SOME OF THE SEVENTY DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, AND SEVERAL FELLOW-TRAVELERS OF THE APOSTLES, SLAIN, TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF THE PERSECUTION BY NERO, ABOUT A. D. 70.
Prochorus, one of the first seven deacons at Jerusalem, a nephew of the pious martyr Stephen, and companion of the Apostle John, but afterwards bishop of the church at Bithynia, in Macedonia, suffered and died at Antioch.
Nicanor, also one of the first seven deacons at Jerusalem, was likewise executed for the truth’s sake.
Likewise Parmenas, also one of the seven deacons.
Olympus was imprisoned at Rome with Paul, for the Gospel’s sake.
Carpus, a servant of Paul, and afterwards bishop of the church at Troas, was put to death in that place, for the faith.
Trophimus, Paul’s companion, was beheaded for the truth of Christ.
Maternus and Egystus, two of the seventy disciples of Christ, together with Marianus, the Christian deacon, were put to death in Germany, for the faith.
Hermagoras, bishop of the church at Aquileia, ordained thereto by Peter, suffered likewise under Nero.
Onesimus, Dionysius, Areopagitæ, and others, also died at that time for the divine truth.
This persecution, which was originated by Nero, continued a long time, extending even into the time of Vespasian; so that it is stated that in the third year of his reign, there was put to death in the city of Ravenna, for confessing Christ, Apollinaris, a disciple of Peter, with many others, whose names are not mentioned.
OF THE SECOND PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS, UNDER DOMITIAN, WHICH COMMENCED A. D. 93; IN WHICH, AMONG OTHERS, THERE WERE APPREHENDED, BANISHED, OR SLAIN, THE FOLLOWING PERSONS:
LUKE, THE HOLY EVANGELIST, HANGED ON A GREEN OLIVE TREE, IN GREECE, A. D. 93.
[Illustration: LUKE HANGED ON AN OLIVE TREE.]
Luke, the third among the holy evangelists, was, according to the testimony of the ancients, a Syrian of Antioch, and by occupation a physician. _Bybelsch Næmbœck, about Luke_, from _Euseb. and Hieron. Col. 4:14._
It was the will of the Lord to use him as a physician of souls; to which end he has left to mankind two excellent books on spiritual medicine; namely, his holy Gospel and the Acts of the holy Apostles.
Concerning his parents there is nowhere anything mentioned; hence little or almost no account can be given of his natural descent, excepting his birthplace, and that he descended from the Syrian nation. It is supposed that he had no wife; though nearly all the other apostles and evangelists were married.
According to the opinion of Jerome, he was, before his conversion, a Jewish proselyte, though of Gentile descent; which is quite probable, since, according to the judgment of linguists, his style is far more excellent and perfect in Greek than in Hebrew. _Joh. Gys., in Hist. Mart. ex Hieronimo._
He afterwards, through the preaching of Paul, became a Christian A. D. 38, after he had come from Thebes to Antioch. _Konst-tooneel, etc., in the life of Luke._
He became a disciple of the apostles, but especially a traveling companion of the apostle Paul, so that he was with him in many perils and difficulties on sea and on land.
He was so intimate with Paul, and his special friend to such a degree that, according to the ancients, he wrote the Gospel under his dictation and instruction. He has also given a faithful account of Paul’s principal travels until his first imprisonment at Rome. _Joh. Gys. Hist. Mart., concerning Luke the evangelist._
Paul makes frequent mention of him in his epistles; for to the Colossians he writes: “Luke, the physician,... greet you.” Col. 4:14. To Philemon: “There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers.” Phil. 23,24. Likewise, to Timothy: “Only Luke is with me.” 2 Tim. 4:11.
Luke was therefore, as it appears, a companion of Paul, not only in his travels, but also during his imprisonment at Rome. So that he was twice brought, together with Paul, before the Emperor Nero. _P. J. Twisck_, taken from Paul’s epistles to Timothy.