45

at first they saw him gladly and demanded their prey, hoping to see a crowd of Christian prisoners and seeking the fulfillment of the many promises. 8.26.2 But when, as the discussion proceeded, they found Paul, the Saul, who had changed his mind along with his calling, and was a servant of Christ and a more fervent disciple of the other apostles, at first they considered what was being said a game and a mockery; but when, after testing him, they found his mind in agreement with his voice, they resolved on one thing only: that the young man should perish, since it was not possible for the religion of the Hebrews to exist and be proclaimed while Paul was alive and speaking. And all the time that followed clearly showed this. 8.27.1 For while the majority, even if they were Christians, were not content to live purely according to the gospel, but were wavering and in some way also practicing circumcision, so that by doing things partially pleasing to the Hebrews they might appease their anger, this man alone with undaunted spirit taught nothing compromised, 8.27.2 but with a clear voice he preached the word unadulterated, and he advanced so far in his freedom of thought, that when the Galatians, through their own fickleness and disregard for their teachers, were relapsing into the life according to the Law, he wrote his wonderful epistle to them, through which he taught them to be pious and to worship in the newness of the life according to Christ, no longer paying attention to the letters from the stone tablets, 8.27.3 he clashed through his words with the very leader of the apostles and continually attacked and skirmished with Peter, as one who was muddying the new way of life by the additional use of the old and obsolete doctrines; and he respected neither the gray hair of the old man nor the primacy of his apostleship, when he saw that the truth was in danger. But he vehemently stood up against the Galatians, and often rebuked him, as far as he was able, mixing his frankness with propriety. 8.27.4 And everywhere he continued speaking and persuading; but if somewhere, encountering wicked dispositions, he suffered something terrible—whether dwelling in prison or receiving scourges or being stoned—he did not abandon his zeal on account of the setback that had occurred; but after a short pause he again approached his enemies and, engaging them in the same discussions and devising many methods of approach, and adapting himself most resourcefully to the needs that arose, he always departed having persuaded either all or the majority. 8.27.5 Often, then, being found after incurable blows and having been cast out in the suburbs of that city which he was initiating into piety, and being thought to have even died on account of the magnitude of his sufferings, on the next day, having occupied the marketplace and stretching out his right hand, he again taught those who had brought him near to death; so little did he care for his body. But looking to the goal of the upward call, he persevered in the contest, passing from country to country, from city to city, 8.27.6 competing in labors on land, arraying himself against the dangers from the sea, speaking wisely to inflamed crowds, making his defense before angry judges; leading Hebrews to the knowledge of Christ through the scriptures honored among them, persuading Greeks with external arguments and the unwritten laws of nature; strengthening Christians, edifying and nourishing proselytes with suitable instruction as gardeners do young plants with a measured and sparing flow of water. Let us consider that which especially shows his strength in words. 8.28.1 Athens is the leading city of Achaia, the hearth of eloquence, as those who praise it have called it, an ancient workshop of wise men and of those who live by words. Since, then, Paul, having traversed Illyricum and having everywhere cast the sparks of faith, which the Spirit, having received, fanned into flame and kept unquenchable, he came in the course of his journey also to the wise Athenians. And it was a matter worthy of great concern, how the tentmaker the words about God to those men

45

πρῶτον ἡδέως τε εἶδον καὶ ἀπῄτουν τὴν θήραν πλῆθος χριστιανῶν δεσμωτῶν ἐλπίσαντες ὄψεσθαι καὶ τῶν πολλῶν ὑποσχέσεων ζητοῦντες τὸ ἔργον. 8.26.2 Ἐπεὶ δὲ λόγου προβαίνοντος εὗρον Παῦλον τὸν Σαῦλον συναμεί ψαντα τῇ κλήσει τὴν γνώμην καὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ δοῦλον καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἀποστόλων μαθητὴν θερμότερον, τὰ μὲν πρῶτα παιδιὰν καὶ χλεύην ἡγοῦντο τὰ λεγόμενα, ἐπεὶ δὲ δοκιμάσαντες εὗρον ὁμολογοῦσαν τῇ φωνῇ τὴν γνώμην ἓν ἐβουλεύσαντο μόνον, ὅπως ὁ νεανίας ἀπόλοιτο, ὡς οὐκ ἐνὸν εἶναι τὴν Ἑβραίων θρησκείαν καὶ χρηματίζειν ζῶντος Παύλου καὶ φθεγγομένου. Καὶ τοῦτο σαφῶς ἔδειξε σύμπας ὁ ὕστερον χρόνος. 8.27.1 Ἔτι γὰρ τῶν πολλῶν, εἰ καὶ ὑπῆρχον χριστιανοί, οὐκ ἀρκούντων καθαρῶς ζῆν κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, ἀλλ' ἐπαμφοτεριζόντων καί που καὶ τῇ περιτομῇ προσχρωμένων, ἵν' ἐκ μέρους κεχαρισμένα τοῖς Ἑβραίοις ποιοῦντες τὸν θυμὸν αὐτῶν ἐκμειλίξωνται, μόνος οὗτος ἀκαταπλήκτῳ φρονήματι οὐδὲν ὑφείμενον ἐδίδαξεν, 8.27.2 ἀλλὰ καθαρᾷ τῇ φωνῇ ἀνόθευτον τὸν λόγον ἐκήρυσσεν καὶ εἰς τοσοῦτόν γε προὔβη τοῦ ἐλευθερίου φρονήματος, ὥστε ποτὲ τῶν Γαλατῶν οἰκείᾳ κουφότητι καὶ ὀλιγωρίᾳ τῶν διδασκόντων εἰς τὴν κατὰ νόμον παλινδρομούντων ζωὴν τὴν θαυμαστὴν αὐτοῖς γράφων ἐπιστολήν, δι' ἧς ἐν καινότητι τῆς κατὰ Χριστὸν πολιτείας εὐσεβεῖν αὐτοὺς καὶ θρησκεύειν ἐδίδαξε μηκέτι προσέχοντας τοῖς γράμ μασιν τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν λιθίνων πλακῶν, 8.27.3 συνεπλάκη διὰ τῶν λεγομένων αὐτῷ τῷ κορυφαίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ πανταχοῦ καθαπτόμενος διετέλεσε καὶ ἁψιμαχῶν πρὸς τὸν Πέτρον ὡς τὴν νέαν ἐπιθολοῦντα πολιτείαν τῇ προσχρήσει τῶν παλαιῶν καὶ πεπαυμένων δογμάτων· καὶ οὔτε τὴν πολιὰν ᾐδέσθη τοῦ γέροντος οὔτε τὰ τῆς ἀποστολῆς πρεσβεῖα, ὅτε εἶδε κινδυνεύουσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν. Ἀλλὰ τῶν μὲν Γαλατῶν ἀντεξανέστη σφοδρῶς, τὸν δὲ πολλάκις ἔπληξεν, ὡς ἐνῆν, τὴν παρρησίαν εὐπρεπείᾳ κεράσας. 8.27.4 Καὶ πανταχοῦ μὲν διετέλει λέγων καὶ πείθων· εἰ δέ που 8.27.4 καὶ πονηροῖς ἤθεσιν ἐντυχὼν ἔπαθέν τι δεινὸν ἢ δεσμωτήριον οἰκήσας ἢ μάστιγας λαβὼν ἢ λίθοις βληθείς, οὐ κατέλυσεν τὴν προθυμίαν διὰ τὴν γενομένην ἀποτυχίαν· ἀλλὰ μικρὸν διαλιπὼν πάλιν ἤγγιζε τοῖς ἐχθροῖς καὶ τοὺς αὐτοὺς συναναστρέφων λόγους καὶ πολλοὺς τρόπους τῶν ἐπιχειρήσεων ἐξευρίσκων, εὐμηχάνως δὲ λίαν πρὸς τὰς ἐμπιπτούσας χρείας μεθαρμοζόμενος πάντως ἀπῄει πείσας ἢ πάντας ἢ τοὺς πολλούς. 8.27.5 Πολλάκις γ' οὖν εὑρεθεὶς μετὰ πληγὰς ἀνηκέστους καὶ ῥιφεὶς ἐν προαστείοις τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης ἣν ἐμυσταγώγει πρὸς τὴν εὐσέβειαν, νομισθεὶς δὲ καὶ τεθνάναι διὰ τὸ μέγεθος τῶν δεινῶν, τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ τὴν ἀγορὰν καταλαβὼν καὶ τὴν δεξιὰν προτείνας πάλιν ἐδίδασκε τοὺς ἐγγὺς ἀγαγόντας θανάτου· οὕτως οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τοῦ σώματος ἔμελε· πρὸς δὲ τὸν σκόπον βλέπων τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως καρτερὸς ἠγωνίζετο χώραν ἐκ χώρας ἀμείβων, πόλιν ἐκ πόλεως, 8.27.6 τοῖς κατὰ γῆν πόνοις ἐναθλῶν, πρὸς τοὺς κινδύνους τοὺς ἐκ θαλάττης παραταττόμενος, πρὸς δήμους φλεγμαίνοντας ῥητορεύων σοφῶς, δικασταῖς ὀργιζομένοις ἀπολογούμενος· Ἑβραίους ἐνάγων εἰς τὴν ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ Χριστοῦ διὰ τῶν παρ' αὐτοῖς τιμωμένων γραμ μάτων, Ἑλλῆνας τοῖς ἔξωθεν δυσωπῶν λόγοις καὶ τοῖς ἀγράφοις νόμοις τῆς φύσεως· χριστιανοὺς βεβαιῶν, προσηλύτους οἰκοδομῶν καὶ τρέφων τοῖς προσφόροις παιδεύμασιν ὡς φυτουργοὶ τὰ νεαρὰ τῶν φυτῶν τῇ συμμέτρῳ καὶ πεφεισμένῃ τῶν ὑδάτων ἐπιρροῇ. Ὃ δὲ μάλιστα δείκνυσιν αὐτοῦ τὴν ἐν λόγοις ἰσχύν, καταμάθωμεν. 8.28.1 Ἀθῆναι πόλις ἐστὶ προκαθημένη τῆς Ἀχαΐας, ἑστία λόγων, ὡς προεῖπον αὐτὴν οἱ εὐφημοῦντες, σοφῶν ἀνδρῶν καὶ τῶν ἐν λόγοις ζώντων παλαιὸν ἐργαστήριον. Ἐπεὶ τοίνυν ὁ Παῦλος τὸ Ἰλλυρικὸν διαδραμὼν καὶ πανταχοῦ ῥίψας τοὺς σπινθῆρας τῆς πίστεως, οὓς τὸ Πνεῦμα παρα λαβὼν ἀνερρίπιζε καὶ ἀσβέστους ἐτήρει, ἦλθε κατὰ τὴν χρείαν τῆς περιόδου καὶ πρὸς τοὺς σοφοὺς Ἀθηναίους. Καὶ πρᾶγμα ἦν πολλῆς μερίμνης ἄξιον, πῶς ἂν ὁ σκηνορράφος τοὺς περὶ Θεοῦ λόγους ἐκείνοις