19. But Peter who had the Holy Ghost, and
who knew what he possessed, says, “Men of Israel, ye who
preach Joel, but know not the things which are written, these men
are not drunken as ye suppose Ib. v.
15.. Drunken
they are, not however as ye suppose, but according to that which is
written, They shall be drunken with the fatness of thy house; and
thou shalt make them drink of the torrents of thy pleasure Ps. xxxvi. 8.. They are drunken, with a sober
drunkenness, deadly to sin and life-giving to the heart, a drunkenness
contrary to that of the body; for this last causes forgetfulness even
of what was known, but that bestows the knowledge even of what was not
known. They are drunken, for they have drunk the wine of the
spiritual vine, which says, I am the vine and ye
are the branches John xv. 5.. But if ye are not persuaded by
me, understand what I tell you from the very time of the day; for it
is the third hour of the day Acts ii. 25,
and 15.. For He
who, as Mark relates, was crucified at the third hour, now at the third
hour sent down His grace. For His grace is not other than the
Spirit’s grace, but He who was then crucified, who also gave the
promise, made good that which He promised. And if ye would
receive a testimony also, Listen, he says: “But
this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to
pass after this, saith God, I will pour forth of My Spirit Joel ii. 28.—(and this word, I will pour
forth, implied a rich gift; for God giveth not the Spirit by
measure, for the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into
His hand John iii. 34, 35.; and He has given
Him the power also of bestowing the grace of the All-holy Spirit on
whomsoever He will);—I will pour forth of My Spirit unto all
flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; and
afterwards, Yea, and on My servants and on My handmaidens I will
pour out in those days of My Spirit, and they shall
prophesy Joel ii. 29..” The
Holy Ghost is no respecter of persons; for He seeks not dignities, but
piety of soul. Let neither the rich be puffed up, nor the poor
dejected, but only let each prepare himself for reception of the
Heavenly gift.