First Apology 39

And when the prophetic Spirit speaks as prophesying what is going to happen, he says this: “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, and he shall judge among the nations and rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, and nation shall not take up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more.” And that this has happened you can be persuaded. For from Jerusalem twelve men went out into the world, and these were unlearned, unable to speak, but by the power of God they made known to every race of people that they had been sent by Christ to teach all the word of God; and we who formerly killed one another not only do not make war on our enemies, but, so as not to lie or deceive those who examine us, gladly die confessing Christ. For it would have been possible for us to follow the saying, “The tongue has sworn, but the mind is unsworn.” It would be a ridiculous thing that the soldiers enlisted and enrolled by you should hold to their oath to you before their own life and parents and country and all their family, though you can offer them nothing incorruptible, while we, who long for incorruption, should not endure everything in order to receive what we desire from the one who is able to give it.