ACC ~ Acts 10 v11

A SYMBOL OF THE WHOLE WORLD. CHRYSOSTOM: What is this? It is a symbol of the whole world. The man was uncircumcised. He had nothing in common with the Jews—they would all accuse him as a transgressor: “You went into the house of uncircumcised men, and ate with them”; this was a thing altogether offensive to them. Observe then what is providentially managed. [Peter] himself also says, “I have never eaten,” not being himself afraid—far be the thought from us—but it is so ordered by the Spirit, in order that he may have it to say in answer to those accusing him, that he did object: for it was altogether necessary for them to observe the law. He was in the act of being sent to the Gentiles: therefore that these also may not accuse him, see how many things are shaped [by the providence of God]. For, that it may not seem to be a mere fancy, “this was done three times.” He said, “Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything common or unclean. And the voice came to him, ‘What God has cleansed, you must not call common.’” It seems indeed to be spoken to him, but the entire message is meant for the Jews. For if the teacher is rebuked, much more these also. This is what the linen sheet denotes. The earth, then, and the wild beasts in it, are the Gentiles. The command, “Kill and eat,” denotes that he must go to them also; and that this is done three times denotes triune baptism. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 22.

THE CHURCH INCORRUPTIBLE. BEDE: “This vessel signifies the church,” endowed with an incorruptible faith, “for a moth, which corrupts other cloth, does not consume linen.” Therefore, whoever wishes to be part of the mystery of the Catholic church “should root out from his heart the corruption of evil” thoughts, “and in this way he may be incorruptibly strengthened in faith, so that he will not be consumed by perverse thoughts, like moths, in his mind.”Alternatively, the moth is a heretic, wishing to corrupt the Lord’s robe but unable to do so because the Lord does not permit it. This is also prefigured by the Lord’s tunic, which the soldiers did not presume to tear. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10.11A.

LOWERED BY ITS FOUR CORNERS. BEDE: The four corners by which the linen sheet hangs down designate the four regions of the world to which the church extends, for it is “the city of our God on his holy mountain,”spreading sounds of joy to every land. [That the sheet] is lowered from heaven indicates that [the church] will be preserved as well as increased only by the grace of the Holy Spirit coming upon it. Hence John says in the Apocalypse, “I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” Also, the four corners may be figures of the Evangelists, through whom the church is nourished and exalted with heavenly gifts. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10.11B.

THE UNITY OF THE EVANGELISTS. ARATOR: Enjoying his office, the celestial keeper of the keys sees heaven opened. From there an image of a vessel is let down, so that there might be a vision on earth that all things can be taken by the body of Peter, who makes into food for the church whatever he takes to be eaten. The vision is brought before him, let down by its four sides: it is one image of the church, which rises from the four parts of the world and spreads the eloquence of the same number of heralds [evangelists], keeping together every kind of bird and domestic beast, of wild animal and reptile: these [animals] are connected to humans on account of their merits and vices. It is therefore clear that the Creator bids the Gentiles to be poured into the bowels of the church, as he instructs [Peter], “Kill and eat, take away what they are and make them like yourself.” He who is turned about is considered changed. Saul perished at length because Paul began to live. ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1.

CALLED TO THE CORNERS OF THE EARTH. AUGUSTINE: So, by the grace of the blessed Trinity, the whole earth from its four corners is called to the faith. According to this reckoning, when four is taken three times, the apostolic number, twelve, is consecrated as symbolizing the salvation of the whole world from its four corners in the grace of the Trinity. This number was also indicated by the vessel full of all kinds of animals, as it were of all nations, shown to Peter. For this vessel, let down from the heavens by the four corners, was lowered and taken up three different times, so that the four became twelve. On that account, perhaps, when twelve days had elapsed after the birth of Christ, the magi, the firstfruits of the Gentiles, came to see and to adore Christ and thus merited, not only to insure their own salvation, but also to prefigure that of all Gentiles. SERMON 203.3.

Acts