Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily 28

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

Acts XIII. 4, 5

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

As soon as they were ordained they went forth, and hasted to Cyprus, that being a place where was no ill-design hatching against them, and where moreover the Word had been sown already. In Antioch there were (teachers) enough, and Phœnice too was near to Palestine; but Cyprus not so. However, you are not to make a question of the why and wherefore, when it is the Spirit that directs their movements: for they were not only ordained by the Spirit, but sent forth by Him likewise. And when they had come to Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. Do you mark how they make a point of preaching the word to them first, not to make them more contentious? The persons mentioned before spoke to none but to Jews only [[Acts 11.19]], and so here they betook them to the synagogues. And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. [[Acts 13.6]]-8 Again a Jew sorcerer, as was Simon. And observe this man, how, while they preached to the others, he did not take it much amiss, but only when they approached the proconsul. And then in respect of the proconsul the wonder is, that although prepossessed by the man's sorcery, he was nevertheless willing to hear the Apostles. So it was with the Samaritans: and from the competition ( συγκρίσεως ) the victory appears, the sorcery being worsted. Everywhere, vainglory and love of power are a (fruitful) source of evils! But Saul, who is also Paul, — [[Acts 13.9]] here his name is changed at the same time that he is ordained, as it was in Peter's case, — filled with the Holy Ghost, looked upon him, and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou child of the devil: [[Acts 13.10]] and observe, this is not abuse, but accusation: for so ought forward, impudent people to be rebuked thou enemy of all righteousness; here he lays bare what was in the thoughts of the man, while under pretext of saving he was ruining the proconsul: will you not cease, he says, to pervert the ways of the Lord? (He says it) both confidently ( αξιοπίστως ), It is not with us you are warring, nor are you fighting (with us), but the ways of the Lord you are perverting, and with praise (of these, he adds) the right ways. And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind. [[Acts 13.11]] It was the sign by which he was himself converted, and by this he would fain convert this man. As also that express