First Apology 49

And again how it was said through the same Isaiah that the peoples of the Gentiles, who did not expect him, would worship him, but the Jews, who always expected him, would not recognize him when he came; and the words were spoken as from the person of Christ himself. They are these: “I was made manifest to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me; I said, Behold, here I am, to a nation that did not call on my name. I spread out my hands to a disobedient and contradicting people, to those who walk in a way that is not good, but after their sins; the people that provokes me to my face.” For the Jews, having the prophecies and always expecting Christ, did not recognize him when he came, and not only so, but also mistreated him; while those from the Gentiles, who had never heard anything about Christ until his apostles, going out from Jerusalem, made known the things about him and handed over the prophecies, filled with joy and faith, renounced the idols and dedicated themselves to the unbegotten God through Christ. And hear the brief words spoken through Isaiah, that it was foreknown that these slanders would be spoken against those who confess Christ, and how wretched are those who slander him and say that it is good to keep the old customs. They are these: “Woe to those who call sweet bitter, and bitter sweet.”