Timeless Christians

Perpetua, Vibia

Vibia Perpetua was well-born, but it did not save her from execution as a Christian. Around the year 200, when she was 22 years old, married, and a new mother, having recently given birth to a son, she was arrested for converting to Christianity. Her pagan father repeatedly tried to make her recant but she replied that, just as a waterpot is a waterpot no matter what you call it, she was a Christian no matter what anyone said about her.

Unlike most women in the ancient world, Perpetua knew how to write and recorded her prison experiences until the day before her death. At first she was mostly concerned because her baby was not allowed with her. Deacons brought the child to her to feed, and she persuaded the prison authorities to let her keep him with her until the end. When they agreed, the prison became to her like a palace, she wrote.

Her record tells of three visions she had while jailed. In the first she saw a ladder reaching to heaven guarded by a dragon. Saturus (another martyr) mounted first and then Perpetua followed. They came to a large garden, where was a shepherd clad in white, feeding sheep, while thousands in white robes stood around. The shepherd gave Perpetua a piece of cheese, which she received in her mouth and consumed, the attendants saying "Amen." She took this to foretell her death and arrival in Christ's realm.

Her trial came soon after. The judge condemned her and the other martyrs to be thrown to the beasts. After her condemnation, Perpetua saw a vision of her brother Dinocrates, who had died when 7 years old, undergoing punishment, but after she prayed for him it was revealed to her that he was removed into a place of refreshment and peace. Scholars take this vision as proof that prayers for the dead were then used in the church.

The day before she faced the beasts in the arena, Perpetua had her third vision, in which she triumphed over an Egyptian, representing the devil, and was rewarded with a golden branch.

When the hour of execution arrived, the tribune attempted to array the men as priests of Saturn, the women as priestesses of Ceres, but yielded to the indignant protest of Perpetua. In the arena, Perpetua was tossed by an infuriated cow. She immediately rearranged her clothes for modesty and pinned her hair up so she wouldn't look as if she was mourning. A young soldier then came to kill her by driving a sword into her throat. Inexperienced, his hand shaking, he struck one of her neck bones, causing her agony. With her hands she then guided the sword to her throat.

Perpetua is famous, not only because she is one of the first Christian women to write a document which has come down to us, but because she, a brand new Christian, so heroically died for Christ.

adapted by Dan Graves from a public domain article of Rev. G. T. Stokes, M.A.