From their authentic acts in Ruinart, p. 624.
IN Egypt, thirty-seven Christian noblemen, all persons of high birth and
plentiful fortunes, but richer in the gifts of grace, entered into a
zealous confederacy to propagate the gospel throughout the country.
Their leader and head was one Paul, a true imitator of the great apostle
whose name he bore. They divided themselves into four several bands:
Paul and nine others went eastward: Recombus, with eight more, towards
the north: Thoonas, with the like number, to the south: and Papias, with
the remaining eight, to the west. They labored zealously in extending
the kingdom of Christ on every side, planting the faith, instructing the
docile, and purifying the souls of penitents who confessed their sins.
But the greatest part of the inhabitants of that great kingdom loved
darkness rather than light. The servants of God were treated with all
manner of injuries, apprehended, and laid in irons. The governor,
alarmed at the news of their enterprise, sent orders for their being
brought before him from different parts of the kingdom. He employed both
promises and threats to compel them to sacrifice. Paul answered, in the
name of them all, that it was better for them to die, saying: "Do not
spare us." The judge condemned them all to death: those who went to the
east and south, to be burned; those from the north, to be beheaded; and
those from the west to be crucified. But he was affrighted and surprised
beyond expression to see with what joy and courage this brave army
marched out, and bowed their heads to death. They suffered on the 18th
of January, but in what year it is not mentioned in their acts.