Martírio de Policarpo 9

1Capítulo 9 — Policarpo recusa-se a insultar Cristo.

1Chapter 9 — Polycarp refuses to revile Christ.

2Agora, quando Policarpo estava entrando no estádio, veio a ele uma voz do céu, dizendo: "Sê forte e mostra-te um homem, ó Policarpo!" Ninguém viu quem falou com ele; mas nossos irmãos que estavam presentes ouviram a voz.

2Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice from heaven, saying, "Be strong, and show thyself a man, O Polycarp!" No one saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present heard the voice.

3E ao ser levado adiante, o tumulto aumentou quando souberam que Policarpo havia sido preso.

3And as he was brought forward, the tumult became great when they heard that Polycarp was taken.

4E quando ele se aproximou, o procônsul perguntou-lhe se ele era Policarpo.

4And when he came near, the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp.

5Ao confessar que sim, o procônsul procurou persuadi-lo a negar a Cristo, dizendo: “Tem respeito pela tua velhice”, e outras coisas semelhantes, de acordo com o costume deles, como: “Jura pela fortuna de César; arrepende-te e diz: Fora com os ateus”.

5On his confessing that he was, the proconsul sought to persuade him to deny Christ, saying, "Have respect to thy old age," and other similar things, according to their custom, such as, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists".

6Mas Policarpo, olhando com semblante severo para toda a multidão de ímpios pagãos então no estádio, e acenando com a mão em direção a eles, enquanto com gemidos olhava para o céu, disse: "Fora com os ateus".

6But Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with groans he looked up to heaven, said, "Away with the Atheists".

7Então, o procônsul instou-o e disse: "Jura, e eu te libertarei, repreenda a Cristo"; Policarpo declarou: “Oitenta e seis anos o servi, e Ele nunca me causou nenhum dano: como então posso blasfemar contra meu Rei e meu Salvador?”.

7Then, the proconsul urging him, and saying, "Swear, and I will set thee at liberty, reproach Christ;" Polycarp declared, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?".