The Tutor’s Prediction

Another example is that of an excellent man at Antioch who had charge of young boys. He was better educated than such tutors usually are, and he was a close friend of the leading teacher of that time, Libanius, the famous sophist. [a] Now Libanius was a pagan who expected victory, and he had Julian’s threats in mind. So one day, mocking our faith, he said to the tutor, “What is the carpenter’s son doing now?” Filled with divine grace, the tutor foretold what was soon to happen. “Sophist,” he said, “the Creator of all things, whom you mockingly call the carpenter’s son, is making a coffin.” [c] A few days later the death of that wretched man Julian was announced. He was carried out lying in his coffin. The boasting of his threats proved empty, and God was glorified.