Acts of the Abitinian Martyrs

Contents

1. 1The narrator introduces the persecution of Diocletian, which demanded the surrender of the Scriptures, and says the martyrs sealed with their blood the exclusion of the traitors from the church.
2. 2Saturninus the presbyter, his children, and dozens of other Christians are arrested at Abitina while celebrating the Lord's service in the house of Octavius Felix.
3. 3The martyrs are led to the forum of Abitina, where heaven had earlier quenched with a storm the fire in which the traitor bishop Fundanus's surrendered Scriptures were being burned.
4. 4The prisoners are taken singing to Carthage before the proconsul Anulinus, and the author says he will tell their contests chiefly in their own words.
5. 5Before the proconsul Dativus confesses that he was at the assembly; as he is about to be tortured Thelica throws himself forward, declares that they all held the assembly, and is tortured, praying with thanksgiving.
6. 6Asked who led the assembly, Thelica names Saturninus the presbyter and all of them; under torture he prays for his enemies and confesses that he cares only for the law of God.
7. 7Dativus confesses; Fortunatianus, an advocate, accuses him of having led his sister Victoria astray, but Victoria declares she came of her own will; Dativus is torn with hooks and prays not to be put to shame.
8. 8The torture stops over the false charge about Victoria, but when Dativus confesses that he joined the Lord's service, he is tortured again, still praying not to be put to shame.
9. 9Saturninus the presbyter is brought forward and declares that the Lord's service cannot be left off; Dativus, still on the rack, prays and confesses he is a Christian, and is sent to prison.
10. 10Saturninus admits he was present; the reader Emeritus claims the assemblies were in his house; Saturninus, tortured savagely, answers that the law of God commands the Lord's service.
11. 11Emeritus confesses that the Lord's service was held in his house, saying that they cannot be without it, and that he has the Scriptures in his heart.
12. 12Felix confesses that the Christians always met at the Lord's service to read the Scriptures; the narrator insists that the Christian and the Lord's service cannot be separated; two martyrs named Felix die of beatings.
13. 13Ampelius, Rogatianus, Quintus, Maximianus, and Felix the younger each confess the assembly and the Lord's service and are sent to prison.
14. 14Saturninus the younger confesses that he celebrated the Lord's service because Christ is Savior, is tortured on his father's rack with his father's blood still on the hooks, and is sent to prison to join him.
15. 15As night falls the torturers tire; the proconsul offers pardon to any who will recant, but all the confessors answer together, “We are Christians,” and are sent to prison.
16. 16Victoria, who had escaped a forced marriage to dedicate herself to virginity, refuses her brother's attempt to save her and confesses that she took part in the assembly.
17. 17The small boy Hilarianus confesses that he held the assembly with his father and brothers, laughs off the proconsul's threats, and gives thanks as he is sent to prison; the contest ends in the martyrs' victory.