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That Paul preached to the Gentiles and laid the foundations of the
churches "from Jerusalem round about even unto Illyricum," is
evident both from his own words, and from theaccount which Luke has
given in the Acts.
And in how many provinces Peter preached Christ and taught the
doctrine of the new covenant to those of the circumcision is clear from
his own words in his epistle already mentioned as undisputed, in which
he writes to the Hebrews of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. But the number and the names of
those among them that became true and zealous followers of the
apostles, and were judged worthy to tend the churches rounded by them,
it is not easy to tell, except those mentioned in the writings of
Paul. For he had innumerable fellow-laborers, or
"fellow-soldiers," as he called them, and most of them were honored
by him with an imperishable memorial, for he gave enduring testimony
concerning them in his own epistles. Luke also in the Acts speaks of
his friends, and mentions them by name.
Timothy, so it is recorded, was the first to receive the episcopate
of the parish in Ephesus, Titus of the churches in Crete. But
Luke, who was of Antiochian parentage and a physician by profession,
and who was especially intimate with Paul and well acquainted with the
rest of the apostles, has left us, in two inspired books, proofs of
that spiritual healing art which he learned from them. One of these
books is the Gospel, which he testifies that he wrote as those who
were from the beginning eye witnesses and ministers of the word
delivered unto him, all of whom, as he says, he followed accurately
from the first. The other book is the Acts of the Apostles which he
composed not from the accounts of others, but from what he had seen
himself. And they say that Paul meant to refer to Luke's Gospel
wherever, as if speaking of some gospel of his own, he used the
words, "according to my Gospel." As to the rest of his followers,
Paul testifies that Crescens was sent to Gaul; but Linus, whom he
mentions in the Second Epistle to Timothy as his companion at Rome,
was Peter's successor in the episcopate of the church there, as has
already been shown. Clement also, who was appointed third bishop of
the church at Rome, was, as Paul testifies, his co-laborer and
fellow-soldier. Besides these, that Areopagite, named Dionysius,
who was the first to believe after Paul's address to the Athenians in
the Areopagus is mentioned by another Dionysius, an ancient writer
and pastor of the parish in Corinth, as the first bishop of the church
at Athens. But the events connected with the apostolic succession we
shall relate at the proper time. Meanwhile let us continue the course
of our history.
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