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| Chapter XII.—Polycarp is sentenced to be burned.
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Chapter XII.—Polycarp is sentenced to
be burned.
While he spoke these and many other like things, he was
filled with confidence and joy, and his countenance was full of grace, so
that not merely did it not fall as if troubled by the things said to him,
but, on the contrary, the proconsul was astonished, and sent his herald
to proclaim in the midst of the stadium thrice, “Polycarp has
confessed that he is a Christian.” This proclamation having been
made by the herald, the whole multitude both of the heathen and Jews, who
dwelt at Smyrna, cried out with uncontrollable fury, and in a loud voice,
“This is the teacher of Asia,451
| 451 Some read, “ungodliness,” but the above
seems preferable. | the father of the Christians, and the
overthrower of our gods, he who has been teaching many not to sacrifice,
or to worship the gods.” Speaking thus, they cried out, and
besought Philip the Asiarch452
| 452 The Asiarchs were those who superintended all
arrangements connected with the games in the several provinces.
| to let loose a lion upon Polycarp. But Philip answered that it
was not lawful for him to do so, seeing the shows453
| 453 Literally, “the baiting of
dogs.” | of wild beasts were already finished. Then it
seemed good to them to cry out with one consent, that Polycarp should be
burnt alive. For thus it behooved the vision which was revealed to him in
regard to his pillow to be fulfilled, when, seeing it on fire as he was
praying, he turned about and said prophetically to the faithful that were
with him, “I must be burnt alive.”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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