# Polycarp, A Disciple Of The Apostle John, And Bishop Of The Church At Smyrna, Put To Death With Fire And Sword, For His Faith In The Son Of God, A. D. 168. · Page 1 of 2 [Previous page: JUSTINUS, FIRST SCOURGED, AND THEN BEHEADED, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, A. D. 168.](/en/stories/mm-justinus-first-scourged-and-then-beheaded-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-a-d-168/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: POLYCARP, A DISCIPLE OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, AND BISHOP OF THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA, PUT TO DEATH WITH FIRE AND SWORD, FOR HIS FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, A. D. 168.](/en/stories/mm-polycarp-a-disciple-of-the-apostle-john-and-bishop-of-the-church-at-smyrna-put-to-death-with-fire-and-sword-for-his-fait/part-2/) We read in the Revelation of John, that the Lord commanded his servant John, that he should write a few things to the angel (that is, the bishop or teacher) of the church at Smyrna, for the admonition of the teacher as well as for the service of the church, saying: “Unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty. . . . Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev. 2:8–10. These words of the Lord Jesus indicate that the believers at Smyrna, and their teacher, were in tribulation and poverty, and that still more suffering was approaching them; whereupon he exhorted them to constancy, and promised to give them the crown of life. As regards the teacher of this church, most of the ancient writers call him Polycarp, and say, that he was a disciple of the apostle John, inasmuch as he had heard John preach the word of God, and had associated with those who had known the Lord Jesus Christ personally, and had had intercourse with him; and that John had appointed him bishop or overseer of the church at Smyrna. Touching the sufferings which the Lord said would befall him and the church of which he was teacher, this began some time afterwards; in such manner that this good shepherd preceded, and many of the sheep of his flock faithfully followed him. However, we intend to speak here only of the shepherd, Polycarp. It is stated, that three days before he was apprehended and sentenced to death, he was suddenly overcome by sleep, in the midst of his prayer, and while dreaming, had a vision, in which he saw the pillow on which he lay with his head, suddenly taking fire and was consumed. Instantly awakened thereby, he concluded that he was to be burnt for the name of Christ. When those who sought to apprehend him, had approached very close, his friends endeavored to conceal him, and, therefore, brought him to another country-seat, where he was nevertheless shortly afterwards discovered by his persecutors. For they had seized two lads, whom they, by scourging them, compelled to say where Polycarp was; and although, from the chamber in which he was, he might easily have made his escape into another house near by, he would not do it, but said: “The will of the Lord be done.” He therefore descended the stairs, to meet his persecutors, whom he received so kindly, that those who had not known him before, regretfully said, “What need had we to make so great haste, to apprehend such an old man.” Polycarp immediately had a table spread for his captors, and affectionately urged them to eat; begging of them to allow him an hour’s time in which to pray undisturbedly in quiet, while they were eating; which they granted him. When he had finished his prayer, and the hour was up, in which he had reflected upon his life, and commended the church of which he was teacher, unto God and his Savior, the bailiffs placed him upon an ass, and led him to the city, on the Sabbath of the great feast. Nicetes and his son Herod, called the prince of peace, rode out to meet him, took him from the ass, and made him sit with them in their carriage, seeking in this manner to induce him to apostatize from Christ, saying: “What matters it for you to say, Lord Emperor, and to offer sacrifice or incense before him, to save your life.” At first, Polycarp made no reply at all, but when they persisted in asking him, and demanded an answer, he finally said: “I shall never do what you request and counsel me to do.” When they saw that he was immovable in his faith, they commenced to revile him, and, at the same time, thrust him out of the carriage, so that in falling he severely injured his leg. He never showed, however, that he had been injured by the fall, but, as soon as he had risen, willingly surrendered himself again into the hands of the bailiffs, to be led further to the place of execution, walking as rapidly as though nothing hindered him. As soon as Polycarp had entered the circus or amphitheatre, where he was to be executed, a voice came to him from heaven, saying, “Be strong, O Polycarp! and valiant in thy confession, and in the suffering which awaits thee.” No person saw the one from whom this voice proceeded, but many of the Christians that stood around heard it; however, on account of the great commotion, the greater part of the people could not hear it. It nevertheless tended to strengthen Polycarp and those who had heard it. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_109) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: JUSTINUS, FIRST SCOURGED, AND THEN BEHEADED, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, A. D. 168.](/en/stories/mm-justinus-first-scourged-and-then-beheaded-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-a-d-168/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: POLYCARP, A DISCIPLE OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, AND BISHOP OF THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA, PUT TO DEATH WITH FIRE AND SWORD, FOR HIS FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, A. D. 168.](/en/stories/mm-polycarp-a-disciple-of-the-apostle-john-and-bishop-of-the-church-at-smyrna-put-to-death-with-fire-and-sword-for-his-fait/part-2/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-polycarp-a-disciple-of-the-apostle-john-and-bishop-of-the-church-at-smyrna-put-to-death-with-fire-and-sword-for-his-fait/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Polycarp%2C+A+Disciple+Of+The+Apostle+John%2C+And+Bishop+Of+The+Church+At+Smyrna%2C+Put+To+Death+With+Fire+And+Sword%2C+For+His+Faith+In+The+Son+Of+God%2C+A.+D.+168.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+2&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0APolycarp%2C+A+Disciple+Of+The+Apostle+John%2C+And+Bishop+Of+The+Church+At+Smyrna%2C+Put+To+Death+With+Fire+And+Sword%2C+For+His+Faith+In+The+Son+Of+God%2C+A.+D.+168.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+2%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-polycarp-a-disciple-of-the-apostle-john-and-bishop-of-the-church-at-smyrna-put-to-death-with-fire-and-sword-for-his-fait%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-polycarp-a-disciple-of-the-apostle-john-and-bishop-of-the-church-at-smyrna-put-to-death-with-fire-and-sword-for-his-fait%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+168%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.)