[86] The historians state that the apostle Peter wept very much daily after the ascension of Christ. When he was asked why he wept so much, he replied, _Desiderio Domini_, that is, “Because I very much long for my Lord.” There are ancient writers who state that Peter cried every time he heard a cock crow. When he saw his beloved wife being led out, to be put to death, on account of having confessed the faith, he addressed her in these words, “O my beloved wife! have the Lord Jesus always before thine eyes; this is the marriage of the saints.” He was sentenced to be crucified in theusual manner. But he requested to be hung on the cross with his feet up, saying, “I am not worthy to be hung on the cross, like the Son of God hung and suffered on it.” _W. Baudart. Apophthegm._ printed _Anno 1640, first book, page 2_. PAUL, THE APOSTLE OF CHRIST, SORELY PERSECUTED, AND FINALLY BEHEADED, AT ROME, UNDER THE EMPEROR NERO, A. D. 69. [Illustration: BEHEADING OF PAUL.] Saul, afterwards called Paul, was of Jewish descent, a Hebrew of the tribe of Benjamin; but, as to who his father and mother were, we find in Holy Writ no record. Phil. 3:5. As regards the place of his birth, it appears that his parents, either on account of persecution, or of the Roman war, or for some other reason, left their place of residence in the portion of Benjamin, and went to dwell in a Roman, free city in Cilicia, called Tarsus, where Paul was born, who, although he was a Jew, yet, by the privileges of this city, became a Roman citizen. Acts 22:3. Respecting his early training, he was diligently instructed by the wise Gamaliel, in the law of the fathers; in which he became so proficient, that there were but few things in the entire Old Testament, with which he was not acquainted. Gal. 1:14. He lived blamelessly, according to the law of Moses and the holy prophets, and that in the strictest order of Judaism; but, having not yet been rightly instructed in the doctrine of the holy gospel, he, although in accordance with the law, manifested a wrong zeal, and persecuted the church of Christ; yea, at the death of Stephen he kept the garments of them that slew him. Acts 7:58. But afterwards, having obtained letters from the priests at Jerusalem to the synagogues of Damascus, to bring as prisoners such men and women who confessed the name of Christ, the Lord, from heaven, arrested him in his course, calling, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” Acts 9:1–6.