Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily 16

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

[[Acts 7.6]]-7

And God spoke on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve Me in this place.

See, what a number of years the Promise has been given, and the manner of the Promise, and nowhere sacrifice, nowhere circumcision! He here shows, how God Himself suffered them to be afflicted, not that He had anything to lay to their charge. And they shall bring them into bondage, etc. But nevertheless, they did not these things with impunity. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage I will judge, said God. For, "Seest thou?" So Edd. to show that they are not to go by this, in estimating who are pious (by reason of their saying, He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him, ) [[Matthew 27.43]].— He, the Same that promised, He that gave the land, first permits the evils. So also now, though He has promised a Kingdom, yet He suffers us to be exercised in temptations. If here the freedom was not to be till after four hundred years, what wonder, with regard to the Kingdom? Yet he performed it, and lapse of time availed not to falsify His word. Moreover, it was no ordinary bondage they underwent. And the matter does not terminate solely in the punishment of those (their oppressors); but they themselves also, He says, shall enjoy a mighty salvation. Here he reminds them too of the benefit which they enjoyed. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so he begot Isaac. Here he lets himself down to lower matters. And circumcised him on the eighth day: and Isaac (begot) Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. [[Acts 7.8]].— Here he seems to hint now at the type. And the patriarchs moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. [[Acts 7.9]] Here again, the type of Christ. Though they had no fault to find with him, and though he came on purpose to bring them their food, they thus ill-treated him. Still here again the promise, though it is a long while first, receives its fulfillment. And God was with him — this also is for them — and delivered him out of all his afflictions. [[Acts 7.10]]. He shows that unknowingly they helped to fulfil the prophecy, and that they were themselves the cause, and that the evils recoiled on their own selves. And gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, Gave him favor, in the eyes of a barbarian, to him, the slave, the captive: his brethren sold him, this (barbarian) honored him. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren. [[Acts 7.11]]-13. They came down to buy, and had to depend upon him for everything. What then did he? [ He made himself known to his brethren: ] not