17. But wouldest thou know that the Apostles
knew and preached the name of Christ, or rather had Christ Himself
within them? Paul says to his hearers, Or seek ye a proof of
Christ that speaketh in me 2 Cor. xiii. 3.? Paul
proclaims Christ, saying, For we preach not ourselves, but Christ
Jesus as Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’
sake Ib. iv.
5.. Who then is
this? The former persecutor. O mighty wonder! The
former persecutor himself preaches Christ. But wherefore?
Was he bribed? Nay there was none to use this mode of
persuasion. But was it that he saw Him present on earth, and was
abashed? He had already been taken up into heaven. He went
forth to persecute, and after three days the persecutor is a preacher
in Damascus. By what power? Others call friends as
witnesses for friends but I have presented to you as a witness the
former enemy: and dost thou still doubt? The testimony of
Peter and John, though weighty, was yet of a kind open to
suspicion: for they were His friends. But of one who was
formerly his enemy, and afterwards dies for His sake, who can any
longer doubt the truth?