Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles 44

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the Church.

And when they were come to him, he said to them:

'You know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with you with all humility of mind and with many tears and trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was profitable, but declared it to you and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.'

Observe him both hastening to sail past, and yet not overlooking them, but managing everything with care.

Having sent for the rulers, he recounts before them what has been said.

And it is worth marveling how, having fallen into the necessity of saying some great things about himself, he tries to be moderate.

For just as Samuel, when about to hand over the rule to Saul, says before them:

'Have I taken anything from you? You are witnesses, and so is God;'

and David, when he was disbelieved, says:

'I was in the flock, tending the sheep.' 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.'

When it is necessary to converse with Abraham, He Himself comes;

When He is about to go up to Sodom, He sends His servants, like some judge raising up those who are to inflict punishment.

'Well done, good and faithful servant; thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many.'

And this man He Himself blesses;

but that wicked one it is not He, but the servants, who bind.

Knowing these things, let us not rejoice over those who are punished, but rather let us grieve;

let us mourn for them, let us weep for them, that we too may receive a reward for this.

But now many rejoice even, unjustly, over those who are suffering evil.

Yet let us not so act, but let us display all sympathy;

that we ourselves also may be counted worthy of the loving-kindness that comes from God, through the grace and loving-kindness of His Only-begotten Son, with whom, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, might, and honor to the Father, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.