But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
Ver. 22. Everywhere it is spoken against] Nomen in Christianis damnabatur, non crimen, saith Tertullian. When Attalus the martyr was put to death at Lyons, a table was set up over his head with this inscription, Hic est Attalus Christianus, This is Attalus the Christian; that was all they had to charge him with. So when Polycarp was martyred, all the crime objected against him was that he confessed himself to be a Christian. Nero made this cruel edict, Whosoever confessed himself to be a Christian, let him be presently put to death without any more ado, as a convicted enemy of mankind. a
a Sine ulteriore sui defensione capite plectitur.