Apollonius Before the Senate

About the same time, in the reign of Commodus, our situation had become milder. By the grace of God the churches throughout the whole world were at peace, and the saving word was leading every soul, from every race of mankind, to the devout worship of the God of the universe. So it was that at Rome, too, many people of great wealth and distinguished family were now coming to their salvation, with their whole households and all their kin. [a]

But the demon who hates what is good, envious by nature, could not bear this. He stripped for the contest once again, contriving all kinds of schemes against us. At Rome he brought to court Apollonius, a man renowned among the believers of that time for learning and philosophy, having stirred up one of his own agents, suited for such work, to accuse him. [b] But the wretched accuser came into court at the wrong moment: by an imperial ruling, informers in such matters were not permitted to live. His legs were broken at once, Perennius the judge passing that sentence on him. [d] The martyr, dearly loved by God, was earnestly pleaded with by the judge, who asked him to give an account of himself before the Senate. There, in the presence of all, he made a most learned defense of the faith to which he was bearing witness. Then, as if by decree of the Senate, he suffered the death penalty; for an ancient law prevailed among them that those once brought to court who would not change their purpose were not to be released on any other terms. Whoever wishes to know his words before the judge, his answers to the questioning of Perennius, and his whole defense before the Senate will find them in the record of the ancient martyrs that we have collected. [e]