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| Chapter V.
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Chapter V.
From Syria, and even unto Rome, I am cast among wild
beasts, by sea and by land, by night and by day, being bound between ten
leopards, which are the band of soldiers, who, even when I do good to
them, all the more do evil unto me. I, however, am the rather instructed
by their injurious treatment;1166
| 1166 Literally, “by their injury.” |
but not on this account am I justified to myself. I rejoice in the beasts
which are prepared for me, and I pray that they may in haste be found for
me; and I will provoke them speedily to devour me, and not be as those
which are afraid of some other men,1167
| 1167 Literally, “and not as that which is afraid of
some other men.” So Cureton translates, but remarks that the
passage is evidently corrupt. The reference plainly is to the fact that
the beasts sometimes refused to attack their intended victims. See the
case of Blandina, as reported by Eusebius (Hist. Eccl., v.
1.). | and will not approach them: even should they not be
willing to approach me, I will go with violence against them. Know me
from myself what is expedient for me.1168
| 1168 Cureton renders interrogatively, “What is
expedient for me?” and remarks that “the meaning of the
Syriac appears to be, ‘I crave your indulgence to leave the
knowledge of what is expedient for me to my own conscience.’
” | Let no one1169
| 1169 Literally, “nothing.” | envy me of
those things which are seen and which are not seen, that I should be
accounted worthy of Jesus Christ. Fire, and the cross, and the beasts
that are prepared, cutting off of the limbs, and scattering of the bones,
and crushing of the whole body, harsh torments of the devil—let
these come upon me, but1170
only let me be accounted worthy
of Jesus Christ.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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