Now during the same period of the reign of Commodus, our affairs were changed for the gentler, peace, by the divine grace, embracing the churches throughout the whole world; at which time also the saving word was leading on every soul, from every race of men, to the godly worship of the God of the universe—so that now even more of those at Rome who were highly distinguished in wealth and birth were proceeding toward their own salvation with all their household and all their kindred.
But this was, after all, not endurable to the good-hating demon, who is by nature envious; and so he stripped himself again for action, contriving manifold devices against us. At Rome, at any rate, he brought Apollonius—a man renowned among the faithful of that time for learning and philosophy—before the tribunal, having stirred up one of his servants fit for such purposes to bring an accusation against the man.
But that wretched man, having entered upon the suit at an inopportune time—since, by an imperial decree, it was not permitted that informers in such cases should live—immediately had his legs broken, the judge Perennius having brought such a sentence against him.
But that most God-beloved martyr, when the judge had entreated him earnestly and at length, and had requested of him an account before the assembly of the senate, gave before all a most reasoned defence on behalf of the faith for which he was bearing witness, and was perfected by beheading, as though by a decree of the senate; for an ancient law had prevailed among them that those who had once come before the tribunal, and in no way changed their resolution, should not otherwise be released.
Of this man's utterances before the judge, and the answers which he made to the questioning of Perennius, and his whole defence before the senate—whoever wishes to learn of them will know them from the record of the ancient martyrdoms which has been compiled by us.