16
The guards said, "Say that you will eat pork so that you can be set free from these tortures!"
17
But he replied, "You dirty thugs! The wheel is not stretched tight enough to choke off my mind! Keep cutting my limbs, burning my flesh, and twisting my joints.
18
Through all of this suffering, I will persuade you that the Israelites alone can't be defeated when it comes to moral character!"
19
While he was still saying these words, they spread fiery coals below him. They fanned the flames and tightened the wheel even more.
20
By this point, the wheel was covered in blood, the burning coals were being put out by the gory drippings, and chunks of flesh were falling off parts of the machine.