149. In like manner, what Matthew states thus, “When ye therefore shall see the abom-
ination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, whoso
readeth let him understand,”1192 is put in the following form by Mark: “But when ye shall
see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not, let him that readeth under-
stand.”1193 But though the phrase is thus altered, the sense conveyed is the same. For the
point of the clause “where it ought not,” is that the abomination of desolation ought not to
be in the holy place. Luke’s method of putting it, again, is neither, “And when ye shall see
the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place,” nor “where it ought not,” but, “And
when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with an army, then know that the desolation thereof
is nigh.” 1194 At that time, therefore, will the abomination of desolation be in the holy place.
150. Again, what is given by Matthew in the following terms: “Then let them which be
in Judæa flee into the mountains; and let him which is on the house-top not come down to
take anything out of his house; neither let him which is in the field return back to take his
clothes,”1195 is reported also by Mark almost in so many words. On the other hand, Luke’s
version proceeds thus: “Then let them which are in Judæa flee to the mountains.”1196 Thus
far he agrees with the other two. But he presents what is subsequent to that in a different
form. For he goes on to say, “And let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let
not them that are in the countries enter thereinto: for these be the days of vengeance, that
all things which are written may be fulfilled.” Now these statements seem to present differ-
ences enough between each other. For the one, as it occurs in the first two evangelists, runs
thus: “Let him which is on the house-top not come down to take anything out of his house;”
whereas what is given by the third evangelist is to this effect: “And let them which are in the
midst of it depart out.” The import, however, may be, that in the great agitation which will
arise in the face of so mighty an impending peril, those shut up in the state of siege (which
is expressed by the phrase, “they which are in the midst of it”) will appear upon the housetop
[or “wall”], amazed and anxious to see what terror hangs over them, or what method of escape
may open. Still the question rises, How does this third evangelist say here, “let them depart
out,” when he has already used these terms: “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed
with an army”? For what is brought in after this—namely, the sentence, “And let not them
that are in the countries enter thereinto”—appears to form part of one consistent admonition;
1192 Matt. xxiv. 15.
1193 Mark xiii. 14. [The Greek text of Mark, according to the best authorities, does not contain the phrase
“spoken of by Daniel the prophet.” Augustin also omits the clause, but the Edinburgh edition inserts it, following
the Authorized Version. It has therefore been stricken out in this edition.—R.]
1194 Luke xxi. 20.
1195 Matt. xxiv. 16–18.
1196 Luke xxi. 21.
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Of the Harmony Subsisting Between the Three Evangelists in Their Narratives…