Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily 29

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

Acts XIII. 16, 17

Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and you that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought He them out of it.

Behold Barnabas giving place to Paul — how should it be otherwise?— to him whom he brought from Tarsus; just as we find John on all occasions giving way to Peter: and yet Barnabas was more looked up to than Paul: true, but they had an eye only to the common advantage. Then Paul stood up, it says — this was a custom of the Jews — and beckoned with his hand. And see how he prepares the way beforehand for his discourse: having first praised them, and showed his great regard for them in the words, you that fear God, he so begins his discourse. And he says not, You proselytes, since it was a term of disadvantage. The God of this people chose our fathers: and the people — See, he calls God Himself their God peculiarly, Who is the common God of men; and shows how great from the first were His benefits, just as Stephen does. This they do to teach them, that now also God has acted after the same custom, in sending His own Son; [[Luke 20.13]]: as (Christ) Himself (does) in the parable of the vineyard — And the people, he says, He exalted when it sojourned in the land of Egypt — and yet the contrary was the case: true, but they increased in numbers; moreover, the miracles were wrought on their account: and with an high arm brought He them out of it. Of these things (the wonders) which were done in Egypt, the prophets are continually making mention. And observe, how he passes over the times of their calamities, and nowhere brings forward their faults, but only God's kindness, leaving those for themselves to think over. And about the time of forty years suffered He their manners in the wilderness. [[Acts 13.18]] Then the settlement. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided their land to them by lot. [[Acts 13.19]] And the time was long; four hundred and fifty years. And after that He gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. [[Acts 13.20]] Here he shows that God varied His dispensations towards them (at various times). And afterward they desired a king: and (still) not a word of their ingratitude, but throughout he speaks of the kindness of God. And God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. [[Acts 13.21]] And when he had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their king: to whom also He gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, which shall fulfil all My will. Of this man's seed has God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus. (v. 22, 23.) This was no small thing that Christ should be from David. Then John bears witness to this: When John had fi