29. Paul, having appealed to Cæsar, was accordingly sent to Rome, under the charge of one Julius, a centurion. (Acts xxvii.) Leav ing Cæsarea, A. D. 60, they touched at Sidon, sailed north of Cyprus and touched at Myra, thence by Cnidus and Salmone, to Fair Havens. The ship was driven by Clauda, and wrecked near Melita, now Malta, where they wintered. (Acts xxviii.) Thence, A. D. 61, they sailed to Syracuse, Rhegium, and Puteoli, whence, proceeding by land to Appii Forum and the Three Taverns, they came to Rome.

The voyage of Paul to Rome was attended by various trials and dangers. Having touched at Sidon and Myra, after leaving Cæsarea, with much difficulty they reached Fair Havens, a port in the island of Crete, now Candia. Hence embarking contrary to the advice of Paul, the vessel was shortly after overtaken by a violent storm, by which, fourteen days after, they were wrecked on the island of Melita; but the whole crew, consisting of two hundred and seventy-six souls, by the special care of Providence, was ultimately brought safe to land.

Shipwreck of Paul.

On this island Paul and his companions continued three months, being treated with much kindness by the inhabitants, though called barbarians. Here Paul wrought several miracles.

Sailing from Melita, the apostle proceeded to Syracuse, in Sicily; thence to Rhegiam, and next to Puteoli, near to the city of Naples. From the latter place to Rome, his journey was about one hundred miles by land. At Appii Forum, and the Three Taverns, the former of which was distant from Rome fifty, and the latter thirty miles, several disciples came to meet him. The sight of these seemed to refresh his spirit, and, taking courage, he at length reached the imperial city, A. D. 61, in the seventh year of the emperor Nero.

29. At Rome Paul was held a prisoner for two years, but he was permitted to live in his own hired house, attended by a soldier, who guarded him by means of a long chain fastened to his right, and to the soldier's left arm. Although we have no authentic particulars of his trial and release, it seems probable that he was set at liberty, at the expiration of the above mentioned period.

During the two years of his imprisonment, the apostle wrote his Epistle to the Ephesians, to the Colossians, to the Philippians, and the short letter to Philemon; and it is thought that, soon after his release, he composed his Epistle to the Hebrews. At Rome he was attended by several disciples, among whom were Tychicus, Onesimus. Mark, Demas, Aristarchus, Luke, and others.

30. The remaining history of the apostle is, in a measure, uncertain. From intimations in his epistles it seems probable, that after

his release, A. D. 63, he visited Crete, Colosse, and Ephesus, whence he went into Macedonia, calling at Troas. In Macedonia, he visited the Church at Philippi, from which he proceeded to Nicopolis, a city of Epirus, where he spent the winter. From this place it is conjectured he visited Miletus in Crete, taking Corinth in his way. Thence he proceeded to Rome, about A. D. 65, where he suffered martyrdom.

31. Before the arrival of Paul at Rome, the first of the ten persecutions against the Christians had been commenced by Nero, A. D. 64, upon pretence, that they had set fire to the city, by which a great part of it was laid in ashes-a crime chargeable upon the emperor himself.

Nero caused the city to be set on fire, that it might exhibit the representation of the burning of Troy. While the city was in flames, he went up into the tower of Mocenas, played upon his harp, and declared, "that he wished the ruin of all things before his death." Among the noble buildings burned was the circus, or a place appropriated to horseraces. It was half a mile in length, of an oval form, with rows of seats rising above each other, and capable of receiving, with ease, upwards of one hundred thousand spectators. The conflagration lasted nine days. To avert from himself the public odium of this crime, he charged it upon the Christians, whom he now indiscri minately put to death by various means of exquisite cruelty.

Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts, and torn by dogs; others were crucified; and others still, being covered with wax and other combustibles, with a sharp stake put under their chins to make them continue upright the longer, were set on fire, that they might give light in the night to the spectators. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, which was accompanied by a horserace, at which the emperor was present in the attire of a charioteer."

Many thousands are supposed thus to have perished in Rome. Nor was the perse. cution confined to the city, but is supposed to have spread through the empire, and to have extended into Spain.

Among the victims of Nero's cruelty was Paul, and probably Peter. The last view which we have of this latter apostle in the Scriptures, presents him at Antioch, about A. D. 50. After this, he preached the Gospel in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythinia. It is supposed that he came to Rome about the year 63. Thence, a little before his martyrdom, he wrote his two epistles. Tradition records that he suffered at the same time with Paul, and was crucified with his head downward, a kind of death which he himself desired, most probably from an unfeigned humility, that he might not die in the same manner as his Lord had done.

Concerning the labors of the other apostles, and of others who were engaged in spreading the Gospel in these primitive times, scarcely any thing is recorded, upon

which with safety we may depend. It cannot be supposed, however, that they remain ed silent and inactive; nor that they did not meet with a share of that success, which attended their colleagues.

The apostles and evangelists, as we learn from the Scriptures and historical fragments, were early spread abroad among the distant nations; and even before the destruction of Jerusalem, the Gospel had been preached to multitudes in several parts of the known world. Within thirty years from the death of Christ, says Dr. Paley, the institution had spread itself through Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, almost all the numerous dis tricts of the Lesser Asia, through Greece and the islands of the Ægean Sea, the seacoast of Africa, and had extended itself to Rome, and into Italy. At Antioch in Syria, at Joppa, Ephesus, Corinth, Thessalonica, Berea, Iconium, Derbe, Antioch in Pisidia, at Lydda, Saron, the number of converts are spoken of as numerous. Converts are also mentioned at Tyre, Cæsarea, Troas, Athens, Philippi, Lystra, Damascus. The First Epistle of Peter accosts the Christians dispersed throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythinia. In still more distant fields the other apostles labored; and though we have no certain accounts of their success, it is reasonable to conclude that wherever they erected their standard, multitudes were gathered together, so that almost the whole world was at this early period, in a measure, made acquainted with the knowledge of Christ and him crucified.

32. In the year 68, Nero (who had succeeded the emperor Claudius,. A. D. 51,) put an end to his infamous life, upon which the persecution ceased. To Nero succeeded Galba, who, after a reign of seven months, was succeeded by Otho, who enjoyed the imperial crown but three months, being slain by the profligate Vitellius. He, in turn, was assassinated before he had completed the first year of his reign, giving place to Vespasian, a distinguished general, who was declared emperor, by the ananimous consent of the senate and army. During his reign, the destruction of Jerusalem was effected under command of his son Titus, as will be noticed in the following period.

DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS IN PERIOD II.

1-11. The apostles Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Less, Simon the Canaanite, and Jude. 12. Stephen, a deacon of the Church at Jerusalem, and the first martyr. 13. Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles.

14. Luke, a physician, the companion of Paul, and the writer of the third Gospel, and the Acts of the Apostles.

15. Mark, an evangelist, the writer of the Gospel which bears his name. 16. Philip, a deacon of the Church at Jerusalem, distinguished for converting the eunuch of Candace, queen of Ethiopia.

17. Barnabas, an evangelist, the companion and fellow laborer of Paul. 18. Timothy, also an evangelist, a disciple of Paul, to whom this apostle addressed two of his epistles.

1. Peter, who was chief of the apostles, was the son of John, of the city of Bethsaida in Galilee. He was one of the three apostles who were present at the transfiguration, and it was to him, particularly, that the Savior commended the care of his sheep. When Jesus was betrayed, Peter displayed great courage; but, when he saw that his Master was detained as a malefactor, his courage failed him, and he denied him. But after the ascension of Christ, Peter evinced great boldness in the cause of the Gospel. By his preaching about three thousand souls were converted on a single occasion, and a little after five thousand. (Sec. 4 and 5.) When imprisoned by Herod Agrippa, (Sec. 19,) he was set at liberty by an angel, and sent forth to preach the Gospel out of Judea. Under the persecution of Nero, Peter, who is supposed to have preached the Gospel in Pontus, Galatia, &c., came to Rome, A. D. 63, where, some time after, he was put to death, by being crucified with his head downward. (Sec. 31.)

2. Andrew, a fisherman of Galilee, was the brother of Peter. After our blessed Lord had ascended, and the Holy Ghost had descended upon the apostles, he departed, it is said, to preach the Gospel to the Scythians; and on his journey to their country, preached in Cappadocia, Galatia, Bithynia, and along the Euxine Sea, winning many souls notwithstanding the savageness of the people. At Sinope, where he met Peter, the inhabitants of the city, being Jews for the greater part, did what they could to oppose the apostle's doctrine. Afterwards, he travelled through many provinces, till he came to Byzantium, (now Constantinople,) where he founded a Church, and ordained Stachys (whom Paul calls his beloved Stachys) bishop of that city. He then took his journey through Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, Achaia, and, as some affirm, Ephesus; and, having planted the Gospel in many places, came to Patræ, a city of Achaia, where he sealed his testimony with his blood. He was fastened upon the cross with ropes, that he might be longer dying, the cross being two beams like the letter X. From this cross, after he was fastened to it, he preached to the people, it is said, for the space of two days; and by his admirable patience converted many to the faith.

3. James, called the Great, was the son of Zebedee and brother of John. He was by birth a Galilean, and by occupation a fisherman. With Peter and John, he was a spectator of our Savior's transfiguration upon the mount, and was with him in the garden, at the time of his agony. This apostle preached to his countrymen the Jews. Herod Agrippa, grandson to Herod the Great, caused a great number of Christians to be imprisoned, and amongst the rest this apostle. A short time after, sentence of death was passed upon him, and he was slain with the sword. As for the tyrant, divine justice overtook him; he was eaten of worms until he died. (See Acts xii. 23.) 4. John was the brother of James, and pursued the same profession. From his respect and attention to Jesus, he seems to have been his favorite disciple. He preached the Gospel in Asia, and penetrated as far as Parthia. At length, he fixed his residence at Ephesus. During the persecution of Domitian, (Period III. Sec. 3,) he was dragged to Rome, and thrown into a caldron of boiling oil, from which he received no injury. He was afterwards banished to Patmos, at which place he wrote his Apocalypse. In the reign of Nerva, he returned to Ephesus, where he wrote his Gospel, A. D. 97 or 98, the design of which was to refute the errors of Cerinthus and Ebion, who maintained that our Savior was a mere man. He wrote, besides, three epistles. He died at Ephesus, in the reign of Trajan, about A. D. 100, having attained to the great age of nearly one hundred years.

5. Philip was born at Bethsaida. Our Savior, when in Galilee, called Philip to follow him. Happy in having found the Messiah, Philip sought for Nathaniel, to whom he imparted the glad tidings. And, reader! if you know the truth as it is in Jesus, you should also try to lead your friends to a knowledge of the same. When this apostle came to have his portion set apart, where he should preach the Gospel, part of the Upper Asia, it is said, fell to his lot, and some affirm that he preached in Scythia. Having for many years carried on this great work, he came to Hierapolis, a city in Phrygia, where the people worshipped a serpent by the name of Jupiter Ammon. There, it is related, he preached the Gospel, and many of the idolaters became ashamed of the god they had worshipped, and were converted to the Christian faith. Satan, perceiving his kingdom falling, raised a persecution, and the apostle was carried to prison, scourged, and there hanged by the neck to a pillar.

6. Bartholomew.-The ancients suppose that Bartholomew was the same person as Nathaniel, that" Israelite indeed." He preached the Gospel to the Jews and Gentiles, accompanying Philip for the most part; and went, it is said, to hither India, by which some understand Arabia Felix. When Ponteanus, a philosopher, but a Christian, went there many years after, he found Matthew's Gospel written in Hebrew, which was reported to be the Gospel Bartholomew left behind him, when he planted the Gospel there. It has been said, that at Hierapolis, a city in Phrygia, he would probably have suffered with Philip, had not an earthquake overawed his executioners, for he was at the same time bound to a cross; but when they saw that divine vengeance was ready to overtake them, they set him at liberty. From thence he travelled to Lycaonia, and thence departed to Albanopolis, in Armenia the Great, a place much given to idolatrous worship. The governor of the city caused him to be apprehended. His sentence was crucifixion; and when the day of execution came, he went cheerfully to death, exhorting his disciples to keep steadfast in the faith and doctrine that they had received

which was able to make them wise unto salvation. Several affirm that he was crucified with his head downwards.

7. Matthew, called Levi, was born at Nazareth. He was a publican, or tax-gatherer. He preached in Judea for several years, and at his departure wrote his Gospel. Some think that he went into Parthia, and having planted Christianity there, then travelled into Asiatic Ethiopia, where, by his preaching and working miracles, he converted many to the Christian faith. Having continued some time with them, it is said that he went into a country of cannibals, constituting Plato, one of his followers, bishop of Myremena. We find, in an ancient author, that he suffered martyrdom at Naddabar, a city of Ethiopia.

8. Thomas. This apostle had two names, Thomas and Didymus. The province assigned him, Origen informs us, was Parthia; and Sophronius says, that he preached the Gospel to the Persians, Medes, Carmanians, Hyrcanians, Bactrians, and other people. It is recorded by an ancient writer, (but it does not seem at all probable,) that in Persia he met the three wise men who came to present their offerings to our Savior at his birth; and that after he had baptized them, he took them with him as his fellowlaborers in the Gospel. He probably then went to Asiatic Ethiopia, and at last to the East Indies, and preached the Gospel so far as Pabrobane, (either Ceylon or Sumatra.) The tradition of the natives is, that Thomas came first to Socotra, an island in the Arabian Sea, and thence departed to Cranganor, and, having planted the Gospel there, went to the kingdom of Coromandere, preaching in many towns and villages, and at last came to Meliapour, the chief city. There, after having converted many to the faith, he was about to found a Church for worship; but being forbidden by Sagamo, a prince of that country, it ceased for some time; afterwards, the apostle having converted the prince and a great part of his nobility, it was built. This so enraged the Brahmans, that they sought to destroy the apostle; and one day, when he was preaching in a solitary place, one of them stabbed him with a spear.

9. James the Less was the brother of Simon and Jude, and on account of the great virtues of his character, received the surname of Just. He was first appointed the bishop of Jerusalem, and, for his firmness, he was called by Paul one of the pillars of the Church. He was put to death by a blow of a fuller's club, under Annanias the high priest, A. D. 62. His epistle to the dispersed Hebrew converts are preserved among the canonical books of the New Testament.

10. Simon, according to some, preached the Gospel in Egypt, Lydia, and Mauritania, and at last suffered martyrdom in Persia.

11. Jude, who was the author of an epistle, is sometimes called Thaddeus, Lebbeus, or the Zealous. He is said to have preached the Gospel in Lydia, Mesopotamia, Syria, Idumea, and Arabia, and suffered martyrdom at Berytus, about A. D. 80. 12. Stephen. See Sec. 10.

13. Paul. See Sec. 12, and onwards.

14. Luke was a physician of Antioch, and was converted by Paul, of whom he afterwards became the faithful associate. Besides his Gospel, which he composed in very pure language, he wrote the Acts of the Apostles. He lived, according to Jerome, to his 83d year.

15. Mark was the disciple of Peter, by whose directions he is supposed to have written his Gospel, for the use of the Roman Christians, A. D. 72. Some imagine that he is the person to whose mother's house Peter, when released from prison by an angel, went. The foundation of the Church of Alexandria is attributed to him.'

16. Philip. Of this evangelist, little more is recorded, than what has been related

above.

17. Barnabas was a Levite, born at Cyprus. On his conversion, he sold his estate, and delivered his money to the apostles, and was afterwards sent to Antioch to confirm the disciples. He preached the Gospel in company with Paul, and afterwards passed with Mark into Cyprus, where he was stoned to death by the Jews.

18. Timothy, who was the disciple of Paul, was a native of Lystra, in Laconia, and the son of a pagan by a Jewish woman. He afterwards labored with Paul in the propagation of the Christian faith, and was made by him first bishop of Ephesus. It is supposed that he was stoned to death, A. D. 97, for opposing the celebration of an impious festival in honor of Diana.