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The holy confessors were indeed arrested on February 23. After a brief interrogation they were dragged off by Polemon, the chief priest of the [[Paganism|pagans]], in order to sacrifice to the idols and eat forbidden foods.
Early in the morning, after they had partaken of the Holy Bread (probably the [[Eucharist]]) and of water, they were conducted to the forum. The place was thronged with Greeks and Jews, for it was a great [[Sabbath]] and therefore a general holiday in the city — an indication of the importance of the Jews in Smyrna. St Pionius addressed the people, chiding them for laughing and rejoicing at [[w:Lapsi (Christianity)|those Christians who had agreed to offer sacrifice]]. He quoted [[w:Homer|Homer ]] to the pagans (''Odyssey'' 22, 412) and said that it was shameful to gloat over those who were about to die. He reminded the Jews in the audience of the words of Solomon: ''"If your enemy falls, do not rejoice over him, and do not be glad when he stumbles"'' (Proverbs 24:17).<ref group="note">"It is interesting to note that Den Boeft and Bremmer (1985, p.117) suggest that the Martyrdom of Pionius implies that pagan listeners to Pionius in Smyrna would have known who [[Noah]] was and would have had a considerable knowledge of [[Judaism]]."<br>
:* {Paul R. Trebilco. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=K6zGTrwzO6AC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Jewish communities in Asia Minor].'' Cambridge University Press, 1991. p.227.}</ref>