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The First Apology
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Letter from Marcus Aurelius to the Senate, in which he credits Christians for his victory.
EMPEROR CAESAR MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS: known as Germanicus, Parthicus, Sarmaticus, sends greetings to the People of Rome and to the sacred Senate. I shared with you my main plan and the benefits I gained on the borders of Germany, achieved with great effort and hardship, due to being surrounded by the enemy. I was trapped in Carnuntum by seventy-four cohorts, nine miles away. With the enemy nearby, our scouts and General Pompeianus informed us of a massive diverse force of 977,000 men approaching, which indeed we saw; and I was confined by this vast host, having only a battalion composed of the first, tenth, double, and marine legions with me.
Assessing my situation and my troops against the overwhelming number of barbarians and enemies, I quickly turned to prayer to the gods of my country. But, as they did not respond, I called upon those among us known as Christians. Upon investigation, I found a great number and multitude of them and initially acted against them, which was quite inappropriate, as I later understood their power. They began the battle, not with weapons, armor, or bugles, as such preparations are detestable to them because of the God they carry in their conscience.
Therefore, it appears that those we think are atheists have God as their guiding force entrenched in their conscience. Throwing themselves on the ground, they prayed not only for me but for the entire army, that we might be saved from the current thirst and hunger. We had been without water for five days because there was none, being deep in Germany, in enemy territory. Simultaneously as they threw themselves on the ground and prayed to God (a God unknown to me), water poured from the sky, refreshingly cool upon us but as withering hail upon Rome's enemies.
Immediately we acknowledged the presence of God following their prayer—a God unconquerable and indestructible. Based on this, let us pardon such individuals who are Christians, lest they pray for and achieve such a weapon against us. I advise that no one be accused solely for being a Christian. If someone is found accusing a Christian simply for being one, it should be evident that the accused is guilty of nothing else.
However, the one accusing should be burned alive.
Furthermore, I desire that the provincial governor be instructed not to force a Christian, who admits to this, to deny their faith, nor should they be detained. I wish for these instructions to be affirmed by a decree of the Senate. I order this edict to be posted in the Forum of Trajan for public reading. Prefect Vitrasius Pollio shall ensure it is sent to all surrounding provinces and that no one wishing to make use of or possess it is prevented from obtaining a copy from the document I now publish.
Hear the Scriptures cited in The First Apology
The First Apology quotes or alludes to these Bible chapters more than any others. Each link opens the free audio Bible, where the chapter is read aloud alongside the text, cross-references, and what other early Christian writers said about it.
- Hear Isaiah 52 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Matthew 5 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 6 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 49 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Numbers 21 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Psalms 22 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Isaiah 65 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Matthew 19 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 14 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 18 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 32 (audio Bible)
- Hear Exodus 3 (audio Bible)