Martyrdom of Polycarp 13

1As he said these things and much more, he was filled with courage and joy, and his face was full of grace. Far from falling in dismay at what was said to him, he astonished the proconsul. The proconsul sent his own herald to proclaim three times in the middle of the stadium, “Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian.” When the herald proclaimed this, the whole crowd of Gentiles and Jews living in Smyrna cried out with uncontrollable rage and a loud shout, “This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the destroyer of our gods, who teaches many not to sacrifice or worship.” As they said these things, they shouted loudly and asked Philip the Asiarch to release a lion on Polycarp. But he said that he was not permitted to do so, since he had brought the games to an end. Then they all agreed to shout that Polycarp should be burned alive. For the vision concerning his pillow had to be fulfilled. He had seen it on fire while he was praying, and he turned and said prophetically to the faithful who were with him, “I must be burned alive.”