contemporary. For because of this he added: "And the world was made through him." Question 16. "And looking up to heaven, he blessed the loaves." Why did he look up, and then bless them? Answer. First, to show that he is from the Father; and second, to teach us not to touch the table before we have given thanks to the one who provides us with food. Question 17. Why does he perform the miracle of the loaves in the wilderness, and feed five thousand? Answer. So that the miracle might be beyond all suspicion, and no one might think that a nearby village brought anything to the table. Question 18. And they took up from the leftover fragments. Why were there not whole loaves, but fragments left over. Answer. To show that these are fragments of the five loaves, and so that those who were absent might learn what had happened, and so that no one might think this was an illusion. Question 19. "Twelve baskets." Why did they fill twelve baskets? Answer. So that Judas might also carry one. For he could have satisfied the hunger of the crowds; but the disciples would not have known his power. Question 20. Why does not Pilate see, but his wife? Answer. First, because she was worthy, or rather, because if he himself had seen it, he would not have been believed in the same way; or he would not even have spoken of it; for this reason it is arranged for the wife to see, so that it might be made manifest to all. Question 21. "And they crucify with him two thieves, one on his right, and one on his left." Why did they crucify him in the middle of the thieves, and why did he give up the spirit with a cry? Answer. That he might share in their reputation, or that what was said might be fulfilled: that he also "was numbered with the transgressors;" and to show that the thing is done by his own authority; as he also said, that "I have power to lay down my life, and I have power to take it up again." 28.705 Question 22. "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." How is it that Matthew says that Christ said to Peter: "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times;" but Mark says that, when he had denied him once, then the cock crowed for the first time; and when he had denied him a third time, then it crowed a second time? How then will both be found to be true? Answer. Since a cock is accustomed to crow a third and a fourth time during each watch, Mark, indicating that not even its cry stopped him and brought him to remembrance, says this. So both are true. For before the cock completed one full crowing, he had denied him a third time. And he was so fearful and utterly dead with fear, that not only did he deny, but he did not even remember of his own accord, and this though the cock crowed, until the Master's glance became for him instead of a voice. And Luke, indicating this, says that Christ looked at him. Question 23. "And he went out and wept bitterly." Why did he go out and weep? Answer. Because he did not dare to do so openly before all, lest he be accused because of his tears, and be recognized as his disciple. Question 24. "And as they were eating, Christ said to them, 'One of you will betray me.'" Why, while they were eating, does he speak to them about the betrayal? Answer. So that both from the occasion and from the table he might show the wickedness of the betrayer. For he himself was also present there. Question 25. "One of you will betray me." Why did he not say: So-and-so will betray me; but "One of you will betray me," sparing him even in this? Answer. Sparing the betrayer even in this; so as to give him again an opportunity for repentance in secret. And he chooses to frighten all for the sake of saving this one. Question 26. "And the women who had followed him from Galilee were also there." Why does he make mention of the women who had followed him? Answer. In order to show their great attentiveness, and that they were present even up to the dangers. For when the disciples fled, these women persevered. Question 27. "How is it that you," she says, "being a Jew, ask for a drink of water from me, a Samaritan woman?" How did she know that he was a Jew, to say to him: "How is it that you, being a Jew?" Answer. From the

2

σύγχρονος. ∆ιὰ γὰρ τοῦτο ἐπήγαγε· «Καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο.» Ἐρώτ. ι ςʹ. «Καὶ ἀναβλέψας εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς, εὐλόγησε τοὺς ἄρτους.» ∆ιὰ τί ἀνέβλεψε, καὶ οὕτως εὐλόγησεν; Ἀπόκ. Πρῶτον μὲν ἵνα δείξῃ, ὅτι ἀπὸ τοῦ Πατρός ἐστι· δεύτερον δὲ παιδεύων ἡμᾶς, μὴ πρότερον ἅπτεσθαι τραπέζης ἕως ἂν εὐχαριστήσωμεν τῷ τὴν τροφὴν ἡμῖν παρέχοντι. Ἐρώτ. ιζʹ. ∆ιὰ τί ἐν ἐρήμῳ τὸ τῶν ἄρτων θαῦμα ποιεῖ, καὶ πεντακισχιλίους τρέφει; Ἀπόκ. Ἵνα μεθ' ὑπερβολῆς ἀνύποπτον ὑπάρξῃ τὸ θαῦμα, καὶ μηδεὶς νομίσῃ πλησίον κώμην κειμένην εἰσενεγκεῖν τι εἰς τὴν τράπεζαν. Ἐρώτ. ιηʹ. Καὶ ἦραν ἐκ τῶν περισσευμάτων κλασμάτων. ∆ιὰ τί οὐχ ὁλόκληροι ἄρτοι, ἀλλὰ κλάσματα ἐπερίσσευσαν. Ἀπόκ. Ἵνα δείξῃ, ὅτι τῶν πέντε ἄρτων εἰσὶ ταῦτα πλάσματα, καὶ ὥστε τοὺς ἀπόντας μαθεῖν τὸ γεγενημένον, καὶ ἵνα μή τις φαντασίαν νομίσῃ εἶναι τοῦτο. Ἐρώτ. ιθʹ. «∆ώδεκα κοφίνους.» ∆ιὰ τί δώδεκα κοφίνους ἐπλήρωσαν; Ἀπόκ. Ἵνα καὶ Ἰούδας βαστάσῃ. Ἐδύνατο μὲν γὰρ καὶ σβέσαι τῶν ὄχλων τὴν πεῖναν· ἀλλ' οὐκ ἂν ἔγνωσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ τὴν δύναμιν. Ἐρώτ. κʹ. ∆ιὰ τί οὐχ ὁ Πιλᾶτος ὁρᾷ, ἀλλ' ἡ τούτου γυνή; Ἀπόκ. Πρῶτον μὲν ὅτι ἐκείνη ἀξία ἦν, ἢ μᾶλλον ὅτι, εἰ αὐτὸς εἶδεν, οὐκ ἂν ἐπιστεύθη ὁμοίως· ἢ οὐδ' ἂν ἐξεῖπεν· διὰ τοῦτο οἰκονομεῖται τὴν γυναῖκα ἰδεῖν, ὥστε κατάδηλον γενέσθαι πᾶσιν. Ἐρώτ. καʹ. «Καὶ συσταυροῦσιν αὐτῷ δύο λῃστὰς, ἕνα ἐκ δεξιῶν, καὶ ἕνα ἐξ εὐωνύμων.» ∆ιὰ τί μέσον αὐτὸν ἐσταύρωσαν τῶν λῃστῶν, καὶ διὰ τί κράξας ἀφῆκε τὸ πνεῦμα; Ἀπόκ. Ἵνα τῇ δόξῃ τῇ ἐκείνων κοινωνήσῃ, ἢ ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθέν· ὅτι καὶ «Μετὰ ἀνόμων ἐλογίσθη·» καὶ ἵνα δειχθῇ, ὅτι κατ' ἐξουσίαν τὸ πρᾶγμα γίνεται· καθὼς καὶ ἔλεγεν, ὅτι «Ἐξουσίαν ἔχω θεῖναι τὴν ψυχήν μου, καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἔχω λαβεῖν αὐτήν.» 28.705 Ἐρώτ. κβʹ. «Πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι, τρὶς ἀπαρνήσῃ με.» Πῶς ὁ μὲν Ματθαῖος, ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ Χριστὸς τῷ Πέτρῳ· «Πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι τρὶς ἀπαρνήσῃ με·» ὁ δὲ Μάρκος λέγει, ὅτι, ὅτε μὲν ἅπαξ ἠρνήσατο, τότε πρῶτον ἐφώνησεν ὁ ἀλεκτρυών· ὅτε δὲ τρίτον, τότε δεύτερον; Πῶς οὖν εὑρεθήσονται ἀληθῆ ἀμφότερα; Ἀπόκ. Ἐπειδὴ καθ' ἑκάστην ἀγωγὴν καὶ τρίτον καὶ τέταρτον φωνεῖν εἴωθεν ἀλεκτρυὼν, δηλῶν ὁ Μάρκος, ὅτι οὐδὲ ἡ φωνὴ αὐτὸν ἐπέσχε, καὶ εἰς μνήμην ἤγαγε, τοῦτό φησιν. Ὥστε ἀμφότερα ἀληθῆ εἰσι. Πρινὴ γὰρ τὴν μίαν ἀγωγὴν ἀπαρτίσαι τὸν ἀλεκτρυόνα, τρίτον ἠρνήσατο. Οὕτω δὲ περιδεὴς ἦν καὶ σφόδρα ἀποτεθνηκὼς τῷ δέει, ὅτι οὐ μόνον ἠρνήσατο, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἀνεμνήσθη οἴκοθεν, καὶ ταῦτα τοῦ ἀλεκτρυόνος φωνήσαντος, ἕως οὗ τὸ βλέμμα τοῦ διδασκάλου γέγονεν αὐτῷ ἀντὶ φωνῆς. Καὶ τοῦτο ὁ Λουκᾶς δηλῶν φησιν, ὅτι ἐνέβλεψεν εἰς αὐτὸν ὁ Χριστός. Ἐρώτ. κγʹ. «Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἔξω ἔκλαυσε πικρῶς.» ∆ιὰ τί ἐξελθὼν ἔξω ἔκλαυσεν; Ἀπόκ. Ἐπειδὴ οὐκ ἐτόλμα φανερῶς ἔμπροσθεν πάντων, ἵνα μὴ κατηγορηθῇ διὰ τῶν δακρύων, καὶ γνωσθῇ μαθητὴς αὐτοῦ εἶναι. Ἐρώτ. κδʹ. «Ἐσθιόντων δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Χριστὸς, ὅτι Εἷς ἐξ ὑμῶν παραδώσει με.» ∆ιὰ τί, ἐσθιόντων αὐτῶν, περὶ τῆς προδοσίας αὐτοῖς διαλέγεται; Ἀπόκ. Ἵνα καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ καιροῦ καὶ τῆς τραπέζης δείξῃ τὴν πονηρίαν τοῦ προδότου. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐκεῖ παρῆν. Ἐρώτ. κεʹ. «Εἷς ἐξ ὑμῶν παραδώσει με.» ∆ιὰ τί οὐκ εἶπεν· Ὁ δεῖνά με παραδώσει· ἀλλ' «Εἷς ἐξ ὑμῶν παραδώσει με,» φειδόμενος καὶ ἐν τούτῳ; Ἀπόκ. Φειδόμενος καὶ ἐν τούτῳ τοῦ προδότου· ὥστε πάλιν δοῦναι αὐτῷ μετανοίας ἐξουσίαν τοῦ λαθεῖν. Καὶ αἱρεῖται φοβῆσαι ἅπαντας ὑπὲρ τοῦ διασῶσαι τοῦτον. Ἐρώτ. κ ςʹ. «Ἦσαν δὲ καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες συνακολουθήσασαι ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας.» ∆ιὰ τί μέμνηται τῶν γυναικῶν τῶν συνακολουθησασῶν αὐτῷ; Ἀπόκ. Ὅπως δείξῃ τὴν πολλὴν αὐτῶν προσεδρίαν, καὶ ὅτι μέχρι τῶν κινδύνων παρῆσαν. Ὅτε γὰρ οἱ μαθηταὶ ἔφυγον, αὗται προσεκαρτέρουν. Ἐρώτ. κζʹ. «Πῶς σὺ, φησὶν, Ἰουδαῖος ὢν ζητεῖς παρ' ἐμοῦ πιεῖν ὕδωρ, Σαμαρείτιδος οὔσης;» Πόθεν αὐτὸν γνωρίσασα, Ἰουδαῖον εἶναι, φησὶ πρὸς αὐτόν· «Πῶς σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ὤν;» Ἀπόκ. Ἀπὸ τοῦ

2