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On the Theophania
Eusebius of Caesarea, tr. Lee, 1843
But, How can you say that they neither expected nor hoped, that they should suffer any …
But, How can you say that they neither expected nor hoped, that they should suffer any calamity from this their testimony respecting Him; and, that they therefore went out, even boldly, to the (work of) preaching about Him? On the contrary, it was impossible they should not have hoped, that they should suffer every sort of calamity: superinducing as they did the destruction of the Gods, at once of the Romans, the Greeks, and the Barbarians. Now the Book itself, which (speaks) of them, shews plainly, that after the death of their Lord certain men, enemies of the word and who lay in wait for it, laid hands on them; delivering them first to imprisonment, and then strictly commanding them, that they should speak to none in the name of Jesus. And, when they found them afterwards openly teaching the multitudes the things respecting Him, they violently seized, and scourged (them), and forbade them (so) to teach; Simon Peter answering said to them, “It is right that we should rather hearken to God, and not to men.” After these things too, Stephen was stoned with stones, and died; because he had openly spoken (of Him) in the assembly of the Jews. And there arose no small persecution against those, who were the ambassadors of the name of Jesus. And again at another time, when Herod, the king of the Jews slew James the brother of John with the sword, he, the same, confined Simon Peter in bonds, as it is written in the Acts of the Apostles. And, while these suffered such things, the rest of the Disciples persevered, grew strong, and remained in the doctrine of our Saviour; and again preached to all men more particularly respecting Him, and His wonderful works. After these things, James—whom those who formerly resided at Jerusalem called “the Just,” on account of his great excellence,—was interrogated of the chief priests and doctors of the Jewish people, as to what he thought of Jesus; and, when he returned answer to them, that “He was the Son of God,” he was also stoned with stones by them. Simon Peter too, was, after his Head (i.e. Christ), crucified at Rome. Paul also was taken off (slain,) and John was committed to the island (Patmos in banishment). And, while these suffered such things, not so much as one of the rest forsook His (Christ’s) doctrine; and (indeed) all of them prayed, that such things might befall them, in order that they might, for the sake of the worship of God, be like to those already mentioned. And, on this account again, they openly gave their testimony of our Saviour, and of His wonderful works, the more abundantly.