God's Generals - Polycarp

POLYCARP (died 156AD)

Polycarp was born 69 years after Christ’s departure. He was the Bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp was ordained Bishop by Apostle John. Polycarp was a man of deep faith. He was the last of the three apostolic fathers. The heathens called him ‘the father of Christians, the destroyer of our gods.’

Polycarp wrote several letters to the Ephesians.

Polycarp’s persecutions started under the Emperor Antonius Pius. It was this time that eleven Christians were fed to the lions. After the death of the eleven Christians, the heathens began calling for the head of Polycarp.

When the soldiers arrived to arrest him, he served them with drink and food and excused himself for one hour to go and pray. He was later taken to the arena. As he entered the arena, a voice was heard from Heaven saying ‘Be strong Polycarp, and play the man’.

When he was asked to deny Christ, he replied ‘Eighty six years I have served him, and he has done me no wrong- how can I blaspheme my king who has saved me’?

Polycarp was then dragged into a burning fire and he declared ‘the one who gives me power to endure the fire will also give me the power to withstand the flames’. True to his words, the burning fire didn’t burn him. In the fire Polycarp lifted up his hands and continued praising God.

When the soldiers realized this, they pierced him in the heart.

That was how this God’s General achieved martyrdom and died as a true hero of faith.

Source: "70Great Christians" Geoffrey Hanks