Paul, that conversed not with our Saviour before His passion, could know He was risen? To which is easily answered, that our Saviour himself appeared to him in the way to Damascus, from heaven, after His ascension; “and chose him for a vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles, and kings, and children of Israel”: and consequently, having seen the Lord after His passion, he was a competent witness of His resurrection. And as for Barnabas, he was a disciple before the passion. It is therefore evident that Paul and Barnabas were apostles; and yet chosen and authorized, not by the first apostles alone, but by the Church of Antioch; as Matthias was chosen and authorized by the Church of Jerusalem.