Ephrem the Syrian : "From the first day," that is, from that day when you began to fast, being inflamed by the desire to learn those things that you asked, so that you persevered in praying and supplicating before your God. "Your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words": your prayers led me, as well, to prepare a plan for the salvation of your people according to your vows. — COMMENTARY ON Daniel 10:12 Hippolytus of Rome : "And he raised me from my knees and said to me, 'Daniel cherished man, understand in the words which I myself will speak to you and stand up in your place because now I am sent to you.' And when he spoke this word I stood trembling and he said to me, 'Do not be afraid Daniel because from the first day which you gave your heart to understand and to be afflicted before God, your words were heard.'" [Daniel 10:10-12] Behold, how strong the piety of the righteous man, so that the future things which have not yet been manifested in this world, are revealed to the worthy alone. First he was made to understand by the angel Gabriel, then secondly, by the Lord himself he was made wise. — Commentary on Daniel 4.39.1-3 Jerome : Verse 12. "And he said to me: 'Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day when thou didst set thine heart to understand and to afflict thyself in the sight of thy God (variant: thy Lord), thy words have been heard and granted, and I have come forth in response to thy words" (Vulgate: on account of thy words). On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, that is, of Nisan, after three weeks or twenty-one days had elapsed, he beheld this vision, and he heard from the angel that on the very first day he had begun to pray and to afflict himself before God, his words had been heard and granted. The question arises why, if he had been heard, was the angel not sent to him right away. Well, by reason of the delay an opportunity was afforded him of praying to the Lord at greater length, so that in proportion as his earnest desire was intensified, he might by his effort the more fully deserve to hear. And as for the angel's statement, "And I have come in response to thy words," his meaning is this: "After thou didst begin to invoke God's mercy by good works and tearful supplication and fasting, then I for my part embraced the opportunity of entering in before God and praying for thee." — Commentary on Daniel, Chapter Ten