My father also arrived from thecity, worn with worry, and he came to see me with the idea of persuading me
Despite everything, her father does not give up and he continues to try to persuade her to change her mind, in hopes that her life will be saved.
Saturus was the first to go up, he who was later to give himself up ofhis own accord.
This cross references to the fact that Saturus dies first, she predicts this in her vision.
Perform the sacrifice--have pityon your baby!'
Her father is trying to convince her to recant her faith, if not for own sake, for her own child's expense. However, even this does not sway her and she remains firm in her belief, despite knowing she will lose her family
Then she got up. And seeing that Felicitas had been crushed to the ground, she went over to her, gave herhand, and lifted her up.
Even despite Perpetua's own pain, she thinks of others first rather than herself, helping her friend and fellow Christian unselfishly
This was an unusual animal, but it waschosen that their sex might be matched with that of the beast.
What is the significance of this animal being chosen, as it is not one that is known for being particularly vicious, unlike the animals the men faced, such as bears, leopards, and wild boars which are considerably more vicious.
And theyrejoiced at this that they had obtained a share in the Lord's suffering
Even in the face of much pain, they are rejoicing in their faith because they believe that they are suffering the same as Christ suffered on the cross for them.
By this time the adjutant who was head of the gaol was himself a Christian
Did he convert to Christianity because of the prisoners' witnessing to him? Also, how is it that he is imprisoning them for their faith when he has the same faith?
Saturus, who being the first to climb the stairwaywas the first to die.
This seems to be a reference from the vision which Perpetua had earlier, with the ladder and the dragon. The "climbing of the stairway" seems to have a double meaning, with it referring to not only a physical stairway, but a stairway to heaven as well.