Chapter IX.—Reference to the history of Christ. 70 Stop your ears, therefore, when any one speaks to you at variance with307 Jesus Christ, who was descended from David, and was also of Mary; who was truly born, and did eat and drink. He was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate; He was truly crucified, and [truly] died, in the sight of beings in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth. He was also truly raised from the dead, His Father quickening Him, even as after the same manner His Father will so raise up us who believe in Him by Christ Jesus, apart from whom we do not possess the true life. Stop your ears, therefore, when any one speaks to you at variance with308 Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was descended from David, and was also of Mary; who was truly begot- ten of God and of the Virgin, but not after the same manner. For indeed God and man are not the same. He truly assumed a body; for “the Word was made flesh,”309 and lived upon earth without sin. For says He, “Which of you convicteth me of sin?”310 He did in reality both eat and drink. He was crucified and died under Pontius Pilate. He really, and not merely in appearance, was crucified, and died, in the sight of beings in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth. By those in heaven I mean such as are possessed of incorporeal natures; by those on earth, the Jews and Romans, and such persons as were present at that time when the Lord was crucified; and by those under the earth, the multitude that arose along with the Lord. For says the Scripture, “Many bodies of the saints that slept arose,”311 their graves being opened. He descended, indeed, into Hades alone, but He arose accompanied by a multitude; and rent asunder that means312 of separation which had existed from the begin- ning of the world, and cast down its partition-wall. He also rose again in three days, the Father raising Him up; and after spending forty days with the apostles, He was received up to the Father, and “sat down at His right hand, expecting till His enemies are placed under His feet.”313 On the day of the preparation, then, at the third hour, He received the sentence from Pilate, the Father permitting that to happen; at the sixth hour He was crucified; at the ninth hour He gave up the ghost; and before sunset He was buried.314 During the Sabbath He continued under the earth in the tomb in which Joseph of Arimathæa had laid Him. At the dawning of the Lord’s day He arose from the dead, according to what was spoken by 307 Literally, “apart from.” 308 Literally, “apart from.” 309 John i. 14. 310 John viii. 46. 311 Matt. xxvii. 52. 312 Literally, “hedge,” or “fence.” 313 Heb. x. 12, 13. 314 Some read, “He was taken down from the cross, and laid in a new tomb.” Chapter IX.—Reference to the history of Christ. 191 Chapter IX.—Reference to the history of Christ.