The holy apostles Herodian, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, and Hermas were among the Seventy Apostles. St. Paul mentions them in his epistles. Herodian was a kinsman of Paul. He helped the Apostle Peter in Rome, and was beheaded along with many other Christians the day that St. Peter was crucified. Agabus had a spirit of prophecy; two of his prophecies are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (11:28 and 21:11). Rufus was bishop of Thebes in Greece. He is mentioned by St. Paul: “Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord.” (Rom 16:13). St. Asyncritus was bishop of Hyrcania in Asia. Phlegon, who is mentioned in the same place as Rufus, was bishop in the Thracian city of Marathon. Hermas, mentioned with the others, was bishop in Dalmatia.
O holy apostles, intercede with the all-merciful God that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.
You have become disciples and true apostles of Christ, O glorious Herodian and fellow apostles. Pray to the Lord to forgive the sins of those who honor you.
Acts 2: 22-36
In those days, Peter addressed the people: “Men of Israel, listen to me! Jesus the Nazorean was a man who God sent to you with miracles, wonders, and signs as his credentials. These God worked through him in your midst, as you well know. He was delivered up by the sat purpose and plan of God; you even made use of pagans to crucify and kill him. God freed him from death’s bitter pangs, however, and raised him up again, for it was impossible that death should keep its hold on him. David says of him: ‘I have set the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. My heart has been glad and my tongue has rejoiced, my body will live on in hope, for you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faith for one to undergo corruption. You have shown me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
“Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our father David. He died and was buried, and his grave is in our midst to this day. He was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him that one of his descendants would sit upon his throne. He said that he was not abandoned to the nether world, nor did his body undergo corruption, thus proclaiming beforehand the resurrection of the Messiah. This is the Jesus God has raised up, and we are his witnesses. Exalted at God‘s right hand, he first received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father, then poured this Spirit out on us. This is what you now see and hear. David did not go up to heaven, yet David says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’ Therefore let the whole house of Israel know beyond any doubt that God has made both Lord and Messiah this Jesus whom you crucified.
John 1: 35-51
At that time John was present with two of his disciples. As he watched Jesus walk by he said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard what he said, and followed Jesus. When Jesus turned around and noticed them following, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi (which means Teacher), where do you stay?” “Come and see,“ he answered. So they went to see where he was lodged, and stayed with him that day. (It was about four in the afternoon.).
One of the two who had followed Jesus after hearing John was Simon Peter’s brother Andrew. The first thing he did was seek out his brother Simon and tell him, “we have found the Messiah!” (This term means the Anointed.) Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at Simon and said, “You are Simon, son of John; your name shall be Cephas (which is rendered Peter).”
The next day Jesus wanted to set out for Galilee, but first he came upon Philip. “Follow me,“ Jesus said to him. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. Phillip sought out Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses spoke of in the law — the prophets too — Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” Nathanael‘s response to that was, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?“ And Philip replied, “Come, see for yourself.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he remarked: “This man is a true Israelite. There is no guile in him.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked him. “Before Philip called you,” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree.” “Rabbi,” said Nathanael, “you are the son of God; you are the king of Israel.” Jesus responded: “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see much greater things than that.”
Jesus went on to tell them, “I solemnly assure you, you shall see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Tuesday, April 7 –
