Publisher's Synopsis
The persecution of Jesus in the Middle East is no new phenomenon, as saddening as the situation is. Way back in the first century, Christians suffered a great ordeal under the Jews and the Roman Empire. Over the centuries the situation has worsened in different parts of the world, including Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), Mexico, North Korea, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and so on. In the days of Jesus, persecution of Christians by the Pharisees was a common occurrence, because the teachings of Jesus and the claim of His being the Messiah, who was being awaited, did not augur well with the perceptions of that time in the society - at least not in form, timing and practice. In the forefront around that time were the likes of the Sanhedrin, the Persians, Saul (later referred to Saul upon conversion), Stephen (who was stoned to death for preaching the word of God), and Jesus Christ (the savior of the world, who was later crucified alongside two thieves).
