Martyrdom of Carpus, Papylus and Agathonice

Contents

1. 0Title of the account.
2. 1Carpus and Papylus are brought before the proconsul at Pergamum.
3. 2The proconsul asks Carpus his name.
4. 3Carpus gives his first name as “Christian.”
5. 4The proconsul cites the imperial decrees and orders sacrifice.
6. 5Carpus confesses Christ and refuses to sacrifice.
7. 6Sacrifice to demons makes the worshipper like them.
8. 7True worshippers become like God; idol-worshippers become like the demons.
9. 8Idolaters justly share the devil's fate; Carpus will not sacrifice.
10. 9The proconsul angrily orders sacrifice.
11. 10Carpus quotes Jeremiah against the gods.
12. 11The proconsul cites the emperor's command.
13. 12The living do not sacrifice to the dead.
14. 13The proconsul asks whether Carpus thinks the gods are dead.
15. 14The idols never lived, so they cannot even die.
16. 15Without human honor the idols are mere decaying matter.
17. 16The eternal God contrasted with man-made, perishable gods.
18. 17The devil explains pagan oracles: he foretells wars he himself prepares.
19. 18The devil foretells the harm he plans to do.
20. 19The devil tempts humanity by God's permission.
21. 20Carpus urges the proconsul to see his error.
22. 21The proconsul cuts Carpus short and demands sacrifice.
23. 22Carpus refuses again.
24. 23Carpus is tortured and confesses until he can no longer speak.
25. 24The proconsul questions Papylus.
26. 25Papylus says he is a citizen.
27. 26The proconsul asks his city.
28. 27Papylus is from Thyatira.
29. 28The proconsul asks about children.
30. 29Papylus claims many children through God.
31. 30A bystander explains that he means spiritual children.
32. 31The proconsul accuses Papylus of lying.
33. 32Papylus has children in God in every province.
34. 33The proconsul demands sacrifice from Papylus.
35. 34Papylus confesses that he is a Christian.
36. 35Papylus endures torture in silence.
37. 36Both are sentenced to be burned alive.
38. 37Papylus dies praying in the fire.
39. 38Carpus smiles on the stake.
40. 39Carpus says he has seen the Lord's glory.
41. 40Carpus speaks of the true judgment seat.
42. 41Carpus dies with a prayer of thanks.
43. 42Agathonice sees the call and resolves to share the martyrs' feast.
44. 43The crowd appeals to her as a mother.
45. 44Agathonice entrusts her son to God and goes to the stake.
46. 45The onlookers lament the injustice.
47. 46Agathonice's last cry.
48. 47Agathonice dies; the Christians secretly keep the remains.