Both the things that happened yesterday and the day before in your city under Urbicus, O Romans, and the things everywhere likewise being done unreasonably by the governors, have compelled me to compose this arrangement of words on your behalf, since you are men of like nature and our brethren, even though you do not know it and are unwilling because of the glory of your supposed dignities. For everywhere, whoever is corrected by father or neighbor or child or friend or brother or husband or wife on account of a fault—except for those who are persuaded that the unjust and licentious will be punished in eternal fire, while the virtuous and those who have lived like Christ will dwell with God in freedom from suffering, that is, those who have become Christians—because of the difficulty of change, and the love of pleasure, and the reluctance to move toward what is good, the wicked demons too, being hostile to us and holding such judges under their hand and as servants, like rulers possessed by demons, prepare to put us to death. But that the cause of all that happened under Urbicus may become plain to you, I will report what has been done.