Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily 6

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

Acts II. 22

You men of Israel, hear these my words.

[ He men of Israel ]: it is not for flattery that he uses this term; but, as he has borne hard upon them, he relaxes a little, and puts them in mind of their great ancestor [ Israel ]. Here again he begins with an introduction, that they may not become excited, now that he is going to make express mention to them of Jesus: for in what preceded, there was no reason why they should be excited, while the Prophet was the subject of discourse: but the name of Jesus would have given offense at the very outset.— And he does not say, Do as I bid you, but, Hear; as being not at all exacting. And observe how he forbears to speak of the high matters, and begins with the very low: Jesus, he says: and then straightway mentions the place He belonged to, being one which was held in mean estimation: Jesus of Nazareth: and does not say anything great about Him, nor even such as one would say about a Prophet, so far: Jesus, he says, of Nazareth, a man proved (to be) from God among you. Observe; what great matter was this, to say that He was sent from God? For this was the point which on all occasions both He and John and the Apostles were studious to show. Thus hear John saying: The same said to me On whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and abiding on him, this is He. [[John 1.33]] But Christ Himself does this to an extreme; Of Myself I am not come, He sent Me. [[John 7.28]] And everywhere in the Scriptures this seems the point most studiously insisted upon. Therefore also this holy leader of the blessed company, the lover of Christ, the good shepherd, the man put in trust with the keys of heaven, the man who received the Spiritual Wisdom, when he has first subdued the Jews by fear; and has shown what great things have been vouchsafed to the disciples, and what a right they have to be believed, then first proceeds to speak concerning Him. Only think what boldness it was to say it, in the midst of the murderers — that He is risen! And yet he does not all at once say, He is risen; but what?— He came, says he, from God: this is manifest by the signs which — he does not yet say, Jesus Himself wrought: but what?— which God wrought by Him in the midst of you. He calls themselves as witnesses. A man proved (to be sent) from God among you, by miracles and wonders and signs, which God wrought by him in the midst of you, as also ye yourselves know. Then, having fallen upon the mention of that their sacrilegious outrage, observe how he endeavors to quit them of the crime: Him, he says, being by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God delivered up: [[Acts 2.23]] [adding however,] you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: for though it was predetermined, still they were murderers. [ By the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God: ] all but using the same words as Joseph did; just as he said to his brethren; Be not angry one with another by the way: God sent me hither. [[Genesis 45.5]]