"The Apostles inherited the entire life of Christ, and were eyewitnesses and partakers of His works and acts. They inherited the lengthy fasts they saw Christ Himself perform, as Christ told them: 'This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting' (Mk. 9:29). They inherited night-long prayers ('Watch and pray'). They inherited agony in prayer, with frequent prostrations and sweat like drops of blood: 'And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground... And He said to His disciples, 'Why do you sleep? Rise and pray' ' (Lk. 22:44-46).
"They inherited endurance and patience amid the insults of the hierarchy and the betrayal of comrades: 'If they persecuted me they will persecute you' (J. 15:20). They inherited agony, suffering, and crucifixion, the most precious and exquisite gift they inherited from Christ: 'The cup that I drink you will drink' (Mk. 10:39); 'Then Paul answered 'What are you doing weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus' '(Ac. 21:13). All these works they inherited not as acts apart from Christ, but as part and parcel of Him. Christ dwelt in their hearts through faith when they received the Holy Spirit, and they thus performed all the works of Christ according to His promises, even miracles and death."
- Matthew the Poor in The Communion of Love, p. 114-115