Беседа 12

Acts 4:36–37. So Josiah, called by the Apostles Barnabas, which means son of consolation, a Levite, originally a Cypriot, who had his own land, sold it, brought money and laid it at the feet of the Apostles. What opposites did the life of the apostles consist of? – About the sacrileges of Chrysostom’s time. – The amazing life of the first Christians. “Those who sin a lot should fear a lot.” 1. Now (the writer) intends to tell the story of Ananias with Sapphira and, wanting to show that this man committed a grave sin, he first mentions the one who acted as he should. And when so many did the same, when there was such grace, such signs, he (Ananias) did not correct himself; but, once blinded by covetousness, he brought destruction upon his own head. “Who had his own land,” (the writer) said, expressing that he had nothing else, “having sold it, he brought the money and laid it at the feet of the Apostles.” “A certain man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira, having sold their property, withheld some of the price, with the knowledge of his wife, and brought some of it and laid it at the feet of the Apostles” (Acts 5:1-2). The important thing is that the sin (was committed) by consent, and no one else knew about what happened. Where did this unfortunate and pathetic person come from to do this? “But Peter said: Ananias! Why did you allow Satan to put into your heart the idea of ​​lying to the Holy Spirit and hiding from the price of the land?” (Acts 5:3) Look - and now a great sign has happened, and much greater than the first. “What you owned was not yours, and what was acquired by sale was not in your power?” (Acts 5:4) That is, was there any necessity or compulsion? Do we attract you involuntarily? “Why have you put this in your heart? You lied not to men, but to God. When Ananias heard these words, he fell lifeless” (Acts 5:4–5). Do you see how this sign is greater (than the first)? By the fact that (Ananias) loses his life, and that (Peter) learns what is hidden in his thoughts and done in secret. “And great fear seized all who heard it. And getting up, the young men prepared him for burial and, carrying him out, buried him. About three hours after this, his wife also came, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, how much did you sell the land for?” (Acts 5:5–8) He wanted to save her, since her husband was the author of sin, and therefore, perhaps, he gives her time for justification and an opportunity for repentance. That’s why he says: “Tell me, how much did you sell the land for? She said, “Yes, for so much” (Acts 5:8). “But Peter said to her: Why did you agree to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, those who buried your husband are entering the door; and they will carry you out. Suddenly she fell at his feet and gave up the ghost. And the young men entered and found her dead, and carried her out and buried her next to her husband. And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard it” (Acts 5:9-11). After this terrible miracle (the apostles) performed many signs, but listen to what exactly. “By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were performed among the people; and they all remained with one accord in Solomon's porch. None of the strangers dared to pester them, but the people glorified them” (Acts 5:12-13). Fair. After all, Peter had already inspired fear by punishing and exposing the secrets of his thoughts. They clung to him more, both because of the miracle, and because of the first, second and third sermons - because he performed the first miracle, and the second, and the real one, which seems to me not just one thing, but a significant one: the first is that he exposed the secrets of his thoughts, and the second is that he took life by command. “And more and more those who believed were added to the Lord, multitudes of men and women, so that they carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and beds, so that the shadow of Peter as he passed might overshadow any of them” (Acts 5:14-15). This did not happen under Christ, from which one can see that now what He said has actually been fulfilled. What exactly? “He who believes in Me will do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do” (John 14:12). “Many from the surrounding cities also came to Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those possessed with unclean spirits, and they were all healed” (Acts 5:16). Notice, please, how their whole life is made up of opposites. So, first there was sorrow due to the ascension of Christ, then joy due to the descent of the Spirit; again sorrow from those who reproached him, then joy from the faithful and from the miracle; again sorrow when they were detained, then joy after their acquittal. And here again there is both joy and sorrow. Joy because they were glorified and received revelations from God; sorrow because they took their own lives. Again joy because they became famous, and again sorrow because of the high priest. And this can be noticed everywhere, just as one can see it in the ancient (holy men). But let's turn to the above. They sold it, they say, and “brought the price of what was sold and laid it at the feet of the Apostles.” Look, beloved, how they did not commission the apostles to sell, but sold themselves and gave them the price. But not so Ananias: he withholds something from the price of the sold field, and therefore is punished, as if he had done something wrong and was convicted of stealing his own. This remark also applies to today’s priests, and even very strongly. And since his wife also agreed to his act, then (the apostle) subjects her to trial. 2. But maybe someone will say that he treated her too cruelly. What are you saying? What cruelty, tell me? If someone who collected wood on the Sabbath was stoned (Num. 15:32–36), then even more so a blasphemer: after all, this money was already sacred. And truly, whoever decided to sell his own and give it away, and then kept it for himself, is a blasphemer. If he who takes from his own is a blasphemer, then much more so is he who takes from someone else’s. Therefore, do not think that if this does not happen now, if punishment does not follow immediately, then it is as if it remains without punishment. Do you see how he is accused of having made his money sacred and then taken it? Couldn’t you, he says, having sold them, use them as if they were your own? Who stopped you? Why do you take them after you promised (to give)? This is how from the very beginning the devil acted among such great signs and wonders, or better, how he (Ananias) was blinded by him. A similar thing happened in the Old Testament, when the son of Charmias was convicted of stealing what was dedicated to God; you, however, know with what punishment this matter ended (Joshua 7:1-26). Thus, beloved, sacrilege is very grave and full of great folly. We, he says, did not force you to sell or give money after the sale; you decided to do this of your own free will. Why did you steal from the sacred money? “Why have you put this in your heart?” And if Satan did this, then why is he condemned? He is guilty of receiving Satan's action and carrying it out. But they would say it should have been corrected. No, he would not have corrected himself, because whoever saw such (miracles) and did not benefit from them, much less would he benefit from anything else. So, it was impossible to leave this matter unattended, but it was necessary to cut off (the culprit) like a rotten member, so that the whole body would not become infected. Now he too received benefit, as he no longer succeeded in evil, and the others became more zealous; and then the opposite would happen. Therefore (the apostle) first denounces and shows that this matter did not escape him, and then condemns it. Why, he says, did you do this? Did you want to keep it? It was necessary to keep it first and not make promises. And now, having taken it after dedication to God, you have committed grave sacrilege. Whoever takes what belongs to others takes, perhaps, out of the desire of someone else; but you could have kept yours. Why did you make them sacred and then take them? You did this out of great foolishness. This is unforgivable, unforgivable. Let no one be tempted if even now there are some blasphemers. If they were then, then even more so now, when there is so much evil. But let us reprove them before everyone, so that others also may have fear. Judas was a blasphemer, but this did not seduce the disciples. Do you see how much evil the passion for money produces? “And great fear,” he says, “took hold of all who heard it.” He was punished and others benefited. So, this is not done without a purpose; Before, although there were other miracles, there was no such fear. So the saying is true: “The Lord is known by performing judgments” 17 (Ps. 9:17). So it was at the kivot: Uzzah was punished, and others were seized with fear. But there the frightened king rejected the ark; and here they become more attentive. You see: Peter did not call her, but waited for her to come; and none of the others dared to talk about what had happened. This is fear of the teacher, this is respect and obedience of the students. “Three hours after this,” and the wife did not find out, and none of those present said anything about it, although there was enough time for the news to spread. But they were in fear. The writer says about this with amazement that “his wife also came, not knowing about what had happened.” From this it was already possible to understand that he knew the secret. Why does he ask you without asking anyone? Wasn't it because he knew, of course? But extreme blindness did not allow her to get rid of condemnation, and she answered with great insolence, thinking that she was talking to a (simple) person. The important thing is that they fell into sin by intention or, as it were, by some agreement. “Why did you agree,” he says, “to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?” “Behold, those who buried your husband are entering the door; and they will carry you out." First he suggests that she has sinned, and then he shows that she will rightly suffer the same fate as her husband, since she also sinned in the same way. And how, you say, “suddenly she fell at his feet and gave up the ghost”? That's because she was standing close. Thus they brought upon themselves the punishment. Who wouldn't be horrified? Who would not fear the apostle? Who wouldn't be surprised? “And all,” he says, “were with one accord in Solomon’s porch.” From this it is clear that they were not in the house, but in the church; also - that they were no longer afraid to touch the unclean, but simply touched the dead. And look how strict they were towards their own people, but did not use this power towards strangers. “But those who believed,” he says, “were more and more added to the Lord, a multitude of men and women, so that they carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and beds, so that the shadow of Peter passing by would overshadow any of them” (Acts 5:14, 15). 3. Great was the faith of those who came, even greater than under Christ! Why did this happen? Because Christ foretold, saying: “He who believes in Me, the works that I do will he also do, and greater works than these will he do” (John 14:12). They remained there and did not go around (the cities and villages), and meanwhile, everyone brought their sick to them on their beds and beds, and everywhere they showed miracles: on those who believed, on those healed, on those punished, in boldness before those (the Jews), in the very virtue of those who seriously believed - all this did not happen from signs alone. Although they, out of humility, do not attribute everything to themselves, saying that they do this in the name of Christ, their life and virtue also produced this. And look: (the writer) does not speak here about the number of those who believed, leaving it to the listener to judge it; Thus the believers increased to an innumerable multitude. At the same time, the resurrection (of Christ) was proclaimed more. “No one from outside dared to approach them, but the people glorified them” (Acts 5:13). He says this, expressing that they were no longer despised as before, and that in a short time and in an instant so much was accomplished by the fisherman and the common man. So, the earth was already heaven, in (their) life, in boldness, in miracles and in everything; and they, like angels, were the subject of wonder, because they did not at all regard ridicule, threats, or dangers. And not only because of this, but also because, being very humane and caring, they helped some with money, and others with healing of their bodies. “Why have you allowed Satan to enter your heart?” Peter, as it were, justifies himself by starting to punish him, but at the same time admonishes others. Since what happened could seem very serious, he carries out a terrible judgment on both him and his wife. And if he had not subjected both of them, who had sinned unforgivably, to such a judgment, then what kind of neglect of God would not have resulted from this? And why exactly (he did so) is clear from the fact that he did not immediately begin to punish, but discovered their sin in advance. That’s why no one cried, no one sobbed, but everyone was afraid. And it is not surprising that when their faith spread, there were more signs, and there was great fear among our own people - because we are not so much worried about outsiders as about our own. So, if we are united with each other, then no one will rebel against us; and if we are separated from each other, then, on the contrary, everyone will attack us. That is why they were bold and boldly went out into the marketplace in the midst of their enemies and won victory; and what was said was fulfilled: “rule over your enemies” (Ps. 109:2); the greater their strength was proved by the fact that they did this while being detained and tied up. So, if only those who lie suffered such punishment, then what will not those who break oaths suffer? Or better: if the wife, who only said: “Yes, for so much,” was subjected to such punishment and did not escape (it), then think about what kind of punishment you, who swear and break oaths, deserve? Now is the time to show from the Old Testament the severity of perjury. “The flying scroll,” says (the prophet), “... its width is ten cubits” (Zechariah 5:1, 2). The expression: "flying" means the extreme speed of punishment following oaths; and the fact that it was “ten cubits” wide and (twenty) long signifies the severity and magnitude of the evils; the fact that he flew from the sky means that the determination comes from the highest court; and the fact that it had the shape of a sickle means the inevitability of punishment. Just as a sickle, pierced into the neck, cannot be removed from it until the head is cut off, so the punishment that befalls those who swear is terrible and does not retreat from them until its work is completed. If we avoid punishment by using oaths, then we will not rely on this; this happens to our misfortune. What do you think? That many after Ananias and Sapphira dared to do the same thing and did not suffer the same punishment? Why, you say, were they not exposed? Not because it was forgiven them, but because they were observed for greater punishment. 4. So, those who sin a lot should fear and fear more when they are not punished than when they are punished, because their punishment increases due to impunity and the long-suffering of God. Therefore, let us look not at whether we are not punished, but at whether we have sinned? If we sin and are not punished, then we should tremble even more. Tell me: if you had any slave and only threatened him and did not beat him, then when would he be more afraid, when would he run away, when would he decide to escape? Wasn't it when you only threatened? That is why we advise not to constantly threaten each other, so as not to confuse the soul too much with fear, so as not to torment it more with this than with wounds. In one case the punishment is temporary, and in the other it is permanent. Therefore, if no one now suffers from this sickle, do not look at it, but think, are such things being done? Many things are being done now that were done at the time of the flood; but there is no flood, because Gehenna and torment await. Many sin like the Sodomites, but the rain of fire does not fall on them, because a river of fire is prepared. Many dared to do the same thing as Pharaoh, but were not subjected to the same punishment as him, not drowned in the Red Sea, because the sea of ​​the abyss awaits them, where the punishment will not be accompanied by insensibility and will not end in death, but where they will suffer, more and more subjected to punishment, burning and suffocation. Many dared to sin like the Israelites, but the serpents did not bite them, because an endless worm awaited them. Many dared to do the same as Gehazi, but were not stricken with leprosy, because instead of leprosy they would be cut in half and suffer the same fate as the hypocrites (Matthew 24:51). Many have sworn and broken oaths, but even if they escaped (punishment), let us not rely on it, because the gnashing of teeth awaits them. Yes, and here, perhaps, they will experience and not escape (punishment), if not immediately, then with other sins, so that the punishment will be more severe. And we often, for small (misdeeds), fully repay for great ones. So, when you notice that something has happened to you, remember this sin. This is exactly what happened with the sons of Jacob. Remember Joseph's brothers: they sold their brother, attempted to take his life, or, better to say, they already took as much as it depended on them; They deceived and saddened the elder, and suffered nothing. But, many years later, they were in extreme danger and remembered this sin. And that what was said is not fiction, listen to what they themselves say: “we are punished for sin against our brother” (Gen. 42:21). So you too, when something happens, say: yes, we are in sin, because we did not listen to Christ, because we swore; frequent oaths and perjuries fell on my head. Thus confess, because they too confessed and were saved. What does it matter if the punishment does not immediately occur? After all, Ahab also did not immediately suffer what he later experienced for Naboth’s crime. Why does this happen? God gives you time to wash yourself, and when you hesitate, He finally sends punishment. Have you seen what those who lied suffered? From here, understand what those who break oaths will be subjected to, understand and stop. He who swears cannot help but break his oath, willy-nilly; and whoever breaks his oaths cannot be saved. A single violation of the oath can do everything and bring upon us the full punishment. Therefore, I beg you, let us be attentive to ourselves, so that, having avoided punishment here, we may be worthy of mercy from God, according to the grace and mercies of His only begotten Son, with whom to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, honor, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. These conversations were delivered by the saint in Constantinople in 400 or 401. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial office of “The ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: