First Apology 35

And hear what was foretold on this point, how Christ after his birth was to be hidden from other people until he grew to manhood, which also came to pass. These are the words: “A child has been born to us, and a young man has been given to us, whose government is upon his shoulders”; which indicated the power of the cross, to which he applied his shoulders when he was crucified, as will be shown more clearly as the argument proceeds. And again the same prophet Isaiah, inspired by the prophetic Spirit, said, “I have spread out my hands to a disobedient and contradicting people, to those who walk in a way that is not good. They now ask of me judgment, and dare to draw near to God.” And again in other words, through another prophet, he says: “They pierced my feet and hands, and cast lots for my clothing.” And David, the king and prophet, who said these things, suffered none of them; but Jesus Christ stretched out his hands, being crucified by the Jews who contradicted him and said that he was not the Christ; and indeed, as the prophet said, they mocked him and set him on the judgment seat and said, “Judge us.” And “They pierced my hands and feet” was a description of the nails fixed in his hands and feet on the cross. And after they crucified him they cast lots for his clothing, and those who crucified him divided it among themselves. And that these things happened you can learn from the Acts drawn up under Pontius Pilate. And that it was expressly foretold that he would sit on the foal of an ass and enter Jerusalem, we will cite the words of the prophecy of another prophet, Zephaniah. They are these: “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion; proclaim, daughter of Jerusalem; behold, your king comes to you, gentle, riding on an ass and a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”