Maximus, a Pious Christian

It is said that shortly after Pionius and the martyrs before him died, a pious Christian named Maximus, a citizen of Ephesus, suffered. To put it as briefly, clearly and plainly as we can, we will (instead of the fathers' testimony) copy the records themselves, approved by the Proconsul and written by the clerk of the court. They read as follows: "Maximus, a citizen of Ephesus, was arrested and brought before Optimus, the Proconsul of Asia, and the Proconsul asked him, 'What is your name?'

"He answered, 'My name is Maximus.'

"The Proconsul asked, 'What is your station?' which meant whether he was free born or a servant.

"Maximus said, 'I belong to myself, and I am free born. Even so, I am a servant of Christ, and I manage my own affairs.'

"The Proconsul said, 'Are you a Christian?'

"Maximus replied, 'Though I am a sinner, I am nevertheless a servant of Christ.'

"The Proconsul asked, 'Do you not know the decrees of the invincible Princes, which have now been brought here?'

"Maximus asked in return, 'What are they?'

"The Proconsul answered, 'That all the Christians are to forsake their superstitions, acknowledge the only true Prince, to whose power all things are subject, and worship his gods.'

"Maximus said, 'Yes, I have heard the unjust decree of this Prince, or Emperor, and that is why I have come, to declare myself openly against it.'

"The Proconsul spoke, 'Then sacrifice to the gods.'

"Maximus said, 'I sacrifice to no one except God; and I rejoice that from my childhood days I have offered myself to God alone.'

"The Proconsul said again, 'Sacrifice, or I will have you tormented in many different ways.'

"Maximus said, 'This is just what I have always longed for: to be stripped of this temporary and frail life, and by that to gain eternal life.'

"The Proconsul then commanded his soldiers to beat Maximus with sticks. While he was being beaten, the Proconsul said to him, 'Sacrifice, Maximus, so that you may be released from these torments.'

"Maximus said, 'These torments, which I gladly and willingly receive for the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, are no torments at all; but if I fall away from Christ, I must expect the real and everlasting torments.'

"The Proconsul therefore had him hung on the torture stake and dreadfully tormented, and said to him, 'See now what your folly has brought you to; sacrifice, then, so that you may save your life.'

"Maximus replied, 'If I do not sacrifice, I will save my life; but if I do, I will lose it. For neither your sticks, hooks, claws, pincers, nor your fire hurt me; nor do I feel any pain from them, because the grace of Christ remains in me.'

"Then the proconsul pronounced the sentence of death, which was as follows: 'I command that Maximus be stoned to death, as an example and a terror to other Christians, because he would not submit to the laws and sacrifice to the great Diana of Ephesus! Acta Proconsularia." [n204-2] This is as far as the words go that the clerk of the court himself wrote.

The Christian who copied these records adds the following: "And at once this faithful champion of Christ was taken away by the servants of Satan, brought outside the city walls, and stoned. While he was being led away and stoned, he thanked God with all his heart, who had made him worthy to overcome the devil in the conflict; and so he committed his soul into the hands of his Lord Jesus Christ."

So this pious witness of Jesus laid down his life amid a volley of stones, for the honor of his Savior, and so was registered among the holy and steadfast martyrs. A. Mell., 1st book, folio 72, columns 3 and 4, from Acta Procons. Also, Aug., book 2, de Doctr. Christ., chapter 26, Idem. contra Donatist. super alia acta citat. [n204-3]