[552] Rom. Sott., p. 307.
[553] See Book II, chap. ii, [p. 269].
[554] Rom. Sott., p. 308.
[555] According to Romish tradition, the Divine Sufferer received five thousand stripes during his scourging. This, as they would be inflicted by Roman soldiers, would be beyond human endurance, and was far beyond what Jewish or Roman law would allow.
[556] Acts iv, 3.
[557] Aringhi, Roma Sotterranea, tom. ii, p. 273.
[558] Hence Augustine asserts that if the name of the apostle is not expressly mentioned, St. Paul is always understood by this title—Apostolus cum dicetur, si non exprimatur quis apostolus non intelligitur nisi Paulus.—Contra duas Epis. Pelag., lib. iii, c. 3. The apostles were sometimes represented by twelve men, but without any individual distinction.
O Roma felix, quæ duorum Principum
Es consecrata glorioso sanguine;
Horum cruore purpurata ceteras
Excellis orbis una pulcritudines.
—Office for the Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul.