A powerful witness to the work of the Spirit in transforming Roman society with its Greek culture to the seed of Abraham. Some things to note in Pliny’s letter:
1. Christians came from every strata of society and not only slaves as some would contend.
2. Significant numbers were involved that, for a time, pagan temples were abandoned. The 1-2% Christian population estimate by some is clearly suspect.
3. God graciously had many people from this region even though Paul was prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching to them earlier.
4. Pliny’s letter witnesses to the truth of the statement in Acts 17.6: “these men have turned the world upside down.”