506 - The Twelve: The Lives of the Apostles After Calvary

The Twelve:
The Lives of the Apostles After Calvary
By C. Bernard Ruffin
Huntington, Indiana, Our Sunday Visitor, 1984. 195 pp. $7.95.

How much do we really know about the lives of the apostles? What did they do after Calvary? Where did they go? The author, determined to learn as much as he could about the apostles, wrote, "Since the apostles were therefore designated by Jesus as His representatives and as the respository of sacred truth, and since the New Testament comes from their pen and that of their immediate associates, it is a good thing to examine in detail what can be known about these most eminent of men."

His book is quite like having twelve biographies under one cover as he

507 - The Twelve: The Lives of the Apostles After Calvary

portrays a picture of each one, gathering information from such scholars and historians as Papias, Eusebius, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and St. John Chrysostom. He also draws on Scripture, legend, tradition, and historical documents. By weaving together these sources, Dr. Ruffin puts together a rather remarkable and thorough story about each apostle, remarkable since they were primarily concerned about spreading the Gospel than information about themselves. As a compilation of many sources, Ruffin's book is a valuable addition to anyone's library.

Virginia M. Sheay
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Trenton, N.J.