Polycarp, a Disciple of the Apostle John, and Bishop of the Church at Smyrna, in the Year 168

We read in the Revelation of John that the Lord commanded His servant John to write a few things to the angel (that is, the bishop or teacher) of the church at Smyrna, for the admonition of the teacher as well as for the service of the church, saying: "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things says the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive; I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty

. Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be faithful to death and I will give you a crown of life" (Revelation 2, verses 8 to 10). These words of the Lord Jesus show that the believers at Smyrna, and their teacher, were in tribulation and poverty, and that still more suffering was approaching them; and so He exhorted them to steadfastness, and promised to give them the crown of life.

As for the teacher of this church, most of the ancient writers call him Polycarp, and say that he was a disciple of the apostle John, since he had heard John preach the Word of God, and had associated with those who had known the Lord Jesus Christ personally, and had had dealings with Him; and that John had appointed him bishop or overseer of the church at Smyrna.

As to the sufferings which the Lord said would come upon him and the church of which he was teacher, these began some time afterward; in such a way that this good shepherd went first, and many of the sheep of his flock faithfully followed him. However, we intend to speak here only of the shepherd, Polycarp.

It is stated that three days before he was arrested and sentenced to death, he was suddenly overcome by sleep in the middle of his prayer, and while dreaming had a vision, in which he saw the pillow on which he lay with his head suddenly catch fire and burn up. Waking instantly at this, he concluded that he was to be burned for the name of Christ.

When those who sought to arrest him had come very close, his friends tried to hide him, and therefore brought him to another country house, where he was nevertheless discovered by his persecutors soon afterward. For they had seized two boys, whom they compelled by scourging to say where Polycarp was; and although he might easily have escaped from the room he was in into another house nearby, he would not do it, but said, "The will of the Lord be done." He therefore went down the stairs to meet his persecutors, and received them so kindly that those who had not known him before said with regret, "What need was there for us to make such great haste to arrest such an old man."

Polycarp immediately had a table spread for his captors, and warmly urged them to eat; asking them to allow him an hour in which to pray undisturbed and in quiet while they were eating; which they granted him. When he had finished his prayer, and the hour was up in which he had reflected upon his life, and had commended the church of which he was teacher to God and his Savior, the bailiffs set him on a donkey and led him to the city, on the Sabbath of the great feast.

Nicetes and his son Herod, called the prince of peace, rode out to meet him, took him off the donkey, and made him sit with them in their carriage, seeking in this way to induce him to fall away from Christ, saying: "What does it matter for you to say, Lord Emperor, and to offer sacrifice or incense before him, to save your life." At first Polycarp made no reply at all, but when they kept on asking him, and demanded an answer, he finally said: "I shall never do what you request and counsel me to do." When they saw that he was immovable in his faith, they began to revile him, and at the same time thrust him out of the carriage, so that in falling he severely injured his leg. He never showed, however, that he had been injured by the fall, but as soon as he had risen he willingly gave himself up again into the hands of the bailiffs, to be led on to the place of execution, walking as rapidly as though nothing hindered him.

As soon as Polycarp had entered the circus or amphitheater, where he was to be executed, a voice came to him from heaven, saying, "Be strong, O Polycarp! and valiant in your confession, and in the suffering which awaits you." No one saw the one from whom this voice came, but many of the Christians who stood around heard it; however, because of the great commotion, the greater part of the people could not hear it. It served nevertheless to strengthen Polycarp and those who had heard it.

The Stadtholder urged him to have compassion on his great age, and, by swearing by the Emperor's fortune, to deny Christ. To this Polycarp gave the following plain reply, "I have now served my Lord Christ Jesus eighty-six years, and He has never done me any harm. How can I deny my King, who has preserved me from all evil until now, and so faithfully redeemed me?"

Then the Stadtholder threatened to have him torn by wild beasts, if he would not give up his purpose, saying: "I have the beasts ready, and I shall throw you before them, unless you are converted in time." Polycarp answered without fear: "Let them come, for my purpose is unchangeable. We cannot be converted or turned from good to evil by affliction; but it would be better if they (the evildoers) who persist in their wickedness would be converted to what is good." The Stadtholder replied: "If you are not yet sorry, and despise the wild beasts, I shall have you burned with fire." Once more Polycarp answered, saying: "You threaten me with a fire which will perhaps burn for an hour, and then soon go out; but you do not know the fire of the future judgment of God, which is prepared and reserved for the everlasting punishment and torment of the ungodly. But why do you delay? Bring on the beasts, or the fire, or whatever you may choose: you shall not, by either of them, move me to deny Christ, my Lord and Savior."

Finally, when the people demanded his death, he was handed over by the Stadtholder to be burned. Instantly a great heap of wood, fagots, and shavings was brought together. When Polycarp saw this, he undressed himself, and took off his shoes, in order to be laid on the wood without any clothes. This being done, the executioners were about to lay their hands on him, to nail him to the wood; but he said: "Let it be so; He who has given me strength to endure the pain of the fire will also strengthen me to remain still in the fire, though you do not nail me to the firewood." They accordingly did not fasten him with nails, but simply tied his hands behind his back with a rope. [n153-1] Thus prepared for a burnt offering, and placed upon the wood like a sacrificial lamb, he prayed to God, saying, " O Father of Your beloved and blessed Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received the saving knowledge of Your holy name; God of angels and powers, and of all creatures, but especially of all the righteous who live in Your sight, I thank You that You called me to this day and hour, and have counted me worthy; that I may have my part and place among the number of the holy martyrs, and in the cup of the suffering of Christ, so that I suffer with Him, and thus partake of His pains. I pray You, O Lord, that You would this day receive me, as a fat offering among the number of Your holy martyrs, even as You alone, O God of truth, who cannot lie, prepared me for it, and made it known to me, yes, and have now at last fulfilled it. Therefore I thank and praise You, above other men, and honor Your holy name, through Jesus Christ, Your well-beloved Son, the eternal High Priest, to whom, with You and the Holy Ghost, be the glory, now and forever. Amen."

As soon as he had uttered the last word of his prayer (the word "Amen" ), the executioners ignited the wood upon which he was placed; and when the flames circled high above the body of Polycarp, it was found, to the astonishment of everyone, that the fire injured him but little, or not at all. The executioner was therefore commanded to pierce him with a sword, which was instantly done, so that the blood, either through the heat of the fire, or from some other cause, issued so copiously from the wound that the fire was almost extinguished by it; and thus this faithful witness of Jesus Christ, having died both by fire and by the sword, entered into the rest of the saints, about the year 168. Compare Euseb., 4th book, chapter 15, printed in the year 1588, pages 66 to 70, with Abr. Mell., 1st book of the Hist., folios 40, 41, columns 1 to 4, from Iren., book 3, chapter 3. Haeres. Hieron. Catal. in Polycarp, Euseb., book 4, chapter 13, and book 5, chapter 19. Also, Joh. Gysii Hist. [n153-2] Mart. for the year 168, folio 17, column 2. Also, P. J. Twisck, Chron. 2nd book, in the year 168, page 45, column 2. [n153-3]