Polycarp Page #2

There is a shadow

approaching us quickly.

We must be ready.

So we worship Caesar, or else?

It will be beatings and prison.

If ridicule is not enough.

Well, we faced

persecution before,

we'll face persecution again.

We should leave Smyrna

for a time.

There are many cities that

have yet to hear the Gospel.

We should seek peace.

Now is no time to run.

We should speak truth.

With boldness.

God has blessed us

with homes here.

With livelihoods here.

With friends here.

God may be leading

us in different paths.

We must discern

his plan and obey...

no matter the cost.

If you should choose to leave,

I invite each of you

to join me in Ephesus.

Whatever the Lord's will is,

we will glorify him

in what we do.

Wherever we are.

Whether we are here or there.

But understand this.

We will not be constrained by

what Quadratus says or does.

Our only constraint

is the love of Christ.

Amen.

Almighty God...

Lord of principalities

and powers,

and every living creature.

Give us wisdom for this hour.

Show us the path we are to take.

It's time to go,

my sweet daughter.

There are so many stars.

Have you ever

tried to count them?

No one can manage that.

God can.

God cannot only count them,

he has a name for every

single one of them.

He knows your name too.

Mmm, dear, thank you.

Oh, that smells good.

It will be ready to eat soon.

A great meal starts with an

empty stomach, not a full one.

God go with you, my brother.

If you find yourself

on the road to Ephesus,

look for the sign of the fish.

There's someone here to see you.

Please, bring him in.

Quadratus seeks his answer.

It is not to be found

within these walls.

The Proconsul desires

peace among our people.

A desire we both share.

And you will persuade them?

I will persuade them.

I will persuade them to

worship the one true God

and to worship him alone.

You have my thanks.

Caesar is powerful.

At least give thoughts

to my words.

That I will.

And you give thought to mine.

What was that all about?

I've known Maximus

a long time...

and despite everything

I've told him...

he is still convinced

his gods are real.

What makes your god any

more real than his gods?

Now, that is a good question.

Those gods were made

by hands of men.

They have eyes but cannot see.

Ears, but cannot hear.

Mouths, but cannot speak.

Our God sees all things.

Hears our every prayer.

And his word endures forever.

The true God

made the hands of men.

Can you not sleep, my child?

Come.

Tell me.

What is on your mind?

I don't understand...

God loves us.

Ah, well, no one fully can.

The first person to

teach me about God's love

was a very kind Christian

woman named Callisto.

She purchased me as a slave...

brought me into her home

and raised me as a son.

Her very life was a

testimony of God's love.

That necklace you wear

once belonged to her.

She gave you your freedom?

Yes, yes she did.

When I came of age,

I went to study under

the apostle John, the

disciple whom Jesus loved.

He taught me much

about God's love.

He used to say,

"My dear children,"

"let us love one another,

for love is of God."

If it weren't for God's love,

I would not be here.

And I suppose, then, you

would not be here either.

That should be enough to

think about for one night.

God?

God of the Christians.

If you are listening, thank

you for bringing me here.

Oh!

Cicero, come here, my son.

Wait here.

I'm glad you happened upon us.

We came to show our devotion

to Caesar as a family.

You're welcome to join us.

We must honor Caesar,

not worship him.

Caesar is no god.

Ah, the innocence of youth.

You say that Caesar

is not a god.

Cicero,

there's only one true god.

Come lad, there's no one more

powerful on earth than Caesar.

No one more thoughtful, more

forgiving, more generous...

to those that show

him their allegiance.

He's only a man, not a god.

The words you speak are

akin to treason against Rome.

There are no traitors

in my house.

Caesar is Lord.

Now, my naive lad,

what will it be?

I certainly don't see

your true god anywhere.

Germanicus!

My son.

Here.

I, ah...

heard about Cicero today.

You gave good counsel.

Yeah, when pressed

I turned and ran...

ashamed to stand for my Lord.

I thought I was strong enough

to withstand adversity.

We are weak.

In our own strength, we fail.

It is only by God's grace

that we can

do that which does not

come to us naturally.

I don't deserve his grace.

None of us do.

That's why it's grace.

Peter denied our Lord three

times the day of his trial,

yet God used him mightily.

I, um...

I often struggle with fear.

You?

You struggle with fear?

Why do you think I speak

so much of God's grace?

Why do you think I speak

so much of God's love?

I don't know.

Because perfect love

casts out fear.

My weakness is a

constant reminder to me...

of my continual need

to rely on Christ.

Why don't we pray?

He wants to hear from you.

Why do you not act like

you're worshiping Caesar?

When I was a slave,

I had to act all the time.

I would not have

others mistake...

my acting as

true devotion to another.

We are to share God

with others, not hide him.

It's easier said than done.

Therefore gird up your loins.

Serve the Lord

in fear and truth.

Stop listening to the empty,

frivolous chatter of the crowd.

Believe in him who raised

Jesus from the dead

and gave him glory and a

throne at his right hand.

Do you claim your god

to be greater than Caesar?

Who created the heavens

and the earth but God?

And who rose from the

dead but Jesus Christ?

Believe him, and do his will,

and keep his commandments,

and love what he loves.

Blessed are you

poor and persecuted

for righteousness' sake.

Yours is the kingdom of God.

You should just arrest him now.

He only speaks his mind.

He's harmless.

I doubt the

Proconsul would see it as such.

In Rome they are

crucifying these types...

or feeding them to the lions.

Perhaps we should do the same.

The world is heavy

when you carry it

on your shoulders, child.

Hm.

It's nothing.

Life is just so confusing.

Truth is often simpler

than one might believe.

They intend to kill you!

Well, there have

always been rumors.

It's not a rumor.

I overheard the soldiers myself.

Well... if that is so...

then I shall be

given a great honor.

Honor?

To share in the

sufferings of Christ.

I must go speak to Justin.

Perhaps you should

take Anna with you.

She hasn't spoken all morning.

Pray God gives me

words to speak.

I will.

Anna, come with me.

It is clear than we

cannot deny our faith.

But must we go out of

our way to make trouble?

Polycarp must heed his

conscience before God.

We all must.

What if it's too dangerous?

Surely he would not want

Polycarp to be killed?

Pray that Quadratus will

listen, that he might relent.

And if he does not,

we must be ready.

Anna.

I would like you

to purchase another

loaf for the evening meal.

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