The First Apology

And hear how it was foretold about those who shared His teachings and announced His arrival, as the prophet and king mentioned earlier spoke by the Spirit of prophecy: "Day after day pours out speech, and night after night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. He has set His tabernacle in the sun, and like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, he rejoices like a giant to run his course." We believe it is right and relevant to mention some other prophetic words of David in addition to these, from which you can learn how the Spirit of prophecy encourages people to live, and how He foretold the plot that was formed against Christ by Herod, the king of the Jews, and the Jews themselves, and Pilate, who was your governor among them, with his soldiers; and how He would be believed in by people of every nation; and how God calls Him His Son and has declared that He will subdue all His enemies under Him; and how the devils, as much as they can, strive to escape the power of God the Father and Lord of all, and the power of Christ Himself; and how God calls everyone to repentance before the day of judgment comes.

These things were spoken thus: "Blessed is the person who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the path of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the scornful: but his delight is in the law of the Lord; and he will meditate on His law day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, which shall yield its fruit in its season; and its leaf shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away from the face of the earth. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Why do the nations rage, and the people imagine new things? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His Anointed, saying, Let us break their bonds apart, and cast their yoke from us.

He who dwells in the heavens shall laugh at them, and the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and trouble them in His deep displeasure.

Yet I have been set by Him a King on Zion His holy hill, declaring the decree of the Lord. The Lord said to Me, You are My Son; this day I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I shall give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as Your possession.

You shall rule them with a rod of iron; like the vessels of a potter You shall dash them in pieces. Be wise now, therefore, O kings; be instructed, all you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Embrace instruction, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the right way, when His wrath has been suddenly kindled. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."