Below is a dramatic account of a man named Polycarp, a friend of the Apostle
John himself.
On the fateful day described below (somewhere near the year 150 AD),
Polycarp was asked to renounce Christ in exchange for his life. Unmoved by
the threat of death, Polycarp, having received his training from the
disciple whom Jesus loved, was well prepared for this day. As you will see,
better prepared than his opponents.
Although ancient historians had a tendency to exaggerate and sensationalize
events, we can nevertheless get a glimpse of what happened during this most
inspiring moment of human history, near Smyrna (in modern Turkey). Polycarp
is dragged in before the Roman authority. A large, angry crowd has gathered
to watch the mock proceedings. Within moments, Polycarp will die. His death
would change the lives of all present.
Here is the account as this historian recorded it:
When then Polycarp was brought before him, the proconsul inquired whether he
was the man. And on his confessing that he was, he tried to persuade him to
a denial saying, 'Have respect to your age,' and other things in accordance
therewith, as it is their want to say; 'Swear by the genius of Caesar;
repent and say, Away with the atheists.'
(Atheists here would be those (like Christians) who rejected the Roman
gods.)
Then Polycarp with solemn countenance looked upon the whole multitude of
lawless heathen that were in the stadium, and waved his hand to them; and
groaning and looking up to heaven he said, 'Away with the atheists.'
(Here we can see the play on words. To Polycarp, the real atheists were
those who rejected Christ. All those in earshot knew exactly what he was
implying.)
But when the magistrate pressed him hard and said, 'Swear the oath, and I
will release you; revile the Christ.'
Polycarp said, 'Eighty-six years have I been His servant, and He has done me
no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?'
(This is one of the most famous quotes of early Christianity.)
But on his persisting again and saying, 'Swear by the genius of Caesar,' he
answered, 'If you suppose vainly that I will swear by the genius of Caesar,
as you say, and feign that you are ignorant who I am, hear plainly, I am a
Christian. But if you would like to learn the doctrine of Christianity,
assign a day and give me a hearing.'
The proconsul said; 'Prevail upon the people.' But Polycarp said; 'As for
yourself, I should have held you worthy of discourse; for we have been
taught to render, as is fitting, to princes and authorities appointed by God
such honor as does us no harm; but as for these, I do not hold them worthy,
that I should defend myself before them.'
(In this context, read Hebrews 11:38!)
Whereupon the proconsul said; 'I have wild beasts here and I will throw you
to them, unless you repent' But he said, 'Call for them: for the repentance
from better to worse is a change not permitted to us.
(Reread that last line. It is powerful!)
Then he said to him again, 'I will cause you to be consumed by fire, if you
despise the wild beasts, unless you repent.' But Polycarp said; You threaten
that fire which burns for a season and after a little while is quenched: for
you are ignorant of the fire of the future judgment and eternal punishment,
which is reserved for the ungodly. But why are you stalling? Let's get on
with this!'
(Certain of his eternal destiny, Polycarp takes control of the
conversation!!!!!)
Saying these things and more besides, he was inspired with courage and joy,
and his countenance was filled with grace, so that not only did it not drop
in dismay at the things which were said to him, but on the contrary the
proconsul was astounded and sent his own herald to proclaim three times in
the midst of the stadium, 'Polycarp has confessed himself to be a
Christian.'
(Remember, by this confession, Polycarp sealed his death. He would not
waver.)
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
loud shout, 'This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the
one who dethrones our gods, who teaches many not to sacrifice nor worship.'
Saying these things, they shouted aloud and asked Philip to let a lion loose
upon Polycarp. But he said that it was not lawful for him, since he had
brought that sport to a close.
Then they thought fit to shout out with one accord that Polycarp should be
burned alive. Forthwith then the instruments that were prepared for the pile
were placed about him; and as they were going likewise to nail him to the
stake, he said; 'Leave me as I am; for He that has granted me to endure the
fire will grant me also to remain at the pile unmoved, even without the
security which you seek from the nails.'
So, they did not nail him, but tied him. Then he, placing his hands behind
him and being bound to the stake, like a noble ram out of a great flock for
an offering, a burnt sacrifice made ready and acceptable to God, looking up
to heaven said;
'O Lord God Almighty, the Father of Your beloved and blessed Son Jesus
Christ, through whom we have received the knowledge of You, the God of
angels and powers and of all creation and of the whole race of the
righteous, who live in Your presence; I bless You for that You have granted
me this day and hour, that I might receive a portion among the number of
martyrs in the cup of [Your] Christ unto resurrection of eternal life, both
of soul and of body.
May I be received among these in Your presence this day, as a rich and
acceptable sacrifice, as You did prepare and reveal it beforehand, and have
accomplished it, You that are the faithful and true God. For this cause, yea
and for all things, I praise You, I bless You, I glorify You, through the
eternal and heavenly High-priest, Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, through
whom with Him and the Holy Spirit be glory both now [and ever] and for the
ages to come. Amen.'
When he had offered up the Amen and finished his prayer, the firemen lighted
the fire. And, a mighty flame flashing forth, we to whom it was given to
see, saw a marvel, yea and we were preserved that we might relate to the
rest what happened.
The fire, making the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a vessel filled
by the wind, made a wall round about the body of the martyr; and it was
there in the midst, not like flesh burning, but like [a loaf in the oven or
like] gold and silver refined in a furnace. For we perceived such a fragrant
smell, as if it were the wafted aroma of frankincense or some other precious
spice.
(Portions of this account are missing. That is why you see the occasional [
]. The translator was not certain of these words.)
So, at length the lawless men, seeing that his body could not be consumed by
the fire, ordered an executioner to go up to him and stab him with a dagger.
And when he had done this, there came forth a quantity of blood, so that it
extinguished the fire; and all the multitude marveled that there should be
so great a difference between the unbelievers and the elect.
(Surely by this man, many came to know Christ as their Savior.)
The historian who recorded this for us made these final remarks. Concerning
martyrs, he said:
For who could fail to admire their nobleness and patient endurance and
loyalty to the Master? Seeing that when they were so torn by lashes that the
physical property of their flesh was visible even as far as the inward veins
and arteries. They endured patiently, so that the very bystanders had pity
and wept; while they themselves reached such a pitch of bravery that none of
them uttered a cry or a groan, thus showing to us all that at that hour the
martyrs of Christ being tortured were absent from the flesh, or rather, that
the Lord was standing by and conversing with them.
Hope you were touched by this man's death. Thousands have been
John himself.
On the fateful day described below (somewhere near the year 150 AD),
Polycarp was asked to renounce Christ in exchange for his life. Unmoved by
the threat of death, Polycarp, having received his training from the
disciple whom Jesus loved, was well prepared for this day. As you will see,
better prepared than his opponents.
Although ancient historians had a tendency to exaggerate and sensationalize
events, we can nevertheless get a glimpse of what happened during this most
inspiring moment of human history, near Smyrna (in modern Turkey). Polycarp
is dragged in before the Roman authority. A large, angry crowd has gathered
to watch the mock proceedings. Within moments, Polycarp will die. His death
would change the lives of all present.
Here is the account as this historian recorded it:
When then Polycarp was brought before him, the proconsul inquired whether he
was the man. And on his confessing that he was, he tried to persuade him to
a denial saying, 'Have respect to your age,' and other things in accordance
therewith, as it is their want to say; 'Swear by the genius of Caesar;
repent and say, Away with the atheists.'
(Atheists here would be those (like Christians) who rejected the Roman
gods.)
Then Polycarp with solemn countenance looked upon the whole multitude of
lawless heathen that were in the stadium, and waved his hand to them; and
groaning and looking up to heaven he said, 'Away with the atheists.'
(Here we can see the play on words. To Polycarp, the real atheists were
those who rejected Christ. All those in earshot knew exactly what he was
implying.)
But when the magistrate pressed him hard and said, 'Swear the oath, and I
will release you; revile the Christ.'
Polycarp said, 'Eighty-six years have I been His servant, and He has done me
no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?'
(This is one of the most famous quotes of early Christianity.)
But on his persisting again and saying, 'Swear by the genius of Caesar,' he
answered, 'If you suppose vainly that I will swear by the genius of Caesar,
as you say, and feign that you are ignorant who I am, hear plainly, I am a
Christian. But if you would like to learn the doctrine of Christianity,
assign a day and give me a hearing.'
The proconsul said; 'Prevail upon the people.' But Polycarp said; 'As for
yourself, I should have held you worthy of discourse; for we have been
taught to render, as is fitting, to princes and authorities appointed by God
such honor as does us no harm; but as for these, I do not hold them worthy,
that I should defend myself before them.'
(In this context, read Hebrews 11:38!)
Whereupon the proconsul said; 'I have wild beasts here and I will throw you
to them, unless you repent' But he said, 'Call for them: for the repentance
from better to worse is a change not permitted to us.
(Reread that last line. It is powerful!)
Then he said to him again, 'I will cause you to be consumed by fire, if you
despise the wild beasts, unless you repent.' But Polycarp said; You threaten
that fire which burns for a season and after a little while is quenched: for
you are ignorant of the fire of the future judgment and eternal punishment,
which is reserved for the ungodly. But why are you stalling? Let's get on
with this!'
(Certain of his eternal destiny, Polycarp takes control of the
conversation!!!!!)
Saying these things and more besides, he was inspired with courage and joy,
and his countenance was filled with grace, so that not only did it not drop
in dismay at the things which were said to him, but on the contrary the
proconsul was astounded and sent his own herald to proclaim three times in
the midst of the stadium, 'Polycarp has confessed himself to be a
Christian.'
(Remember, by this confession, Polycarp sealed his death. He would not
waver.)
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
loud shout, 'This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the
one who dethrones our gods, who teaches many not to sacrifice nor worship.'
Saying these things, they shouted aloud and asked Philip to let a lion loose
upon Polycarp. But he said that it was not lawful for him, since he had
brought that sport to a close.
Then they thought fit to shout out with one accord that Polycarp should be
burned alive. Forthwith then the instruments that were prepared for the pile
were placed about him; and as they were going likewise to nail him to the
stake, he said; 'Leave me as I am; for He that has granted me to endure the
fire will grant me also to remain at the pile unmoved, even without the
security which you seek from the nails.'
So, they did not nail him, but tied him. Then he, placing his hands behind
him and being bound to the stake, like a noble ram out of a great flock for
an offering, a burnt sacrifice made ready and acceptable to God, looking up
to heaven said;
'O Lord God Almighty, the Father of Your beloved and blessed Son Jesus
Christ, through whom we have received the knowledge of You, the God of
angels and powers and of all creation and of the whole race of the
righteous, who live in Your presence; I bless You for that You have granted
me this day and hour, that I might receive a portion among the number of
martyrs in the cup of [Your] Christ unto resurrection of eternal life, both
of soul and of body.
May I be received among these in Your presence this day, as a rich and
acceptable sacrifice, as You did prepare and reveal it beforehand, and have
accomplished it, You that are the faithful and true God. For this cause, yea
and for all things, I praise You, I bless You, I glorify You, through the
eternal and heavenly High-priest, Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, through
whom with Him and the Holy Spirit be glory both now [and ever] and for the
ages to come. Amen.'
When he had offered up the Amen and finished his prayer, the firemen lighted
the fire. And, a mighty flame flashing forth, we to whom it was given to
see, saw a marvel, yea and we were preserved that we might relate to the
rest what happened.
The fire, making the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a vessel filled
by the wind, made a wall round about the body of the martyr; and it was
there in the midst, not like flesh burning, but like [a loaf in the oven or
like] gold and silver refined in a furnace. For we perceived such a fragrant
smell, as if it were the wafted aroma of frankincense or some other precious
spice.
(Portions of this account are missing. That is why you see the occasional [
]. The translator was not certain of these words.)
So, at length the lawless men, seeing that his body could not be consumed by
the fire, ordered an executioner to go up to him and stab him with a dagger.
And when he had done this, there came forth a quantity of blood, so that it
extinguished the fire; and all the multitude marveled that there should be
so great a difference between the unbelievers and the elect.
(Surely by this man, many came to know Christ as their Savior.)
The historian who recorded this for us made these final remarks. Concerning
martyrs, he said:
For who could fail to admire their nobleness and patient endurance and
loyalty to the Master? Seeing that when they were so torn by lashes that the
physical property of their flesh was visible even as far as the inward veins
and arteries. They endured patiently, so that the very bystanders had pity
and wept; while they themselves reached such a pitch of bravery that none of
them uttered a cry or a groan, thus showing to us all that at that hour the
martyrs of Christ being tortured were absent from the flesh, or rather, that
the Lord was standing by and conversing with them.
Hope you were touched by this man's death. Thousands have been