Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily 5

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

Acts II. 14

You men of Judea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words.

[ He men of Judea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, ] whom the writer above described as strangers. Here he directs his discourse to those others, the mockers, and while he seems to reason with those, he sets these right. For indeed it was divinely ordered that some mocked, that he might have a starting-point for his defense, and by means of that defense, might teach. [ And all you that dwell in Jerusalem. ] It seems they accounted it a high encomium to dwell in Jerusalem too. Be this, says he, known unto you, and hearken unto my words. In the first instance he made them more disposed to attend to him. For not as you suppose, says he, are these drunken. Do you observe the mildness of his defense? [[Acts 2.15]] Although having the greater part of the people on his side, he reasons with those others gently; first he removes the evil surmise, and then he establishes his apology. On this account, therefore, he does not say, as you mock, or, as you deride, but, as you suppose; wishing to make it appear that they had not said this in earnest, and for the present taxing them with ignorance rather than with malice. For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. And why this? Is it not possible at the third hour to be drunken? But he did not insist upon this to the letter; for there was nothing of the kind about them; the others said it only in mockery. Hence we learn that on unessential points one must not spend many words. And besides, the sequel is enough to bear him out on this point: so now the discourse is for all in common. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, And it shall come to pass in the last days, says the Lord God. (v. 16, 17. [[Joel 2.28]].) Nowhere as yet the name of Christ, nor His promises but the promise is that of the Father. Observe the wisdom: observe the considerate forbearance: ( συγκατάβασιν.) He did not pass on to speak at once of the things relating to Christ; that He had promised this after His Crucifixion; truly that would have been to upset all. And yet, you will say, here was sufficient to prove His divinity. True, it was, if believed (and the very point was that it should be believed ); but if not believed, it would have caused them to be stoned. And I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh. He offers even to them excellent hopes, if they would have them. And so far, he does not leave it to be regarded as the exclusive advantage of himself and his company; which would have made them be looked upon with an evil eye; thus cutting off all envious feeling. And your sons shall prophesy. And yet, he says, not yours this achievement, this distinction; the gift has passed over to your children. Himself and his company he calls their sons, and those [whom he is addressing] he calls his and their fathers. And your young men shall see visions, and your ol