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to lay upon you any greater burden. Again he calls the law a burden. Then he also makes an apology for these very things. Save these necessary things, that you abstain from things offered to idols, and from what is strangled, and from fornication, and from blood, from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. These things the New Testament did not ordain; for Christ nowhere discoursed concerning these things; but they take these things from the Law. And from what is strangled, he says. Here he forbids murder. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch, and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. Then, showing that they also had exhorted them, he added: Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 2. No more factions and fightings; wherefore also having confirmed them they departed in peace; for they were more contentiously disposed toward Paul; and for the rest, Paul teaches. Thus there was no arrogance in the Church, but great good order. And see, after Peter, Paul speaks, and no one silences him; James endures it, and does not spring up; for he had been entrusted with the chief authority. John says nothing here, nor do the other apostles say anything, but they are silent, and are not indignant; so pure from glory was their soul. But let us see what was said from the beginning. And after they had held their peace, he says, James answered, saying: Simeon has declared how God at the first did visit; from the beginning Peter spoke more vehemently, but this one more gently. Thus must one in great power always act, to leave burdensome things to others, but himself to speak on the gentler subjects. He spoke well, Simeon has declared, as if he too 60.241 were speaking the opinion of others. See how he shows that this is an ancient thing. To take out of the Gentiles a people, he says, for his name. He did not simply choose them, but for his name; that is, for his glory. He is not ashamed to call the pre-occupation of the Gentiles glory for his name. For this is a greater glory. Here he hints at something great. What is this? That, he says, these are before all. After this I will return, and will build again, he says, the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down. If one were to examine closely, he would find the kingdom of David now being established. For while his offspring reigns, it stands everywhere. For what is the benefit of the buildings and of the city, when there are none who obey? and what harm from the destruction of the city, when all are willing to give even their souls? So that it not only stands, but has also become more glorious than all; for it is now sung everywhere in the world. That has come to pass; therefore this must also come to pass. And having said, And I will build again, he adds also the reason why, saying: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord. If, therefore, the city rose up again for this reason, on account of him who was from them, it is clear that the calling of the Gentiles has become the cause of the building of the city. Who are The residue? Those who were left at that time. But see him also observing the order, and introducing them as second. Saith the Lord, who does, he says, all these things. He not only says, but also does; therefore the calling of the Gentiles is the work of God. The question was another matter, which Peter also stated more clearly: that they ought not to be circumcised. Why then do you speak publicly on these matters? For they did not say this, that they ought not to receive them when they believed, but that it should be with the Law. And on this Peter spoke well in public; but since this above all things troubled the hearers, he heals this also again. And see, that which needed to be enacted as law, that one ought not to keep the Law, Peter introduced; but our part, and what was long ago accepted, this he says, and he dwells on that, about which nothing has been written, so that having healed their mind with what was conceded, he might seasonably introduce this also. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned; that is, not to subvert them. For if God has called them, and these observances subvert them, we are fighting against God. And he spoke well, which from among the Gentiles are turned, showing also God's from above

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πλέον ἐπιτίθεσθαι ὑμῖν βάρος. Πάλιν βάρος τὸν νόμον καλεῖ. Εἶτα καὶ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν τούτων ἀπολογεῖται. Πλὴν τῶν ἐπάναγκες τούτων, ἀπέχεσθαι εἰδωλοθύτων καὶ πνικτοῦ καὶ πορνείας καὶ αἵματος, ἐξ ὧν διατηροῦντες ἑαυτοὺς, εὖ πράξετε. Ταῦτα ἡ Καινὴ οὐ διετάττετο· οὐδαμοῦ γὰρ περὶ τούτων διελέχθη ὁ Χριστός· ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου ταῦτα λαμβάνουσι. Καὶ πνικτοῦ, φησίν. Ἐνταῦθα τὸν φόνον ἀνείργει. Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἀπολυθέντες, ἦλθον εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν, καὶ συναγαγόντες τὸ πλῆθος, ἐπέδωκαν τὴν ἐπιστολήν. Ἀναγνόντες δὲ, ἐχάρησαν ἐπὶ τῇ παρακλήσει. Εἶτα δηλῶν, ὅτι κἀκεῖνοι αὐτοὺς παρεκάλεσαν, ἐπήγαγεν· Ἰούδας τε καὶ Σίλας, καὶ αὐτοὶ προφῆται ὄντες, διὰ λόγου πολλοῦ παρεκάλεσαν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς, καὶ ἐπεστήριξαν. Ποιήσαντες δὲ χρόνον, ἀπελύθησαν μετ' εἰρήνης ὑπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους. βʹ. Οὐκέτι στάσεις καὶ μάχαι· διὸ καὶ βεβαιώσαντες αὐτοὺς ἀπῆλθον μετ' εἰρήνης· πρὸς γὰρ Παῦλον φιλονεικότερον διέκειντο· καὶ λοιπὸν Παῦλος διδάσκει. Οὕτως οὐδεὶς τῦφος ἦν ἐν τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ, ἀλλὰ πολλὴ ἡ εὐταξία. Καὶ ὅρα, μετὰ Πέτρον Παῦλος φθέγγεται, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐπιστομίζει· Ἰάκωβος ἀνέχεται, καὶ οὐκ ἀποπηδᾷ· ἐκεῖνος γὰρ ἦν τὴν ἀρχὴν ἐγκεχειρισμένος. Οὐδὲν Ἰωάννης ἐνταῦθα, οὐδὲν οἱ ἄλλοι ἀπόστολοι φθέγγονται, ἀλλὰ σιγῶσι, καὶ οὐκ ἀγανακτοῦσιν· οὕτω καθαρὰ δόξης ἦν αὐτῶν ἡ ψυχή. Ἀλλ' ἴδωμεν ἄνωθεν τὰ εἰρημένα. Μετὰ δὲ τὸ σιγῆσαι αὐτοὺς, φησὶν, ἀπεκρίθη Ἰάκωβος, λέγων· Συμεὼν ἐξηγήσατο καθὼς πρῶτον ἐπεσκέψατο ὁ Θεός· ἐξ ἀρχῆς σφοδρότερον μὲν ὁ Πέτρος διελέγετο, οὗτος δὲ ἡμερώτερον. Οὕτως ἀεὶ χρὴ τὸν ἐν μεγάλῃ δυναστείᾳ ποιεῖν, τὰ μὲν φορτικὰ ἑτέροις παραχωρεῖν, αὐτὸν δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ἡμερωτέρων διαλέγεσθαι. Καλῶς εἶπε, Συμεὼν ἐξηγήσατο, ὡς κἀκεῖνον 60.241 ἑτέρων λέγειν γνώμην. Ὅρα πῶς δείκνυσι παλαιὸν ὂν τοῦτο. Λαβεῖν ἐξ ἐθνῶν λαὸν, φησὶ, τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς ἐξελέξατο, ἀλλὰ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ· τουτέστι, τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ. Οὐκ αἰσχύνεται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ τῇ προλήψει τῶν ἐθνῶν δόξαν καλῶν. Τοῦτο γὰρ μείζων δόξα. Ἐνταῦθά τι καὶ μέγα αἰνίττεται. Ποῖον τοῦτο; Ὅτι, φησὶ, πρὸ πάντων οὗτοι. Μετὰ ταῦτα ἀναστρέψω, καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω, φησὶ, τὴν σκηνὴν ∆αυῒδ τὴν πεπτωκυῖαν. Εἴ τις ἀκριβῶς σκοποίη, νῦν τὴν βασιλείαν ἱσταμένην τοῦ ∆αυῒδ εὕροι. Τοῦ ἐκγόνου γὰρ αὐτοῦ βασιλεύοντος, πανταχοῦ ἕστηκεν αὕτη. Τί γὰρ ὄφελος τῶν οἰκημάτων καὶ τῆς πόλεως, τῶν ὑπακουόντων οὐκ ὄντων; ποῖον δὲ βλάβος ἐκ τῆς καθαιρέσεως τῆς πόλεως, πάντων καὶ τὰς ψυχὰς βουλομένων ἐπιδοῦναι; Ὥστε οὐ μόνον ἕστηκεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ λαμπροτέρα πάντων γέγονε· πανταχοῦ γὰρ νῦν τῆς οἰκουμένης ᾄδεται. Ἐκεῖνο ἐξέβη· οὐκοῦν καὶ τοῦτο ἐκβῆναι δεῖ. Εἰπὼν δὲ, Καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω, ἐπάγει καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν τοῦ διὰ τί, λέγων· Ὅπως ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὸν Κύριον. Εἰ τοίνυν διὰ τοῦτο ἐξανέστη ἡ πόλις διὰ τὸν ἐξ αὐτῶν, δῆλον ὅτι τῆς οἰκοδομῆς τῆς πόλεως αἴτιον γέγονε τὸ τὰ ἔθνη κληθῆναι. Τίνες εἰσὶν Οἱ κατάλοιποι; Οἱ ὑπολειπόμενοι τότε. Ἀλλ' ὅρα αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν τάξιν φυλάττοντα, καὶ δευτέρους αὐτοὺς εἰσάγοντα. Λέγει Κύριος, ὁ ποιῶν, φησὶ, ταῦτα πάντα. Οὐ λέγει μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ποιεῖ· ἄρα Θεοῦ ἔργον ἡ κλῆσις τῶν ἐθνῶν. Ἄλλο ἦν τὸ ζητούμενον, ὅπερ σαφέστερον καὶ Πέτρος ἔλεγεν· οὐ δεῖ αὐτοὺς περιτέμνεσθαι. Τί τοίνυν ταῦτα δημηγορεῖς; Οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτο ἔλεγον, ὅτι οὐ δεῖ αὐτοὺς δέχεσθαι πιστεύοντας, ἀλλ' ὅτι μετὰ νόμου. Καὶ τοῦτο ὁ Πέτρος καλῶς ἐδημηγόρησεν· ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ τοῦτο ἐθορύβει μάλιστα πάντων τοὺς ἀκροατὰς, καὶ τοῦτο θεραπεύει πάλιν. Καὶ ὅρα, ὅπερ ἐχρῆν νομοθετηθῆναι, ὅτι οὐ δεῖ φυλάττειν τὸν νόμον, ὁ Πέτρος εἰσήγαγε· τὸ δὲ ἡμέτερον, καὶ πάλαι παραδεχθὲν, τοῦτο οὗτός φησι, καὶ ἐνδιατρίβει ἐκείνῳ, ὑπὲρ οὗ οὐδὲν γέγραπται, ἵνα αὐτῶν θεραπεύσας τὴν διάνοιαν τῷ συγκεχωρημένῳ, εὐκαίρως εἰσαγάγῃ καὶ τοῦτο. ∆ιὸ ἐγὼ κρίνω μὴ παρενοχλεῖν τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπιστρέφουσι· τουτέστι, μὴ ἀνατρέπειν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς ἐκάλεσεν, αὗται δὲ αἱ παρατηρήσεις ἀνατρέπουσι, τῷ Θεῷ πολεμοῦμεν. Καὶ καλῶς εἶπε, Τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπιστρέφουσι, δηλῶν καὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν ἄνωθεν