Pontus

This is what the Scythians say about themselves and the country north of them.

But the story told by the Greeks who live in Pontus is as follows.

Heracles, driving the cattle of Geryones, came to this land, which was then desolate, but is now inhabited by the Scythians.

Geryones lived west of the Pontus, settled in the island called by the Greeks Erythia, on the shore of Ocean, near Gadira, outside the pillars of Heracles.

As for Ocean, the Greeks say that it flows around the whole world from where the sun rises, but they cannot prove that this is so.

Heracles came from there to the country now called Scythia, where, encountering wintry and frosty weather, he drew his lion skin over him and fell asleep, and while he slept his mares, which were grazing yoked to the chariot, were spirited away by divine fortune.

From Scythes, son of Heracles, come the whole line of kings of Scythia, and it is because of the vessel that the Scythians carry vessels on their belts to this day.

This alone his mother did for Scythes.

Part one, chapter seven, King Phineus.

Said Tiphys the steersman, "If we could enter the Sea of Pontus, we could make our way across that sea to Colchis in a short time.

But the passage into the Sea of Pontus is most perilous, and few mortals dare even to make approach to it." Said Jason, the chieftain of the host, "The dangers of the passage, Tiphys, we have spoken of, and it may well be that we shall have to carry Argo over land to the Sea of Pontus.

But you, Tiphys, have spoken of a wise king who is hereabouts and who might help us to make the dangerous passage.

Speak again to us and tell us what the dangers of the passage are and who the king is who may be able to help us make these dangers less." Then said Tiphys, the steersman of the Argo, "No ship sailed by mortals has as yet gone through the passage that brings this sea into the Sea of Pontus.

In the way are the rocks that mariners called the Clashers.

These rocks are not fixed as rocks should be, but they rush one against the other, dashing up the sea and crushing whatever may be between.

Yea, if Argo were of iron, and if she were between these rocks when they met, she would be crushed to bits.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, farewell.

Chapter 1 Simon Peter, the son of John, from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, brother of Andrew the Apostle, and himself the chief of the Apostles, after having been bishop of the Church of Antioch, and having preached to the dispersion, the believers in the circumcision in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, pushed on to Rome in the second year of Claudius to overthrow Simon Magus, and held the sacerdotal chair there for twenty-five years until the last, that is, the fourteenth year of Nero.

At his hands he received the crown of martyrdom, being nailed to the cross with his head towards the ground, and his feet raised on high, asserting that he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord.

He wrote two epistles which are called Catholic, the second of which, on account of its difference from the first in style, is considered by many not to be by him.

There are extant also five other books of his against the nations, two on truth, and against the Catafrigians, written at the time when Montanus was making a beginning with Priscilla and Maximilla.

Chapter 27 Dionysus, bishop of the church of Corinth, was of so great eloquence and industry that he taught not only the people of his own city and province, but also those of other provinces and cities by his letters.

Of these, one is to the Laodemonians, another to the Athenians, a third to the Nicomedians, a fourth to the Cretians, a fifth to the church at Amastrina, and to the other churches of Pontus, a sixth to the Gnostians and to Pintas, bishop of the same city, a seventh to the Romans addressed to Soter, their bishop, an eighth to Christophora, a holy woman.

He flourished in the reign of Marcus Antonius Verus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus.

And that's evidenced by the fact that this husband and wife team that we meet in Acts 18 are always together.

Remember Acts 18 verse 2, he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla.

I love that expression, with his wife.

She's with him, he's with her.

We are first introduced to them in the book of Acts, in Acts chapter number 18, and here's their story.

After these things, Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome and came unto them.

And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them and wrought, for by their occupation they were tent makers.

So here we have their names.

A reading from the first letter of Peter.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ, and for sprinkling with his blood.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.