Three Pious Peasants, Priscus, Malchus, and Alexander

In this persecution under Valerian there were three very noted and God-fearing martyrs at Cesarea, in Palestine, who were nevertheless only simple peasants: the first called Priscus, the second Malchus, the third Alexander. Eusebius writes that, as they lived near the suburbs of Cesarea, a divine zeal for the faith was kindled within them, and they accused each other (and each himself, says Mellinus) of slothfulness, since heavenly crowns of martyrdom were being distributed, or at least offered, in the city, and they were so little inclined to ask for them, even though our Lord and Savior had said that the kingdom of heaven must be taken by violence, and that therefore it did not become them to remain so earthly and slothful. Having exhorted one another with such words, they went into the city, and addressed and rebuked that cruel tyrant, the criminal judge, demanding of him why he shed so much Christian blood. The tyrant replied at once, saying: "They shall be thrown before wild beasts, to be torn by them, who do not like to see the blood of the Christians shed; which, it is stated, was done to them." Compare Euseb., book 7, chapter 12, folio 131, columns 1, 2, letters F, G, with the Introduction, folio 4, column 2. Also, Joh. Gys., folio 21, column 2. [n214-1]

A. Mellinus, writing in defense of the three peasants just named, against those who would call them too bold, says after other remarks: "Who are you to judge your brothers? How do you know what spirit they were of? No one has courage of himself; but it is the gift of God, not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His name: so neither is of ourselves. They also did not seek their own honor, but to magnify the name of Christ by their death; to which, no doubt, they were driven by divine zeal, since their zeal was not without knowledge, but came from the power of faith; by which they were prepared through the divine Spirit to proclaim the honor of God through their death; for this was their sole object." First book, folio 79, column 4.