Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series • VOLUME 11
Chrysostom — Acts and Romans
SECTION 81
Again I see others stand talking while Prayer is going on; while the more consistent [593] of them (do this) not only during the Prayer, but
Again I see others stand talking while Prayer is going on; while the more consistent [593] of them (do this) not only during the Prayer, but even when the Priest is giving the Benediction. O, horror! When shall there be salvation? when shall it be possible for us to propitiate God?--Soldiers [594] go to their diversion, and you …
2,215 wordsSECTION 82[591] 'Epi de tou Theou tou deomenou hemon, ouk eti. So A. B. C. The modern text, tou oud.
[591] 'Epi de tou Theou tou deomenou hemon, ouk eti. So A. B. C. The modern text, tou oud. [592] pantes neoi psuchroi kai gerontes. The last word must be corrupt, for he is speaking only of the young: perhaps it should be gemontes with some genitive, e.g. "full of folly," or "evil thoughts." Then, katharmata mallon e neoi, more…
701 wordsSECTION 83Homily XXV.
Homily XXV. Acts XI. 19 "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that rose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only." The persecution turned out to be no slight benefit as "to them that love God all things work together for good." (…
2,256 wordsSECTION 84"As each had the ability, they sent." But now, none does this, although there is a famine more grievous than that. For the cases are not ali
"As each had the ability, they sent." But now, none does this, although there is a famine more grievous than that. For the cases are not alike, for (all) to bear the calamity in common, and, while all (the rest) abound, for the poorer to be famishing. And the expression shows that the givers also were poor, for, it says, "as eac…
2,337 wordsSECTION 85[597] The name Christians was probably given by the Gentiles. The word appears but twice, besides here, in the N.T. (Acts xxvi. 8; 1 Pet. iv
[597] The name Christians was probably given by the Gentiles. The word appears but twice, besides here, in the N.T. (Acts xxvi. 8; 1 Pet. iv. 16), and in both cases it is implied that the name was a name applied to the disciples of Jesus by others. The Jews could hardly have originated the name since Christ was to them but the G…
1,649 wordsSECTION 86Homily XXVI.
Homily XXVI. Acts XII. 1, 2 "Now at that time Herod the King stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Then were the days of unleavened bread." "At that time," of course meanin…
2,757 wordsSECTION 87"So Peter was kept in the prison," etc. (v. 5.) They, being at large, were at prayer: he, bound, was in sleep. "And he wist not that it was
"So Peter was kept in the prison," etc. (v. 5.) They, being at large, were at prayer: he, bound, was in sleep. "And he wist not that it was true." (v. 9.) If he thought it was true that was happening, he would have been astonished, he would not have remembered [633] (all the circumstances): but now, seeming to be in a dream, he …
2,310 wordsSECTION 88[622] A. B. C. kakia, asebeia. Cat phonos adikos kakias;asebeia tais k. t. l. Mod. text substitutes for these two words, Polle he anoia tou
[622] A. B. C. kakia, asebeia. Cat phonos adikos kakias;asebeia tais k. t. l. Mod. text substitutes for these two words, Polle he anoia tou Erodou. [623] Kathos de oonto A. B. C. Either this is out of its place, or the sentence is incomplete. The mod. text substitutes, "And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison." […
875 wordsSECTION 89Homily XXVII.
Homily XXVII. Acts XII. 18, 19 "Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Cæsarea, and there abode." Some persons,…
2,338 wordsSECTION 90Let us consider our very make, and we shall see there is in us but one little part that has this operation--for our mouth and tongue are mea
Let us consider our very make, and we shall see there is in us but one little part that has this operation--for our mouth and tongue are meant for singing hymns, our throat for voice--therefore the very necessity of nature has tied us down, that we may not, even involuntarily, get into much trouble (pragmateian) (in this way). S…
2,222 wordsSECTION 91Homily XXVIII.
[650] ouk apostesomen...an me heteron antistesomen pathos (Mod. text pros het. and to pathos), i.e. unless, as Solomon does in the last clause of the text cited, we set against this lust a different affection, viz. vanity, especially female vanity, regard to personal appearance. Hence that last clause might be better transposed …
3,076 wordsSECTION 92[651] That Barnabas and Saul preached first to the Jews for the reason mentioned by Chrysostom is wholly improbable. The mission to the Gent
[651] That Barnabas and Saul preached first to the Jews for the reason mentioned by Chrysostom is wholly improbable. The mission to the Gentiles entrusted to them never cancelled, in their minds, their obligation to the Jews as having in the plan of God an economic precedence. Paul not only maintained throughout his life an arde…
896 wordsSECTION 93Homily XXIX.
Homily XXIX. Acts XIII. 16, 17 "Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought He them out of it." Behold Barnaba…
2,579 wordsSECTION 94This too might with reason be said to us: [675] "Behold ye despisers." For the Church indeed is in very evil case, although ye think her aff
This too might with reason be said to us: [675] "Behold ye despisers." For the Church indeed is in very evil case, although ye think her affairs to be in peace. For the mischief of it is, that while we labor under so many evils, we do not even know that we have any. "What sayest thou? We are in possession of our Churches, our Ch…
2,597 wordsSECTION 95[661] i.e. for one of the congregation to expound or preach: or perhaps rather, to preach standing, not sitting, as Christian bishops did fo
[661] i.e. for one of the congregation to expound or preach: or perhaps rather, to preach standing, not sitting, as Christian bishops did for their sermons. We have transposed the comment to its proper place.--Mod. text adds, "Wherefore he too in accordance with this discourses to them." [662] hoper en sumphoras onoma, in regar…
1,472 wordsSECTION 96Homily XXX.
Homily XXX. Acts XIII. 42 "And as they were going out (text rec. from the syn. of the Jews,') they besought (the Gentiles) that these words might be spoken unto them on the following sabbath." Do you mark Paul's wisdom? He not only gained admiration at the time, but put into them a longing desire for a second hearing, while i…
2,344 wordsSECTION 97"And so spake, that a great multitude," etc. (ch. xiv. 1.) Do you mark the nature of the Gospel, the great virtue it has? "Made their minds
"And so spake, that a great multitude," etc. (ch. xiv. 1.) Do you mark the nature of the Gospel, the great virtue it has? "Made their minds evil-affected," it says, "against the brethren:" (v. 2.) i.e. slandered the Apostles, raised numberless accusations against them: (these people, being simple, [695] they "made evil-affected,…
2,318 wordsSECTION 98[680] mss. and Edd. apartisai kai oikeiosai heauto. The Catena has preserved the true reading anartesai. in the sense, to make them hang upo
[680] mss. and Edd. apartisai kai oikeiosai heauto. The Catena has preserved the true reading anartesai. in the sense, to make them hang upon (him for further communications).--Below, to panta athroon eis tas ekeinon rh& 178;psai psuchas, the ekeinon distinguishes the first hearers from the people generally: if he had spoken all…
2,163 wordsSECTION 99Homily XXXI.
Homily XXXI. Acts XIV. 14, 15 "Which when the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made h…
2,086 wordsSECTION 100Homily XXXI.
For it is indeed [722] a great thing, a great, a generous soul (like this)! How many have since believed, and none of them all has shone like him! What we want is earnestness, exceeding ardor, a soul ready to encounter death. Else is it not possible to attain unto the Kingdom, not being crucified. Let us not deceive ourselves. F…
2,539 wordsSECTION 101[711] A. B. C. Cat. apostrephomenes Mod. text apostrephomenoi, and adds kai penthous semeia poiountes, and so OEcumen.
[711] A. B. C. Cat. apostrephomenes Mod. text apostrephomenoi, and adds kai penthous semeia poiountes, and so OEcumen. [712] A. B. C. all' ouch hesuchasan. The true reading is preserved by Cat. all' ouk ischusen. Mod. text all' ouch hesuchazousin. [713] All our mss. ton propheton. From the recapitulation we restore ton aoraton…
1,650 wordsSECTION 102Homily XXXII.
Homily XXXII. Acts XV. 1 "And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." Mark [734] how at every step of the right progress in respect of the Gentiles, the beginning is brought in as matter of necessity. Before this (Peter) bei…
2,462 wordsSECTION 103How then may one root out this evil passion? how subdue (huposkeliseie) this violent fever? Let us see whence it had its birth, and let us r
How then may one root out this evil passion? how subdue (huposkeliseie) this violent fever? Let us see whence it had its birth, and let us remove the cause. Whence is it wont to arise? From arrogance and much haughtiness. This cause then let us remove, and the disease is removed together with it. But what is arrogance? whence do…
2,299 wordsSECTION 104Homily XXXIII.
Homily XXXIII. Acts XV. 13, 15 "And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Symeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets." This (James) was bishop, as they say, and th…
2,882 wordsSECTION 105No [780] more faction. On this occasion, I suppose, it was that they received the right hand, as he says himself, "They gave to me and Barna
No [780] more faction. On this occasion, I suppose, it was that they received the right hand, as he says himself, "They gave to me and Barnabas right hands of fellowship." (Gal. ii. 9.) There he says, "They added nothing to me." [781] (ib. 6.) For they confirmed his view: they praised and admired it.--It shows that even from hum…
2,283 wordsSECTION 106[756] Mod. text, "But it is not of these things that he speaks. And what raising up, you will say, does he mean? That after Babylon." We poi
[756] Mod. text, "But it is not of these things that he speaks. And what raising up, you will say, does he mean? That after Babylon." We point it, poian legei egersin ten meta Babulona; "Was it raised up? was it not rather razed to the ground (by the Romans)? True it was rebuilt after the return from Babylon, but what sort of ra…
2,220 wordsSECTION 107[779] Here insert from below: "For it might have been done also without letters--they did this."
[779] Here insert from below: "For it might have been done also without letters--they did this." [780] What follows consists of notes which the redactor did not bring to their proper places. "No more faction--admired it," see note 1, p. 207. "It shows--the Spirit," may belong either to the comment on krino ego, or to that on "I…
741 wordsSECTION 108Homily XXXIV.
Homily XXXIV. Acts XV. 35 "Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also." Observe again their humility, how they let others also take part in the preaching. "And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city wher…
2,526 wordsSECTION 109"He went," it says, "through" the cities "And, behold, there was a disciple, by name Timothy, who had a good report of the brethren which we
"He went," it says, "through" the cities "And, behold, there was a disciple, by name Timothy, who had a good report of the brethren which were in Lystra and Iconium." (v. 41; xvi. 1.) Great was the grace of Timothy. When Barnabas departed (apeste), he finds another, equivalent to him. Of him he saith, "Remembering thy tears and …
2,516 wordsSECTION 110[791] mss. and Edd. after ton apostolon add ton loipon, which we omit as evidently out of place: for "the Apostles" here are Paul and Barnab
[791] mss. and Edd. after ton apostolon add ton loipon, which we omit as evidently out of place: for "the Apostles" here are Paul and Barnabas. Possibly it should be dia ton loipon, "by the rest of the particulars related on former occasions," but if so, this must be placed after ton ap. to ethos. [792] The notes of this Homily…
2,271 wordsSECTION 111Homily XXXV.
Homily XXXV. Acts XVI. 13, 14 "And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont (Chrys. "was thought likely") to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard u…
2,199 wordsSECTION 112Homily XXXV.
Then let us not seek after this. For if we will consider which has the pleasanter life, he that is toiled and hardworked, or he that lives in luxury, we shall find it to be the former. For in the first place, [831] the bodily senses are neither clear nor sound, but dull (chhaunai) and languid; and when those are not right, even …
2,185 wordsSECTION 113Homily XXXVI.
Homily XXXVI. Acts XVI. 25, 26 "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." What could equal these sou…
3,087 wordsSECTION 114And (even) this (He seeks), only that we may not become unprofitable, since even without this He could have freed us from them: but like as
And (even) this (He seeks), only that we may not become unprofitable, since even without this He could have freed us from them: but like as we (with the same view) devise and arrange many things for our servants to do, so does He in the matter of our salvation. "Let us anticipate His face with thanksgiving." (Ps. xcv. 2. "Let us…
1,735 wordsSECTION 115Homily XXXVII.
Homily XXXVII. Acts XVII. 1, 2, 3 "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered, …
2,148 wordsSECTION 116Homily XXXVII.
See what zeal the rest of the disciples showed with respect to their leaders: not as it is now with us, who are separated and divided into great and small: some of us exalted, while others are envious: for this is the reason why those are envious, because we are puffed up, because we will not endure to be put upon a par with the…
2,206 wordsSECTION 117Homily XXXVIII.
[861] Mod. text mistaking the meaning, has: "But they indeed were persuaded, but these do just the contrary, making an uproar among them." [862] Edd. kathaper gar en somati, hotan he nosos chalepotera e, pleiona echei ten hulen kai ten trophen. Neander, der heil. Chrysost. t. i. p. 2. note, corrects the passage thus, kathaper g…
3,019 wordsSECTION 118For lest, when he says, "Being the offspring of God" (v. 29), they should again say, Thou bringest certain strange things to our ears, [890]
For lest, when he says, "Being the offspring of God" (v. 29), they should again say, Thou bringest certain strange things to our ears, [890] he produces the poet. He does not say, "Ye ought not to think the Godhead like to gold or silver," ye accursed and execrable: but in more lowly sort he says, "We ought not." For what (says …
2,448 wordsSECTION 119[867] The old text has peirasmous, perhaps for sebasmous. Mod. text, tosauta eidola.
[867] The old text has peirasmous, perhaps for sebasmous. Mod. text, tosauta eidola. [868] Old text, houtos autou phthengomenou hubristikos eutheos (comp. Recapitulation) makran touto philosophias; apo tou kerugmatos. hoti oudena tuphon eichen. Hence Mod. text, oude apepedesan apo tou ker., eipontes; makron touto phil. & 169;Ot…
2,202 wordsSECTION 120Homily XXXIX.
[898] A. B. C. meta gar tauta katholikas eidenai auto. The sense would be satisfied by meta to tas kath. eidenai auto charitas. Mod. text. "Together with the reckoning up of what God has done for us in common (benefits), so many that none is able even to number them, and giving Him thanks for all these, let us all bethink us of …
2,606 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.