The Second Apology
Chapter 1: Introduction
The recent events in your city under Urbicus, along with the similar unreasonable actions being carried out by governors everywhere, have compelled me to write this for your benefit. You are people of similar passions and brothers, even if you do not realize it or are unwilling to acknowledge it due to your pride in what you consider dignities. Everywhere, anyone who is corrected by a father, neighbor, child, friend, brother, husband, or wife for a fault—for being stubborn, for loving pleasure, and for being reluctant to do what is right (except for those who have been convinced that the unjust and intemperate will be punished in eternal fire, but those who are virtuous and live like Christ will dwell with God in a state free from suffering—we mean, those who have become Christians)—the evil demons, who hate us and keep such people under their control, incite them, as rulers driven by evil spirits, to put us to death. To make the reason for everything that has happened under Urbicus clear to you, I will explain what has occurred.