The Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs
(July 17, 180)
From the transcripts of the court proceedings leading to the sentence, we know about the earliest martyrdom of Christians. This document describes the trial of twelve Christians of Scillium, in North Africa, on July 17, AD 180.
On July 17, when Calusian and Praesens were consuls, the latter for a second time, the following were arraigned in the court at Carthage: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Secunda, and Vestia.
Saturninus, the proconsul, said:
– If you come to your senses, you will gain the pardon of our Lord the Emperor.
Speratus said:
– We have never hurt anyone. We have never committed any crime. We have never spoken evil of anyone. Rather, when we were mistreated, we showed our gratitude; we obey our emperor.
Saturninus, the proconsul, said:
– We Romans are also a religious people. Our religion is very simple; we swear by the genius of our Lord the emperor and pray for his well-being. This is what you also ought to do.
Speratus said:
– If you only did listen to me peacefully, I would explain to you the mystery of a simple belief.
The proconsul said:
– Do you want to initiate me by making a mockery of our sacred ceremonies? I will not listen to you! Swear, instead, by the genius of our Lord the emperor.
Speratus:
– I do not recognize any power of this world in eternal matters; I serve God whom no one has seen or can see. On the other hand, I have never stolen, and I pay the taxes on everything I buy. And this because I recognize my Lord, the King of kings and Emperor of all mankind.
Saturninus, the proconsul, said to the others:
– Cease to adhere to this persuasion.
Speratus:
– A bad persuasion would teach that we should commit murder and bear false witness –that would be evil.
The proconsul:
– Aren’t you afraid of the consequences? Take no part in this business –it is madness.
Cittinus:
– The only one we fear is the Lord, God, who is in heaven.
Donata:
– We respect Caesar as Caesar, but fear only God.
Vestia said:
– I am a Christian.
Secunda:
– I want to be nothing else than what I am.
Saturninus, the proconsul, to Speratus:
– Do you persist in remaining a Christian?
Speratus:
– I am a Christian.
(And all the rest repeated the same assertion)
Saturninus, the proconsul:
– Why don’t you take your time and think it over?
Speratus:
– It is absolutely clear; there is nothing to think over.
Saturninus, the proconsul:
– What do you keep in that box?
Speratus:
– Books and some letters of a holy man called Paul.
Saturninus, the proconsul, said:
– I give you thirty days to think this over.
Speratus again said:
– I am a Christian.
(And all the others joined him in this affirmation.)
Saturninus, the proconsul, then read out the sentence from his tablet:
– Whereas Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Vestia, Secunda, and the others, have admitted that they live in accordance with the rites of the Christians; whereas they have persevered in their stubbornness even after given the opportunity to return to the Roman religion, I hereby decree that they should die by the sword.
Speratus:
– We give thanks to God.
Nartzalus:
– Today we shall be in heaven as martyrs. Thank God!
The proconsul Saturninus ordered the following proclamation to be read by his herald:
– I have ordered the execution of Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Laetantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Secunda.
All said:
– Thank God!
All of them were beheaded for the Name of Christ; all crowned with martyrdom together, and now reign with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
From the transcripts of the court proceedings leading to the sentence, we know about the earliest martyrdom of Christians. This document describes the trial of twelve Christians of Scillium, in North Africa, on July 17, AD 180.
On July 17, when Calusian and Praesens were consuls, the latter for a second time, the following were arraigned in the court at Carthage: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Secunda, and Vestia.
Saturninus, the proconsul, said:
– If you come to your senses, you will gain the pardon of our Lord the Emperor.
Speratus said:
– We have never hurt anyone. We have never committed any crime. We have never spoken evil of anyone. Rather, when we were mistreated, we showed our gratitude; we obey our emperor.
Saturninus, the proconsul, said:
– We Romans are also a religious people. Our religion is very simple; we swear by the genius of our Lord the emperor and pray for his well-being. This is what you also ought to do.
Speratus said:
– If you only did listen to me peacefully, I would explain to you the mystery of a simple belief.
The proconsul said:
– Do you want to initiate me by making a mockery of our sacred ceremonies? I will not listen to you! Swear, instead, by the genius of our Lord the emperor.
Speratus:
– I do not recognize any power of this world in eternal matters; I serve God whom no one has seen or can see. On the other hand, I have never stolen, and I pay the taxes on everything I buy. And this because I recognize my Lord, the King of kings and Emperor of all mankind.
Saturninus, the proconsul, said to the others:
– Cease to adhere to this persuasion.
Speratus:
– A bad persuasion would teach that we should commit murder and bear false witness –that would be evil.
The proconsul:
– Aren’t you afraid of the consequences? Take no part in this business –it is madness.
Cittinus:
– The only one we fear is the Lord, God, who is in heaven.
Donata:
– We respect Caesar as Caesar, but fear only God.
Vestia said:
– I am a Christian.
Secunda:
– I want to be nothing else than what I am.
Saturninus, the proconsul, to Speratus:
– Do you persist in remaining a Christian?
Speratus:
– I am a Christian.
(And all the rest repeated the same assertion)
Saturninus, the proconsul:
– Why don’t you take your time and think it over?
Speratus:
– It is absolutely clear; there is nothing to think over.
Saturninus, the proconsul:
– What do you keep in that box?
Speratus:
– Books and some letters of a holy man called Paul.
Saturninus, the proconsul, said:
– I give you thirty days to think this over.
Speratus again said:
– I am a Christian.
(And all the others joined him in this affirmation.)
Saturninus, the proconsul, then read out the sentence from his tablet:
– Whereas Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Vestia, Secunda, and the others, have admitted that they live in accordance with the rites of the Christians; whereas they have persevered in their stubbornness even after given the opportunity to return to the Roman religion, I hereby decree that they should die by the sword.
Speratus:
– We give thanks to God.
Nartzalus:
– Today we shall be in heaven as martyrs. Thank God!
The proconsul Saturninus ordered the following proclamation to be read by his herald:
– I have ordered the execution of Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Laetantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Secunda.
All said:
– Thank God!
All of them were beheaded for the Name of Christ; all crowned with martyrdom together, and now reign with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.