and filled them first. After that offence of Simon, what did God do? See Him teaching, not
by words but by things. That same Philip, who had baptized the men, and the Holy Ghost
had not come upon them, unless the Apostles had met together and laid their hands upon
them, baptized the officer, that is, the eunuch of queen Candace, who had worshipped in
Jerusalem, and returning thence was reading in his chariot Isaiah the Prophet,3237 and un-
derstood it not. Philip being admonished went up to his chariot, explained the Scripture,
unfolded the faith, preached Christ.3238 The eunuch believed on Christ, and said when they
came unto a certain water, “See water, who doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip said to
him, Dost thou believe on Jesus Christ? He answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God. Immediately he went down with him into the water.”3239 When the mystery and
sacrament of Baptism had been accomplished, that the gift of the Holy Ghost might not be
thought to be of men, there was no waiting, as in the other case, for the Apostles to come,
but the Holy Ghost3240 came forthwith. Thus was Simon’s thought destroyed, lest in such
a thought he might have followers.
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12. Again, another more wonderful example. Peter came to Cornelius the centurion,3241
to a Gentile man, uncircumcised: he began to preach Christ Jesus both to him, and to those
who were with him. “While Peter was yet speaking,”3242 I do not say, when as yet he had
not laid on his hands, but when he had not even yet baptized them, and when they who
were with Peter were in doubt whether the uncircumcised ought to be baptized (for there
had arisen an offence between the Jews who believed, and those who had been brought to
the faith from among the Gentiles, between the Jews, that is, and the Christians who were
baptized though uncircumcised), that God might take away this question, “while Peter was
speaking, the Holy Ghost came,” filled Cornelius, filled them who were with him. And by
this very attestation of so great a thing, as it were a loud voice came to Peter, “Why dost
thou doubt of water? Already I am here.”
13. So then let every soul which is to be delivered from her manifold wickedness by the
grace of the Lord, to be cleansed as it were in the Church from her filthy prostitution, believe
with all assurance, approach the Feet of the Lord, seek His Footsteps, confess in pouring
out tears upon them, and wipe them with her hair. The Feet of the Lord are the preachers
3237 Acts viii. 28.
3238 Acts viii. 29.
3239 Acts viii. 36, etc.
3240 St. Augustin probably conceives of the presence of the Holy Ghost, which “caught away Philip,” as
sanctifying the Eunich. “He went on his way rejoicing,” his Baptism being perfected. St Augustine is followed
by the Gloss Ord.
3241 Acts x. 25.
3242 Acts x. 44.
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On the words of the Gospel, Luke vii. 37, ‘And behold, a woman who was in…