Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily 33

St. John Chrysostom

0. Greeting

Acts XV. 13, 15

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Symeon has declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets.

This (James) was bishop, as they say, and therefore he speaks last, and herein is fulfilled that saying, In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. [[Deuteronomy 17.6]]; [[Matthew 18.16]] But observe the discretion shown by him also, in making his argument good from the prophets, both new and old. For he had no acts of his own to declare, as Peter had and Paul. And indeed it is wisely ordered that this (the active) part is assigned to those, as not intended to be locally fixed in Jerusalem, whereas (James) here, who performs the part of teacher, is no way responsible for what has been done, while however he is not divided from them in opinion. ( b ) Men and brethren, he says, hearken unto me. Great is the moderation of the man. His also is a more complete oration, as indeed it puts the completion to the matter under discussion. ( a ) Symeon, he says, declared: (namely,) in Luke, in that he prophesied, Which You have prepared before the face of all nations, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. lettest Thou Thy servant depart."—It is remarkable that it does not occur to Chrys. that Symeon is Simon Peter, though [[2 Peter 1.1]] has Συμέων Πέτρος in the Cod. Alexandr., and many other mss. In the Mod. text Chrys. is made to say: "Some say that this is he who is mentioned by Luke: others, that he is some other person of the same name. ( [[Acts 13.1]]?) But whether it be the one or the other is a point about which there is no need to be particular; but only to receive as necessary the things which the person declared." ( c ) How God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His Name. [[Luke 2.25]] Then, since that ( witness ), though from the time indeed he was manifest, yet had not authority by reason of his not being ancient, therefore he produces ancient prophecy also, saying, And to this agree the words of the Prophets, as it is written: After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up. [[Acts 15.16]] What? Was Jerusalem raised up? Was it not rather thrown down? What sort of raising up does he call that which took place after the return from Babylon? That the residue of men, he says, may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles upon whom My Name is called. [[Acts 15.17]] Then, what makes his word authoritative — Says the Lord, which does all these things: and, for that this is no new thing, but all was planned from the beginning, Known unto God are all His works from everlasting. [[Acts 15.18]] And then again his authority ( καὶ τὸ ἀξίωμα πάλιν ) (as Bishop): Wherefore my sentence is, that we troub