May you be pardoned, Sir, and be forgiven, for you know not what you say, but obeying teachers who do not understand the Scriptures, and playing the oracle, you say whatever comes into your mind. But allow me to give you the information that we have not been led astray, and will not cease acknowledging Him, even though men’s reproaches be brought against us, and though the most terrible tyrant tries to compel us to disown Him. For if you will attend I will show you that we did not believe empty fables,2 Peter 1:16 or words that cannot be proved, but such as are full of the Divine Spirit, gushing forth with power, and teeming with grace.
They therefore that were with him laughed aloud again, and began to shout quite rudely. So I rose up and prepared to take my departure. But he took hold of my robe and said that I must not leave before I had fulfilled my promise. If so, I said, your companions must not make a disturbance, nor behave in so unseemly a fashion, but, if they like, let them listen quietly. But if they have any more important engagement that prevents their staying, let them depart. But as for us, let us withdraw to some spot where we may rest and finish our discussion.
It seemed well to Trypho also that we should do so, and we then turned aside and proceeded to the middle space of the Colonnade. But two of those that were with him, with some jokes, and some jests at our zeal, went away.
But when we were come to that place, where there are stone seats on other side, Trypho’s companies sat down opposite, and after one of them had made a remark about the war in Judaea, they conversed about it.