
The ancient city of Philadelphia, located about halfway between Pergamum and Laodicea, was founded as an outpost of Greek culture by kings who reigned in the Kingdom of Pergamum. Throughout the years, and in every sector of the city, there was an emphasis on entertainment, drama, sports, and education.
Early democracy brought wealthy citizens together, and the entire population congregated at many places of worship. Countless gods and goddesses vied for the attention of all citizens. People gave sacrifices to their favorite deity.
Philadelphia was a city accustomed to occasional earth tremors following the Great Earthquake of AD 17. It was located on the road linking Laodicea and Smyrna, meaning hospitality and inns were important to merchants, travelers, soldiers, and entertainers.
A Jewish synagogue had been present for almost two hundred years when the message of Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, came into this city. At the end of the first century, the daily life of early Christians in the face of the already ancient Greco-Roman civilization was made more difficult by interpersonal problems, financial struggles, and harassment from the authorities.
This novel continues the story begun in the first three books in the Heartbeats of Courage series. Anthony, a Roman soldier, and his wife, Miriam, a Jewish woman, arrive in Philadelphia.
Miriam was a member of the Ben Shelah family, immigrants to Asia Minor from Alexandria, Egypt. Her uncles lived in several other cities in the province: Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Laodicea, and Smyrna.
These ancient cities, with Ephesus and Colossae, are known as the Seven Cities of the Revelation. Each year, millions of visitors tour these locations in southwestern Turkey.
