ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus

Chapter V.—No less evils have arisen from the same source in the most recent times. The martyrdom of Peter and Paul.

But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes.²⁵²⁵    Literally, “those who have been athletes.” Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars [of the Church] have been persecuted and put to death.²⁶²⁶    Some fill up the lacuna here found in the ms. so as to read, “have come to a grievous death.” Let us set before our eyes the illustrious²⁷²⁷    Literally, “good.” [The martyrdom of St. Peter is all that is thus connected with his arrival in Rome. His numerous labours were restricted to the Circumcision.] apostles. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labours and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him. Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity,²⁸²⁸    Seven imprisonments of St. Paul are not referred to in Scripture. compelled²⁹²⁹    Archbishop Wake here reads “scourged.” We have followed the most recent critics in filling up the numerous lacunæ in this chapter. to flee, and stoned. After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west,³⁰³⁰    Some think Rome, others Spain, and others even Britain, to be here referred to. [See note at end.] and suffered martyrdom under the prefects.³¹³¹    That is, under Tigellinus and Sabinus, in the last year of the Emperor Nero; but some think Helius and Polycletus referred to; and others, both here and in the preceding sentence, regard the words as denoting simply the witness borne by Peter and Paul to the truth of the gospel before the rulers of the earth. Thus was he removed from the world, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.