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Handout #4 |
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The dispersion of the apostles across the world |
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It is said that this Mark traveled to Egypt and was the first to preach there the Gospel which he had written, and that he was the first to found churches in Alexandria itself. Eusebius, Church History 11, 16,1. The holy apostles and disciples of our savior were dispersed throughout the inhabited world. Thomas, according to tradition, was assigned the country of the Parthians, Matthew obtained Ethiopia, Bartholomew upper India, Andrew, Scythia, John, Asia where he lived: he died at Ephesus. Peter seems to have preached to the Jews of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia and Asia; finally having come to Rome also, he was crucified head downwards, having himself asked that he might suffer in this way. What need we say of Paul who, from Jerusalem to Illyricum fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ and finally bore witness at Rome under Nero? These are the express words which Origen uses in the third volume of his Commentaries on Genesis. Eusebeus, Church History III, 1 |
