{"author":null,"canonical_references":[],"database_sha256":"8cfbe7284c6936871d57c02dc6aa63ebbdfd4722422d539dd9f716e46e91112e","date_end":null,"date_start":null,"edition_year":null,"id":"sermonindex-ecf-3138","native_reference":{"book_number":510,"chapter_from":4,"chapter_to":4,"system":"MyBible module coordinates (mapping unverified)","verse_from":31,"verse_to":31},"public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"verse-keyed-module-record","review_required":["English edition and exact text","author/work attribution","dating","verse mapping and citation kind","reuse and attribution","split author quotations and deduplicate"],"review_status":"unreviewed","source_html":"<p><b>Arator</b>: The power of the apostles' words, which made those created from earth have faith, altered and set in motion the ground; but as to the fact that the one place leaped and was shaken more [than others], Scripture announced that beautiful [are the] feet that bring peace; therefore the joyful earth was moved under the tread of them [the apostles] to whom peace was given by the word of the holy Master. Transported through them, it has gone out into all lands with its swift favor.<br/><i>— ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1</i></p><p><b>Bede</b>: And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken. Those who sought the strength of firm hearts against the deceit of the enemy received the sign of their prayer being heard through the earthquake, so that they might understand that the earthly hearts were to yield to them. When the Holy Spirit came upon them, even the earth itself was struck with fear. Although it might be understood as the joyful fear of those who, by believing, were to be subjected to the apostles, and who, with their earthly heaviness shaken off, learned to rise with Christ and seek heavenly things.<br/><i>— Commentary on Acts</i></p><p><b>Bede</b>: And they spoke the word of God with confidence. In the Greek it is added: To everyone willing to believe. Also, in the following reading, when it was said: And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul, here too in the Greek manuscripts, which our Codices do not have, it is added: And there was no division among them. And then, which is also contained in our Codices in a subdued manner: Nor did anyone say that what they possessed was their own. Blessed Cyprian also placed this sentiment in the third book of Testimonies, saying: \"But the crowd of those who believed were of one heart and soul; nor was there any distinction among them, nor did anyone consider any of their possessions to be their own.\" This passage fits well and coheres aptly with what was said above, since those who received the Holy Spirit on the holy day of Pentecost, though all were Galileans, spoke in the tongues of all who were present from different parts of the world, both Jews and proselytes. For there indeed, through the uniting of different languages, it was beautifully foreshadowed that the holy Church, by the gift of the same Spirit, would have one heart and soul among the different nations and languages across the world. For it is not for all believers to speak in all tongues, but the unity of different tongues in the faith of Christ was a sign, because there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Eph. IV).<br/><i>— Retractions on Acts</i></p><p><b>Irenaeus</b>: These [are the] voices of the Church from which every Church had its origin; these are the voices of the metropolis of the citizens of the new covenant; these are the voices of the apostles; these are voices of the disciples of the Lord, the truly perfect, who, after the assumption of the Lord, were perfected by the Spirit, and called upon the God who made heaven, and earth, and the sea,-who was announced by the prophets,-and Jesus Christ His Son, whom God anointed, and who knew no other [God]. For at that time and place there was neither Valentinus, nor Marcion, nor the rest of these subverters [of the truth], and their adherents. Wherefore God, the Maker of all things, heard them. For it is said, \"The place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness\" to every one that was willing to believe.<br/><i>— Against Heresies Book 3.12.5</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: \"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together.\" This was the proof that they were heard, and of His visitation. \"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.\" What means, \"They were filled?\" It means, They were inflamed; and the Gift burned up within them. \"And they spake the word of God with boldness.\"<br/><i>— Homily on Acts 11</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: \"For when they had prayed,\" it is said, \"the place was shaken.\" And wherefore this was done, hear from the prophet, when he says, \"He looketh on the earth, and maketh it to tremble.\" For by this He made it manifest that He is present to their prayers. And again, another prophet saith, \"The earth was shaken, and did tremble at the presence of the Lord.\" And God did this, both to make it more awful, and to lead them on to a courageous trust. \"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.\" They gained increased boldness. As it was the beginning of their work, and they had besought a sensible sign for their persuasion-but after this we nowhere find the like happening-therefore great was the encouragement they received. In fact, they had no means of proving that He was risen, save by miraculous signs. So that it was not only their own assurance that they sought: but that they might not be put to shame, but that they might speak with boldness.<br/><i>— Homily on Acts 11</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: \"The place was shaken,\" and that made them all the more unshaken. For this is sometimes a token of wrath, sometimes of favor and providence, but on the present occasion, of wrath. For in those times it took place in an unusual manner. Thus, at the Crucifixion, the earth was shaken: and the Lord Himself says, \"Then there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.\" But then the wrath of which it was a sign was against the adversaries: as for the disciples, it filled them with the Spirit. Observe, even the Apostles, after the prayer, are \"filled with the Holy Ghost.\"<br/><i>— Homily on Acts 11</i></p><p><b>Oecumenius</b>: The sign that the prayer had been heard was an earthquake: sometimes, however, it happens that the sign is of anger. To be filled with the Holy Spirit signifies to be wholly devoted to the given operation of the divine Spirit and little turned away by fleshly things: or that they were inflamed, and the gift was burning in them, on account of which they spoke with freedom, disregard bodily dangers, from which gift also was the heart and soul, as it were the source of spiritual actions. For \"heart\" now signifies that, as it were, the first subsistence of the animal, which also sustains vital functions.<br/><i>— Commentary on Acts</i></p><p><b>Oecumenius</b>: It was, then, that which contributes to the pleasing of God. For the control of the intellect is to disregard dangers. But the characteristic of the vital principle is that the management of bodily affairs be determined, that the few things necessary for living, and how much is needed to live, be supplied to the possessor, while all that is lacking for life bears fruit. Also concerning the place shaken, one must understand this: the earthquake occurred to terrify the unbelieving and those who were conspiring, and to lead the apostles into boldness. For the purpose and necessity of such signs was that they themselves be strengthened.<br/><i>— Commentary on Acts</i></p>","source_html_sha256":"8cd63833fd5e1ecb0113dbf59b1d6bcc95443f8a9489abfb5da32b7a8b75f1cc","source_module":"ECF","source_row_id":3138,"source_url":"https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ecf/","text_sha256":"93d4e26492e839969cbf38731cc3b9a8c252c46c4fddd4c7d5337e8f79ab19ab","translator":null,"work":null}