S. AURELII AUGUSTINI HIPPONENSIS EPISCOPI De Consensu EVANGELISTARUM LIBRI QUATUOR .

 CAPUT PRIMUM. Evangeliorum auctoritas.

 CAPUT II. Ordo Evangelistarum, et scribendi ratio.

 CAPUT III. Matthaeus cum Marco ad regiam, Lucas ad sacerdotalem Christi personam intentionem retulit.

 CAPUT IV. Joannes ipsius divinitatem exprimendam curavit.

 CAPUT V. Virtutes duae circa contemplativam Joannes, circa activam Evangelistae alii versantur.

 CAPUT VI. Quatuor animalia ex Apocalypsi de quatuor Evangelistis alii aliis aptius intellexerunt.

 CAPUT VII. Causa suscepti operis de Evangelistarum consensu. Occurritur iis qui dicunt Christum nihil scripsisse, discipulos vero ejus Deum illum prae

 CAPUT VIII. Si fama narrante Christus creditur sapientissimus, cur majori fama praedicante non credatur Deus.

 CAPUT IX. Quidam fingunt Christum scripsisse libros de magicis.

 CAPUT X. Eosdem libros Petro et Paulo inscriptos quidam delirant.

 CAPUT XI. In eos qui somniant Christum magico arte populos ad se convertisse.

 CAPUT XII. Judaeorum Deus, illis subjugatis, ideo non fuit a Romanis receptus, quod is juberet se solum coli simulacris deletis.

 CAPUT XIII. Judaeos cur Deus passus est subjugari.

 CAPUT XIV. Deus Hebraeorum victis illis se victum non esse ostendit idolorum eversione, et Gentium omnium ad ipsius cultum conversione.

 CAPUT XV. Pagani Christum laudare compulsi, in ejus discipulos contumeliosi.

 CAPUT XVI. Apostoli de subvertendis idolis nihil a Christo vel a Prophetis diversum docuerunt.

 CAPUT XVII. In Romanos qui Deum Israel solum rejecerunt.

 CAPUT XVIII. Hebraeorum Deus a Romanis non receptus, quia se solum coli voluerit.

 CAPUT XIX. Hunc esse verum Deum.

 CAPUT XX. Contra Deum Hebraeorum nihil a Paganorum vatibus praedictum reperitur.

 CAPUT XXI. Hic solus Deus colendus, qui cum alios coli prohibeat, coli non prohibetur ab aliis.

 CAPUT XXII. Opinio Gentium de Deo nostro.

 CAPUT XXIII. De Jove et Saturno quid nugati sint Pagani.

 CAPUT XXIV. Non omnes Deos colunt, qui Deum Israel rejiciunt nec eum colunt, qui alios colunt.

 CAPUT XXV. Dii falsi alios coli secum non prohibent. Deum Israel esse Deum verum convincitur ex operibus ejus et praedictis et impletis.

 CAPUT XXVI. Idololatria per Christi nomen et Christianorum fidem juxta prophetias eversa.

 CAPUT XXVII. Urget idololatrarum reliquias, ut demum serviant vero Deo idola ubique subvertenti.

 CAPUT XXVIII. Praedicta idolorum rejectio.

 CAPUT XXIX. Deum Israel quidni colant pagani, si eum vel praepositum elementorum esse opinantur.

 CAPUT XXX. Deus Israel impletis prophetiis jam ubique innotuit.

 CAPUT XXXI. Prophetia de Christo impleta.

 CAPUT XXXII. Apostolorum contra idololatriam doctrina vindicatur ex prophetiis.

 CAPUT XXXIII. In eos qui rerum humanarum felicitatem per christiana tempora deminutam esse conqueruntur.

 CAPUT XXXIV. Epilogus superiorum.

 CAPUT XXXV. Mediatoris mysterium antiquis per prophetiam, nobis per Evangelium praedicatur.

 LIBER SECUNDUS.

 CAPUT PRIMUM. Quare usque ad Joseph generatores Christi commemorentur, cum de illius semine Christus non sit natus, sed de Virgine Maria.

 CAPUT II. Quomodo sit Christus filius David, cum ex Joseph filii David concubitu non sit natus.

 CAPUT III. Quare alios progeneratores Christi Matthaeus enumerat, alios Lucas.

 CAPUT IV. Quare quadraginta generationes, excepto ipso Christo, inveniuntur apud Matthaeum, cum quatuordecim triplicet.

 CAPUT V. Quomodo Matthaei ordini congruat ordo Lucae in his quae de conceptu et de infantia vel pueritia Christi alius praetermittit, alius commemorat

 CAPUT VI. De ordine praedicationis Joannis Baptistae inter omnes quatuor.

 CAPUT VII. De duobus Herodibus.

 CAPUT VIII. Quomodo Matthaeus dicat timuisse Joseph ire cum infante Christo in Jerusalem, propter Archelaum et non timuisse ire in Galilaeam, ubi era

 CAPUT IX. Quomodo dicat Matthaeus ideo isse in Galilaeam Joseph cum infante Christo quia timuit Archelaum pro suo patre regnantem in Jerusalem cum Lu

 CAPUT X. Quomodo Lucas dicit, Ibant parentes ejus per omnes annos in Jerusalem in die solemni Paschae cum illo puero cum dicat Matthaeus quod metu Ar

 CAPUT XI. Quomodo potuerint, completis diebus purgationis matris Christi, sicut Lucas dicit, ascendere cum illo in templum ad peragenda solemnia, si s

 CAPUT XII. De verbis Joannis inter omnes quatuor.

 CAPUT XIII. De baptizato Jesu.

 CAPUT XIV. De verbis vocis factae de coelo super baptizatum.

 CAPUT XV. Quomodo secundum Joannem Evangelistam dicat Joannes Baptista, Ego non noveram eum cum secundum alios inveniatur quod jam noverat eum.

 CAPUT XVI. De tentato Jesu.

 CAPUT XVII. De vocatione apostolorum piscantium.

 CAPUT XVIII. De tempore secessionis ejus in Galilaeam.

 CAPUT XIX. De illo sermone prolixo quem secundum Matthaeum habuit in monte.

 CAPUT XX. Quomodo dicat Matthaeus Centurionem ad eum accessisse pro puero suo, cum Lucas dicat quod amicos ad eum miserit.

 CAPUT XXI. De socru Petri quo ordine narratum sit.

 CAPUT XXII. De ordine rerum quas post hoc narrant utrum nil inter se dissentiant Matthaeus, Marcus et Lucas.

 CAPUT XXIII. De illo qui ait Domino, Sequar te quocumque ieris, et aliis quae juxta sunt, quo ordine narrentur a Matthaeo et Luca.

 CAPUT XXIV. De transfretatione ejus, ubi dormivit in navicula, et de expulsis daemoniis, quos permisit in porcos, quomodo ea quae gesta vel dicta sunt

 CAPUT XXV. De paralytico cui dixit, Dimittuntur tibi peccata, et, maxime utrum locus ubi hoc factum est, conveniat inter Matthaeum et Marcum quia Mat

 CAPUT XXVI. De vocatione quoque Matthaei, utrum Marco et Lucae qui dicunt Levin Alphaei, idem Matthaeus congruat.

 CAPUT XXVII. De convivio ubi objectum est e quod cum peccatoribus manducaret, et quod non jejunarent discipuli ejus, quod videtur alius alios dicere a

 CAPUT XXVIII. De filia Archisynagogi resuscitata, et muliere quae tetigit fimbriam vestimenti ejus: utrum ordo quo dicta sunt nihil cuiquam eorum adve

 CAPUT XXIX. De duobus caecis et muto daemonio, quae solus Matthaeus dicit.

 CAPUT XXX. Ubi turbarum misertus misit discipulos suos, dans eis postestatem sanitatum praestandarum, et eis multa mandavit, ordinans quemadmodum vive

 CAPUT XXXI. Ubi Joannes Baptista misit ad Dominum de carcere discipulos suos, quid Matthaeus et Lucas dicunt.

 CAPUT XXXII. Ubi exprobravit civitatibus quod non egerint poenitentiam, quod et Lucas dicit: ubi quaerendum est quemadmodum illi Matthaeus ipso ordine

 CAPUT XXXIII. Ubi vocat ad tollendum jugum et sarcinam suam, quemadmodum Matthaeus a Luca non discrepet in narrandi ordine.

 CAPUT XXXIV. Ubi discipuli spicas vellentes manducaverunt, quemadmodum inter se congruant Matthaeus, Marcus et Lucas in narrandi ordine.

 CAPUT XXXV. De illo qui manum aridam cum haberet, sabbato curatus est, quemadmodum narratio Matthaei concordet cum Marco et Luca, vel rerum ordine, ve

 CAPUT XXXVI. Considerandum utrum ab isto cujus arida manus sanata est, ita digrediantur hi tres Evangelistae ut in nullo sibi adversentur ipso narrati

 CAPUT XXXVII. De muto et caeco qui daemonium habebat, quomodo Matthaeus Lucasque consentiant.

 CAPUT XXXVIII. Ubi ei dictum est quod in Beelzebut ejicit daemonia, quidquid ex ipsa occasione locutus est de blasphemia adversus Spiritum sanctum, et

 CAPUT XXXIX. Quod respondit petentibus signum, de Jona propheta et de Ninivitis, et de Regina Austri, et de spiritu immundo, qui cum exierit ab homine

 CAPUT XL. Ubi ei nuntiata est mater et fratres ejus, utrum a Marco et Luca ordo ipse non discrepet.

 CAPUT XLI. Quod ex navicula turbis locutus est de illo cujus in seminando aliud cecidit in via, etc., et de illo cui superseminata sunt zizania, et de

 CAPUT LXII. Quod venit in patriam suam, et mirabantur doctrinam, cum genus ejus contemnerent: quomodo consentiat Marco et Lucae Matthaeus, maxime utru

 CAPUT XLIII. Quemadmodum inter se conveniant Matthaeus, Marcus et Lucas de verbis Herodis cum audisset de mirabilibus Domini, vel de ipso narratiotion

 CAPUT XLIV. De Joanne incluso, vel etiam occiso, quo ordine ab his tribus narretur.

 CAPUT XLV. Ad miraculum de quinque panibus quo ordine ab omnibus, et quemadmodum ventum sit.

 CAPUT XLVI. In ipso de quinque panibus miraculo quemadmodum inter se omnes quatuor conveniant.

 CAPUT XLVII. Quod ambulavit super aquas, quomodo qui hoc dixerunt inter se conveniant et quomodo ab illo loco digrediantur, ubi turbas de quinque pan

 CAPUT XLVIII. Quomodo Matthaeus et Marcus Joanni non adversentur in eo quod ab eis tribus narratur quid posteaquam transfretarunt factum sit.

 CAPUT XLIX. De muliere Chananaea quae dixit, Et canes edunt de micis cadentibus de mensa dominorum suorum, quomodo inter se Matthaeus Lucasque consent

 CAPUT L. Cum de septem panibus pavit turbas, utrum inter se Matthaeus Marcusque conveniant.

 CAPUT LI. Quod dicit Matthaeus inde eum venisse in fines Magedan, quomodo congruat Marco et in eo quod petentibus signum respondit iterum de Jona.

 CAPUT LII. De fermento Pharisaeorum, quomodo cum Marco conveniat, vel re vel ordine.

 CAPUT LIII. Cum interrogavit discipulos, quem illum dicerent homines, utrum nihil inter se repugnent Matthaeus, Marcus et Lucas, rebus aut ordine.

 CAPUT LIV. Ubi praenuntiavit discipulis passionem suam, quae sit inter Matthaeum, Marcum et Lucam convenientia.

 CAPUT LV. Ubi subjungunt iidem tres quomodo praeceperit Dominus ut post eum qui voluerit veniat quam secum concordent.

 CAPUT LVI. Quod se Dominus tribus discipulis in monte ostendit cum Moyse et Elia, quomodo inter se congruant tres isti ordine et rebus, et maxime prop

 CAPUT LVII. Ubi de adventu Eliae locutus est eis, quae sit convenientia inter Matthaeum et Marcum.

 CAPUT LVIII. De illo qui ei obtulit filium suum, quem discipuli sanare non potuerant, quemadmodum tres isti consentiant etiam ordine narrationis.

 CAPUT LIX. Ubi de passione sua cum eis dixisset, contristati sunt, quod tres ipsi eodem ordine commemorant.

 CAPUT LX. Ubi de ore piscis solvit tributum, quod Matthaeus solus dicit.

 CAPUT LXI. De puero parvulo quem proposuit imitandum, de scandalis mundi, de membris corporis scandalizantibus, de angelis parvulorum qui vident facie

 CAPUT LXII. Quando interrogatus est utrum liceat dimittere uxorem, quemadmodum inter se consentiant Matthaeus et Marcus, maxime de ipsis interrogation

 CAPUT LXIII. De parvulis quibus manus imposuit, de divite cui dixit, Vende omnia tua de vinea quo conducti sunt operarii per horas diversas, quemadmo

 CAPUT LXIV. Ubi secreto duodecim discipulis de passione sua praedixit, et mater filiorum Zebedaei cum filiis suis petiit ut unus eorum ad dexteram eju

 CAPUT LXV. De caecis Jericho illuminatis, quemadmodum non adversetur Matthaeus vel Marco, vel Lucae.

 CAPUT LXVI. De asinae pullo, quomodo Matthaeu. caeteris congruat, qui solum pullum commemorant.

 CAPUT LXVII. De expulsis templo vendentibus et ementibus, quemadmodum tres isti non repugnent Joanni qui hoc idem longe alibi dicit.

 CAPUT LXVIII. De arefacta arbore ficulnea, et quae juxta narrata sunt, quomodo non repugnet Matthaeus caeteris, et maxime Marco de ordine narrationis.

 CAPUT LXIX. Cum Dominum interrogaverunt Judaei, in qua potestate ista faceret, quomodo inter se consentiant isti tres.

 CAPUT LXX. De duobus quibus imperaverit pater ut irent in vineam, et de vinea quae locata est aliis agricolis, quomodo non adversetur Matthaeus illis

 CAPUT LXXI. De nuptiis filii Regis ad quas turbae invitatae sunt, quem Matthaeus ordinem tenuerit, propter Lucam qui tale quiddam alibi dicit.

 CAPUT LXXII. De nummo Caesari reddendo, cujus habeat imaginem, et de muliere quae septem, fratribus nupserat, quemadmodum tres isti concordent.

 CAPUT LXXIII. De illo cui commendata sunt duo praecepta dilectionis Dei et proximi, qui ordo sit narrantium Matthaei et Marci, ne a Luca discrepare vi

 CAPUT LXXIV. Quod Judaei interrogantur de Christo, cujus eis filius videatur, utrum non repugnet Matthaeus aliis duobus quia secundum istum dicitur,

 CAPUT LXXV. De Pharisaeis sedentibus super cathedram Moysi, et dicentibus quae non faciunt, caeterisque in eos dem Pharisaeos a Domino dictis, utrum s

 CAPUT LXXVI. Cum praenuntiavit templi eversionem, quomodo aliis duobus narrandi ordine congruat.

 CAPUT LXXVII. De sermone quem habuit in monte Oliveti, quaerentibus discipulis quando erit consummatio, quemadmodum tres isti inter se congruant.

 CAPUT LXXVIII. Quod commemorant Matthaeus et Marcus ante biduum futurae Paschae, et postea dicunt quod in Bethania fuit, quomodo non repugnet Joanni,

 CAPUT LXXIX. De coena in Bethania ubi mulier unguento pretioso Dominum perfudit, quomodo inter se congruant Matthaeus, Marcus et Joannes, et quomodo L

 CAPUT LXXX. Ubi mittit discipulos ut praeparent ei manducare Pascha, quomodo inter se congruant Matthaeus, Marcus et Lucas.

 LIBER TERTIUS.

 CAPUT PRIMUM. De coena Domini et de expresso traditore ejus, quemadmodum inter se quatuor conveniant.

 CAPUT II. De praedicta negatione Petri, quemadmodum ostendantur nihil inter se repugnare.

 CAPUT III. De his quae dicta sunt a Domino donec exiret de domo ubi coenaverant, quemadmodum nihil discrepare monstrentur.

 CAPUT IV. De his quae gesta sunt in illo praedio vel horto, quo ex illa domo post coenam venerunt, quomodo trium, id est Matthaei, Marci et Lucae cons

 CAPUT V. De his quae in ejus apprehensione facta et dicta omnes commemorant, quomodo inter se nihil appareat dissentire.

 CAPUT VI. De his quae gesta sunt cum duceretur Dominus ad domum principis sacerdotum, et quae in ipsa domo cum nocte perductus esset, et maxime de Pet

 CAPUT VII. De his quae mane gesta sunt, priusquam Pilato traderetur, quomodo Evangelistae inter se non discrepent et de testimonio Jeremiae quod Matt

 CAPUT VIII. De his quae apud Pilatum gesta sunt, quomodo inter se nihil dissentiant.

 CAPUT IX. De illusione qua illusus est a cohorte Pilati, quomodo non dissonent tres qui hoc dicunt, Matthaeus, Marcus et Joannes.

 CAPUT X. Quomodo non repugnet quod Matthaeus, Marcus et Lucas angariatum dicunt, qui portaret ejus crucem cum Joannes dicat quod eam Jesus ipse porta

 CAPUT XI. De potu quem dederunt ei priusquam commemorata esset ejus crucifixio, quomodo conveniat inter Matthaeum et Marcum.

 CAPUT XII. De divisione vestimentorum ejus, quomodo inter se omnes conveniant.

 CAPUT XIII. De hora dominicae passionis, quemadmodum non inter se dissentiant Marcus et Joannes, propter tertiam et sextam.

 CAPUT XIV. De duobus latronibus cum illo crucifixis, quomodo omnes concordent.

 CAPUT XV. De his qui Domino insultaverunt, quomodo inter se consonent Matthaeus, Marcus et Lucas.

 CAPUT XVI. De latronum insultatione, quomodo non repugnent Matthaeus et Marcus Lucae, qui dixit unum eorum insultasse, alium credidisse.

 CAPUT XVII. De potu aceti, quomodo inter se omnes consentiant.

 CAPUT XVIII. De vocibus Domini quas continuo moriturus emisit, quomodo non repugnent Matthaeus et Marcus Lucae, et ipsi tres Joanni.

 CAPUT XIX. De scissione veli quomodo non dissentiant Matthaeus et Marcus a Luca, quo ordine factum sit.

 CAPUT XX. De admiratione Centurionis et eorum qui cum illo erant, quomodo inter se consentiant Matthaeus, Marcus et Lucas.

 CAPUT XXI. De mulieribus quae ibi stabant, quomodo Matthaeus, Marcus et Lucas, qui dixerunt eas a longe stetisse, non repugnent Joanni, qui nominavit

 CAPUT XXII. De Joseph qui corpus Domini petiit a Pilato, quomodo omnes consentiant, et quomodo a seipso Joannes non dissentiat.

 CAPUT XXIII. De sepultura ejus, quomodo tres a Joanne non dissentiant.

 CAPUT XXIV. De his quae circa tempus resurrectionis Domini facta sunt, quemadmodum omnes non inter se dissentiant.

 CAPUT XXV. In eo quod se postea discipulis manifestavit, quomodo sibi omnes Evangelistae non adversentur, collatis testimoniis et de apostolo Paulo et

 LIBER QUARTUS.

 CAPUT PRIMUM.

 CAPUT II.

 CAPUT III.

 CAPUT IV.

 CAPUT V.

 CAPUT VI.

 CAPUT VII.

 CAPUT VIII.

 CAPUT IX.

 CAPUT X.

Chapter XLVII.—Of His Walking Upon the Water, and of the Questions Regarding the Harmony of the Evangelists Who Have Narrated that Scene, and Regarding the Manner in Which They Pass Off from the Section Recording the Occasion on Which He Fed the Multitudes with the Five Loaves.

99. Matthew goes on with his account in the following terms: “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit;” and so on, down to the words, “They came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God.”567    Matt. xiv. 23–33. In like manner, Mark, after narrating the miracle of the five loaves, gives his account of this same incident in the following terms: “And when it was late, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone on the land. And He saw them toiling in rowing: for the wind was contrary to them,” and so on.568    Mark vi. 47–54. This is similar to Matthew’s version, except that nothing is said as to Peter’s walking upon the waters. But here we must see to it, that no difficulty be found in what Mark has stated regarding the Lord, namely, that, when He walked upon the waters, He would also have passed by them. For in what way could they have understood this, were it not that He was really proceeding in a different direction from them, as if minded to pass those persons by like strangers, who were so far from recognizing Him that they took Him to be a spirit? Who, however, is so obtuse as not to perceive that this bears a mystical significance? At the same time, too, He came to the help of the men in their perturbation and outcry, and said to them, “Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid.” What is the explanation, therefore, of His wish to pass by those persons whom nevertheless He thus encouraged when they were in terror, but that that intention to pass them by was made to serve the purpose of drawing forth those cries to which it was meet to bear succour?

100. Furthermore, John still tarries for a little space with these others. For, after his recital of the miracle of the five loaves, he also gives us some account of the vessel that laboured, and of the Lord’s act in walking upon the sea. This notice he connects with his preceding narrative in the following manner: “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force and make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone. And when it became late, His disciples went down unto the sea; and when they had entered into a ship, they came over the sea to Capharnaum: and it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew,” and so on.569    John vi. 15–21. In this there cannot appear to be anything contrary to the records preserved in the other Gospels, unless it be the circumstance that Matthew tells us how, when the multitudes were sent away, He went up into a mountain, in order that there He might pray alone; while John states that He was on a mountain with those same multitudes whom He fed with the five loaves.570    Reading in monte fuisse cum eisdem turbis quas de quinque panibus pavit. According to Migne, this is the reading of several mss. of the better class; some twelve other mss. give in monte fuisse cum easdem turbas, etc. = “He was on a mountain when He fed,” etc. Some editions have also in montem fugisse cum easdem, etc. = “He departed to a mountain when He fed,” etc. But seeing that John also informs us how He departed into a mountain after the said miracle, to preclude His being taken possession of by the multitudes, who wished to make Him a king, it is surely evident that they had come down from the mountain to more level ground when those loaves were provided for the crowds. And consequently there is no contradiction between the statements made by Matthew and John as to His going up again to the mountain. The only difference is, that Matthew uses the phrase “He went up,” while John’s term is “He departed.” And there would be an antagonism between these two, only if in departing He had not gone up. Nor, again, is any want of harmony betrayed by the fact that Matthew’s words are, “He went up into a mountain apart to pray;” whereas John puts it thus: “When He perceived that they would come to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone.” Surely the matter of the departure is in no way a thing antagonistic to the matter of prayer. For, indeed, the Lord, who in His own person transformed the body of our humiliation in order that He might make it like unto the body of His own glory,571    Phil. iii. 21. hereby taught us also the truth that the matter of departure should be to us in like manner grave matter for prayer. Neither, again, is there any defect of consistency proved by the circumstance that Matthew has told us first how He commanded His disciples to embark in the little ship, and to go before Him unto the other side of the lake until He sent the multitudes away, and then informs us that, after the multitudes were sent away, He Himself went up into a mountain alone to pray; while John mentions first that He departed unto a mountain alone, and then proceeds thus: “And when it became late, His disciples came down unto the sea; and when they had entered into a ship,” etc. For who will not perceive that, in recapitulating the facts, John has spoken of something as actually done at a later point by the disciples, which Jesus had already charged them to do before His own departure unto the mountain; just as it is a familiar procedure in discourse, to revert in some fashion or other to any matter which otherwise would have been passed over? But inasmuch as it may not be specifically noted that a reversion, especially when done briefly and instantaneously, is made to something omitted, the auditors are sometimes led to suppose that the occurrence which is mentioned at the later stage also took place literally at the later period. In this way the evangelist’s statement really is, that to those persons whom he had described as embarking in the ship and coming across the sea to Capharnaum, the Lord came, walking toward them upon the waters, as they were toiling in the deep; which approach of the Lord of course took place at the earlier point, during the said voyage in which they were making their way to Capharnaum.572    [The difficulty in regard to the course of the ship did not suggest itself to Augustin, nor does he allude to the position of Bethsaida. Luke ix. 10 seems to place it on one side of the lake and Mark vi. 45 on the other. A contrary wind would blow them across the lake, unless they were trying to get to some point on the eastern shore; from which shore they certainly started, after the feeding of the five thousand.—R.]

101. On the other hand, Luke, after the record of the miracle of the five loaves, passes to another subject, and diverges from this order of narration. For he makes no mention of that little ship, and of the Lord’s pathway over the waters. But after the statement conveyed in these words, “And they did all eat, and were filled, and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets,” he has subjoined the following notice: “And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him; and He asked them, saying, Who say the people that I am?”573    Luke ix. 17, 18. Thus he relates in this succession something new, which is not given by those three who have left us the account of the manner in which the Lord walked upon the waters, and came to the disciples when they were on the voyage. It ought not, however, on this account, to be supposed that it was on that same mountain to which Matthew has told us He went up in order to pray alone, that He said to His disciples, “Who say the people that I am?” For Luke, too, seems to harmonize with Matthew in this, because his words are, “as He was alone praying;” while Matthew’s were, “He went up unto a mountain alone to pray.” But it must by all means be held to have been on a different occasion that He put this question, since [it is said here, both that] He prayed alone, and [that] the disciples were with Him. Thus Luke, indeed, has mentioned only the fact of His being alone, but has said nothing of His being without His disciples, as is the case with Matthew and John, since [according to these latter] they left Him in order to go before Him to the other side of the sea. For with unmistakeable plainness Luke has added the statement that “His disciples also were with Him.” Consequently, in saying that He was alone, he meant his statement to refer to the multitudes, who did not abide with Him.

CAPUT XLVII. Quod ambulavit super aquas, quomodo qui hoc dixerunt inter se conveniant; et quomodo ab illo loco digrediantur, ubi turbas de quinque panibus pavit.

99. Sequitur Matthaeus, et dicit: Et dimissa turba ascendit in montem solus orare. Vespere autem facto, solus erat ibi: navicula autem in medio mari jactabatur fluctibus; erat enim contrarius ventus. Quarta autem vigilia noctis venit ad eos ambulans supra mare. Et videntes eum supra mare ambulantem turbati sunt, dicentes: Quia phantasma est, etc., usque ad illud ubi ait, Venerunt et adoraverunt eum dicentes: Vere Filius Dei es (Matth. XIV, 23-33). Marcus quoque hoc idem post narratum de quinque panibus miraculum ita sequitur: Et cum sero esset, erat navis in medio mari, et ipse solus in terra. Et videns eos laborantes in remigando, erat enim ventus contrarius eis, etc. (Marc. VI, 47-54), similiter, nisi quod de Petro super aquas ambulante nihil dixit. Hoc autem ne moveat praecavendum est, quod Marcus dixit de Domino, cum ambularet super aquas, et volebat praeterire eos. Quomodo enim hoc intelligere potuerunt, nisi quia in diversum ibat, eos volens tanquam alienos praeterire, a quibus ita non agnoscebatur, ut phantasma putaretur? Quod ad mysticam significationem referri, quis usque adeo tardus est, ut nolit advertere? Sed tamen turbatis et exclamantibus subvenit, dicens, Confidite, ego sum; nolite timere. Quomodo ergo eos volebat praeterire, quos paventes ita confirmat, nisi quia illa voluntas praetereundi ad eliciendum illum clamorem valebat, cui subveniri oportebat!

100. Joannes etiam adhuc cum istis aliquantum immoratur. Nam post narratum de quinque panibus miraculum, ipse quoque hoc de laborante navicula, et de ambulatione Domini super aquas non tacet, ita contexens: Jesus ergo cum cognovisset quia venturi essent, ut raperent eum, et facerent eum regem, fugit iterum in montem ipse solus. Ut autem sero factum est, descenderunt discipuli ejus ad mare: et cum ascendissent 1128 navem, venerunt trans mare in Capharnaum. Et tenebrae jam factae erant, et non venerat ad eos Jesus. Mare autem vento magno flante exsurgebat, etc. (Joan. VI, 15-21). Nihil hic contrarium videri potest, nisi quod Matthaeus dimissis turbis eum dicit ascendisse in montem, ut illic solus oraret: Joannes autem, in monte fuisse, cum eisdem turbis quas de quinque panibus pavit . Sed cum et ipse Joannes dicat post illud miraculum fugisse eum in montem, ne a turbis teneretur, quae eum volebant regem facere; utique manifestum est quod de monte in planiora descenderant, quando illi panes turbis ministrati sunt. Et ideo non est contrarium quod ascendit rursus in montem, sicut et Matthaeus et Joannes dicunt: nisi quod Matthaeus dicit, ascendit; Joannes autem, fugit: quod esset contrarium, si fugiens non ascenderet. Nec illud repugnat quod Matthaeus dixit, ascendit in montem solus orare; Joannes autem, Cum cognovisset, inquit, quia venturi essent, ut facerent eum regem, fugit iterum in montem ipse solus. Neque enim causae orandi contraria est causa fugiendi: quandoquidem et hinc Dominus, transfigurans in se corpus humilitatis nostrae, ut conforme faceret corpori gloriae suae (Philipp. III, 21), id quoque docebat, hanc esse nobis magnam causam orandi, quando est causa fugiendi. Nec illud adversum est, quod Matthaeus prius eum dixit jussisse discipulos ascendere in naviculam, et praecedere eum trans fretum, donec dimitteret turbas, ac deinde dimissis turbis ascendisse in montem solum orare; Joannes vero prius eum fugisse commemorat solum in montem, ac deinde, Ut autem sero factum est, inquit, descenderunt discipuli ejus ad mare; et cum ascendissent navem, etc. Quis enim non videat hoc recapitulando Joannem postea dixisse factum a discipulis, quod jam Jesus jusserat antequam fugisset in montem; sicut solet in sermone ad aliquid praetermissum rediri quodammodo? Sed quia ipse reditus, maxime in brevitate ac puncto temporis factus, non commemoratur; putant plerumque qui audiunt, hoc etiam postea factum esse quod postea dicitur. Sic etiam quos dixerat ascendisse navem, et venisse trans mare in Capharnaum, dicit ad eos in mari laborantes venisse Dominum ambulantem super aquas: quod utique prius in ipsa navigatione factum est, qua veniebant Capharnaum.

101. Lucas autem post narratum de quinque panibus miraculum pergit in aliud, et ab ordine isto digreditur. Neque enim aliquid de navicula illa commemorat, et de via Domini super aquas: sed cum dixisset: Et manducaverunt omnes, et saturati sunt, et sublatum est quod superfuit illis fragmentorum cophini duodecim; deinde subjunxit, Et factum est, cum solus esset orans, erant cum illo et discipuli, et interrogavit illos dicens: Quem me dicunt esse turbae (Luc. IX, 17, 18)? jam deinceps aliud narrans, non quod illi 1129 tres, qui Dominum ambulantem super aquas venisse ad navigantes discipulos retulerunt. Nec ideo putari debet in illo monte, quo eum dixit Matthaeus ascendisse, ut solus oraret, dixisse discipulis, Quem me dicunt esse turbae (Lucas enim videtur in hoc congruere Matthaeo, quia dixit, cum solus esset orans; cum ille dixisset, ascendit in montem solus orare)? sed omnino alibi, cum solus oraret, et essent cum illo discipuli, hoc interrogavit. Solum quippe Lucas fuisse dixit, non sine discipulis, sicut Matthaeus et Joannes, quando ab illo discesserunt, ut praecederent eum trans mare. Iste namque apertissime adjunxit, Erant cum illo et discipuli. Proinde solum dixit, sine turbis, quae cum illo non habitabant.