# Martyrdom of Apollonius

- Author: Anonymous
- Latin title: *Martyrium Apollonii*
- Date: ca. 180–185 (probable)
- Source: Oscar von Gebhardt, ed., Ausgewählte Märtyrerakten (Berlin: Karl Curtius, 1902), item VI, pp. 44–60 (OCR made for this site)

- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/
- Passages: 48

## Martyrdom of Apollonius (title)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-0
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Title of the account.

### Greek text

Μαρτύριον τοῦ ἁγίου xai πανευφήμου ἀποστόλου ᾿Απολλὼ τοῦ καὶ Σακκέα.

### English translation (Claude)

Martyrdom of the holy and all-praised apostle Apollonius, also called Saccas.

### Translation notes

- The Greek calls the martyr Apollos (Ἀπολλώς), also Sakkeas; he is known in the West, from Eusebius, as Apollonius. “Apostle” is an honorific title in this text.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. pref. (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-0).

## 1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-1
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Apollonius is arrested under Commodus and brought before Perennis.

### Greek text

Ἐπὶ Κομόδου βασιλέως γεναμένου διωγμοῦ κατὰ τῶν Χριστιανῶν Περέννιός τις ἦν ἀνθύπατος τῆς ᾿Ασίας. ᾿Απολλὼς δὲ ὁ ἀπόστολος, ἀνὴρ ὧν εὐλαβής, ᾿Ἅλεξανδρεὺς τῷ γένει, φοβούμενος τὸν χύριον, συλληφϑεὶς προσήχϑη. Οὗ προσαχϑέντος Περέννιος ὁ ἀνθύπατος εἶπεν" ᾿Απολλώ, Χριστιανὸς εἶ;

### English translation (Claude)

When a persecution had arisen against the Christians under the emperor Commodus, a certain Perennis was proconsul of Asia. Apollonius the apostle, a devout man, an Alexandrian by birth, who feared the Lord, was arrested and brought before him. When he had been brought in, Perennis the proconsul said, “Apollonius, are you a Christian?”

### Extrabiblical texts

- Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 5.21 (Church History): echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Eusebius (Hist. eccl. 5.21) places the trial in Rome; Perennis was in fact praetorian prefect. The Greek Acts make him proconsul of Asia. The opening sentences stand before Gebhardt's section 1 and are kept with it here.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 1 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-1).

## 2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-2
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Apollonius confesses that he is a Christian.

### Greek text

᾿Απολλὼς εἶπεν· Ναί, Χριστιανός εἰμι, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τὸν ϑεὸν τὸν ποιήσαντα τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν ϑάλασσαν καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς σέβομαι καὶ φοβοῦμαι

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius said, “Yes, I am a Christian, and for that reason I worship and fear the God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them.”

### Scripture references

- Acts 4:24: echo, medium confidence
- Exod 20:11: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- The formula echoes Exod 20:11; Ps 146:6; Acts 4:24.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 2 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-2).

## 3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-3
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Perennis demands an oath by the emperor's Fortune.

### Greek text

Περέννιος ὁ ἀνϑύπατος εἶπεν. Μετανόησον πεισϑείς μοι, ᾿Απολλώ, xci ὄμοσον τὴν τύχην τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Κομόδου τοῦ αὐτοχράτορος.

### English translation (Claude)

Perennis the proconsul said, “Repent, Apollonius, be persuaded by me, and swear by the Fortune of our lord Commodus the emperor.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 3 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-3).

## 4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-4
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Apollonius distinguishes true repentance from apostasy.

### Greek text

᾿Απολλὼς δέ, ὁ καὶ Σακχκέας, εἶπεν· Ἄκουσόν μου νουνεχῶς, Περέννιε, περὶ σεμνῆς xai νομίμου ἀπολογίας μέλλοντος ποιεῖσϑαί co, τὸν λόγον. ὁ μετανοῶν απὸ δικαίων xci ἀγαϑῶν καὶ ϑαυμασίων ἐντολῶν τοῦ ϑεοῦ ἀϑέμιτος καὶ ἀνόσιος xoi ἀληθῶς ἀϑεός ἐστιν" ὁ δὲ μετανοῶν ἀπὸ πάσης ἀδικίας καὶ ἀνομίας καὶ εἰδωλολατρείας καὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν καὶ φεύγων τὰς ἀρχὰς τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων καὶ ὅλως μὴ ἐπιστρέφων ἐπ᾽ αὐτά, ὁ τοιοῦτος δίκαιός ἐστιν,

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius, also called Saccas, said, “Listen to me attentively, Perennis, since I am about to make before you a serious and lawful defense. Whoever repents of the just, good, and wonderful commandments of God is lawless, impious, and truly godless; but whoever repents of all injustice and lawlessness and idolatry and evil thoughts, and flees the beginnings of sins and does not turn back to them at all—such a one is righteous.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 4 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-4).

## 5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-5
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christians learned their commandments from the Word of God.

### Greek text

καὶ πίστευσον ἡμῖν, Περέννιε, ἐξ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀπολογίας, ὅτι τὰς σεμνοπρεπεῖς καὶ λαμπρὰς ἐντολὰς μεμαϑήκαμεν ἀπὸ τοῦ λόγου τοῦ ϑεοῦ, τοῦ γιγνώσκοντος πάντας τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων.

### English translation (Claude)

And believe us, Perennis, from this very defense, that we have learned the solemn and splendid commandments from the Word of God, who knows all the thoughts of human beings.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 5 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-5).

## 6

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-6
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christians do not swear, but honor and pray for the emperor.

### Greek text

προσέτι δὲ καὶ μηδὲ ὅλως ὀμνύναι, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀληϑεύειν ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ προστετάγμεϑα᾽ ὅρκος γὰρ μέγας ἐστὶν ἡ ἐν τῷ ναὶ ἀλήϑεια, xoi διὰ τοῦτο Χριστιανῷ ὀμνύναι αἰσχρόν" ἐκ γὰρ ψεύδους ἀπιστία, xai OV ἀπιστίαν πάλιν ὅρκος. βούλει δὲ ὀμνύναι με ὅτι καὶ βασιλέα τιμῶμεν καὶ ὑπὲρ τοῦ χράτους αὐτοῦ εὐχόμεϑα: ἡδέως ἂν ὀμόσαιμι ἀληϑεύων τὸν ὄντως ϑεὸν τὸν ὄντα [τὸν] πρὸ αἰώνων, ὃν χεῖρες οὐκ ἐποίησαν ἀνθρώπων, τοὐναντίον δὲ αὐτὸς ἄνθρωπον ἀνϑρώπων ἔταξεν βασιλεύειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

### English translation (Claude)

Moreover, we have been commanded by him not to swear at all, but to tell the truth in everything; for the truth in a “yes” is a great oath, and for this reason it is shameful for a Christian to swear; for out of falsehood comes distrust, and because of distrust, in turn, the oath. But if you want me to swear that we too honor the emperor and pray for his rule, I would gladly swear, speaking the truth, by the truly existing God, who is before the ages, whom human hands did not make, but who, on the contrary, himself appointed a man over men to reign on earth.”

### Scripture references

- Matt 5:34: allusion, high confidence
- Jas 5:12: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- Matt 5:34–37; Jas 5:12. The editor deletes a repeated article (“the”) before “before the ages.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 6 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-6).

## 7

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-7
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Perennis orders sacrifice to the gods and the emperor's image.

### Greek text

Περέννιος ὁ ἀνθύπατος εἶπεν" Ὃ λέγω σοι ποίησον xci μετανόησον, ᾿Απολλώ, καὶ ϑῦσον τοῖς ϑεοῖς καὶ τὸν τῇ εἰχόνι τοῦ αὐτοχράτορος Κομόδου.

### English translation (Claude)

Perennis the proconsul said, “Do what I tell you and repent, Apollonius, and sacrifice to the gods and to the image of the emperor Commodus.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 7 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-7).

## 8

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-8
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christians' bloodless sacrifice is prayer, including prayer for rulers.

### Greek text

ὁ δὲ ᾿Δπολλὼς μειδιάσας εἶπεν: Περὶ μετανοίας καὶ ὅρκου, Περέννιε, δέδωκά σοι τὴν ἀπολογίαν, περὶ δὲ ϑυσίας ἄκουσον. ϑυ- σίαν ἀναίμακτον καὶ καϑαρὰν ἀναπέμπω χαἀγὼ καὶ πάντες «Χριστιανοὶ τῷ παντοχράτορι ϑεῷ τῷ κυριεύοντι οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς καὶ πάσης πνοῆς, τὴν διʼ εὐχῶν μάλιστα ⟨ὑπὲρ νοητικῶν⟩ καὶ λογικῶν εἰκόνων τῶν τεταγμένων ὑπὸ τῆς προνοίας τοῦ ϑεοῦ βασιλεύειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius smiled and said, “About repentance and the oath, Perennis, I have given you my defense; now hear about sacrifice. I too, and all Christians, offer a bloodless and pure sacrifice to almighty God, who is Lord of heaven and earth and of every breathing thing—the sacrifice offered above all through prayers, on behalf of the ⟨spiritual⟩ and rational images who have been appointed by God's providence to reign on earth.

### Translation notes

- “Images”: the rulers, as images of God. “Spiritual” is an editor's supplement (Hilgenfeld proposed νοερῶν, “intellectual”).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 8 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-8).

## 9

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-9
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christians pray daily for the emperor, who reigns by God's will.

### Greek text

διὸ καϑ' ἡμέραν κατὰ πρόσταγμα δικαίας ἐντολῆς εὐχόμεϑα τῷ κατοικοῦντι ἐν οὐρανοῖς ϑεῷ ὑπὲρ τοῦ βασιλεύοντος ἔν τῷδε τῷ κόσμῳ Κομόδου, εἰδότες ἀκριβῶς ὅτι οὐχ ὑπὸ ἄλλου τινός, ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ μόνης τῆς τοῦ ἀνικήτου ϑεοῦ βουλῆς, τοῦ τὰ πάντα ἐνπεριέχοντος, ὡς προεῖπον, βασιλεύει ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

### English translation (Claude)

Therefore, according to the instruction of a just commandment, we pray daily to God who dwells in heaven for Commodus, who reigns in this world, knowing well that it is by no one else, but only by the will of the unconquerable God, who encompasses all things, as I said before, that he reigns on earth.”

### Scripture references

- 1 Tim 2:1: allusion, medium confidence
- Rom 13:1: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Cf. 1 Tim 2:1–2 (Gebhardt's margin); Rom 13:1.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 9 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-9).

## 10

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-10
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Perennis gives Apollonius a day to reconsider.

### Greek text

Περέννιος ὁ ἀνθύπατος εἶπεν· Δίδωμί σοι ἡμέραν, ᾿ἡπολλώ, ἵνα συμβουλεύσης σεαυτῷ περὶ τῆς ζωῆς σου.

### English translation (Claude)

Perennis the proconsul said, “I give you a day, Apollonius, so that you may take counsel with yourself about your life.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 10 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-10).

## 11

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-11
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Three days later the record is read and Apollonius is questioned again.

### Greek text

Καὶ μεϑ᾽ ἡμέρας τρεῖς ἐχέλευσεν αὐτὸν ἀχϑῆναι. ἦν δὲ πολὺ πλῆϑος συγκλητικῶν καὶ βουλευτικῶν καὶ σοφῶν μεγάλων. καὶ κελεύσας αὐτὸν κληϑῆναι εἶπεν" ᾿Αναγνωσθήτω τὰ ἄκτα ᾿«πολλώ. καὶ ἀναγνωσθέντων αὐτῶν Περέννιος ὁ ἀνθύπατος εἶπεν: Τί συνεβούλευσας σεαυτῷ, ᾿Απολλώ;

### English translation (Claude)

And after three days he ordered him to be brought. There was a great crowd of senators and councillors and great scholars. And having ordered him to be called, he said, “Let the acts of Apollonius be read.” When they had been read, Perennis the proconsul said, “What counsel have you taken with yourself, Apollonius?”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 11 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-11).

## 12

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-12
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Apollonius resolves to remain faithful.

### Greek text

ὁ δὲ ᾿Απολλὼς εἶπεν· Μένειν με ϑεοσεβῆ, καϑὼς ἐν τοῖς ἄχτοις λογισάμενος ἡμᾶς ὥρισας.

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius said, “To remain a worshipper of God, as you determined when you took account of us in the acts.”

### Translation notes

- The clause is obscure; Gebhardt reports a conjecture making it “as I declared in my defense.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 12 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-12).

## 13

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-13
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Perennis cites the senate's decree.

### Greek text

Περέννιος ὃ ἀνθύπατος εἶπεν" Διὰ τὸ δόγμα τῆς συγχλήτον συμβουλεύω σον μετανοῆσαι xoi σέβειν xai προσχυνεῖν τοὺς ϑεούς, ovg πάντες ἄνϑρωποι σέβομεν καὶ προσχυνοῦμεν, καὶ ζῆν σε μεϑ᾽ ἡμῶν.

### English translation (Claude)

Perennis the proconsul said, “Because of the decree of the senate I advise you to repent and to worship and adore the gods, whom all of us men worship and adore, and to live among us.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 13 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-13).

## 14

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-14
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Apollonius refuses to adore idols made by human hands.

### Greek text

᾿Απολλὼς εἶπεν· ᾿Εγὼ μὲν τὸ δόγμα τῆς συγκλήτοῦ γιγνώσκω, Περέννιε᾽ ἐγενόμην δὲ ϑεοσεβής, ἵνα μὴ σέβωμαι εἴδωλα χειροποίητα. διὸ οὗ μὴ προσκυνήσω χρυσὸν ἢ ἄργυρον ἢ χαλκὸν ἢ σίδηρον ἢ ξυλίνους καὶ λιϑίνους ϑεοὺς ψευδωνύμους, οἵτινες οὔτε βλέπουσιν οὔτε ἀκούουσιν, ὅτε ἔργα τεχτόνων καὶ χρυσοχόων καὶ τοργευτῶν εἰσιν, γλυφαὶ χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ οὐ κινηϑήσονται ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτῶν.

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius said, “I know the decree of the senate, Perennis; but I became a worshipper of God precisely so as not to worship idols made with hands. Therefore I will not adore gold or silver or bronze or iron, or gods falsely so called of wood and stone, which neither see nor hear, because they are works of carpenters and goldsmiths and engravers, carvings of human hands, and they cannot move of themselves.

### Scripture references

- Ps 115:4 (113:12 LXX): allusion, medium confidence
- Ps 135:15 (134:15 LXX): echo, low confidence
- Hab 2:19: echo, low confidence
- Isa 44:9: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Cf. Ps 115:4–7; 135:15–17; Hab 2:19; Isa 44:9–20 (Gebhardt's margin).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 14 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-14).

## 15

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-15
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Apollonius worships only the God who gives life.

### Greek text

ϑεῷ δὲ τῷ ἐν οὐρανοῖς λατρεύω καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ προσκυνῶ, τῷ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις ψυχὴν ζῶσαν ἐνφυσήσαντε καὶ πᾶσι τὸ ζῆν xa9' ἡμέραν ἐναντλοῦντι.

### English translation (Claude)

But I serve God who is in heaven and adore him alone, who breathed a living soul into all human beings and pours out life to all day by day.

### Scripture references

- Gen 2:7: echo, medium confidence
- Acts 17:25: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- Cf. Gen 2:7; Acts 17:25.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 15 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-15).

## 16

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-16
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Worship of lifeless objects is shameful folly.

### Greek text

οὐ μὴ οὖν ταπεινώσω ἐμαυτόν, Περέννιε, οὐδὲ ὑπὸ τὰ κυλλότερα ῥίψω" αἰσχροπρεπὲς γάρ ἐστιν προσχυνεῖν ἢ τὸ ἰσότιμον ἀνθρώπων ἢ τὸ γοῦν ἔλαττον δαιμόνων. ἁμαρτάνουσι γὰρ ταπεινότατοι ἄνϑρωποι ὅταν προσχυνοῦσι ταῦτα ἃ τῇ ἕξει συνέχεται, λίϑου ψυχρὸν ἔχπρισμα xoci ξύλον ξηρὸν καὶ μέταλλον ἀργὸν καὶ ὀστέα νενεχρωμένα᾽ τίς ὁ λῆρος τῆς ἀπάτης ταύτης;

### English translation (Claude)

I will not, then, debase myself, Perennis, or cast myself down before things that are baser; for it is shameful to adore what is merely of equal worth with human beings, or what is even lower, belonging to demons. [16b] For the most abject of men sin when they adore things held together by mere cohesion: a cold block sawn from stone, dry wood, idle metal, and dead bones. What nonsense is this deception!

### Translation notes

- Apollonius uses the Stoic ladder of things held together by cohesion (ἕξις), growth (φύσις), sensation, and reason (16b, 21–22). Gebhardt divides the section into 16a and 16b.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 16 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-16).

## 17

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-17
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Egyptians adore a foot-basin.

### Greek text

ὁμοίως λεκάνην Αἰγύπτιοι τὴν παρὰ πολλοῖς καλουμένην ποδονίπταν μετὰ ἑτέρων πολλῶν μυσερῶν προσχυνοῦσιν" τίς ὁ λῆρος τῆς ἀπαιδευσίας ταύτης;

### English translation (Claude)

Likewise the Egyptians adore a basin, which many call a foot-bath, along with many other loathsome things. What nonsense is this ignorance!

### Extrabiblical texts

- Herodotus, Hist. 2.172 (Herodotus, Histories): allusion, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Perhaps the story of Amasis's golden foot-basin made into a god (Herodotus, Hist. 2.172).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 17 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-17).

## 18

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-18
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Athenians worship a bronze ox-skull.

### Greek text

᾿Αϑηναῖοι δὲ ἔτι καὶ νῦν βοὸς κρανίον χαλκοῦν σέβουσιν, Τύχην ᾿Αϑηναίων αὐτὸ καταφωνοῦντες, ὥστε τοῖς ἰδίοις ⟨ϑεοῖς⟩ εὔχεσθαι οὐχ οἷόν τε· ἃ μάλιστα τοῖς πεποιϑόσιν αὐτοῖς ζημίαν τῇ ψυχῇ φέρειν δοκεῖ.

### English translation (Claude)

And the Athenians even now worship a bronze ox-skull, calling it the Fortune of the Athenians, so that it is not even possible to pray to their own ⟨gods⟩—things which seem above all to bring harm to the souls of those who trust in them.

### Translation notes

- The middle clause is obscure and probably corrupt; “gods” is an editor's supplement, and Hilgenfeld proposed “so that they do not think fit to pray to swine.” Gebhardt also reports a supplement saying the skull was set up in a famous place near the statues of Zeus and Heracles.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 18 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-18).

## 19

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-19
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Idols cannot hear or act; Socrates mocked them.

### Greek text

τί γὰρ διαφέρει ταῦτα πηλοῦ πεφρυγμένου καὶ ὀστράκου ϑρυπτομένου; δαιμόνων δὲ ἀγάλμασιν εὔχονται [ἃ] οὐκ ἀκούουσιν ὥσπερ ἀκούοιεν, (ὥσπερ) οὐκ ἀπαιτοῦσιν οὐκ ἀποδιδοῦσιν. ὄντως γὰρ αὐτῶν τὸ σχῆμα ἔψευσται" ὦτα γὰρ ἔχουσιν καὶ οὐκ ἀκούουσιν, ὀφϑαλμοὺς ἔχουσιν xai οὐχ ὁρῶσιν, χεῖρας ἔχουσιν xai οὐχ ἐχτείνουσιν, πόδας ἔχουσιν καὶ οὐ βαδίζουσιν· τὸ γὰρ σχῆμα τὴν οὐσίαν οὐχ ὑπαλλάττει. καταγελῶν δέ μοι δοκεῖ καὶ Σωχράτης ᾿“ϑηναίων τὴν πλάτανον ὀμνύναι, ξύλον τὸ ἄγριον.

### English translation (Claude)

For how do these differ from baked clay or a broken potsherd? They pray to statues of demons which do not hear, as though they could hear; ⟨as though⟩ they could ask and give back, when they do neither. For truly their form is a lie: they have ears and do not hear, eyes and do not see, hands and do not stretch them out, feet and do not walk. For the form does not change the substance. And Socrates too, it seems to me, was mocking the Athenians when he swore by the plane tree, a piece of wild wood.

### Scripture references

- Ps 115:5 (113:13 LXX): quotation, high confidence
- Ps 135:16 (134:16 LXX): echo, low confidence

### Extrabiblical texts

- Plato, Phaedr. 236e (Plato (works)): allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- Ps 115:5–7; 135:16–17. The editor deletes a relative pronoun before “do not hear” and supplies “as though.” Socrates swears by the plane tree in Plato, Phaedr. 236d–e.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 19 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-19).

## 20

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-20
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: A gap in the text.

### Greek text

* *

### English translation (Claude)

* *

### Translation notes

- Gebhardt marks a lacuna here with asterisks. Hilgenfeld proposed to supply “⟨People sin first against themselves when they practice idolatry⟩,” which would give the first step of the ladder continued in 21–22.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 20 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-20).

## 21

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-21
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Some worship plants, others animals.

### Greek text

ἄνω πάλιν δεύτερον εἰς οὐρανοὺς ἁμαρτάνουσιν ἄνθρωποι ὅταν προσκυνοῦσιν αὐτοὶ ταῦτα ἃ τῇ φύσει συνέχεται, τὸ χρόμμυον καὶ τὸ σκόροδον τῶν Πηλουσίων ϑεούς, ἅτινα πάντα εἰς κοιλίαν χωρεῖ καὶ εἰς ὀχετὸν ἐκβάλλεται. ἄνω τρίτον εἰς οὐρανὸν ἁμαρτάνουσιν ἄνϑρωπον ὅταν προσκυνοῦσιν αὐτοὶ ταῦτα ἃ τῇ αἰσϑήσει συνέχεται, ἰχϑὺν καὶ περιστεράν, [Αἰγύπτιοι] κύνα καὶ κυνοκέφαλον, κροχόδειλον xci βοῦν, ἀσπίδα καὶ λύκον, τῶν ἰδίων ἀπεικονίσματα τρόπων.

### English translation (Claude)

Again, a second time, people sin against heaven when they themselves adore things held together by growth: the onion and the garlic, the gods of the people of Pelusium—all of which go into the belly and are cast out into the drain. [21b] Again, a third time, people sin against heaven when they themselves adore things held together by sensation: fish and dove, dog and dog-headed baboon, crocodile and ox, asp and wolf—images of their own characters.

### Scripture references

- Matt 15:17: echo, medium confidence
- Luke 15:18: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- The editor deletes “Egyptians” before “dog.” For the belly and the drain cf. Matt 15:17; Mark 7:19. Gebhardt divides the section into 21a and 21b.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 21 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-21).

## 22

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-22
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Worship of deified men refuted from the myths themselves.

### Greek text

ἄνω τέταρτον εἰς οὐρανοὺς ἁμαρτάνουσιν ἄνθρωποι ὅταν προσχυνοῦσιν αὐτοὶ ταῦτα ἃ τῷ λόγῳ συνέχεται, ἀνθρώπους, δαίμονας ὄντας τῇ ἐνεργείᾳ᾽ ϑεοὺς λέγουσιν τοὺς ὄντας τὸ πρὶν ἀνθρώπους, ὡς ἐξελέγχουσιν οὗ παρ᾽ αὐτοῖς μῦϑοι. Διόνυσον γάρ φασιν διασπώμενον xoi ἩΗρακλέα ἐπὶ πυρᾶς ἀγόμενον ζῶντα, τὸν δὲ Δία ϑαπτόμενον ἐν Κρήτη" οἷσπερ dxo- λούϑως συνεζήτηταν τὰ ὀνόματα διὰ τοὺς μύϑους, (δ) ὧν xoi αὐτὰ τὰ ὀνόματα γινώσχεται. διὰ τὸ δυσσεβὲς αὐτῶν μάλιστα παραιτοῦμαι.

### English translation (Claude)

Again, a fourth time, people sin against heaven when they themselves adore what is held together by reason: human beings, who are demons by their working. They call gods those who were formerly human beings, as their own myths prove. For they say that Dionysus was torn apart, that Heracles was carried alive onto a pyre, and that Zeus was buried in Crete. In keeping with these myths the names were sought out, ⟨through⟩ which the very names are known. Because of their impiety, above all, I refuse them.”

### Extrabiblical texts

- Callimachus, Hymn. 1.8 (Callimachus (hymns and fragments)): echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- The tomb of Zeus in Crete was a stock theme of polemic (cf. Callimachus, Hymn. 1.8–9).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 22 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-22).

## 23

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-23
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The senate has decreed that there shall be no Christians.

### Greek text

Περέννιος ὁ ἀνθύπατος εἶπενʼ ᾿Απολλώ, τὸ δόγμα τῆς συγκλήτου ἐστὶν Χριστιανοὺς μὴ εἶναι.

### English translation (Claude)

Perennis the proconsul said, “Apollonius, the decree of the senate is that there are to be no Christians.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 23 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-23).

## 24

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-24
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Persecution only multiplies the Christians.

### Greek text

᾿Απολλὼς δέ, ὁ καὶ Σακκέας, εἶπεν· ᾿Αλλ᾽ οὐ δύναται νικηϑῆναι τὸ δόγμα τοῦ ϑεοῦ ὑπὸ δόγματος ἀνϑρω- πίνου" ὅσῳ γὰρ τοὺς εἰς αὐτὸν πεποιϑότας ἀδίκως ἀποχτείνουσιν ἀκρίτως τοὺς μηδὲν ἀδικοῦντας, τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον πλῆϑος ὑπὸ τοῦ ϑεοῦ μηκύνεται.

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius, also called Saccas, said, “But the decree of God cannot be overcome by a human decree. For the more they unjustly put to death, without trial, those who trust in him and have done no wrong, the more their number is increased by God.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 24 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-24).

## 25

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-25
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: One death and one judgment await all.

### Greek text

γινώσχειν δέ σε ϑέλω, Περέννιε, ὅτι καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλεῖς καὶ ἐπὶ συγκλητικοὺς καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἔχοντας ἐξουσίαν πολλὴν καὶ ἐπὶ πλουσίους καὶ πτωχοὺς καὶ ἐλευϑέρους καὶ δούλους καὶ μεγώλους xai μιχροὺς xoi σοφοὺς x«i ἰδιώτας ἕνα ϑάνατον ὥρισεν ὁ ϑεὸς ἐπὶ πάντων καὶ δίκην μετὰ ϑάνατον ἔσεσϑαι ἐπὶ πάντας ἀνθρώπους.

### English translation (Claude)

I want you to know, Perennis, that God has appointed one death for all—for kings and senators and those who hold great power, for rich and poor, free and slave, great and small, wise and unlearned—and that there will be judgment after death for all human beings.

### Scripture references

- Heb 9:27: echo, medium confidence
- Acts 17:31: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Cf. Heb 9:27; Acts 17:31 (Gebhardt's margin).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 25 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-25).

## 26

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-26
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christians die daily to pleasure and guard eyes and ears.

### Greek text

διαφορὰ δέ ἐστιν ϑανάτου" διὰ τοῦτο οἱ τοῦ καϑʼ ἡμὰς λόγου μαϑηταὶ καϑ᾽ ἡμέραν ἀποϑθνήσχουσι ταῖς ἡδοναῖς, κολάζοντες τὰς ἐπιϑυμίας δι ἐγκρατείας, βουλόμενον κατὰ τὰς ϑείας ζῆν ἐντολάς. καὶ πίστευσον ἡμῖν ἀληϑῶς, Περέννιε, ὅτε μὴ ψευδόμεϑα" ἔστιν γὰρ οὐδ᾽ ὃν μόριον ἡδονῆς ἀκολάστου παρ᾽ ἡμῖν, πᾶσαν δὲ μᾶλλον αἰσχρὰν ϑέαν ἐξορίζομεν ἐξ ὀφϑαλμῶν (ἡμῶν xai ἐξ ὠτων ἡμῶν ὡσαύτως πάντα λόγον» κολάκων, ὅπως ἄτρωτος ἡμῶν (ἡ καρ) δία μείνη.

### English translation (Claude)

But there is a difference in death. For this reason the disciples of our doctrine die daily to pleasures, chastening their desires by self-control, wishing to live according to the divine commandments. And believe us truly, Perennis, that we are not lying: there is not even a particle of unbridled pleasure among us; rather, we banish every shameful sight from ⟨our⟩ eyes, and likewise ⟨from our ears every word⟩ of flatterers, so that ⟨our heart⟩ may remain unwounded.

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 15:31: allusion, medium confidence
- Gal 5:24: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Cf. 1 Cor 15:31; Gal 5:24 (Gebhardt's margin). The words in angle brackets are editors' supplements where the manuscript is defective.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 26 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-26).

## 27

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-27
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christians endure all things and do not fear dying for God.

### Greek text

τοιαύτῃ δὲ προαιρέσει τοῦ βίου χρώμενοι, ἀνθύπατε, οὐ χαλεπὸν ἡγούμεϑα τὸ ϑνήσχειν διὰ τὸν ὄντως ϑεόν. αὐτὸ γὰρ ὅ ἐσμεν διὰ ϑεόν ἐσμεν. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ πάντα καρτεροῦμεν, ἵνα μὴ χαχῶς ἀποϑάνωμεν.

### English translation (Claude)

Following such a chosen way of life, proconsul, we do not consider it hard to die for the true God. For what we are, we are through God. For this reason we endure all things, so that we may not die an evil death.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 27 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-27).

## 28

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-28
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Death for Christ is no worse than death by disease.

### Greek text

εἴτε γὰρ ζῶμεν, εἴτε ἀποθνήσκομεν, τοῦ κυρίου ἐσμέν. δύναται δὲ πολλάκις καὶ δυσεντερία καὶ πυρετὸς ἀποχτεῖναι" νομίσω οὖν ὡς ὑφ᾽ ἑνὸς τούτων ἀναιρεῖσϑαι.

### English translation (Claude)

For whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. And dysentery and fever too can often kill; so I will consider that I am being carried off by one of these.”

### Scripture references

- Rom 14:8: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Rom 14:8.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 28 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-28).

## 29

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-29
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Perennis asks whether he dies gladly.

### Greek text

Περέννιος ὁ ἀνθύπατος εἶπεν. Τοῦτο κεχριχώς, ᾿Απολλώ, ἡδέως ἀποθνήσκεις:

### English translation (Claude)

Perennis the proconsul said, “Having decided this, Apollonius, do you die gladly?”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 29 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-29).

## 30

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-30
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Apollonius values eternal life above this life.

### Greek text

᾿Απολλὼς εἶπεν· Ἡδέως μὲν ζῶ, Περέννιε, οὐ μέντοι δεδοικὼς τὸν ϑάνατον διὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸ ζῆν φιλίαν" οὐδὲν γὰρ ζωῆς τιμιώτερον, ζωῆς δὲ τῆς αἰωνίου, [ζωῆς] ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀϑανασία τῆς ἐν τῷδε τῷ βίῳ καλῶς βεβιωκυίης ψυχῆς.

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius said, “I live gladly, Perennis; yet I do not fear death out of love of life. For nothing is more precious than life—but eternal life, which is immortality for the soul that has lived well in this life.”

### Translation notes

- The editor deletes a repeated “life” before “which is.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 30 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-30).

## 31

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-31
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Perennis does not understand.

### Greek text

Περέννιος ὁ ἀνθύπατος εἶπεν" Οὐκ οἶδα τί λέγεις οὐδὲ ἐπίσταμαι περὶ ὧν νομικῶς ἀπαγγέλλεις μοι.

### English translation (Claude)

Perennis the proconsul said, “I do not know what you are saying, nor do I understand the things you set out to me as matters of your law.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 31 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-31).

## 32

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-32
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The word of the Lord needs a seeing heart.

### Greek text

Απολλὼς εἶπεν" Τί οὖν σοι, καὶ συμπαϑῶ ἐγὼ οὕτως ἀνοήτῳ ὄντι περὶ τὰ καλὰ τῆς χάριτος" βλεπούσης γὰρ καρδίας ἐστίν, Περέννιε, ὁ λόγος τοῦ κυρίου, ὡς βλεπόντων ὀφϑαλμῶν τὸ φῶς, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπος ἀνοήτοις προσφϑεγγόμενος, ὡς οὐδὲ τὸ φῶς ἀνατέλλον τυφλοῖς.

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius said, “What, then, can I do for you? I too pity you for being so insensible to the beauties of grace. For the word of the Lord, Perennis, belongs to a seeing heart, as light belongs to seeing eyes; since a person does no good by speaking to the senseless, just as the rising light does no good to the blind.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 32 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-32).

## 33

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-33
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: A Cynic philosopher mocks Apollonius.

### Greek text

Κυνικὸς δέ τις φιλόσοφος εἶπεν" ᾿Απολλώ, σεαυτῷ λοιδοροῖ, πολὺ γὰρ πεπλάνησαι, κἂν δοκῇς σκοτεινόλογος εἶναι.

### English translation (Claude)

A certain Cynic philosopher said, “Apollonius, you are insulting yourself; for you have gone far astray, even if you fancy yourself a speaker of deep things.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 33 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-33).

## 34

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-34
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Apollonius answers the philosopher.

### Greek text

᾿Απολλὼς εἶπεν" Ἐγὼ μεμάϑηκα εὔχεσθαι, οὐ λοιδορεῖν. ὁμολογεῖ δὲ ἡ ὑπόχρισις ἡ ἐν σοὶ τὴν ἀβλεψίαν τῆς καρδίας σου, εἰ καὶ προελεύση εἰς πλῆϑος ἀργολογίας" τοῖς γὰρ ἀνοήτοις ἡ ἀλήϑεια ὄντως λοιδορία νομιστέα.

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius said, “I have learned to pray, not to insult. But the hypocrisy in you confesses the blindness of your heart, even if you go on to a flood of idle talk; for to the senseless the truth is indeed counted an insult.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 34 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-34).

## 35

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-35
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Perennis speaks of the Word of God.

### Greek text

Περέννιος ὁ ἀνθύπατος εἶπεν" Ἴσμεν καὶ ἡμεῖς ὅτι ὁ λόγος τοῦ ϑεοῦ γεννήτωρ καὶ ψυχῆς καὶ σώματός ἔστιν τῶν δικαίων, ὁ λογώσας καὶ διδάξας ὡς φίλον ἐστὶν τῷ ϑεῷ.

### English translation (Claude)

Perennis the proconsul said, “We too know that the Word of God is the begetter of both the soul and the body of the righteous, who gave them speech and taught them what is dear to God.”

### Translation notes

- The words are strange in Perennis's mouth; Knopf brackets “who gave them speech … to God,” and Bt. supposes a gap in which Apollonius was speaking.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 35 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-35).

## 36

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-36
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ, made man, taught the knowledge of God and by his suffering ended sin.

### Greek text

Ἀπολλὼς εἶπεν: Οὗτος ὁ σωτὴρ ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ὡς ἄνθρωπος γενάμενος ἐν τῆ Ιουδαίᾳ, κατὰ πάντα δίκαιος καὶ πεπληρωμένος ϑείᾳ σοφίᾳ, φιλανϑρώπως ἐδίδαξεν ἡμᾶς τίς ὁ τῶν ὅλων ϑεὸς καὶ τί τέλος ἀρετῆς ἐπὶ σεμνὴν πολιτείαν ἁρμόζον» πρὸς τὰς τῶν ἀνθρώπων ψυχάς" ὃς διὰ τοῦ παϑεῖν ἔπαυσεν τὰς ἀρχὰς τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν.

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius said, “This one, our Savior Jesus Christ, having become a man in Judea, righteous in all things and filled with divine wisdom, taught us out of love for humanity who the God of all is, and what goal of virtue is fitting for a holy way of life, suited to human souls; who by his suffering put an end to the beginnings of sins.

### Scripture references

- Matt 3:15: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Cf. Matt 3:15 for “righteous in all things” (Gebhardt's margin). Bt. suspects a gap in the dialogue here.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 36 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-36).

## 37

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-37
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: A summary of Christ's moral teaching and Christian hope.

### Greek text

ἐδίδαξεν γὰρ ϑυμὸν παύειν, ἐπιϑυμίαν μετρεῖν, ἡδονὰς κολάζειν, λύπας ἐχχόπτειν, κοινωνικοὺς γίνεσθαι, φιλίαν αὔξειν, κενοδοξίαν καθαίρειν, πρὸς ἄμυναν ἀδικούντων μὴ τρέπεσϑαι, διὰ τὸν τῆς δίκης ϑεσμὸν ϑανάτου καταφρονεῖν, οὐ διὰ τὸ ἀδικεῖν ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸ ἀνέχεσϑαι ἀδικουμένους, ἔτει δὲ νόμῳ τῷ ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ δοϑέντι πείϑεσθαι, βασιλέα τιμᾶν, ϑεὸν σέβειν μόνον ἀϑάνατον, ψυχὴν ἀϑάνατον πιστεύειν, δίκην μετὰ ϑάνατον πεπεῖσϑαι, γέρας πόνων ἀρετῆς μετὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν ἐλπίζειν παρὰ ϑεοῦ δοϑησομένην τοῖς εὐσεβῶς βιώσασιν.

### English translation (Claude)

For he taught us to stop anger, to keep desire within measure, to chasten pleasures, to cut off griefs, to share with others, to increase love, to purge away vainglory, not to turn to revenge against those who wrong us, to despise death because of the ordinance of judgment—not for doing wrong, but for bearing wrong patiently—and, further, to obey the law given by him, to honor the emperor, to worship God alone as immortal, to believe the soul immortal, to be convinced of judgment after death, and to hope for the reward of the labors of virtue after the resurrection, to be given by God to those who have lived godly lives.

### Scripture references

- 1 Pet 2:17: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- “Honor the emperor”: 1 Pet 2:17.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 37 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-37).

## 38

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-38
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ was envied, as the righteous always are.

### Greek text

ταῦτα διδάξας ἡμᾶς ἐναργῶς καὶ πείσας μετὰ πολλῆς ἀποδείξεως δόξαν μὲν αὐτὸς ἀρετῆς μεγάλην ἀπηνέγκατο, ἐφϑονήϑη δὲ πρὸς τῶν ἀπαιδεύτων, καϑʼ ἃ καὶ οἱ πρὸ αὐτοῦ δίκαιοί τε καὶ φιλόσοφοι" οἱ γὰρ δίκαιοι τοῖς ἀδίκοις ἄχρηστοι.

### English translation (Claude)

Having taught us these things clearly and persuaded us with much proof, he himself won great glory for virtue, but he was envied by the uneducated, as were the righteous and the philosophers before him; for the righteous are useless to the unrighteous.

### Translation notes

- “The righteous” follows Knopf's correction of the manuscript's “servants.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 38 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-38).

## 39

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-39
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Scripture foretold the binding of the righteous.

### Greek text

χαϑ᾽ ἃ καὶ λόγος τις ἄφρονας ἀδίκως εἰπεῖν. Δήσωμεν τὸν δίκαιον, ὅτε δύσχρηστος ἡμῖν ἔστιν.

### English translation (Claude)

So also a certain saying has the foolish say unjustly: “Let us bind the righteous one, for he is troublesome to us.”

### Scripture references

- Isa 3:10: quotation, high confidence

### Extrabiblical texts

- Wis 2:12 (Wisdom of Solomon): echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Isa 3:10 in the Greek (LXX) wording (Gebhardt's margin); cf. Wis 2:12.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 39 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-39).

## 40

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-40
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Plato also foretold the suffering of the righteous man.

### Greek text

καὶ τῶν παρ᾽ Ἕλλησιν δέ τις, ὡς ἀκούομεν: Ὁ δὲ δίκαιος, φησίν, μαστιγωθήσεται, στρεβλωϑήσεται, δεϑήσεται, ἐχκαυϑήσεταν τὼ ὀφϑαλμώ, τελευτῶν πάντα τὰ κακὰ παϑὼν ἀνασκχολοπισϑήσεται.

### English translation (Claude)

And one of the Greeks too, as we hear, says: “The righteous man will be scourged, racked, bound, will have his eyes burned out, and at last, having suffered every evil, will be impaled.”

### Extrabiblical texts

- Plato, Resp. 361e (Plato (works)): quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Plato, Resp. 2.361e–362a.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 40 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-40).

## 41

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-41
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ was condemned like Socrates.

### Greek text

ὥσπερ οὖν Σωκράτους οἱ ᾿4΄ϑηναῖοι συχοφάνται ἀδίκως κατεψηφίσαντο, πείσαντες καὶ τὸν δῆμον, οὕτως καὶ τοῦ xa9' ἡμᾶς διδασκάλου τε καὶ σωτῆρος ἔνιοι τῶν πανούργων κατεψηφίσαντο ⟨ὀνει⟩δίσαντες αὐτόν.

### English translation (Claude)

So just as the informers of Athens condemned Socrates unjustly, persuading the people as well, so also certain villains condemned our teacher and Savior, having reviled him,

### Translation notes

- “Having reviled” rests on the editor's restoration of a damaged word.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 41 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-41).

## 42

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-42
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Even if Christian hope were a delusion, it teaches a good life.

### Greek text

ὥσπερ καὶ τοὺς ⟨πρὸ αὐτοῦ⟩ προφήτας, οἵτινες πολλὰ προεῖπον ἔνδοξα περὶ τοῦ ἀνδρός, ὅτι τοιοῦτός τις ἀφίξεται πάντα δίκαιος καὶ ἐνάρετος, ὃς εἰς πάντας εὖ ποιήσας ἀνθρώπους ἐπ᾽ ἀρετῇ πείσει σέβειν τὸν πάντων ϑεόν, ὃν ἡμεῖς φϑάσαντες τιμῶμεν, ὅτι ἐμάϑομεν σεμνὰς ἐντολὰς ἃς οὐκ ὕδειμεν, καὶ οὐ πεπλανήμεϑα. εἰ δὲ καὶ πλάνη τις εἴη τοιαύτη ὡς xaJ' ὑμᾶς ἡ λέγουσα ψυχὴν μὲν ἀϑάνατον, δίκην δὲ μετὰ ϑάνατον καὶ πέρας ἀρετῆς ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει καὶ ϑεὸν δικαστήν, ἡδέως ἂν τὴν τοιαύτην ἀπάτην ἀποφεροίμεϑα, διʼ ἧς μάλιστα τὸ καλῶς βιοῦν μεμαϑήκαμεν, τὴν μέλλουσαν ἐλπίδα ἀπεκδεχόμενοι, καίτοι τὰ ἐναντία πάσχοντες.

### English translation (Claude)

just as they did the prophets ⟨before him⟩, who foretold many glorious things about the man: that such a one would come, righteous and virtuous in all things, who, having done good to all people, would by his virtue persuade them to worship the God of all—whom we, having come to him first, honor, because we have learned holy commandments which we did not know, and we have not been led astray. [42b] But even if it were a delusion, as you say—this teaching that the soul is immortal, that there is judgment after death and a goal of virtue at the resurrection, and God as judge—we would gladly carry off such a deception, through which above all we have learned to live well, awaiting the hope to come, even though we suffer the opposite.”

### Translation notes

- “Before him” is the editor's supplement. “Goal of virtue” (πέρας); Knopf proposed γέρας, “reward.” Gebhardt divides the section into 42a and 42b.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 42 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-42).

## 43

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-43
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Perennis had hoped Apollonius would change his mind.

### Greek text

Περέννιος ὁ ἀνθύπατος εἶπεν: Ἐνόμιζόν σε, ᾿Απολλώ, τὸ λοιπὸν μεταβεβλῆσϑαι τῆς τοιαύτης προαιρέσεως xoi σέβειν μεϑ᾽ ἡμῶν τοὺς ϑεούς.

### English translation (Claude)

Perennis the proconsul said, “I thought, Apollonius, that you had now changed from this resolve and would worship the gods with us.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 43 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-43).

## 44

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-44
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Apollonius hoped Perennis would be enlightened.

### Greek text

Ἀπολλὼς εἶπεν· Ἐγὼ ἤλπιζον, ἀνθϑύπατε, τοὺς εὐσεβεῖς διαλογισμούς σοι παρεῖναι xai πεφωτίσϑαι σου τοὺς τῆς ψυχῆς ὀφθαλμοὺς διὰ τῆς ἀπολογίας μου, ὥστε τὴν καρδίαν σου καρποφοροῦσαν ϑεὸν τὸν ποιητὴν πάντων σέβειν τούτῳ ve καϑʼ ἡμέραν δι᾿ ἐλεημοσυνῶν καὶ φιλανϑρώπου τρόπου τὰς εὐχὰς ἀναπέμπειν μόνῳ, ϑυσίαν ἀναίμακτον καὶ χαϑαρὰν τῷ ϑεῷ.

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius said, “I hoped, proconsul, that godly thoughts would come to you and that the eyes of your soul would be enlightened by my defense, so that your heart would bear fruit and worship God the maker of all, and would daily send up your prayers to him alone through almsgiving and a humane way of life—a bloodless and pure sacrifice to God.”

### Scripture references

- Eph 1:18: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Cf. Eph 1:18 for the eyes of the heart enlightened.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 44 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-44).

## 45

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-45
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Perennis sentences Apollonius to have his legs broken.

### Greek text

Περέννιος ὁ ἀνϑύπατος εἶπεν· Θέλω σε ἀπολῦσαι, ᾿“πολλώ, κωλύομαι δὲ ὑπὸ τοῦ δόγματος Κομόδου τοῦ αὐτοχράτορος" πλὴν φιλανθρώπως χρήσομαί σοι ἐν τῷ ϑανάτῳ. καὶ ἔδωκεν σίγνον κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ κατεαγῆναι τοῦ μάρτυρος τὰ σκέλη.

### English translation (Claude)

Perennis the proconsul said, “I want to release you, Apollonius, but I am prevented by the decree of the emperor Commodus. Still, I will treat you humanely in your death.” [45b] And he gave the order against him that the martyr's legs be broken.

### Translation notes

- “Order”: the Latin loanword signum. The Armenian version (in Gebhardt's German translation) has him beheaded; the Greek has his legs broken. Gebhardt divides the section into 45a and 45b.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 45 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-45).

## 46

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-46
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Apollonius gives thanks for his sentence.

### Greek text

᾿Απολλὼς δέ, ὃ καὶ Σακκχέας, εἶπεν. Εὐχὰριστῶ τῷ ϑεῷ μου, Περέννιε ἀνϑύπατε, σὺν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁμολογήσασι ϑεὸν παντοχράτορα καὶ τὸν μονογεννῇ αὐτοῦ υἱὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν Χριστὸν καὶ τὸ ἅγιον πνεῦμα καὶ περὶ τῆσδε τῆς ἐμοὶ σωτηριώδους ἀποφάσεώς σου.

### English translation (Claude)

Apollonius, also called Saccas, said, “I thank my God, Perennis, proconsul, together with all who have confessed God almighty and his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, also for this sentence of yours, which brings me salvation.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 46 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-46).

## 47

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-47
- Source: Gebhardt, 44
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Closing exhortation and date of the martyrdom (April 21).

### Greek text

Τοιοῦτον τέλος ἔνδοξον μαρτυρίου νηφούσῃ ψυχῇ xoi προϑύμῳ καρδίᾳ ἐνήρξατο ὁ ἀγιώτατος ἀϑλοφόρος οὗτος, ⟨᾿Απολλὼς⟩ ὁ καὶ Σαχκέας. ἡ δὲ κυρία τῶν ἡμερῶν, χκαϑ᾽ ἣν παλαίσας τῷ πονηρῷ τὸ βραβεῖον ὅ τῆς νίκης ἐκομίσατο, σήμερον ἐνέστηκεν. Δεῦρο τοίνυν τοῖς ἐχείνου καλοῖς ἀνδραγαϑήμασιν, ἀδελφοί, τὴν ἑαυτῶν ψυχὴν εἰς πίστιν ἐπιρρώσαντες ἐραστὰς éavτοὺς τῆς τοιαύτης χάριτος καταστήσωμεν δὲʼ ἐλέους xai χάριτος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεϑ᾽ ob τῷ Oeo καὶ πατρὶ σὺν ἁγίῳ πνεύματι (ἡ) δόξα καὶ τὸ χράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν ἀιώνων, ἀμήν. Ἐμαρτύρησεν ὃ τρισμαχάριστος ᾿“πολλώς, ὁ καὶ Σακχκέας, πρὸ ἕνδεκα καλανδῶν Μαΐου κατὰ Ρωμαίους, κατὰ δὲ ᾿Ασιανοὺς μηνὸς ὀγδόου ⟨κα'⟩, κατὰ δὲ ἡμᾶς βασιλεύοντος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, à ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν.

### English translation (Claude)

Such was the glorious end of martyrdom upon which this most holy champion, ⟨Apollonius⟩ also called Saccas, entered with a sober soul and an eager heart. And the appointed day on which, having wrestled with the evil one, he carried off the prize of victory, is here today. Come then, brothers, let us strengthen our souls in faith by his noble deeds and make ourselves lovers of such grace, through the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, with whom be ⟨the⟩ glory and the might to God the Father with the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen. [47b] The thrice-blessed Apollonius, also called Saccas, was martyred on the eleventh day before the Kalends of May according to the Romans, and according to the Asians on the ⟨21st⟩ of the eighth month, and according to us in the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory to the ages. Amen.

### Translation notes

- “Apollonius” and the day number are editors' supplements. Gebhardt divides the section into 47a and 47b.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 47 (Gebhardt, 44; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-apollonii/0/#p-47).