Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness"[1] to every one that was willing to believe.[2] "And with great power," it is added, "gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,"[3] saying to them, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye seized and slew, hanging [Him] upon a beam of wood: Him hath God raised up by His right hand[4] to be a Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are in this witnesses of these words; as also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that believe in Him."[5] "And daily," it is said, "in the temple, and from house to house, they ceased not to teach and preach Christ Jesus,"[6] the Son of God. For this was the knowledge of salvation, which renders those who acknowledge His Son's advent perfect towards God.
6. But as some of these men impudently assert that the apostles, when preaching among the Jews, could not declare to them another God besides Him in whom they (their hearers[7]) believed, we say to them, that if the apostles used to speak to people in accordance with the opinion instilled into them of old, no one learned the truth from them, nor, at a much earlier date, from the Lord; for they say that He did Himself speak after the same fashion. Wherefore neither do these men themselves know the truth; but since such was their opinion regarding God, they had just received doctrine as they were able to hear it. According to this manner of speaking, therefore, the rule of truth can be with nobody; but all learners will ascribe this practice to all [teachers], that just as every person thought, and as far as his capability extended, so was also the language addressed to him. But the advent of the Lord will appear superfluous
- ↑ Acts iv. 31.
- ↑ The Latin is, "ut convertat se unusquisque."
- ↑ Acts iv. 33.
- ↑ This is following Grabe's emendation of the text. The old Latin reads "gloria sua," the translator having evidently mistaken δεξιᾷ for δόξῃ.
- ↑ Acts v. 30.
- ↑ Acts v. 42.
- ↑ These words have apparently been omitted through inadvertence.
