Against Celsus 2.59

He thinks that the earthquake and the darkness too are marvel-mongering; about these we have made our defense above as best we could, citing Phlegon, who records that such things occurred at the time of the Savior's passion. And he says that “though he could not help himself while alive, when dead Jesus rose and showed the marks of his punishment, and his hands, how they had been pierced.” We ask him what “help himself” means. If with regard to virtue, we shall say that he helped himself very well indeed; for he neither said nor did anything improper, but truly “was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent”; and the Gospel testifies that “so he did not” open “his mouth.” But if he takes “help himself” in terms of indifferent and bodily things, we say that we have shown from the Gospels that he came to these things willingly. Then, after citing from the Gospel that when he rose from the dead he showed the marks of his punishment and his hands, how they had been pierced, he asks, “Who saw this?” And disparaging what is said of Mary Magdalene, who is recorded as having seen him, he said: “A frantic woman, as you say.” And since not only she is recorded to have seen Jesus risen, but others too, the Jew of Celsus maligns this as well, saying: “And perhaps someone else of the same sorcery.”