APOSTOLICAL CANONS, rules, or laws, for the government of the Christian church, supposed by some to have been drawn up by the apostles themselves. Baronius and Bellarmin rejected the last 35 as apocryphal, but admitted the first 50 as genuine. Dr Beveridge is of opinion, with others, that, though these canons were not written by the apostles, yet that they were very ancient, and were properly a collection of the canons of several councils held before that of Nice.
Indeed, that the apostolical canons are of great antiquity, is plain from hence, that the council of Nice frequently cites them under the names of ancient laws, canons of the fathers, ecclesiastical and even apostolical canons. We cannot certainly say when, or by whom, they were compiled. However, it is very probable the collection was made at different times, because there is no connection or order observed in them. The Greek church always acknowledged them as of great authority. They are cited by Justinian in his sixth novel.