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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 74
Thus spake the holy Porphyry, and having persuaded the brethren he received all those that desired to be enlightened, having instructed them for many days not only before the baptism, but also thereafter; for he continually taught the people, not speaking highsounding words, desiring to make a show, but teaching in plain speech and explaining all things out of the scripture. There were added, therefore, unto the fold of Christ in that year about three hundred persons,1 and thenceforth in each year the numbers of the Christians received an increase.
Notes
- persons. ὀνόματα. Cp. Acts i. 15. On this usage see Nuth, p. 42, and Dieterich in Byz. Zeitschr. viii, 1899, p. 198. Psychological subtleties in explanation of the usage are, however, unnecessary; the name represents the person, and name can therefore be used for person. A good instance of the substitution is afforded by the Greek coins of Lysimachus, King of Thrace, and other rulers, where Victory is represented placing a wreath on the name of the king (G. F. Hill, Hist. Greek Coins, p. 123).