The First Apology

And how Christ, after He was born, was to remain unnoticed by others until He reached adulthood, which indeed happened, listen to what was foretold about this. Here are the predictions: "A child is born to us, a young man is given to us, and the government shall be upon His shoulders." This signifies the power of the cross, for when He was crucified, He bore it on His shoulders, as will be explained more clearly in the upcoming discourse.

The same prophet Isaiah, inspired by the prophetic Spirit, also said, "I have spread out my hands to a disobedient and contradictory people, to those who walk in a way that is not good. They now ask me for judgment and dare to draw near to God." In other words, through another prophet, He says, "They pierced My hands and My feet, and for My clothing they cast lots." David, the king and prophet who spoke these words, did not suffer these things himself, but Jesus Christ did, stretching out His hands, being crucified by the Jews who spoke against Him and denied that He was the Christ.

Just as the prophet said, they tormented Him, set Him on the judgment seat, and said, "Judge us." The phrase "They pierced my hands and my feet" refers to the nails of the cross that were driven into His hands and feet. After He was crucified, they cast lots for His clothing, dividing it among themselves. You can verify these events from the Acts of Pontius Pilate. We'll also quote the prophetic words of another prophet, Zephaniah, who foretold that He would sit on the foal of a donkey and enter Jerusalem.

The words are these: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, upon a colt, the foal of a donkey."