During the years A.D. 193-211 Roman Emperor Septimus Severus decreed that converting to Judaism or Christianity was forbidden. Although he himself counted Christians among his staff and circle of friends, he employed other who were not well disposed to Christians or Jews, and consequently a great deal of persecution occurred in the far flung corners of the Empire that did not come directly from him.
Perpetua describes her visions in the first person as does Satarius - both accounts were considered to be heresies because adhering to prophetic visions was not acceptable to the already traditional Christian church. Perpetua tells of conflict between her and her father who wants her to recant her beliefs in Christ. She defies him and is baptized, but only days afterwards is taken to prison. At first she is imprisoned in a general area but as a noblewoman she has the ability to bribe the guards to relocate her to a better part of the prison. There, she is able to nurse her young child, and so she is able to have her child in prison with her, at least for a while.
Perpetua's brother encourages her to ask for a vision. She receives one in which she is climbing a ladder with weapons attached to it. There is a serpent at the foot of the ladder, which she faces. It does not harm her at all, and allows her to climb the ladder until she reaches a garden at the top. She understands the vision and knows it foresees that the martyrs are going to suffer.
Perpetua's father visits her and begs her to recant her faith but she will not. She is steadfast and resolute, perhaps more so than ever. She is brought before the Governor, Hilarianus, and confesses her Christianity. Afterwards, she has a vision of her dead brother who had passed away before he was baptized. He seems happy and has regained his health in her vision. She also has a vision in which she is defeating the Egyptians, whom she believes represent the Devil. She understands this vision to mean that she will have to battle the Devil in order to stay firm in her faith.
Saturus also has a vision in which he and Perpetua are taken by angels to an exquisite and tranquil garden where they meet other Christian martyrs who were burned alive for their faith.
Secundulus dies in prison. Felicitas, a slave, gives birth to a daughter whilst in prison. At first she thinks that she will not be martyred because the law states that pregnant women cannot be executed, but now that she has given birth, she is able to be martyred. The martyrs are taken to the arena on the day of the gladiatorial games. The crowd bays for them to be whipped before wild beasts are set upon them. They are wounded and give each other the traditional Christian "holy kiss" before being put through by swords. Perpetua was courageous and when the novice swordsman seemed unsure where he should pierce her skin she put her hand on the sword and guided it to her neck herself.
