Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/64

 prefect and Cestus the centurion. And Nero being instigated by the evil one (raged) at Rome, and had many Christians executed without being judged, so that the Romans stood before the palace and cried, "It is enough, Caesar; these men are ours; thou destroyest the strength of the Romans." Being thus convinced, he desisted not to touch any Christian till his case had been investigated.

4. After the issuing of the edict, Paul was brought before him, and he insisted that he should be executed. And Paul said, "Caesar, I live not merely for a short time unto my King; and if thou have me executed, I shall do the following: I will rise again and appear unto thee, for I am not dead, but live unto my King Christ Jesus, who shall come to judge the earth."

And Longus and Cestus said to Paul, "Whence have you this King that you believe on him, without changing your mind unto death?" And Paul answered and said, " Ye men, being ignorant and in error, change your mind and be saved from the fire which comes over the whole earth. For we fight not, as you suppose, for a King who is from the earth, but who is from heaven for the living God, who comes as judge because of the righteousness, which takes place in this world. And blessed is he who will believe on him and live in eternity when he shall come with fire to purge the earth." And