The saints were seized and brought before the prefect of
Rome, whose name was Rusticus. As they stood before the judgment seat, Rusticus
the prefect said to Justin, “Above all, have faith in the gods and obey the
emperors.” Justin said, “We cannot be accused or condemned for obeying the
commands of Our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Rusticus said, “What system of teaching do you profess?”
Justin said, “I have tried to learn about every system, but I have accepted the
true doctrines of the Christians, though these are not approved by those who
are held fast by error.” The prefect Rusticus said, “are those doctrines
approved by you, wretch that you are?” Justin said, “Yes, for I follow them
with their correct teaching.”
The prefect Rusticus said, “What sort of teaching is that?”
Justin said, “Worship the God of the Christians. We hold him to be from the
beginning the one creator and maker of the whole creation, of things seen and
things and unseen. We worship also the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He
was foretold by the prophets as the future herald of salvation for the human
race and the teacher of distinguished disciples. For myself, since I am a human
being, I consider that what I say is insignificant in comparison with his
infinite godhead. I acknowledge the existence of a prophetic power, for the one
I have just spoken of as the Son of God was the subject of prophecy. I know
that the prophets were inspired from above from when they spoke of his coming
among us.”
Rusticus said, “You are a Christian, then?” Justin said,
“Yes, I am a Christian.”
The prefect said to Justin, “You are called a learned man
and think you know what is true teaching. Listen. If you were scourged and
beheaded, are you convinced that you would go up to heaven?” Justin said, “I
hope that I shall enter God’s house if I suffer in that way. For I know that
God’s favor is stored up until the end of the whole world for all who have
lived good lives.”
The prefect Rusticus said, “Do you have an idea that you
will go up to heaven to receive some suitable rewards?” Justin said, “It is not
an idea that I have; it is something I know well and hold to be most certain.”
The prefect Rusticus said, “Now let us come to the point at issue, which is
necessary and urgent. Gather round then and with one accord offer sacrifice to
the gods.” Justin said, “No one who is right-thinking stoops from true worship
to false worship.”
The prefect Rusticus said, “If you do not do as you are
commanded you will be tortured without mercy.” Justin said,, “We hope to suffer
torment for the sake of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and so be saved. For this will
bring us salvation and confidence as we stand before the more terrible and
universal judgment seat of our Lord and Savior.” In the same way the other
martyrs said, “Do what you will. We are Christians; we do not offer sacrifice
to idols.”
The prefect Rusticus pronounced the sentence, saying, “Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and obey the command of the emperor be scourged and led away to suffer away to suffer capital punishment according to the ruling of the laws.” Glorifying God, the holy martyrs went out to the accustomed place. They were beheaded and so fulfilled their witness of martyrdom in confessing their faith in their savior.
