Acts 11 · The Lantern

Now the Apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judaea heard that, the nations also, had welcomed the word of God.

"And the Apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." After such great things, "they of the circumcision contended:" not the Apostles; God forbid.

Peter showed in his defense that he had by no means been the cause, but God everywhere. For he said, he himself set me in the excess of mind, he himself pointed out the sheet, and I indeed even contradicted; again the same he himself said, and I did not hear therefore. The Spirit commanded that I should join them, and having joined I did not even run on therefore.

You see what zeal they had concerning the law. They were not ashamed before Peter's dignity, nor the miracles that had taken place, nor that wonderful preparation that had been made for the reception of the word, but began to dispute about such trifles. Those of the circumcision disputed, not the apostles.

And, when Peter came up unto Jerusalem, they of the circumcision began to find fault with him,

Saying—he went in unto men uncircumcised, and did eat with them.

But Peter, making a beginning, went on to set forth the matter unto them in order, saying—

Observe his freedom from all elation and vainglory. For it says, "But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa, praying:" he does not say why, nor on what occasion: "and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it cam…

Peter did not dwell on this trifle, but based himself on what was of great importance. If, he says, they received the Spirit, then how could one not impart this to them? By this defense he shows that he is in no way at fault, but the author of everything and in all things is God, to Whom he attributes all. Because, he says, He showed the vessel, and I objected to Him.

I was in the city of Joppa praying, and saw in a trance, a vision:—coming down a sort of vessel, like a large sheet, by four corners, being let down out of heaven, and it came even unto me:

Into which steadfastly looking, began to observe, and saw the quadrupeds of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the birds of heaven.

Moreover heard a voice also, saying unto me—Rise, Peter! slay and eat.

But I said—By no means, Lord, because, a common or unclean thing, hath at no time entered into my mouth.

And a voice answered, a second time, out of heaven—What things, God, hath cleansed, be not, thou, making common.

And, this, took place thrice,—and the whole was drawn up again into heaven;

And lo! immediately, three men halted at the house wherein we were, sent from Caesarea unto me.

And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. And there went with me these six brethren also; and we entered into the house of the man,

"And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting." Do you mark that it is to the Spirit the enacting of laws belongs!

But these six brothers also came with me. Beautifully, the testimony of the seven-fold number of brothers is the outpouring of the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit. Elsewhere. Because the world was formed in six days, the works are shown to be complete by the six brothers.

He could have said nothing that would have revealed his humility more than his appeal to the testimony of the brethren. He does not speak of what the Angel said to Cornelius: "your prayers and your alms" (Acts 10:14), nor does he recount the righteousness of this man, nor does he report that he did so because the Spirit sent him, that God commanded him, having called him from t…

And he related to us how he had seen the messenger in his house, standing, and saying—Send away unto Joppa, and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter;

Who shall speak words unto thee, whereby thou shall be saved, thou, and all thy house.

And, as I began to be speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as upon us also at the beginning.

"And as I began to speak," etc. Then why did not this happen alone? Of superabundance this is wrought by God, that it might be shown that the beginning too was not from the Apostle. But had he set out of his own motion, without any of these things having taken place, they would have been very much hurt: so that from the beginning he disposes their minds in his favor.

But he is not content even with what was said above, and recalls also the saying of the Lord: "You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Nothing new happened, he says, but only what He had foretold. But, they will say, there was no need even to baptize; yet baptism was performed. And he does not say "I commanded them to be baptized," but shows that he did nothing new.

And I was put in mind of the word of the Lord, how he used to say—John, indeed, immersed with water; but, ye, shall be immersed in Holy Spirit.

If therefore the like free-gift God gave unto them, as even unto us, when we had believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who was, I, that could withstand God?

And, having heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying—Hence, even unto the nations, God hath granted repentance unto life.

"When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." Do you mark that it all came of Peter's discourse, by his admirably skilful way of relating the facts? They glorified God that He had given repentance to themselves also: they were humbled by these words.

And they glorified God, saying: So then, God has given even the Gentiles repentance unto life. This is what we read in the book of blessed Job: From the north comes gold, and terrifying praise to God (Job 37:22). Because first the splendor of faith arises from the cold heart of the Gentiles, and for this unexpected faith, Judea glorifies God with fearful praise.

"Who was I to be able to hinder God?" Defending himself against his accusers, he strongly and harshly puts them to shame. I could not, he says, forbid this. From these words they became meek and fell silent. Do you see that thanks to Peter's speech to the people, everything turned out well when he recounted what had happened?

They, therefore, who had been scattered abroad by reason of the tribulation that took place on account of Stephen, passed through as far as Phoenice and Cyprus and Antioch, unto no one speaking the word, save alone unto Jews.

"Now they which were scattered abroad," etc. and not as we who pass our time in lamentations and tears, in our calamities; but with more fearlessness they passed their time, as having got to a distance from those hindering them, and as being among men not afraid of the Jews: which also helped.

They traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, etc. Here already, after the revelation of the Gospel sheet, in which the holy animals rested softly in hope from above, the affairs of the Church began to increase, with the Gospel being preached through foreign provinces, islands, and cities, not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles.

No small service to Christianity was rendered by the persecution against Christians, because "all things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8:28). For when Stephen was being killed, when Paul was twice in danger, when the apostles were scourged, then the Gentiles were being received into the Church.

And there were some from among them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who, indeed, coming unto Antioch, began speaking, even unto the Grecian Jews, announcing the glad tidings as to the Lord Jesus;

And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number—they who believed—turned unto the Lord.

And the matter was reported in the hearing of the assembly that was in Jerusalem, concerning them; and they sent forth Barnabas, as far as Antioch;

Who, arriving, and seeing the favour which was of God, rejoiced, and went on to beseech all, with the purpose of their heart, to abide [in] the Lord;

Because he was a good man, and full of Holy Spirit and faith; and a considerable multitude were added unto the Lord.

He went away, however, unto Tarsus, to seek up Saul;

And, finding him, he brought him unto Antioch. And so it was with them, that, for a whole year, they were brought together in the assembly, and taught a considerable multitude; also that the disciples, first in Antioch, were called, Christians.

Now, in these days, there came down from Jerusalem, prophets, unto Antioch.

"And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch." It was need that the fruit of alms should also be planted there. And see how of necessity none of the men of note becomes their teacher. They got for their teachers, men of Cyprus, and Cyrene, and Paul - though he indeed surpassed the Apostles themselves - since Paul also had for teachers Ananias and Barnabas.

There is nothing contrary to this in what the Lord said, "The law and the prophets" up to John. (Matt. 2:12) For this concerns those prophets who proclaimed his coming beforehand. So that they would not think the famine occurred because of this, that Christianity had arrived, the Holy Spirit foretold it beforehand. And Christ himself also said this (see Matt.

In what sense does Christ say that "all the prophets and the law prophesied until John" (Matt. 11:13)? He speaks of those prophets who foretold His coming.

And one from among them, by name Agabus, rising up, gave a sign, through means of the Spirit, that, a great famine, was coming over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, came to pass under Claudius.

"And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there would be great dearth throughout the world, which also came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar." "By the Spirit," it says: for, that they may not imagine that this was the reason why the famine came, namely, because Christianity was come in, because the demons were departed, the Holy Ghost…

And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the Spirit that there would be a great famine. Agabus can be interpreted as a messenger of tribulation, who, according to his name, both predicts the general famine here and later the bonds to the apostle Paul.

"He foretold by the Spirit." Lest they think that the famine occurred because Christianity had appeared, the Holy Spirit also predicts this, because Christ too had predicted it.

And, according as any one of the disciples was being prospered, they each one of them set apart [something] for ministering, to send unto the brethren, who dwelt in Jerusalem;—

"Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea." Mark how the famine becomes to them the means of salvation, an occasion of alms-giving, a harbinger of many blessings. And so it might have been to you, one may say, if you were so minded, but ye would not.

Now the disciples, each according to what they had, decided to send aid to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Paul.

"Then the disciples determined, each according to his ability." Look: for them even famine becomes an occasion for salvation, an opportunity for mercy. Look: they become believers and bring forth fruits worthy of faith – they show mercy not only to those near, but also to those far away.

Which thing they also did, sending it unto the Elders, through the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

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