Dialogue with Trypho
Chapter 17: The Jews sent people across the entire world to spread slander about Christians
Other nations have not inflicted on us and on Christ this wrong to the extent that you have, who are truly the authors of the wicked prejudice against the Just One and us who follow Him. For after you crucified Him, the only blameless and righteous Man—by whose suffering those who approach the Father through Him are healed—and when you knew that He had risen from the dead and ascended to heaven, as the prophets foretold He would, you did not repent of the wickedness you had committed.
Instead, you selected and sent out chosen men from Jerusalem throughout the land to claim that the godless heresy of the Christians had begun, spreading falsehoods against us to those who do not know us. You are, therefore, the cause not only of your own unrighteousness but also of that of others. Isaiah rightly declares: ‘Because of you, My name is blasphemed among the Gentiles.’ And: ‘Woe to their soul! because they have devised an evil plan against themselves, saying, Let us bind the righteous, for he is distasteful to us.
Therefore they will reap what they have sown. Woe to the wicked! evil will be given to him according to the works of his hands.’ And again, in other words: ‘Woe to those who draw their iniquity with a long cord and their transgressions with the harness of a heifer’s yoke: who say, Let his speed come near; and let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come, that we may know it. Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put light for darkness, and darkness for light; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!’ Thus, you showed great zeal in spreading throughout the land bitter, dark, and unjust things against the only blameless and righteous Light sent by God.
For He appeared distasteful to you when He cried among you, ‘It is written, My house is the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves!’ He also overturned the tables of the money-changers in the temple, and exclaimed, ‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you pay tithe of mint and rue, but do not observe the love of God and justice. You whitewashed tombs! Appearing beautiful outwardly, but are within full of dead men’s bones.’ And to the Scribes, ‘Woe to you, Scribes! For you have the keys, and you do not enter in yourselves, and those who are entering you hinder; you blind guides!’