Ever heard of #Polycarp He was an awesome #Christian who was murdered by a deranged and mentally ill society for being a Christian. #Martyrs #Eusebius of Ceasarea History Chapter 15 Under Verus, Polycarp with Others suffered Martyrdom at Smyrna. apostles-creed.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Eusebius-Pamphylus-Church-History.pdf 17. But there was such a tumult in the stadium that not many heard a voice from heaven, which came to Polycarp as he was entering the place: Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man. And no one saw the speaker, but many of our people heard the voice. 18. And when he was led forward, there was a great tumult, as they heard that Polycarp was taken. Finally, when he came up, the proconsul asked if he were Polycarp. And when he confessed that he was, he endeavored to persuade him to deny, saying, Have regard for your age, and other like things, which it is their custom to say: Swear by the genius of Caesar; repent and say, Away with the Atheists. 19. But Polycarp, looking with dignified countenance upon the whole crowd that was gathered in the stadium, waved his hand to them, and groaned, and raising his eyes toward heaven, said, Away with the Atheists. 20. But when the magistrate pressed him, and said, Swear, and I will release you; revile Christ, Polycarp said, Fourscore and six years have I been serving him, and he has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my king who saved me? 21. But when he again persisted, and said, Swear by the genius of Caesar, Polycarp replied, If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the genius of Caesar, as you say, feigning to be ignorant who I am, hear plainly: I am a Christian. But if you desire to learn the doctrine of Christianity, assign a day and hear. 22. The proconsul said, Persuade the people. But Polycarp said, As for you, I thought you worthy of an explanation; for we have been taught to render to princes and authorities ordained by God the honor that is due, so long as it does not injure us; but as for these, I do not esteem them the proper persons to whom to make my defense. 23. But the proconsul said, I have wild beasts; I will throw you to them unless you repent. But he said, Call them; for repentance from better to worse is a change we cannot make. But it is a noble thing to turn from wickedness to righteousness. 24. But he again said to him, If you despise the wild beasts, I will cause you to be consumed by fire, unless you repent. But Polycarp said, You threaten a fire which burns for an hour, and after a little is quenched; for you know not the fire of the future judgment 25. Saying these and other words besides, he was filled with courage and joy, and his face was suffused with grace, so that not only was he not terrified and dismayed by the words that were spoken to him, but, on the contrary, the proconsul was amazed, and sent his herald to proclaim three times in the midst of the stadium: Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian. 26. And when this was proclaimed by the herald, the whole multitude, both of Gentiles and of Jews, who dwelt in Smyrna, cried out with ungovernable wrath and with a great shout, This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the overthrower of our gods, who teaches many not to sacrifice nor to worship. 27. When they had said this, they cried out and asked the Asiarch Philip to let a lion loose upon Polycarp. But he said that it was not lawful for him, since he had closed the games. Then they thought fit to cry out with one accord that Polycarp should be burned alive. apostles-creed.org/saints/eusebius-of-caesarea/
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 06:00:30 +0000