In Luke 10:1, the Lord appointed seventy men to
go out as missionaries - as apostles. Though not so prominent as the
Twelve, the Seventy carried out their missions with fervor and
enthusiasm.
The Tradition of the Church confirms that the
Seventy remained true to the Lord and their calling, fulfilling a vital
role in the spread of the gospel. These were not random choices or
accidental volunteers but true disciples, true apostles, whose labors
carried the message of their Lord throughout the Roman Empire and
beyond.
Though lists of the Seventy vary somewhat, all
are remembered in the calendar of the Church. One day, January 4, is set
aside to remember them all, and the record of their work is preserved in
accounts handed down through the centuries from place to place,
especially in those locations where they labored.
To tell the stories passed down in the Church
concerning all of the Seventy would fill a book of considerable size,
but the compromise of telling the stories of a few, both prominent and
relatively obscure members, will relate the conviction and faith of this
illustrious body.
Barnabas, a Jew of the tribe of Levi, was born
in Cyprus of wealthy parents. He is said to have studied under Gamaliel
with Saul of Tarsus, who was to become Paul the Apostle. Originally
named Joseph, he was called Barnabas (Son of Consolation) by the
apostles (Acts 4:36) because he had a rare gift of comforting the hearts
of people, He who sought out Paul when everyone else was afraid of him,
bringing him to the apostles. And it was Barnabas who was first sent by
the apostles to Antioch to find out what was going on there (Acts
11:22).
Barnabas sought out Paul to work with him, and
their long association was broken only when Barnabas was determined to
take his cousin Mark, whom Paul did not trust just then, on a missionary
journey. The mutual relationships among the three were later healed
(Col, 4:10).
Many ancient accounts say Barnabas was the
first to preach in Rome and the first in Milan, but he was martyred in
Cyprus, then buried by Mark at the western gate of the city of Salamis.
Among the more prominent of the Seventy was the
Apostle Titus, whom Paul called his. brother (2 Cor. 12:18) and his son
(Titus 1:4). Born Crete, Titus was educated in Greek philosophy, but
after reading the Prophet Isaiah he began to doubt the value of all he
had been taught. Hearing the news of the coming of Jesus Christ, he
joined some others from Crete who went to Jerusalem to see for
themselves. After hearing Jesus speak and seeing His works, the young
Titus joined those who followed.
Baptized by the Apostle Paul, he worked with
and served the great apostle to the Gentiles, traveling with him until
Paul sent him to Crete, making him bishop of that city. It is said that
he was in Rome at the time of the beheading of St. Paul and that he
buried the body of his spiritual father before returning home.
Back in Crete, he converted and baptized many
people, governing the Church on that island until he entered into rest
at the age of ninety-four.
There are many less prominent among the Seventy
who also laboured for Christ unto death, Aristarchus, whom Paul mentions
several times (cf. Acts 19:29; Col. 4:10; Philem. 24), calling him a
"fellow labourer", became bishop of Apamea in Syria. Sosthenes (Acts
18:17; 1 Cor. 1:1) became bishop of Caesarea, and Tychicus (Acts 20:4;
Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:12; Titus 3:12) succeeded him in that
city. Simeon (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3), son of Cleopas (who was the
brother of Joseph the betrothed of the Virgin Mary), succeeded James as
bishop of Jerusalem. Aristobulus (Rom. 16:10), the brother of the
Apostle Barnabas, preached the Gospel in Britain and died peacefully
there.
The lives of these few are quite representative
of the Seventy who were instrumental in helping to plant the Church
throughout the world. Many became bishops, but the names of all are
numbered in heaven.in the Book of Life, as faithful servants of the
Lord, apostles and foundations of the Church.
