Further fulfilled prophecies

Hear also how it was foretold that, after being born, Christ would remain unnoticed by other people until he had grown to manhood, which is what happened. The predictions are these: “A child has been born to us, and a young man has been given to us, whose rule is upon his shoulders.” This signified the power of the cross, to which he applied his shoulders when he was crucified, as will be shown more clearly as the argument proceeds.

Again, the same prophet Isaiah, inspired by the prophetic Spirit, said: “I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contradicting people, to those who walk in a way that is not good. They now ask me for judgment and dare to draw near to God.” And again, in other words through another prophet, he says: “They dug through my hands and my feet, and they cast lots for my clothing.”

David, the king and prophet who said these things, suffered none of them. But Jesus Christ stretched out his hands when he was crucified by the Jews who opposed him and said that he was not the Christ. For, as the prophet said, they mocked him, seated him on a judgment seat, and said, “Judge us.” The words “They dug through my hands and my feet” were an explanation of the nails of the cross that were driven into his hands and feet. And after crucifying him, they cast lots for his clothing, and those who crucified him divided it among themselves. That these things happened you can learn from the records made under Pontius Pilate.

And to show that it was expressly prophesied that he would sit upon the colt of a donkey and enter Jerusalem, we will give the words of the prophecy of another prophet, Zephaniah: “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion; proclaim it, daughter of Jerusalem. Look, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a colt, a donkey, the foal of a beast of burden.”