The Willingness of the early Church to die without regard or regret or (and this is especially relevant) hatred against their persecutors stands out as one of the strongest proofs that what they were telling the world was true.
Why would anyone (and so many) not fully convinced of what they were sharing, especially if they had made it up themselves, be willing (rather, because it was true-constrained) to lose all-family, friends, Religion, Country, wealth and possessions, not to mention to die so uselessly for a lie?
Unlike the false teachers who have always profited as they have tried to corrupt the simple truth of Christ, these men and women were losing all. And thought it a good trade.
Joe Robinson
The Ezra Project: An Exploration and Study of Theology & Christianity 