distance, that they also may glorify the Lord, who makes such choice of His own servants. To Him who is able to bring us all by His grace and goodness[1] into His everlasting kingdom, through His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, to Him be glory, and honour, and power, and majesty, for ever. Amen. Salute all the saints. They that are with us salute you, and Evarestus, who wrote this epistle, with all his house.
Chap. xxi.—The date of the martyrdom.
Now, the blessed Polycarp suffered martyrdom on the second day of the month Xanthicus just begun,[2] the seventh day before the Calends of May, on the great Sabbath, at the eighth hour.[3] He was taken by Herod, Philip the Trallian being high priest,[4] Statius Quadratus being proconsul, but Jesus Christ being King for ever, to whom be glory, honour, majesty, and an everlasting throne, from generation to generation. Amen.
Chap. xxii.—Salutation.
We wish you, brethren, all happiness, while you walk according to the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ; with whom be glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of His holy elect, after whose example[5] the blessed Polycarp suffered, following in whose steps may we too be found in the kingdom of Jesus Christ!
- ↑ Literally, "gift."
- ↑ The translation is here very doubtful. Wake renders the words μηνὸς ἱσταμένου, "of the present month."
- ↑ Great obscurity hangs over the chronology here indicated. According to Usher, the Smyrnæans began the month Xanthicus on the 25th of March. But the seventh day before the Calends of May is the 25th of April. Some, therefore, read Ἀπριλλίων instead of Μαΐων. The great Sabbath is that before the passover. The "eighth hour" may correspond either to our 8 a.m. or 2 p.m.
- ↑ Called before (chap. xii.) Asiarch.
- ↑ Literally, "according as."
