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they might rush. But when he saw the multitude of those streaming toward him, he was at a loss how to handle the situation; nevertheless he found a resourceful art, a harmonious and gentle speech. For there is no such medicine for the healing of anger and commotion as a gracious and well-ordered exhortation. 12.5.3 And tell me, he says, the reason for your hatred, and for what reason you raise your hands and make it clear that you are about to tear me to pieces. And when they said, "Because you are destroying the ancestral laws and are an introducer of foreign doctrines," the blessed one, standing in their midst, an artless and extemporaneous orator—for he was not saying things he had learned from art, but things with which he was inspired by the Spirit— Men, he says, brothers and fathers, listen. 12.6.1 Wise was the introduction, excellent the beginning of the public speech to a heated crowd. For the mild and gracious words, as if partaking of some honey or being like soft oil, were suppressing the inflammation of the beasts. Then he goes back in memory to Abraham, so that by starting from ancient times and extending his speech at length, he might, in the long interval, unnoticeably dissipate their weakening anger. And after working out that long speech, he shows that Moses also prophesied Christ, so that through the credibility of the lawgiver he might skillfully, as if by stealth, introduce the message of the faith. And he said all things knowledgeably, whatever contributed to the benefit of his hearers. But when he saw that their wickedness was unyielding and their disposition unsoftened, then at last, filled with boldness and despairing of this life here, and abandoning all flattering art, he addressed them openly as stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart, fighting against the law, warring against the Spirit. And what followed from this? Many dogs surrounded him, as they did the Master, and fat bulls, according to the psalm, encompassed the righteous one. And he stood alone, surrounded on all sides by the crowd of murderers. And there was no one near at that hour, not a friend, not a household member, not a relative. For it brings some consolation to those in danger to see someone they know close by. But the high judge of the great contest, perceiving that the man needed a helper—for even if he was exceedingly noble, he certainly was suffering human things—suddenly appears to him as he gazed into heaven, and shows him the Son standing at the right hand in the form of his humanity. O the love for mankind! O the goodness! They appeared to the athlete for whom he was contending, and the God of all but uttered such a voice to him: 12.7.2 Suffer nothing ignoble, O Stephen; you have no ally among men, none of your friends stands by you in the time of terrors, but I with the Beloved One am watching what is being done. Rest is ready, the gates of paradise are opened wide. Having endured for a little while, leave this temporary life and hasten to the life that is eternal and unending. While still in the flesh you see God, a thing greater than all worldly nature. 12.7.3 You were initiated by the elder apostles that the Father has a true, beloved Son. Behold, I reveal myself to you as you are able to bear it. And the Son stands by me at my right hand, so that by the relation of the place you may know his honor. It was then a scandal to the many, if God on earth put on flesh; but see him now in the height with me, bearing the heavenly and super-heavenly form of man for the confirmation of the economy that was accomplished. Being stoned for this, do not shrink back, do not lose heart. 12.7.4 And seeing the judge of the contest, do not fear the contest. Despising your body, leave it as an earthly bond, as a decaying house, as a perishable potter's vessel. Run up to the portion here as a free man, for the crown of your valor is ready for you. Pass from earth to heaven. Leave your body to the blood-stained ones as food for dogs. Leave the raging crowd and come to the choir of angels. 12.8.1 With this intention God appeared to the steadfast one, so that not at all

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ὁρμήσωσιν. Ὡς δὲ τὸ πλῆθος ἐθεάσατο τῶν ἐπ' αὐτὸν συρρεόντων, ἐν ἀπόρῳ μὲν εἶχε θέσθαι τὸ παρόν· ὅμως δὲ τέχνην εὗρεν εὐμήχανον λόγον ἐμμελῆ καὶ πρᾶον. Οὐδὲν γὰρ φάρμακον τοιοῦτον εἰς θεραπείαν θυμοῦ καὶ κινήσεως, οἷον παραίνεσις προσηνὴς καὶ εὐάρμοστος. 12.5.3 Καὶ εἴπατέ μοι, φησί, τὴν αἰτίαν τοῦ μίσους, ἀνθ' ὅτου δὲ τὰς χεῖρας ἐπανατείνεσθε καὶ προδηλοί ἐστε ὡς σπαράξοντες. Εἰπόντων δὲ ὅτι Ἐπειδὴ καταλύεις τοὺς πατρῴους νόμους καὶ ξένων εἶ δογμάτων εἰσηγητής, στὰς εἰς μέσον ὁ μακάριος, ἄτεχνος καὶ αὐτοσχέδιος ῥήτωροὐ γὰρ ἔλεγεν ἅπερ ἐκ τέχνης ἔμαθεν, ἀλλ' ἅπερ ἐνεπνεῖτο ὑπὸ τοῦ Πνεύματος, Ἄνδρες, φησίν, ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πατέρες, ἀκούσατε. 12.6.1 Σοφὸν τὸ προοίμιον, ἀρίστη πρὸς δῆμον θερμαινόμενον ἡ τῆς δημηγορίας ἀρχή. Τὰ γὰρ μειλίχια καὶ προσηνῆ τῶν ῥημάτων οἷον μέλιτός τινος μετέχοντα ἢ ἐλαίῳ ἁπαλῷ παραπλήσια τὴν φλεγμονὴν τῶν θηρίων κατέστελλεν. Ἔπειτα ἄνεισι τῇ μνήμῃ πρὸς τὸν Ἀβραάμ, ἵνα καὶ παλαιῶν ἀρξάμενος χρόνων καὶ μακρὸν ἀποτείνων λόγον ἐν πολλῷ τῷ μέσῳ λάθῃ δαπανήσας τὸν θυμὸν ἐκλυόμενον. Καὶ τὴν πολλὴν ἐκείνην ῥῆσιν ἐξεργασάμενος δείκνυσιν, ὅτι καὶ Μωϋσῆς προεφήτευσε τὸν Χριστόν, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ἀξιοπιστίας τοῦ νομοθέτου εὐφυῶς, ὥσπερ κλέπτων, παρεισαγάγῃ τὸν τῆς πίστεως λόγον. Πάντα δὲ εἴρηκεν ἐπιστημόνως, ὅσα πρὸς ὠφέλειαν συνετέλει τῶν ἀκουόντων. Ἐπεὶ δὲ τὴν κακίαν εἶδεν ἀνένδοτον καὶ τὴν γνώμην ἀμάλακτον, τότε λοιπὸν παρρησίας πλησ θεὶς καὶ ἀπαγορεύσας πρὸς τὴν ἐνθάδε ζωὴν πᾶσαν δὲ καταλιπὼν τέχνην τὴν κολακεύουσαν ἀπαρακαλύπτως αὐτοὺς προσηγόρευσε σκληροτραχήλους, ἀπεριτμήτους τῇ καρδίᾳ, τῷ νόμῳ μαχομένους, πολεμοῦντας τῷ Πνεύματι. Καὶ τίνα τὰ ἐντεῦθεν; Περιέστησαν αὐτόν, ὡς ∆εσπότην, κύνες πολλοὶ καὶ ταῦροι πίονες, κατὰ τὴν ψαλμῳδίαν περιέσχον τὸν δίκαιον. Εἱστήκει δὲ μόνος πανταχόθεν τῷ δήμῳ τῶν φονευτῶν κεκυκλωμένος. Οὐδεὶς δὲ ἦν κατ' ἐκείνην τὴν ὥραν ἐγγύς, οὐ φίλος, οὐκ οἰκεῖος, οὐ συγγενής. Φέρει γάρ πως παραμυθίαν τοῖς κινδυνεύουσι τὸ βλέπειν ἐκ τοῦ σύνεγγύς τινα τῶν γνωρίμων. Ὁ δὲ τοῦ μεγάλου ἀγωνίσματος ὑψηλὸς ἀγωνοθέτης καταμαθὼν ὡς χρεία τῷ ἀνδρὶ παραστάτουεἰ γὰρ καὶ σφόδρα γενναῖος ἦν, πάντως ἔπασχε τὰ ἀνθρώπινα ἀθρόον αὐτῷ φαίνεται πρὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀτενίσαντι, δείκνυσιν δὲ καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν ἐκ δεξιῶν ἑστῶτα ἐν τῷ τῆς ἀνθρωπήσεως σχήματι. Ὢ τῆς φιλανθρωπίας! Ὢ τῆς ἀγαθοσύνης! Ἐπεφάνησαν τῷἀθλητῇ ὑπὲρ ὧν ἠγωνίζετο καὶ μόνον οὐκ ἀφῆκε τοιαύτην φωνὴν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ τῶν ὅλων Θεός· 12.7.2 Μηδὲν ἀγεννὲς πάθῃς, ὦ Στέφανε· οὐδένα ἔχεις ἀνθρώπων σύμμαχον, οὐδείς σοι παρέστηκε τῶν φίλων ἐν καιρῷ τῶν δεινῶν, ἀλλ' ἐγὼ μετὰ τοῦ Ἀγαπητοῦ ἐποπτεύω τὰ δρώμενα. Ἑτοίμη ἡ ἀνάπαυσις, ἀναπεπταμέναι τοῦ παραδείσου αἱ πύλαι. Μικρὸν καρτερίσας κατάλιπε βίον πρόσκαιρον καὶ σπεῦσον πρὸς ζωὴν τὴν ἀΐδιον καὶ ἀτέλεστον. Ἔτι τυγχάνων ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ βλέπεις Θεόν, πρᾶγμα πάσης ἐγκοσμίου φύσεως μεῖζον. 12.7.3 Ἐμυσταγωγήθης παρὰ τῶν πρεσ βυτέρων ἀποστόλων, ὅτι ὁ Πατὴρ ἔχει Υἱὸν γνήσιον ἀγαπητόν. Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ μέν σοι ἑαυτὸν ἐμφανίζω ὡς δύνασαι φέρειν. Παρέστηκε δέ μοι καὶ ὁ Υἱὸς ἐκ δεξιῶν, ἵνα τῇ σχέσει τοῦ τόπου γνῷς τὴν τιμήν. Ἐσκανδάλιζε τότε τοὺς πολλούς, εἰ Θεὸς ἐν γῇ σάρκα περιεβάλετο· ἀλλ' ὅρα νῦν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ ὕψει μετ' ἐμοῦ οὐράνιον καὶ ὑπερουράνιον φέροντα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μορφὴν εἰς βεβαίωσιν τῆς τελεσθείσης οἰκονομίας. Ὑπὲρ τούτου καταλιθούμενος μὴ ὀκλάσῃς, μὴ ἀτονήσῃς. 12.7.4 Βλέπων δὲ τὸν ἀγωνοθέτην μὴ φοβηθῇς τὸν ἀγῶνα. Ἄφες τὸ σῶμα καταφρονῶν ὡς δεσμὸν γήϊνον, ὡς οἶκον σαθρόν, ὡς σκεῦος κεραμέως φθαρτόν. Ἀνάδραμε πρὸς τὴν ἐνθάδε λῆξιν ἐλεύθερος, ἕτοιμος γάρ σοι τῆς ἀνδραγαθίας ὁ στέφανος. Μετάστηθι πρὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐκ τῆς γῆς. Ἄφες τὸ σῶμα τοῖς μιαιφόνοις ὡς βρῶμα κυσί. Κατάλιπε λυσσῶντα δῆμον καὶ ἐλθὲ πρὸς χορὸν ἀγγέλων. 12.8.1 Μετὰ ταύτης τῆς γνώμης ὁ Θεὸς ἐπεφάνη τῷ καρτερῷ, ἵνα μή τι