Dialogue with Trypho
Chapter 9: The Christians have not believed baseless stories
"I excuse and forgive you, my friend," I said. "For you do not know what you say, but have been persuaded by teachers who do not understand the Scriptures; and you speak, like a diviner, whatever comes into your mind. But if you are willing to listen to an account of Him, how we have not been deceived, and will not stop confessing Him—despite men's reproaches being heaped upon us, despite the most terrible tyrant forcing us to deny Him—I will prove to you as you stand here that we have not believed in empty fables or words without any foundation, but words filled with the Spirit of God, and full of power, and flourishing with grace."
Then again those who were with him laughed and shouted in an improper manner. I stood up and was about to leave, but he held my garment and said I shouldn't leave until I fulfilled my promise. "Don't let your companions be so noisy or behave so disgracefully," I said. "If they want, let them listen quietly, or if they have something better to do, let them leave; while we can move to a different place and finish our discussion there." Trypho agreed, so we moved to the middle of the Xystus. Two of his friends, after making fun of our enthusiasm, left. When we arrived at the place with stone seats on both sides, those with Trypho sat on one side and talked among themselves, with someone making a remark about the war in Judea.