IV

But that the age of thirty years is the prime of a young man’s ability, and that it reaches even to the fortieth year, every one will allow; but after the fortieth and fiftieth year, it begins to verge towards elder age: which our Lord was of when He taught, as the Gospel and all the Elders witness, who in Asia conferred with John the Lord’s disciple, to the effect that John had delivered these things unto them: for he abode with them until the times of Trajan. And some of them saw not only John, but others also of the Apostles, and had this same account from them, and witness to the aforesaid account.

IRENÆUS ii. 22. 5.