Emperor of [the] Romans, who was noble and a hater of iniquity, and just, to such an extent that once, after exercising, he gave his sword to his lieutenant in the presence of the members of his inner circle, saying; "Receive this sword. If I am good, [use it] on my behalf; if not, use it against me."[1]
This man provided a certain relief for the Christians from persecution; for those who took the opportunity to purchase official positions under the Romans in the service of the emperors of that time were imposing discriminatory punishments on the Christians. Hence also Tiberianus, governing the first tribe of the Palestinians, mentioned this to him, saying that it is not enough to kill the Christians henceforth, since those people willingly bring themselves to this punishment. Accordingly Trajan at once forbade all the people under him from taking vengeance on these [Christians].[2]