Justin (c. 100–c. 165) was born at Flavia Neapolis in Samaria, the modern Nablus, to a pagan family. He studied in turn with Stoic, Peripatetic, Pythagorean and Platonist teachers before, as he tells it, an old man by the sea pointed him to the Hebrew prophets and to Christ. He continued to wear the philosopher's cloak and taught in Rome, where he wrote two Apologies addressed to the emperors and the Dialogue with Trypho, a debate with a Jewish teacher. Around 165, under the prefect Junius Rusticus, he and several companions were tried for refusing to sacrifice to the gods and beheaded. The account of their trial survives, and the church has called him Justin Martyr ever since.
“And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits”
The First Apology, Chapter LXVII.--Weekly worship of the Christians.
The First Apology is a defence of Christianity written in Greek by Justin, a convert and teacher of philosophy at Rome, and addressed to the emperor Antoninus Pius, his adopted sons Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, the Senate and the Roman people. It dates from about 155.