Homily XV.

Acts VI. 8

“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

See how even among the seven one was preëminent, and won the first prize. For though the ordination was common to him and them, yet he drew upon himself greater grace. And observe, how he wrought no (signs and wonders) before this time, but only when he became publicly known; to show that grace alone is not sufficient, but there must be ordination also; so that there was a further access of the Spirit. For if they were full of the Spirit, it was of that which is from the Laver of Baptism. “Then there arose certain of them of the synagogue.” (v. 9.) Again he uses the phrase of “rising up” (ἀνάστασιν, Hom. xiii. p. 81), to denote their exasperation and wrath. Here we have a great multitude. And observe the difference in the form of accusation: for since Gamaliel had stopped them from finding fault on the former plea, they bring in another charge. “And there rose up, it says, certain of them of the synagogue of those who are called (τὥν λεγομένων. Edd. τἥς λεγομένης) Libertines, and of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.” (v. 9–12.) That they may establish the charge, the phrase is, “he speaks against God, and against Moses.” And with this object too they disputed, that they might force him to say somewhat. But he now discoursed more openly, and perhaps spoke of the cessation of the Divine Law: or, spoke it not, but hinted as much: since had he spoken plainly, there had been no need of suborned men, nor yet of false witnesses.341    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 certain verbal truth which made its moral falseness all the more subtle. The perversion of his words was due in part to their utter incapacity to apprehend Christianity as the fulfilment of their own religion which necessarily involved the passing away of the latter, and partly from their bitter jealousy and hatred of the Christian “sect” and the determination to find some excuse to bring against it all the legal and social forces of the whole Jewish people. In his preaching Stephen had doubtless sought to set forth the distinctive character of Christianity as a religion historically founded in Judaism, but not to be limited and bound by its forms. He but developed germs of truth found in the teaching of Jesus concerning the Sabbath, ceremonial purifications, etc. He was the forerunner of Paul, who brought upon himself the same accusations (Acts xviii. 13; xxi. 21).—G.B.S. The synagogues were diverse: [to wit, “Of the Libertines”]: “of the Cyrenians, i.e. those in the parts beyond Alexandria [“of the Alexandrians,” etc.]. There also they seem to have had synagogues according to their different nations; for many stayed behind there, that they might not be obliged to be continually travelling. The Libertines perhaps were freedmen of the Romans. As there were many foreigners dwelling there, so they had their synagogues, where the Law was to be read. “Disputing with Stephen.” Observe him, not taking upon him to teach, but forced to do so. The miracles once more brought him into ill-will; but when he overcame in argument, it was false-witness! For they did not wish to kill intolerable to them. “They could not resist, etc.: then they suborned men.” Everywhere out of hand, but by means of a sentence, that they might hurt their reputation also: and leaving those (the Apostles), they attack these (the disciples), thinking in this way to terrify those also. They say not, “he speaketh,” but, “he ceaseth not to speak. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law.” (v. 12, 13.) “Ceaseth not,” say they, as if he made this his business. “For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.” (v. 14.) “Jesus,” they say, “the Nazarene,” as a term of reproach, “shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs.” This is also what they said about Christ. “Thou that destroyest this Temple.” (Matt. xxvii. 40.) For great was their veneration for the Temple (as indeed they had chosen to leave their own country (μετοικεἴν) in order to be near it) and for the name of Moses. The charge is twofold. If342    E. “And observe how the charge is twofold. ‘Shall destroy,’ say they, ‘the place,’ and, ‘shall change the customs.’ And not only twofold, but bitter,” etc. So Edd. but Savil. adds, “and shall introduce others instead.” He “shall change the customs,” He will also introduce others instead: observe how the charge is a bitter one, and fraught with perils. “And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” (v. 15.) So possible is it even for one in a lower degree to shine. For what, I ask, had this man less than the Apostles? He lacked not miracles, and great was the boldness he exhibited.343    A. B. C. N. Οὐχὶ σημεὶων ἐδεήθη, καὶ (A. B. οὐ) πολλὴν ἐπεδείξατο την παρρησίαν. Cat. has πολλῶν for σημείων, and reads it affirmatively. Edd. οὐχὶ σημεῖα ειργάσατο; οὐ (D.F. καὶ) πολλὴν κ. τ. λ. Perhaps the passage may be restored thus: “Did he not work miracles—though he needed not many—and show great boldness?”—“They saw His face,” it is said, “as it had been the face of an angel.” (Ex. xxxiv. 30.) For this was his grace, this was the glory of Moses. God made him thus gracious (ἐπίχαριν) of visage, now that he was about to say somewhat, thus at once by his very look to awe them. For there are, yes, there are faces full-fraught with spiritual grace, lovely to them that love, awful to haters and enemies. It mentions also the reason, why they suffered his oration.—“Then,” it proceeds, “said the high-priest, Are these things so?” (ch. vii. 1.) Observe, the question is put with mildness, that he may effect some great mischief. For this reason Stephen too begins his speech in a tone of gentleness, and says, “Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran.” (v. 2.) Immediately at the outset he overthrows their conceit, and makes it appear by what he says, that the temple is nothing, that the customs are nothing either, without their suspecting his drift: also that they shall not overcome the preaching; and that from powerless (ἀμηχάνων) things God evermore contrives Him powerful (εὐμήχανα) instruments. Mark then how these threads make the texture of the whole speech: and moreover that having evermore enjoyed exceeding goodness, they still requited their Benefactor with the opposite conduct, and that they are now attempting impossibilities. “The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he came into Charran.” Both the temple was not, and sacrifice was not, and yet a vision of God was vouchsafed to Abraham, and yet had he Persians344    Chrys. commonly denotes the oriental nations, generally, by the name “Persians.” Ben. for his ancestors, and was in a strange land. And he does well at the beginning of his speech to call Him, “the God of glory:” seeing that He hath made them that are without honor to be glorious. “Because” (says he) “it was He that made them glorious, He will make us also.” Observe how he leads them away from things of the body, from the place, in the first instance, as the place was in question. “The God of glory,” says he: implying again, that He needs not the glory which comes from us, which comes by the Temple: for Himself is the Fountain thereof. Think not, he would say, in this way to glorify Him. “And from thy kindred.” How345    Edd. from E. “And how, it may be asked, doth the Scripture say this concerning Abraham’s father? Because it does not trouble itself about matters that are not very essential. What was useful for us to learn, this only it has taught us, that in consequence of his son’s vision, he went out with him: the rest it leaves untold, by reason that he died soon after settling in Charran. ‘Get thee out of thy kindred.’ Here he shows that these men,” etc. then saith the Scripture, that Abraham’s father was willing to go out? Hence we learn, that it was in consequence of Abraham’s vision, that his father was moved to join in the migration. (Gen. xi. 31.) “And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into a land which I shall show thee.” (v. 3.) It shows how far these men are from being children of Abraham, how obedient he was. “And346    E. Edd. “but these disobedient: or rather, we learn from what he does, as he was bidden, that he endured,” etc. from thy kindred.” Uncomfortable (φορτικὰ) reflections, both, that he endured the labors, while ye reap the fruits, and that all your ancestors were in evil case. “Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, He removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. And He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on.” (v. 4, 5.) See how he raises their thoughts away from (their possession of) the land.347    A. C. N. Εἰ γὰρ εἶπεν, δώσει, δῆλον ὅτι, καὶ οὐδὲν παῤ αὐτῶν Cat. Οὐ γὰρ κ. τ. λ. Β. Οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν, δώσει, ἀλλ᾽, Οὐκ ἔδωκε, δῆλον ὅτι τὰ παῤ ἐκείνου, καὶ οὐδὲν παῤ αὐτῶν. So E. D. F. Edd. except that for δῆλον ὅτι τὰ these have δηλῶν ὅτι πάντα. The meaning seems to be: “They boasted of their possession of the land, as the token of God’s favor to themselves. See how Stephen will not allow them to rest in this conceit. Abraham was ‘the friend of God,’ yet to him ‘He gave none inheritance,’ etc. True ‘He promised to give it’: but if God said (that) He will give it (spoke of giving it at some future time); this very circumstance shows that the Jews had it from Abraham, in consequence of God’s favor to him; not as deserved by themselves.” For if He said (that, He will give: clearly [all came from him], and nothing from themselves. For he came, having left both kindred and country. Wherefore then did He not give it to him? Truly it was a figure of another land. “And He promised to give it to him.” Do you perceive, that he does not merely resume the thread of his discourse? “He gave him not,” says he; “and He promised; and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.” Again, what God can do: that out of impossibilities, He doeth all. For here is a man in Persia, so far away, and this man God saith He will make lord of Palestine. But let us look back to what was said before.

Whence, I pray you, did that grace bloom upon the countenance of Stephen? (Recapitulation.) The writer gives him this report above, that he was “full of faith.” (ch. vi. 8). For it is possible to have a grace that does not consist in works of healing: “For to one is given the grace of the Spirit (1 Cor. xii. 8, 9) in such and such wise (τοιὣσδε). But here, it seems to me, it says that he was also gracious to look at: “They saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” “Full of faith and of power”: (v. 15) which is also the character given of Barnabas “he was a good man, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” (ch. xi. 24.) Whence we learn that the sincere and innocent are, above all others, the348    τοὺς σωζομένους. Edd. from E. τοὺς θαυμαζομένους, “they that are admired.”—Below, all our mss. and the Catena have ᾽Επὶ μὲν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἔλεγον, “In the case of the Apostles, they said.” We read, conjecturally, ἤλγουν. men to be saved, and that these same are also more gracious. “Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words.” (v. 11.) In the case of the Apostles they were annoyed that they preached the Resurrection, and that much people flowed unto them: but in this case, that they were getting their diseases healed. (ch. iv. 2.) The things for which they ought to give thanks, they made matter of blame: O the madness! The men who overcame them by works, they expected to overcome by words! It is just what they did in the case of Christ, and always they forced them to words. For they were ashamed to seize them without more ado, having nothing to charge them with. And observe, not the persons themselves who bring them to judgment bear witness against them; for they would have been refuted: but they simply hire others, that it may not seem to be an act of mere violence. It is all of a piece with their proceeding in the case of Christ. And observe the power of the preaching, that, though they are not only scourged but stoned, it still prevails: not349    C. N. have οὐχὶ ἰδιωτῶν ὄντων ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐλαυνομένων πάντοθεν: B. F. D. E. Edd. οὐδὲ ἐς δικαστήριον ἀγομένων, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐλ. π. In the translation we assume the full reading to be, οὐχὶ, ἰδιωτῶν ὄντων, ἐς δ. ἀγομένων, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐ. π. In the next sentence E. alone (followed by Edd.) has the unnecessary alteration, ᾽Εντεῦθεν καὶ ψευδομαρτυρούντων αὐτῶν, οὐ μόνον οὐκ ἐκράτουν, ἀλλ᾽ κ. τ. λ. Α. οὐχὶ ἰδ. ὄντων ἀλλὰ καὶ ῥητόρων, οὐ μόνον [οὐχ?] ἡττῶντο, ἀλλὰ καὶ [κατὰ?] κράτος ἐνίκων, καίτοι κ. τ. λ. i. e. [“their adversaries”] being not private individuals, but public speakers too, they not only were [not] worsted, but mightily conquered: [so that ‘they were not able to resist’] though,” etc.—Below, for πλάττοντας: A. E. πράττοντας C. we read πράττοντας καὶ πλάττοντας: after which, Edd. have (from E. alone): “As also in the case of Christ: who did everything to compass His death: insomuch that it became manifest to all men that the battle,” etc. And, instead of the next sentence; “And mark what say the false-witnesses, who were got up by those who murderously dragged Him before the council: ‘We have heard,’” etc. only, private individuals as they are, dragged to the bar, but assailed from all quarters: and, their enemies themselves being witnesses, not only were these worsted, but “they were not able” even “to resist” (v. 10), though they were exceeding shameless: so mightily did it overthrow them, for all that they could do with their preposterous figments (as the saying that He had a devil—He that cast out devils!). For the battle was not man’s, but God’s against men. And there were many combined together; not only they in Jerusalem, but others as well. (v. 9.) For “we have heard him,” say they, “speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” (v. 11.) O ye shameless ones! Ye work blasphemous deeds, and think nothing of it. This is why Moses is added—because the things of God were no great concern to them: and it is ever and always Moses that they make mention of: “This Moses, which brought us out.” (ch. vii. 40.) “And they stirred up the people.” (v. 12.) Fickleness350    τὸ εὐρίπιστον τοῦ ὄχλου. Edd. add ἀνερεθίζοντες, “irritating the fickle-minded multitude.” Below, for ᾽Αλλ᾽ ὁ ὄχλος ὁ ἄτακτος κ. τ. λ., Α. has ᾽Αλλ᾽ οὐχ ὁ ὄχλος ταῦτα ἀλλ᾽ οἱ γραμματεῖς. ῾Ημεῖς ἀκ. κ. τ. λ. “But not the multitude (said) this, but the scribes: We have heard,” etc. Edd. from E., “But such is envy: it makes them demented whom it possesses, so that they do not so much as consider the meaning of the words they utter.” of the multitude! And yet how could a man who was a blasphemer have so succeeded? How could a blasphemer work such miracles among the people? But the undisciplined multitude made them strong who had the worst of it (in argument).—This was what most annoyed them. “We have heard him,” they say, “speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God” (v. 13): and again, “This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law,” and with an addition, “the customs” “which Moses delivered to us” (v. 14); Moses, not God. Upon the supposition of a design to overturn their manner of life (πολιτείας), they accused him of impiety also. But to show that it was not in the nature of such a man to speak such things, and harshly [“Then all,” it says, “which were in the council, looking steadfastly upon him, saw his face, as it had been the face of an angel”] (v. 15): so mild was he even in countenance. For, in cases where persons were not falsely accused, Scripture mentions nothing of this kind: but as in this case it was all false accusation, with reason does God rectify it by the very look of the man. For the Apostles indeed were not falsely accused, but were forbidden: but this man is falsely accused: and therefore before all else his countenance pleads for him. This abashed even the priest. “And he said,” etc. (ch. vii. 1.) He shows here, that the promise was made before the Place, before Circumcision, before Sacrifice, before the Temple, and that it was not of their merit that these received either Circumcision or Law, but that the land was the reward of obedience alone. Moreover, that neither on the giving of circumcision does the promise receive its fulfillment. Also, that these were figures, and (so was) both the leaving his country at God’s command—not351    οὐ παρὰ τὸν νὁμον. For this, E. alone has καὶ συγγένειαν, and instead of the text, “Then came he out,” etc. καὶ τὸ κληρονομίαν ἐνταῦθα μὴ λαβεῖν: so Morel. Ben. Savile retains the reading of E., but adds οὐ παρὰ τὸν νόμον after συγγένειαν. against the law (for home and country is where God shall lead): “Then came he out,” it says, “of the land of the Chaldeans” (v. 4):—and that if one look closely into the matter, the Jews are of Persian origin: and that, without miracles, one must do as God bids, whatever hardships be the consequence; since the Patriarch left both the grave of his father and all that he had, in obedience to God’s command. But if Abraham’s father was not allowed to take part with him in the privilege of migrating to Palestine, because he was unworthy: much more shall the children (be excluded at last), for all that they may have gone a good distance on the way. “And He promised,” it says, “to give it to him, and to his seed after him.” (v. 5.) Herein is shown the greatness both of God’s goodness and of Abraham’s faith. For the expression, “when as yet he had no child,” does show his obedience and faith. “Promised to give it to him and to his seed.” And yet the events showed the contrary: namely, after he came, he had not “so much as to set his foot on,” had not a child; which very things were contrary to his faith.

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 told us that we should have tribulation here, but our rest there. Why do we confound the times? Why do we turn things upside down? Say, art thou afflicted, and livest in poverty, and in dejection? Be not troubled: for it were worth being troubled at, wert thou destined to be afflicted in that world: as for this present affliction, it is the cause of rest. “This sickness,” saith He, “is not unto death.” (John xi. 4.) That affliction is punishment: this, schooling and correction. It is a contest, this life present: if so, to fight is our business now: it is war and battle. In war one does not seek to have rest, in war one does not seek to have dainty living, one is not anxious about riches, one’s care is not about a wife then: one thing only he looks at, how he may overcome his foes. Be this our care likewise: if we overcome, and return with the victory, God will give us all things. Be this alone our study, how we may overcome the devil: though after all it is not our own study that does it, but God’s grace does the whole business. Be it our one study, how we may attract His grace, how we may draw to ourselves that assistance. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. viii. 31.) Let us make one thing our study; that He be not our enemy, that He turn not away from us.

Not the being afflicted is an evil; the evil is, to sin. This is the sore affliction, however we may pass our days in luxury:—not to speak of the life to come, it is so even in this life present. Think how our conscience is stung with remorse, and whether this is not worse than any kind of torture! I should like to put the question searchingly to those who live in evil ways (ἐν κακοἵς), whether they never come to reflect upon their own sins, whether they do not tremble, and are in fear and anguish, whether they do not think those blessed who live in abstinence, them of the mountains, them of the strict rule? (τοὺς ἐν πολλῇ φιλοσοφί& 139·.) Dost thou wish to find rest in the life to come? Suffer affliction in this life for Christ’s sake: there is nothing equal to this rest. The Apostles rejoiced when scourged. Paul gives this exhortation, saying, “Rejoice in the Lord.” (Philip. iv. 4.) And how can there be rejoicing, where there are bonds, where there are tortures; where there are courts of justice? There, most of all, is rejoicing. But352    E. F. D. Edd. “And how there may be rejoicing where these are, learn (thus). He who in nothing is conscious of evil,” etc. say, how can there be rejoicing, where these are not? For he who is conscious of no evil, will have a sort of exceeding delight, insomuch that in what degree you speak of tribulation, in the same you tell of his delight. The soldier who has received numberless wounds and is come home again, will he not return with exceeding delight, with his wounds353    παρρησίας ὑπόθεσιν ἔχων τὰ τραύματα. Ben “argumentum audaciæ.” Erasm. “testimonium libertatis.” as his title for speaking up boldly, and as evidence of his glory and renown? And thou, if thou be able to exclaim as Paul does, “I bear the marks of Jesus” (Gal. vi. 17), wilt be able to become great and glorious and renowned. “But there is no persecution.” Make thy stand against glory: and should any one speak anything against thee, fear not to be evil-spoken of for Christ’s sake: make thy stand against the tyranny of pride, against the fighting of anger, against the torment of concupiscence. These also are “marks,”354    στίγμάτα, i.e. “the marks of Jesus may be gained in these encounters also, and the spirit of a confessor may be exhibited under these tortures likewise.” these also are torments. For, I ask, what is the worst in tortures? Is it not, that the soul is pained, and is on fire? For in the other case, the body too has its share: but in this, the whole belongs to the soul. On the soul alone comes all the smart, when one is angry, when one is envious, whatever else of this kind one does, or rather suffers. For, in fact, it is not action, but passion, not a doing, but a suffering—to be angered, to feel envy: therefore indeed they are called passions (or sufferings) (πάθη, perturbationes) of the soul, yea wounds, and bruises. For it is indeed a suffering, and worse than suffering. Bethink you, ye that are angry, that ye do such things in “passion,” in a state of suffering. Therefore he who is not angry suffers not. Do you mark that not he who is abused is the sufferer, but he that abuses, as I said above? For that he is a sufferer, is plain in the first place from the very fact, that such a thing is called by this name of passion: and it is also plain from the (effects on the) body: for these are the affections (πάθη) for “sufferings,” as we call them] engendered by anger, viz. dimness of vision, insanity, and numberless others. “But he insulted my boy,” say you; “but [he called him] clown.”355    ἀλλὰ τὸν ἀγροῖκον. Edd. from E., ἀλλὰ τὸν οἰκέτην: which is idle, for it appears below that the παῖς here is a servant. We supply ἐκάλεσε or εἶπεν: and indeed ἂν πάλιν εἴπῃ below shows that the insult spoken of was some contumelious speech.—Also before Μὴ νομίσῃς, something needs to be supplied, e.g. Μὴ σὺ μιμήσῃ τοῦτον, “Do not thou imitate him.” And perhaps indeed τὸν ἀγρ. may belong to this: “He insulted my boy.” But do not thou imitate the rude, uncivil man: deem it not, etc. Deem it not weakness thy not doing the same thing thyself. For, I ask you, was it well done? You will not say that: then leave that undone which being done were not well done. I know what passions are engendered in such cases. “But,” say you, “how if he despise me, how if he say it again?” Show him that he is in the wrong: rebuke him, entreat him: by meekness anger is put down: go and expostulate with him. For though in cases of wrong done to ourselves it is right not to do even this, yet it is quite necessary to do it in behalf of others. Do not look on it as an insult to yourself that your boy has been insulted: annoyed you may be for his sake, yet not as if you were insulted: for it does not follow because your boy has been ill-treated, that you are disgraced, but he is disgraced that did the ill. Quench (thine anger) that sharp sword: let it lie in its scabbard. If we have it unsheathed, we shall be apt to use it even when the time is not proper, being drawn on by it: but if it be hidden, though a necessity should arise, yet, while we seek it in order356    ὡς ζητοῦμεν σκεπάσαι. A.B.C. The other mss. omit the clause, and Edd. except Savile who reads from N. οὐ ζητοῦμεν αὐτὴν σπάσαι, “we do not seek to draw it.” We adopt σπάσαι.—Below, E. F. D. Edd. τοῦ Δεσπότου, “thy Master’s sufferings,” for σαυτοῦ, which the context shows to be the true reading. to draw it, the anger will be quenched. Christ would not have us be angry on his account: (hear what He saith to Peter: “Put up again thy sword into the sheath:”) (Matt. xxvi. 52) and art thou angry on account of a boy? Teach thy boy also to be philosophical: tell him thy own sufferings: imitate (herein) thy Teacher. (Matt. xxvi. 52.) When they too (His disciples) were about to be treated with dishonor, He said not, “I will avenge you:” but, “to Me also,” saith He, “they have done the same: bear it nobly, for ye are not better than I.” These words too do thou speak to thy son and thy boy: “Thou art not better than thy master.” But these words of philosophy are counted as the talk of a widow woman. Alas! that it is not in the power of words to bring it home to people in the way that it is possible to be taught it by actual experience! And that you may learn this; stand between two combatants, take part with the wronged, not with the wrong-doers [that you may learn]357    ἂν μὴ παρὰ σαυτῷ τὰ νικητήρια ἴδῃς ἂν μὴ λαμπροὺς λάβῃς στεφάνους. This depends on ἵνα μάθῃς at the beginning of the sentence. Erasmus wrongly, “Si non videas:” Ben. “Si non videbis.” whether you shall not see the victory on your side, whether you shall not get splendid crowns.—See, how God is insulted, and how He answers; how gently, “Where,” saith He, “is Abel thy brother?” and what saith the other: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. vi. 9.) What could be more contumacious than this? Would any one have heard it (patiently) even from a son? and if from a brother, would he not have thought such conduct an insult? What then? See how again God gently answers, “The voice of thy brother’s blood,” saith He “crieth unto Me.” “But God,” it will be said, “is superior to wrath.” Yes, but for this reason the Son of God came down, that He might make thee a God as far as human power can go. “But I cannot,” says one, “seeing I am man.” Well then, let us give you men for instances. And do not suppose I speak of Paul or of Peter: no, but of some of inferior sort, yea, very much lower down. Eli’s menial insulted Hannah, saying, “Put away thy wine from thee.” (1 Sam. i. 14.) What could be more insulting than this? What then said she? “I am a woman of a hard lot.”358    γυνὴ ἐν σκληρᾷ ἡμέρᾳ εἰμὶ, Chrys. γυνὴ ἡ σκληρὰ ἡμερὰ (or ἡμέρᾳ) LXX. Indeed, there is nothing equal to affliction: she is the mother of true philosophy. But this same woman, though she has her rival, insulted her not: but what does she? She takes refuge with God, and in her prayer does not even make mention of her, nor say, “Avenge me, for such an one reproaches me:” so magnanimous was that woman (let us men be ashamed):—and yet ye know, that there is nothing like jealousy. The publican, when insulted by the Pharisee, insulted not in return, though, had he wished it, he might have done so: but he bore it like a philosopher, saying, “Be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke xviii. 13.) Mephibosheth,359    Memphibaal, Chrys. here and Synops. Sacr. Script. t. vi. 349. and Theodoret Quæst. 31, in lib. 2. Reg. Μεμφιβοσθέ, LXX. Elsewhere he is called Meribbaal, 1 Chron. viii. 34. So Jerubbaal, Judg. vi. 32. Jerubbesheth, 2 Sam. xi. 21. Memphibaal is compounded of the two forms. Ben. having been accused and calumniated by his servant, neither said, nor did, any evil to him, not even in the presence of the king himself. (2 Sam. xix. 26.) Shall I tell you even of a harlot, what philosophic magnanimity she showed? Hear Christ saying, as she was wiping His feet with her hair, “The publicans and harlots go into the kingdom before you.” (Matt. xxi. 31.) Do you see her standing, and taking courage, and washing away her own sins? Observe, how she was not angry even with the Pharisee, when reproached by him: “for had He known,” says he, “that this woman is a sinner, He would not have suffered her (Luke vii. 39): and how she said not to him, “What then? Say, art thou pure from sins?” but felt more, wept more, and let fall hotter tears. But if women and publicans and harlots play the philosopher, and that before grace (i.e. of Baptism), what pardon can they deserve, who, after so great grace, fight, and worry, and kick one another, worse than beasts? Nothing is more base than passion, nothing more disgraceful, nothing more frightful, nothing more odious, nothing more hurtful. These things I say, not only in order that towards men we may be gentle, but also if a wife be a talker, that thou mayest bear it: let thy wife be to thee a school for training and exercise (παλαίστρα καὶ γυμνάσιον). For how can it but be absurd, to submit to exercises which yield no profit, where we afflict the body, but not to practise exercises at home, which, even before the contest, present to us a crown? Does thy wife abuse thee? Do not thou become a woman: to be abusive is womanly: it is a disease of the soul, an inferiority. Think not that it is unworthy of thee, when thy wife abuses thee. Unworthy it is, when thou art abusive, but she bears patiently (φιλοσοφῇ): then dost thou act unseemly, then art thou disgraced: but if, having been abused, thou bear it, great is the proof of thy strength. I do not say this, to induce wives to be abusive: God forbid: but only in case it should so happen at the instance of Satan. It is the part of men that are strong, to bear the weak. And if thy servant contradict thee, bear it philosophically: not what he deserves to have said to him, do thou say or do, but that which it behooves thee both to do and to say. Never insult a girl by uttering some foul word against her: never call thy servant, scoundrel (μιαρὸν): not he is disgraced, but thou. It is not possible to be master of one’s self, being in a passion. Like a sea rolling mountains high, it is all hurly-burly: or even as a pure fountain, when mire is cast into it, becomes muddied, and all is in turmoil. You may beat him, you may rend his coat to rags, but it is you that sustain the greater damage: for to him the blow is on the body and the garment, but to you on the soul. It is your own soul that you have cut open; it is there that you have inflicted a wound: you have flung your own charioteer from his horses, you have got him dragging along the ground upon his back. And it is all one, as if one driver being in a passion with another, should choose to be thus dragged along. You may rebuke, you may chide, you may do whatever if be, only let it be without wrath and passion. For if he who rebukes is physician to him who offends, how can he heal another, when he has first hurt himself, when he does not heal himself? Say, if a physician should go to heal another person, does he first wound his own hand, first blind his own eyes, and so set about healing that other? God forbid. So also, however thou rebuke, however thou chide, let thine eyes see clearly. Do not make thy mind muddy, else how shall the cure be wrought? It is not possible to be in the same tranquillity, being in a passion, and being free from passion. Why dost thou first overturn thy master from his seat, and then discourse with him as he lies sprawling on the ground? Seest thou not the judges, how, when about to hold the assize, they seat themselves upon the bench, in their becoming attire? Thus do thou likewise dress thy soul with the judicial robe (which is gentleness). “But he will not be afraid of me,” say you. He will be the more afraid. In the other case, though you speak justly, your servant will impute it to passion: but if you do it with gentleness, he will condemn himself: and, what is of the first importance, God will accept thee, and thus thou wilt be able to attain unto the eternal blessings, through the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom to the Father together with the Holy Spirit be glory, dominion, and honor, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΙΕʹ. Στέφανος δὲ πλήρης πίστεως καὶ δυνάμεως ἐποίει τέρατα καὶ σημεῖα μεγάλα ἐν τῷ λαῷ. αʹ. Ὅρα, πῶς καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἑπτὰ ἦν τις πρόκριτος καὶ τὰ πρωτεῖα εἶχεν. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ ἡ χειροτονία κοινὴ, ἀλλ' ὅμως οὗτος ἐπεσπάσατο χάριν πλείονα. Πρὸ τούτου δὲ οὐκ ἐποίει σημεῖα, ἀλλ' ὅτε δῆλος γέγονεν, ἵνα δειχθῇ, ὅτι οὐκ ἀρκεῖ μόνη ἡ χάρις, ἀλλὰ δεῖ καὶ τῆς χειροτονίας: ὥστε προσθήκη Πνεύματος ἐγένετο. Εἰ δὲ καὶ πρὸ τούτου πλήρεις Πνεύματος ἦσαν, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ λουτροῦ. Ἀνέστησαν δέ τινες τῶν ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς. Πάλιν ἀνάστασιν τὸν παροξυσμὸν αὐτῶν λέγει καὶ τὴν ὀργήν. Ὅρα καὶ ἐνταῦθα πολὺ τὸ πλῆθος: μᾶλλον δὲ πῶς ἕτερον τῆς κατηγορίας τὸ σχῆμα. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐκώλυσεν αὐτοὺς Γαμαλιῆλος μηδὲν ὑπὲρ ἐκείνου ἐγκαλεῖν, ἑτέραν κατηγορίαν εἰσάγουσιν. Ἀνέστησαν δέ τινες, φησὶ, τῶν ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς τῆς λεγομένης Λιβερτίνων καὶ Κυρηναίων καὶ Ἀλεξανδρέων, καὶ τῶν ἀπὸ Κιλικίας καὶ Ἀσίας, συζητοῦντες τῷ Στεφάνῳ: καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυον ἀντιστῆναι τῇ σοφίᾳ καὶ τῷ Πνεύματι, ᾧ ἐλάλει. Τότε ὑπέβαλον ἄνδρας λέγοντας, ὅτι Ἀκηκόαμεν αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ῥήματα βλάσφημα εἰς Μωσῆν καὶ τὸν Θεόν, Ἵνα τὴν κατηγορίαν συστήσωσι, Κατὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, φησὶ, καὶ κατὰ Μωσέως λαλεῖ. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ συνεζήτουν, ἵνα ἀναγκάσωσιν αὐτόν τι εἰπεῖν. Ὁ δὲ γυμνότερον λοιπὸν διελέγετο, καὶ τὴν παῦλαν ἴσως ἔλεγε τοῦ νόμου μόνον: ἢ οὐκ ἔλεγε μὲν, ᾐνίττετο δέ: ἐπεὶ εἰ ἔλεγε φανερῶς, οὐκ ἔδει τῶν ὑποβλητῶν ἀνδρῶν οὐδὲ τῶν ψευδομαρτύρων. Διάφοροι δὲ αἱ συναγωγαὶ ἦσαν Λιβερτίνων καὶ Κυρηναίων. Ἀλλὰ Κυρηναῖοι μὲν οἱ ἐπέκεινα Ἀλεξανδρείας εἰσὶν, οἳ καὶ ἐκεῖ κατὰ τὰ ἔθνη εἶχον συναγωγάς: ἴσως δὲ καὶ ἐκεῖ ἔμενον, ἵνα μὴ ἀναγκάζωνται συνεχῶς ἀποδημεῖν. Λιβερτῖνοι δὲ οἱ Ῥωμαίων ἀπελεύθεροι οὕτω καλοῦνται. Ὥσπερ δὲ ᾤκουν ἐκεῖ πολλοὶ ξένοι, οὕτω καὶ συναγωγὰς εἶχον, ἔνθα ἔδει τὸν νόμον ἀναγινώσκεσθαι καὶ εὐχὰς γίνεσθαι. Σὺ δέ μοι σκόπει, πῶς καὶ οὗτος ἀναγκαζόμενος διδάσκειν ἐπιχειρεῖ, κἀκεῖνοι πάλιν διὰ τὰ σημεῖα εἰς φθόνον οὐ μόνον κινοῦνται, ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ καὶ λόγῳ ἐκράτει, καὶ ἀφόρητος ἦν αὐτοῖς, ψευδομάρτυρας συνιστῶσιν. Οὐκ ἐβούλοντο γὰρ ἁπλῶς ἀναιρεῖν, ἀλλὰ μετὰ ψήφου, ἵνα καὶ τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν βλάψωσι: καὶ ἐκείνους ἀφέντες ἐπὶ τούτους ἔρχονται, ὡς ταύτῃ καταπληξόμενοι κἀκείνους: οἳ καὶ οὐκ εἶπον, ὅτι Λαλεῖ, ἀλλ', Οὐ παύεται λαλῶν, αὔξοντες τὴν κατηγορίαν. Συνεκίνησάν τε τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους καὶ τοὺς γραμματεῖς, καὶ ἐπιστάντες συνήρπασαν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἤγαγον εἰς τὸ συνέδριον, ἔστησάν τε μάρτυρας ψευδεῖς λέγοντας: Ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος οὐ παύεται ῥήματα λαλῶν κατὰ τοῦ τόπου τοῦ ἁγίου τούτου καὶ τοῦ νόμου. Οὐ παύεται, φασὶν, ὡς ἔργον αὐτοῦ ποιουμένου διὰ τούτου δηλοῦντες. Ἀκηκόαμεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος, ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος οὗτος καταλύσει τὸν τόπον τοῦτον, καὶ ἀλλάξει τὰ ἔθη, ἃ παρέδωκεν ἡμῖν Μωϋσῆς. Ἰησοῦς, φασὶν, ὁ Ναζωραῖος, καὶ ὀνειδιστικῶς, καταλύσει τὸν τόπον τοῦτον, καὶ ἀλλάξει τὰ ἔθη. Τοῦτο καὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ κατηγοροῦντες ἔλεγον: Ὁ καταλύων τὸν ναὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ. Πολλὴ γὰρ ἦν αὐτοῖς ἡ εὐλάβεια περί τε τὸν ναὸν, ἅτε καὶ μετοικεῖν βουλομένοις, περί τε τὸ ὄνομα Μωϋσέως. Καὶ ὅρα, πῶς διπλῆ ἡ κατηγορία. Καταλύσει, φασὶ, τὸν τόπον, καὶ ἀλλάξει τὰ ἔθη Οὐ μόνον δὲ διπλῆ, ἀλλὰ καὶ πικρὰ, καὶ κινδύνων γέμουσα. Καὶ ἀτενίσαντες εἰς αὐτὸν ἅπαντες οἱ καθεζόμενοι ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ, εἶδον τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ πρόσωπον ἀγγέλου. Οὕτως ἔστι καὶ ἐν ἐλάττονι ὄντας βαθμῷ λάμπειν. Τί γὰρ, εἰπέ μοι, τῶν ἀποστόλων οὗτος ἔλαττον ἔσχεν; οὐχὶ σημεῖα εἰργάσατο; οὐ πολλὴν ἐπεδείξατο τὴν παῤῥησίαν; Εἶδον τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ πρόσωπον ἀγγέλου, φησί. Τοῦτο ἄρα ἡ χάρις ἦν, τοῦτο καὶ ἡ δόξα Μωϋσέως ἦν. Ἐπίχαριν δὲ αὐτὸν δοκεῖ μοι ποιῆσαι τὸν Θεὸν, τάχα ἐπεὶ ἔμελλέ τινα ἐρεῖν, καὶ ἵνα εὐθέως τῇ προσόψει καταπλήξῃ αὐτούς. Ἔστι γὰρ, ἔστι καὶ πρόσωπα χάριτος γέμοντα πνευματικῆς, ἐπέραστα τοῖς ποθοῦσιν εἶναι, καὶ αἰδέσιμα τοῖς μισοῦσι καὶ φοβερά. Ἢ καὶ ὡς αἰτίαν τοῦτο εἶπε, δι' ἢν ἠνέσχοντο τῆς δημηγορίας αὐτοῦ. Τί δαὶ ὁ ἀρχιερεύς; Εἰ ἄρα, φησὶ, ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχει; Ὁρᾷς, πῶς μετὰ ἐπιεικείας ἡ ἐρώτησις, καὶ οὐδὲν τέως φορτικὸν ἔχουσα; Διὰ τοῦτο Καὶ αὐτὸς ἀπὸ προσηνείας ἄρχεται τῶν ῥημάτων, καί φησιν: Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πατέρες, ἀκούσατε: ὁ Θεὸς τῆς δόξης ὤφθη τῷ πατρὶ ἡμῶν Ἀβραὰμ ὄντι ἐν τῇ Μεσοποταμίᾳ, πρὶν ἢ κατοικῆσαι αὐτὸν ἐν Χαῤῥάν. Εὐθέως ἐκ τοῦ προοιμίου τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν ἀναιρεῖ, καὶ κατασκευάζει δι' ὧν φησιν ἀνυπόπτως, ὅτι τε οὐδέν ἐστιν ὁ ναὸς δήπου αὐτὸς, οὐδὲ τὰ ἔθη, καὶ ὅτι οὐ περιέσονται τοῦ κηρύγματος, καὶ ὅτι ἐξ ἀμηχάνων ἀεὶ ὁ Θεὸς πάντα ποιεῖ καὶ κατασκευάζει. Ὅρα γοῦν διὰ τούτων ὑφαινομένην τὴν δημηγορίαν καὶ ἀποδεικνύουσαν, ὅτι πολλῆς ἀπολαύσαντες ἀεὶ φιλανθρωπίας, τοῖς ἐναντίοις τὸν εὐεργέτην ἠμείψαντο, καὶ ὅτι ἀδυνάτοις ἐπιχειροῦσιν. Ὁ Θεὸς τῆς δόξης ὤφθη τῷ πατρὶ ἡμῶν Ἀβραὰμ, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν: Ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς γῆς σου, καὶ δεῦρο εἰς γῆν, ἣν ἄν σοι δείξω. βʹ. Καὶ ναὸς οὐκ ἦν, καὶ θυσία οὐκ ἦν, καὶ θείας ὄψεως ἠξίωτο Ἀβραὰμ, καὶ προγόνους Πέρσας εἶχε, καὶ ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ γῇ ἦν. Καὶ τί δήποτε ἀρχόμενος τὸν Θεὸν, τῆς δόξης Θεὸν ἐκάλεσεν; Ἐπειδὴ τοὺς ἀτίμους ἐνδόξους πεποίηκε: καὶ ἵνα διδάξῃ, ὅτι εἰ ἐκείνους ἐδόξασε, πολλῷ μᾶλλον αὐτούς. Ὁρᾷς, πῶς αὐτοὺς ἀπάγει τῶν σωματικῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ τόπου πρῶτον, ἐπειδὴ περὶ τόπου ὁ λόγος ἦν; Ὁ Θεὸς τῆς δόξης. Εἰ δόξης Θεὸς, εὔδηλον, ὅτι οὐ δεῖται τῆς παρ' ἡμῶν δόξης, οὐδὲ τῆς διὰ τοῦ ναοῦ: αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ἡ τῆς δόξης πηγή. Μὴ τοίνυν νομίσητε ταύτῃ δοξάζειν αὐτόν. Καὶ πῶς, φησὶν, ἡ Γραφὴ τοῦτο λέγει περὶ τοῦ πατρὸς Ἀβραάμ; Ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι πρὸς τὰ μὴ σφόδρα ἀναγκαῖα περιττή. Ὃ μὲν γὰρ ἦν χρήσιμον μαθεῖν, τοῦτο μόνον ἡμᾶς ἐδίδαξεν, ὅτι ἀπὸ τῆς ὄψεως τοῦ υἱοῦ συνεξῆλθεν αὐτῷ: τὸ δὲ πλέον τούτου παρέλιπεν ἀδιήγητον, διὰ τὸ θᾶττον ἀποθανεῖν μετὰ τὸ κατοικῆσαι αὐτὸν ἐν Χαῤῥάν: Ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας σου. Ἐνταῦθα δείκνυσιν, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶν οὗτοι τέκνα τοῦ Ἀβραάμ. Πῶς; Ὅτι ἐκεῖνος πειθήνιος ἦν, οὗτοι δὲ ἀπειθεῖς: μᾶλλον δὲ ἐξ ὧν ποιεῖ κελευόμενος μανθάνομεν, ὅτι ἐκεῖνος μὲν τοὺς πόνους ὑπέμεινεν, οὗτοι δὲ τοὺς καρποὺς δρέπονται, καὶ ὅτι πάντες οἱ πρόγονοι ἐν κακουχίᾳ. Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἐκ γῆς Χαλδαίων, κατῴκησεν ἐν Χαῤῥάν: κἀκεῖθεν μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ, μετῴκισεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην, εἰς ἣν ὑμεῖς νῦν κατοικεῖτε: καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κληρονομίαν ἐν αὐτῇ, οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός. Ὅρα, πῶς αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἀνάγει. Οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν, Δώσει, ἀλλ', Οὐκ ἔδωκε, δηλῶν, ὅτι πάντα παρ' ἐκείνου καὶ οὐδὲν παρ' αὐτῶν. Ἦλθε γὰρ καὶ συγγένειαν ἀφεὶς καὶ πατρίδα. Διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἔδωκεν; Ὅτι τύπος ἦν ἑτέρας γῆς, καὶ ἐπηγγείλατο δοῦναι αὐτὴν αὐτῷ. Ὁρᾷς, ὅτι οὐχ ἁπλῶς πάλιν τὸν λόγον ἀναλαμβάνει; Οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ, φησί. Καὶ ἐπηγγείλατο καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ μετ' αὐτὸν, οὐκ ὄντος αὐτῷ τέκνου. Πάλιν τὸ δυνατὸν ἐντεῦθεν δείκνυται τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ τὸ ἐξ ἀμηχάνων πάντα ποιεῖν. Τὸν γὰρ ἐν Περσίδι καὶ τοσοῦτον ἀπέχοντα, τοῦτον ἔφησε κύριον τῆς Παλαιστίνης ποιήσειν. Ἀλλ' ἴδωμεν ἄνωθεν τὰ εἰρημένα. Ἀτενίσαντες εἰς αὐτὸν, φησὶν, εἶδον τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ πρόσωπον ἀγγέλου. Πόθεν ἡ χάρις τῷ Στεφάνῳ ἐπήνθει; ἆρ' οὐκ ἀπὸ τῆς πίστεως; Εὔδηλον ὅτι: ἐμαρτύρησε γὰρ αὐτῷ ἄνω, ὅτι πλήρης πίστεως ἦν. Ἔστι δὲ χάριν ἔχειν καὶ οὐκ ἐν ἰάσεσι: διὸ καὶ ὁ Ἀπόστολος, Ὧ| μὲν χάρις δίδοται, φησὶν, ἰαμάτων, ἄλλῳ δὲ λόγος σοφίας. Ἐνταῦθα δέ μοι δοκεῖ καὶ ἐπίχαριν αὐτὸν εἶναι αἰνίττεσθαι τῷ λέγειν: Εἶδον τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ πρόσωπον ἀγγέλου: ὃ καὶ Βαρνάβας μαρτυρεῖται. Ὅθεν τοὺς ἀπλάστους τε καὶ ἀπονήρους μάλιστα ἴσμεν θαυμαζομένους, καὶ τούτους μᾶλλον ἐπιχάριτας ὄντας. Τότε ὑπέβαλον ἄνδρας λέγοντας, ὅτι Ἀκηκόαμεν αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ῥήματα βλάσφημα. Ἐπὶ μὲν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἔλεγον, ὅτι τὴν ἀνάστασιν κατήγγελλον, καὶ ὅτι πολὺς ὄχλος ἐπέῤῥει: ἐνταῦθα δὲ, ὅτι ἐθεραπεύοντο. Ὢ τῆς ἀνοίας! ὑπὲρ ὧν εὐχαριστεῖν ἔδει, ὑπὲρ τούτων ἐμέμφοντο, καὶ τοὺς διὰ τῶν ἔργων κρατοῦντας προσεδόκων κρατήσειν διὰ τῶν λόγων (ὅπερ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐποίουν), καὶ ἀεὶ εἰς λόγους αὑτοὺς ἐνέβαλλον. Ἁρπάσαι γὰρ αὐτοὺς ἁπλῶς ᾐσχύνοντο, οὐδὲν ἔχοντες ἐγκαλεῖν. Καὶ ὅρα, πῶς οὐδὲ αὐτοὶ οἱ δικάζοντες μαρτυροῦσιν: ἠλέγχθησαν γὰρ ἄν: ἀλλ' ἁπλῶς ἑτέρους μισθοῦνται, ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ ἐπηρείας εἶναι τὸ πρᾶγμα. Τὸ αὐτὸ γεγονὸς ἴδοι τις ἂν καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Εἶδες τοῦ κηρύγματος τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ πῶς οὐχὶ μαστιζομένων μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ λιθαζομένων κρατεῖ, οὐδὲ εἰς δικαστήριον ἀγομένων, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐλαυνομένων πάντοθεν; Ἐντεῦθεν, καὶ ψευδομαρτυρούντων αὐτῶν, οὐ μόνον οὐκ ἐκράτουν, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἀντιστῆναι ἴσχυον, καίτοι σφόδρα ἀναίσχυντοι ὄντες: οὕτως αὐτοὺς κατὰ κράτος εἷλε, καὶ ταῦτα πολλὰ πράττοντας ἀπίθανα (ὡς καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ), οἳ καὶ πάντα πρὸς θάνατον ἔπραττον τὸν αὐτοῦ, ὡς λοιπὸν δῆλον γενέσθαι πᾶσιν, ὅτι οὐκ ἦν ἀνθρωπίνη ἡ μάχη, ἀλλὰ Θεοῦ πρὸς ἀνθρώπους. Σκόπει δὲ καὶ τί φασιν οἱ συστάντες ψευδομάρτυρες ὑπὸ τῶν φονικῶς συναρπασάντων αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ συνέδριον. Ἀκηκόαμεν αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ῥήματα βλάσφημα εἰς Μωσῆν καὶ τὸν Θεόν. Ὦ ἀναίσχυντοι: πράγματα ποιεῖτε βλάσφημα εἰς τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ οὐ φροντίζετε: καὶ Μωσέως φροντίζειν προσποιεῖσθε; Διὰ τοῦτο πρόσκειται Μωσῆς, ἐπειδὴ τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐ σφόδρα αὐτοῖς ἔμελε, καὶ ἄνω καὶ κάτω Μωσέως μέμνηνται, Ὁ Μωσῆς, λέγοντες, οὗτος, ὃς ἐξήγαγεν ἡμᾶς, τὸ εὐρίπιστον τοῦ ὄχλου ἀνερεθίζοντες. Καίτοι πῶς ἄνθρωπος βλάσφημος ἂν περιεγένετο; πῶς δὲ καὶ ὁ οὕτω βλάσφημος σημεῖα ἐποίει τοιαῦτα ἐν τῷ λαῷ; Ἀλλὰ τοιοῦτον ἡ βασκανία, ἔκφρονας τοὺς ἁλόντας ποιοῦσα, ὡς μηδὲ ἃ φθέγγονται συνορᾷν. Ἀκηκόαμεν αὐτοῦ, φασὶ, λαλοῦντος ῥήματα βλάσφημα εἰς Μωσῆν καὶ τὸν Θεόν: καὶ πάλιν, Οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὐ παύεται ῥήματα λαλῶν κατὰ τοῦ τόπου τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ τοῦ νόμου, καὶ μετὰ προσθήκης, Ἃ παρέδωκεν ἡμῖν Μωσῆς: οὐκέτι ὁ Θεός. γʹ. Ὁρᾷς, πῶς ἐπὶ ἀνατροπῇ πολιτείας καὶ ἀσεβείας αὐτοῦ κατηγοροῦσιν; Ὅτι δὲ οὐκ ἦν τοῦ τοιούτου τοιαῦτα λέγειν καὶ θρασέως, παντί που δῆλον: οὕτως ἥμερος καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου ἦν. Ἔνθα μὲν οὖν οὐκ ἐσυκοφαντοῦντο, οὐδὲν τοιοῦτόν φησιν ἡ Γραφή: ἐπεὶ δὲ τὸ πᾶν ἐνταῦθα συκοφαντία ἐστὶν, εἰκότως αὐτὴν διορθοῦται ὁ Θεὸς καὶ δι' αὐτῆς τῆς ὄψεως. Ἄρα οἱ ἀπόστολοι οὐκ ἐσυκοφαντοῦντο, ἀλλ' ἐκωλύοντο: οὗτος δὲ συκοφαντεῖται: διά τοι τοῦτο καὶ πρὸ πάντων ἡ ὄψις ἀπολογεῖται. Τάχα τοῦτο καὶ τὸν ἱερέα ἐνέτρεψεν. Εἰπὼν δὲ, ὅτι Ἐπηγγείλατο, δείκνυσι τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν πρὸ τοῦ τόπου γεγενημένην, πρὸ τῆς περιτομῆς, πρὸ θυσίας, πρὸ τοῦ ναοῦ, καὶ ὅτι οὐ κατ' ἀξίαν οὗτοι ἔλαβον οὐδὲ περιτομὴν οὐδὲ νόμον, ἀλλὰ τῆς ὑπακοῆς μόνης μισθὸς ἦν ἡ γῆ. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲ τῆς περιτομῆς δοθείσης, ἡ ἐπαγγελία πληροῦται. Καὶ ὅτι τύποι ἦσαν, καὶ τὸ τὴν πατρίδα ἀφεῖναι, τοῦ Θεοῦ κελεύσαντος, καὶ συγγένειαν (ἐκείνη γὰρ πατρὶς, ἔνθα ἂν ἡγῆται Θεὸς), καὶ τὸ κληρονομίαν ἐνταῦθα μὴ λαβεῖν: καὶ ὅτι, εἴ τις ἀκριβῶς ἐξετάζοι, Πέρσαι εἰσὶν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι: καὶ ὅτι χωρὶς σημείων πείθεσθαι δεῖ τῷ Θεῷ λέγοντι, κἂν δεινά τινα συμβαίνῃ: ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ πατριάρχης καὶ τὸν τάφον καταλιπὼν τὸν πατρῷον καὶ πάντα, ἐπείθετο τῷ Θεῷ. Εἰ δὲ ὁ τούτου πατὴρ οὐκ ἐκοινώνησεν αὐτῷ τῆς ἐπὶ Παλαιστίνην ἀποδημίας, τῷ ἄπιστος εἶναι: πολλῷ μᾶλλον τὰ παιδία οὐ κοινωνήσουσι, κἂν ἐπὶ πολὺ ἔλθωσι τῆς ὁδοῦ, τὴν τοῦ πατρὸς μὴ ζηλώσαντα ἀρετήν. Καὶ ἐπηγγείλατο αὐτὴν δοῦναι αὐτῷ καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ, φησὶ, μετ' αὐτόν. Πολλὴ ἐνταῦθα καὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ φιλανθρωπία δείκνυται, καὶ τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ ἡ πίστις. Τὸ γὰρ, Οὐκ ὄντος αὐτῷ τέκνου, πείθεσθαι, τοῦτο δείκνυσι καὶ τὴν ὑπακοὴν καὶ τὴν πίστιν: καίτοι γε τὰ γενόμενα τοὐναντίον ἐδείκνυ: οἷον, μετὰ τὸ ἐλθεῖν οὐκ εἶχε βῆμα ποδὸς, παῖδα οὐκ εἶχεν, ἅπερ ἐναντία ἦν τῇ πίστει. Ταῦτα δὴ κατανοοῦντες καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἅπερ ἂν ἐπαγγέλληται ὁ Θεὸς, δεχώμεθα, κἄν που ἐναντία ᾖ τὰ γινόμενα: καίτοι ἐφ' ἡμῶν οὐκ ἔστιν ἐναντία, ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα ἀκόλουθα. Ἔνθα μὲν γὰρ ἂν ὦσιν ὑποσχέσεις, ὅταν τὰ ἐναντία γένηται, ἐναντία ἐστὶν ὄντως: ἐφ' ἡμῶν δὲ τοὐναντίον: ἐνταῦθα μὲν θλῖψιν εἶπεν, ἐκεῖ δὲ ἄνεσιν. Τί συγχέομεν τοὺς καιρούς; τί τὰ ἄνω κάτω ποιοῦμεν; Θλίβῃ, εἰπέ μοι, ὅτι ἐν πενίᾳ διάγεις, καὶ θορυβῇ διὰ τοῦτο; Μὴ θορυβοῦ: θορύβου γὰρ ἄξιον, εἰ ἐκεῖ μέλλοις θλίβεσθαι: αὕτη γὰρ ἡ θλῖψις, ἀνέσεως αἰτία. Ἡ ἀσθένεια αὕτη, φησὶν, οὐκ ἔστι πρὸς θάνατον. Ἐκείνη ἡ θλῖψις, κόλασις: αὕτη, παιδεία καὶ διόρθωσις. Ἀγών ἐστιν ὁ παρὼν καιρός: οὐκοῦν τοῦ πυκτεύειν χρεία: πόλεμός ἐστι καὶ μάχη. Οὐδεὶς ἐν πολέμῳ ζητεῖ ἄνεσιν, οὐδεὶς ἐν πολέμῳ ζητεῖ τρυφὴν, οὐδεὶς ὑπὲρ χρημάτων μεριμνᾷ, ὑπὲρ γυναικὸς οὐδεὶς φροντίζει, ἀλλ' εἰς ἓν ὁρᾷ μόνον, ὅπως περιγένοιτο τῶν ἐχθρῶν. Τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς ποιῶμεν: καὶ ἂν περιγενώμεθα καὶ ἐπανέλθωμεν μετὰ τροπαίων, πάντα ἡμῖν ὁ Θεὸς δώσει. Τοῦτο μόνον ἡμῖν σπουδαζέσθω, πῶς περιγενώμεθα τοῦ διαβόλου: μᾶλλον δὲ οὐ τῆς ἡμετέρας τὸ πρᾶγμα σπουδῆς, ἀλλὰ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ χάριτός ἐστι τὸ πᾶν. Ἓν ἡμῖν σπουδαζέσθω, ὅπως ἐπισπασώμεθα αὐτοῦ τὴν χάριν, ὅπως ἑλκύσωμεν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς τὴν ῥοπὴν ἐκείνην. Εἰ ὁ Θεὸς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, τίς καθ' ἡμῶν, φησίν; Ἓν μόνον σπουδάζωμεν, ὅπως οὗτος ἡμῖν μὴ ἐχθρὸς γένηται, ὅπως ἡμᾶς μὴ ἀποστραφῇ. δʹ. Οὐ τὸ θλίβεσθαι κακὸν, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἁμαρτάνειν κακόν. Ἡ χαλεπὴ θλῖψις τοῦτό ἐστι, κἂν ἐν τρυφῇ διάγωμεν: οὐ λέγω ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν τῷ παρόντι. Πῶς γὰρ οἴει τὸ συνειδὸς ἡμῶν δάκνεσθαι; ποίας βασάνου οὐκ εἶναι χεῖρον; Ἐβουλόμην μετὰ ἀκριβείας ἐρωτῆσαι τοὺς ἐν τοῖς κακοῖς ζῶντας, εἰ μηδέποτε εἰς ἔννοιαν ἔρχονται τῶν οἰκείων ἁμαρτημάτων, εἰ μὴ τρέμουσιν, εἰ μὴ δεδοίκασιν, εἰ μὴ ὀδυνῶνται, εἰ μὴ μακαρίζουσι τοὺς ἐν νηστείᾳ, τοὺς ἐν ὄρεσι, τοὺς ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ ζῶντας Βούλει ἄνεσιν εὑρεῖν ἐκεῖ; Θλίβηθι ἐνταῦθα διὰ τὸν Χριστόν: οὐδὲν ταύτης τῆς ἀνέσεως ἴσον. Ἔχαιρον οἱ ἀπόστολοι μαστιζόμενοι. Παῦλος τοῦτο παραινεῖ λέγων: Χαίρετε ἐν Κυρίῳ. Καὶ πῶς ἔνι χαίρειν, φησὶν ἔνθα δεσμὰ, ἔνθα βάσανοι, ἔνθα δικαστήρια; Μάλιστα ἐνταῦθα χαίρειν ἔνι. Πῶς δὲ ἔνι χαίρειν, ἔνθα ταῦτα, μάνθανε. Ὁ μηδὲν ἑαυτῷ συνειδὼς, μέγα πως ἡσθήσεται, ὥστε, ὅσῳ ἂν εἴπῃς τὴν θλῖψιν, τοσούτῳ λέγεις τὴν ἡδονήν. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, ὁ μυρία τραύματα λαβὼν στρατιώτης καὶ ἐπανιὼν, ἆρ' οὐχὶ μετὰ πολλῆς ἐπανήξει τῆς ἡδονῆς, παῤῥησίας ὑπόθεσιν ἔχων τὰ τραύματα, λαμπρότητός τε καὶ εὐδοκιμήσεως; Καὶ σὺ ἂν δυνηθῇς ῥῆξαι τὴν φωνὴν ἐκείνην, ἣν Παῦλος, ὅτι Τὰ στίγματα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ βαστάζω, δυνήσῃ μέγας γενέσθαι καὶ λαμπρὸς καὶ εὐδόκιμος. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἔστι διωγμός; Στῆθι πρὸς δόξαν: κἂν εἴπῃ τις ἐναντίον τι, μὴ φοβηθῇς ἀκοῦσαι κακῶς διὰ Χριστόν: στῆθι πρὸς τύφου τυραννίδα, στῆθι πρὸς θυμοῦ μάχην, στῆθι πρὸς ἐπιθυμίας βάσανον. Καὶ ταῦτα στίγματά ἐστι, καὶ αὗται βάσανοι. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, τί τὸ δεινότατον τῶν βασάνων; ἆρ' οὐχ ὅτι ἡ ψυχὴ ἀλγεῖ καὶ καίεται; Ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ κἂν τὸ σῶμα μερίζεται: ἐνταῦθα δὲ τὸ πᾶν αὐτῆς ἐστι. Περὶ αὐτὴν ἡ ὀδύνη, ὅταν ὀργίζηται, ὅταν βασκαίνῃ, ὅταν τι τοιοῦτον ποιῇ, μᾶλλον δὲ ὅταν πάσχῃ. Οὐ γὰρ ποιεῖν τοῦτό ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ πάσχειν, τὸ ὀργίζεσθαι, τὸ φθόνον ἔχειν: διὰ τοῦτο καὶ πάθη καλεῖται ψυχῆς, καὶ τραύματα, καὶ ὠτειλαί. Ὄντως γὰρ πάθος ἐστὶ, καὶ πάθους χαλεπώτερον. Ἐννοήσατε, οἱ ὀργιζόμενοι, ὅτι πάθει ταῦτα ποιεῖτε. Οὐκοῦν ὁ μὴ ὀργιζόμενος οὐ πάσχει, Ὁρᾷς, ὅτι ὁ ὑβριζόμενος οὐ πάσχει, ἀλλ' ὁ ὑβρίζων, ὅπερ ἔφην καὶ ἤδη; Ὅτι γὰρ πάσχει, δῆλον μὲν καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πάθος καλεῖσθαι τὸ τοιοῦτον, δῆλον δὲ καὶ ἐκ τοῦ σώματος: ταῦτα γὰρ ἀπὸ ὀργῆς τίκτεται τὰ πάθη, ἀμβλυωπία, παραπληξία, καὶ μυρία ἕτερα. Ἀλλὰ τὸν παῖδα ὕβρισε, φησὶν, ἀλλὰ τὸν οἰκέτην. Μὴ νομίσῃς εἶναι ἀσθένειαν τὸ μὴ καὶ αὐτὸς τοῦτο ποιῆσαι. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, καλῶς γέγονεν; Οὐκ οἶμαι εἰπεῖν: οὐκοῦν μὴ ποιήσῃς τὸ μὴ καλῶς γινόμενον. Οἶδα οἷαι ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις αἱ ὀργαὶ τίκτονται. Τί οὖν, ἂν καταφρονῇ, φησὶν, ἂν πάλιν εἴπῃ; Ἔλεγξον, ἐπιτίμησον, παρακάλεσον: πραότητι ὀργὴ λύεται: προσελθὼν ἐγκάλεσον. Ὑπὲρ μὲν γὰρ τῶν εἰς ἡμᾶς οὐδὲ τοῦτο ποιεῖν χρὴ, ὑπὲρ δὲ τῶν ἄλλων, καὶ ἀνάγκη τοῦτο δὴ ποιεῖν. Μὴ ἰδίαν ὕβριν νομίσῃς τὸ τὸν παῖδα ὑβρισθῆναι: κἂν ἀλγῇς ὑπὲρ ἐκείνου, μὴ ὡς αὐτὸς ὑβρισθείς: οὐ γὰρ ἐπειδὴ ὁ παῖς κακῶς ἔπαθεν, ὑβρίσθης σὺ, ἀλλ' ὁ ποιήσας κακῶς. Σβέσον τὴν μάχαιραν τὴν ὀξεῖαν, ἐν τῇ θήκῃ κείσθω. Ἂν ἔχωμεν αὐτὴν γυμνὴν, πολλάκις καὶ οὐκ ὄντος καιροῦ χρησόμεθα, ἐφελκόμενοι ὑπ' αὐτῆς: ἂν δὲ ᾖ κεκρυμμένη, κἂν χρεία γένηται, σβεσθήσεται ἡ ὀργή. Ὑπὲρ αὑτοῦ οὐ βούλεται ἡμᾶς ὀργίζεσθαι ὁ Χριστὸς (ἄκουσον γὰρ τί φησι πρὸς τὸν Πέτρον: Ἀπόστρεψον τὴν μάχαιράν σου εἰς τὴν θήκην): καὶ σὺ ὑπὲρ παιδὸς ὀργίζῃ; Δίδαξον καὶ τὸν παῖδα φιλοσοφεῖν: εἰπὲ αὐτῷ τὰ τοῦ Δεσπότου παθήματα: μίμησαί σου τὸν Διδάσκαλον. Ὅτε ἔμελλον καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀτιμάζεσθαι, οὐκ εἶπεν, ὅτι Ἐκδικήσω: ἀλλὰ τί; Ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν, καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν. Οὐκοῦν φέρετε γενναίως: οὐ γὰρ ἐμοῦ βελτίους ὑμεῖς. Ταῦτα καὶ σὺ πρὸς τὸν υἱὸν καὶ τὸν παῖδα εἰπέ: Οὐκ εἶ τοῦ Δεσπότου σου βελτίων. Ἀλλὰ χήρας εἶναι δοκεῖ τὰ ῥήματα τῆς φιλοσοφίας. Οἴμοι, ὅτι λόγῳ παραστῆσαι οὐκ ἔνι, ὡς ὑπὸ τῆς πείρας αὐτῆς διδαχθῆναι ἔνεστι. Καὶ ἵνα μάθῃς, ἐν μέσῳ δύο ἑστὼς διαμαχομένων, γενοῦ τῆς μερίδος τῶν ἀδικουμένων, καὶ μὴ τῶν ἀδικούντων, ἂν μὴ παρὰ σαυτῷ τὰ νικητήρια ἴδῃς, ἂν μὴ λαμπροὺς λάβῃς στεφάνους. Ὅρα, πῶς ὑβρίζεται ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ πῶς ἀποκρίνεται πράως καὶ ἡμέρως. Ποῦ ἔστι, φησὶν, Ἄβελ ὁ ἀδελφός σου; Καὶ τί ἐκεῖνος; Μὴ φύλαξ ἐγώ εἰμι τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου; Τί αὐθαδέστερον τούτου; κἂν παρά γε υἱοῦ ἤκουσεν ἄν τις; εἰ γὰρ παρὰ ἀδελφοῦ, οὐχ ὕβριν ἂν ἡγήσατο τὸ πρᾶγμα; Ἀλλ' ὁ Θεὸς πάλιν ἡμέρως ἀποκρίνεται: Φωνὴ αἵματος τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου, φησὶ, βοᾷ πρός με. Ἀλλ' ὁ Θεὸς ἀνώτερός ἐστιν ὀργῆς, φησίν. Ἀλλὰ διὰ τοῦτο κατῆλθεν ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Υἱὸς, ἵνα σὲ θεὸν ποιήσῃ κατὰ δύναμιν τὴν ἀνθρωπίνην. Ἀλλ' οὐ δύναμαι, φησὶν, ἄνθρωπος ὤν. Οὐκοῦν φέρε ἀνθρώπους σοι παραγάγωμεν. Καὶ μή με νομίσῃς Παῦλον ἐρεῖν μηδὲ Πέτρον, ἀλλά τινας τῶν ἐλαττόνων καὶ σφόδρα κατωτέρω. Τὸ παιδάριον Ἠλεὶ τὴν Ἄνναν ὕβρισε λέγον: Περιελοῦ τὸν οἶνόν σου. Τί τούτου ὑβριστικώτερον; Τί οὖν ἐκείνη; Γυνὴ ἐν σκληρᾷ ἡμέρᾳ ἐγώ εἰμι. Οὐδὲν ὄντως θλίψεως ἴσον: φιλοσοφίας μήτηρ ἐστίν. Ἡ αὐτὴ δὲ αὕτη καὶ τὴν ἀντίζηλον αὐτῆς ἔχουσα, οὐχ ὕβρισεν αὐτήν: ἀλλὰ τί; Πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν καταφεύγει, καὶ εὐχομένη οὐδὲ μέμνηται αὐτῆς, οὐδὲ λέγει, Ἐπειδὴ ὀνειδίζει με ἡ δεῖνα, ἐπάμυνόν μοι: οὕτω φιλόσοφος ἦν ἡ γυνὴ (αἰσχυνθῶμεν οἱ ἄνδρες): καίτοι ἴστε, ὅτι ζήλου ἴσον οὐδέν. εʹ. Ὁ τελώνης ὑβρισθεὶς παρὰ τοῦ Φαρισαίου, οὐκ ἀνθύβρισε, καίτοι γε, εἰ ἐβούλετο, ἠδύνατο: ἀλλὰ φιλοσόφως ἤνεγκε λέγων: Ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ. Ὁ Μεμφιβάαλ ὑπὸ τοῦ δούλου κατηγορηθεὶς καὶ συκοφαντηθεὶς, οὐδὲν οὔτε εἶπεν, οὔτε ἔπραξεν εἰς αὐτόν τι πονηρὸν, οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τοῦ βασιλέως αὐτοῦ. Βούλει καὶ πόρνης ἀκοῦσαι φιλοσοφίαν; Ἄκουσον τοῦ Χριστοῦ λέγοντος, ἡνίκα ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας ἀπέμασσε: Τελῶναι καὶ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν. Εἶδες αὐτὴν ἑστῶσαν καὶ δακρύουσαν, καὶ τὰ οἰκεῖα ἁμαρτήματα ἀπολουομένην; Ὅρα, πῶς καὶ πρὸς τὸν Φαρισαῖον οὐκ ὠργίσθη ὀνειδιζομένη: εἰ ᾔδει γὰρ, φησὶν, ὅτι ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν αὕτη ἡ γυνὴ, οὐκ ἂν εἴασεν αὐτήν. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν: Τί γάρ; εἰπέ μοι: σὺ καθαρὸς ἀπὸ ἁμαρτημάτων εἶ; ἀλλὰ πλέον ἔπασχε, πλέον ὠδύρετο καὶ θερμότερα τὰ δάκρυα ἠφίει. Εἰ δὲ γυναῖκες καὶ τελῶναι καὶ πόρναι φιλοσοφοῦσι, καὶ ταῦτα πρὸ τῆς χάριτος, τίνος ἐσόμεθα ἡμεῖς ἄξιοι συγγνώμης, μετὰ τὴν τοσαύτην χάριν θηρίων μᾶλλον ἐκπολεμούμενοι, δάκνοντες καὶ λακτίζοντες; Οὐδὲν αἰσχρότερον θυμοῦ, οὐδὲν ἀτιμότερον, οὐδὲν δεινότερον, οὐδὲν ἀηδέστερον, οὐδὲν βλαβερώτερον. Ταῦτα λέγω, οὐχ ἵνα πρὸς ἄνδρας ὦμεν ἥμεροι μόνον, ἀλλὰ κἂν γυνὴ λάλος ᾖ, ἵνα φέρῃς: ἔστω σοι παλαίστρα καὶ γυμνάσιον ἡ γυνή. Πῶς γὰρ οὐκ ἄτοπον, γυμνάσια μὲν ἀναδέχεσθαι οὐδὲν κέρδος ἔχοντα, ἔνθα θλίβομεν τὸ σῶμα: γυμνάσια δὲ μὴ ποιεῖν οἴκαδε, καὶ πρὸ τῶν ἀγώνων στέφανον ἡμῖν παρέχοντα; Ὑβρίζει ἡ γυνή; Μὴ γένῃ σὺ γυνή: γυναικῶδες γὰρ τὸ ὑβρίζειν: νόσος ἐστὶ ψυχῆς, ἐλάττωμά ἐστι. Μὴ νομίσῃς ἀνάξιόν σου εἶναι, ὅταν ἡ γυνὴ ὑβρίσῃ. Ἀνάξιον, ὅταν σὺ μὲν ὑβρίζῃς, ἐκείνη δὲ φιλοσοφῇ: τότε ἀσχημονεῖς, τότε ὑβρίσθης: ἂν δὲ ὑβρισθεὶς ἐνέγκῃς, τῆς ἰσχύος τῆς σῆς πολλὴ ἡ ἐπίδειξις. Οὐ τὰς γυναῖκας ἐνάγων εἰς ὕβρεις, ταῦτα λέγω: μὴ γένοιτο: ἀλλ' εἴ που καὶ συμβαίη κατὰ σατανικὴν περίστασιν, ἵνα φέρητε. Ἀνδρῶν ἐστι τὸ φέρειν τῶν ἰσχυρῶν τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς. Κἂν οἰκέτης ἀντείπῃ, φιλοσόφησον σύ: μὴ, τί ἐκεῖνος ἄξιός ἐστιν ἀκοῦσαι, εἴπῃς ἢ πράξῃς, ἀλλὰ τί δεῖ σε καὶ ποιῆσαι καὶ εἰπεῖν. Μηδέποτε κόρην ὑβρίζων, αἰσχρὸν ῥῆμα ἐκβάλῃς: μηδέποτε οἰκέτην μιαρὸν εἴπῃς. Ἐκεῖνος οὐχ ὑβρίσθη, ἀλλὰ σύ. Οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἑαυτῷ εἶναι τὸν ὀργιζόμενον, ὥσπερ οὐδὲ πέλαγος κυμαινόμενον, ἢ πηγὴν μένειν καθαρὰν, βορβόρου ποθὲν ἐμπεσόντος αὐτῇ: οὕτω πάντα ἀναμὶξ, μᾶλλον δὲ οὕτω πάντα ἄνω καὶ κάτω γίνεται. Κἂν τυπτήσῃς, κἂν διαῤῥήξῃς τὸν χιτωνίσκον, σὺ μείζονα τὴν βλάβην ὑπέμεινας: ἐκείνῳ μὲν γὰρ περὶ τὸ σῶμα καὶ περὶ τὴν ἐσθῆτα ἡ πληγὴ, σοὶ δὲ περὶ τὴν ψυχήν. Ἐκείνην διέτεμες, ἐκείνην ἔτρωσας, τὸν ἡνίοχον ἔβαλες ἀπὸ τῶν ἵππων κάτω, ὕπτιον σύρεσθαι παρεσκεύασας: καὶ ταυτὸν γίνεται, οἷον ἐὰν ἡνίοχος ἑτέρῳ ὀργιζόμενος ἕλοιτ' ἂν σύρεσθαι. Κἂν ἐπιπλήττῃς, κἂν νουθετῇς, κἂν ὁτιοῦν ποιῇς, ὀργῆς χωρὶς καὶ θυμοῦ. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ ἐπιπλήττων ἰατρός ἐστι τοῦ ἁμαρτάνοντος, πῶς ἂν δύναιτο θεραπεῦσαι ἕτερον, ἑαυτὸν πρότερον κακώσας, ἑαυτὸν μὴ θεραπεύων; Εἴ τις, εἰπέ μοι, ἰατρὸς πορεύοιτο ἕτερον θεραπεύειν, πρότερον τὴν χεῖρα τραυματίσας τὴν ἑαυτοῦ, πρότερον τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς πηρώσας, οὕτω ποιεῖται ἐκείνου τὴν ἰατρείαν; Οὐχὶ, φησίν. Οὕτω καὶ σὺ κἂν ἐπιπλήττῃς, κἂν νουθετῇς, καθαρὰ βλεπέτωσάν σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί. Μὴ θολώσῃς τὸν νοῦν, ἐπεὶ πῶς ἡ θεραπεία γενήσεται; Οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ γαλήνῃ εἶναι, ἀόργητον ὄντα καὶ ὀργιζόμενον. Τί τὸν διδάσκαλον ἀπὸ τοῦ θρόνου καταστρέψας, οὕτω διαλέγῃ τῷ χαμαὶ κειμένῳ; Οὐχ ὁρᾷς τοὺς δικάζοντας, οἳ ὅταν μέλλωσι κρίνειν, καθέζονται ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου, καὶ ἐν σχήματι τῷ προσήκοντι; Οὕτω καὶ σὺ ποίησον: κόσμησον τὴν ψυχὴν ἐσθῆτι δικαστικῇ (αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ ἐπιείκεια), καὶ τότε ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου δικαστὴς κάθισον. Ἀλλ' οὐ φοβηθήσεται, φησί. Μᾶλλον φοβηθήσεται Τότε κἂν δίκαια λέγῃς, τῷ θυμῷ λογιεῖται ὁ οἰκέτης: ἂν δὲ μετὰ ἐπιεικείας, ἑαυτοῦ καταγνώσεται, τὸ δὲ προηγούμενον, ἀποδέξεταί σε ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ οὕτω δυνήσῃ τῶν αἰωνίων ἀγαθῶν ἐπιτυχεῖν, χάριτι καὶ οἰκτιρμοῖς καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.