Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series • VOLUME 11
Chrysostom — Acts and Romans
SECTION 41
Homily XIII.
Homily XIII. Acts V. 17, 18 "Then having risen up, the high-priest and they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees) were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison." "Having risen up," that is, being [300] roused, being excited at the things taking place, t…
2,629 wordsSECTION 42Let us imitate these, my beloved: let us be undaunted in all our dangers. There is nothing dreadful to him that fears God; but all that is d
Let us imitate these, my beloved: let us be undaunted in all our dangers. There is nothing dreadful to him that fears God; but all that is dreadful is for others. For when a man is delivered from his passions, and regards all present things as a shadow, say, from whom shall he suffer anything dreadful? whom shall he have to fear…
2,379 wordsSECTION 43[300] OEcumenius has in part preserved the true reading, t. e. diegertheis, kinetheis, epi tois ginomenois [text omitted] sphodroteron autoi
[300] OEcumenius has in part preserved the true reading, t. e. diegertheis, kinetheis, epi tois ginomenois [text omitted] sphodroteron autois epitithetai. A. B. C. Cat. t. e., diegerthe, kinetheis epi tois gen. "Kai eth. autous en t. d." Nun sphodr. autois epitithentai. And again after praous esesthai,--Kai sphodr. epitithentai …
1,991 wordsSECTION 44Homily XIV.
Homily XIV. Acts V. 34 "Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded the men to be put forth a little space." This Gamaliel was Paul's teacher. And one may well wonder, how, being so right-minded in his judgment, and withal learn…
3,281 wordsSECTION 45Him therefore let us also imitate. He received them, and did not cast them out. So let us requite those our enemies, who have wrought us eve
Him therefore let us also imitate. He received them, and did not cast them out. So let us requite those our enemies, who have wrought us even numberless ills. Whatever good thing we may have, let us impart to them: let us not pass them by, in our acts of beneficence. For if we ought, by suffering ill, to sate their rage, much mo…
2,202 wordsSECTION 46[322] Omitted in the old text: supplied by E.--Below, E. omits, "for, saith the Scripture, in the mouth of two witnesses:" and amplifies the
[322] Omitted in the old text: supplied by E.--Below, E. omits, "for, saith the Scripture, in the mouth of two witnesses:" and amplifies the rest, adding, "even a third, superabundantly: both showing how well he himself speaks, and leading them away from their sanguinary purpose." [323] Edd. from E. "Saying this, he speaks noth…
2,376 wordsSECTION 47Homily XV.
[339] hoti echoi ti ton allon ton adiaphoron. E. D. F. Edd. diapheron "something about him, better than other men." Below, for ennoesanta gar "for when one has considered," Edd. have ennoesantas de kai, "but when you consider also:" i.e. "but if the case be not so," etc. In fact something is wanting: for the case here supposed i…
2,795 wordsSECTION 48These things having seen, let us likewise, whatever God shall promise, receive the same, however contrary may be the events. And yet in our
These things having seen, let us likewise, whatever God shall promise, receive the same, however contrary may be the events. And yet in our case, they are not contrary, but very suitable. For where the promises are, there, when the contraries turn out, they are really contrary; but in our case it is just the reverse: for He has …
2,501 wordsSECTION 49[343] The accusations against Stephen were probably true in part and false in part. He had doubtless spoken against Jewish legalism and narr
[343] The accusations against Stephen were probably true in part and false in part. He had doubtless spoken against Jewish legalism and narrowness and had perhaps shown the bearing of O.T. prophecy and of Jesus' doctrine of fulfilment upon the fate of the Jewish system. The charge that he had spoken "against Moses" had, then, a …
1,214 wordsSECTION 50Homily XVI.
Homily XVI. Acts VII. 6, 7 "And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve Me in this place…
2,230 wordsSECTION 51"And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush
"And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush." (v. 30.) Do you mark that it is not hindered by lapse of time? For when he was an exile, when a stranger, when he had now passed much time in a foreign land, so as to have two sons, when …
2,805 wordsSECTION 52[362] kaitoi ouden echon autois enkalein. A. B. C. N. Cat.--E. F. D. Edd. omit this clause, and read: "to be afflicted: and that they did no
[362] kaitoi ouden echon autois enkalein. A. B. C. N. Cat.--E. F. D. Edd. omit this clause, and read: "to be afflicted: and that they did not," etc. So Edd. [363] Ina gar me touto (Cat. touton, A. C. N. touto B. om.) nomisosin eusebeis (N. eusebein) einai, dia to legein k. t. l. The wording of the passage is not strictly gramma…
1,381 wordsSECTION 53Homily XVII.
Homily XVII. Acts VII. 35 "This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush." This is very suitable to the matter in hand. "This Moses," he says. "This," the man who had been in danger…
2,550 wordsSECTION 54Such is the boldness of speech of a man bearing the Cross. Let us then also imitate this: though it be not a time of war, yet it is always t
Such is the boldness of speech of a man bearing the Cross. Let us then also imitate this: though it be not a time of war, yet it is always the time for boldness of speech. For, "I spake," says one, "in Thy testimonies before kings, and was not ashamed." (Ps. cxix. 46.) If we chance to be among heathens, let us thus stop their mo…
2,301 wordsSECTION 55[390] Entha men eucharistein edei, A, B, C. D. F., but N. and Cat. acharistein.--E. Kai enpha men autous acharistein en. Edd. euch.
[390] Entha men eucharistein edei, A, B, C. D. F., but N. and Cat. acharistein.--E. Kai enpha men autous acharistein en. Edd. euch. [391] This clause, omitted by A. B. C , is preserved by N. and the Catena. The calf was one, yet they called it Gods: on which St. Chrys. remarks elsewhere, that they added polytheism to idolatry.-…
1,333 wordsSECTION 56Homily XVIII.
Homily XVIII. Acts VII. 54 "When they heard these things, they were cut to "the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth." See, [402] once more, the wrong-doers in trouble. Just as the Jews are perplexed, saying, "What are we to do with these men?" so these also are "cut to the heart." (ch. iv. 16.) And yet it was he t…
2,481 wordsSECTION 57(a) "Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went everywhere, preaching the word." But [419] I would have thee admire how even in a seaso
(a) "Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went everywhere, preaching the word." But [419] I would have thee admire how even in a season of calamity they neglected not the preaching. "Hearing and seeing the miracles which he did." (Recapitulation, v. 4-6.) Just as in the case of Moses by contrast (with the magicians) the mi…
3,162 wordsSECTION 58[402] In our mss. the Homily opens abruptly with the question, Pos ouk elabon ek ton eiremenon aphormen eis to [me Cat.] anelein auton; whic
[402] In our mss. the Homily opens abruptly with the question, Pos ouk elabon ek ton eiremenon aphormen eis to [me Cat.] anelein auton; which is left unanswered, till some way further on. See note 2.--Montf. notes, "Unus, eisto me anelein." But this reading does not appear in any of our mss. though the Catena has it. Edd. from E…
2,208 wordsSECTION 59[419] What follows, to the end of the Exposition, has by some accident fallen into strange confusion. In the Translation we have endeavored
[419] What follows, to the end of the Exposition, has by some accident fallen into strange confusion. In the Translation we have endeavored to restore the proper order. In the first place it should be observed, that the portion beginning Hoi men diamarturamenoi, p. 148. D. Ben. and ending at hote proton episteusan, p. 149. A. co…
2,072 wordsSECTION 60Homily XIX.
Homily XIX. Acts VIII. 26, 27 "And the Angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, arise and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went." It seems to me, this [436] (Philip) was one of the seven; for from Jerusalem he would not have gone southwards, but t…
1,755 wordsSECTION 61Homily XIX.
"And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." (ch. ix. 1, 2.) He fitly mentions Paul's zeal…
2,374 wordsSECTION 62Say, what are the Scriptures for? For as much as in you lies, it is all undone. What is the Church for? Tie up [466] the Bibles: perhaps the
Say, what are the Scriptures for? For as much as in you lies, it is all undone. What is the Church for? Tie up [466] the Bibles: perhaps the judgment would not be such, not such the punishment: if one were to bury them in dung, that he might not hear them, he would not so insult them as you do now. For say, what is the insult th…
2,223 wordsSECTION 63[445] ti de ekolusen panta auton akribos mathein kai en to ochemati onta; kai gar eremos en kai ouk en to pragma epideixis. We conjecture th
[445] ti de ekolusen panta auton akribos mathein kai en to ochemati onta; kai gar eremos en kai ouk en to pragma epideixis. We conjecture the first clause to be meant as the answer to an objection: How should Philip know all these particulars? It may indeed relate to the eunuch's accurate knowledge (akribeia) above mentioned, no…
2,315 wordsSECTION 64[461] The letters (a) (b) denote the order of the two parts in mss. and Edd.
[461] The letters (a) (b) denote the order of the two parts in mss. and Edd. [462] dia to asthenes eti: Edd, give this to the preceding sentence, and then: Oude proteron houtos en eukolon, hos hote ho prophetes auton katechesen: "nor was it so easy before, as (it was) when the Prophet had catechized him:" which is irrelevant to…
1,236 wordsSECTION 65Homily XX.
Homily XX. Acts IX. 10, 12 "And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for,…
2,274 wordsSECTION 66"And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him." [484] (v. 23.) The Jews again resort to that valid argument (i
"And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him." [484] (v. 23.) The Jews again resort to that valid argument (ischuron sullogismon) of theirs, not now seeking false-accusers and false-witnesses; they cannot wait for these now: but what do they? They set about it by themselves. For as they see the aff…
2,253 wordsSECTION 67[477] For Iesoun (the reading accredited by the leading authorities in v. 20) here and in the second exposition, E. alone has Christon (with
[477] For Iesoun (the reading accredited by the leading authorities in v. 20) here and in the second exposition, E. alone has Christon (with text recept.) adopted by Edd. [478] Kai eutheos ek trooimion, thanaton ho anthropos en viz. ch. vii. 58. C. has thanaton, for which A. conjecturally substitutes thaumastos. [479] The narr…
1,437 wordsSECTION 68Homily XXI.
Homily XXI. Acts IX. 26, 27 "And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way." One may well be much at a…
2,201 wordsSECTION 69"Assayed," it says, "to join himself to the disciples." (Recapitulation, v. 26.) He did not come up to them unabashed, but with a subdued ma
"Assayed," it says, "to join himself to the disciples." (Recapitulation, v. 26.) He did not come up to them unabashed, but with a subdued manner. "Disciples" [508] they were all called at that time by reason of their great virtue, for there was the likeness of the disciples plainly to be seen. "But they were all afraid of him." …
2,859 wordsSECTION 70[491] St. Chrysostom's exposition cannot be correctly reported here. Perhaps what he did say, was in substance as follows: "but I went into
[491] St. Chrysostom's exposition cannot be correctly reported here. Perhaps what he did say, was in substance as follows: "but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus: whence we learn, that the plot against him at Damascus was after his return from Arabia, and then the visit (to Jerusalem), after the escape from Da…
2,293 wordsSECTION 71[511] 'All' hos semeion mallon auto (autos B.) diegeitai kai euangelizetai: "he speaks not in the form of command or promise, but of narrati
[511] 'All' hos semeion mallon auto (autos B.) diegeitai kai euangelizetai: "he speaks not in the form of command or promise, but of narration: he relates it, Evangelist-like, as a fact." [512] Ora pos diakathairetai ta pragmata (omitted in E. D. F. Edd.): i.e. how the Gospel has purged away all excess of mourning, and all nois…
1,225 wordsSECTION 72Homily XXII.
Homily XXII. Acts X. 1-4 "There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God comi…
2,883 wordsSECTION 73See how great the virtue of alms, both in the former discourse, and here! There, it delivered from death temporal; here, from death eternal;
See how great the virtue of alms, both in the former discourse, and here! There, it delivered from death temporal; here, from death eternal; and opened the gates of heaven. Such are the pains taken for the bringing of Cornelius to the faith, that both an angel is sent, and the Spirit works, and the chief of the Apostles is fetch…
2,298 wordsSECTION 74[528] St. Chrysostom's exposition, as we gather it from this and the following Homily, seems to be in substance as follows: St. Peter was no
[528] St. Chrysostom's exposition, as we gather it from this and the following Homily, seems to be in substance as follows: St. Peter was not ignorant of nor averse to, the counsel of God in respect of the free admission of the Gentiles. He did not need instruction on this point for himself, and the vision was not so much intend…
2,328 wordsSECTION 75[543] It was remarked above, that St. Chrysostom's exposition proceeds upon the assumption, that St. Peter did not need the instruction for
[543] It was remarked above, that St. Chrysostom's exposition proceeds upon the assumption, that St. Peter did not need the instruction for himself. Here the reporter has not fully expressed his meaning: which should be to this effect. "Since it had been said at the outset to Peter and the other Apostles, Go not into the way of …
1,150 wordsSECTION 76Homily XXIII.
Homily XXIII. Acts X. 23, 24 "Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends." "He" called them in, and lod…
2,764 wordsSECTION 77All ye that have received this forgiveness, all ye to whom it has been vouchsafed to attain unto faith, learn, I beseech you, the greatness
All ye that have received this forgiveness, all ye to whom it has been vouchsafed to attain unto faith, learn, I beseech you, the greatness of the Gift, and study not to be insolent to your Benefactor. For we obtained forgiveness, not that we should become worse, but to make us far better and more excellent. Let none say that Go…
2,282 wordsSECTION 78[554] So mss. and Edd. but the clause ho Theos touto ekeleuse might be better transferred, in the sense, "It is only in obedience to God's c
[554] So mss. and Edd. but the clause ho Theos touto ekeleuse might be better transferred, in the sense, "It is only in obedience to God's command that I come to you." Below, Eita hina medeis auto ten charin eche (A. B. C. D. F. Cat.) epagei (om. C.) ti phesin; (A. B. C. but Cat. for epagei ti phesin; has, tauta phesin;) Kai emo…
2,382 wordsSECTION 79Homily XXIV.
[570] E. D. F. Edd. "Therefore, that it may not be possible for Him through us to be called, etc., and lest by the very fact of His being thus blasphemed; we ourselves become liable to the punishment thereof (For through you,' it is written, My Name is blasphemed among the Gentiles,') let us cause the very opposite to be said, b…
2,353 wordsSECTION 80"While Peter yet spake," etc. (Recapitulation.) He does not say that Peter was astonished, but, "They of the circumcision:" since he knew wh
"While Peter yet spake," etc. (Recapitulation.) He does not say that Peter was astonished, but, "They of the circumcision:" since he knew what was in preparation. And yet they ought to have marvelled at this, how they themselves had believed. When they heard that they had believed, they were not astonished, but when God gave the…
2,765 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.