But when the most admirable Polycarp first heard about this, he was not troubled and wished to remain in the city. Most of the others, however, persuaded him to withdraw. So he withdrew to a small farm not far from the city and stayed there with a few companions, doing nothing night and day except praying for everyone and for the Churches throughout the world, as was his custom.
While praying, three days before his arrest, he had a vision and saw his pillow being consumed by fire. Turning to those with him, he said prophetically, “I must be burned alive.”