Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:7-8
Alban (year unknown)
First British Martyr
Alban was a soldier at Verulamium (now named St Albans after him), one of the Roman towns that guarded Britannia in the third century. Though a pagan, Alban concealed a Christian clergyman, Amphibalus, who was fleeing persecution in the Roman Empire. When Alban saw Amphibalus praying, he started to question him about Christianity and soon after made a commitment to Christ and was baptised.
Soldiers heard that a clergyman was being concealed, and came to Alban to arrest their suspect. But Alban donned the clerical clothes and allowed himself to be arrested in Amphibalus’ place. He was brought before a judge and ordered to sacrifice to the pagan gods, but he refused, saying, “I confess Jesus Christ, the son of God, with my whole being. Those whom you call gods are idols; they are made by hands.”Alban further enraged the court when he refused to reveal where Amphibalus had gone.
He was condemned to death, but on the way to the execution site the soldier who had been ordered to carry out the penalty refused because he too had become a Christian. Both Alban and the Roman soldier were beheaded.
Alban is celebrated on 22 June as the first British Christian martyr; the year of his death has never been firmly established.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!
Samuel Francis (1834-1925)