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“And being come about evening [to the place where he was], they found him lying down in the upper room of433 a certain little house, from which he might have escaped into another place; but he refused, saying, “The will of God434 be done.��435 So when he heard that they were come, he went down and spake with them. And as those that were present marvelled at his age and constancy, some of them said. “Was so much effort436 made to capture such a venerable man?��437 Immediately then, in that very hour, he ordered that something to eat and drink should be set before them, as much indeed as they cared for, while he besought them to allow him an hour to pray without disturbance. And on their giving him leave, he stood and prayed, being full of the grace of God, so that he could not cease438 for two full hours, to the astonishment of them that heard him, insomuch that many began to repent that they had come forth against so godly and venerable an old man.”
― Polycarp, Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians & His Martyrdom

“And when the proconsul yet again pressed him, and said, “Swear by the fortune of Cæsar,�� he answered, “Since thou art vainly urgent that, as thou sayest, I should swear by the fortune of Cæsar, and pretendest not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn what the doctrines446 of Christianity are, appoint me a day, and thou shalt hear them.�� The proconsul replied, “Persuade the people.�� But Polycarp said, “To thee I have thought it right to offer an account [of my faith]; for we are taught to give all due honour (which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and authorities which are ordained of God.447 But as for these, I do not deem them worthy of receiving any account from me.��448”
― Polycarp, Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians & His Martyrdom