Philip Schaff

“ And, by the same gift of the Spirit which was given to them on that day, they appointed Ordinances and Laws—such as were in accordance with the Gospel of their preaching, and with the true and faithful doctrine of their teaching:—
1. The apostles therefore appointed: Pray ye towards the east: [12] because, “as the lightning which lighteneth from the east and is seen even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of man be:” [13] that by this we might know and understand that He will appear from the east suddenly. ”

“ The apostles further ordained: Let not those that are high-minded and lifted up with the arrogance of boasting be admitted to the ministry: because of this text: “That which is exalted among men is abominable before God;” and because concerning them it is said: “I will return a recompense upon those that vaunt themselves.”
24. The apostles further appointed: Let there be a Ruler over the elders who are in the villages, and let him be recognised as head of them all, at whose hand all of them shall be required: for Samuel also thus made visits from place to place and ruled. ”

“ Everything, therefore, which had been spoken by our Lord by means of the apostles, and which the apostles had delivered to their disciples, was believed and received in every country, by the operation [53] of our Lord, who said to them: “I am with you, even until the world shall end;” the Guides disputing with the Jews from the books of the prophets, and contending also against the deluded pagans with the terrible mighty-works which they did in the name of Christ. For all the peoples, even those that dwell in other countries, quietly and silently received [54] the Gospel of Christ ”

“ Jerusalem received the ordination to the priesthood, as did all the country of Palestine, and the parts occupied by the Samaritans, and the parts occupied by the Philistines, and the country of the Arabians, and of Phœnicia, and the people of Cæsarea, from James, who was ruler and guide in the church of the apostles which was built in Zion. ”

“ The apostles further appointed: If there be any man that is divided in mind touching the ministry, and who follows it not with a steadfast will [34] , let not this man minister again: because the Lord of the ministry is not served by him with a stedfast will; and he deceiveth man only, and not God, “before whom crafty devices avail not.” ”

“ Luke, moreover, the evangelist had such diligence that he wrote the exploits of the Acts of the Apostles, and the ordinances and laws of the ministry of their priesthood, and whither each one of them went. ”

“ In the year three hundred and [2] thirty-nine of the kingdom of the Greeks, in the month Heziran, [3] on the fourth [4] day of the same, which is the first day of the week, and the end of Pentecost [5] —on the selfsame day came the disciples from Nazareth of Galilee, where the conception of our Lord was announced, to the mount which is called that of the Place of Olives, [6] our Lord being with them, but not being visible to them. And at the time of early dawn our Lord lifted up His hands, and laid them upon the heads of the eleven disciples, and gave to them the gift of the priesthood. ”

“ Orient., vol. ii. p. 165.↑ [The visible Church and sacraments are necessary, on this principle, to the conversion of the world.] ↑ [Perhaps a metaphrase of Job v. 12, 13.] ↑ This would seem to have been written anterior to the time when the title of Bishop, as specially appropriated to those who succeeded to the apostolic office, had generally obtained in the East. ”