One of the most inspiring and interesting of the documents classed as the Apostolic Fathers, to me anyway, is that of The Martyrdom of Polycarp.

Several dates have been posited for Polycarp's martyrdom. One of the more probable dates is February 23. The years of 155 or 156 are typically suggested, though others have been put forth. Here's Erhman's translation of MPoly 21.1:

But the blessed Polycarp bore his witness unto death on the second day of the new month of Xanthikos, February 23, on a great Sabbath, at 2:00 in the afternoon. But he was arrested by Herod while Philip of Tralles was high priest, Statius Quadratus was proconsul, and Jesus Christ was ruling as king forever. To him be the glory, honor, greatness, and eternal throne, from one generation to the next. Amen.

If you've not read the account of Polycarp's martyrdom, by all means please do. It is best in a responsible modern edition; for sheer reading pleasure I like Ehrman's translation. It isn't stilted or archaic but still conveys the basic meaning of the Greek (for the most part). It isn't freely available, however. If you don't have access to Ehrman's Loeb edition, then head to Early Christian Writings and check out a few of the copies in the public domain.

There are some fantastic (in all senses of the word) images in the document. My favorite parts have to be the exchanges between the proconsul and Polycarp. Below is one of my favorite points in the narrative:

When he was brought forward the proconsul began trying to persuade him to make a denial, saying, "Have respect for your age," along with other things related to what they customarily say: "Swear by the Fortune of Caesar, repent, and say 'Away with the athiests.' " But Polycarp looked with a stern face at the entire crowd of lawless Gentiles in the stadium; and gesturing up to them with his hand, he sighed, looked up to heaven, and said, "Away with the athiests." The proconsul became more insistent and said, "Take the oath and I will release you. Revile Christ." But Polycarp responded, "For eighty-six years I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who has saved me.?" (MPoly 9.2-3)

The image here always makes me smile. The Romans considered Christians "atheists" because Christians didn't believe in the pantheon of gods (let alone any deification of Caesar). So when the proconsul asks Polycarp to say "away with the athiests", it amounts to a denial of Christ and revulsion of his brothers and sisters in Christ. Polycarp looks at the crowd and calls everyone else there an "atheist" (more along the lines of our usage of the word), turning the proconsul's words against him. And Polycarp's simple statement of faith at the end of the passage is encouraging and challenging. Here's another excerpt (immediately following the above in the narrative):

When the proconsul persisted and said, "Swear by the Fortune of Caesar," Polycarp answered, "If you are so foolish as to think that I will swear by the Fortune of Caesar, as you say, and if you pretend not to know who I am, listen closely: I am a Christian. But if you wish to learn an account of Christianity, appoint a day and listen." The proconsul replied, "Persuade the people." Polycarp said, "I think you deserve an account, for we are taught to render all due honor to rulers and authorities appointed by God, in so far as it does us no harm. But as to those [the crowd] I do not consider them worthy to hear a reasoned defense." (MPoly 10.1-2)

Again, Polycarp's wit and approach (remember, he's at least 86 years old here) make me smile when I read the account.

If you've never read this, do yourself a favor and sit down sometime today or tomorrow and give the Martydom of Polycarp a read. If you read an older public domain edition, give yourself some extra time to work through the stilted nature of the narrative.