ACC ~ Acts 20 v7

A MEMORABLE GATHERING. CHRYSOSTOM: “When we were gathered together,” it says, “to break bread.” At the opportune time, when they showed they were hungry (and this not untimely), his speech began and was prolonged. So it was not primarily to hear his teaching that they came together but to break bread; however, once [Paul] began speaking, he prolonged the teaching. See how at Paul’s table all partook. It seems to me that even while seated at the table he was speaking, thus teaching us to consider all the rest secondary. Picture to yourself, please, that house with the lights, with the crowd, with Paul in the middle, speaking, with even the windows occupied by many people, and to hear that trumpet, to behold that gracious countenance! … But why did he speak at night? Because [Paul] was about to depart and never see them again. This he does not tell them, since they are too weak, but he did tell the others. At the same time, the miracle that took place made them remember that evening forever. Great was the pleasure experienced by his audience; though interrupted, it was further extended. So the fall took place to the benefit of the teacher. Besides, all who were indifferent were about to be censured by that young man who underwent death to hear Paul. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 43.

AN ALLEGORICAL READING OF THE TEXT. BEDE: We can speak allegorically here, for the upper room is the loftiness of spiritual gifts; night is the obscurity of the Scriptures; the abundance of lamps is the explanation of the more enigmatic sayings;the Lord’s day is the remembrance of either the Lord’s resurrection or our own. And [this passage serves] to warn the spiritual teacher that if he is ever attracted by the sweetness of the resurrection and the joys of the life to come, and he arouses his listeners to the heights of virtue, and if in a lengthy discussion he touches upon any enigmas of the Scriptures, he should very soon, for the sake of weak listeners, shed light on those same [enigmas] by the lamp of plain explanation, just as the apostle did. When he said, “Abraham had two sons, the one by a slave girl and the other by a free woman,” he soon added by way of explanation, “These are the two covenants,” and so forth. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.7-8.

Acts