Огласительное поучение семнадцатое

[To those preparing in Jerusalem for enlightenment, spoken without preparation, in which a continuation of the teaching about the Holy Spirit is proposed, and on the words from the First Epistle to the Corinthians: To one is given the word of wisdom by the Spirit, etc. (1 Cor. 12:8).] 1. In the previous teaching, as much as we could, we offered to your love, listeners, some of the testimonies about the Holy Spirit; Now, by the will of God, we will present, as much as possible, the remaining evidence from the New Testament. First, so as not to burden your ears, I stopped your zeal (for you can never get enough of the word about the Holy Spirit); Now we will offer some part of what remains to be said. I now sincerely admit that our weakness cannot contain everything that is said about this in Scripture, however, even now I will not resort to human wisdom, for it is useless; I will offer only what is contained in the Holy Scriptures, for it is completely safe, according to the words of the holy Apostle Paul, who says: which we proclaim not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Holy Spirit, comparing spiritual with spiritual (1 Cor. 2:13). We act like travelers or sailors who, having one goal on their long journey, although they hasten with zeal to achieve it, however, due to human weakness, usually stop to rest in famous cities or marinas. 2. Although we share our thoughts about the Holy Spirit, He Himself is inseparable and is one and the same. For just as in our conversations about the Father, sometimes the teaching was proposed about His sovereignty, sometimes about why He is called the Father or the Almighty, and sometimes about the fact that He is the Creator of everything, and yet the division of teachings did not divide faith, and there was and is one end of piety. And just as in our conversations about the Only Begotten Son of God, at one time we taught about His Divinity, and at another we offered the teaching about His humanity, and although we divided the teaching about our Lord Jesus Christ into many arguments, we preached an undivided faith in Him, in different ways and now, sharing our teachings about the Holy Spirit, we preach an undivided faith in Him. For there is one and the same Spirit, dividing gifts in particular to each, as He pleases, but He Himself remains indivisible. For the Comforter is not another, different from the Holy Spirit, but is one and the same, only called by different names. He has life, self-existence; speaks, acts and all rational beings created from God through Christ, i.e. Angels and men, there is the Sanctifier. 3. So that, due to the different names of the Holy Spirit, some, out of ignorance, do not think that these are different spirits and that they are not one and the same Spirit, who is one, then, warning you, the Universal Church committed in the confession of faith to believe in one Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who spoke in the prophets, so that you might know that although there are many names, yet there is one Holy Spirit. Let’s now talk about these names, choosing a few of many. 4. He is simply called the Spirit, as it is now read: To one is given the word of wisdom by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8). It is called the Spirit of truth, as the Savior says: When He comes, the Spirit of truth (John 16:13). It is called the Comforter, as the Savior said: if I do not go, the Comforter will not come to you (John 16:7). And that He is one and the same, called by different names, is clearly shown from the following. For it is said that the Holy Spirit is the same as the Comforter: The Comforter is the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Regarding the fact that the Comforter is the same as the Spirit of truth, it is said this way: and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth (John 14:16). And again: When the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth (John 15:26). He is also called the Spirit of God, as it is written: and John saw the Spirit of God, which descended (Matthew 3:16); and elsewhere: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (Rom. 8:14). It is also called the Spirit of the Father, as the Savior says: for it is not you who will speak, but the Spirit of your Father who will speak in you (Matthew 10:20); and Paul again: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, etc., that He may give you... be strengthened by His Spirit (Eph. 3:14, 16). It is also called the Spirit of the Lord, as Peter said: why did you agree to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? (Acts 5:9). It is also called the Spirit of God and then the Spirit of Christ, as Paul writes: But you do not live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His (Rom. 8:9). It is also called the Spirit of the Son of God, as it is said: Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son. It is especially called the Spirit of Christ, as it is written: to which and for what time the Spirit of Christ who was in them pointed (1 Pet. 1:11). And in another place: through your prayer and the assistance of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19). 5. In addition to these you will find many other names for the Holy Spirit. He is called the Spirit of holiness, as it is written: according to the spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4). It is also called the Spirit of sonship, as Paul says: Because you did not receive the spirit of slavery to live again in fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry: “Abba, Father!” (Rom.8:15). It is also called the Spirit of revelation, as it is written: He gave you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to the knowledge of Him (Eph. 1:17). It is also called the Spirit of promise, as the same Paul says: In Him you also... having believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). It is also called the Spirit of grace, as the same apostle again says: and reproaching the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29). It is called by many other similar names. You clearly heard in the previous teaching that in the psalms He is sometimes good (Ps. 142:10), sometimes He is called Master (50:14). And in the prophecy of Isaiah it is called the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, and counsel and strength, and knowledge and piety, and the Spirit of the fear of God (cf. Is. 11: 2-3). All this, which was said before and now, confirms that although there are different names, there is one and the same Holy Spirit, who has life and self-existence and always abides together with the Father and the Son; not spoken or breathed by the lips and word of the Father or the Son, nor poured into the air, but personally existing; Himself speaking and acting, arranging and sanctifying, since the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit look upon us inseparably, collectively and alone, as we said before. For I want you to remember what I recently said and to know completely that there is not another in the law and the prophets, but another in the Gospel and the apostles, but one and the same is the Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments, who spoke the Divine Scripture. 6. This same Holy Spirit descended on the Holy Virgin Mary. For when Christ the Only Begotten was about to be born, the power of the Most High overshadowed Her and the Holy Spirit, which came upon Her, sanctified Her, so that She might be able to receive Him through Whom everything happened. I don’t need to say much about this to teach you that this birth is undefiled and pure, for you know that Gabriel told Her: “I proclaim to You what is about to happen, but I do not act in it; although I am an Archangel, I know my position and proclaim Your joy; but how you choose to give birth does not depend on my talent. The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You; therefore the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). 7. This Holy Spirit was at work in Elizabeth. For not only does He appear among virgins, but He also approaches those who are married to their husbands, if the marriage is according to the law: and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41) and prophesied. And this good servant spoke about the Lord: And where is it from me that the Mother of my Lord came to me? (Luke 1:43). Elizabeth pleased Her. Filled with this Holy Spirit, Zechariah, John's father, prophesied, saying how many benefits the Only Begotten would bring, and that John, after his baptism, would be His Forerunner. By this Holy Spirit, the righteous Simeon was also informed that he would not see death until he saw Christ the Lord (Luke 2:26), and, having received this Christ in his arms in the church, he clearly testified about Him. 8. And John, filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb, was sanctified by Him for this purpose, that he might baptize the Lord; he himself did not give the Spirit, but preached about the One who gives the Spirit. For he said: I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who comes after me, etc. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). Fire, what is this for? Because the descent of the Holy Spirit took place in the form of tongues of fire, which the Savior joyfully speaks of: I came to bring down fire to the earth, and how I would like it to be kindled already! (Luke 12:49). 9 . This Holy Spirit descended when the Lord was baptized, so that the glory of Him who was baptized would not be hidden, as John says: but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me: On whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). But note what the Gospel says: the heavens were opened (cf. Matt. 3:16). They were opened because of the glory of the one who descended. And behold, he says, the heavens were opened... and he saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and remaining on Him (John 1:32), i.e. He came down by himself. For it was necessary, as some have explained, that the first fruits and primary actions of the Holy Spirit, bestowed on those who are baptized, should be communicated to humanity by the Savior, who bestows this grace. He descended in the form of a dove, perhaps, as some say, in accordance with the pure and gentle dove that depicted Him, which was sacrificed during prayers for the birth of children and the remission of sins. Since it was divinely predicted that Christ would reveal Himself in this precisely obvious way. For in the songs the Bridegroom is proclaimed and said: His eyes are like doves by streams of water (Song. 5:12). 10. This dove was partly inspired, according to some, by Noah's dove. For just as with him, through wood and water, salvation was accomplished for those who were with him, and at the same time a new existence began, and the dove returned to him in the evening with an olive leaf - in the same way, these interpreters say, the Holy Spirit descended on the true Noah, the author of another existence, uniting together the wills of all nations, which were typified by the various types of animals that were in the ark. For at His coming the mental wolves feed with the lambs. His church has a bull and an ox and a lion grazing together, since to this day we see that church teachers guide and teach earthly rulers. So, this spiritual dove descended during Baptism, according to some, in order to show that this is the One who through the Tree of the Cross will save believers and in the evening through His death will grant salvation. 11. But this can be explained differently, but it is better to listen now to what the Savior Himself says about the Holy Spirit. He says: unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:5). And that this grace is from the Father, He says: how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13). And that God must be worshiped in spirit, he says: But the time will come and has already come when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is looking for such worshipers for Himself. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23–24). And again: If by the Spirit of God I cast out demons, etc. (Matthew 12:28), then shortly: Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men (Matthew 12:31). Here: if anyone speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; if anyone speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the next (Matthew 12:32). And in another place he says: And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; and you know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you (John 14:16–17). And again he says: I told you these things while I was with you. But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything that I have said to you (John 14:25-26). And again: When the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me (John 15:26). And in another place the Savior says: if I do not go, the Comforter will not come to you; and if I go, I will send Him to you, and He will come and convict the world about sin and about righteousness and about judgment (John 16:7-8). And then again: I still have much to tell you; but now you cannot contain it (John 16:12). When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you the future (John 16:13). He will glorify Me, because He will take of Mine and proclaim it to you (John 16:14). All that the Father has is Mine; therefore I said that he will take of Mine and tell it to you (John 16:15). I have now offered you the testimony of the Only Begotten Himself, so that you will not listen to the words of men. 12. The Savior gave this Holy Spirit to the apostles, for it is written: Having said this, he breathed and said to them: receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven; On whomever you leave it, it will remain on him (John 20:22–23). This is the second inspiration, since the first is lost from willful sins (see Gen. 2:7). About this second it is written: The destroyer is rising against you (Nahum.2:1). Rising from where? From hell. For the Gospel tells that this breath of His was after the resurrection. And although he now communicates grace, he still wants to give more and says to the apostles: “I am ready to communicate now, but you still cannot accept. For now, accept grace to the extent that you can accommodate it; however, expect more. But remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are endowed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Now take a few, then you will receive it completely. For it often happens that the one who receives does not make perfect use of what is given to him, but the one who puts on it is covered with clothing on all sides. Do not be afraid, He says, of the weapons of the devil and his arrows, for you will have the power of the Holy Spirit (remember what was said recently that the Holy Spirit is not divided, but only the grace sent through Him).” 13. So Jesus ascended into heaven and fulfilled the promise. He told the disciples: I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter (John 14:16). They stayed in Jerusalem, awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit, and at the coming of the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:2), in this city of Jerusalem (and we have this advantage; the blessings we are talking about were not sent down somewhere, but were given to us), on the day, I say, of Pentecost, when they were together, the Comforter descended from heaven, preserving and sanctifying the Church, providing for souls, the helmsman of the overwhelmed, the enlightener of the lost, the rewarder of ascetics and the crowner of the victors. 14. He came down in order to endow with power and to baptize the apostles. For the Lord says: A few days after this, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). This grace is not partial, but perfect power. For just as one who is immersed in waters and one who is baptized is surrounded on all sides by waters, so the apostles were completely baptized in the Holy Spirit. But water washes the outside, but the Holy Spirit baptizes everything inside the soul, and why are you surprised? Here is a sensual example for you, which, although small and unimportant, is useful for ordinary people: if fire, penetrating the hardness of iron, makes everything fiery, so that cold becomes hot and black becomes light, if (I say) fire, being a body, enters the body of iron and carries out its action there without hindrance, then is it surprising if the Holy Spirit enters the very interior of the soul? 15. But so that the greatness of such grace would not be hidden, it made a noise like a heavenly trumpet: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as from a rushing mighty wind (Acts 2:2). What did her descent mean? So that the eyes would see the tongues of fire, and the ears would hear the noise: and it filled the whole house where they were (Acts 2:2). This house became a receptacle for spiritual water. The disciples were inside, and the whole house was filled with her. So, according to the promise, they were baptized with their entire being, clothed with soul and body in the Divine and saving garment: And cloven tongues appeared to them, as if of fire, and one rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3–4). They received fire that was not scorching, but saving; fire that destroys thorns of sins and enlightens the soul. This fire is now about to come upon you, and burn and destroy the thorns of your sins, and enlighten you even more on the precious acquisition of your souls and give you grace. For He then gave it to the apostles. In the form of fiery tongues he descended on them in order to crown their heads with new spiritual crowns through fiery tongues. A flaming sword previously blocked the entrance to paradise, a saving fiery tongue returned grace. 16. And they began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4). The Galilean Peter and Andrew spoke either Persian or Median; John and the other apostles spoke in all languages ​​before the pagans. For it was not now that foreigners began to gather here in great numbers from everywhere, but from those times. What teacher is there who would suddenly teach what they learned without studying? For so many years, with the guidance of grammar and other methods, they study Greek in order to speak it well, and yet not everyone speaks the same: the rhetorician speaks well, but the grammarian sometimes does not speak well, and he who knows grammar does not know science, philosophy. But the Holy Spirit suddenly teaches many languages, which the apostles did not know in all previous times. This is truly great wisdom; this is Divine power. How can their long-term ignorance be compared with the complete, varied, extraordinary, suddenly revealed action of tongues? 17. There was confusion among the listening people. The second confusion, the opposite of the first, evil Babylonian confusion, for in this confusion of languages ​​there was a division of will, since the plan was contrary to God; and in this there is affirmation and unification of thought, since the goal here was piety. Through the falling away, through the same comes the restoration. Those who heard were amazed at this and said, “Are not these all Galileans who speak?” (Acts 2:7). It is not at all surprising if you know; for even Nicodemus did not know how the Spirit came, and it was said to him: The Spirit breathes where it wills, and you hear its voice, but you do not know where it comes from and where it goes (John 3:8). Likewise, I cannot tell you what He is in His essence. 18. And others mocked and said, “They are drunk on sweet wine” (Acts 2:13). The truth was spoken, but with mockery. The wine is truly new, the grace of the New Testament. But this is new wine from spiritual grapes, which had already borne fruit many times in the prophets, and flourished completely in the New Testament. For just as a material vine, always remaining the same, at a certain time bears new fruits, so this Spirit, always remaining as He is, and having often acted in the prophets, has now shown something new and wonderful. For grace was communicated to the fathers, but here it abounds. For there they only received the Holy Spirit, but here they were completely baptized by Him. 19. But Peter, who had the Holy Spirit and knew Whom he had in him, says: men of the Jews (Acts 2:14), to whom the prophet Joel is known, but who do not understand what is written by him: they are not drunk, as you think (Acts 2:15). They were drunk, but not with what you assume, but with what is written: they are satisfied from the fatness of Your house, and from the stream of Your sweets You will give them drink (Ps. 35:9). They became drunk with a sober intoxication, which mortifies sin and quickens the heart, an intoxication contrary to bodily intoxication: for this produces oblivion of what was known, otherwise it imparts knowledge of unknown things. They got drunk, drinking wine from the spiritual vine, which says about Himself: “I am the vine, and you are the branches (John 15:5). If you do not believe me, then understand the truth of my words from the time itself: for it is now the third hour of the day (Acts 2:15).” For in the third hour, according to Mark, He who was crucified in the third hour now sent down this grace. For there is not another grace of Him who was Crucified, but another of Him who is now active; but He who was crucified and promised now fulfills His promise. If you want to have a testimony, then listen to what Peter says: this is what was prophesied by the prophet Joel: And it will come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh (Acts 2:17). Through the word, I pour out, an abundant gift is depicted: for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand (John 3:34–35). He gave Him the power to give and the grace of the All-Holy Spirit to whom He favors. I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and daughters will prophesy (Acts 2:17; Joel 2:28); and then: And on My servants and on My handmaids in those days I will pour out My Spirit, and they will prophesy (Acts 2:18; Joel 2:28). The Holy Spirit does not look at faces: He does not seek external advantages, but piety of the soul; and let not the rich be exalted, and let not the poor lose heart; Just prepare yourself to receive heavenly grace. 20. Much has already been said to you, and perhaps your hearing has become tired, but even more has been left, and truly, in order to expound the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the third is needed, many teachings are needed; but forgive me this; for although, due to the approach of the holy holiday of Easter, I have now extended my word, I could not offer all the evidence that should be offered from the New Testament; I have not yet cited many testimonies from the Acts of the Apostles, which tell how the grace of the Holy Spirit acted in Peter and in all the apostles together; Many evidences from the Epistles of the Councils and Paul’s fourteen Epistles are also not given; From all these Scriptures, like flowers from a great meadow, let us now try to collect evidence, at least a few, in order to remember them. 21. By the power of the Holy Spirit, by the will of the Father and the Son, Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice (Acts 2:14) (as it is said): Lift up your voice with power, O preacher of the gospel Jerusalem! (Is. 40:9), the spiritual net of his words caught about three thousand souls: grace acted so powerfully in all the apostles that the very Jews who crucified Christ believed in so many, were baptized in the name of Christ and constantly remained in the teachings of the apostles and in prayers. By the same power of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John, when they entered the church for prayer at the ninth hour of the day, at the red gate, in the name of Jesus they healed a man lame from birth, who was fourty years old (see Acts 3:1–2, 12) (that what was said would be fulfilled. Then the lame man would leap like a deer (Isa. 35:6); five thousand people caught the spiritual teaching in a net and suddenly believed; and the erring princes of the people and the high priests were not convicted by their wisdom, for they were unlearned and simple people, but by the action of the Holy Spirit; for it is written: Then Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke to them (Acts 4:8). And through the twelve apostles, the grace of the Holy Spirit acted so powerfully in those who believed that they had one heart and soul, and the use of property was common; and since the owners of estates and houses reverently brought the price for the property they sold, there was no one poor among them. When Ananias and Sapphira dared to lie to the Holy Spirit, they received a worthy execution. 22. By the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were performed among the people (Acts 5:12). And such spiritual grace was poured out on the apostles that they were terrible, despite all their meekness. From outsiders, no one dared to pester them, and the people glorified them (Acts 5:13); More and more believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of men and women (Acts 5:14). The streets were filled with the sick, lying on beds and beds, so that at least the shadow of Peter passing would overshadow any of them (Acts 2:15). Many from the surrounding cities also converged on Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those possessed by unclean spirits, who were all healed (Acts 2:16) by this power of the Holy Spirit. 23. Also, the twelve apostles, having been thrown into prison by the bishops, when they were miraculously brought out of it during the night by an Angel and from the church were brought to them in the judgment seat, they fearlessly denounced them in their word to them about Christ. They added to this that he also gave the Holy Spirit to those who obeyed Him (Acts 5:32): and when they were beaten, they went away... rejoicing (Acts 2:41) and did not cease teaching and preaching the gospel about Jesus Christ (Acts 2:32). 24. The grace of the Holy Spirit acted not only in the twelve apostles, but also in the firstborn sons of the once barren Church, i.e. in seven deacons. For they were chosen, as it is written: filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3); worthy of his name, Stephen, one of them, the firstfruits of martyrs, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5), performed great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8); and he conquered those who argued with them; could not resist the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he spoke (Acts 6:10). Having been slandered and brought to judgment, he shone with the light of an angel: And all who sat in the Sanhedrin, looking at him, saw his face like the face of an angel (Acts 6:15). When with a wise answer he denounced the stiff-necked Jews, people with uncircumcised hearts and minds, who always persisted against the Holy Spirit, he saw the heavens opened, he saw the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God, he saw not by his own power, but, as the Divine Scripture says, being filled with the Holy Spirit, looking up to heaven, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God ( Acts 7:55). 25. By the same power of the Holy Spirit, Philip, in the name of Christ, once in the city of Samaria drove out unclean spirits that came out with a great cry, healed the paralytic and lame, and brought many believing people to Christ; and Peter and John, upon their arrival, with prayer and the laying on of hands to the believers, communicated the Holy Spirit, Whom in justice only Simon the Magus was considered unworthy, and once upon a time the same Philip, having been called on the way by the Angel of the Lord to convert the most reverent Ethiopian eunuch and having clearly heard from the Spirit Himself: come and dock with this chariot (Acts 8:29), taught the Ethiopian and he sent a preacher of Christ to Ethiopia, as it is written: Ethiopia will stretch out her hands to God (Ps. 67:32), and, being taken by an angel, he preached the Gospel in other cities. 26. Paul was filled with this Holy Spirit after he was called by our Lord Jesus Christ; The witness of this is the pious Ananias in Damascus, who said to him: The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the way you walked, sent me so that you could receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). This Holy Spirit immediately acted: he gave sight to Paul, who was blind with his eyes, and sealed his soul with His grace, made him a chosen instrument, so that he would carry the name of the Lord who appeared to him to the kings and sons of Israel, and made the former persecutor a preacher and a good servant, for he filled the entire space from Jerusalem to Illyria with the Gospel teaching, taught in Rome, and, out of his zeal, walked preaching even to Spain, endured countless labors and performed signs and wonders. But enough about him now. 27. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the supreme apostle and having the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, Peter, in Lydda, which is now Diospolis, healed the paralytic Aeneas, in Joppa he raised the virtuous Tabitha from the dead; in the upper part of the house, in a frenzy, I saw the sky open and through a vessel descending from there, like a shroud, filled with many different and heterogeneous animals, I clearly learned not to consider a single person unclean or nasty, even if he was a Hellenic, and when Cornelius was called, from the same Holy Spirit he clearly heard: behold, three people are looking for you; get up, get down and go with them, without any doubt; for I have sent them (Acts 10:19-20). And in order to clearly show that the Gentiles can also participate in the grace of the Holy Spirit, then when Peter arrived in Caesarea and taught about Christ, Scripture speaks of Cornelius and those with him: While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word (Acts 10:44), so that those of the circumcision who came with Peter were amazed and, horrified, said that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out also on the Gentiles ( Acts 10:45). 28. And when the preaching about Christ began to spread in Antioch, the glorious city of Sira, then from here Barnabas was sent to her, a good companion, a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith (Acts 11:24). He, seeing a large harvest of believers in Christ, brought his associate Paul from Tarsus to Antioch. And since the multitude of people in the church were being taught and gathered, the disciples in Antioch for the first time began to be called Christians (Acts 11:26). I believe that this new name, long foretold from the Lord, was given to believers by the Holy Spirit. When great grace poured out from God on Antioch, prophets and teachers appeared there, among others Agabus. While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). And when hands were laid on them, they were sent from the Holy Spirit. So, it is clear that the Holy Spirit, Who speaks and sends, is living, self-existent and active, as we said above. 29. This Holy Spirit, together with the Father and the Son, having established the New Testament in the Universal Church, freed us from a heavy legal burden: I mean here the regulations about clean and unclean food, about the Sabbath and the new moon, about circumcision, about sprinkling and sacrifices; for all of them, being given for a time, had a shadow of future blessings (Heb. 10:1); when the thing itself appears, it is rightly abandoned. For when, due to a dispute that arose from those who argued that one should be circumcised and observe the rites of Moses, Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem, the apostles who were here, by writing a letter, freed the entire universe from everything legal and representative. However, they did not arrogate to themselves the right to dispose of such an important matter, but in the written Epistle they confess: For it pleases the Holy Spirit and us not to lay on you any more burden than this necessary: ​​to abstain from things sacrificed to idols and blood, and things strangled, and fornication (Acts 15:28-29). This scripture clearly showed that although it was written by the apostles - men, but by the action of the Spirit it became a law for the universe, which law, having accepted, Barnabas and Paul made it valid throughout the whole world. 30. Having continued my words to this point, I ask you, beloved, and especially the Spirit living in Paul, for forgiveness if, due to my weakness and yours, the listeners, trouble, I could not say everything. For can I tell as it should the wonderful deeds, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Christ, performed by him in Cyprus over Elim the Magus, in Lystra, where he healed the lame, in Cilicia, Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia and Macedonia, or what he did in Philippi; here I mean his preaching and the expulsion by the name of Christ of the divinatory spirit, and during the night, after the shaking of the prison, salvation through the baptism of the prison guard with his entire household, or what he did in Thessaloniki, and among Athens in the Areopagus his preaching produced, or how he taught in all of Achaia? Can I properly relate the acts accomplished through Paul in Ephesus by the Holy Spirit, whom those who dwelt there, not knowing before, came to know through Paul's teaching? For when Paul laid his hands and when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they began to speak in other tongues and prophesy (Acts 19:6). Such was the grace of the Holy Spirit in him that not only did he heal with his touch, but also the handkerchiefs and towels taken from his body healed illnesses and cast out evil spirits; Even those who practiced sorcery gathered up their books and burned them in front of everyone (Acts 19:19). 31. I do not mention its action in Troas on Eutychos, who, having fallen from the third floor in a dream, was raised dead and resurrected by Paul. I am also silent about his conversation with the Ephesian elders, whom he called to Militus, and clearly told them: only the Holy Spirit testifies in all the cities, saying that bonds and sorrows await me (Acts 20:23), for through the words: in all the cities, Paul clearly showed that in each city the miracles he performed were produced by the action of the Holy Spirit, the mania of the Divine and the name of Christ who spoke in it. By the power of this Holy Spirit, the same Paul hastened to the holy city of Jerusalem. Although Agabus predicted by the Spirit what would happen to him here, he did not stop preaching about Christ with boldness. Having been brought to Caesarea, in the midst of the judgment seat, now before Felix, now before Phistus the governor and Agrippa the king, Paul had so strong the grace of wisdom from the Holy Spirit that even the king of the Jews Agrippa himself said: you are not convincing me to become a Christian (Acts 26:28). The same Holy Spirit saved Paul from harm when he was bitten by a viper on the island of Melite and through Him performed various healings on the sick. The same Holy Spirit finally brought this preacher of Christ, who was once a persecutor, to reigning Rome, where he convinced many living Jews to believe in Christ, and spoke clearly to those who opposed, as the Holy Spirit spoke well to our fathers through the prophet Isaiah, etc. (Acts 28:25). 32. And that Paul and all the apostles like him and others after them who believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (the One in Essence) were filled with the Holy Spirit, for this listen to what Paul clearly writes in his Epistles: And my word and my preaching are not in convincing words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power (1 Cor. 2:4); and in another place: with which he sealed us (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22). For this very reason God created us and gave us the pledge of the Spirit (2 Cor. 5:5). And again: He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Rom. 8:11). Also in the Epistle to Timothy: Keep the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (2 Tim. 1:14). 33. And that the Holy Spirit is self-existent, and lives, and speaks, and predicts, I have said this many times before. And Paul clearly writes to Timothy: The Spirit clearly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1), which we see in the divisions of the Church that occurred not only in former times, but also in our times, since the error of heretics is varied and diverse. And in another place he says: which was not announced to previous generations of the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy Apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit, etc. (Eph.3:5) And again: Why, as the Holy Spirit says (Heb.3:7). Also: the Holy Spirit also testifies to us (Heb. 10:15). And in another place he appeals to those armed with righteousness, saying: Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. By all prayer and supplication (Eph.6:17-18). And also: And do not get drunk with wine, which causes debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:18-19). And one more thing: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Cor. 13:13). 34. All this and much more that is omitted by those who understand it represents the self-existent, sanctifying and active power of the Holy Spirit. For I would not have enough time for the narrative if I wanted to offer the rest of the testimonies about the Holy Spirit from the fourteen Epistles of the Apostle Paul, in which he taught variously, sufficiently and piously about Him. However, may the Almighty Holy Spirit Himself forgive what I omitted due to lack of time, and may He grant you, listeners, the most perfect knowledge of what was omitted. For those who are diligent among you will learn this from repeated reading of the Divine Scripture, and with these two previously spoken teachings they will be more confirmed in faith in one God, the Father Almighty, and in our Lord Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son, and in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Although this saying and naming of the Spirit in Divine Scripture is attributed to all three Persons, for it is said about the Father: God is Spirit, as it is written in the Gospel of John (John 4:24); and about the Son: The Spirit of our presence is Christ the Lord (cf. Lamentations 4:20), as the prophet Jeremiah says; and about the Holy Spirit: the Comforter, the Holy Spirit (John 14:26); as said; however, the teaching of faith, piously understood, rejects Sabelle's error. So, let us return by reasoning to what I now need and is useful for you to say. 35. Beware lest you approach those who baptize, like Simon, with hypocrisy, not caring in your heart for the truth. Our job is to testify, and yours is to affirm. If you stand in faith, blessed are you; if you fell into unbelief, then from now on leave unbelief and be confident. During baptism, when you approach the bishops, or presbyters, or deacons (there is grace everywhere - both in villages and in cities, in simple people and in scientists, in slaves and free, for grace is not given from men, but from God through people), approach the baptizer, but, approaching, do not look at the face of the one you see, but keep in your thoughts this Holy Spirit, about whom you are now Let's talk. For He is ready to seal your soul. And He will give you a truly heavenly and Divine seal, with which the devils are terrified, just as it is written: And having believed in Him, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). 36. But He tests the soul; does not cast pearls before swine. If you are a hypocrite, then people are baptizing you now, but the Spirit is not baptizing you. If you approach with faith, then people will do the visible, and the Holy Spirit will reveal the invisible. In one hour you will undergo an important test, election to the great army; If you waste this time, it will be impossible to correct your evil. If you are granted grace, your soul will be enlightened: you will receive strength that you did not have; You will receive a weapon that is terrible for evil spirits. And if you do not lay down this weapon, but keep a seal on your soul, then the evil spirit will not approach you, for it is horrified, since the Spirit of God drives out evil spirits. 37. If you believe, you will not only receive remission of sins, but you will also accomplish deeds that exceed human strength. May God grant you the prophetic gift. You will receive grace to the extent that you can accommodate it, and not to the extent that I say. I can talk about little things, and you can get more, since faith is a great purchase. The Comforter will always keep you, will take care of you as His warrior, both when you enter and when you leave, and when evil is plotted against you. He will give you all kinds of gifts if you do not offend Him with your sins. For it is written: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). How, beloved, should we maintain grace? Be prepared to receive grace and, having accepted it, do not lose it. 38. The God of all, who spoke by the Holy Spirit through the prophets, who sent Him here on the day of Pentecost on the apostles, may He Himself even now send Him upon you, and through Him may He also preserve us, doing good to us all in general, so that we may always bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23); in Christ Jesus our Lord; through Him and with Him be glory to the Father together with the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto ages of ages. Amen. You might be interested in: