If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Luke 10:6
Hippolytus of Rome gives us the oldest extant list of the 70 (Luke 10:1-7). Today’s post highlights his account of 51-60.
“51. Cephas.
52. Sosthenes, bishop of Colophonia.
53. Tychicus, bishop of Colophonia.
54. Epaphroditus, bishop of Andriace.
55. Caesar, bishop of Dyrrachium.
56. Mark, cousin to Barnabas, bishop of Apollonia.
57. Justus, bishop of Eleutheropolis.
58. Artemas, bishop of Lystra.
59. Clement, bishop of Sardinia.
60. Onesiphorus, bishop of Corone.”
Hippolytus of Rome in On the End of the World, 49.
It must be noted as we draw near to the end of this list of the 70 that some names are common.
It is really impossible to locate whether or not a person in this list is the same as those listed in the New Testament. It seems however that this section of the list would become co-workers of the Apostle Paul in the region of Asia Minor.
Sosthenes was an official of the Jewish synagogue at Corinth. Paul calls him a “brother” in 1 Corinthians 1:1 and Acts 18:17. This may be the same guy.
We find Tychicus as a co-worker and messenger in Ephesians 6:21 and Colossians 4:7. This name also comes up as number 61 linked to a different city so it is hard to pinpoint which Tychicus is in view.
Epaphroditus is the human care package mentioned in Philippians 2:25 and sent to Rome to minister to Paul. When Paul sends him back to them, likely with the letter to the Philippians, he asks them to give him a hero’s welcome.
Mark is mentioned preaching in Cyprus with Barnabas in Acts 15:39, but unfortunately Acts says nothing more about him after this. But Colossians 4:10 does tells us that Mark was “the cousin of Barnabas.”
Justus was another name for Jesus. He was a converted Jew from “among the circumcision” and greeted by Paula as a co-worker in Colossians 4:11. Artemas, if it is the same person, was Paul’s messenger to Titus in Titus 3:12.
Clement is mentioned as a fellow worker to Paul in Philippians 4:3. Lastly Onesiphorus, is a faithful supporter to the ministry of Paul. Paul mentions him in 2 Timothy 1:16 and 4:19.
Paul mentions all these people in his writings. It reminds each of us that we are players on a grand stage working out a great story together—God’s story—in a part of the world where He has placed us.
We might think we are not making a difference, but one day we are a messenger or a co-worker, the next day an overseer of God’s growing work. The only way this happens is if each of us plays our part.
We must work together. Perhaps that’s the lesson here? A small group of generous people who are willing to give their lives for the gospel can change the world, but only if they work together!