Christ’s Death and Resurrection
Justin Martyr, First Apology 38
When the prophetic Spirit speaks from the person of Christ, it declares: "I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people, to those walking in a way that is not good." (Isaiah 65:2) And again it says: "I offered my back to beatings and my cheeks to slaps; I did not hide my face from the shame of spitting." (Isaiah 50:6) "The Lord became my helper; therefore I was not disgraced. I set my face like a flint, and I knew that I would not be put to shame, because the one who vindicates me is near." (Isaiah 50:7–8) And again when it says: "They cast lots for my clothing, and they pierced my feet and hands. But I lay down and slept, and I rose again, because the Lord sustained me." (Psalm 22:18; Psalm 3:5) And again when it says: "They opened their lips, they shook their heads, saying: 'Let him save himself.'" (Psalm 22:7) You can learn that all these things happened to Christ at the hands of the Jews. For when he was crucified, they curled their lips and shook their heads, saying: 'The one who raised the dead, let him save himself.' (Matthew 27:39–43)
Greek
Ὅταν δὲ ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Χριστοῦ λέγῃ τὸ προφητικὸν πνεῦμα, οὕτως φθέγγεται· „Ἐγὼ ἐξεπέτασα τὰς χεῖράς μου ἐπὶ λαὸν ἀπειθοῦντα καὶ ἀντιλέγοντα, ἐπὶ τοὺς πορευομένους ἐν ὁδῷ οὐ καλῇ“. Καὶ πάλιν· „Τὸν νῶτόν μου τέθεικα εἰς μάστιγας καὶ τὰς σιαγόνας μου εἰς ῥαπίσματα, τὸ δὲ πρόσωπόν μου οὐκ ἀπέστρεψα ἀπὸ αἰσχύνης ἐμπτυσμάτων. Καὶ ὁ κύριος βοηθός μου ἐγένετο· διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐνετράπην, ἀλλ᾿ ἔθηκα τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ὡς στερεὰν πέτραν, καὶ ἔγνων, ὅτι οὐ μὴ αἰσχυνθῶ, ὅτι ἐγγίζει ὁ δικαιώσας με“. Καὶ πάλιν ὅταν λέγῃ· „Αὐτοὶ ἔβαλον κλῆρον ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου, καὶ ὤρυξάν μου πόδας καὶ χεῖρας. Ἐγὼ δὲ ἐκοιμήθην καὶ ὕπνωσα, καὶ ἀνέστην, ὅτι κύριος ἀντελάβετό μου“. Καὶ πάλιν ὅταν λέγῃ· „Ἐλάλησαν ἐν χείλεσιν, ἐκίνησαν κεφαλὴν λέγοντες· Ῥυσάσθω ἑαυτόν“. Ἅτινα πάντα ὅτι γέγονεν ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων τῷ Χριστῷ, μαθεῖν δύνασθε. Σταυρωθέντος γὰρ αὐτοῦ ἐξέστρεφον τὰ χείλη καὶ ἐκίνουν τὰς κεφαλὰς λέγοντες· „Ὁ νεκροὺς ἀνεγείρας ῥυσάσθω ἑαυτόν“.