The Martyrdom of Polycarp

Immediately therefore, he was fastened to the instruments which had been prepared for the fire, but when they were going to nail him as well he said: Leave me thus, for He who gives me power to endure the fire, will grant me to remain in the flames unmoved even without the security you will give by the nails.

So they did not nail him, but bound him, and he[*](His last prayers) put his hands behind him and was bound, as a noble ram out of a great flock, for an oblation, a whole burnt offering made ready and acceptable to God; and he looked up to heaven and said: O Lord God Almighty, Father of thy beloved and blessed Child,[*](This use of παῖς as applied to Jesus is rare, and usually found in prayers; cf. Ep. ad Diogn. viii. 9. 11, ix. 1, Didache 9, 2, I Clement 59, 2 (the Prayer), and Acts 3, 13. 26. 4, 27. 30. Here it is clearly Child: in Acts it may mean Servant with reference to Is. 53, etc.) Jesus Christ, through Whom we have received full knowledge of thee, the God of Angels and powers, and of all creation, and of the whole family of the righteous, who live before thee!