# Martyrdom of Justin, Chariton and Companions (Acts of Justin, recension B)

- Author: Anonymous
- Latin title: *Martyrium Iustini et sociorum*
- Date: ca. 165 (approximate)
- Source: Oscar von Gebhardt, ed., Ausgewählte Märtyrerakten (Berlin: Karl Curtius, 1902), item III, pp. 18–21 (OCR made for this site)

- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-justini/
- Passages: 7

## Martyrdom of Justin, Chariton and Companions (Acts of Justin, recension B) (title)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-justini/0/#p-0
- Source: Gebhardt, 18
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Title of the account.

### Greek text

Μαρτύριον τῶν ἁγίων μαρτύρων ᾿Ιουστίνου, Χαρίτωνος, Χαριτοῦς, Εὐελπέστου, Ἱέρακος, Παίωνος καὶ Λιβεριανοῦ, μαρτυρησάντων ἐν “Ρώμῃ.

### English translation (Claude)

Martyrdom of the holy martyrs Justin, Chariton, Charito, Euelpistus, Hierax, Paeon, and Liberian, who bore witness in Rome.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. pref. (Gebhardt, 18; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-justini/0).

## Martyrdom of Justin, Chariton and Companions (Acts of Justin, recension B) 1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-justini/0/#p-1
- Source: Gebhardt, 18
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Christians are arrested and brought before Rusticus, prefect of Rome.

### Greek text

Ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τῶν ἀνόμων ὑπερμάχων τῆς εἰδωλολατρείας προστάγματα ἀσεβῆ κατὰ τῶν εὐσεβούντων “Χριστιανῶν κατὰ πόλιν xci χώραν ἐξετίϑετο, ὥστε αὐτοὺς ἀναγκάζεσθαι σπένδειν τοῖς ματαίοις εἰδώλοις. συλληφϑέντες οὖν οἱ ἅγιοι ἄνδρες εἰσήχϑησαν πρὸς τὸν τῆς Ῥώμης ἔπαρχον ὀνόματι Ῥουστιχόν.

### English translation (Claude)

In the time of the lawless champions of idolatry, impious decrees were posted in city and countryside against the godly Christians, to compel them to pour libations to the vain idols. So the holy men were arrested and brought before the prefect of Rome, named Rusticus.

### Translation notes

- Q. Junius Rusticus was prefect of the city ca. 162–168.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 1 (Gebhardt, 18; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-justini/1).

## Martyrdom of Justin, Chariton and Companions (Acts of Justin, recension B) 2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-justini/0/#p-2
- Source: Gebhardt, 18
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Justin states the Christian belief in one Creator and in Christ foretold by the prophets.

### Greek text

Ὧν εἰσαχϑέντων πρὸ τοῦ βήματος Ῥουστικὸς ὁ ἔπαρχος εἶπε πρὸς Ἰουστῖνον᾽ Πρῶτον πείσϑητι τοῖς ϑεοῖς καὶ ὑπάκουσον τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν. Ἰουστῖνος εἶπεν" ἄμεμπτον xoi ἀκατάγνωστον τὸ πείϑεσϑαι τοῖς προσταχ- ϑεῖσιν ὑπὸ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ῥουστιχὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπε· Ποίους λόγους μεταχειρίζεις; Ἰουστῖνος εἶπε· Πάντας μὲν λόγους ἐπειράϑην μαϑεῖν, συνεϑέμην δὲ τοῖς ἀληϑέσι λόγοις τοῖς τῶν Χριστιανῶν, κἂν μὴ ἀρέσκωσι τοῖς ψευδοδόξοις. ἹΡουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπεν" ᾿Εκεῖνοί σε ἀρέσκουσιν οἱ λόγοι, πανάϑλιε: Ἰουστῖνος εἶπενʼ Ναί, ἐπειδὴ μετὰ δόγματος ὀρϑοῦ ἕπομαι αὐτούς. ῬῬουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπε· Ποῖόν ἐστι δόγμα; Ἰουστῖνος εἶπεν· Ὅπερ εὐσεβοῦμεν εἰς τὸν τῶν Χριστιανῶν ϑεόν, ὃν ἡγούμεϑα ἕνα τοῦτον ἐξ ἀρχῆς ποιητὴν xai δημιουργὸν τῆς πάσης κτίσεως, ὁρατῆς vs xoi ἀοράτου, καὶ κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν παῖδα ϑεοῦ, ὃς καὶ προχεκήρυχται ὑπὸ τῶν προφητῶν μέλλων παραγίνεσθαι τῷ γένει τῶν ἀνθρώπων σωτηρίας κήρυξ xai διδάσχαλος καλῶν μαϑημάτων. χἀγὼ ἄνθρωπος ὢν μικρὰ νομίζω λέγειν πρὸς τὴν αὐτοῦ ἄπειρον ϑεότητα, προφητικήν τινα δύναμιν ὁμολογῶν. ἐπεὶ προκεκήρυκται περὶ τούτου ὃν ἔφην νῦν ϑεοῦ υἱὸν ὄντα. οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι ἄνωϑεν προεῖπον οἱ προφῆται περὶ τῆς τούτου παρουσίας γενομένης ἐν ἀνϑρώποις.

### English translation (Claude)

When they had been brought before the tribunal, Rusticus the prefect said to Justin, “First of all, obey the gods and submit to the emperors.” Justin said, “To obey the commands of our Savior Jesus Christ is not blameworthy or deserving of condemnation.” Rusticus the prefect said, “What doctrines do you profess?” Justin said, “I have tried to learn all doctrines, but I have given my assent to the true doctrines of the Christians, even if they do not please those who hold false opinions.” Rusticus the prefect said, “So those doctrines please you, you utter wretch?” Justin said, “Yes, since I follow them with right belief.” Rusticus the prefect said, “What belief is that?” Justin said, “That which we hold with reverence concerning the God of the Christians, whom we consider to be one, from the beginning the maker and fashioner of the whole creation, visible and invisible; and concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, the Servant of God, who was also proclaimed beforehand by the prophets as one who would come to the human race as a herald of salvation and teacher of good lessons. And I, being a man, think that what I say is little compared with his infinite divinity; I acknowledge a certain prophetic power, since it was proclaimed beforehand concerning this one, whom I have just said to be the Son of God. For I know that from of old the prophets foretold his coming among men.”

### Scripture references

- Col 1:16: echo, medium confidence
- Acts 3:13: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “Servant” (παῖς) may also mean “Child.” For “visible and invisible” cf. Col 1:16.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 2 (Gebhardt, 18; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-justini/2).

## Martyrdom of Justin, Chariton and Companions (Acts of Justin, recension B) 3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-justini/0/#p-3
- Source: Gebhardt, 19
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Justin says God is not bound to a place and describes where he teaches.

### Greek text

Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπε: Ποῦ συνέρχεσϑε; Ἰουστῖνος εἶπεν. Ἔνϑα ἑκάστῳ προαίρεσις καὶ δύναμίς ἐστι. πάντως γὰρ νομίζεις ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ συνέρχεσθαι ἡμᾶς πάντας: οὐχ οὕτως δέ" διότι ὁ ϑεὸς τῶν Χριστιὰνῶν τόπῳ οὐ περιγράφεται, ἀλλὰ ἀόρατος ὧν τὸν οὐρανὸν xai τὴν γἣν πληροῖ καὶ πανταχοῦ ὑπὸ τῶν πιστῶν προσκυνεῖται καὶ δοξάζεται. Ρουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπεν" Εἰπέ, ποῦ συνέρχεσθε ἢ εἰς ποῖον τόπον ἀϑροίζεις τοὺς μαϑητάς σου; Ἰουστῖνος εἶπεν· Ἐγὼ ἐπάνω μένω τινὸς Μαρτίνου τοῦ Τιμοϑίνου βαλανείου καὶ παρὰ πάντα τὸν χρόνον τοῦτον (ἐπεδήμησα δὲ τῇ Ῥωμαίων πόλει τοῦτο δεύτερον) [xai] οὐ γινώσκων ἄλλην τινὰ συνέλευσιν εἰ μὴ τὴν ἐχείνου. καὶ εἴ τις ἐβούλετο ἀφικνεῖσθαι παρ᾽ ἐμοί, ἐκοινώνουν αὐτῷ τῶν τῆς ἀληϑείας λόγων. Ῥουστικὸς εἶπεν· Οὐκοῦν λοιπὸν Χριστιανὸς εἶ; Ἰουστῖνος εἶπεν" Ναί, Χριστιανός εἶμι.

### English translation (Claude)

Rusticus the prefect said, “Where do you assemble?” Justin said, “Wherever each one chooses and is able. Do you really suppose that we all meet in the same place? It is not so; for the God of the Christians is not confined by place, but, being invisible, he fills heaven and earth and is worshipped and glorified everywhere by the faithful.” Rusticus the prefect said, “Tell me, where do you meet, or in what place do you gather your disciples?” Justin said, “I live above a certain Martinus, at the bath of Timothinus, and for this whole time (this is my second stay in the city of Rome) I have known no other meeting place but his. And if anyone wished to come to me, I shared with him the words of truth.” Rusticus said, “So then, you are a Christian?” Justin said, “Yes, I am a Christian.”

### Scripture references

- Jer 23:24: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- The editor deletes a superfluous “and” before “I have known.” The names of the house-owner and the bath vary in the manuscripts. For God filling heaven and earth cf. Jer 23:24.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 3 (Gebhardt, 19; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-justini/3).

## Martyrdom of Justin, Chariton and Companions (Acts of Justin, recension B) 4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-justini/0/#p-4
- Source: Gebhardt, 19
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Justin's companions confess one by one.

### Greek text

Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος τῷ Χαρίτωνι εἶπεν: Ἔτι εἶπέ, Χάριτον, καὶ σὺ Χριστιανὸς εἶ; Χαρίτων εἶπε· Χριστιανός εἰμι ϑεοῦ χελεύσει. Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος πρὸς τὴν Χαριτὼ sime Σὺ τί λέγεις, Χαριτοῖ; Χαριτὼ εἶπε" Χριστιανή εἰμι τῇ τοῦ ϑεοῦ δωρεᾷ. Ῥουστικὸς εἶπε τῷ Εὐελπίστῳʼ Σὺ δὲ τίς εἶ; Εὐέλπιστος, δοῦλος Καίσαρος, ἀπεχρίνατο᾽ κἀγὼ Χριστιανός εἰμι, ἐλευϑερωϑεὶς ὑπὸ Χριστοῦ, καὶ τῆς αὐτῆς ἐλπίδος μετέχω χάριτε Χριστοῦ. Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος τῷ Ἱέρακι εἶπε" Καὶ σὺ Χριστιανὸς εἶ; “Ιέραξ εἶπεν. Ναί, Χριστιανός εἰμιʼ τὸν γὰρ αὐτὸν ϑεὸν σέβομαν xoi προσκυνῶ. Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπεν" ᾿Ιουστῖνος ὑμᾶς ἐποίησε Χριστιανούς: Ἱέραξ εἶπεν. "Ἤμην Χριστιανὸς καὶ ἔσομαι. Παίων δὲ ἑστὼς sine: Κἀγὼ Χριστιανός εἶμι. Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπε: Τίς ὁ διδάξας σε; Παίων εἶπεν· Ἀπὸ τῶν γονέων παρειλήφαμεν τὴν καλὴν ταύτην ὁμολογίαν. Εὐέλπιστος εἶπεν" ᾿Ιουστίνου μὲν ἡδέως ἤκουον τῶν λόγων, παρὰ τῶν γονέων δὲ χἀγὼ παρείληφα Χριστιανὸς εἶναι. Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπε" Ποῦ εἰσιν οἱ γονεῖς σου; Εὐέλπιστος εἶπεν" Ἔν τῇ Καππαδοκίᾳ. Ῥουστικὸς τῷ Ἱέρακι λέγει" Οἱ σοὶ γονεῖς ποῦ εἰσιν; ὁ δὲ ἀπεχρίνατο λέγων" 'O ἀληϑινὸς ἡμῶν πατήρ ἔστιν ὁ Χριστός, καὶ μήτηρ ἡ sig αὐτὸν πίστις" οἱ δὲ ἐπίγειοί μου γονεῖς ἐτελεύτησαν, καὶ ἐγὼ ἀπὸ Ἰχονίου τῆς Φρυγίας ἀποσπασϑεὶς ἐνθάδε ἐλήλυϑα. Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπε Λιβεριανῷ· Τί καὶ σὺ λέγεις; Χριστιανὸς εἶ, οὐδὲ σὺ εὐσεβεῖς; Λιβεριανὸς εἶπε" Κἀγὼ Χριστιανός εἶμι: εὐσεβῶ γὰρ καὶ προσχυνῶ τὸν μόνον ἀληϑινὸν ϑεόν.

### English translation (Claude)

Rusticus the prefect said to Chariton, “Tell me further, Chariton, are you too a Christian?” Chariton said, “I am a Christian by God's command.” Rusticus the prefect said to Charito, “What do you say, Charito?” Charito said, “I am a Christian by the gift of God.” Rusticus said to Euelpistus, “And who are you?” Euelpistus, a slave of Caesar, answered, “I too am a Christian, set free by Christ, and by the grace of Christ I share in the same hope.” Rusticus the prefect said to Hierax, “Are you a Christian too?” Hierax said, “Yes, I am a Christian; for I revere and worship the same God.” Rusticus the prefect said, “Did Justin make you Christians?” Hierax said, “I was a Christian, and I will be one.” Paeon, standing by, said, “I too am a Christian.” Rusticus the prefect said, “Who taught you?” Paeon said, “We received this good confession from our parents.” Euelpistus said, “I listened gladly to Justin's words, but I too received it from my parents to be a Christian.” Rusticus the prefect said, “Where are your parents?” Euelpistus said, “In Cappadocia.” Rusticus said to Hierax, “Where are your parents?” He answered, “Our true father is Christ, and our mother is faith in him. My earthly parents have died, and I have come here, having been dragged away from Iconium in Phrygia.” Rusticus the prefect said to Liberian, “And what do you say? Are you a Christian, and not devout either?” Liberian said, “I too am a Christian; for I am devout and worship the only true God.”

### Translation notes

- Gebhardt's subsection numbers inside the chapter, garbled by the OCR, are removed.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 4 (Gebhardt, 19; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-justini/4).

## Martyrdom of Justin, Chariton and Companions (Acts of Justin, recension B) 5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-justini/0/#p-5
- Source: Gebhardt, 20
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Justin hopes for heavenly reward; all refuse to sacrifice and are condemned.

### Greek text

Ὁ ἔπαρχος λέγει πρὸς τὸν Ἰουστῖνον· Ἄκουε, ὁ λεγόμενος λόγιος καὶ νομίζων ἀληϑινοὺς εἰδέναι λόγους. ἐὰν μαστιγωθεὶς ἀποχεφαλισϑῆς, πέπεισαι ὅτε μέλλεις ἀναβαίνειν εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν; Ἰουστῖνος εἶπεν. Ἐλπίζω ἕξειν αὐτοῦ τὰ δώματα, ἐὰν ὑπομείνω ταῦτα. οἶδα. γὰρ πᾶσι τοῖς οὕτω βιώσασι παραμένειν τὸ ϑεῖον χάρισμα μέχρι τῆς ἐκπληρώσεως τοῦ παντὸς κόσμου. ὁ Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπε: Σὺ οὖν ὑπονοεῖς ὅτε ἀναβήση εἰς τοὺς οὐρανούς, ἀμοιβάς τινας ἀποληψόμενος; ᾿Ιουστῖνος εἶπεν Οὐχ ὑπονοῶ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίσταμαι καὶ πεπληροφόρημαι. Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπε· Τὸ λοιπὸν ἔλθωμεν εἰς τὸ προκείμενον καὶ κατεπεῖγον πρᾶγμα. Συνελθόντες οὖν ὁμοϑυμαδὸν ϑύσατε τοῖς ϑεοῖς. Ἰουστῖνος εἶπεν· Οὐδεὶς εὖ φρονῶν ἀπὸ εὐσεβείας εἰς ἀσέβειαν μεταπίπτει. Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος εἶπεν· Εἰ μὴ πείϑεσϑε, τιμωρηϑήσεσϑε ἀνηλεῶς. Ἰουστῖνος εἶπε· Δι᾽ εὐχῆς ἔχομεν διὰ τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ᾿Ιησοῦν Χριστὸν τιμωρηϑέντες σωθῆναι, ὅτι τοῦτο ἡμῖν σωτηρία καὶ παρρησία γενήσεται ἐπὶ τοῦ φοβερωτέρου καὶ παγκοσμίου βήματος τοῦ δεσπότου ἡμῶν καὶ σωτῆρος. ὡσαύτως δὲ xai οἱ λοιποὶ μάρτυρες εἶπον. Ποίει ὃ ϑέλεις. ἡμεῖς γὰρ «Χριστιανοί ἐσμεν καὶ εἰδώλοις οὐ ϑύομεν. Ῥουστικὸς ἔπαρχος ἀπεφήνατο λέγων: Οἱ μὴ βουληϑέντες ϑῦσαι τοῖς ϑεοῖς καὶ εἶξαι τῷ τοῦ αὐτοχράτορος προστάγματε μαστιγωθϑέντες ἀπαχϑήτωσαν, κεφαλικὴν ἀποτιννύντες δίχην κατὰ τὴν τῶν νόμων ἀκολουϑίαν.

### English translation (Claude)

The prefect said to Justin, “Listen, you who are called learned and think you know true doctrines: if you are scourged and beheaded, are you persuaded that you will go up into heaven?” Justin said, “I hope to have his gifts if I endure these things. For I know that the divine gift remains for all who have lived so, until the consummation of the whole world.” Rusticus the prefect said, “Do you suppose, then, that you will go up into heaven to receive some rewards?” Justin said, “I do not suppose it; I know it and am fully assured of it.” Rusticus the prefect said, “Now let us come to the matter before us, which presses. Come together, then, and sacrifice with one accord to the gods.” Justin said, “No one in his right mind falls away from godliness to ungodliness.” Rusticus the prefect said, “If you do not obey, you will be punished without mercy.” Justin said, “It is our prayer to be saved through being punished for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, because this will be salvation and confidence for us at the more fearful tribunal of our Master and Savior, before which the whole world must stand.” In the same way the other martyrs also said, “Do what you wish; for we are Christians and do not sacrifice to idols.” Rusticus the prefect pronounced sentence, saying, “Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and to yield to the emperor's command be scourged and led away, paying the penalty of death in accordance with the laws.”

### Scripture references

- 2 Cor 5:10: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “Gifts”: the staged text has δώματα (“dwellings”), probably a misreading of δόματα; translated as “gifts.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 5 (Gebhardt, 20; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-justini/5).

## Martyrdom of Justin, Chariton and Companions (Acts of Justin, recension B) 6

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-justini/0/#p-6
- Source: Gebhardt, 21
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The martyrs are beheaded and secretly buried.

### Greek text

Οἱ ἅγιοι μάρτυρες δοξασϑέντες τὸν ϑεόν, ἐξελθόντες ἐπὶ τὸν συνήϑη τόπον ἀπετμήϑησαν τὰς κεφαλάς, καὶ ἐτελείωσαν αὐτὼν τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἐν τῇ τοῦ σωτῆρος ὁμολογίᾳ. τινὲς δὲ τῶν πιστῶν λαϑραίως αὐτῶν τὰ σώματα λαβόντες κατέϑεντο ἐν τόπῳ ἐπιτηδείῳ, συνεργασάσης αὐτοῖς τῆς χάριτος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, ἀμήν.

### English translation (Claude)

The holy martyrs, glorifying God, went out to the customary place, were beheaded, and completed their witness in the confession of the Savior. And some of the faithful secretly took their bodies and laid them in a suitable place, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ working with them; to whom be the glory to the ages of ages. Amen.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 6 (Gebhardt, 21; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-justini/6).