Homily I.

Acts I. 1, 2

“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day on which, having given charge to the Apostles, whom He had chosen, by the Holy Spirit, He was taken up.”

To many persons this Book is so little known, both it and its author, that they are not even aware that there is such a book in existence.1    St. Chrys. had made the same complaint at Antioch in the Homilies (a.d. 387) in Principium Actorum, etc. t. iii. p. 54. “We are about to set before you a strange and new dish.…strange, I say, and not strange. Not strange; for it belongs to the order of Holy Scripture: and yet strange; because peradventure your ears are not accustomed to such a subject. Certainly, there are many to whom this Book is not even known (πολλοῖς γοῦν τὸ βιβλίον τοῦτο οὐδὲ γνώριμόν ἐστι) and many again think it so plain, that they slight it: thus to some men their knowledge, to some their ignorance, is the cause of their neglect……We are to enquire then who wrote it, and when, and on what subject: and why it is ordered (νενομοθέτηται) to be read at this festival. For peradventure you do not hear this Book read [at other times] from year’s end to year’s end.” For this reason especially I have taken this narrative for my subject, that I may draw to it such as do not know it, and not let such a treasure as this remain hidden out of sight. For indeed it may profit us no less than even the Gospels; so replete is it with Christian wisdom and sound doctrine, especially in what is said concerning the Holy Ghost. Then let us not hastily pass by it, but examine it closely. Thus, the predictions which in the Gospels Christ utters, here we may see these actually come to pass; and note in the very facts the bright evidence of Truth which shines in them, and the mighty change which is taking place in the disciples now that the Spirit has come upon them. For example, they heard Christ say, “Whoso believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do” (John xiv. 12): and again, when He foretold to the disciples, that they should be brought before rulers and kings, and in their synagogues they should scourge them, and that they should suffer grievous things, and overcome all (Matt. x. 18): and that the Gospel should be preached in all the world (Ib. xxiv. 14): now all this, how it came to pass exactly as it was said, may be seen in this Book, and more besides, which He told them while yet with them. Here again you will see the Apostles themselves, speeding their way as on wings over land and sea; and those same men, once so timorous and void of understanding, on the sudden become quite other than they were; men despising wealth, and raised above glory and passion and concupiscence, and in short all such affections: moreover, what unanimity there is among them now; nowhere any envying as there was before, nor any of the old hankering after the preeminence, but all virtue brought in them to its last finish, and shining through all, with surpassing lustre, that charity, concerning which the Lord had given so many charges saying, “In this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye love one another.” (John xiii. 35.) And then, besides, there are doctrines to be found here, which we could not have known so surely as we now do, if this Book had not existed, but the very crowning point of our salvation would be hidden, alike for practice of life and for doctrine.

The greater part, however, of this work is occupied with the acts of Paul, who “laboured more abundantly than they all.” (1 Cor. xv. 10.) And the reason is, that the author of this Book, that is, the blessed Luke, was his companion: a man, whose high qualities, sufficiently visible in many other instances, are especially shown in his firm adherence to his Teacher, whom he constantly followed.2    The two reasons which Chrysostom urges for the study of the Acts are also the two chief grounds upon which modern criticism depends for establishing not only the general trust-worthiness of the book, but also its authorship by Luke. They are in substance, (1) The continuity of the history as connected with the gospels and, particularly, coincidences of style, matter and diction with the third gospel, and (2) The remarkable undesigned coincidences of statement between the Acts and Pauline Epistles which exclude the possibility of inter-dependence. From Col. i. 11, 14; Philem. 24; 2 Tim. iv. 11, we learn that Luke was a close companion of Paul. In the part of the Book of Acts which treats especially of the work of Paul, the writer frequently refers to himself in the use of the first person plural as an associate of the apostle (vid. xvi. 10; xx. 6 sq.; xxi. 1 sq.; xxvii. 1). These considerations demonstrate the fitness of Luke to prepare such a treatise as the Acts and render the supposition of his authorship plausible. When they are combined with those mentioned under (1) and when the dedication of both books to a certain Theophilus is considered, the argument becomes very cogent and complete.—G.B.S. Thus at a time when all had forsaken him, one gone into Galatia, another into Dalmatia, hear what he says of this disciple: “Only Luke is with me.” (2 Tim. iv. 10.) And giving the Corinthians a charge concerning him, he says, “Whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches.” (2 Cor. viii. 18.) Again, when he says, “He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve,” and, “according to the Gospel which ye received” (1 Cor. xv. 5, 1), he means the Gospel of this Luke.3    The reference in the Text of the expression: “the Gospel which ye received,” (1 Cor. xv. 1) to Luke’s “gospel” is, of course, groundless. Paul speaks of it as the gospel which he preached unto them. It is “his gospel” as in Rom. ii. 16; xvi. 25; Gal. i. 11, etc. The use of ἐυαγγέλιον to denote a book is post-apostolic.—G.B.S. So that there can be no mistake in attributing this work to him: and when I say, to him, I mean, to Christ.4    Hom. in Princip. Act. p. 54. “First we must see who wrote the Book.…whether a man, or God: and if man, let us reject it; for, ‘Call no man master upon earth:’ but if God, let us receive it.” And why then did he not relate every thing, seeing he was with Paul to the end? We may answer, that what is here written, was sufficient for those who would attend, and that the sacred writers ever addressed themselves to the matter of immediate importance, whatever it might be at the time: it was no object with them to be writers of books: in fact, there are many things which they have delivered by unwritten tradition. Now while all that is contained in this Book is worthy of admiration, so is especially the way the Apostles have of coming down to the wants of their hearers: a condescension suggested by the Spirit who has so ordered it, that the subject on which they chiefly dwell is that which pertains to Christ as man. For so it is, that while they discourse so much about Christ, they have spoken but little concerning His Godhead; it was mostly of the Manhood that they discoursed, and of the Passion, and the Resurrection, and the Ascension. For the thing required in the first instance was this, that it should be believed that He was risen, and ascended into heaven. As then the point on which Christ himself most insisted was, to have it known that He was come from the Father, so is it this writer’s principal object to declare, that Christ was risen from the dead, and was received up into Heaven, and that He went to God, and came from God. For, if the fact of His coming from God were not first believed, much more, with the Resurrection and Ascension added thereto, would the Jews have found the entire doctrine incredible. Wherefore gently and by degrees he leads them on to higher truths. Nay, at Athens Paul even calls Him man simply, without saying more (Acts xvii. 31). For if, when Christ Himself spoke of His equality with the Father, they often attempted to stone Him, and called Him a blasphemer for this reason, it was little to be expected that they would receive this doctrine from the fishermen, and that too, with the Cross coming before it.

But why speak of the Jews, seeing that even the disciples often upon hearing the more sublime doctrines were troubled and offended? Therefore also He told them, “I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” (John xvi. 12.) If those could not, who had been so long time with Him, and had been admitted to so many secrets, and had seen so many wonders, how was it to be expected that men, but newly dragged away from altars, and idols, and sacrifices, and cats, and crocodiles (for such did the Gentiles worship), and from the rest of their evil ways, should all at once receive the more sublime matters of doctrine? And how in particular should Jews, hearing as they did every day of their lives, and having it ever sounded in their ears, “The Lord thy God is one Lord, and beside Him is none other” (Deut. vi. 4): who also had seen Him hanging nailed on the Cross, nay, had themselves crucified and buried Him, and not seen Him even risen: when they were told that this same person was God and equal with the Father, how should they, of all men, be otherwise than shocked and revolted? Therefore it is that gently and little by little they carry them on, with much consideration and forbearance letting themselves down to their low attainments, themselves the while enjoying in more plentiful measure the grace of the Spirit, and doing greater works in Christ’s name than Christ Himself did, that they may at once raise them up from their grovelling apprehensions, and confirm the saying, that Christ was raised from the dead. For this, in fact, is just what this Book is: a Demonstration of the Resurrection:5    Hom. cur in Pentec. Acta legantur, t. iii. p. 89. E. “The demonstration of the Resurrection is, the Apostolic miracles: and of the Apostolic miracles this Book is the school.”6    The statement that the Acts is a “Demonstration of the Resurrection” has a certain profound truth, but is incorrect if intending to assert that such was the conscious purpose of the author. The resurrection of Jesus is a prominent theme in the Apostolic discourses but the book is no more designed primarily to prove the resurrection than are the Epistles to the Romans and Corinthians. The immediate purpose of the book is to record the labors and triumphs of the Apostolic Church as supplementary to the narrative of the teaching and work of Jesus (i. 1, 2). The events narrated presuppose the resurrection and would have been impossible without it.—G.B.S. this being once believed, the rest would come in due course. The subject then and entire scope of this Book, in the main, is just what I have said. And now let us hear the Preface itself.

“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach.” (v. 1) Why does he put him in mind of the Gospel? To intimate how strictly he may be depended upon. For at the outset of the former work he says, “It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order.” (Luke i. 3.) Neither is he content with his own testimony, but refers the whole matter to the Apostles, saying, “Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word.” (Luke i. 2.) Having then accredited his account in the former instance, he has no need to put forth his credentials afresh for this treatise, seeing his disciple has been once for all satisfied, and by the mention of that former work he has reminded him of the strict reliance to be placed in him for the truth. For if a person has shown himself competent and trustworthy to write of things which he has heard, and moreover has obtained our confidence, much more will he have a right to our confidence when he has composed an account, not of things which he has received from others, but of things which he has seen and heard. For thou didst receive what relates to Christ; much more wilt thou receive what concerns the Apostles.

What then, (it may be asked), is it a question only of history, with which the Holy Spirit has nothing to do? Not so. For, if “those delivered it unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word;” then, what he says, is theirs. And why did he not say, ‘As they who were counted worthy of the Holy Spirit delivered them unto us;’ but “Those who were eyewitnesses?” Because, in matter of belief, the very thing that gives one a right to be believed, is the having learned from eyewitnesses: whereas the other appears to foolish persons mere parade and pretension. And therefore John also speaks thus: “I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” (John. i. 34.) And Christ expresses Himself in the same way to Nicodemus, while he was dull of apprehension, “We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and no one receiveth our witness.” (Ib. iii. 11.) Accordingly, He gave them leave to rest their testimony in many particulars on the fact of their having seen them, when He said, “And do ye bear witness concerning Me, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.” (John xv. 27.) The Apostles themselves also often speak in a similar manner; “We are witnesses, and the Holy Spirit which God hath given to those that obey Him.” (Acts ii. 32); and on a subsequent occasion, Peter, still giving assurance of the Resurrection, said, “Seeing we did eat and drink with Him.” (Acts x. 41.) For they more readily received the testimony of persons who had been His companions, because the notion of the Spirit was as yet very much beyond them. Therefore John also at that time, in his Gospel, speaking of the blood and water, said, he himself saw it, making the fact of his having seen it equivalent, for them, to the highest testimony, although the witness of the Spirit is more certain than the evidence of sight, but not so with unbelievers. Now that Luke was a partaker of the Spirit, is abundantly clear, both from the miracles which even now take place; and from the fact that in those times even ordinary persons were gifted with the Holy Ghost; and again from the testimony of Paul, in these words, “Whose praise is in the Gospel” (2 Cor. viii. 18); and from the appointment to which he was chosen: for having said this, the Apostle adds, “But also appointed of the Churches to travel with us with this grace which is administered by us.”7    Chrys. states too confidently that “the brother” whose praise is referred to in 2 Cor. viii. 18, is Luke. It cannot be determined who this “brother” was. See Meyer in loco. Other conjectures are: Barnabas, Mark, Erastus, and an actual brother of Titus.—G.B.S.

Now mark how unassuming he is. He does not say, The former Gospel which I preached, but, “The former treatise have I made;” accounting the title of Gospel to be too great for him; although it is on the score of this that the Apostle dignifies him: “Whose praise,” he says, “is in the Gospel.” But he himself modestly says, “The former treatise have I made—O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach:” not simply “of all,” but from the beginning to the end; “until the day,” he says, “in which He was taken up.” And yet John says, that it was not possible to write all: for “were they written, I suppose,” says he, “that even the world itself could not contain the books written.” (John xxi. 25.) How then does the Evangelist here say, “Of all?” He does not say “all,” but “of all,” as much as to say, “in a summary way, and in the gross;” and “of all that is mainly and pressingly important.” Then he tells us in what sense he says all, when he adds, “Which Jesus began both to do and to teach;” meaning His miracles and teaching; and not only so, but implying that His doing was also a teaching.

But now consider the benevolent and Apostolic feelings of the writer: that for the sake of a single individual he took such pains as to write for him an entire Gospel. “That thou mightest have,” he says, “the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.” (Luke i. 4.) In truth, he had heard Christ say, “It is not the will of My Father that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matt. xviii. 14.) And why did he not make one book of it, to send to one man Theophilus, but has divided it into two subjects? For clearness, and to give the brother a pause for rest. Besides, the two treatises are distinct in their subject-matter.

But consider how Christ accredited his words by His deeds. Thus He saith, “Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” (Ib. xi. 29.) He taught men to be poor,8    Ms. C. has οἰκτίρμονας, merciful; the rest, ἀκτήμονας, without possessions, which is certainly the true reading. Thus in the Sermon de futuræ Vitæ deliciis, where Chrys. discourses largely on the harmony of Christ’s teaching and actions, he says, Πάλιν ἀκτημοσύνην παιδεύων, ὅρα πῶς διὰ τῶν ἔργων αὐτὴν ἐπιδείκνυται, λέγων, Αἱ ἀλώπεκες, κ. τ. λ.9    “He taught them to be poor.” Here we have a tinge of asceticism. Even if we suppose that the beatitude of the poor refers to literal poverty (Luke vi. 20) as well as to poverty in spirit (Matt. v. 3), it is still incorrect to say that Jesus taught his disciples that poverty was in itself a virtue. The ascetic principle is of heathen, not of Christian origin. It is noticeable that Chrys. quotes no passage to sustain his statement.—G.B.S. and exhibited this by His actions: “For the Son of Man,” He says, “hath not where to lay His head.” (Ib. viii. 20.) Again, He charged men to love their enemies; and He taught the same lesson on the Cross, when He prayed for those who were crucifying Him. He said, “If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also” (Ib. v. 40): now He not only gave His garments, but even His blood. In this way He bade others teach. Wherefore Paul also said, “So as ye have us for an example.” (Philip. iii. 17.) For nothing is more frigid than a teacher who shows his philosophy only in words: this is to act the part not of a teacher, but of a hypocrite. Therefore the Apostles first taught by their conduct, and then by their words; nay rather they had no need of words, when their deeds spoke so loud. Nor is it wrong to speak of Christ’s Passion as action, for in suffering all He performed that great and wonderful act, by which He destroyed death, and effected all else that He did for us.

“Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He, through the Holy Spirit, had given commandments unto the Apostles whom He had chosen. After He had given commandments through the Spirit” (v. 2); i.e. they were spiritual words that He spake unto them, nothing human; either this is the meaning, or, that it was by the Spirit that He gave them commandments.10    The latter is doubtless the correct interpretation. (So Meyer, Hackett). Cf. Matt. xii. 28; John iii. 34; Luke iv. 1.—G.B.S. Do you observe in what low terms he still speaks of Christ, as in fact Christ had spoken of Himself? “But if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils” (Matt. xii. 28); for indeed the Holy Ghost wrought in that Temple. Well, what did He command? “Go ye therefore,” He says, “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Ib. xxviii. 19, 20.) A high encomium this for the Apostles; to have such a charge entrusted to them, I mean, the salvation of the world! words full of the Spirit! And this the writer hints at in the expression, “through the Holy Ghost” (and, “the words which I spake unto you,” saith the Lord, “are Spirit”) (John vi. 63); thus leading the hearer on to a desire of learning what the commands were, and establishing the authority of the Apostles, seeing it is the words of the Spirit they are about to speak, and the commandments of Christ. “After He had given commandments,” he says, “He was taken up.” He does not say, ‘ascended;’ he still speaks as concerning a man. It appears then that He also taught the Disciples after His resurrection, but of this space of time no one has related to us the whole in detail. St. John indeed, as also does the present writer, dwells at greater length on this subject than the others; but none has clearly related every thing (for they hastened to something else); however, we have learnt these things through the Apostles, for what they heard, that did they tell. “To whom also He shewed Himself alive.” Having first spoken of the Ascension, he adverts to the Resurrection; for since thou hast been told that “He was taken up,” therefore, lest thou shouldest suppose Him to have been taken up by others11    i.e. as Œcumenius explains in l. ίνα μή τις νομίσῃ ἐτέρου ουνάμει τοῦτο γενέσθαι, lest any should suppose this to have been done by the power of another, he adds, to show that it was His own act, To whom also, etc., he adds, “To whom He shewed Himself alive.” For if He shewed Himself in the greater, surely He did in the minor circumstance. Seest thou, how casually and unperceived he drops by the way the seeds of these great doctrines?12    It is more than doubtful whether the mention of the resurrection is introduced (i. 3 sq.) for the purpose of meeting sceptical objections. The writer will rather make it the point of departure for his subsequent narrative. He has mentioned the ascension; the resurrection is the other great event and he will introduce a resumé of the more important circumstances which happened during the period between these two events and which have an important bearing upon the history about to be related.—G.B.S.

“Being seen of them during forty days.” He was not always with them now, as He was before the Resurrection. For the writer does not say “forty days,” but, “during forty days.” He came, and again disappeared; by this leading them on to higher conceptions, and no longer permitting them to stand affected towards Him in the same way as before, but taking effectual measures to secure both these objects, that the fact of His Resurrection should be believed, and that He Himself should be ever after apprehended to be greater than man. At the same time, these were two opposite things; for in order to the belief in His Resurrection, much was to be done of a human character, and for the other object, just the reverse. Nevertheless, both results have been effected, each when the fitting time arrived.

But why did He appear not to all, but to the Apostles only?13    Chrys. seems to overlook the appearance “to above five hundred brethren at once,” 1 Cor. xv. 6.—G.B.S. Because to the many it would have seemed a mere apparition, inasmuch as they understood not the secret of the mystery. For if the disciples themselves were at first incredulous and were troubled, and needed the evidence of actual touch with the hand, and of His eating with them, how would it have fared in all likelihood with the multitude? For this reason therefore by the miracles [wrought by the Apostles] He renders the evidence of His Resurrection unequivocal, so that not only the men of those times—this is what would come of the ocular proof—but also all men thereafter, should be certain of the fact, that He was risen. Upon this ground also we argue with unbelievers. For if He did not rise again, but remains dead, how did the Apostles perform miracles in His name? But they did not, say you, perform miracles? How then was our religion (ἔθνος) instituted? For this certainly they will not controvert nor impugn what we see with our eyes: so that when they say that no miracles took place, they inflict a worse stab14    Περιπείρουσι, ms. C. and Cat. (see 1 Tim. vi. 9, pierced themselves through with many sorrows), and in this sense Hom. in Matt. 455 B. 463 A. The word is used as here, ibid. 831 C. where several mss. have πανταχοῦ ἡ πλάνη ἑαυτὴν περιπείρει, for ἑαυτῇ περιπίπτει. upon themselves. For this would be the greatest of miracles, that without any miracles, the whole world should have eagerly come to be taken in the nets of twelve poor and illiterate men. For not by wealth of money, not by wisdom of words, not by any thing else of this kind, did the fishermen prevail; so that objectors must even against their will acknowledge that there was in these men a Divine power, for no human strength could ever possibly effect such great results. For this He then remained forty days on earth, furnishing in this length of time the sure evidence of their seeing Him in His own proper Person, that they might not suppose that what they saw was a phantom. And not content with this, He added also the evidence of eating with them at their board: as to signify this, the writer adds, “And being at table15    Συναλιζόμενος. In the margin of E.V. “Eating together with them.” The Catena here and below, had pr. man. the other reading, συναυλιζόμενος, but corrected in both places. St. Chrys. so takes the word, Hom. in Princip. Act. §11.767 E. in Joann. 522 D. Œcumen. in 1. explains it, τουτέστι κοινωνῶν ἁλῶν, κοινωνῶν τραπέζης, “Partaking of the salt, partaking of the table.” with them, He commanded.”16    Chrys. here follows the interpretation which derives συναλιζόμενος (i. 4) from σύν and ἅλς (salt) hence, eating together. So several ancient authorities as Vulgate (convesceus) and even modern, as Meyer. But the preferable derivation is from σύν and ἁλής (crowded), hence to be assembled, to meet with (sc. ἀυτοῖς). So Olshausen, Hackett, Lechler, Thayer’s Lex. and most modern authorities.—G.B.S. (v. 4.) And this circumstance the Apostles themselves always put forth as an fallible token of the Resurrection; as where they say, “Who did eat and drink with Him.” (Acts x. 41.)

And what did He, when appearing unto them those forty days? Why, He conversed with them, says the writer, “concerning the kingdom of God.” (v. 3.) For, since the disciples both had been distressed and troubled at the things which already had taken place, and were about to go forth to encounter great difficulties, He recovered them by His discourses concerning the future. “He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.” (v. 4.) First, He led them out to Galilee, afraid and trembling, in order that they might listen to His words in security. Afterwards, when they had heard, and had passed forty days with Him, “He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem.” Wherefore? Just as when soldiers are to charge a multitude, no one thinks of letting them issue forth until they have armed themselves, or as horses are not suffered to start from the barriers until they have got their charioteer; so Christ did not suffer these to appear in the field before the descent of the Spirit, that they might not be in a condition to be easily defeated and taken captive by the many. Nor was this the only reason, but also there were many in Jerusalem who should believe. And then again that it might not be said, that leaving their own acquaintance, they had gone to make a parade among strangers, therefore among those very men who had put Christ to death do they exhibit the proofs of His Resurrection, among those who had crucified and buried Him, in the very town in which the iniquitous deed had been perpetrated; thereby stopping the mouths of all foreign objectors. For when those even who had crucified Him appear as believers, clearly this proved both the fact of the crucifixion and the iniquity of the deed, and afforded a mighty evidence of the Resurrection. Furthermore, lest the Apostles should say, How shall it be possible for us to live among wicked and bloody men, they so many in number, we so few and contemptible, observe how He does away their fear and distress, by these words, “But wait for the promise of the Father, which ye have heard of Me.” (v. 4.) You will say, When had they heard this? When He said, “It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.” (John xvi. 7.) And again, “I will pray the Father, and He shall send you another Comforter, that He may abide with you.” (ib. xiv. 16.)

But why did the Holy Ghost come to them, not while Christ was present, nor even immediately after his departure, but, whereas Christ ascended on the fortieth day, the Spirit descended “when the day of Pentecost,” that is, the fiftieth, “was fully come?” (Acts ii. 1.) And how was it, if the Spirit had not yet come, that He said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost?” (John xx. 22.) In order to render them capable and meet for the reception of Him. For if Daniel fainted at the sight of an Angel (Dan. viii. 17), much more would these when about to receive so great a grace. Either this then is to be said, or else that Christ spoke of what was to come, as if come already; as when He said, “Tread ye upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the devil.” (Luke x. 19.) But why had the Holy Ghost not yet come? It was fit that they should first be brought to have a longing desire for that event, and so receive the grace. For this reason Christ Himself departed, and then the Spirit descended. For had He Himself been there, they would not have expected the Spirit so earnestly as they did. On this account neither did He come immediately after Christ’s Ascension, but after eight or nine days. It is the same with us also; for our desires towards God are then most raised, when we stand in need. Accordingly, John chose that time to send his disciples to Christ when they were likely to feel their need of Jesus, during his own imprisonment. Besides, it was fit that our nature should be seen in heaven, and that the reconciliation should be perfected, and then the Spirit should come, and the joy should be unalloyed. For, if the Spirit being already come, Christ had then departed, and the Spirit remained; the consolation would not have been so great as it was. For in fact they clung to Him, and could not bear to part with Him; wherefore also to comfort them He said, “It is expedient for you that I go away.” (John xvi. 7.) On this account He also waits during those intermediate days, that they might first despond for awhile, and be made, as I said, to feel their need of Him. and then reap a full and unalloyed delight. But if the Spirit were inferior to the Son, the consolation would not have been adequate; and how could He have said, “It is expedient for you?” For this reason the greater matters of teaching were reserved for the Spirit, that the disciples might not imagine Him inferior.

Consider also how necessary He made it for them to abide in Jerusalem, by promising that the Spirit should be granted them. For lest they should again flee away after His Ascension, by this expectation, as by a bond, He keeps them to that spot. But having said, “Wait for the promise of the Father, which ye have heard of Me,” He then adds, “For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” (v. 4, 5.) For now indeed He gives them to see the difference there was betwixt Him and John, plainly, and not as heretofore in obscure hints; for in fact He had spoken very obscurely, when He said, “Notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he:” but now He says plainly, “John baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” (Matt. xi. 11.) And he no longer uses the testimony, but merely adverts to the person of John, reminding the disciples of what he had said, and shows them that they are now become greater than John; seeing they too are to baptize with the Spirit. Again, He did not say, I baptize you with the Holy Ghost, but, “Ye shall be baptized:” teaching us humility. For this was plain enough from the testimonyof John, that it was Christ Himself Who should baptize: “He it is that shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire” (Luke iii. 16.); wherefore also He made mention of John.17    So mss. C. F. D. and the Catena. The others have μόνου αὐτοῦ, “of him (John) alone,” not of his testimony.

The Gospels, then, are a history of what Christ did and said; but the Acts, of what that “other Comforter” said and did. Not but that the Spirit did many things in the Gospels also; even as Christ here in the Acts still works in men as He did in the Gospels: only then the Spirit wrought through the Temple, now through the Apostles: then, He came into the Virgin’s womb, and fashioned the Temple; now, into Apostolic souls: then in the likeness of a dove; now, in the likeness of fire. And wherefore? Showing there the gentleness of the Lord, but here His taking vengeance also, He now puts them in mind of the judgment likewise. For, when need was to forgive, need was there of much gentleness; but now we have obtained the gift, it is henceforth a time for judgment and examination.

But why does Christ say, “Ye shall be baptized,” when in fact there was no water in the upper room? Because the more essential part of Baptism is the Spirit, through Whom indeed the water has its operation; in the same manner our Lord also is said to be anointed, not that He had ever been anointed with oil, but because He had received the Spirit. Besides, we do in fact find them receiving a baptism with water [and a baptism with the Spirit], and these at different moments. In our case both take place under one act, but then they were divided. For in the beginning they were baptized by John; since, if harlots and publicans went to that baptism, much rather would they who thereafter were to be baptized by the Holy Ghost. Then, that the Apostles might not say, that they were always having it held out to them in promises (John xiv. 15, 16), (for indeed Christ had already discoursed much to them concerning the Spirit, that they should not imagine It to be an impersonal Energy or Operation, (ἐνέργειαν ἀνυπόστατον) that they might not say this, then, He adds, “not many days hence.” And He did not explain when, that they might always watch: but, that it would soon take place, He told them, that they might not faint; yet the exact time He refrained from adding, that they might always be vigilant. Nor does He assure them by this alone; I mean, by the shortness of the time, but withal by saying, “The promise which ye have heard of Me.” For this is not, saith He, the only time I have told you, but already I have promised what I shall certainly perform. What wonder then that He does not signify the day of the final consummation, when this day which was so near He did not choose to reveal? And with good reason; to the end they may be ever wakeful, and in a state of expectation and earnest heed.

For it cannot, it cannot be, that a man should enjoy the benefit of grace except he watch. Seest thou not what Elias saith to his disciple? “If thou see me when I am taken up” (2 Kings ii. 10), this that thou askest shall be done for thee. Christ also was ever wont to say unto those that came unto Him, “Believest thou?” For if we be not appropriated and made over to the thing given,18    ᾽Εὰν γὰρ μὴ οἰκειωθῶμεν πρὸς τὸ διδόμενον. Erasm. Nisi rei datæ addicti fuerimus. neither do we greatly feel the benefit. So it was also in the case of Paul; grace did not come to him immediately, but three days intervened, during which he was blind; purified the while, and prepared by fear. For as those who dye the purple first season with other ingredients the cloth that is to receive the dye, that the bloom may not be fleeting;19    Οἱ τὴν ἁλουργίδα βάπτοντες.…ἵνα μὴ ἐξίτηλον γένηται τὸ ἄνθος. Comp. Plat. Republ. iv. vol. i. p. 289. Stallb. Οὐκοῦν οἶσθα, ἦν δ᾽ ἐγὼ, ὅτι οἱ βαφεῖς, ἐπειδὰν βουληθῶσι βάψαι ἔρια ὥστ᾽ εἶναι ἁλούργα, πρῶτον μὲν ἐκλέγονται ἐκ τοσούτων χρωμάτων μίαν φύσιν τὴν τῶν λευκῶν, ἔπειτα προπαρασκευάζουσι οὐκ ὀλίγῃ παρα σκεύ& 219· θεραπεύσαντες ὅπως δέξεται ὅτι μάλιστα τὸ ἄνθος, καὶ οὕτω δὴ βάπτουσι. so in this instance God first takes order that the soul shall be thoroughly in earnest, and then pours forth His grace. On this account also, neither did He immediately send the Spirit, but on the fiftieth day. Now if any one ask, why we also do not baptize at that season of Pentecost? we may answer, that grace is the same now as then;20    The question, fully expressed, is, ‘Why do we baptize, not at Pentecost, but on Easter Eve?’ And the answer is, ‘Because the lenten fast forms a meet preparation for the reception of baptism. And moreover, there is a reason which weighed with our fathers, in respect of this season of the fifty days, the time of the Church’s great festivity. The baptism newly received would restrain the neophytes from giving loose to carnal lusts; having prepared them to keep the feast with a holy and awful gladness.’ It should be borne in mind, that these Homilies were commenced during the Πεντηκοστὴ, i.e. the period of fifty days between Easter and Pentecost; at which season the Book of Acts was usually read in the Churches. but the mind becomes more elevated now, by being prepared through fasting. And the season too of Pentecost furnishes a not unlikely reason. What may that be? Our fathers held Baptism to be just the proper curb upon evil concupiscence, and a powerful lesson for teaching to be sober-minded even in a time of delights.

As if then we were banquetting with Christ Himself, and partaking of His table, let us do nothing at random, but let us pass our time in fastings, and prayers, and much sobriety of mind. For if a man who is destined to enter upon some temporal government, prepares himself all his life long, and that he may obtain some dignity, lays out his money, spends his time, and submits to endless troubles; what shall we deserve, who draw near to the kingdom of heaven with such negligence, and both show no earnestness before we have received, and after having received are again negligent? Nay, this is the very reason why we are negligent after having received, that we did not watch before we had received. Therefore many, after they have received, immediately have returned to their former vomit, and have become more wicked, and drawn upon themselves a more severe punishment; when having been delivered from their former sins, herein they have more grievously provoked the Judge, that having been delivered from so great a disease, still they did not learn sobriety, but that has happened unto them, which Christ threatened to the paralytic man, saying, “Behold thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (John v. 14): and which He also predicted of the Jews, that “the last state shall be worse than the first.” (Matt. xii. 45.) For if, saith He, showing that by their ingratitude they should bring upon them the worst of evils, “if I had not come, and spoken unto them, they had not had sin” (John xv. 22); so that the guilt of sins committed after these benefits is doubled and quadrupled, in that, after the honour put upon us, we show ourselves ungrateful and wicked. And the Laver of Baptism helps not a whit to procure for us a milder punishment. And consider: a man has gotten grievous sins by committing murder or adultery, or some other crime: these were remitted through Baptism. For there is no sin, no impiety, which does not yield and give place to this gift; for the Grace is Divine. A man has again committed adultery and murder; the former adultery is indeed done away, the murder forgiven, and not brought up again to his charge, “for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. xi. 29); but for those committed after Baptism he suffers a punishment as great as he would if both the former sins were brought up again, and many worse than these. For the guilt is no longer simply equal, but doubled and tripled.21    This view, that baptism cleansed from all sin, and that, therefore, sin after baptism was far more heinous and hard to be forgiven, held wide sway in the early church and operated as a powerful motive for the delay of baptism. The reception of the grace of baptism involves this increased liability to deadlier sin. For this reason Tertullian had urged its postponement. “And so according to the circumstances and disposition, and even age, of each individual, the delay of baptism is preferable; principally, however, in the case of little children.” “If any understand the weighty import of baptism, they will fear its reception more than its delay,” etc. De Baptismo, xviii. Chrys. did not carry the idea to this length.—G.B.S. Look: in proof that the penalty of these sins is greater, hear what St. Paul says: “He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy, under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. x. 28, 29.)

Perhaps we have now deterred many from receiving baptism. Not however with this intention have we so spoken, but on purpose that having received it, they may continue in temperance and much moderation. ‘But I am afraid,’ says one. If thou wert afraid, thou wouldest have received and guarded it. ‘Nay,’ saith he, ‘but this is the very reason why I do not receive it,—that I am frightened.’ And art thou not afraid to depart thus? ‘God is merciful,’ saith he. Receive baptism then, because He is merciful and ready to help. But thou, where to be in earnest is the thing required, dost not allege this mercifulness; thou thinkest of this only where thou hast a mind to do so. And yet that was the time to resort to God’s mercy, and we shall then be surest of obtaining it, when we do our part. For he that has cast the whole matter upon God, and, after his baptism, sins, as being man it is likely, he may, and repents, shall obtain mercy; whereas he that prevaricates with God’s mercy, and departs this life with no portion in that grace, shall have his punishment without a word to be said for him. ‘But how if he depart,’ say you, ‘after having had the grace vouchsafed to him?’ He will depart empty again of all good works.22    Τί οὖν ἃν καταξιωθείς φησιν ἀπελεύσεται πάλιν κενὸς κατορθωμάτων, Cod. C, and so A, but with ἀπελεύσῃ In the latter recension this sentence is omitted, and instead of it, we have, Τί δὲ ταῦτα κατὰ τῆς σεαυτοῦ σωτηρίας προβάλλῃ; ‘But why dost thou put forth such pretences against thine own salvation?’ Chrys. had just said, ἀπελθὼν ἄμοιρος τῆς χάριτος ἀπαιραίτητον ἕξει τὴν τιμωρίον. The objector (with the usual prevaricating formula, τί οὖν ἐ& 129·ν τὸ καὶ τό; Hom. in Matt. 229 D.) says: τί οὖν ἂν καταξιωθεὶς, sc. τῆς χαριτὸς ἀπέλθῃ; to which Chrys. answers: ᾽Απελεύσεται πάλιν κενὸς κατορθωμάτων: He will depart as empty of good works as he was before his baptism: adding, For it is, I think, utterly impossible that such an one [though he should live ever so long after baptism] would have wrought out his own salvation. For it is impossible, yes, it is in my opinion impossible, that the man who upon such hopes dallied with baptism should have effected ought generous and good. And why dost thou harbor such fear, and presume upon the uncertain chance of the future? Why not convert this fear into labor and earnestness, and thou shalt be great and admirable? Which is best, to fear or to labor? Suppose some one to have placed thee, having nothing to do, in a tottering house, saying, Look for the decaying roof to fall upon thy head: for perhaps it will fall, perhaps not; but if thou hadst rather it should not, then work and inhabit the more secure apartment: which wouldest thou have rather chosen, that idle condition accompanied with fear, or this labor with confidence? Why then, act now in the same way. For the uncertain future is like a decayed house, ever threatening to fall; but this work, laborious though it be, ensures safety.

Now God forbid that it should happen to us to fall into so great straits as to sin after baptism. However, even if aught such should happen, God is merciful, and has given us many ways of obtaining remission even after this. But just as those who sin after baptism are punished for this reason more severely than the Catechumens, so again, those who know that there are medicines in repentance, and yet will not make use of them, will undergo a more grievous chastisement. For by how much the mercy of God is enlarged, by so much does the punishment increase, if we do not duly profit by that mercy. What sayest thou, O man? When thou wast full of such grievous evils, and given over, suddenly thou becamest a friend, and wast exalted to the highest honor, not by labors of thine own, but by the gift of God: thou didst again return to thy former misconduct; and though thou didst deserve to be sorely punished, nevertheless, God did not turn away, but gave unnumbered opportunities of salvation, whereby thou mayest yet become a friend: yet for all this, thou hast not the will to labor. What forgiveness canst thou deserve henceforth? Will not the Gentiles with good reason deride thee as a worthless drone? For if there be power in that doctrine of yours, say they, what means this multitude of uninitiated persons? If the mysteries be excellent and desirable, let none receive baptism at his last gasp. For that is not the time for giving of mysteries but for making of wills; the time for mysteries is in health of mind and soundness of soul. For, if a man would not prefer to make his will in such a condition; and if he does so make it, he gives a handle for subsequent litigation (and this is the reason why testators premise these words: “Alive, in my senses, and in health, I make this disposal of my property:”), how should it be possible for a person who is no longer master of his senses to go through the right course of preparation for the sacred mysteries?23    Μετὰ ἀκριβείας μυσταγωγεῖσθαι: alluding to the κατήχησις μυσταγωγική, i.e. the course of instruction by which the catechumens were prepared for baptism. See the Catechetical Discourses of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. For if in the affairs of this life, the laws of the world would not permit a man who was not perfectly sound in mind to make a will, although it be in his own affairs that he would lay down the law; how, when thou art receiving instruction concerning the kingdom of heaven, and the unspeakable riches of that world, shall it be possible for thee to learn all clearly, when very likely too thou art beside thyself through the violence of thy malady? And when wilt thou say those words24    Τὰ ῥ& 208·ματα ἐκεῖνα: i.e. not (as Ben. seems to interpret) “Buried with Christ;” as if this were part of the form of words put into the mouth of the person to be baptized; but the words, “I renounce thee, O Satan, and all thy angels, and all thy service, and all thy pomp: and I enlist myself with Thee, O Christ.” St. Chrysost. Serm. ad pop. Antioch, xxi. p. 244. The words, “buried with Him,” serve to show more clearly the absurdity of such delay: “we are ‘buried with Christ in His death,’ that we may rise again to newness of life, not that we should pass at once from the spiritual burial to the literal.” to Christ, in the act of being buried with Him when at the point to depart hence? For indeed both by works and by words must we show our good will towards Him. (Rom. vi. 4.) Now what thou art doing is all one, as if a man should want to be enlisted as a soldier, when the war is just about to break up; or to strip for the contest in the arena, just when the spectators have risen from their seats. For thou hast thine arms given thee, not that thou shouldest straightway depart hence, but that being equipped therewith, thou mayest raise a trophy over the enemy. Let no one think that it is out of season to discourse on this subject, because it is not Lent now. Nay, this it is that vexes me, that ye look to a set time in such matters. Whereas that Eunuch, barbarian as he was and on a journey, yea on the very highway, he did not seek for a set time (Acts viii. 27); no, nor the jailer, though he was in the midst of a set of prisoners, and the teacher he saw before him was a man scourged and in chains, and whom he was still to have in his custody. (ib. xvi. 29.) But here, not being inmates of a jail, nor out on a journey, many are putting off their baptism even to their last breath.

Now if thou still questionest that Christ is God, stand away from the Church: be not here, even as a hearer of the Divine Word, and as one of the catechumens:25    The catechumens were allowed to be present at the first part of the service (Missa catechumenorum); and were dismissed after the Sermon, before the proper Prayers of the Church, or Missa Fidelium. but if thou art sure of this, and knowest clearly this truth, why delay? Why shrink back and hesitate? For fear, say you, lest I should sin. But dost thou not fear what is worse, to depart for the next world with such a heavy burden? For it is not equally excusable, not to have gotten a grace set before you, and to have failed in attempting to live uprightly. If thou be called to account, Why didst thou not come for it? what wilt thou answer? In the other case thou mayest allege the burden of thy passions, and the difficulty of a virtuous life: but nothing of the kind here. For here is grace, freely conveying liberty. But thou fearest lest thou shouldest sin? Let this be thy language after Baptism: and then entertain this fear, in order to hold fast the liberty thou hast received; not now, to prevent thy receiving such a gift. Whereas now thou art wary before baptism, and negligent after it. But thou art waiting for Lent: and why? Has that season any advantage? Nay, it was not at the Passover that the Apostles received26    Κατηξιώθησαν τῆς χάριτος, as above, p. 8, note 1, τί οὖν ἄν καταξιωθείς; the grace, but at another season; and then three thousand (Luke says,) and five thousand were baptized: (ch. ii. 41; iv. 4, and ch. x.) and again Cornelius. Let us then not wait for a set time, lest by hesitating and putting off we depart empty, and destitute of so great gifts. What do you suppose is my anguish when I hear that any person has been taken away unbaptized, while I reflect upon the intolerable punishments of that life, the inexorable doom! Again, how I am grieved to behold others drawing near to their last gasp, and not brought to their right mind even then. Hence too it is that scenes take place quite unworthy of this gift. For whereas there ought to be joy, and dancing, and exultation, and wearing of garlands, when another is christened; the wife of the sick man has no sooner heard that the physician has ordered this, than she is overcome with grief, as if it were some dire calamity; she sets up the greatest lamentation, and nothing is heard all over the house but crying and wailing, just as it is when condemned criminals are led away to their doom. The sick man again is then more sorely grieved; and if he recovers from his illness, is as vexed as if some great harm had been done to him. For since he had not been prepared for a virtuous life, he has no heart for the conflicts which are to follow, and shrinks at the thought of them. Do you see what devices the devil contrives, what shame, what ridicule? Let us rid ourselves of this disgrace; let us live as Christ has enjoined. He gave us Baptism, not that we should receive and depart, but that we should show the fruits of it in our after life. How can one say to him who is departing and broken down, Bear fruit? Hast thou not heard that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace?” (Gal. v. 22.) How comes it then that the very contrary takes place here? For the wife stands there mourning, when she ought to rejoice; the children weeping, when they ought to be glad together; the sick man himself lies there in darkness, and surrounded by noise and tumult, when he ought to be keeping high festival; full of exceeding despondency at the thought of leaving his children orphans, his wife a widow, his house desolate. Is this a state in which to draw near unto mysteries? answer me; is this a state in which to approach the sacred table?27    The Holy Communion, administered immediately after baptism. Are such scenes to be tolerated? Should the Emperor send letters and release the prisoners in the jails, there is joy and gladness: God sends down the Holy Ghost from Heaven to remit not arrears of money, but a whole mass of sins, and do ye all bewail and lament? Why, how grossly unsuitable is this! Not to mention that sometimes it is upon the dead that the water has been poured, and holy mysteries flung upon the ground. However, not we are to blame for this, but men who are so perverse. I exhort you then to leave all, and turn and draw near to Baptism with all alacrity, that having given proof of great earnestness at this present time, we may obtain confidence for that which is to come; whereunto that we may attain, may it be granted unto us all by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

ΤΟΥ ΕΝ ΑΓΙΟΙΣ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΥΣΟΣΤΟΜΟΥ ΤΑ ΕΥΡΙΣΚΟΜΕΝΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ. ΥΠΟΜΝΗΜΑ ΕΙΣ ΤΑΣ ΠΡΑΞΕΙΣ ΤΩΝ ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΩΝ. ΟΜΙΛΙΑ Αʹ. Τὸν μὲν πρῶτον λόγον ἐποιησάμην περὶ πάντων, ὦ Θεόφιλε, ὧν ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς ποιεῖν τε καὶ διδάσκειν, ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας ἐντειλάμενος τοῖς ἀποστόλοις διὰ Πνεύματος ἁγίου, οὓς ἐξελέξα το, ἀνελήφθη. αʹ. Πολλοῖς τουτὶ τὸ βιβλίον οὐδ' ὅτι ἔνι γνώριμόν ἐστιν, οὔτε αὐτὸ, οὔτε ὁ γράψας αὐτὸ καὶ συνθείς. Διὸ καὶ μάλιστα εἰς ταύτην ἐμαυτὸν ἔκρινα θεῖναι τὴν πραγματείαν, ὥστε καὶ τοὺς ἀγνοοῦντας διδάξαι, καὶ μὴ ἀφεῖναι τοσοῦτον λανθάνειν καὶ ἀποκρύπτεσθαι θησαυρόν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἔλαττον αὐτῶν τῶν Εὐαγγελίων ὠφελῆσαι ἡμᾶς δυνήσεται: τοσαύτης ἐμπέπλησται φιλοσοφίας καὶ δογμάτων ὀρθότητος, καὶ θαυμάτων ἐπιδείξεως, καὶ μάλιστα τῶν παρὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος εἰργασμένων. Μὴ δὴ λοιπὸν παρατρέχωμεν αὐτὸ, ἀλλὰ μετὰ ἀκριβείας ἐξετάζωμεν. Καὶ γὰρ τὰς προῤῥήσεις, ἃς ἐν τοῖς Εὐαγγελίοις ὁ Χριστὸς προαναφωνεῖ, ταύτας εἰς ἔργον ἐξελθούσας ἐνταῦθα ἔστιν ἰδεῖν, καὶ ἀπ' αὐτῶν τῶν πραγμάτων διαλάμπουσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν, καὶ πολλὴν τῶν μαθητῶν τὴν ἐπὶ τὸ βέλτιον μεταβολὴν τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ Πνεύματος αὐτοῖς ἐγγενομένην. Καὶ γὰρ ἅπερ ἤκουσαν τοῦ Χριστοῦ λέγοντος, ὅτι πᾶς Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ, τὰ σημεῖα, ἃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ, κἀκεῖνος ποιήσει, καὶ μείζονα τούτων ποιήσει: καὶ προλέγοντος τοῖς μαθηταῖς, ὅτι ἐπὶ ἡγεμόνας καὶ βασιλεῖς ἀχθήσονται, καὶ ὅτι ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν μαστιγώσουσιν αὐτοὺς, καὶ τὰ ἀνήκεστα πείσονται, καὶ ὅτι περιέσονται πάντων, καὶ ὅτι τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον κηρυχθήσεται ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ, ταῦτα πάντα μετὰ ἀκριβείας ἁπάσης ἐκβεβηκότα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ ἔστιν ἰδεῖν, καὶ πλείονα τούτων ἕτερα, ἅπερ εἴρηκεν αὐτοῖς συνών. Ὄψει δὲ καὶ αὐτοὺς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐνταῦθα καθάπερ πτηνοὺς διατρέχοντας γῆν καὶ θάλατταν, καὶ τοὺς δειλοὺς ἐκείνους καὶ ἀσυνέτους ἀθρόον ἄλλους ἀντ' ἄλλων γενομένους, καὶ χρημάτων ὑπεροπτὰς, καὶ δόξης, καὶ θυμοῦ, καὶ ἐπιθυμίας, πάντων ἁπλῶς ἀνωτέρους γεγονότας, καὶ πολλὴν τὴν ὁμόνοιαν ἔχοντας, καὶ οὐδαμοῦ οὐδεμίαν βασκανίαν ὡς ἔμπροσθεν, οὐδὲ τὸν περὶ πρωτείων ἔρωτα, ἀλλὰ πᾶσαν ἀπηκριβωμένην ἐν αὐτοῖς τὴν ἀρετὴν, καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην μεθ' ὑπερβολῆς διαλάμπουσαν, ὑπὲρ ἧς καὶ πολλὰ παρήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς λέγων, ὅτι Ἐν τούτῳ γνώσονται πάντες, ὅτι ἐμοὶ μαθηταί ἐστε, ἐὰν ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους. Ἔστι δὲ καὶ δόγματα ἐνταῦθα εὑρεῖν, ἅπερ, εἰ μὴ τοῦτο ἦν τὸ βιβλίον, οὐδενὶ σαφῶς οὕτω γνώριμα ἐγένοντο: ἀλλὰ τὸ κεφάλαιον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν ἀπεκρύπτετο, καὶ ἄδηλον ἦν, καὶ βίου καὶ δογμάτων ἕνεκεν. Τὸ πλέον δὲ τῶν ἐνταῦθα ἐγκειμένων, Παύλου πράξεις εἰσὶ, τοῦ περισσότερον πάντων κοπιάσαντος. Καὶ τὸ αἴτιον, ὅτι αὐτοῦ φοιτητὴς ἦν ὁ τὸ βιβλίον τοῦτο συνθεὶς Λουκᾶς ὁ μακάριος: οὗ τὴν ἀρετὴν πολλαχόθεν μὲν καὶ ἄλλοθεν ἔστιν ἰδεῖν, μάλιστα δὲ ἐκ τοῦ πρὸς τὸν Διδάσκαλον ἀδιασπάστως ἔχειν, καὶ διαπαντὸς αὐτῷ παρακολουθεῖν. Ὅτε γοῦν Δημᾶς καὶ Ἑρμογένης αὐτὸν ἐγκατέλιπον, ὁ μὲν εἰς Γαλατίαν, ὁ δὲ εἰς Δαλματίαν ἀπελθὼν, ἄκουσον τί φησι περὶ τούτου: Λουκᾶς ἐστι μόνος μετ' ἐμοῦ: καὶ Κορινθίοις δὲ ἐπιστέλλων περὶ αὐτοῦ φησιν: Οὗ ὁ ἔπαινος ἐν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ διὰ πασῶν τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν. Καὶ ὅταν λέγῃ, ὅτι Ὤφθη Κηφᾷ, εἶτα τοῖς δώδεκα: καὶ, Κατὰ τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον, ὃ παρελάβετε, τὸ τούτου λέγει: ὥστε οὐκ ἄν τις ἁμάρτοι τὴν πραγματείαν ταύτην αὐτῷ ἀναθείς. Ὅταν δὲ εἴπω, τούτῳ, τῷ Χριστῷ λέγω. Εἰ δέ τις λέγοι: Καὶ τί δήποτε οὐχὶ πάντα συνέγραψε, μέχρι τέλους ὢν μετ' αὐτοῦ; ἐκεῖνο ἂν εἴποιμεν, ὅτι καὶ ταῦτα ἀρκοῦντα ἦν τοῖς βουλομένοις προσέχειν, καὶ ὅτι πρὸς τὰ κατεπείγοντα ἀεὶ ἵσταντο, καὶ ὅτι οὐκ ἐν τῷ λογογραφεῖν ἦν αὐτοῖς ἡ σπουδή: πολλὰ γὰρ καὶ ἀγράφῳ παραδόσει δεδώκασι. Καὶ πάντα μὲν οὖν ἄξια θαύματος τὰ ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ κείμενα, μάλιστα δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων ἡ συγκατάβασις, ἣν καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα αὐτοῖς ὑπέβαλλε, παρασκευάζον αὐτοὺς τῷ τῆς οἰκονομίας ἐνδιατρίβειν λόγῳ. Διὰ δὴ τοῦτο τοσαῦτα περὶ Χριστοῦ διαλεχθέντες, ὀλίγα μὲν περὶ τῆς θεότητος αὐτοῦ εἰρήκασι, τὰ δὲ πλείονα περὶ τῆς ἀνθρωπότητος διελέγοντο, καὶ τοῦ πάθους, καὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως, καὶ τῆς ἀναβάσεως. Τὸ γὰρ ζητούμενον τέως τοῦτο ἦν, τὸ πιστευθῆναι, ὅτι ἀνέστη καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς οὐρανούς. Ὥσπερ οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Χριστὸς μάλιστα πάντων ἐσπούδαζε δεῖξαι, ὅτι παρὰ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἥκει: οὕτω καὶ οὗτος, ὅτι ἀνέστη καὶ ἀνελήφθη, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπῆλθε, καὶ παρ' αὐτοῦ ἀφῖκτο. Εἰ γὰρ μὴ τοῦτο ἐπιστεύθη πρότερον, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τῆς προσθήκης γενομένης τῆς κατὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν καὶ τὴν ἀνάληψιν, ἄπιστον ἅπαν τὸ δόγμα τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ἔδοξεν εἶναι. Διὸ ἠρέμα καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὰ ὑψηλότερα ἀνάγει. Ἐν δὲ Ἀθήναις καὶ ἄνθρωπον αὐτὸν ἁπλῶς καλεῖ ὁ Παῦλος, οὐδὲν πλέον εἰπών: εἰκότως. Εἰ γὰρ αὐτὸν τὸν Χριστὸν διαλεγόμενον περὶ τῆς εἰς τὸν Πατέρα ἰσότητος λιθάσαι πολλάκις ἐπεχείρησαν, καὶ βλάσφημον διὰ τοῦτο ἐκάλουν, σχολῇ γ' ἂν παρὰ τῶν ἁλιέων τοῦτον τὸν λόγον ἐδέξαντο, καὶ ταῦτα τοῦ σταυροῦ προχωρήσαντος. βʹ. Καὶ τί δεῖ λέγειν τοὺς Ἰουδαίους, ὅπου γε καὶ αὐτοὶ τότε πολλάκις οἱ μαθηταὶ τῶν ὑψηλοτέρων ἀκούοντες δογμάτων, ἐθορυβοῦντο καὶ ἐσκανδαλίζοντο; Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἔλεγε: Πολλὰ ἔχω λέγειν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ' οὐ δύνασθε βαστάζειν ἄρτι. Εἰ δὲ ἐκεῖνοι οὐκ ἐδύναντο, οἱ συγγενόμενοι χρόνον τοσοῦτον αὐτῷ, καὶ τοσούτων κοινωνήσαντες ἀποῤῥήτων, καὶ τοσαῦτα θεασάμενοι θαύματα, πῶς ἄνθρωποι ἀπὸ βωμῶν καὶ εἰδώλων καὶ θυσιῶν, καὶ αἰλούρων, καὶ κροκοδείλων (τοιαῦτα γὰρ ἦν τῶν Ἑλλήνων τὰ σεβάσματα), καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῶν κακῶν τότε πρῶτον ἀποσπασθέντες, ἀθρόον τοὺς ὑψηλοὺς τῶν δογμάτων ἐδέξαντο λόγους; πῶς δὲ ἂν καὶ Ἰουδαῖοι, οἱ καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν μανθάνοντες, καὶ ἐνηχούμενοι ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου: Ἄκουε Ἰσραὴλ, Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, Κύριος εἷς ἐστιν, καὶ πλὴν αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλος: ἐπὶ ξύλου σταυροῦ ἰδόντες προσηλωμένον αὐτόν: μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ σταυρώσαντες καὶ θάψαντες, καὶ οὐδὲ ἀναστάντα θεασάμενοι: ἀκούοντες, ὅτι Θεός ἐστιν αὐτὸς οὗτος, καὶ τῷ Πατρὶ ἴσος, οὐκ ἂν μάλιστα πάντων ἀπεπήδησάν τε καὶ ἀπεῤῥάγησαν; Διά τοι τοῦτο ἠρέμα καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν αὐτοὺς προσβιβάζουσι, καὶ πολλῇ μὲν κέχρηνται τῇ τῆς συγκαταβάσεως οἰκονομίᾳ, δαψιλεστέρας δὲ ἀπολαύουσι τῆς τοῦ Πνεύματος χάριτος, καὶ μείζονα ὧν αὐτὸς πεποίηκεν ἐργάζονται τῷ αὐτοῦ ὀνόματι, ἵνα ἑκατέρωθεν αὐτοὺς χαμαὶ κειμένους ἀναστήσωσι, καὶ τὸν περὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως πιστώσωνται λόγον. Καὶ γὰρ τοῦτο μάλιστά ἐστι τουτὶ τὸ βιβλίον, ἀπόδειξις ἀναστάσεως. Τούτου δὲ πιστευθέντος, ὁδῷ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα προὔβαινεν. Ἡ μὲν οὖν ὑπόθεσις καὶ ὁ τοῦ βιβλίου σκοπὸς ἅπας, ὡς ἄν τις παχυμερῶς συλλαβὼν εἴποι, οὗτος μάλιστά ἐστιν. Ἀκούσωμεν δὲ λοιπὸν αὐτῶν τῶν προοιμίων. Τὸν μὲν πρῶτον λόγον ἐποιησάμην περὶ πάντων, ὦ Θεόφιλε, ὧν ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς ποιεῖν τε καὶ διδάσκειν. Τίνος ἕνεκεν αὐτὸν ἀναμιμνήσκει τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου; Ὥστε τὴν οἰκείαν ἀκρίβειαν ἐνδείξασθαι. Καὶ γὰρ ἀρχόμενος τῆς πραγματείας ἐκείνης φησίν: Ἔδοξε κἀμοὶ παρηκολουθηκότι ἄνωθεν πᾶσιν ἀκριβῶς, καθεξῆς σοι γράψαι. Καὶ οὔτε τῇ οἰκείᾳ ἀρκεῖται μαρτυρίᾳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀνάγει ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους τὸ πᾶν, λέγων: Καθὼς παρέδοσαν ἡμῖν οἱ ἀπαρχῆς αὐτόπται καὶ ὑπηρέται γενόμενοι τοῦ λόγου. Διὸ τὸν λόγον ἀξιόπιστον ἐκεῖ ποιήσας, οὐδὲ δεῖται ἐνταῦθα ἑτέρας βεβαιώσεως, ἅπαξ αὐτοῦ πιστευθέντος, καὶ δι' ἐκείνου τὸ ἀκριβὲς αὐτὸν τῆς ἀληθείας κατηχήσας. Ὁ γὰρ ἅπερ ἤκουσεν ἀξιόπιστος γενόμενος γράψαι, καὶ πιστευθεὶς, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὁ ταῦτα συνθεὶς ἃ μὴ παρ' ἑτέρων παρείληφεν, ἀλλ' ἃ εἶδε καὶ ἤκουσε, πιστευθῆναι δίκαιος ἂν ἦν. Εἰ γὰρ τὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐδέξω, φησὶ, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων. Τί οὖν; ἱστορία μόνον τὸ πρᾶγμά ἐστι, καὶ Πνεύματος ἄμοιρος ὁ λόγος; Οὐδαμῶς. Πῶς; Ὅτι ἅπερ οἱ ἀπαρχῆς αὐτόπται καὶ ὑπηρέται γενόμενοι τοῦ λόγου αὐτῷ παρέδοσαν, τοῦ Πνεύματος ἦσαν. Καὶ διατί μὴ εἶπεν, ὅτι Καθὼς παρέδοσαν ἡμῖν οἱ Πνεύματος ἁγίου καταξιωθέντες, ἀλλ', Οἱ ἀπ' ἀρχῆς αὐτόπται γενόμενοι; Ὅτι τοῦτο μάλιστα εἰς πίστιν ἐστὶν ἀξιόπιστον, τὸ παρὰ αὐτοπτῶν μαθεῖν: ἐκεῖνο δὲ καὶ ἀλαζονεία, καὶ τῦφος ἂν ἔδοξε τοῖς ἀνοήτοις. Διὸ καὶ Ἰωάννης οὕτως ἔλεγεν: Ἐγὼ ἑώρακα καὶ μεμαρτύρηκα, ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ. Καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς δὲ οὕτω διαλέγεται τῷ Νικοδήμῳ παχυτέρῳ ὄντι: Ὃ οἴδαμεν λαλοῦμεν, καὶ ὃ ἑωράκαμεν μαρτυροῦμεν, καὶ τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἡμῶν οὐδεὶς λαμβάνει. Καὶ πάλιν δεικνὺς, ὅτι πολλὰ καὶ ἀπὸ ὄψεως μαρτυρεῖν ἔστι, τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἔλεγε: Καὶ ὑμεῖς μαρτυρεῖτε περὶ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἀπ' ἀρχῆς μετ' ἐμοῦ ἐστε. Καὶ αὐτοὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι πολλαχοῦ οὕτω φασί: Μάρτυρες ἡμεῖς καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, ὃ ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς πειθαρχοῦσιν αὐτῷ. Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ πιστούμενος τὴν ἀνάστασιν ὁ Πέτρος ἔλεγεν: Οἵτινες συνεφάγομεν καὶ συνεπίομεν αὐτῷ. Τάχιον γὰρ τὴν παρὰ τῶν συγγενομένων ἀνθρώπων μαρτυρίαν ἐδέχοντο, διὰ τὸ τῆς περὶ τοῦ Πνεύματος ἐννοίας σφόδρα τέως ἀποδεῖν. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ Ἰωάννης ἐν τῇ τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου συγγραφῇ ἔλεγεν, ὅτι αὐτὸς εἶδε, περὶ τοῦ αἵματος καὶ τοῦ ὕδατος διαλεγόμενος, τὴν ὄψιν αὐτοῖς ἀντὶ μαρτυρίας τιθεὶς μεγίστης: καίτοι ὄψεως ἀκριβέστερα τὰ παρὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος, ἀλλ' οὐ παρὰ τοῖς ἀπίστοις. Ἐπεὶ ὅτι Πνεύματος μετεῖχεν ὁ ἀνὴρ, πολλαχόθεν δῆλον, ἀπό τε τῶν σημείων τῶν νῦν γινομένων, ἀπό τε τοῦ καὶ τοὺς τυχόντας τότε μεταλαμβάνειν Πνεύματος, ἀπό τε τῆς Παύλου μαρτυρίας (Οὗ γὰρ, φησὶν, ὁ ἔπαινος ἐν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ), ἀπό τε τῆς κατὰ τὴν χειροτονίαν ψήφου. Εἰπὼν γὰρ τοῦτο, ἐπάγει: Ἀλλὰ καὶ χειροτονηθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν, συνέκδημος ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ χάριτι ταύτῃ τῇ διακονουμένῃ ὑφ' ἡμῶν. γʹ. Καὶ ὅρα αὐτοῦ τὸ ἄτυφον. Οὐ γὰρ λέγει, Τὸ μὲν πρῶτον Εὐαγγέλιον, ὃ εὐηγγελισάμην: ἀλλὰ, Τὸν μὲν πρῶτον λόγον ἐποιησάμην, μείζονα ἑαυτοῦ εἶναι νομίζων τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου τὴν προσηγορίαν. Καίτοιγε ὁ Ἀπόστολος ἐντεῦθεν αὐτὸν κοσμεῖ λέγων: Οὗ ὁ ἔπαινος ἐν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ. Ἀλλ' αὐτὸς μετριάζει καί φησι: Τὸν μὲν πρῶτον λόγον ἐποιησάμην περὶ πάντων, ὦ Θεόφιλε, ὧν ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς ποιεῖν τε καὶ διδάσκειν: οὐχ ἁπλῶς, περὶ πάντων, ἀλλ' ἀπ' ἀρχῆς μέχρι τέλους. Ἄχρι γὰρ τῆς ἡμέρας, φησὶν, ἧς ἀνελήφθη. Καὶ μὴν Ἰωάννης δείκνυσιν, ὅτι οὐκ ἦν δυνατὸν πάντα γράψαι. Θέλων γὰρ τοῦτο δηλῶσαι, εἰπὼν, Ἅτινα ἐὰν γράφηται καθ' ἓν, οὐδὲ αὐτὸν τὸν κόσμον οἶμαι χωρῆσαι, προστίθησι, Τὰ γραφόμενα βιβλία. Πῶς οὖν, φησὶ, περὶ πάντων οὗτος λέγει; Ἀλλ' οὐκ εἶπε, Πάντα, ἀλλὰ, Περὶ πάντων: ὡς ἂν εἴποι τις, ἁδρομερῶς καὶ παχυμερῶς: ἢ περὶ πάντων λέγει, τῶν συνεχόντων καὶ κατεπειγόντων. Εἶτα δείκνυσι καὶ ποίων πάντων. Ὧν ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς ποιεῖν τε καὶ διδάσκειν, τὰ θαύματα καὶ τὰς διδασκαλίας αἰνιττόμενος. Οὐ τοῦτο δὲ μόνον, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ ποιῶν ἐδίδασκεν. Ὅρα δὲ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν φιλάνθρωπον καὶ ἀποστολικὴν γνώμην, εἰ καὶ ἑνὸς ἕνεκεν τοσαύτην ἐποιεῖτο ἀκρίβειαν, ὡς ὁλόκληρον Εὐαγγέλιον γράψαι. Ἵνα γὰρ ἔχῃς, φησὶ, περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν. Καὶ γὰρ ἤκουσε τοῦ Χριστοῦ λέγοντος: Οὐκ ἔστι θέλημα τοῦ Πατρός μου, ἵνα ἀπόληται εἷς τῶν μικρῶν τούτων. Καὶ τίνος ἕνεκεν οὐχ ἓν βιβλίον ἐποίησεν, ἑνὶ τῷ Θεοφίλῳ ἐπιστέλλων, ἀλλ' εἰς δύο διεῖλεν ὑποθέσεις; Σαφηνείας ἕνεκεν, καὶ τοῦ διαναπαῦσαι τὸν ἀκροατήν: ἄλλως δὲ, καὶ τῇ ὑποθέσει διῃρημέναι εἰσὶν αἱ πραγματεῖαι. Σκόπει δὲ ὅπως ἑαυτοῦ τοὺς λόγους ὁ Χριστὸς διὰ τῶν ἔργων ἀξιοπίστους ἐποίει. Περὶ πραότητος παρῄνει, καὶ ἔλεγε: Μάθετε ἀπ' ἐμοῦ, ὅτι πρᾶός εἰμι καὶ ταπεινὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ. Ἐδίδασκεν ἀκτήμονας εἶναι, καὶ τοῦτο ἐδείκνυτο διὰ τῶν ἔργων: Ὁ γὰρ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἔχει, ποῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν κλίνῃ, φησί. Πάλιν ἐκέλευσε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἀγαπᾷν. Ἐδίδαξε τοῦτο ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ εὐχόμενος ὑπὲρ τῶν σταυρούντων. Ἔλεγε, Τῷ θέλοντί σοι κριθῆναι, καὶ τὸν χιτῶνά σου λαβεῖν, ἄφες αὐτῷ καὶ τὸ ἱμάτιον. Ὁ δὲ οὐχὶ τὰ ἱμάτια μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ αἷμα ἔδωκεν. Οὕτω καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἐκέλευσε ποιεῖν. Διὸ καὶ ὁ Παῦλος ἔλεγε: Καθὼς ἔχετε τύπον ἡμᾶς. Οὐδὲν γὰρ διδασκάλου ψυχρότερον, ἐν λόγοις φιλοσοφοῦντος μόνον. Τοῦτο γὰρ οὐ διδασκάλου, ἀλλ' ὑποκριτοῦ. Διὰ τοῦτο οἱ ἀπόστολοι πρότερον ἀπὸ τοῦ βίου ἐδίδασκον, καὶ τότε ἀπὸ τῶν ῥημάτων: μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ ἔδει ῥημάτων αὐτοῖς, τῶν ἔργων βοώντων. Οὐκ ἂν δέ τις ἁμάρτοι καὶ τὸ πάθος αὐτοῦ πρᾶξιν καλέσας: ἐν τῷ γὰρ παθεῖν ἐποίησε τὸ μέγα καὶ θαυμαστὸν ἔργον ἐκεῖνο, τὸν θάνατον καταλύσας, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα ἐργασάμενος. Ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας ἐντειλάμενος τοῖς ἀποστόλοις διὰ Πνεύματος ἁγίου, οὓς ἐξελέξατο, ἀνελήφθη. Διὰ Πνεύματος ἐντειλάμενος, τουτέστι, Πνευματικὰ πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἰπὼν ῥήματα, οὐδὲν ἀνθρώπινον. Ἢ τοῦτο οὖν ἔστιν εἰπεῖν, ἢ ὅτι διὰ Πνεύματος αὐτοῖς ἐνετείλατο. Ὁρᾷς, πῶς ταπεινῶς ἔτι διαλέγεται περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὡς καὶ αὐτὸς περὶ ἑαυτοῦ, λέγων: Εἰ δὲ ἐγὼ ἐν Πνεύματι Θεοῦ ἐκβάλλω τὰ δαιμόνια, Καὶ γὰρ καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἐνήργει ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ ναῷ. Τί δαὶ ἐνετείλατο; Πορευθέντες μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα, ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν. Μέγα τῶν ἀποστόλων τὸ ἐγκώμιον, ὅταν τοιαῦτα ὦσιν ἐγκεχειρισμένοι: τῆς οἰκουμένης λέγω τὴν σωτηρίαν: ὅταν ῥήματα τοῦ Πνεύματος γέμοντα: ὃ δή που καὶ αἰνιττόμενος εἶπεν τὸ, Διὰ Πνεύματος ἁγίου: τουτέστι, Καὶ τὰ ῥήματα, ἃ ἐλάλησα ὑμῖν, Πνεῦμά ἐστι. Τοῦτο δέ φησι, τὸν ἀκροατὴν εἰς ἐπιθυμίαν λοιπὸν ἄγων τοῦ μαθεῖν τὰς ἐντολὰς, καὶ ἀξιοπίστους τοὺς ἀποστόλους ποιῶν, εἴ γε τὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος μέλλουσι λέγειν, καὶ τὰς τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐντολάς. Ἐντειλάμενος οὖν, φησὶν, ἀνελήφθη. Οὐκ εἶπεν, Ἀνέβη, ἐπειδὴ ἔτι ὡς περὶ ἀνθρώπου διαλέγεται. Ἄρα καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν ἐδίδασκε τοὺς μαθητάς: ἀλλὰ τὸν χρόνον τοῦτον οὐδεὶς εἶπεν ἡμῖν μετὰ ἀκριβείας ἅπαντα. Ἀλλ' ἐγχρονίζει μὲν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰωάννης τῶν ἄλλων μᾶλλον, καὶ οὗτος: πάντα δὲ σαφῶς οὐδεὶς ἀπήγγειλε (πρὸς γὰρ ἕτερον ἠπείγοντο): ἐμάθομεν δὲ ταῦτα διὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων: ἃ γὰρ ἤκουσαν καὶ εἶπον: Οἷς καὶ παρέστησεν ἑαυτὸν ζῶντα. Εἰπὼν περὶ τῆς ἀναλήψεως πρότερον, λέγει καὶ περὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ εἶπεν, ὅτι Ἀνελήφθη, ἵνα μὴ νομίσῃς ὑφ' ἑτέρων αὐτὸν ἀνειλῆφθαι, ἐπήγαγεν: Οἷς καὶ παρέστησεν ἑαυτὸν ζῶντα. Εἰ γὰρ ἐν τῷ μείζονι ἑαυτὸν παρέστησε, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐν τῷ ἐλάττονι. δʹ. Εἶδες, πῶς λανθανόντως παρασπείρει τὰ μεγάλα ταυτὶ δόγματα; Δι' ἡμερῶν τεσσαράκοντα ὀπτανόμενος αὐτοῖς. Οὐ γὰρ ὥσπερ πρὸ τῆς ἀναστάσεως ἀεὶ μετ' αὐτῶν ἦν, οὕτω καὶ τότε. Ὅρα γάρ. Οὐκ εἶπε, Τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας, ἀλλὰ, Δι' ἡμερῶν τεσσαράκοντα. Ἐφίστατε γὰρ, καὶ ἀφίπτατο πάλιν. Τί δήποτε; Ἀνάγων αὐτῶν τὰς διανοίας, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι συγχωρῶν ὁμοίως πρὸς αὐτὸν διακεῖσθαι ὥσπερ καὶ ἔμπροσθεν. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς δὲ τοῦτο ἐποίει, ἀλλ' ἑκάτερα μετὰ ἀκριβείας κατασκευάζων, καὶ τὸ πιστευθῆναι τὴν ἀνάστασιν, καὶ τὸ μείζονα αὐτὸν νομισθῆναι λοιπὸν ἢ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον. Καίτοιγε ταῦτα ἐναντία ἦν. Ὑπὲρ μὲν γὰρ τοῦ πιστευθῆναι τὴν ἀνάστασιν πολλὰ ἀνθρώπινα ἔδει γενέσθαι: ὑπὲρ δὲ θατέρου, τοὐναντίον. Ἀλλ' ὅμως ἀμφότερα γέγονε μετὰ τοῦ προσήκοντος καιροῦ. Τίνος δὲ ἕνεκεν οὐχὶ πᾶσιν, ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἀποστόλοις ἐφάνη; Ὅτι φάντασμα ἂν ἔδοξεν εἶναι τοῖς πολλοῖς, οὐκ εἰδόσι τὸ ἀπόῤῥητον τοῦ μυστηρίου. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ αὐτοὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ ἠπίστουν τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ ἐθορυβοῦντο, καὶ ἁφῆς ἐδεήθησαν τῆς διὰ χειρὸς, καὶ τραπέζης, τί τοὺς πολλοὺς εἰκὸς παθεῖν ἦν; Διά τοι τοῦτο ἐκ τῶν σημείων ἀναμφίβολον ποιεῖ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τὴν ἀπόδειξιν, ὥστε μὴ τοῖς τότε μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς μετὰ ταῦτα φανερὰν γενέσθαι τὴν ἀνάστασιν. Ὅπερ γὰρ ἐκείνοις ἐκ τῆς ὄψεως τῶν σημείων, τοῦτο ἐκ τῆς πίστεως πᾶσιν ὕστερον ἔμελλεν ἔσεσθαι. Διά τοι τοῦτο καὶ τοὺς ἀπίστους ἐντεῦθεν συλλογιζόμεθα. Εἰ γὰρ οὐκ ἀνέστη, ἀλλὰ μένει νεκρὸς, πῶς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ οἱ ἀπόστολοι σημεῖα ἐποίησαν; Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐποίησαν σημεῖα; Πῶς οὖν συνέστη τὸ ἔθνος τὸ ἡμέτερον; Οὐ γὰρ δὴ καὶ πρὸς τοῦτο ἀντιστήσονται, οὐδὲ τοῖς ὁρωμένοις μαχήσονται. Ὥστε ὅταν λέγωσι μὴ γενέσθαι σημεῖα, μειζόνως ἑαυτοὺς καταισχύνουσι. Τοῦτο γὰρ μέγιστον σημεῖον, τὸ χωρὶς σημείων τὴν οἰκουμένην προσδραμεῖν ἅπασαν, ὑπὸ δώδεκα πτωχῶν καὶ ἀγραμμάτων ἀνθρώπων ἁλιευθεῖσαν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ πλούτῳ χρημάτων, οὐ σοφίᾳ λόγων, οὐκ ἄλλῳ τινὶ τοιούτῳ περιεγένοντο οἱ ἁλιεῖς: ὥστε καὶ ἄκοντες ὁμολογήσουσι θείαν εἶναι ἐν αὐτοῖς δύναμιν, ἀμήχανον γὰρ ἀνθρωπίνην ἰσχὺν δυνηθῆναι τοσαῦτά ποτε. Διά τοι τοῦτο καὶ αὐτὸς τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας ἔμεινε μετὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν, ἔλεγχον διδοὺς ἐν τῷ μακρῷ χρόνῳ τῆς ὄψεως τῆς οἰκείας, ἵνα μὴ φάντασμα εἶναι νομίσωσι τὸ ὁρώμενον. Καὶ οὐδὲ τούτῳ ἠρκέσθη, ἀλλὰ καὶ τράπεζαν προσετίθει. Ὅπερ οὖν καὶ προϊὼν λέγει: Καὶ συναλιζόμενος αὐτοῖς. Τοῦτο δὲ ἀεὶ καὶ αὐτοὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι τεκμήριον ἐποιοῦντο τῆς ἀναστάσεως λέγοντες: Οἵτινες συνεφάγομεν καὶ συνεπίομεν αὐτῷ. Τί δὲ καὶ φαινόμενος ἐποίει, δι' ὧν ἐπήγαγε δείκνυσι λέγων: Ὀπτανόμενος αὐτοῖς, καὶ λέγων τὰ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ πεπονηκότες ἦσαν, καὶ τεταραγμένοι τοῖς ἤδη γεγενημένοις, καὶ πρὸς μεγάλους ἔμελλον λοιπὸν ἐξιέναι ἀγῶνας, τοῖς περὶ τῶν μελλόντων αὐτοὺς ἀνακτώμενος λόγοις, Παρήγγειλεν ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων μὴ χωρίζεσθαι, ἀλλὰ περιμένειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ Πατρός. Πρῶτον αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ἐξήγαγε, δεδοικότας ἔτι καὶ τρέμοντας, ἵνα μετὰ ἀδείας ἀκούσωσι τῶν λεγομένων. Εἶτα, ἐπειδὴ ἤκουσαν, καὶ τεσσαράκοντα συνδιέτριψαν ἡμέρας, Παρήγγειλε μὴ ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων χωρίζεσθαι. Τί δήποτε; Καθάπερ τινὰς στρατιώτας μέλλοντας εἰς πλῆθος ἐμπίπτειν, οὐδεὶς ἀφίησιν ἐξελθεῖν, ἕως ἂν ὁπλίσωνται: οὐδὲ ἵππους προπηδᾷν τῆς βαλβῖδος, ἕως ἂν τὸν ἡνίοχον λάβωσιν: οὕτω δὴ καὶ αὐτοὺς πρὸ τῆς τοῦ Πνεύματος καθόδου φανῆναι ἐπὶ τῆς παρατάξεως οὐκ ἠφίει, ὥστε μὴ γενέσθαι εὐχειρώτους καὶ ἁλωσίμους τοῖς πολλοῖς. Οὐ διὰ τοῦτο δὲ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπειδὴ πολλοὶ ἦσαν οἱ μέλλοντες πιστεύειν αὐτόθι. Καὶ πρὸς τούτοις πάλιν, ἵνα μὴ λέγωσί τινες, ὅτι τοὺς γνωρίμους ἀφέντες παρὰ τοῖς ξένοις ἦλθον κομπάσαι, τούτου χάριν παρ' αὐτοῖς τοῖς πεφονευκόσι παρέχουσι τὰ τεκμήρια τῆς ἀναστάσεως, παρ' αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἐσταυρωκόσι, τοῖς θάψασιν, ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ πόλει ἐν ᾗ τὸ πρᾶγμα τὸ παράνομον ἐτολμήθη, ὥστε καὶ τοὺς ἔξωθεν ἐπιστομισθῆναι ἅπαντας. Ὅταν γὰρ οἱ ἐσταυρωκότες αὐτοὶ φαίνωνται καὶ πεπιστευκότες, εὔδηλον, ὅτι καὶ ὁ σταυρὸς καὶ τοῦ τολμήματος ἐδείκνυτο ἡ παρανομία, καὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως πολλὴ ἡ ἀπόδειξις. Εἶτα ἵνα μὴ λέγωσι, Πῶς οὖν δυνησόμεθα μεταξὺ ἀνθρώπων μιαρῶν καὶ φονούντων, καὶ τοσούτων ὄντων, ὀλίγοι καὶ εὐτελεῖς ὄντες μένειν, ὅρα, πῶς λύει τὴν ἀγωνίαν, εἰπών: Ἀλλὰ περιμένειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ Πατρὸς, ἣν ἠκούσατέ μου. Καὶ πότε ἤκουσαν, φησίν; Ὅτε ἔλεγε: Συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα ἐγὼ ἀπέλθω. Ἐὰν γὰρ ἐγὼ μὴ ἀπέλθω, ὁ Παράκλητος οὐκ ἐλεύσεται πρὸς ὑμᾶς: καὶ πάλιν, Ἐρωτήσω τὸν Πατέρα, καὶ ἄλλον Παράκλητον πέμψει ὑμῖν, ἵνα μένῃ μεθ' ὑμῶν. εʹ. Καὶ τίνος ἕνεκεν οὐχὶ παρόντος αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ ἀπελθόντος εὐθέως παρεγένετο, ἀλλ' αὐτὸς μὲν τῇ τεσσαρακοστῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἀνῆλθε, τὸ δὲ Πνεῦμα παρεγένετο ἐν τῷ συμπληροῦσθαι τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς πεντηκοστῆς; Καὶ πῶς, εἰ μηδέπω παρεγεγόνει, ἔλεγε, Λάβετε Πνεῦμα ἅγιον; Ἵνα δεκτικοὺς αὐτοὺς ποιήσῃ, καὶ ἀρκοῦντας πρὸς τὴν ὑποδοχήν. Εἰ γὰρ ἄγγελον μέλλων ὁρᾷν ὁ Δανιὴλ παρίετο, πολλῷ μᾶλλον οὗτοι μέλλοντες τοσαύτην δέχεσθαι χάριν. Ἢ τοῦτο οὖν ἔστιν εἰπεῖν, ἢ ὅτι τὸ μέλλον ἔσεσθαι ὡς ἤδη γεγενημένον εἴρηκεν, ὥσπερ ὅταν λέγῃ, Πατεῖτε ἐπάνω ὄφεων καὶ σκορπίων, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ. Τίνος δὲ ἕνεκεν οὐκ εὐθὺς τότε παρεγεγόνει; Ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ αὐτοὺς ἔδει γενέσθαι τοῦ πράγματος, καὶ οὕτω δέξασθαι τὴν χάριν. Διὰ τοῦτο ὅτε αὐτὸς ἀπέπτη, τότε ἐκεῖνο ἦλθεν. Εἰ δὲ ἦλθε, παρόντος αὐτοῦ, οὐκ ἂν ἐν τοσαύτῃ ἐγένοντο προσδοκίᾳ. Διὰ τοῦτο οὐδὲ εὐθέως ἀνελθόντος αὐτοῦ παραγίνεται, ἀλλὰ μετὰ ὀκτὼ ἢ ἐννέα ἡμέρας. Οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν τότε μάλιστα διεγειρόμεθα, ὅταν ἐν χρείᾳ καταστῶμεν. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ Ἰωάννης τότε μάλιστα πέμπει τοὺς μαθητὰς πρὸς τὸν Χριστὸν, ὅτε ἔμελλον ἐν χρείᾳ εἶναι τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, τὸ δεσμωτήριον οἰκοῦντος ἐκείνου. Ἄλλως δὲ, ἔδει ἐν οὐρανῷ φανῆναι τὴν ἡμετέραν φύσιν, καὶ τὰς καταλλαγὰς γενέσθαι ἀπηρτισμένας, καὶ τότε ἐλθεῖν τὸ Πνεῦμα, καὶ καθαρὰν γενέσθαι τὴν ἡδονήν. Εἰ γὰρ παρόντος αὐτοῦ, ὁ μὲν ἀπῆλθεν, ὁ δὲ ἔμεινεν, οὐκ ἂν ἦν τοσαῦτα τὰ τῆς παραμυθίας: καὶ γὰρ σφόδρα αὐτοῦ δυσαποσπάστως εἶχον. Διὸ καὶ ἔλεγε παραμυθούμενος αὐτούς: Συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα ἐγὼ ἀπέλθω. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμέρας ἀναμένει τὰς μεταξὺ, ἵνα μικρὸν ἀθυμήσαντες, καὶ ἐν χρείᾳ, ὅπερ ἔφην, καταστάντες, ὁλόκληρον καὶ καθαρὰν καρπώσωνται τὴν ἡδονήν. Εἰ δὲ ἔλαττον ἦν τὸ Πνεῦμα, οὐκ ἦν ἀρκοῦσα ἡ παραμυθία. Πῶς δὲ καὶ ἔλεγε, Συμφέρει ὑμῖν; Διὰ τοῦτο τὰ μείζονα αὐτῷ τετήρηται τῆς διδασκαλίας, ἵνα μὴ ἔλαττον αὐτὸ νομίσωσι. Σκόπει δὲ ἡλίκην αὐτοῖς ἀνάγκην ἐπέθηκεν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις εἶναι, τῷ ὑποσχέσθαι ἐκεῖ τὸ Πνεῦμα παρέχεσθαι. Ἵνα γὰρ μὴ πάλιν μετὰ τὴν ἀνάληψιν αὐτοῦ φύγωσι, τῇ προσδοκίᾳ ταύτῃ καθάπερ τινὶ δεσμῷ κατέχει πάντας αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖσε. Εἰπὼν δὲ, Περιμένειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ Πατρὸς, ἣν ἠκούσατέ μου, ἐπήγαγεν: Ὅτι Ἰωάννης μὲν ἐβάπτισεν ὕδατι, ὑμεῖς δὲ βαπτισθήσεσθε ἐν Πνεύματι ἁγίῳ οὐ μετὰ πολλὰς ταύτας ἡμέρας. Δείκνυσι λοιπὸν τὸ μέσον αὐτοῦ καὶ Ἰωάννου, οὐκ ἔτι ὡς πρὸ τούτου συνεσκιασμένως (καὶ γὰρ σφόδρα συνεσκίασε τὸν λόγον ὅτε ἔλεγεν: Ὁ δὲ μικρότερος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν μείζων αὐτοῦ ἐστιν), ἀλλὰ νῦν φανερώτερον. Ἰωάννης, φησὶν, ἐβάπτισεν ὕδατι, ὑμεῖς δὲ βαπτισθήσεσθε ἐν Πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. Οὐκ ἔτι κέχρηται τῇ μαρτυρίᾳ, ἀλλὰ ἀναμιμνήσκει τοῦ προσώπου μόνον, εἰς μνήμην τῶν παρ' αὐτοῦ εἰρημένων ἐνάγων, καὶ δείκνυσιν αὐτοὺς ἤδη μείζους λοιπὸν γεγενημένους Ἰωάννου, εἴ γε ἐν Πνεύματι ἔμελλον καὶ αὐτοὶ βαπτίζειν. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν, Ὑμᾶς δὲ ἐγὼ βαπτίζω ἐν Πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, ἀλλὰ, Βαπτισθήσεσθε, διδάσκων ἡμᾶς ταπεινοφρονεῖν. Τοῦτο γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς μαρτυρίας Ἰωάννου δῆλον λοιπὸν ἦν, ὅτι αὐτὸς ἦν ὁ βαπτίζων, εἰπόντος, ὅτι Αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν Πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ πυρί: διὸ καὶ μόνου αὐτοῦ ἐμνημόνευσε. Τὰ μὲν οὖν Εὐαγγέλια, ὧν ὁ Χριστὸς ἐποίησε καὶ εἶπεν ἱστορία τίς ἐστιν: αἱ δὲ Πράξεις, ὧν ὁ ἕτερος Παράκλητος εἶπε καὶ ἐποίησε. Καὶ τότε μὲν γὰρ πολλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐποίει, ὥσπερ οὖν καὶ νῦν ὁ Χριστὸς ἐνεργεῖ, καθάπερ καὶ τότε: ἀλλὰ τότε μὲν διὰ τοῦ ναοῦ, νῦν δὲ διὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων: καὶ τότε μὲν εἰς παρθενικὴν ἦλθε μήτραν, καὶ ναὸν διέπλασε, νῦν δὲ εἰς ψυχὰς ἀποστολικάς: καὶ τότε μὲν ἐν εἴδει περιστερᾶς, νῦν δὲ ἐν εἴδει πυρός. Τί δήποτε; Ἐκεῖ μὲν τὸ πρᾶον δηλῶν, ἐνταῦθα δὲ καὶ τὸ τιμωρητικόν. Καὶ τῆς κρίσεως δὲ εὐκαίρως ἀναμιμνήσκει. Ὅτε μὲν γὰρ ἁμαρτήματα συγχωρῆσαι ἔδει, πολλῆς ἔδει τῆς πραότητος: ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἐτύχομεν τῆς δωρεᾶς, λοιπὸν καὶ κρίσεως καὶ ἐξετάσεως καιρός. Πῶς δὲ, Βαπτισθήσεσθε, λέγει, ὕδατος οὐκ ὄντος ἐν τῷ ὑπερῴῳ; Ὅτι τὸ κυριώτερον τὸ Πνεῦμά ἐστι, δι' οὗ καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐνεργεῖ: ὥσπερ οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς κεχρίσθαι λέγεται, οὐδαμοῦ χρισάμενος ἐλαίῳ, ἀλλὰ Πνεῦμα δεξάμενος: ἄλλως δὲ καὶ ὕδατι βαπτιζομένους αὐτοὺς ἔστιν εὑρεῖν, καὶ ἐν διαφόροις καιροῖς. Ἐφ' ἡμῶν μὲν γὰρ ἀμφότερα γίνεται ὑφ' ἓν, τότε δὲ διεσπασμένως. Παρὰ γὰρ τὴν ἀρχὴν ὑπὸ Ἰωάννου ἐβαπτίσθησαν: καὶ μὴ θαυμάσῃς. Εἰ γὰρ πόρναι καὶ τελῶναι ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ᾔεσαν ἐκεῖνο, πολλῷ μᾶλλον οἱ μετὰ ταῦτα βαπτίζεσθαι μέλλοντες ὑπὸ τοῦ Πνεύματος. Εἶτα ἵνα μὴ λέγωσιν, ἐν ἐπαγγελίαις ἀεὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα (καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἤδη πολλὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ διελέχθη), μηδὲ νομίσωσιν αὐτὸ ἐνέργειαν εἶναι ἀνυπόστατον, ἀπάγων αὐτοὺς τῆς τοιαύτης ὑπονοίας, Οὐ μετὰ πολλὰς ταύτας ἡμέρας, φησί. Καὶ οὐκ ἐδήλωσε πότε, ἵνα ἀεὶ γρηγορῶσιν, ἀλλ' ὅτι μὲν ἐγγὺς ἔσται εἶπεν, ἵνα μὴ ἐκλυθῶσι: πότε δὲ, οὐκ ἔτι προσέθηκεν, ἵνα ἀεὶ νήφωσιν. Οὐ τούτῳ δὲ μόνον αὐτοὺς πιστοῦται, τῇ ταχύτητι λέγω τοῦ καιροῦ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ λέγειν, Τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, ἣν ἠκούσατέ μου. Ὃ δὲ λέγει, τοῦτό ἐστιν: Οὐ νῦν ὑμῖν εἶπον, φησὶ, μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἤδη ἐπηγγειλάμην, ἃ ποιήσω πάντως. Τί τοίνυν θαυμάζεις, εἰ τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς συντελείας μὴ λέγει, ὅπου γε ταύτην τὴν οὕτως ἐγγὺς οὖσαν οὐκ ἠθέλησε ποιῆσαι κατάδηλον; Καὶ μάλα εἰκότως, ἵν' ἀεὶ ἐγρηγορότες ὦσι καὶ ἐν προσδοκίᾳ καὶ μερίμνῃ. Ϛʹ. Οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν, οὐκ ἔστι χάριτος ἀπολαῦσαι μὴ νήφοντα. Ἢ οὐχ ὁρᾷς, τί φησι καὶ Ἠλίας πρὸς τὸν μαθητήν; Ἐὰν ἴδῃς με ἀναλαμβανόμενον, ἔσται σοι οὕτω: τουτέστι, Γενήσεταί σοι τοῦτο, ὃ αἰτεῖς. Καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς δὲ πανταχοῦ τοῖς προσιοῦσιν ἔλεγε: Πιστεύεις; Ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ οἰκειωθῶμεν πρὸς τὸ διδόμενον, οὐδὲ τῆς εὐεργεσίας σφόδρα αἰσθανόμεθα. Οὕτω καὶ ἐπὶ Παύλου: οὐκ εὐθέως ἡ χάρις ἦλθεν, ἀλλὰ τρεῖς ἡμέραι ἐγένοντο μεταξὺ, ἐν αἷς ἦν τυφλὸς, ὑπὸ τοῦ φόβου σμηχόμενος καὶ προπαρασκευαζόμενος. Καθάπερ γὰρ οἱ τὴν ἁλουργίδα βάπτοντες, πρότερον ἑτέροις τισὶ τὸ δεχόμενον τὴν βαφὴν προπαρασκευάζουσιν, ἵνα μὴ ἐξίτηλον γένηται τὸ ἄνθος: οὕτω δὴ καὶ ἐνταῦθα πρότερον μεμεριμνημένην κατασκευάζει τὴν ψυχὴν ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ τότε τὴν χάριν ἐκχεῖ. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ οὐδὲ εὐθέως τὸ Πνεῦμα ἔπεμψεν, ἀλλ' ἐν τῇ πεντηκοστῇ. Εἰ δὲ λέγοι τις, Τίνος ἕνεκεν καὶ ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τούτῳ βαπτίζομεν; ἐκεῖνο ἂν εἴποιμεν, ὅτι ἡ μὲν χάρις ἡ αὐτὴ καὶ τότε καὶ νῦν: ἡ δὲ διάνοια ὑψηλοτέρα γίνεται νῦν, νηστείᾳ προπαρασκευαζομένη. Καὶ ὁ τῆς πεντηκοστῆς δὲ καιρὸς ἔχει τινὰ λόγον οὐκ ἀπεικότα. Ποῖον δὴ τοῦτον; Ἀρκοῦντα ἐνόμισαν οἱ Πατέρες εἶναι χαλινὸν ἐπιθυμίας πονηρᾶς καὶ μεγάλην διδασκαλίαν τὸ βάπτισμα, εἰς τὸ καὶ ἐν καιρῷ τρυφῆς σωφρονεῖν. Καθάπερ οὖν αὐτῷ συναλιζόμενοι τῷ Χριστῷ, καὶ τραπέζης κοινωνοῦντες, μηδὲν ἁπλῶς πράττωμεν, ἀλλ' ἐν νηστείαις καὶ εὐχαῖς, καὶ σωφροσύνῃ πολλῇ διάγωμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ἐπὶ ἀρχὴν μέλλων ἰέναι τις βιωτικὴν, παρασκευάζει ἑαυτῷ ἅπαντα τὸν βίον, καὶ ἵνα τύχῃ τινὸς ἀξιώματος, καὶ χρήματα ἀναλίσκει, καὶ χρόνον δαπανᾷ, καὶ μυρίους ὑπομένει πόνους: τίνος ἂν εἴημεν ἡμεῖς ἄξιοι μετὰ τοσαύτης ῥᾳθυμίας τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν προσιόντες, καὶ οὔτε πρὶν ἢ λαβεῖν σπουδάζοντες καὶ μετὰ τὸ λαβεῖν ῥᾳθυμοῦντες; Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο μετὰ τὸ λαβεῖν ῥᾳθυμοῦμεν, ἐπειδὴ πρὶν ἢ λαβεῖν οὐκ ἐγρηγόραμεν. Διὰ τοῦτο πολλοὶ μετὰ τὸ λαβεῖν εὐθέως ἐπὶ τὸν πρότερον ἐπανῆλθον ἔμετον, καὶ χείρους ἐγένοντο, καὶ χαλεπωτέραν ἐπεσπάσαντο κόλασιν, τῶν μὲν προτέρων ἀπαλλαγέντες ἁμαρτημάτων, ταύτῃ δὲ μειζόνως τὸν κριτὴν παροξύναντες, ὅτι τοσαύτης ἀπαλλαγέντες ἀῤῥωστίας, οὐδὲ οὕτως ἐσωφρονίσθησαν, ἀλλ' ἔπαθον ὅπερ ἠπείλησε τῷ παραλυτικῷ ὁ Χριστὸς, λέγων: Ἴδε ὑγιὴς γέγονας: μηκέτι ἁμάρτανε, ἵνα μὴ χεῖρόν τί σοι γένηται: καὶ ὃ περὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων δὲ προὔλεγε, δεικνὺς ὅτι τὰ ἀνήκεστα πείσονται ἀγνωμονοῦντες: Εἰ μὴ ἦλθον καὶ ἐλάλησα αὐτοῖς, φησὶν, ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ εἶχον. Ὥστε διπλᾶ καὶ τετραπλᾶ τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα ἁμαρτήματα γίνεται. Πῶς; Ὅτι μετὰ τὴν τιμὴν ἀγνώμονες γινόμεθα καὶ πονηροί. Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐδὲν ἡμῖν βοηθεῖ λοιπὸν τὸ λουτρὸν εἰς τὸ πραοτέρας τυχεῖν τιμωρίας. Σκόπει δέ: ἔσχε τις ἁμαρτήματα χαλεπὰ, ἢ φονεύσας, ἢ μοιχεύσας, ἢ ἕτερόν τι χαλεπώτερον ἐργασάμενος, ἀφέθη διὰ τοῦ λουτροῦ ταῦτα. Οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν, οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν ἁμάρτημα, καὶ ἀσέβημα, ὅπερ οὐκ εἴκει καὶ παραχωρεῖ τῇ δωρεᾷ: θεία γάρ ἐστιν ἡ χάρις. Πάλιν ἐμοίχευσέ τις καὶ ἐφόνευσεν: ἡ μὲν προτέρα μοιχεία λέλυται, καὶ ὁ φόνος ἐκεῖνος συγκεχώρηται, καὶ οὐκ ἀνακαλεῖται (Ἀμεταμέλητα γὰρ τὰ χαρίσματα, καὶ ἡ κλῆσις τοῦ Θεοῦ): ὑπὲρ δὲ τῶν μετὰ τὸ βάπτισμα τοσαύτην διδόαμεν δίκην, ὅσην ἂν εἰ καὶ ἐκεῖνα ἀνεκλήθη, καὶ πολλῷ χείρονα. Οὐκέτι γὰρ ἁπλοῦν ἐστι τὸ ἁμάρτημα, ἀλλὰ διπλοῦν, καὶ τριπλοῦν. Ὅτι δὲ μείζων τούτων τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων ἡ δίκη, ἄκουσον τί φησιν ὁ Παῦλος: Ἀθετήσας τις νόμον Μωϋσέως, χωρὶς οἰκτιρμῶν ἐπὶ δυσὶν ἢ τρισὶ μάρτυσιν ἀποθνήσκει: πόσῳ δοκεῖτε χείρονος ἀξιωθήσεται τιμωρίας ὁ τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ καταπατήσας, καὶ τὸ αἷμα τῆς Διαθήκης κοινὸν ἡγησάμενος, καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς χάριτος ἐνυβρίσας; Τάχα πολλοὺς ἀπετρέψαμεν νῦν λαβεῖν τὸ βάπτισμα. Ἀλλ' οὐ διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτα εἰρήκαμεν, ἀλλ' ἵνα λαβόντες μείνωσιν ἐν σωφροσύνῃ καὶ ἐπιεικείᾳ πολλῇ. Ἀλλὰ δέδοικα, φησίν. Εἰ ἐδεδοίκεις, ἔλαβες ἂν καὶ ἐφύλαξας. Ἀλλὰ δι' αὐτὸ μὲν οὖν τοῦτο οὐ λαμβάνω, φησὶ, διὰ τὸ φοβεῖσθαι. Τὸ δὲ οὕτως ἀπελθεῖν οὐ δέδοικας; Φιλάνθρωπός ἐστι, φησὶν, ὁ Θεός. Οὐκοῦν λάβε τὸ βάπτισμα: φιλάνθρωπος γάρ ἐστι καὶ βοηθεῖ. Σὺ δὲ, ἔνθα μὲν ἂν δέῃ σπουδάσαι, οὐ προβάλλῃ τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν ταύτην: ἔνθα δ' ἂν θέλῃς ἀναβαλέσθαι, τότε αὐτῆς μέμνησαι: καίτοι τότε καιρὸν ἂν ἔχοι ἡ φιλανθρωπία αὕτη, καὶ μᾶλλον αὐτῆς ἐπιτευξόμεθα, ὅταν καὶ τὰ παρ' ἑαυτῶν εἰσενέγκωμεν. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ τὸ πᾶν ἐπὶ τὸν Θεὸν ῥίψας, καὶ μετὰ τὸ βάπτισμα ἁμαρτάνων οἷα εἰκὸς ἄνθρωπον ὄντα, μετανοῶν τεύξεται φιλανθρωπίας: ὁ δὲ ὥσπερ σοφιζόμενος τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν, ἀπελθὼν ἄμοιρος τῆς χάριτος, ἀπαραίτητον ἕξει τὴν τιμωρίαν. Τί δὲ τοιαῦτα κατὰ τῆς σεαυτοῦ σωτηρίας προβάλλῃ; Ἀμήχανον γὰρ, ἀμήχανον, ὡς ἔγωγε οἶμαι, τὸν τοιαύταις ἐλπίσιν ἀναβαλλόμενον ἐργάσασθαί τι γενναῖον καὶ ἀγαθόν. Σὺ δὲ ἀνθ' ὅτου τοσοῦτον φόβον ἀναδέχῃ, καὶ τὸ ἄδηλον τοῦ μέλλοντος προβάλλῃ; διατί μὴ μεταβάλλεις τὸν φόβον τοῦτον εἰς πόνον καὶ σπουδὴν, ἵν' ἔσῃ μέγας καὶ θαυμαστός; τί βέλτιον, φοβεῖσθαι, ἢ πονεῖν; Εἴ τίς σε ἐκάθισεν ἐν οἴκῳ πεπονηκότι ἀργοῦντα, εἰπὼν, ὅτι Προσδόκα ἐπὶ τὴν σὴν κεφαλὴν πεσεῖσθαι τὴν ὀροφὴν σαθρὰν οὖσαν (ἴσως μὲν γὰρ πεσεῖται, ἴσως δὲ οὐ πεσεῖται): εἰ δὲ μὴ τοῦτο θέλεις, ἐργάζου, καὶ τὸν ἀσφαλέστερον οἴκει θάλαμον: τί ἂν εἴλου μᾶλλον, τὴν ἀργίαν ἐκείνην μετὰ τοῦ φόβου, ἢ τὴν ἐργασίαν ταύτην μετὰ τοῦ θαῤῥεῖν; Οὐκοῦν οὕτω καὶ νῦν ποίει. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἄδηλον τοῦ μέλλοντος καθάπερ οἶκός τίς ἐστι σαθρὸς, ἀεὶ πτῶσιν ἀπειλῶν: ἡ δὲ ἐργασία αὕτη, ἡ πόνον ἔχουσα, τὸ ἀσφαλὲς ἐγγυᾶται. ζʹ. Μὴ γένοιτο μὲν οὖν ἡμᾶς ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς ἀνάγκην τοσαύτην, ὥστε ἁμαρτάνειν μετὰ τὸ λουτρόν: πλὴν εἰ καὶ γένοιτό τι τοιοῦτον, μηδὲ οὕτως ἀπογνῶμεν. Φιλάνθρωπός ἐστιν ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ πολλὰς ἡμῖν δέδωκεν ὁδοὺς ἀφέσεως καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα. Πλὴν ὥσπερ οἱ μετὰ τὸ λουτρὸν ἁμαρτάνοντες, τῶν κατηχουμένων κατὰ τοῦτο μᾶλλον κολάζονται, οὕτως οἱ εἰδότες, ὅτι μετανοίας ἐστὶ φάρμακα, καὶ μὴ θέλοντες αὐτοῖς κεχρῆσθαι, χαλεπώτερα ὑποστήσονται. Ὅσῳ γὰρ ἂν ἐπιτείνηται ἡ φιλανθρωπία τοῦ Θεοῦ, τοσούτῳ καὶ ἡ κόλασις αὔξεται μᾶλλον, ἐὰν μὴ εἰς δέον τῇ φιλανθρωπίᾳ χρησώμεθα. Τί λέγεις, ἄνθρωπε; Μεστὸς ὢν κακῶν τοσούτων, καὶ ἀπεγνωσμένος, ἀθρόον ἐγένου φίλος, καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἀνωτάτω τιμὴν ἀνηνέχθης, οὐκ ἐξ οἰκείων πόνων, ἀλλ' ἐκ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ δωρεᾶς, καὶ πάλιν ἐπὶ τὴν προτέραν ἐπανῆλθες ἀσχημοσύνην, καὶ δέον κολασθῆναι χαλεπῶς, ὁ δὲ οὐδὲ οὕτως ἀπεστράφη, ἀλλ' ἔδωκε μυρίας ἀφορμὰς σωτηρίας, δι' ὧν ἔσῃ φίλος. Καὶ ὁ μὲν Θεὸς ταῦτα, σὺ δὲ οὐδὲ οὕτως ἐθέλεις πονεῖν. Καὶ ποίας ἄξιος ἔσῃ συγγνώμης λοιπόν; πῶς δὲ οὐκ εἰκότως Ἕλληνές σε γελάσονται, καθάπερ κηφῆνά τινα ζῶντα εἰκῆ καὶ μάτην; Εἰ γὰρ δυνατὴ, φησὶν, ἡ παρ' ὑμῶν φιλοσοφία, δείξατε, τί βούλεται τῶν ἀμυήτων τὸ πλῆθος; Καλὰ τὰ μυστήρια καὶ ποθεινά: ἀλλ' οὐδεὶς ψυχοῤῥαγῶν λουτρὸν λαμβανέτω. Οὐ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος τῶν μυστηρίων ὁ καιρὸς, ἀλλὰ τῶν διαθηκῶν: μυστηρίων δὲ καιρὸς, ὑγεία φρενῶν, καὶ σωφροσύνη ψυχῆς. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, εἰ διαθήκας οὐκ ἄν τις ἕλοιτο οὕτω διακείμενος γράψαι: κἂν γράψῃ δὲ, δίδωσι τοῖς μετὰ ταῦτα λαβὴν (διὰ γάρ τοι τοῦτο καὶ προτάττουσι ταυτὶ τὰ ῥήματα λέγοντες, ὅτι Ζῶν, καὶ φρονῶν, καὶ ὑγιαίνων ἐπισκήπτω περὶ τῶν ἐμαυτοῦ): πῶς ἄν τις ἐξεστηκὼς δυνηθείη μετὰ ἀκριβείας μυσταγωγεῖσθαι; Εἰ γὰρ περὶ βιωτικῶν πραγμάτων βουλευομένῳ οὐκ ἂν ἐπιτρέψαιεν οἱ τῶν ἔξωθεν νόμοι τῷ μὴ σφόδρα ὑγιαίνοντι διατάττεσθαι, καὶ ταῦτα ἐν τοῖς αὐτοῦ μέλλοντι νομοθετεῖν: πῶς περὶ βασιλείας οὐρανῶν μανθάνων, καὶ τῶν ἀποῤῥήτων ἐκείνων ἀγαθῶν, δυνήσῃ σαφῶς πάντα μαθεῖν, πολλάκις καὶ παραπλὴξ ὑπὸ τῆς ἀῤῥωστίας γενόμενος; πότε δὲ τὰ ῥήματα ἐκεῖνα πρὸς τὸν Χριστὸν ἐρεῖς, Συνθαπτόμενος αὐτῷ, μέλλων ἀποπηδᾷν; Καὶ γὰρ καὶ διὰ τῶν ἔργων, καὶ διὰ τῶν ῥημάτων ἐπιδείκνυσθαι χρὴ τὴν εὔνοιαν. Σὺ δὲ ταὐτὸν ποιεῖς, οἷον ἂν εἴ τις ἀπογράφεσθαι βούλοιτο στρατιώτης, τοῦ πολέμου λύεσθαι μέλλοντος: ἢ ἀθλητὴς ἀποδύεσθαι, τοῦ θεάτρου λοιπὸν ἀναστάντος. Καὶ γὰρ ὅπλα διὰ τοῦτο λαμβάνεις, οὐχ ἵνα εὐθέως ἀποπηδήσῃς, ἀλλ' ἵνα λαβὼν κατὰ τοῦ ἐναντίου τρόπαιον στήσῃς. Μηδεὶς νομιζέτω ἄκαιρον εἶναι τὸν περὶ τούτων λόγον, εἰ μή ἐστι τεσσαρακοστὴ νῦν. Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο δάκνομαι, ὅτι καιρὸν παρατηρεῖτε ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις. Καίτοιγε ὁ εὐνοῦχος ἐκεῖνος, καὶ βάρβαρος ὢν καὶ ὁδοιπορῶν, καὶ ἐν μέσῃ λεωφόρῳ ὢν, καιρὸν οὐκ ἐζήτησεν: ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ, καὶ ταῦτα μεταξὺ δεσμωτῶν ὢν, καὶ τὸν διδάσκαλον μεμαστιγωμένον καὶ δεδεμένον ὁρῶν, καὶ τέως αὐτὸν μέλλων ἔνδον ἔχειν. Ἐνταῦθα δὲ οὐ δεσμωτήριον οἰκοῦντες, οὐδ' ἐν ὁδοῖς ὄντες, ἀναβάλλονται πολλοὶ, καὶ ταῦτα ὄντες πρὸς ἐσχάτας ἀναπνοάς. ηʹ. Εἰ μὲν οὖν ἔτι ἀμφιβάλλεις, ὅτι Θεός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς, ἔξω στῆθι, καὶ μηδὲ θείων ἄκουε λόγων, μηδὲ ἐν τοῖς κατηχουμένοις ἀρίθμει σαυτόν: εἰ δὲ θαῤῥεῖς, καὶ οἶδας τοῦτο σαφῶς, τί μέλλεις; τί δὲ ἀναδύῃ καὶ ὀκνεῖς; Δέδοικα μὴ ἁμάρτω, φησί. Τὸ δὲ χαλεπώτερον οὐ δέδοικας, μὴ μετὰ φορτίων τοσούτων ἀπέλθῃς ἐκεῖ; Οὐδὲ γάρ ἐστιν ἴσον, χάριτος προκειμένης μὴ τυχεῖν, καὶ κατορθοῦν ἐπιχειροῦντα ἀποτυχεῖν. Εἰπὲ δή μοι, ἂν γὰρ ἐγκαλῇ, Τίνος ἕνεκεν οὐ προσῆλθες. τίνος ἕνεκεν οὐ κατώρθωσας, τί ἐρεῖς; Ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ τάχα τὸ φορτικὸν ἔχεις εἰπεῖν καὶ τῶν προσταγμάτων καὶ τῆς ἀρετῆς: ἐνταῦθα δὲ οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον. Χάρις γάρ ἐστι δωρεὰν παρεχομένη τὴν ἐλευθερίαν. Ἀλλὰ δέδοικας μὴ ἁμάρτῃς; Ταῦτα μετὰ τὸ βάπτισμα λέγε. Τότε ἔχε τὸν φόβον, ὥστε φυλάξαι τὴν παῤῥησίαν, ἣν ἔλαβες, οὐχ ὥστε μὴ λαβεῖν δωρεὰν τοιαύτην. Νῦν δὲ πρὸ μὲν τοῦ βαπτίσματος εὐλαβὴς σὺ, μετὰ δὲ τὸ βάπτισμα ῥᾴθυμος. Ἀλλὰ τὸν καιρὸν ἀναμένεις τῆς τεσσαρακοστῆς; Τίνος ἕνεκεν; μὴ γὰρ ἔχει τι πλέον ἐκεῖνος ὁ καιρός; Οἱ γοῦν ἀπόστολοι οὐκ ἐν τῷ πάσχα κατηξιώθησαν τῆς χάριτος, ἀλλ' ἐν ἑτέρῳ καιρῷ: καὶ οἱ τρισχίλιοι καὶ οἱ πεντακισχίλιοι, ὅτε ἐβαπτίσθησαν, πάσχα οὐκ ἦν καιρός: καὶ ὁ Κορνήλιος, καὶ ὁ εὐνοῦχος, καὶ ἕτεροι πλείους. Μὴ τοίνυν καιρὸν ἀναμένωμεν, μήποτε μέλλοντες καὶ ἀναβαλλόμενοι ἀπέλθωμεν κενοὶ καὶ ἔρημοι τοσούτων ἀγαθῶν. Πῶς οἴεσθε ὀδυνῶμαι, ὅταν ἀκούσω, ὅτι ἀμύητός τις ἀπηνέχθη ἐντεῦθεν, τὰς ἀφορήτους ἐννοῶν κολάσεις ἐκείνας, τὴν ἀπαραίτητον τιμωρίαν; πῶς δάκνομαι πάλιν, ὅταν ἑτέρους ἴδω πρὸς τὰς ἐσχάτας φθάνοντας ἀναπνοὰς, καὶ μηδὲ ἐντεῦθεν σωφρονιζομένους; Διά τοι τοῦτο πολλὰ τῆς δωρεᾶς ταύτης ἀνάξια γίνεται. Δέον γὰρ εὐφραίνεσθαι, καὶ χορεύειν, καὶ χαίρειν, καὶ στεφανοῦσθαι, ἑτέρου μυσταγωγουμένου, ὅταν ἀκούσῃ τοῦ κάμνοντος ἡ γυνὴ, ὅτι τοῦτο ἐπέσκηψεν ὁ ἰατρὸς, ὡς ἐπὶ κακῷ τινι κατακόπτεται καὶ θρηνεῖ, καὶ κωκυτοὶ καὶ οἰμωγαὶ πανταχοῦ τῆς οἰκίας ὡς ἐπὶ καταδίκων τῶν τὴν ἐσχάτην ἀπαγομένων ὁδόν. Καὶ ἐκεῖνος δὲ πάλιν τότε ὀδυνᾶται πλέον, κἂν ἀνενέγκῃ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀῤῥωστίας, χαλεπώτερον ἀλγεῖ ὡς ἐπηρεασθείς. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ οὐ παρεσκεύαστο πρὸς ἀρετὴν, ὀκνεῖ λοιπὸν, καὶ ἀναδύεται πρὸς τοὺς ἀγῶνας τοὺς μετὰ ταῦτα. Ὁρᾷς, οἷα ὁ διάβολος κατασκευάζει μηχανήματα, ὅσην τὴν αἰσχύνην, ὅσον τὸν γέλωτα; Ἀπαλλαγῶμεν τοίνυν τούτου τοῦ γέλωτος: ζήσωμεν ὡς ὁ Χριστὸς ἐκέλευσε. Διὰ τοῦτο ἔδωκε τὸ βάπτισμα, οὐχ ἵνα λαβόντες ἀπέλθωμεν, ἀλλ' ἵνα ἐπιζήσαντες καρποὺς ἐπιδειξώμεθα. Πῶς ἐρεῖς, Καρποφόρει, τῷ ἀπιόντι, τῷ ἐκκοπέντι; οὐκ ἤκουσας, ὅτι Ὁ καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματός ἐστιν ἀγάπη, χαρὰ, εἰρήνη; Πῶς οὖν τὰ ἐναντία γίνεται; Καὶ γὰρ ἡ γυνὴ παρέστηκε πενθοῦσα, ὅτε χαίρειν ἔδει: τὰ τέκνα ὀδυρόμενα, ὅτε συνήδεσθαι ἐχρῆν: αὐτὸς ὁ κείμενος ἐσκοτωμένος, θορύβου γέμων καὶ ταραχῆς, ὅτε πανηγυρίζειν ἔδει: ἀθυμίας πεπληρωμένος πολλῆς, διὰ τὴν ὀρφανίαν τῶν τέκνων, διὰ τὴν χηρείαν τῆς γυναικὸς, διὰ τὴν ἐρημίαν τῆς οἰκίας. Οὕτω τις προέρχεται μυστηρίοις; εἰπέ μοι: οὕτως ἅπτεται τραπέζης ἱερᾶς; ταῦτα ἀνεκτά; Κἂν μὲν βασιλεὺς πέμψῃ γράμματα, τοὺς ἐν δεσμωτηρίῳ λύων, εὐφροσύνη καὶ χαρά: ὁ δὲ Θεὸς καταπέμπει τὸ Πνεῦμα ἐξ οὐρανῶν, οὐχὶ ἐλλείμματα χρημάτων, ἀλλ' ὁλόκληρα ἁμαρτήματα συγχωρῶν: καὶ πάντες θρηνεῖτε καὶ ὀδύρεσθε; Τίς ἡ ἀνωμαλία αὕτη; Οὔπω γὰρ λέγω, ὅτι καὶ νεκροῖς ἐπεχύθη ὕδωρ, καὶ τὰ ἅγια ἐῤῥίφη εἰς γῆν: ἀλλ' οὐχ ἡμεῖς τούτων αἴτιοι, ἀλλ' οἱ ἀγνώμονες. Διὸ παρακαλῶ πάντα ἀφέντας συστρέψαι ἑαυτοὺς καὶ προσιέναι τῷ βαπτίσματι μετὰ προθυμίας ἁπάσης, ἵνα καὶ ἐν τῷ παρόντι πολλὴν ἐπιδειξάμενοι σπουδὴν, τῆς μελλούσης τύχωμεν παῤῥησίας: ἧς γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐπιτυχεῖν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.