# Ignatius, A Disciple Of The Apostle John, Devoured By Wild Beasts In A Circus At Rome, For The Testimony Of The Son Of God, A. D. 111. · Page 2 of 2 [Previous page: IGNATIUS, A DISCIPLE OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, DEVOURED BY WILD BEASTS IN A CIRCUS AT ROME, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF THE SON OF GOD, A. D. 111.](/en/stories/mm-ignatius-a-disciple-of-the-apostle-john-devoured-by-wild-beasts-in-a-circus-at-rome-for-the-testimony-of-the-son-of-god/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: ONESIMUS, A FRIEND OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, BROUGHT FROM ROME TO EPHESUS, AND THERE STONED TO DEATH, A. D. 111.](/en/stories/mm-onesimus-a-friend-of-the-apostle-paul-brought-from-rome-to-ephesus-and-there-stoned-to-death-a-d-111/) As Ignatius was led away from the presence of the Senate, to the innermost enclosure, or pit of the lions, he frequently repeated the name of Jesus in the conversation which he, while on the way, carried on with the believers, as well as in his secret prayers to God. Being asked why he did so, he replied thus: “My dear Jesus, my Savior, is so deeply written in my heart, that I feel confident, that if my heart were to be cut open and chopped to pieces, the name of Jesus would be found written on every piece.” With this the pious man indicated that not only his mouth, but the innermost parts of his heart were filled with the love of Jesus: for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Thus, also Paul, being filled with the love of Jesus Christ, has used, in his letters, as much as two hundred times (as has been counted) the words, “Our Lord Jesus Christ.” The name “Jesus” he employs as much as five hundred times. When the whole multitude of the people were assembled, to witness the death of Ignatius (for the report had spread throughout the whole city, that a bishop had been brought from Syria, who, according to the sentence of the Emperor, was to fight against the wild beasts), Ignatius was brought forth and placed in the middle of the amphitheatre. Thereupon Ignatius, with a bold heart, thus addressed the people which stood around: “O, ye Romans, all you who have come to witness with your own eyes this combat; know ye, that this punishment has not been laid upon me on account of any misdeed or crime; for such I have in no wise committed; but that I may come to God, for whom I long, and whom to enjoy is my insatiable desire. For, I am the grain of God. I am ground by the teeth of the beasts, that I may be found a pure bread of Christ, who is to me the bread of life.” These words spake Ignatius, when he stood in the middle of the amphitheatre, and when he heard the lions roar; which the brethren of the church who also stood among the people heard and testified to. 104 As soon as he had spoken these words, two dreadful, hungry lions were let out to him from their pits, who instantly tore and devoured him, leaving almost nothing, or, at least, very little, even of his bones. Thus fell asleep, happy in the Lord, this faithful martyr of Jesus Christ, A. D. 111, in the 12th year of Emperor Trajan. Compare Abr. Mell. 1st book of the Hist. der Vervolg. en Mart., printed 1619, fol. 25, col. 1–4, and fol. 26, col. 1, with Joh. Gysii Hist. Mart., fol. 15, col. 2, 3. Also, W. Baudart. in Apophth. Christian, printed A. D. 1640. The first book, in the second Apophthegm, on the name Ignatius, pp. 37, 38, from different other authors. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_104) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: IGNATIUS, A DISCIPLE OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, DEVOURED BY WILD BEASTS IN A CIRCUS AT ROME, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF THE SON OF GOD, A. D. 111.](/en/stories/mm-ignatius-a-disciple-of-the-apostle-john-devoured-by-wild-beasts-in-a-circus-at-rome-for-the-testimony-of-the-son-of-god/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: ONESIMUS, A FRIEND OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, BROUGHT FROM ROME TO EPHESUS, AND THERE STONED TO DEATH, A. D. 111.](/en/stories/mm-onesimus-a-friend-of-the-apostle-paul-brought-from-rome-to-ephesus-and-there-stoned-to-death-a-d-111/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-ignatius-a-disciple-of-the-apostle-john-devoured-by-wild-beasts-in-a-circus-at-rome-for-the-testimony-of-the-son-of-god/part-2/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Ignatius%2C+A+Disciple+Of+The+Apostle+John%2C+Devoured+By+Wild+Beasts+In+A+Circus+At+Rome%2C+For+The+Testimony+Of+The+Son+Of+God%2C+A.+D.+111.+%C2%B7+Page+2+of+2&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AIgnatius%2C+A+Disciple+Of+The+Apostle+John%2C+Devoured+By+Wild+Beasts+In+A+Circus+At+Rome%2C+For+The+Testimony+Of+The+Son+Of+God%2C+A.+D.+111.+%C2%B7+Page+2+of+2%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-ignatius-a-disciple-of-the-apostle-john-devoured-by-wild-beasts-in-a-circus-at-rome-for-the-testimony-of-the-son-of-god%2Fpart-2%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-ignatius-a-disciple-of-the-apostle-john-devoured-by-wild-beasts-in-a-circus-at-rome-for-the-testimony-of-the-son-of-god--b00019-o000000%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+111%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)