A Decree for the Christians

“The Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, Armenicus, Pontifex Maximus, holding the tribune’s power for the fifteenth time, consul for the third time, to the Council of Asia, greeting. [a] I know that the gods too take care that such people do not escape notice. For they would far rather punish those who will not worship them than you would. You throw them into turmoil, and by accusing them as atheists you only confirm them in the opinion they hold. It would be preferable even for them, as people who seem to be accused, to die for their own God rather than to live. That is how they win: by giving up their lives rather than obeying what you require of them. As for the earthquakes that have happened and are still happening, it is not out of place to remind you, who lose heart whenever they occur, and who then set what is ours beside what is theirs. [b] They become all the bolder toward God, while you, all the while that you seem to be ignorant, neglect both the other gods and the worship of the Immortal; and the Christians who worship him you harass and persecute to the death. Already many of the governors of the provinces have written about such people to our most divine father as well, and he wrote back to them not to trouble such people at all unless they appeared to be attempting something against the Roman government. Many have informed me too about such people, and I have answered them following my father’s judgment. But if anyone persists in bringing any of these people to trial as being such, let the person accused be released from the charge, even if he is shown to be such, and the accuser shall be liable to penalty. Published at Ephesus, in the Council of Asia.”

Melito, bishop of the church at Sardis and well known at that very time, bears witness to these events, as is clear from what he says in the defense he addressed to the emperor Verus on behalf of our doctrine. [c]