Interpretation of the Acts of the Holy Apostles

Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Introduction 1. Contents of the book of Acts of the Holy Apostles This book is called “The Acts of the Holy Apostles” because it contains the acts of all the apostles. And the person who narrates these acts is the Evangelist Luke, who also wrote this book. Being an Antiochian by birth and a doctor by profession, he accompanied the other apostles, especially Paul, and writes about what he knows quite thoroughly. This book also tells how the Lord ascended to heaven at the appearance of the Angels; further tells about the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and on everyone present then, as well as the election of Matthias instead of Judas the traitor, the election of seven deacons, the conversion of Paul and what he endured. In addition, it tells about the miracles the apostles performed with the help of prayer and faith in Christ and about Paul’s journey to Rome. So, Luke sets out the acts of the apostles and the miracles performed by them. The miracles he describes are as follows: 1) Peter and John heal in the name of the Lord a man lame from birth, who was sitting at the door 2 called Red. 2) Peter exposes Ananias and his wife Sapphira for withholding part of what they promised God, and they immediately died. 3) Peter raises the weakened Aeneas to his feet. 4) Peter in Joppa resurrects the dead Tabitha with prayer. 5) Peter sees a vessel coming down from heaven filled with animals of every kind. 6) Peter’s shadow, falling on the weak, heals them. 7) Peter, held prisoner in prison, is freed by an Angel, so that the guards do not see this, and Herod, eaten by worms, gives up the ghost. 8) Stephen performs signs and wonders. 9) Philip in Samaria casts out many spirits and heals the lame and paralytic. 10) Paul, approaching Damascus, sees the apparition and immediately becomes a preacher of the Gospel. 11) The same Philip meets a eunuch reading on the way and baptizes him. 12) Paul in Lystra, in the name of the Lord, heals a man lame from birth. 13) Paul is called by vision to Macedonia. 14) Paul in Philippi heals a woman (youth) possessed by an inquisitive spirit. 15) Paul and Silas are imprisoned and their feet are placed in stocks; but in the middle of the night an earthquake occurs and their bonds fall away. 16) Ubrists - aprons - from the body of Paul were placed on the weak and possessed, and they were healed. 17) Paul in Troas resurrects Eutychus, who fell from a window and died, saying: “His soul is in him” (Acts 20:10). 18) Paul in Cyprus condemns the sorcerer Elymas, and this sorcerer becomes blind. 19) Paul and all those with him on the ship are overtaken by a fourteen-day storm on their way to Rome. And when everyone was expecting death, an Angel appeared to Paul and said: “Behold, God has given you all those who sail with you” (Acts 27:24) - and everyone was saved. 20) When Paul got off the ship, 3 he was bitten by a viper, and everyone thought that he would die. And since he remained unharmed, they considered him to be God. 21) Paul, by the laying on of hands, heals the father of the chief Poplius, who was suffering from dysentery, on the island; He also treats many other patients. Travels of St. Paul the Apostle Paul began his journey from Damascus and came to Jerusalem; from here he went to Tarsus, and from Tarsus to Antioch, and then again to Jerusalem, and again, for the second time, to Antioch; from here, having been assigned together with Barnabas to the work of the apostleship, he arrived in Seleucia, then to Cyprus, where he began to be called Paul; then went to Perga, then to Antioch of Pisidia, to Iconium, to Lystra, to Derbe and Lycaonia, then to Pamphylia, then again to Perga, then to Attalia, then again, for the third time, to Syrian Antioch, for the third time to Jerusalem regarding circumcision, then again, for the fourth time, arrived in Antioch, then again, a second time, to Derbe and Lystra, then to Phrygia and the country of Galatia, then to Moisia, then to Troas and from there to Naples, then to Philippi, a city of Macedon; then, having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, he came to Thessalonica, then to Beria, to Athens, to Corinth, to Ephesus, to Caesarea, then, for the second time, to Antioch of Pisidia, then to the country of Galatia and to Phrygia, then again, for the second time, to Ephesus; then, having passed through Macedonia, again, for the second time, he arrived at Philippi and from Philippi - again to Troas, where he resurrected the fallen Eutychus. Then he arrived in Asson, then in Mytilene; then he landed on the shore opposite Khiy; then he arrived in Samos and from there to Melitus, where he called the Ephesian elders and talked with them; then he went to Kon (Koos), then to Rhodes, from here to Patara, then to Tire, to Ptolemais and from here to Caesarea, from where again, for the fourth time, he returned to Jerusalem. From Jerusalem he was sent to Caesarea and, finally, being sent as a prisoner to Rome, he thus arrived from Caesarea to Sidon, then to Myra in Lycia, then to Cnidus, and from here, after many hardships, arrived on the island on which he was stung by an echidna; then he headed to Syracuse, then to Rigia Calabria, then to Potioli, and from here he walked to Rome. Here, at the Appian marketplace and three taverns, the believers met him. Arriving in this way in Rome, he taught here for a sufficient time 4 and, finally, in Rome itself he accepted martyrdom after the good deed that he labored here. The Romans erected a beautiful building and basilica on his remains, annually celebrating his feast day on the third day before the Kalends of July. 5 And before this blessed man gave a lot of advice regarding honesty of life and virtue, and also gave a lot of practical instructions; moreover, what is especially important, in his fourteen messages he set out all the rules of human life. Main Subjects of the Book of Acts About the teaching of Christ after the resurrection, about the appearance of His disciples and the promise to them of the gift of the Holy Spirit, about the form and image of the Ascension of the Lord and about His glorious second coming. Peter's speech to his disciples about the death and rejection of Judas the traitor. About the Divine descent of the Holy Spirit on believers on the day of Pentecost. About the healing in the name of Christ of a man lame from birth; The favorable, admonishing and salvation-disposing edification made by Peter on this occasion. On the unanimous and complete communion of believers. About how the apostles imprisoned in prison were brought out of it at night by the Angel of God, commanding them to preach Jesus without restraint. On the election and ordination of seven deacons. Revolt and slander of the Jews against Stephen; his speech is about God's covenant with Abraham and about the twelve patriarchs. About the persecution of the Church and the death of Stephen. About the sorcerer Simon, who believed and was baptized with many others. That the gift of the Holy Spirit is not given for money and not to hypocrites, but to believers according to their faith. That God favors salvation for good and faithful people, as can be seen from the example of the eunuch. About the Divine calling of Paul from heaven to the work of the apostleship of Christ. About the paralytic Aeneas, healed in Lydda by Peter. About how an angel appeared to Cornelius and how again there was a proclamation from heaven to Peter. How Peter, condemned by the apostles for associating with the uncircumcised, tells them in order everything that happened, and how at the same time he sends Barnabas to the brethren who were in Antioch. The prophecy of Agave about the famine that was going to happen throughout the entire universe, and the help provided by the Antiochian believing brethren in Judea. The murder of the Apostle James 6 is also about the punishment of the guards and the bitter and disastrous death of the wicked Herod. About Barnabas and Saul, sent by the Divine Spirit to Cyprus, and about what they did in the name of Christ with the sorcerer Elimas. Pavlov's rich teaching about Christ based on the law and the prophets, with historical and evangelical characteristics. About how, preaching Christ in Iconium, the apostles were expelled from there after many believed. Об исцелении апостолами в Листре хромого от рождения; as a result of which they were accepted by the inhabitants for the gods who had descended to them; Paul is stoned. О том, что не должно обрезывать обращавшихся язычников; рассуждения и постановление апостолов. О наставлении Тимофея и об откровении Павлу отправиться в Македонию. 7 About the disturbance that occurred in Thessalonica as a result of the gospel preaching, and about the flight of Paul to Beria and from there to Athens. About the inscription on the altar in Athens and about the wise preaching of Paul. About Aquila and Priscilla, about the quick faith of the Corinthians and about the foreknowledge of God's favor towards them, which was communicated to Paul through revelation. About the baptism of those who believed in Ephesus, about the communication of the gift of the Holy Spirit to them through the prayer of Paul and about the healings performed by Paul. О смерти и воззвании к жизни Евтиха молитвой Павла в Троаде; Pastoral exhortation to the elders of Ephesus. Пророчество Агава о том, что имеет случиться с Павлом в Иерусалиме. James exhorts Paul not to forbid Jews to be circumcised. О возбужденном в Иерусалиме возмущении против Павла и о том, как тысяченачальник отнял его из рук толпы. About what Paul suffered when he appeared before the Sanhedrin, what he said and what he did. About the atrocities that the Jews plotted against Paul, and about their denunciation of him to Lysias. On the accusation of Paul by Tertullus before the hegemon and on his acquittal. About Felix's successor Fest and the latter's mode of action. The arrival of Agrippa and Bernice and the communication of information about Paul to them. Исполненное весьма многих и весьма великих опасностей морское путешествие Павла в Рим. How Paul arrived in Rome from Melitus. About Paul's conversation with the Jews who were in Rome. Святого отца нашего Иоанна, архиепископа Константинопольского, Златоустого, предуведомление к Деяниям святых апостолов Many, and not just anyone, knew neither the book itself nor the person who compiled and wrote it. Therefore, I considered it necessary to undertake this interpretation with the goal of both teaching those who do not know, and not allowing such a treasure to be unknown and hidden under a bushel, because no less than the Gospels themselves, insight into such wisdom and such right teaching, and especially that accomplished by the Holy Spirit, can bring us benefit. So, let us not ignore this book; on the contrary, let us study it with all possible care, because in it we can see those predictions of Christ actually fulfilled that are contained in the Gospels; in it one can also see the truth shining in the deeds themselves, and a great change for the better in the disciples, wrought upon them by the Holy Spirit. In it one can find dogmas that would not be so clearly understood by anyone if it were not for this book; without it, the essence of our salvation would remain hidden and some of the dogmas of the teaching and the rules of life would remain unknown. But most of the content of this book consists of the acts of the Apostle Paul, who labored more than anyone else. The reason for this was that the writer of this book, Blessed Luke, was a disciple of Paul. His love for his teacher is evident from many other things, but especially from the fact that he was inseparably with his teacher and constantly followed him, while Dimas and Hermogenes left him: one went to Galatia, the other to Dalmatia. Listen to what Paul himself says about Luke: “Luke alone is with me” (2 Tim. 4:10); and, in the Epistle to the Corinthians, he says about him: “They sent... a brother praised in all churches for his gospel” (2 Cor. 8:18); also when he says that “he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve; I remind you... the Gospel which I preached to you, which you also received” (1 Cor. 15:1,5), meaning his Gospel; so no one will sin if this work of Luke (the book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles) is attributed to Him; When I say “to Him,” I mean Christ. If someone says: “Why did Luke, being with Paul until the end of his life, not describe everything?” - then we will answer that this was enough for the zealous, that he always focused on what was especially needed, and that the primary concern of the apostles was not writing books, since they conveyed a lot without writing. But everything contained in this book is worthy of surprise, especially the adaptability of the apostles, which the Holy Spirit instilled in them, preparing them for the work of economy. Therefore, while talking so much about Christ, they spoke a little about His Divinity, and more about His incarnation, His suffering, resurrection and ascension. Ибо цель, к которой они стремились, заключалась в том, чтобы заставить слушателей уверовать, что Он воскрес и вознесся на небеса. Как Сам Христос более всего старался доказать, что Он от Отца пришел, так и Павел более всего старался доказать, что Христос воскрес, вознесся, отошел к Отцу и от Него приходил. For if before the Jews did not believe that He came from the Father, then the whole teaching of Christ seemed to them much more incredible after the legend of His resurrection and ascension into heaven was added to it. Therefore, Paul imperceptibly, little by little, brings them to an understanding of more sublime truths; and in Athens Paul even calls Christ simply a man, without adding anything else, and this is not without purpose, because if Christ Himself, when He spoke about His equality with the Father, was often attempted to be stoned and called a blasphemer of God for this, then they could hardly accept this teaching from the fishermen, and, moreover, after His crucifixion on the cross. And what can we say about the Jews, when the disciples of Christ themselves, listening to the teaching about more sublime subjects, were confused and tempted? That is why Christ said: “I still have much to say to you; but now you cannot contain it” (John 16:12). If they could not “accommodate,” they, who were with Him for so much time, who were initiated into so many mysteries and saw so many miracles, then how could the pagans, having abandoned altars, idols, sacrifices, cats and crocodiles (because this was the pagan religion) and other unholy rituals, suddenly be able to accept the sublime word about Christian dogmas? How did the Jews, who daily read and heard the following saying from the law: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deut. 6:4), I am and there is no God beside Me” (Deut. 32:39), and at the same time saw Christ crucified on the cross, and most importantly, crucified Him and put Him in the tomb and did not see His resurrection - how did these people, hearing that this very the husband is God and equal to the Father, could they not be embarrassed and not fall away completely, and, moreover, faster and easier than everyone else? Therefore, the apostles gradually and imperceptibly prepare them and show great skill in adapting, while they themselves receive more abundant grace of the Spirit and in the name of Christ perform greater miracles than those performed by Christ Himself, in order in one and another way to raise them, prostrate on the earth, and awaken in them faith in the word of the resurrection. And therefore this book is primarily proof of the resurrection, because by believing in the resurrection everything else was conveniently perceived. And anyone who has thoroughly studied this book will say that this is primarily its content and its whole purpose. Let us first listen to the very beginning of it. It is unknown which writer owns the articles that make up this Introduction. – Note. ed. Temple of Solomon. – Note. ed. To the island of Melite. – Note. ed. Here ends the stories about Paul contained in the Acts, the rest comes from other sources. – Note. ed. The Romans called the first day of each month Kalends; the previous day, that is, the last day of the previous month, was called the day before the calendar; the penultimate day of the previous month was called the third day before the Kalends. So, the third day before the Kalends of July was the penultimate one, that is, the 29th day of June. – Note. ed. On the field: the release of Peter from prison by the Angel. More than half of the sixteenth chapter is omitted here: the story of Lydia, the healing of a young woman possessed by an inquisitive spirit, the imprisonment of the apostles for this healing and their Divine liberation, and the conversion of the prison guard to faith. – Note. ed. You might be interested in: