VI.27
[Papias, who is now mentioned by us, affirms that he received the sayings of the apostles
from those who accompanied them, and he moreover asserts that he heard in person Aristion
and the presbyter John.28 Accordingly he mentions them frequently by name, and in his
writings gives their traditions. Our notice of these circumstances may not be without its
use. It may also be worth while to add to the statements of Papias already given, other passages
of his in which he relates some miraculous deeds, stating that he acquired the knowledge
of them from tradition. The residence of the Apostle Philip with his daughters in Hierapolis
has been mentioned above. We must now point out how Papias, who lived at the same time,
relates that he had received a wonderful narrative from the daughters of Philip. For he relates
that a dead man was raised to life in his day.29 He also mentions another miracle relating
to Justus, surnamed Barsabas, how he swallowed a deadly poison, and received no harm,
on account of the grace of the Lord. The same person, moreover, has set down other things
as coming to him from unwritten tradition, amongst these some strange parables and in-
structions of the Saviour, and some other things of a more fabulous nature.30 Amongst these
he says that there will be a millennium after the resurrection from the dead, when the per-
sonal reign of Christ will be established on this earth. He moreover hands down, in his own
writing, other narratives given by the previously mentioned Aristion of the Lord’s sayings,
and the traditions of the presbyter John. For information on these points, we can merely
refer our readers to the books themselves; but now, to the extracts already made, we shall
add, as being a matter of primary importance, a tradition regarding Mark who wrote the
Gospel, which he [Papias] has given in the following words]: And the presbyter said this.
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Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately whatsoever he re-
membered. It was not, however, in exact order that he related the sayings or deeds of Christ.
For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwards, as I said, he accom-
panied Peter, who accommodated his instructions to the necessities [of his hearers], but
with no intention of giving a regular narrative of the Lord’s sayings. Wherefore Mark made
no mistake in thus writing some things as he remembered them. For of one thing he took
especial care, not to omit anything he had heard, and not to put anything fictitious into the
statements. [This is what is related by Papias regarding Mark; but with regard to Matthew
27 From Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., iii. 39.
28 [A certain presbyter, of whom see Apost. Constitutions, vii. 46, where he is said to have been ordained by
St. John, the Evangelist.]
29 “In his day” may mean “in the days of Papias,” or “in the days of Philip.” As the narrative came from the
daughters of Philip, it is more likely that Philip’s days are meant.
30 [Again, note the reduplicated hearsay. Not even Irenæus, much less Eusebius, should be accepted, otherwise
than as retailing vague reports.]
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VI.