But how great a power the simplicity of faith possesses, we recognize even from those things which are reported to have been done there. For when, in zeal for the religious Emperor, the priests of God had come together from every land, philosophers also and dialecticians, very noble and most highly esteemed, were stirred by the report and assembled. Among them, a certain man distinguished in the art of Dialectic stirred up, day by day, the contests of the highest struggle with our bishops, men likewise not contemptibly learned in Dialectic; and there came to be a vast spectacle, as learned and lettered men gathered to listen. Yet by no means could the philosopher be confuted or constrained by anyone.
For with such great art of speech did he meet the questions raised, that just where he was thought to be most tightly bound, he would slip away like a slippery serpent. But that God might show that the kingdom of God consists not in speech but in power, a certain one of the Confessors, a man of the simplest nature and knowing nothing else but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, was present among the other bishop-hearers. When he had seen the philosopher insulting our people and boasting himself in the cunning art of disputation, he asked of all to be given a place: saying that he wished to converse a little with the philosopher.
Then indeed our people, who knew only the man's simplicity and his unskillfulness in speech, were afraid and felt a kind of shame, lest perhaps holy simplicity should be made a laughingstock among cunning men. Nevertheless the old man persisted, and began his discourse thus: "In the name of Jesus Christ, O philosopher, hear what is true. There is one God who made heaven and earth, and who gave a spirit to man, whom He had formed from the clay of the earth (Gen. 1); all things that are seen and that are not seen He created by the power of His Word, and established by the sanctification of His Spirit."
"This Word and Wisdom, whom we call the Son, taking pity on human errors, was born of a Virgin, and by the suffering of death freed us from perpetual death, and by His resurrection bestowed eternal life upon us. Him also we await as the coming Judge of all that we do: do you believe that this is so, O philosopher?" But he, as though he had never learned any speech of contradiction, so astounded by the power of the words, mute to all things, could answer only this: that it seemed so to him, and that nothing else was true than what the old man had said. Then the elder said: "If you believe that these things are so, rise and follow me to the Lord's house, and receive the seal of this faith."
And the philosopher, turning to his disciples, or to those who had assembled for the sake of listening, said: "Hear, O learned men: so long as the matter was conducted with me by words, I set words against words, and by the art of speaking overturned whatever was said. But when, in place of words, a power came forth from the mouth of the speaker, words could not resist the power, nor could man oppose God. And therefore, if any of you was able to perceive in these things that have been said what I perceived, let him believe in Christ and follow this old man, in whom God has spoken." Thus the philosopher, having been made a Christian, at last congratulated himself on having been overcome.