The Acts of the Apostles

INTRODUCTION xxxv
with describing only its progress across the world
from Jerusalem to Rome. The latter procedure was
certainly wise ;
for his narrative would have exceeded
all bounds if he had aimed at even approximate
fulness in geographical statistics. If the former
assumption is true, it necessarily resulted in the
glorification of St. Paul ; for the Twelve never took
part in the mission to the Gentiles, and St. Luke
scarcely regards such persons as Stephen, Philip,
Silas, Priscilla and her husband, and Apollos as
standing to a certain degree on a level with the
Twelve. Accordingly, he was left with Paul and
Barnabas. Men like Mark and Timothy might have
felt hurt, yet note how St. Luke refers to his own
missionary activity in only the most modest terms.
The title Apostle had already received an exclusive
connotation, and it was the apostle alone who really
legitimised the mission. If even for people like
St. Luke, holding "spiritual" gifts in such high
regard and really so spiritually free, the office of
apostle had so quickly attained to an exclusive
authority, what a multitude of unauthorised mis-
sionaries preaching " Jesus *" must even at that time
have been carrying on their work in the provinces
of the Empire ! Moreover, though St. Peter during
the time of St. Paul's ministry not only visited
Antioch, but may also not improbably have paid a
passing visit to Corinth, the silence of the Acts
concerning him is sufficiently explained by the
purpose of the book, which did not admit the
narration of the experiences of any church after its
foundation.