y
as they had happened, the rulers laid hold of them, thinking to
terrify them into silence. But in vain; for "the number of the
disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the
priests were obedient to the faith" (Acts vi. 7). Then the persecution
arose about Stephen, one of the newly-ordained deacons; and the
faithful "were scattered throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria,"
and they "went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts viii. 1, 4). And
so the Church began to spread under the Providence of God beyond the
limits of Judaea.

Meanwhile we find that the Church was growing into a duly organised
body. It was not a collection of Independent congregations, but a
Kingdom, ruled by laws and ministers appointed either directly by the
King Himself, or under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And its
subjects are spoken of under four divisions; Apostles, Elders,
Deacons, and Brethren. And a brief description of these three orders
of Ministers and of the general body of brethren will best illustrate
the account given in the Acts of the Apostles of what the Holy
Catholic Church was like during that period.

To the first order of Ministers--the Apostles and their
successors--our Blessed Lord had committed His authority to found and
extend His Kingdom. For to "the eleven Disciples" the commission was
given, "Go ye and make disciples[23] of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;
teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you."
And then these words were added, showing that the commission was to be
handed on by them to successive Apostles for ever: "And lo! I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world" (S. Matt. xxviii. 16-20).
And we find that, as years passed on, the Apostles ordained others to
take their places; to assist them during their lifetime in the various
countries and cities where converts had been made, and to succeed them
when they were gone. The duties of these chief Ministers are clearly
described in the Epistles, which we possess to two of them, viz.
Timothy and Titus; being such as the Apostles themselves fulfilled,
and including the general oversight of all teaching, and matters of
order, and the ordaining of Elders and Deacons, as S. Paul sums them
up to Titus: "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest
set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain Elders in every
city" (Titus i. 5