St. John Chrysostom,
Homily 18 on the Acts of the Apostles,
3. Wednesday after Pasha,
For, to show that this was the
case, and that it was the Spirit of miracles they had not received, observe
how, having seen the result, Simon came and asked for this. And when Simon saw that through laying on of
the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying,
Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the
Holy Ghost. (v. 18, 19.)
The persecution, say you, gained
strength. True, but at that very time to men possessed before (by a hostile
power) it brought deliverance. For it planted the miracles like a stronghold,
in the heart of the enemy's country.— Not even the death of Stephen quenched
their rage, nay, increased it rather: it scattered wide the teachers, so that
the greater became the discipleship.— And there was joy. And yet there had been great lamentation: true; but mark
again the good— Of a long time was the
malady, but this man brought them deliverance.— And how came he to baptize
Simon also? Just as Christ chose Judas.— And beholding the signs which he did,
forasmuch as the others did not receive the (power of working) signs, he dared
not ask for it.— How was it then that they did not strike him dead, as they did
Ananias and Sapphira? Because even in the
old times, he that gathered sticks (on the sabbath-day) was put to death as a
warning to others Numbers 15:32
and in no other instance did any suffer the same fate. So too on the present
occasion, Peter said to him, Your money
perish, because you have imagined that the gift of God is to be purchased with
money.— Acts 8:20 Why had not
these received the Holy Ghost, when baptized? Either because Philip kept this
honor for the Apostles; or, because he had not this gift (to
impart); or, he was one of the Seven: which is rather to be said. Whence, I take
it, this Philip was one of the Apostles. But observe; those went not forth: it
was Providentially ordered that these should go forth and those be lacking,
because of theHoly Ghost: for they had received power to work miracles, but not
also to impart the Spirit to others: this was the prerogative of the Apostles.
And observe (how they sent) the chief ones: not any others, but Peter [and John
]. And when Simon, it says, saw that through laying on of the Apostles' hands
the Holy Ghost was given. He would not have said, And having seen, unless there
had been some sensible manifestation. Then laid they their hands on them, etc.
Just as Paul also did, when they spoke with tongues. Acts 19:6
Observe the execrable conduct of Simon. He offered money, with what object? And
yet he did not see Peter doing this for money. And it was not of ignorance that
heacted thus; it was because he would tempt them, because he wished to get
matter of accusation against them. And therefore also Peter says, You have no part nor lot in this matter, for
your heart is not right before God because you have thought, etc. Acts 8:21 Once more he brings to light
what was in the thoughts, because Simon thought to escape detection. Repent therefore of this yourwickedness and
pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I
perceive the bond of inquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the
Lord for me, that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me. Acts 8:22-24
Even this he did only formally, as
words of course, when he ought to have wept and mourned as a penitent. If
perchance it may be forgiven you. Not as though it would not have been
pardoned, had he wept, but this is the manner of theProphet also, to denounce
absolutely, (ἀ παγορεύειν) and not to say, Howbeit, if you do this, yoursin
shall be forgiven, but that in any wise the punishment shall take effect.
(a) Therefore they that were
scattered abroad, went everywhere, preaching the word. But I would have you
admire how even in a season of calamity they neglected not the preaching.
Hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Recapitulation,
(b) By degrees it is, that those
receive the gift. It was a twofold sign: both the giving to those, and the not
giving to this man. Whereas then this man ought, on the contrary, to have asked
to receive the Holy Ghost, he, because he cared not for this, asks power to
give It to others. And yet those received not this power to give: but this man
wished to be more illustrious than Philip, he being among the disciples! (a) He
offered them money. (v. 18, 19.)
What? Had he seen the others doing this? Had he seen Philip? Did he imagine
they did not know with whatmind he came to them? (b) Your money with you to perdition Acts 8:20: since you have not used
it as it ought to be used. These are not words of imprecation, but of
chastisement. To you, he says, be it (to you): being such. As if one should
say, Let it perish along with your purpose. Have you so mean conceptions of the
gift of God, that you have imagined it to be altogether a thing of man? It is
not this.
(a) Wherefore also Peter well calls
the affair a gift: You have thought that the gift of Godmay be purchased with
money. Do you observe how on all occasions they are clean from money? For your heart is not right in the sight of
God. Acts 8:21 Do you see
how he does all of malice? To be simple, however, was the thing needed.
(b) For had it been done with
simplicity, he would have even welcomed his willing mind. Do you see that to
have mean conceptions of great things is to sin doubly? Accordingly, two things
he bids him: Repent and pray, if haply
the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. Acts 8:22 Do you see it was a wicked thought
he had entertained? Therefore he says, If
haply it may be forgiven you: because he knew him to be incorrigible.
(a) For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond
of iniquity. Acts 8:23 Words of
exceeding wrath! But otherwise he did not punish him: that faith may not
thereafter be of compulsion; that the matter may not seem to be carried
ruthlessly; that he may introduce the subject of repentance: or also, because
it suffices for correction to have convicted him, to have told him what was in
his heart, to have brought him to confess himself overcome (ὅ τι ἐ& 128 confession
that he has done wrong. Observe him, what a miscreant he is; when he was
convicted, then he believed: when again he was convicted, then he became
humble. Seeing his miracles, [he was amazed, and came over.] He thought to be
able to escape detection: he thought the thing was an art: but when he had not
power to defeat (ἑλεἵν) the Apostles,
* * *
(b) Again, he fears the multitude,
and is afraid to deny it; and yet he might have said, I did not know: I did it
in simplicity: but he was struck with dismay first by the former circumstance,
that he was overcome (ὅ τι ἐ& 128 wayoff, to Rome, thinking the Apostle would
not soon come there.
And they, when they had testified,
and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem. Acts 8:25 Testified,
probably because of him (Simon), that they may not be deceived; that thenceforth
they may be safe. Having preached, it says, the word of the Lord, they returned
to Jerusalem.Why do they go there again where was the tyranny of the bad, where
were those most bent uponkilling them? Just as generals do in wars, they occupy
that part of the scene of war which is most distressed. And preached the Gospel
in many villages of the Samaritans. Observe them again, how they do not
(προηγουμένως) of set
purpose come to Samaria, but driven by stress of persecution, just as it was in
the case of Christ; and how when the Apostles go there, it is to men now
believers, no longer Samaritans. But when the Apostles, it says, which were at
Jerusalem heard this, they sent unto them Peter and John. Sent them, again, to
rid them of magic. And besides, (the Lord) had given them a pattern at the time
when the Samaritans believed. And in many villages, it says, of the Samaritans,
they preached the Gospel. John 4:39 Observe how actively employed even their
journeys were, how they do nothing without a purpose.
Such travels should we also make.
And why do I speak of travels? Many possess villages and lands, and give
themselves no concern, nor make any account of this. That baths may be
provided, their revenues increased, courts and buildings erected, for this they
take plenty of pains: but for the husbandry of souls, not so. When you see
thorns— answer me— you cut them up, you burn, you utterly destroy them, to rid
your land of the hurt thence arising. And do you see the labourers themselves
overrun with thorns, and dost not cut them up, and are you not afraid of the
Owner Who shall call you to account? For ought not each individual believer to
build a Church, to get a Teacher, to cooperate (συναίconvert (πεῖσαι) him.
By the means which are in your power, convert him; by kindness, by good
offices, by gentleness, by courting (κολακεί& 139 Churches:
nay, sooner everything than this! Wherefore I beseech and implore, as a favor I
entreat, yea as a law I lay it down, that there be no estate to be seen
destitute of a Church. Tell not me, There is one hard by; there is one in the
neighboring properties; the expense is great, the income not great. If you have
anything to expend upon the poor, expend it there: better there than here.
Maintain a Teacher, maintain a Deacon, and a sacerdotal body complete. As by a
bride, whether a wife whom you take, or a daughter whom you give in marriage,
so act by the Church: give her a dowry. So shall your estate be filled with blessing.
For what shall not be there of all that is good? Is it a small thing, tell me,
that your wine-press should be blessed; a small thing, tell me, that of your
fruits God is the first to taste, and that the first fruits are there (with
Him)? And then even for the peace of the laboring people this is profitable.
Then as one whom they must respect, there will be the presbyter among them and
this willcontribute to the security of the estate. There will be constant
prayers there through you (infra, note 1, p. 119) hymns and Communions through
you; the Oblation on each Lord's Day. For only consider what a praise it will
be, that, whereas others have built splendid tombs, to have it said hereafter: Such
a one built this, you have reared Churches! Bethink you that even until the
coming of Christyou shall have your reward, who hast reared up the altars of
God.
Suppose an Emperor had ordered you
to build an house that he might lodge there, would you not have done everything
to please him? And here now it is palace of Christ, the Church, the Church
which you build. Look not at the cost, but calculate the profit. Your people
yonder cultivate your field: cultivate thou their souls: they bring to you your
fruits, raise thou them to heaven. He that makes the beginning is the cause of
all the rest: and you will be the cause that the people are brought under Christian
teaching (κατηχουμένων) both
there, and in the neighboring estates. Your baths do but make the peasants less
hardy, your taverns give them a taste for luxury, and yet you provide these for
credit's sake. Your markets and fairs, (πανηγύρεις) on
the other hand, promote covetousness. But think now what a thing it would be to
see a presbyter, the moving picture of Abraham, gray-headed, girded up, digging
and working with his own hands? What more pleasant than such a field! Their
virtuethrives. No intemperance there, nay, it is driven away: no drunkenness
and wantonness, nay, it is cast out: no vanity, nay, it is extinguished. All
benevolent tempers shine out the brighter through the simplicity of manners.
How pleasant to go forth and enter into the House of God, and to know that one
built it himself: to fling himself on his back in his litter, and after the
bodily benefit of his pleasantairing, be present both at the evening and the
morning hymns, have the priest as a guest at his table, in associating with him
enjoy his benediction, see others also coming there! This is a wall for his
field, this its security. This is the field of which it is said, The smell of a
full field which the Lord has blessed. Genesis 27:27 If, even without this, the
country is pleasant, because it is so quiet, so free from distraction of
business, what will it not be when this is added to it? The country with a Church
is like the Paradise of God. No clamor there, no turmoil, no enemies at
variance, no heresies: there you shall see all friends, holding the same
doctrines in common. The very quiet shall lead you to higher views, and
receiving you thus prepared by philosophy, the presbyter shall give you an
excellent cure. For here, whatever we may speak, the noise of the market drives
it all out: but there, what you shall hear, you will keep fixed in your mind.
You will be quite another man in the country through him: and moreover to the
people there he will be director, he will watch over them both by his presence
and by his influence in forming their manners. And what, I ask, would be the
cost? Make for a beginning a small house (ἐ ν τάξει ναοὕ) to serve
as temple. Your successor will build a porch, his successor will make other
additions, and the whole shall be put to your account. You give little, and
receive the reward for the whole. At any rate, make a beginning: lay a
foundation. Exhort one another, vie one with another in this matter. But now,
where there is straw and grain and such like to be stored, you make no
difficulty of building: but for a place where the fruits of souls may be
gathered in, we bestow not a thought; and the people are forced to go miles and
miles, and to make long journeys, that they may get to Church! Think, how good
it is, when with all quietness the priest presents himself in the Church, that
he may draw near unto God, and say prayers for the village, day by day, and for
its owner! Say, is it a small matter, that even in the Holy Oblations evermore
your name is included in the prayers, and that for the village day by day
prayers are made unto God?— How greatly this profits you for all else! It
chances that certain (great) persons dwell in the neighborhood, and have
overseers: now to you, being poor, one of them will not deign even to pay a
visit: but the presbyter, it is likely, he will invite, and make him sit at his
table. How much good results from this! The village will in the first place be
free from all evil suspicion. None will charge it with murder, with theft: none
will suspect anything of the kind.— They have also another comfort, if sickness
befall, if death.— Then again the friendships formed there by people as they go
side by side (to and from the Church) are not struck up at random and
promiscuously: and the meetings there are far more pleasant than those which
take place in marts and fairs. The people themselves also will be more
respectable, because of their presbyter. How is it you hear that Jerusalem was
had in honor in the old times above all other cities? Why was this? Because of
the then prevailing religion. Therefore it is that where God is honored, there
is nothing evil: as, on the contrary, where He is not honored, there is nothing
good. It will be great security both with God and with men. Only, I beseech
you, that you be not remiss: only may you put your hand to this work. For if he
who brings out the precious from the vile, shall be as the mouth of God
Jeremiah 15:19; he who benefits and recovers so many souls, both that now are
and that shall be even until the coming of Christ, what favor shall not that
person reap from God! Raise thou a garrison against the devil: for that is what
the Church is. Thence as from headquarters let the hands go forth to work:
first let the people hold them up for prayers, and then go their way to work.
So shall there be vigor of body; so shall the tillage be abundant; so shall all
evil be kept aloof. It is not possible to represent in words the pleasure
thence arising, until it be realized. Look not to this, that it brings in no
revenue: if thou do it at all in this spirit, then do it not at all; if you
account not the revenue you get thence greater than from the whole estate
beside; if you be not thus affected, then let it alone; if you do not account
this work to stand you more in stead than any work beside. What can be greater
than this revenue, the gathering in of souls into the threshing-floor which is
in heaven! Alas, that you know not how much it is, to gain souls! Hear what
Christ says to Peter, Feed My sheep. John 21:15-17 If, seeing the emperor's sheep, or
herd of horses, by reason of having no fold or stable, exposed to depredation,
thou were to take them in hand, and build a fold or stables, or also provide a
shepherd or herdsman to take charge of them, what would not the emperor do for
you in return? Now, you gather the flock of Christ, and put test a shepherd
over them, and do you think it is no great gain you are earning? But, if for
offending even one, a man shall incur so great a punishment, how can he that
saves so many, ever be punished? What sin will he have thenceforth? For, though
he have it, does not this blot it out? From the punishment threatened to him
that offends, learn the reward of him that saves. Were not the salvation of
even one soul a matter of great importance, to offend would not move God to so
great anger. Knowing these things, let us apply ourselves immediately to this spiritual
work. And let each invite me, and we will together help to the best of our
ability. If there be three joint-owners, let them do it by each bearing his
part: if but one, he will induce the others also that are near. Only be earnest
to effect this, I beseech you, that in every way being well-pleasing unto God,
we may attain unto the eternal blessings, by the grace and mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ with Whom to the Father and the Holy Ghost together be glory,
dominion, and honor, now and ever world without end. Amen.
