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you find. For he who seeks finds, not he who does not seek. Hearken to those who are in the deserts; bring gold and silver; they are everywhere in the world. And if you do not receive him in your house, go yourself to him, become a kinsman to the man, go to his dwelling, that you may be able to obtain, and enjoy the blessing from him. For great is the blessing from the saints, which let us be zealous to obtain, that being helped by these prayers, we may enjoy the loving-kindness of God who strengthens them, by the grace and loving-kindness of His only-begotten Son, with whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, might, honor, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

60.373 HOMILY 54. But the barbarians showed no ordinary

kindness to us. For they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, a viper out of

the heat came forth, and fastened on his hand. 1. How the barbarians showed kindness, he explains: For having kindled,

he says, a fire, they received us all. Since there was no help for their safety from elsewhere, as the storm was about to destroy them, they kindle the fire. Then Paul took sticks and placed them on the fire; which he also indicating adds, saying: But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks. See him working, and nowhere performing miracles simply, but from necessity; for also in the storm he prophesied when there was cause, but not simply, and here again he gathers sticks and puts them on. See him doing nothing puffed up or superfluous, but so that they might be saved, and enjoy some warmth. Then a viper coming out of the heat, fastens on his hand; and that it did fasten, he makes this clear from the sequel, saying: But when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another: No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed to live. And this was well permitted, so that they might both see and say these things, in order that when it happened, the miracle might not be disbelieved. See natural judgment articulated even among barbarians, and them speaking reverently to one another, and not simply condemning. So these also see first, that they may wonder the more. He then, having shaken off the beast into the fire, suffered no harm; but they expected that he would swell up, or fall down dead suddenly. But when they had waited a long time and saw nothing amiss happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. They who thought he would swell up, that is, burst asunder, these, seeing that he suffered no harm, say that he is a god 60.374. Again another excess of honor from these, just as from the crowds in Lycaonia. Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius; who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. Behold again another hospitable man, Publius, both rich and very wealthy. This man, having seen nothing, but taking pity on them from their misfortune alone, received and took care of them. Now it happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery; to whom Paul went in and prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. So that he was worthy to be well-treated; wherefore also as a reward for his reception, he healed him. And when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured; who also honored us with many honors, and when we departed, they put on board such things as were necessary; that is, also for us

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εὑρίσκεις· Ὁ γὰρ ζητῶν εὑρίσκει, οὐχ ὁ μὴ ζητῶν. Ἄκουσον τοὺς ἐν ταῖς ἐρημίαις ὄντας· ἀπάγαγε χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον· πανταχοῦ τῆς οἰκουμένης εἰσί. Κἂν μὴ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ δέξῃ, ἄπελθε σὺ πρὸς αὐτὸν, συγγένου τῷ ἀνδρὶ, πρὸς τὸ οἴκημα γένου τὸ ἐκείνου, ἵνα δυνηθῇς ἐπιτυχεῖν, καὶ τῆς παρ' αὐτοῦ εὐλογίας ἀπολαῦσαι. Μεγάλη γὰρ ἡ παρὰ τῶν ἁγίων εὐλογία, ἧς ἐπιτυγχάνειν σπουδάζωμεν, ἵνα διὰ τῶν εὐχῶν τούτων βοηθούμενοι, τῆς παρὰ τοῦ αὐτοὺς ἐνδυναμοῦντος Θεοῦ φιλανθρωπίας ἀπολαύσωμεν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ μονογενοῦς αὐτοῦ Υἱοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

60.373 ΟΜΙΛΙΑ Ν∆ʹ. Οἱ δὲ βάρβαροι παρεῖχον οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν

φιλανθρωπίαν ἡμῖν. Ἀνάψαντες γὰρ πυρὰν, προσελάβοντο πάντας ἡμᾶς, διὰ τὸν ὑετὸν τὸν ἐφεστῶτα καὶ διὰ τὸ ψῦχος. Συστρέψαντος δὲ τοῦ Παύλου φρυγάνων πλῆθος, καὶ ἐπιθέντος ἐπὶ τὴν πυρὰν, ἔχιδνα ἐκ

τῆς θέρμης διεξελθοῦσα, καθήψατο τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ. αʹ. Πῶς παρεῖχον τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν οἱ βάρβαροι, ἑρμηνεύει· Ἀνάψαντες γὰρ,

φησὶ, πυρὰν, προσελάβοντο πάντας ἡμᾶς. Ἐπεὶ οὐδὲν ὄφελος ἀλλαχόθεν τῆς σωτηρίας ἦν, τοῦ χειμῶνος μέλλοντος αὐτοὺς διαφθείρειν, ἀνάπτουσι τὴν πυράν. Εἶτα ὁ Παῦλος λαβὼν φρύγανα ἐπετίθει ἐπὶ τὴν πυράν· ὃ καὶ δηλῶν ἐπάγει λέγων· Συστρέψαντος δὲ τοῦ Παύλου φρυγάνων πλῆθος. Ὅρα αὐτὸν ἐνεργοῦντα, καὶ οὐδαμοῦ θαυματουργοῦντα ἁπλῶς, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ χρείας· καὶ ἐν τῷ χειμῶνι γὰρ αἰτίας οὔσης προεφήτευσεν, ἀλλ' οὐχ ἁπλῶς, καὶ ἐνταῦθα πάλιν φρύγανα συλλέγει καὶ ἐπιτίθησιν. Ὅρα οὐδὲν τετυφωμένον ποιοῦντα οὐδὲ περιττὸν, ἀλλ' ὥστε διασωθῆναι αὐτοὺς, καὶ θέρμης τινὸς ἀπολαῦσαι. Εἶτα ἔχιδνα ἐκ τῆς θέρμης ἐξελθοῦσα, τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ ἅπτεται· καὶ ὅτι ἥψατο, δῆλον ποιεῖ τοῦτο ἐκ τῆς ἐπαγωγῆς, λέγων· Ὡς δὲ εἶδον οἱ βάρβαροι τὸ θηρίον κρεμάμενον ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἔλεγον πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Πάντως φονεύς ἐστιν ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, ὃν διασωθέντα ἐκ τῆς θαλάσσης ἡ δίκη ζῇν οὐκ εἴασε. Καλῶς καὶ τοῦτο συνεχωρήθη, ὥστε καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτοὺς καὶ φθέγξασθαι ταῦτα, ἵνα ὅταν γένηται, μὴ ἀπιστῆται τὸ θαῦμα. Ὅρα τὴν φυσικὴν κρίσιν διηρθρωμένην καὶ παρὰ βαρβάροις, καὶ αἰδεσίμως αὐτοὺς πρὸς ἀλλήλους λέγοντας, καὶ μηδὲ καταγινώσκοντας ἁπλῶς. Οὕτω καὶ οὗτοι πρότερον βλέπουσιν, ἵνα μᾶλλον θαυμάσωσιν. Ὁ μὲν οὖν ἀποτιναξάμενος τὸ θηρίον εἰς τὸ πῦρ, ἔπαθεν οὐδὲν κακόν· οἱ δὲ προσεδόκων αὐτὸν μέλλειν πίμπρασθαι, ἢ καταπίπτειν ἄφνω νεκρόν. Ἐπὶ πολὺ δὲ αὐτῶν προσδοκώντων καὶ θεωρούντων μηδὲν ἄτοπον εἰς αὐτὸν γινόμενον, μεταβαλλόμενοι ἔλεγον θεὸν αὐτὸν εἶναι. Οἳ ἐνόμιζον αὐτὸν πίμπρασθαι, τουτέστι διαῤῥήγνυσθαι, οὗτοι θεασάμενοι, ὅτι οὐδὲν κακὸν ἔπαθε, λέγουσιν, ὅτι θεός 60.374 ἐστι. Πάλιν ἄλλη τούτων ὑπερβολὴ τιμῆς, ὥσπερ καὶ τῶν ὄχλων τῶν ἐν Λυκαονίᾳ. Ἐν δὲ τοῖς περὶ τὸν τόπον ἐκεῖνον χωρία ὑπῆρχε τῷ πρώτῳ τῆς νήσου, ὀνόματι Ποπλίῳ· ὃς ἀναδεξάμενος ἡμᾶς τρεῖς ἡμέρας φιλοφρόνως ἐξένισεν. Ἰδοὺ πάλιν ἄλλος φιλόξενος ὁ Πόπλιος, καὶ πλούσιος καὶ εὐπορώτατος. Οὗτος οὐδὲν ἰδὼν, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τῆς συμφορᾶς μόνης ἐλεήσας αὐτοὺς, ὑπεδέξατο καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν. Ἐγένετο δὲ τὸν πατέρα τοῦ Ποπλίου πυρετοῖς καὶ δυσεντερίᾳ συνεχόμενον κατακεῖσθαι· πρὸς ὃν ὁ Παῦλος εἰσελθὼν καὶ προσευξάμενος, ἐπιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῷ, ἰάσατο αὐτόν. Ὥστε ἄξιος ἦν τοῦ παθεῖν καλῶς· διὸ καὶ ἀμοιβὴν αὐτῷ ἀποδιδοὺς τῆς ἀποδοχῆς ἰάσατο αὐτόν. Τούτου δὲ γενομένου, καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ ἔχοντες ἀσθενεῖς ἐν τῇ νήσῳ, προσήρχοντο καὶ ἐθεραπεύοντο· οἳ καὶ πολλαῖς τιμαῖς ἐτίμησαν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἀναγομένοις ἐπέθεντο τὰ πρὸς τὴν χρείαν· τουτέστι, καὶ ἡμῖν