Time, place, posture, action,--all settle so deep into his soul, that when, in his old age, he would identify himself, he describes himself as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved; who also at the Supper' (that memorable Supper!) 'lay ([Greek: anepesen][190]) on Jesus' breast,' (literally, 'upon His chest,'-- [Greek: epi to stethos autou]), and said, 'Lord, who is it that is to betray Thee ?' (ch.xxi.

20)....
Yes, and the Church was not slow to take the beautiful hint.

His language so kindled her imagination that the early Fathers learned to speak of St.John the Divine, as [Greek: ho epistethios],--'the (recliner) on the chest[191].' Now, every delicate discriminating touch in this sublime picture is faithfully retained throughout by the cursive copies in the proportion of about eighty to one.

The great bulk of the MSS., as usual, uncial and cursive alike, establish the undoubted text of the Evangelist, which is here the Received Text.

Thus, a vast majority of the MSS., with [Symbol: Aleph]AD at their head, read [Greek: epipeson] in St.John xiii.