"And it is no wonder," I added, "if you also hate us, who understand these things and refute your ever hard-hearted disposition. For indeed Elijah, interceding with God concerning you, speaks thus: 'Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars; and I alone am left, and they seek my life.' And He answers him: 'I still have for Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.'"
"So then, just as God did not bring His wrath at that time on account of those seven thousand, in the same way even now He has not yet brought, nor is He bringing, the judgment, knowing that still daily some are being made disciples in the name of His Christ and are forsaking the way of error, who also receive gifts, each as he is worthy, being enlightened through the name of this Christ. For one receives the spirit of understanding, another of counsel, another of strength, another of healing, another of foreknowledge, another of teaching, and another the fear of God."
And I said to him: "Listen, my friend," I said, "that I am neither mad nor out of my mind; but after the ascension of Christ into heaven it was prophesied that He would lead us captive away from error and would give us gifts. And these are the words: 'He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, He gave gifts to men.'"
"We therefore who have received gifts from the Christ who ascended on high prove, from the prophetic words, that you—who are wise in your own eyes and prudent in your own sight—are foolish and honor God and His Christ with the lips only; whereas we, who have been made disciples out of the whole truth, honor Him also in deeds and in knowledge and in heart, even unto death."
"But you perhaps hesitate, even on this account, to confess that this one is the Christ—as the Scriptures demonstrate, and as the things seen and the things done in His name demonstrate—lest you be persecuted by the rulers, who will not cease, by the working of the wicked and deceiving spirit, the serpent, from putting to death and persecuting those who confess the name of Christ, until He comes again and destroys them all and assigns to each what is according to his desert."
And Trypho said: "Now then, render us the proof that this one, whom you say was crucified and ascended into heaven, is the Christ of God. For that the Christ is proclaimed through the Scriptures as one who suffers, and as one who is to come again with glory and to receive the everlasting kingdom of all the nations, with every kingdom made subject to Him—this has been sufficiently demonstrated through the Scriptures you previously recounted; but that this one is He, prove it to us."
And I said: "It has indeed already been demonstrated, O men, to those who have ears, and from the things acknowledged by you; but lest you suppose that I am at a loss and unable also to make the demonstrations you ask for, I will, as I promised, make them in the appropriate place; for now, however, I hasten on to the connection of the discourse I was making."