CONSUMMATION OF THE FIRST PREACHING JOURNEY In The previous chapter, St. Luke presented a magnificent portrait of the work of God all along the first preaching journey, together with a flood of tribulations from the Jews, that the apostle declared that he was heading to the Gentiles. The most important of those blessings are: The faith of the governor Sergius Paulus in Paphos; the many Jews and proselytes who followed Paul and Barnabas, that almost the whole city assembled together the next Sabbath to hear the two apostles; the spreading of the word of God in Pisidia; and the filling of the disciples with joy and the Holy Spirit. Now St. Luke presents the consummation of that journey, demonstrating the exalted work of God wherever the two apostles went. 1- A great multitude in Iconium accepting the faith 1 2- Division in the city 2 - 5 3- Calling them gods in Lystra 6 - 18 4- Provocation against Paul and stoning him 19 5- More disciples in Derbe 20 6- A return to strengthen the churches 21- 25 7- A joyful report in Antioch 26- 28 1- A GREAT MULTITUDE IN ICONIUM ACCEPTING THE FAITH “Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed” (Acts 14: 1). As usual, the two apostles started their preaching in the Jewish synagogue. There they stayed a long time until a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. The report here came very concise, as St. Luke did not tell how those great multitudes of Jews and Greeks came to believe, or referred to the works of the two apostles, or to the names of the persons who accepted the faith. He was not preoccupied with the life story of the two apostles, of the early church, or of setting centers of ministry in every city, but with confirming the amazing work of God in drawing souls, despite the fierce opposition against the preachers and the church everywhere. The two apostles did not shake or got confused because of that opposition, but they preached more strongly and did not forsake their position, except for necessity, for the sake of the safety of the local church and for the continuation of work. And whenever they left a city, they fled to another, not to hide or take rest of the opposition, but to work and preach with boldness and strength. Most probably, that concise report came naturally, as what happened in Iconium was only similar to what previously happened in Antioch Pisidia: a- The subject of talk in the synagogues of the two cities was most probably similar, that there was no need of repetition. b- In the two cities, some of the Jews and the proselytes accepted the faith and wished to hear more from the apostle. 613 c- In the cities, the opposition of the Jews increased with the growth of the new church and with the entry of some into faith. Finally, as the past experience of the two apostles concerning the opposition of the Jews did not touch their feelings toward their salvation, they insisted here also on entering together into the synagogue of the Jews, to present the word of salvation. 2- A Schism IN THE CITY “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren” (Acts 14: 2). The unbelieving Jews, on their side, persisted on their opposition to poison the minds of the newly converted Jews, that the two apostles prolonged their stay to strengthen the believers. Affliction and opposition motivated the apostles to work more. “Stirred and poisoned”, through teaching them perverted principles to corrupt their belief and persuading them not to respond to the grace of God. That is the work of the devil along all generations, to lead the people astray, to poison their minds by the wrong principles and destructive philosophies of the ancient serpent to faith in the Savior and to let them doubt the love of God and His salvation work. In the previous cities, the opposition against the two apostles was to prevent them from preaching, but here, they worked on the multitudes that accepted the faith and were directed to the gospel, to corrupt their faith. “Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands” (Acts 14: 3). On God’s side, He supported His apostles by signs and wonders by their hands. Whenever the oppositions grew stronger, God is transfigured by His grace and by doing signs in His name. He supports His gospel by granting His grace and talents to His church. The living minister sees in the opposition signs of the sound way, when he feels that he is partaking of the cross of his Christ, walking together with Him along the way to Calvary and going through the true narrow road. The opposition for the witness to Christ does not cause failure or regret for his work, but grants him a new experience for the word of God’s grace and a tasting of the resurrection in the preaching work. Here St. Luke refers to the fact that proclaiming the Lord was followed by doing signs and wonders by their hands. God Does not work where there is fear or terror, but supports the hearts leaning on Him in living faith. That is why He warns those working in His vineyard against fear, as He did when He commanded Joshua on the day he started his leadership, saying, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage do not be afraid, or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1: 9). The more the devil introduced his poison through his followers to corrupt the minds of the believers and their life, the longer the apostles stayed. Although they did not withdraw from the battle, they did not depend upon their human experience or their eloquence, but on the riches of God’s grace, as God Himself “bore witness to the word of His grace”; He was working in, by, and with them. Our gospel is “the word of God’s grace”, to whom no one can testify except the Lord Christ Himself, working in His ministers. 614 “But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles” (Acts 14: 4). A schism happened in the city: some accepted the gospel of Christ; and others opposed the truth of the gospel. And as the Lord Christ Himself said, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on, five in one house will be divided, three against two, and two against three” (Luke 12: 51, 52). The cause of this division is not the opposition of the believers against the unbelievers, to commit them to faith by force, but the hatred of the unbelievers for the Truth and their opposition to the church of Christ for no reason, except that the darkness cannot stand before light. And as the scholar Tertullian wrote to the Emperor that the world hates the church, but the church loves the world and ministers to it. The believers flood love from their new nature, and the unbelievers hold fast to their hatred that comes from within them. “And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them” (Acts 14: 5). Having been unsuccessful in poisoning the minds of believers, the Jews resorted to violence and had to join forces with the unbelieving Gentiles to stir up the rulers and leaderships against the apostles as trouble-makers. This is the story of the world in every generation, when the opposing enemies join forces to destroy the church of Christ. The Jews and the Gentiles forgot the animosity between them and provoked the rulers to stone the two apostles. 3- CALLING THEM GODS IN LYSTRA “They became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region” (Acts 14: 6). A schism happened in the city: Some sided with the Jews, the opponents of the Truth; and others sided with the two apostles. And the devil, as usual, could make an alliance between the opposing religious leaderships, and the people rejecting the faith, beside the political leaderships. The religious and the civil leaderships agreed to jump upon the two apostles as preys and to stone them. It seems that the decision was issued in the Sanhedrin and was certified by the authorities. But God allowed for revealing the plot and the two apostles could flee to the city of Lycaonia Lystra. The two apostles did not flee from the field, or gave the back to the divine work, but, for the sake of the peace of the church in Lycaonia, and not out of fear of death, they fled to Lystra and Derbe. “And they were preaching the gospel there” (Acts 14: 7). In the book of ‘Apocripha’, (Acts of St. Paul), it came that When Onesiphorus came out of Lycaonia to receive St. Paul, he saw Paul approaching, in a size tending to be small, with two close eyebrows, a bent nose, a head giving the impression of courage and strength, and bent legs, somewhat full body, and filled with grace; sometimes appeared as an angel, and sometimes as a man. “They fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia “: Some believe that Paul circumcised Timothy in Lystra that was probably his hometown; whereas, Derbe was the city of Gais the beloved. “And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked” (Acts 14: 8). 615 St. Luke tells about one of the signs done by the hand of the apostle Paul, healing a cripple from his mother’s womb. He probably chose this sign to confirm that St. Paul was not less than St. Peter and St. John, who did the same at the gate called the beautiful in the temple (Acts 3). He gave three confirmations for the sake of unbelievers: He was a cripple in both his legs, from his mother’s womb, and he never walked. As to the simple believers, it does not need confirmations. When the Lord Christ spoke to the Samaritan woman, he said to her, “Woman, believe Me” (John 4: 21) and she did. As he never walked, healing was definitely a miraculous work. “This man heard Paul speaking. Paul observing him intently, and seeing that he had faith to be healed” (Acts 14: 9). How did St. Paul know that that cripple had faith to be healed? By Spirit, he felt how serious he cared for His salvation and the healing of his soul; and how his heart kindled when he heard about the love of God. Faith comprehends what the human mind cannot realize. Great is faith, yet it is useless if devoid of love. Faith is committed to precede comprehension, for comprehension to be a part of faith. We can touch Him who sits in heaven, by our faith, not by our hands. St. Augustine “Said with a loud voice, ‘Stand up straight on your feet’. And he leaped and walked” (Acts 14: 10). The lame man here was not a beggar, but a man who cared for the salvation of his soul. He was seriously and intently listening to the apostle. Having felt that the man sought the salvation of his soul, he presented to him the divine gift: “Stand up straight”, for his soul to enjoy the resurrection from the dead, to enjoy the light given to him by Christ (Eph 5: 14), and the healing of his body. As to leaping, it refers to the inner joy of his heart. “Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men'” (Acts 14: 11). In the past, the pagans had a belief that the gods used to visit humans in the likeness of men. Among those people, there was a certain belief that Zeus (Jupiter), and Hermes (Mercury), once appeared in Phrigia, to a married couple called Philemon and Baucis, And someone called Lycaon gave them hospitality, and hence that province was called ‘Lycaonia’1. “And Barnabas they called ‘Zeus’, and Paul, ‘Hermes’, because he was the chief speaker” (Acts 14: 12). As the multitude was screaming in the Lycaonian language, believing that the gods Zeus and Hermes have come down to them in the likeness of men, the two apostles most probably did not understand them. The scholar W. M. Calder discovered in excavations near Lystra, statues of Hermes and Zeus by persons with Lycaonian names. 1 James N, Freeman. Manners and Customs of the Bible, N.J, p. 444. 616 Zeus is Jupiter of the Romans, and Osiris of the Egyptians, the major god among the assembly of Greek gods. He has a temple in Lystra. Barnabas was called ‘Zeus’, because of his great and handsome looks. Hermes was called (Mercury) by the Greeks, the son of Jupiter from Maia. He was the messenger of all gods, god of eloquence and logic. It was believed that these two gods traveled together. Paul was called ‘Hermes’, on account of his eloquence, and that he accompanied Zeus1. “Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes” (Acts 14: 13). The multitudes, assuming that they were so lucky that two gods descended from heaven to visit them in their lower world, committed the priest of Zeus to go and bring from the stables of the temple, oxen to sacrifice to them. The temple of Zeus was in front of the city, next to the gates, to guard the city against intruders. The priest and the worshippers used to put garlands of interwoven wool around the necks of the sacrifices offered to the gods; whereas, they used to put garlands of flowers around the necks of the gods. They used to build temples for their gods in different locations of the city, set their portraits on the gates, and decorate the gods, the sacrifices offered, as well as the prominent and the beloved guests to the temples, by garlands of tree leaves and flowers around their necks2. How strange, that when the true Word of God came to our world, nobody moved to offer Him a sacrifice. He did not request anything for Himself, but came to offer Himself a sacrifice for their sake. “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitudes, crying out” (Acts 14: 14). St. Luke puts Barnabas’ name before Paul’s, probably because the multitudes there gave greater dignity to Barnabas, assuming that he was the god Zeus, with his more respectable features, and thought of Paul as Hermes, god of eloquence and logic, and the speaker in Zeus’ name. It was not possible for the two apostles to keep quiet and to disregard the reverence offered to them through ignorance. Their dignity as apostles of the Lord was enough for them. They could not accept taking His glory for themselves. Tearing the clothes here refers to the testimony that the behavior and words spoken by the multitudes constituted blasphemy against the true God. The same thing was done by the chief priest when he assumed that Jesus blasphemed when He said, “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14: 62). “And saying, Men, why are you doing these things, we are also men, (mortals) like you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them” (Acts 14: 15). The two apostles were terrified by what they saw, and tore their clothes as a sign of rejection of that blasphemy and as a testimony against those who did it (Mark 14: 63). 1 James N, Freeman. Manners and Customs of the Bible, N.J, p.444. 2 Freeman. p. 444. 617 St. Ephraim the Syrian believes that by tearing their clothes, they tried to stop the multitudes from sacrificing the oxen for their sake. The two apostles did not only reject that tendency of deifying them and confirmed that they were just humans, but they also confirmed that they are sinners and “mortals like you”. A marvelous portrait of ministers who, not do not only put themselves above those ministered, or consider themselves more righteous, but present themselves as sinners, in need of salvation just like them. The apostle Paul is not ashamed to call himself “the foremost of sinners” (1 Tim 1: 15), as by this, he draws the sinners to him, to enjoy together the Savior of the sinners. "What absurdity, therefore, is there, if Jesus, desiring to manifest to the human race the power which He possesses to heal souls, should have selected notorious and wicked men, and should have raised them to such a degree of moral excellence, that they, became a pattern of the purest virtue to all who were converted by their instrumentality to the Gospel of Christ?" 1. The scholar Origen When you think of yourself as a sinner, and you indeed are, this is no humility. But when someone who does great things does not feel himself a great man, this is the real humility. When someone like Paul can say, “For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this” (1 Cor 4: 4), and, “That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of who I am the foremost” (1 Tim 1: 15), Such a man is indeed humble, who glorifies the works, yet sees himself as the least2. St. John Chrysostom How could he be the foremost (amongst sinners)? Were there not many sinners, Jews and otherwise, before him? So why should he say “the foremost among them?” I.E. the worst, and the most wicked? To know the reason, remember Saul. Was not he the one who stoned St. Stephen with one hand, and stood guard on the clothes of those who stoned him? Was not he the one who persecuted the church everywhere? As he was counted as the foremost persecutor, there was nobody more evil than him3. St. Augustine Thus, the apostles could restrain the multitude from sacrificing to them, and turn their sight to the rich grace of God that works in the life of sinners who come to the Savior, in the spirit of humility. Let us imitate them: let us think nothing our own, seeing even faith itself is not our own, but more God's (than ours). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph 2: 8). Then let us not think great things of ourselves, nor be puffed up, being as we are, men, dust and ashes, smoke and shadow 4. “Do not be haughty, but fear” (Rom 11: 20). Do not lessen your virtue by boastfulness. Would you do something truly great? Never let a surmise of your attainments as great enter your mind. But you are a virgin. So were those in (the Gospel) virgins, but they 1 against Celsus. 1.63. 2 on the Incomprehensible Nature of God. 5.6. 3 Sermon 175.6-7. 4Hom. On Acts. Hom. 30. 618 got no benefit from their virginity, because of their cruelty and inhumanity (Matt 25: 12.) Nothing like humility: this is mother, and root, and nurse, and foundation, and bond of all good things: without this we are abominable, and execrable, and polluted. For say-let there be some man raising the dead, and healing the lame, and cleansing the lepers, but with proud self-complacency: than this there can be nothing more execrable, nothing more impious, nothing more detestable. Account nothing to be of yourself. Do you have utterance and grace of teaching? Do not for this account yourself to have something more than other men. For this cause especially you have to be humbled, because you have been vouchsafed more abundant gifts 1. He referred everything to the King and Teacher, even his actions. He did not refer to himself the glory of God. In another place, he said, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil 3: 13) 2. St. John Chrysostom “We are mortals like you”: We are not gods that you sacrifice to us. “The vain things” refer to pagan worship in which there is no truth but vanity. This reveals that the preaching of Paul and Barnabas in that city concentrated on turning the pagan Gentiles away from those vain things, and returning to God, who created heaven and earth, the living God who grants life. Fr. Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, comments on “You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked” (psalm9: 5) what the two apostles Paul and Barnabas did, when they presented the truth to the Gentiles and rejected the evil of worshipping them as gods, saying that through the holy apostles, who preached the truth to the Gentiles, divine teachings were introduced to them. And receiving them, they got rid of their evil and ignorant worship. Paul and Barnabas restrained the people of Lycaonia from sacrificing to them, crying out in their faces: “Men, why are doing these things? We also mortal men like you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vain things” (Acts 14: 15) 3. “Who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways” (Acts 14: 16). The word “allowed” here, refers to giving them all freedom. On another hand, he presented to them every proof of His existence, love, and care; yet He did not commit them to worship Him. Their mere existence so far is out of His longsuffering on them and on their fathers, as He did not destroyed them for their shameful diversion. But now, He has come proclaiming the gospel of salvation, that they may return to Him and worship Him as is fitting to Him and to them as God’s creation and subject of His exalted love. To interpret what happened in Lystra, Adam Clark quotes a legend by Ovid,4 in which, Jupiter, when it came to his knowledge how corrupt humanity became, decided to come down by himself to the earth to wipe it out. He came to the province of Lycaonia in a human form, and dwelt in the palace of Lycaon, where the multitudes came to worship him. Lycaon doubted his deity and mockingly intended to ridicule him. When ambassadors from the state of Molossian came to worship him, Lycaon slayed one of them, cooked a part of his body, grilled the rest, and put them before Jupiter. Then the 1Hom. On Acts. Hom. 30. 2Hom. On 1Tim. Hom. 3. 3 on Ps. 9. 4Metam., l. ivy 211-239. 619 god got furious at that insult, that he turned that evil king into a wolf and burnt down his palace. From that time, that province is called by the name of Lycaonia. The simple multitudes thought that Jupiter came back to visit the city and proclaimed his exalted (divine) presence by healing the lame from his mother’s womb and through other signs done by Paul and Barnabas. And fearing that Jupiter might count them as slothful in presenting the dignity fitting to his high status, they committed the priest to bring oxen and sacrifice them to Barnabas and Paul. The apostle Paul believes that the fall of the Gentiles into idol worship before his coming was due to that they were passing through times of ignorance (Acts 17: 30). Talking to pagans who did not realize God’s love and did not rejoice in Him, as their pleasure was concentrated on food and drink, he proclaimed to them that even that food is from the almighty God, as well as the pleasure and joy. "God by His own Word gave the Universe the Order it has, in order that since He is by nature invisible, men might be enabled to know Him at any rate by His works For often the artist even when not seen is known by his works" 1. Pope Athanasius the apostolic “Nevertheless, He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14: 17). Nature itself is the best witness to God’s love and care for man. He offered him rain from heaven and gave him the different fruitful seasons, to provide him with food, beside granting him the inner joy and pleasure, without which his soul would be destroyed. The apostles concentrated in their preaching on the gift of inner joy, or the joy of the Spirit that fills the heart and gives it the true life. As there is no marriage in heaven (Matt 22: 30), there is no food or drink as well. But there is rather righteousness and joy in the Holy Spirit. That is why the apostle Paul exhorts us to concentrate on these things, realizing that gaining them here on earth, we take them with us when we go to the heavenly kingdom. He exhorts us to seek the righteousness and peace and the like from the Holy Spirit, as food and drink in the kingdom of heaven2. The scholar Origen By ‘gladness’, people mean lifting the mind above the things which warrants rejoicing; whereas, the ‘pleasure’ is extremely and indecently lifting it3. St. Jerome “And with these sayings, they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them” (Acts 14.18). It is obvious that the multitudes were so agitated that the apostles exerted much effort to restrain them from sacrificing to them. 4- PROVOCATION AGAINST PAUL AND STONING HIM 1 Contra Gentes. 3.35.1. 2 Commentary on Rom. 14.17. 3 Ep. to Gal. 3.5.22. 620 “Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead” (Acts 14: 19). Those, who intended to kill the two apostles in Iconium and drove them out of Antioch Pisidia, came to Lystra to provoke the multitudes to get rid of them. Those who intended to sacrifice to them as gods were themselves who stoned Paul. This is what the minister should expect. He should not be disturbed if he is attacked or persecuted by those who previously commended him. Those who praised the Lord Christ, saying, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” were themselves who cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him”. Those who offered Him a sacrifice of praise intended to offer Him as a sacrifice. They stood around him, to make sure that he was dead, then left him and went away. It was not possible for death to catch up with him, even when he was stoned, as long as he still had an unfinished mission. "Those enemies wounded him with stones: there is a wounding with words, even worse than stones. What then must we do? The same that he did: he did not hate those who cast stones at him, but after they had dragged him out, he entered again into their city, to be a benefactor to those who had done him such wrongs. If you also endure him who harshly insults you, and has done you wrongs, then you have too been stoned. Do not say, "I have done him no injury." For what injury had Paul done, that he should be stoned? He was announcing a Kingdom, he was bringing men away from error, and bringing them to God: benefits these, worthy of crowns, worthy of a thousand good things-not of stones" 1. "In the very city in which they received this reverence, in the same were they thus terribly ill treated"2. St. John Chrysostom 5- MORE DISCIPLES IN DERBE “However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe” (Acts 14: 20). Some believe that stoning the apostle Paul left its scars on his body that made him boast in the Lord, saying, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal 6: 17). It was said that, having been stoned, his spirit was taken up into the third heaven and enjoyed glories,” which is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Cor 12: 4). They stoned and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead. Yet he was surrounded by the disciples. He rose up and went into the city, and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. How could that be? The disciples must have prayed, and God responded by revealing His power. Although he did not die; yet being stoned and dragged out of the city, he must have needed several months to recover. To rise up instantly and go, then depart on the next day, was not something natural, but must be an exalted work of God. No wonder that he praised God, saying, “Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us, in whom we trust that He will deliver us” (2 Cor 1: 10). 1Hom. On Acts. Hom. 31. 2Hom. On Acts. Hom. 31. 621 6- A RETURN TO STRENTHEN THE CHURCHES “And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch” (Acts 14: 21). It was not possible for the stones to affect the thoughts of Paul and Barnabas and to destroy their zeal to save even those who stoned them. After they set forth for some time to Derbe to preach, they returned to Lystra, where Paul was stoned, and to Iconium and Antioch Pisidia, where those who provoked the multitudes to stone him were. They loved all, and their love was the secret of the strength of their preaching. The apostle Paul put love on the list of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, because it is the gift of the Spirit. What should occupy the head of the list of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, if not love? Without love, the other virtues could not be counted as such; and From love every goodness is born1. St. Jerome Through his love for many, Paul was stoned; and in the midst of his temptation, God honored him, as death did not conquer him, or temptation destroyed him. Paul could be delivered to death, yet he could never be conquered2. Pontiff Gregory the Great Temptations draw God’s mercies to the soul, the same way the wind draws rain. The heavy rain can destroy the new weak plant, but some mild wind can dry it out and make it strong. So are the mild temptations with the soul. The prophet says, “Lord, in trouble they have visited you” (Isa 26: 16) 3. Father Dorothius, Bishop of Gaza “Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14: 22). The faith of the two apostles Paul and Barnabas and their amazing love for ministry is demonstrated by their return to the cities from where they were driven out, and where there were many opponents. They returned to strengthen the souls of the disciples, disregarding death, but by the power of the Spirit challenging it. They did not only bear the tribulations of Christ, but they were actually heading their way. The apostle Paul expressed his desire to die for the sake of Christ, in his farewell epistle to his disciple Timothy: “This is a faithful saying, ‘For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim 2: 11). "Persecutions succeeded to persecutions: wars, fightings, stonings. These things, not less than the miracles, both made them more illustrious, and prepared for them a greater rejoicing. The Scripture nowhere says that they returned rejoicing because they had done miracles, but (it does say), that “they rejoiced, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame in His name” (Acts 5: 41). And this they were taught of Christ, saying, “Do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you” (Luke 10: 20.) For the joy indeed and without alloy is this, to suffer aught for Christ's sake" 4. St. John Chrysostom 1 Ep. To Gal. 3.5.22. 2Morality 1.31. Ch. 15 PG 76.610. 3Discourses, 13. 4Hom. On Acts. Hom. 31 622 "Therefore no one can receive a reward, unless he has striven lawfully; nor is the victory a glorious one, unless the contest also has been toilsome" 1. St. Ambrose You are committed to fight the devil every day under the leadership of Christ. Yet, you should not seek the reward during the battle, which is kept for you in the kingdom. During the battle, it is not fitting for you to expect what is kept for you when you conquer, but you should rather concentrate your mind on the words of the apostle: “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3: 12), and, “We must by many tribulations, enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14.22) 2. We should not seek the joy (the comfort) in this world, as although the true joy can be prepared here, yet it cannot be obtained here. During the journey, you should not seek what is kept for you in your home. We should live in a way by which we are qualified to return to our main home with joy, where we shall find, longing to see us, and welcome us, those who preceded us of patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. There we shall find our fellow citizens, the angels in the heavenly Jerusalem, together with Christ the King of that city, waiting for us with open arms of love. If we cast away the devil and get filled with good work, we can then return to them. You know, brethren, that all travelers are anxious while on their way, but if they rid themselves of worrying about their home, they will feel great joy when they reach it with great prophet. So are we, beloved brethren. We prepare ourselves for joy, when we are qualified to go to Christ. At the same time, let us here rejoice, but only in hope, to acquire later on the true joy3. In order to introduce St. James as pure gold in the coming judgment, Our God first removed from him all the wrinkles of sin (through many tribulations), so that the other witness would find him without anything to burn4. As long as man wishes to consummate the work of the devil, he would not feel him opposing him. But if man forsakes him, drinks from the rock, chooses to follow Christ, and refuses to prefer him to Christ, he is committed to bear the animosity of the devil. Whoever unites with Christ is committed to prepare himself for the battle, not for the pleasures, as “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3: 12)5. We have to know and to understand, beloved brethren that tribulations will never depart from Christians as long as they live in this body. May nobody promise himself with what the gospel has not, As long as, with the approach of the end of this world – according to the gospel – “Lawlessness will abound, and love of many will grow cold” (Matt 24: 12). We should prepare ourselves, not only for repentance, but also for patience6. 1Duties of the Clergy. 1.15. 2 Fr. Caesarius of Arles. Sermons, 215.3. 3 Sermon 215.4. 4 Sermon 91.4. 5 Sermon 103.3. 6 Sermon 154.1. 623 If we first strive in this world through the consummation of good works, we, being rewarded by God, shall reach the kingdom1. Indeed when we seek God in truth, we shall suffer from the haughtiness of the wicked, as they do not worship Christ by the same way they were preached 2. Fr. Caesarius Bishop of Arles Suffering is a true bond, a support for a greater love, and a basis for perfection and spiritual goodness. Let us listen to the words: “When you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing” (Sir 2: 1). Once more, Christ says, “In the world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer” (John 16: 33). Everywhere you shall see suffering commended; and everywhere, suffering will be accepted as something necessary for us. In the world, nobody will gain a crown without suffering, unless he commits himself to a special system of eating, practicing, and watching. So how much more would this be for him who is in this battle?3. St. John Chrysostom "we are men, your life in the midst of temptation's snares is, beset with the greatest possible dangers" 4. St. Augustine As the world should go through the winter before the spring with its abundance of flowers, so it is fitting for man to go through numerous temptations before the inheritance of eternal life. And according to the apostle Paul: “By numerous tribulations, we enter the kingdom of God”. Temptations come in one of three ways: seduction, attraction, and acceptance. The devil seduces; the body is attracted; and the mind accepts5. St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14: 23). God allowed for the two apostles to pass through great tribulations, for the edification and spiritual growth of the church. Returning to the cities where they were persecuted, they were looked upon by the believers with higher appreciation and greater dignity, that they found no difficulty to choose priests to minister in the churches there, especially that their selection was not through issuing apostolic commands, but through the fellowship of the whole congregation in fasting and prayers. The souls of the two apostles found comfort in the ordination of priests, and they commended the whole congregation in every city, not to the hands of the priests, but to the Lord, the true Shepherd ministering to His church, keeping it, and caring for all its needs. As all were new in faith, and it was difficult to choose the ones good for ministry, they were selected by the spirit of fasting and praying, depending upon the work of the Holy Spirit. 1 Sermon 162.1. 2 Sermon 182.4. 3 Catena. 4 Letters, 250. 5 Introductory Tractate on James. 624 “And after they have passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia” (Acts 14: 24- 25). They returned through the same route they took, to visit the churches and the believers, until they came to the port of Attalia (Nowadays Antalia), the only city they did not visit on their coming, and in which they did not preach. 7- A JOYFUL REPORT IN ANTIOCH “From there they went down to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed” (Acts 14: 26). By returning to Antioch, the first preaching Journey of the two apostles: St. Paul and St. Barnabas was completed, which, as some believe, took three months, and as others believe, a whole year. “And when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that they had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples” (Acts 14: 27-28). Returning to the church, the two Ambassadors presented a report of the amazing grace of God which forced its way through the pagan cities, to shine with the divine light on regions where corruption has long prevailed, along with the pagan worship. The news of the return of the two apostles spread in Antioch, and the whole congregation came to the church to hear the most amazing story: that the Gentiles have accepted the faith; new churches have been established; and new priests have been ordained. It seems that the apostle Paul stayed a whole year in Antioch preaching and teaching. 625 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS 14 YOU ARE THE BEGINNING AND YOU ARE THE END With the beginning of the journeys of the apostle Paul, You were the beginning: And on the way, You were the Way; And up to the end, You have carried him through. You were the secret of his success all along the way. Through You, the apostle carried many as though on the wings of the Spirit. The apostle faced a persistent opposition. And with every opposition, his heart grew stronger and more courageous. He counted the sufferings as the way to conquest. And in every tribulation, he enjoyed Your spacious heart. His faith in You increased; And Your grace has never forsaken him. He got an abundant uncountable crop. The Jews joined forces with the Gentiles to oppose Your apostles. And those who were bitter enemies to one another cooperated to destroy Your church. The enemies reconciled to join forces to oppose the Truth. Let all the forces of darkness unite against You. In the midst of the battle, Your amazing power is transfigured. Many signs and miracles, both apparent and hidden were done. No one could hinder Your divine work. With every opposition, Your rich grace is transfigured. Transfigure in us alone. And to You, let every glory be presented, O Savior of the world. To You alone, sacrifices of praise are presented. To You alone, every dignity is presented. Let Your ministers be invisible, for You to glorify in them. Several emperors and great figures referred Your deity to themselves. In their haughtiness, they sought Your glory, a glory for themselves; Whereas, Your ministers did not bear to hear a word of glory; Or any dignity of Yours, to be referred to them. Their glory is that You glorify in them, as well as in others; And their dignity is that all present dignity to You. In an amazing humility, the apostle Paul says That he is immortal like them; That he is the foremost among sinners; In order to embrace by his loving heart every soul to You, O, Savior of sinners.
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