Мысли при чтении Апостольских деяний

Chapter 1. The Lord Jesus did everything for people to assure them of the truth of His Divine origin and mission. He presented the strongest proof of His Divinity in His resurrection from the dead: because it [death] could not restrain Him [Acts. 2:24 ], as Life and Source of life for all. Having suffered to death and resurrected, He showed Himself alive before the apostles and after the resurrection with many true, and not illusory and false, evidence, appearing to them for forty days and speaking about the Kingdom of God [v. 3], which He preached to people during His life before His death on the cross and into which He wanted to attract everyone. Among these signs, the most convincing thing for our sensual nature was that He ate bread, honeycomb, fish and other foodstuffs before the eyes of the apostles. Although, of course, not in order to reinforce His strength with food: the spiritual, glorified nature of His Divine body now possessed life and power not elemental and plump, but Divine, so that all solid and rough materiality now disappeared before the unapproachable power and glory of His Divinity. This was necessary precisely for the sensual nature of the apostles, who, having not yet received the Holy Spirit, looked at everything with sensual eyes. How many people there are even now who will not first believe any spiritual truth unless they are experimentally convinced of it, unless they see it with their own eyes! How, they ask, did Jesus Christ really rise from the dead? How do we know this, how can we be convinced of this? We didn't see this. So, look, people who trust more in their coarse feelings than in the holy and true Word of God: Jesus Christ, after His resurrection for forty whole days, appeared to the sensual nature of the apostles, allowing them to see His glorified body and eating before them - although, of course, He appeared more and more tangibly to their soul, which, at His appearances, was filled with an inexplicable peace, tasting the wonderful, life-giving joy of His presence. with them was the God of peace and bliss - their heart, which burned with the living flame of holy love: did not our heart burn within us when He spoke to us on the road... [Lk. 24:32]. Think, slaves of the sensual nature: what constitutes the highest degree of evidence - our feelings, stout, rough, earthly, corruptible, or the word of God and the sensations of the soul, spiritual, immortal, godlike? I think you will agree that the word of God and the sensations of the soul. Believe this and do not look for sensory evidence of the Divinity of the Founder of our faith and all the truths He taught for our salvation. These temporary, crude feelings are not given to us so that they undermine our trust in holy, spiritual truths. They are elemental things, and therefore we will leave them to deal only with elemental objects; They do not have the right to bring objects of the spiritual world under their laws; for them there are others, their own laws - in the soul: spiritual with spiritual and it is necessary to reason, according to the Apostle [1 Cor. 2:13]. Chapter 2, v. 3 and 4. And cloven tongues as of fire appeared to them, and one rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. From this account of the coming of the Holy Spirit, let all nations, tribes and languages ​​know who you are and where you come from. You are weak creatures (weak, I say, because there are creatures that are stronger in strength - Angels), creatures of the Spirit of God, moved and quickened by Him; your thought is expressed in one or another language not only because your parents and compatriots speak in one and not another language, since in this case it is still necessary to assume another reason why they speak in this and not another language - but because the Spirit of God, the all-creating and all-arranging one, was pleased to clothe your thoughts in this and not another form. Language is the outer shell of our thought - just as the body is the outer, material cover of the invisible, spiritual nature of our soul. Thought is a child of the soul, in everything similar to its mother - in itself the same spiritual, intangible, generally not subject to any external sense; the word, or language, is clothing, a cover of thought, which becomes, as it were, visible and tangible in it. The Spirit of God is the Creator of our rational, thinking, free soul. He could do (as he actually did at the beginning) so that all people spoke the same language and, thus, by the unity of the language itself showed the unity of their origin - from one Creator. But since this unity served people to the detriment of their depravity, the Spirit of God took away the monotonous clothing from their thoughts and gave them a motley, multi-colored one, so that by this motley they could not recognize the native, common and essentially identical thoughts of all. So, if a commoner in simple clothes is dressed in the clothes of a warrior, then it is very difficult to recognize him as the former commoner, although his face, the whole head and, perhaps, other signs remain from his previous appearance. But thought is completely covered by its own shell - language, so that, if I can put it this way, it hides its face under it. [Ch.] 2. The apostles spoke in different God-given languages ​​about the great deeds of God [v. 11]. Learn from this that with our tongue we must also glorify the greatness, goodness and love of God. Rotten words should never come out of our mouths. The word is an expression of the thought of a rationally free, immortal soul: let it always be prudent, free not for evil, but for good and immortal, that is, so that it does not die according to the spirit of love, holiness and edification with which it is pronounced, like the all-creating thought of the Divine Spirit. Chapter 3. About the healing of the lame. 6 tbsp. I have no silver or gold; and what I have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk. The gifts of God and the holy men of God are incomparably higher than our human gifts. But alms also mean a lot in the eyes of God. Apostle Peter's speech to those who marveled about this healing... About the power of faith in Jesus Christ. Art.19. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Chapter 4, Article 12. There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Chapter 5, Article 29. One must obey God rather than men. Chapter 7, 48[-50] art. The Most High does not live in churches made with hands, as the prophet says: Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what place for My rest? Was it not My hand that created all this? Chapter 8. Saul, the future Paul the Apostle, deigned to kill a holy man like Stephen. What wonderful transformations! The moral world is rich in such examples. Art.5 et seq. The Apostle preaches the gospel in Samaria and works miracles. About Simon the Magus. Believers in Samaria; the sorcerer himself believes, is baptized and lives with Philip; in horror at the powers and signs performed by the hands of the apostles, he marvels. The Apostles James and John bring down the Holy Spirit on the inhabitants of Samaria - the believers. The madness of Simon, who thought to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit with money. Angel's words to Philip. He's on the empty road from Jerusalem to Gaza. At the word of the Holy Spirit, Philip approaches the chariot of the eunuch of the Ethiopian queen Candace, who was returning from Jerusalem, and pesters her. He hears the eunuch reading a passage from the prophet Isaiah: He was led like a sheep to the slaughter... [v.32]. He asks if he understands what he is reading. The answer is no. Philip preaches the good news about Jesus. Clerk 25 is baptized. The Holy Spirit attacks the kazhenik, and the Angel of the Lord takes away Philip, who soon found himself in Azoth. God's vision for the salvation of people is marvelous. The Lord Jesus saw the disposition of the thoughts and heart of the pagan eunuch to accept faith in Christ, and so He chose His apostle as the instrument of His grace. The Holy Spirit commands His Angel to tell Philip to go south, to the path leading from Jerusalem to Gaza, along which, unknown to Philip, the said eunuch, who came there to worship, was returning back from the holy city. It is said that Philip goes and finds him. The Holy Spirit, who works out our salvation in Christ, commands us to come and cleave to the chariot of the eunuch. A little time - the pagan is baptized; the deed is done - and Philip is transported in spirit to Azoth. Chapter 9, [v.] 6. He (Saul) said in trembling and horror: Lord! what do you want me to do? and the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the city; and it will be told to you what you need to do. While residing in heaven, the Lord at the same time remains on earth; therefore, the vision and voice of the Lord came to Saul from heaven, and at the same time the same Lord on earth instructs Ananias how he should receive the converted Saul and what to say to him. The Lord did not appear to Saul on earth, but in heaven: 1) because He actually ascended in the flesh into heaven, without being separated from us, and we believe that He will sit in heaven at the right hand of the Father; 2) because the appearance from heaven is more amazing than the appearance on earth. Versions 33 and 34. There (in Lydda) he, the Apostle Peter, found a man named Aeneas, who had been lying in bed in relaxation for eight years. Peter said to him: Aeneas! Jesus Christ heals you; get out of your bed. And he immediately stood up. Such is the power of faith in the Divinity of Jesus Christ. What unity is there between the apostle and the Lord: what Peter wants, the Lord wants the same; as Peter does, so does Jesus Christ: he that is united with the Lord is one spirit with the Lord [1 Cor. 6:17]. This means that he who cleaves to the Lord is in some way omnipotent, just as the Lord is omnipotent. Near Lydda was the city of Joppa. Here was Tabitha’s student, Serna, who died after an illness; Two people are sent for Peter, he comes with them, enters the upper room, prays on his knees and, turning to the body of the deceased, says: Tabitha! stand up [v.40]. The dead woman opens her eyes, sees Peter and - where does the strength come from - gets up and sits down. Peter gives her his hand and pulls her to her feet. O Divine power of faith! What cannot be done with you: with you I can move mountains from place to place; with you I can command the material world and the spirits of evil in high places! But you are a gift from God. I must earn you from God by good deeds and by trying to win you. Chapter 10. About the conversion of Cornelius and his relatives and friends. How wonderfully this conversion works out, in a Divine way! An Angel appears to Cornelius, praying in his house, who tells him to call the Apostle Peter to his house. But how will Peter go to a pagan when he knows that it is forbidden for a Jew to communicate or become close to a foreigner [v. 28]? This obstacle was also miraculously removed. Before those sent from Cornelius came to the Apostle Peter to call him, he had a heavenly vision in the upper room of the house where he was praying. This vision enlightened him that the pagans should not be abhorred as unclean, because God had cleansed them too with His Honest Blood. Peter comes to the house of Cornelius, preaches the gospel to them about Jesus Christ, and even during his preaching, Cornelius and everyone in his house receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, speak in different languages ​​and magnify God. Everyone is baptized. It is remarkable that the heavenly shroud with various animals appeared to both Cornelius and the Apostle Peter while they were praying: to one at the ninth hour, and to the other at the sixth. The timing is great too. Another remarkable thing is that before the vision of the heavenly shroud in the form of a tablecloth, the Apostle Peter was overcome with horror. Thus, even the saints of God are horrified by heavenly visions. The same thing happened to Abraham when he had a vision of fiery candles between the halves of sacrificial animals. Chapter 11, Article 18. And God gave the pagans repentance to life. And we, that is, our Russian ancestors, turned to God from paganism, and God gave us repentance to life. Let us glorify God for this. Grant to me, a sinner, God, before death, repentance into the eternal life. If you don't, I'll die forever. Art.21. And the hand of the Lord was with them (those who were scattered from the tribulation that were under Stephen), and a great number, believing, turned to the Lord. If we preach the Word of God and our preaching is successful, then this is a sure sign that the hand of the Lord is with us. But one must be rewarded by holiness of life and zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of people with all-powerful help from the Lord. Chapter 12. Peter was thrown into prison by Herod; The Church prays diligently for him. God heard this prayer. An angel appears to Peter in prison. The light bathed the prison from the glory of the heavenly visitor; he takes him out and leads him through two guards, after which he comes to an iron gate; the gates open by themselves. (Before what earthly king did the heaviest iron gate ever open, even a simple, ordinary gate!) Then one street passes - and the Angel disappears. Peter comes to his senses. Glory to Thee, O God, wondrous in Thy saints! Chapter 13, Article 15. After the reading of the law and the prophets (in Antioch of Pisidia), the leaders of the synagogue sent to say to them, the apostles: men and brethren! If you have a word of instruction for the people, speak. On this sinful, passionate, restless and sorrowful earth, which is obviously passing by, what word of consolation can we say to people if not the word of faith, the word about the future endless Kingdom in heaven awaiting the worthy! The word of faith, and it alone, is truly a word of consolation to people. Let us preach it and console pious souls with it. Verses 38 and 39. Let it be known to you, men and brethren, that for His sake the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you; and in everything in which you could not be justified by the law of Moses, everyone who believes is justified by him. Know everything that for the sake of the Lord, for the sake of His merits before the justice of God, anyone can receive remission of all sins, no matter what one has, and be righteous by the righteousness of Christ, if only he believes in the Lord and His merits and repents of his sins. The inhabitants of Antioch liked the words of heavenly consolation so much that on the following Saturday almost the whole city came together to listen to the words of God [v.44]. Chapter 14, 8[-11, 15–18] art. In Lystra a certain man, who could not use his legs, sat lame from his mother's womb, and had never walked. He listened to Paul speak, who, looking at him and seeing that he had faith to receive healing, said in a loud voice: I say to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: stand upright on your feet. And he immediately jumped up and began to walk. When the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in Lycaonian: The gods have come down to us in human form. Barnabas is hailed as Jupiter and Paul as Mercury because he was the first to speak. The priest of Jupiter the idol, who was in Pregradia, brought the youths, brought crowns to the gate and, together with the people, wanted to make a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. So firm and unshakable was the conviction of the priests and people that Paul and Barnabas were truly gods who had descended to earth in human form! So obvious and undeniable was the miracle performed by Paul! Paul and Barnabas rush into the people, crying out and saying: Men! what are you doing? And we are people like you, and we preach the gospel to you so that you turn from these lies to the Living God, who created heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that is in them, who in past generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways, although He did not cease to testify of Himself with good deeds, giving us rains from heaven and fruitful times and filling our hearts with food and joy. And, saying this, they barely convinced the people not to make sacrifices to them. Such was the power of conviction in the reality of the miracle and in the non-human origin of Paul and Barnabas. It is remarkable that Paul and Barnabas, seeing that they were taken for gods and wanted to make a sacrifice to them, rushed with force and haste into the crowd of people in order to stop their madness. They were afraid that the people would somehow really not give them Divine honor, since to admire the honor due to the One God is very sinful, impudent and stupid, and the apostles had before their eyes the example of Herod, who, out of pride, allowed the caresses in the church to call himself God, was struck for this by an Angel and, having been eaten by worms, died. Shouldn't the apostles have been afraid of offending the Living God by admiring His honor for themselves! Another remarkable fact is that the Apostle Paul decided to heal the lame man because he saw that he had faith to receive healing, and he himself heals him with strong faith in the omnipotence and goodness of Christ, expressing it with a great voice: I say to you... Everything is done by faith in the Lord Jesus as the Creator and Director of all things: illnesses are healed, nature is overcome, and demons are driven away. Just as some complex mechanism, built by the hand of a skilled mechanic and somehow spoiled, cannot be brought into full and correct operation by an ignorant person and he can easily damage its levers, wheels and springs if he wanted to correct it without the mechanic himself, who alone knows the laws of his machine - so in general it is impossible for any person to freely and with full knowledge of the matter correct shortcomings in human nature, this wise mechanism of the Heavenly Creator, without His almighty participation, and for In order to be worthy of this participation, you must have faith in God, living and active, which does not recognize anything as impossible for God and which is the very thing. 22 art. Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God. Chapter 15, 18[-19] art. All His works have been known to God from eternity. Therefore, I decide not to make it difficult for those who turn to God among the pagans (words of the Apostle James). This is where the beginning of our salvation [...] first of all, of course, is in the eternal council of God. From eternity God has predestined us to salvation: all His works have been known to God from eternity. Chapter 16, [v.] 18. In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her. And the spirit left at that same hour. Such is the power of the name of the Lord Jesus, terrible for demons. 26 Art. Suddenly (in the prison where Paul and Silas were chained) there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened. The watchman attempts suicide, thinking that the prisoners have escaped. The Holy Apostle Paul encourages him, saying that they are here. The watchman is baptized with his whole house. The earthquake was very strong: this is evident from the fact that the very foundation of the dungeon was shaken by it and the doors opened. Such is the power of God! Chapter 17, 24–28 Art. God, who created the world and everything in it, He, being the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in churches made by hands and does not require the service of human hands, as if He needed anything, Himself giving to all life and breath and everything. From one blood He produced the entire human race to inhabit the entire face of the earth, assigning predetermined times and limits to their habitation, so that they would seek God, would they feel Him and find Him, although He is not far from each of us: for by Him we live and move and have our being... How can He who is the boundless and indescribable Spirit, who created heaven and earth with their vast spaces, live in churches made with hands? It would be unworthy of the Divine to limit ourselves to some insignificant material building. Having created the human race, God provided for its members times and the limits of their settlement. This means that every nation, and even every person, is predestined to be born and live at a certain time, as well as to live in a certain place. We live to find the Lord who is near us. This is our merit: find the Lord, who gave you life and all blessings, who spread the sky over you like a skin, who spread the earth under you. Because you will seek the Lord, who is revealed to you in creation, you will receive the Kingdom of Heaven. But this search is sometimes associated with great difficulties: try to endure everything. The martyrs and martyrs, seeking the Lord, suffered and crucified themselves and were buried in His Baptism. 30[-31] Art. Having left the times of ignorance, God now commands people everywhere to repent, for He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness, through the Man He has appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead. (Do we need more means to assure people that the Lord Jesus Christ is God?) If God commands to repent - how not to repent: it means that repentance is necessary for us, really necessary, because the Lord has appointed a day on which he will righteously judge the universe, when unrepentant sinners will be condemned in truth, without mercy, and when the righteous will receive eternal bliss. Chapter 18, 9[-10] art. The Lord, in a vision at night (in Corinth), said to Paul: do not be afraid, but speak (and the apostle wanted to leave there) and do not keep silent, for I am with you, and no one will harm you, because I have many people in this city. Thus, the Lord is always with His chosen ones, preserving their lives as an instrument for arranging the good of others. He sees people devoted and serving Him from a pure heart in every place, because He is the one who searches hearts and wombs [Ps. 7:10]. He is the Purest Spirit, and therefore, not at all embarrassed by the material shell of our soul - the body, He sees our very soul, in all its nakedness, with all its thoughts and feelings, even, so to speak, their germs. Chapter 19, 11[-16] art. God performed many miracles through the hands of Paul (in Ephesus), so that handkerchiefs and aprons from his body were placed on the sick, and their illnesses ceased, and evil spirits came out of them. Even some of the wandering Jewish exorcists began to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying: We conjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches. This was done by some seven sons of the Jewish high priest Sceva. But the evil spirit answered: I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you? And a man in whom there was an evil spirit rushed at them, and, having overcome them, took such power over them that they, naked and beaten, ran out of that house. As a result, fear fell upon everyone, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Such was the fullness of God’s miraculous power in the apostle! Sweaty scarves and towels from Pavlova’s head healed ailments and cast out demons from people. This is what living faith and our love for God do: they make us one with God, life-giving and in a sense omnipotent, like God. But dead, cold faith without love for God can rarely produce miracles, and then only according to God’s special dispensation for the salvation of people. Thus, the children of Sceva the Judean, although they pronounced the name of the Lord Jesus over those possessed by an evil spirit, did nothing except arm themselves with an evil spirit. It’s funny to imagine how a man possessed by an unclean spirit rode on them! How brave the demon was against the zealots of the old law! Chapter 20, 24 Art. But I do not look at anything and do not value my life, just so that with joy (in all troubles and sorrows) I can finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, preaching the gospel of the grace of God. 27 art. I did not fail to proclaim to you the whole will of God. [31 v.] Therefore, stay awake, remembering that for three years I taught each of you day and night without ceasing with tears [Church glory: Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock... watch, remembering how for three years I taught you without ceasing, night and day, with tears]. Here, priests, is an example of your service to the flock of the Lord. Do not value your life for the salvation of Christ’s sheep, but only think about how you can end your service with joy, despite any troubles that may occur in your service. Try to tell your flock the whole will of God, so that they do not make excuses through ignorance. Be attentive to yourself and to your flock constantly, at all times: your flock was purchased by the Blood of the Lord. If possible, if circumstances require, do not be lazy day and night to teach your parishioners with tears. Chapter 21, [v.] 13. I not only want to be a prisoner, but I am ready to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Oh, if the Lord would give us such fervent faith in Him that we would always be ready for all kinds of self-sacrifice for Him! But now what do we sacrifice for Him? - Almost nothing. We do not want to often sacrifice cutting off impure thoughts and passions for the All-Holy God. Chapter 22, 20[-22] art. When the blood of Stephen, Your witness, was shed, I (Paul) stood there, approved of his murder and guarded the clothes of those who beat him. And He said to me: Go; I will send you far to the pagans. Before this word they (the inhabitants of Jerusalem) listened to him; and then they raised a cry, saying: Destroy such a one from the earth! for he should not live. The people became so embittered when they heard the testimony of Jesus Christ. Is it necessary to remain silent and not preach the word of the gospel now, when the Orthodox people (!) do not want to listen to the preacher and are bored with his words? But let us listen to what the Lord says to Paul in the next chapter. Chapter 23, Article 11. The next night the Lord appeared to him and said: Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome. This means, no matter what, one must preach. Chapter 24, v. 14–16. But this I confess to you, that according to the teaching (faith in the Redeemer), which they call heresy, I truly serve the God of my fathers, believing everything written in the law and the prophets, having hope in God that there will be a resurrection of the dead, the righteous and the unjust, which they themselves expect. Therefore, I myself strive to always have an immaculate conscience before God and people. Answer of the Apostle Paul to Felix. The answer is most thorough, so the apostle cannot be legitimately accused. My actions, as he says, mean nothing more than the fact that I strive to always have an immaculate conscience before God and people. I fulfill the will of God, which called me to the apostolic rank and from my heart I wish for the salvation of all people and strive for this salvation. Chapter 25. How boldly, beautifully and intelligently the holy Apostle Paul speaks to Hegemon Festus! 19th century And what does Festus say about our Divine Redeemer to King Agrippa? He says about the Jews that they had some disputes with him about their worship of God and about some Jesus who died, about whom Paul claimed that He was alive. Why don't you believe, man, that Jesus is really alive and lives forever and ever, as God? Alas! You speak with disdain of Him, as of some Jesus who died, and not as the Son of God, in power, according to the Spirit of holiness that dwelt in Him, from His resurrection from the dead. Miserable man are you: He whose name is not more beautiful is among men by whom we must be saved [Acts. 4:12 ], you barely call him by name - some kind of Jesus. And look: one Jesus is known in heaven, on earth and in the underworld, and at His name every knee bowed, in heaven, on earth and under the earth [Phil. 2:10]. See how all nations know Him and worship Him reverently. When He becomes the Father of the next century, then you will be convinced that He is Almighty God and the Eternal King, then you will be ashamed of yourself for calling Him here - on earth - some kind of Jesus. Chapter 26. The holy apostle speaks incomparably, inimitably with Agrippa the king and Festus the ruler. As Paul spoke convincingly and clearly, King Agrippa himself proved that, despite all his pride, he barely failed to become a Christian. Art.18. To the tongues “I send you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan [Church-glor.: from the realm of Satan] to God, and through faith in Me they will receive forgiveness of sins and a lot with those who are sanctified.” The pagans, indeed, turned and are turning from darkness to light and from the realm of Satan to God, having received remission of sins and a share among the saints - through faith in the all-cleansing Blood of the Son of God. Chapter 27, 22–25 art. Now I urge you to take heart, because not a single soul of you will perish, but only the ship. For the Angel of God, to whom I belong and whom I serve, appeared to me that night and said: “Do not be afraid, Paul! you must appear before Caesar, and behold, God has given you all those who sail with you.” Therefore, be of good cheer, men, for I trust God that it will be as I have been told. How certain is it that for the sake of one righteous man God spares the lives of many unrighteous people! For the sake of His faithful servant, Paul the Apostle, the Lord saved the lives of everyone who was with him in the ship. Behold, God has given you, says the Angel, all those who sail with you. 35 art. Taking the bread, he thanked God in front of everyone and, breaking it, began to eat. So we should all solemnly pray to God before eating and then eat with thanksgiving. 28 chapters, 4 tbsp. The foreigners, when they saw a snake hanging on his (Paul’s) hand, said to each other: surely this man is a murderer, when the judgment of God does not allow him, having escaped from the sea, to live. But he, shaking the snake into the fire, did not suffer any harm. They expected that he would have inflammation, or that he would suddenly drop dead (which means this would have happened to others). How true are the words of the Lord: they take away the serpent and do not harm them (Mark 16:18). Thus, all nature can be submissive to the faithful child of God and nothing can harm. On the island of Miletus, to which they escaped from drowning, the father of the elder of the island, named Poplia, fell ill. The apostle prayed, laid hands on him and healed him. Poplia hospitably received the apostle and his comrades. Many other inhabitants of the island who had illnesses came to the apostle and were also healed. Thus, the saints of God everywhere do good and work miracles. From here the apostle went in an Alexandrian ship with the inscription “Dioscuri” to Syracuse. Is this not where the custom of inscribing cities, gods and goddesses and other names on our vessels - ships, steamships, frigates and others - comes from? The end of the Acts of the Apostles. You might be interested in: