In reply, his hearers stated that they had received no charges against him by letters public or private, and that none of the Jews who had come to Rome had accused him of any crime. They also expressed a strong desire to hear for themselves the reasons of his faith in Christ. "As concerning this sect," they said, "we know that everywhere it is spoken against."

Som svar herpå erklærede hans tilhørere, at de hverken offentligt eller privat havde modtaget breve med anklager imod ham og at ingen af jøderne, der var kommet til Rom, havde beskyldt ham for nogen forbrydelse. De udtrykte også kraftigt ønsket om selv at høre hans begrundelse for sin tro på Kristus. "Om dette parti er det os bekendt," sagde de, "at det alle vegne vækker modsigelse."