Since, according to your prayers,
and the compassion which ye feel in
Christ Jesus, it is reported to me that
the Church which is at Antioch in
Syria possesses peace, it will become
you, as a Church of God, to elect a
deacon to act as the ambassador of
God [for you] to [the brethren there],
that he may rejoice along with them
when they are met together, and glo-
rify the name [of God] . Blessed is
he in Jesus Christ, who shall be
deemed worthy of such a ministry ;
and ye too shall be glorified. And if
ye are willing, it is not beyond your
power to do this, for the sake ^ of
God ; as also the nearest Churches
have sent, in some cases bishops, and
in others presbyters and deacons.