The Persistence of God, for lack of a better title

The introduction material in my classes- the life of Jesus, the Roman empire, the history of Palestine- all mesh together into one big story. I suppose it makes sense that it does. History, or His story, as my Church History professor likes to point out, is the stage upon which God's will unfolds.

Everything was set up for Jesus to come. God had orchestrated world events perfectly for His Son to make His glorious entrance and for His disciples to continue the great work. The power of God through Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection was such that His name was known throughout the known world in a generation.
The lives of the Early Christians was a test of true perseverance, boldness, bravery. Living in a constant threat of persecution- never knowing if/when it would strike, the early Christians boldly renounced their pagan religions, their traditions of Judaism, their lives of "fitting in", and gave it up for Jesus, who to them, was a man who had lived on earth only a few short years earlier. The details of their persecutions appall me- I hurriedly turning the page. However, it is a good reminder of the trueness of Christianity. It's not simply that the early martyrs were brave. Of course they were. But one must never forget God. The Savior.  He equips. It calms my fears and wonderings if I could have handled such a lifestyle.
How cool.