ACC ~ Acts 16 v25

AS THE PSALMIST DID. AMMONIUS: They followed the psalmist, who says, “At midnight I will rise to confess to you.” CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16.25.

OFFERING THE SACRIFICES OF PRAISE. SEVERUS OF ANTIOCH: You see, the holy Scripture clearly states that they sang hymns, not only in their hearts but also in order to be heard, as is written in the Psalms: “With my voice I cried to the Lord, with my voice I was in need before God.” After the great fame of their actions it was necessary to offer the sacrifices of praise for everything to God, that is, “the fruit of the lips, which confess his name,” as Paul says. David expresses the same saying, “By praising I invoke the Lord, and I will be saved from my enemies.” CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16.25.

FROM THE DEPTHS THEY SANG OUT. BEDE: The devotion of the apostles’ hearts and the power of prayer are expressed [here] together, since in the depths of the prison they sang hymns, and their praise moved the earth of the prison, shook the foundation, opened the doors and finally loosened the very chains of those who had been bound. In other words, anyone of the faithful “considers it all joy when he falls into various trials.” “And he gladly glories in his infirmities, so that the power of Christ may dwell in him.” Such a one undoubtedly sings hymns with Paul and Silas within the darkness of the prison, and with the psalmist he recites to the Lord, “You are my refuge from the distress which surrounds me, my exaltation.” COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16.25.

SPURRED BY ADVERSITY. CHRYSOSTOM: Who is equal to these souls? After being whipped they received numerous blows and underwent insults and extreme dangers. While fastened in stocks in the innermost cell, they stayed awake not wanting to fall asleep. Do you see how great the affliction of the righteous is? We sleep in soft beds without any fear throughout the night. Maybe they stayed awake because they were in this state. The tyrant sleep did not catch them, pain did not bend them, fear did not make them dispirited, but these things spurred them on even more. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16.25.

A SAVING VIGIL. CHRYSOSTOM: Let us set against that night these nights of revelry, drunkenness and wanton excesses, when sleep is no different from death and sleeplessness worse than sleep. For while some people sleep without sense or feeling, others lie awake to pitiful and wretched purpose, weaving treacherous plots, scheming for money, struggling to ward off those who wrong them, nursing hatred, counting up words of abuse spoken during the day. Thus they stoke the fire of their wrath, working up unbearable things. Look how Peter slept. It was part of the divine plan. For the angel came to him and it was necessary that no one should see what happened. Likewise here, it was well that Paul was awake: he prevented the jailer from killing himself. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 36.

Acts