As others have pointed out extremely well (Esquilax especially), there is a difference between lying and saying something believed to be true, but ultimately false. The latter, rather than the former, is what people die for.
Let's be clear what the reaction in C1 Mediterranean countries would have been to the claims of Xianity. The Early Xians told the religious authorities (the ones with stones) that the Temple and the Priesthood were no longer important. They told the religious zealots (the ones with pointy sticks who thought Torah observance would bring God's Kingdom to reality) that it was no longer relevant.
They told the people of Israel that as far as membership of God's people was concerned, they were nothing special now, and 'pagans' and 'sinners' were just as welcome. They challenged the whole millennia old basis of national, ethnic and religious identity of C1 Israel.
They went to Greek towns, who believed that their town had gods who had the power to bless or curse the town, and said “You need to ignore them”. Along with the businesses relying on god worship. They challenged the whole Greek religious edifice, something for which the Greeks had forced Socrates himself to commit suicide.
Finally, by claiming Jesus as King (Christ) they were issuing a direct challenge to Roman rule. The Romans had a distinct way of dealing with this.
This wasn't C21 England, where someone inventing the FSM is seen as a funny guy. C1 Israel was more like a mixture of Iran and IS. People coming up with new ways of doing religion ended up getting theological dialogue from groups of large bald headed men with baseball bats.
Let's be clear what the reaction in C1 Mediterranean countries would have been to the claims of Xianity. The Early Xians told the religious authorities (the ones with stones) that the Temple and the Priesthood were no longer important. They told the religious zealots (the ones with pointy sticks who thought Torah observance would bring God's Kingdom to reality) that it was no longer relevant.
They told the people of Israel that as far as membership of God's people was concerned, they were nothing special now, and 'pagans' and 'sinners' were just as welcome. They challenged the whole millennia old basis of national, ethnic and religious identity of C1 Israel.
They went to Greek towns, who believed that their town had gods who had the power to bless or curse the town, and said “You need to ignore them”. Along with the businesses relying on god worship. They challenged the whole Greek religious edifice, something for which the Greeks had forced Socrates himself to commit suicide.
Finally, by claiming Jesus as King (Christ) they were issuing a direct challenge to Roman rule. The Romans had a distinct way of dealing with this.
This wasn't C21 England, where someone inventing the FSM is seen as a funny guy. C1 Israel was more like a mixture of Iran and IS. People coming up with new ways of doing religion ended up getting theological dialogue from groups of large bald headed men with baseball bats.
