The President said: “Is there, then, another law besides this, thou wicked wretch?”
Tharacus answered: “Your law commands to worship wood, stone, and the work of man.”
Tharacus put to the rack.—The Proconsul or President then said to his hangmen: “Smite him on the neck, and tell him not to speak such folly.”
While they were beating Tharacus, he said: “I shall by no means abandon this confession, which saves me.”
The Proconsul said: “I shall make thee forsake this folly, and be more prudent.”
Tharacus answered: “Do what thou wilt; thou hast full power over my body.”
Maximus, the Proconsul, said to his servants: “Strip him, and scourge him with rods.”
Tharacus answered, as he was scourged: “Truly, thou hast made me more prudent, since by these stripes thou strengthenest me more and more in my confidence in God and his Anointed, Jesus Christ, who is his Son.”
The President said: “Thou accursed and unrighteous fellow! how canst thou serve two gods at once. See, now thou dost certainly confess more than one god. Why then, deniest thou those whom we worship? Dost thou not confess Christ and the Lord?”
Tharacus answered: “Yea, I do; for he is the Son of God, the hope of all Christians, for whose sake we are wounded, and healed.”