and leaping up with a loud voice, and giving thanks to God who had deemed him worthy of such great blessings, he was received into the choirs of martyrs. He too was of the race of the Cappadocians, but in his manner of life he was full of piety, full of faith, a man gentle and kind; in all other respects diligent, and breathing the fragrance of the Holy Spirit, he was deemed worthy of being joined in such a crown of companionship with the blessed Pamphilus in the consummation of martyrdom.
XVII. For four days and as many nights, by the command of Firmilian, the most holy bodies of the martyrs of God lay exposed as food for carnivorous beasts. But when nothing approached them—neither beast, nor bird, nor any dog—by the providence of God, they were left whole and unharmed, and having obtained appropriate honor and care, they were committed to a customary burial, deposited in most beautiful houses of God and in holy oratories, and delivered to be honored in perpetual memory by the people of God.
EXPOSITION OF THE CHAPTERS OF THE ACTS BY PAMPHILUS
OF SAINT PAMPHILUS THE MARTYR: EXPOSITION OF THE CHAPTERS OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
*Translated by the Very Reverend Bernard de Montfaucon.*The method and form which we have received from the Fathers and teachers, we hand on here in this exposition of the chapters according to our modest ability, asking pardon for our temerity, since we are young in both age and learning, and gathering profit from the prayers of each who shall read these things. We set this forth, therefore, according to the history of Luke the evangelist and writer. Accordingly, by alpha and beta we have marked the complete chapters, and by the asterisk the subdivisions contained within them.
S. PAMPHILI MARTYRIS EXPOSITIO CAPITUM ACTUUM APOSTOLORUM
I. Concerning the teaching of Christ after the resurrection and the apparition to the apostles, and concerning the promise of the A gift of the Holy Spirit; and concerning the appearance and manner of the assumption of Christ.
II. The discourse of Peter to the disciples concerning the death and loss of Judas; in which is the replacement of Matthias, who was chosen by the grace of God through prayer.
III. Concerning the divine arrival of the Holy Spirit upon those who had believed, on the day of Pentecost; where also is Peter's catechism, and passages from the prophets concerning the passion, resurrection, and assumption of Christ; and concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit. Concerning the faith of those present and their salvation through baptism. Concerning useful concord and the increase of the believers. B
IV. Concerning the healing in Christ of him who was lame from birth. Of Peter's catechism, where he reproves, sympathizes, and gives counsel for his salvation. Hence the arrival of the priests out of envy for what had happened, and the judgment concerning the miracle, and Peter’s confession regarding the power and grace of Christ. Concerning the unbelieving chief priests, commanding that it is not right to speak boldly in the name of Christ, and concerning the renewal of the apostles. The thanksgiving of the Church for the faithful perseverance of the apostles.
V. Concerning the unanimous and common consent of the believers; where is the account of Ananias and Sapphira, and their bitter death.
VI. That the angel of the Lord led the apostles out of the prison into which they had been cast at night, commanding that they preach Jesus without hindrance. Hence, that on the following day the chief priests seized them again, and, that they might teach no more, dismissed them after they had been scourged. The wise opinion of Gamaliel concerning the apostles with certain examples and proofs. C
VII. Concerning the ordination of the seven deacons.
VIII. The commotion and false accusation of the Jews against Stephen. His discourse concerning the testament of God with Abraham and the twelve patriarchs; where is the account of the famine, the buying of grain, and the sons of Jacob recognizing one another; of the birth of Moses, and the apparition of God made to Moses on Mount Sinai; concerning the exodus and the making of the calf by the sons of Israel up to the times of Solomon and the construction of the temple; concerning the confession of the heavenly glory of Jesus Christ, which was revealed to Stephen himself, upon which, when Stephen was stoned, he piously fell asleep. D
IX. Concerning the persecution of the Church, and the burial of Stephen; where the account of Philip the apostle, who cured many from diseases in Samaria.
X. Concerning Simon Magus, who believed and was baptized with many others; where the account of the mission of Peter and
John to them, and the invocation of the Holy Spirit upon the baptized.
XI. That the participation of the Holy Spirit is not given for a price of silver, nor to hypocrites, but to the holy through faith; where there is A treatment of the hypocrisy and rebuke of Simon.
XII. That God leads the upright and faithful to salvation, as is evident from the account concerning the eunuch.
XIII. Concerning the divine calling of Paul from heaven to the apostleship of Christ; where there is treatment of the healing and baptism of Paul by Ananias according to a revelation of God, of his confidence in speaking, and of his association with the apostles through Barnabas.
XIV. Concerning Aeneas the paralytic, who was healed in Lydda by Peter; where there is also the account of Tabitha, the lover of widows, whom Peter raised from the dead in Joppa through prayer. B
XV. Concerning Cornelius, and what the angel said to him; where there is also what was said to Peter from heaven concerning the calling of the Gentiles. That Peter, having been summoned, came to Cornelius. Repeating of what the angel had said to him, Cornelius. Peter’s catechesis regarding Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon those who heard, and how those from the Gentiles who had believed were baptized at that time.
XVI. How Peter narrates in order each of the things that had occurred to the apostles who were debating with him. Then they sent Barnabas to the brethren who were in Antioch. C
XVII. The prophecy of Agabus concerning the famine that was to come upon the world, and concerning the contribution made for the brethren who were in Jerusalem.
XVIII. The slaying of the apostle James, and the account of the arrest of Peter by Herod, and how an angel by divine command rescued him from his chains; and how Peter, when he had come at night into the sight of the brethren, withdrew; where there is also treatment of the punishment of the guards, and afterwards of the bitter and miserable slaying D of the impious Herod (by an angel).
XIX. The mission of Barnabas and Paul by the divine Spirit to Cyprus, and what (Paul) did in the name of Christ towards Elymas the sorcerer.
XX. Paul’s excellent teaching concerning Christ, from the Law and then from the prophets, both historical and evangelical; where he uses confutatory and syllogistic teaching regarding the transfer of the preaching to the Gentiles, of their persecution, and of the arrival at Iconium.
XXI. How the apostles, preaching Christ in Iconium, with many believing, suffered persecution.
XXII. Of the man lame from birth who was at Lystra, and who was healed by the apostles; for which reason he was thought by the inhabitants to be a god who had arrived. Where also, later, Paul is stoned by the local populace.
XXIII. That by the dogma and judgment of the apostles, the faithful from among the Gentiles ought not to be circumcised; where there is the letter of the apostles to the faithful from among the Gentiles concerning the things from which they ought to preserve themselves. The disagreement of Paul with Barnabas concerning Mark.
XXIV. Of the catechesis of Timothy, and of the progress of Paul into Macedonia by revelation; where there is the account of the faith and salvation of a certain woman, Lydia, and of the healing of the young girl who had a spirit of Python, because of whom the masters of the girl threw Paul into prison; and of the earthquake that happened there, and of the miracle: and how the jailer, when he had believed, was immediately baptized that same night with his whole house. That, being requested, the apostles then departed from the prison.
XXV. Of the sedition made at Thessalonica because of the preaching, and of the flight of Paul to Beroea, and from thence to Athens.
XXVI. Of the inscription at Athens upon the altar; and of the philosophical preaching and piety of Paul.
XXVII. Of Aquila and Priscilla, and of the incredulity of the Corinthians, even though it had been revealed to Paul according to the foreknowledge of God that it was His good pleasure toward them; where there is the account of Priscus (Crispus), the ruler of the synagogue, who, with certain others, believed and was baptized. That, a sedition having been stirred up at Corinth, Paul withdrew; and that, when he had come to Ephesus, he departed. Of Apollo, an eloquent and faithful man.
XXVIII. Of [the] baptism and of the gift of the Holy Spirit granted to those believing at Ephesus through the prayer of Paul, and of the healing of the people. Of the sons of Sceva, and that one ought not to approach those who are unfaithful and unworthy of the faith, and of the confession of the believers. Of the sedition moved at Ephesus by Demetrius the silversmith against the apostles.
XXIX. The circuit of Paul, where there is the account of the death and resurrection of Eutychus at Troas through the prayer of Paul: and the pastoral exhortations of the same Paul to the presbyters at Ephesus. The voyage of Paul from Ephesus to Caesarea in Palestine.
XXX. The prophecy of Agabus concerning the things which were to happen to Paul in Jerusalem.
XXXI. The exhortation of James to Paul that he should not seem to hinder the Hebrews from circumcision.
XXXII. Of the tumult raised in Jerusalem against Paul, and how the centurion snatched him from the multitude; where there is Paul’s address concerning himself, and concerning the call
his own, and of his calling to the apostolate; concerning the coming of Ananias A to Paul in Damascus, and the vision and voice of God once brought to him in the Temple. That upon these causes, when Paul was about to be scourged, having said that he was a Roman, he was released.
XXXIII. What Paul suffered when he had come into the council, what he said, and what he sagaciously did.
XXXIV. Concerning the plots devised by the Jews against Paul, and the notification of this to Lysias; in which [is recorded] that Paul was sent to the governor at Caesarea with soldiers and letters.
XXXV. Concerning the accusation of Tertullus against Paul and his apology before the governor.
XXXVI. Felix is succeeded by Festus. Paul pleads his cause before both and is released. B
XXXVII. The arrival of Agrippa and Bernice, and the inquiry concerning the case of Paul. The apology of Paul before Agrippa and Bernice, concerning his worship according to the law and his calling to the Gospel; how Paul does no injury to the Jews. Agrippa says to Festus that Paul does nothing to harm the Jews.
XXXVIII. The voyage of Paul to Rome, full of many and very great dangers; in which is Paul’s exhortation to those with him concerning the hope of salvation. The shipwreck of Paul, how they were saved upon the island of Melita, and what wonders he performed therein. C
XXXIX. How Paul arrived from Melita to Rome.
XL. Concerning the discourse of Paul with the Jews who were at Rome.
The chapters in total are forty; those things which follow these, which have the markings, are forty-eight.
APOLOGY OF ST. PAMPHILUS FOR ORIGEN.
We have retained the Apologeticum of S. Pamphilus for Origen among the writings pertaining to Origen which are subjoined to his own works in the Rouen edition. See volume fifteen of our Collection. EDIT. PATROL.