ACC ~ Acts 3 v6

SILVER AND GOLD I DO NOT HAVE. BEDE: The ancient tabernacle “indeed had ritual ordinances and a sanctuary, though an earthly one,” embellished with gold and silver. But the blood of the gospel is more precious than the metals of the law. It springs forth because that people, who had been lying enfeebled in mind before the golden doorpost, was saved in the name of him who was crucified and [so now] enters the temple of the heavenly kingdom. In any case, blessed Peter, mindful of the Lord’s command which was spoken, “Do not possess gold and silver,” did not hoard for himself the money that was put at the feet of the apostles but was inclined to reserve it for the use of the poor who had lost their birthright. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 3.6.

THE FREEDOM OF POVERTY. CHRYSOSTOM: Let no one then be humiliated on account of his poverty: It is not poverty that humiliates, but wealth, which compels us to have need of many and forces us to be under obligations to many. … So, if poverty had made people wanting in boldness, Christ would not have sent his disciples with poverty to a work requiring great boldness. For the poor person is very strong and has nothing of which he may be wronged or evil to be prayed for. But the rich person is assailable on every side: just in the same way as one would easily catch a person who was dragging many long ropes after him, whereas one could not readily lay hold on a naked person. So here also it does not succeed in the case of the rich person: slaves, gold, lands, affairs innumerable, innumerable cares, difficult circumstances, necessities, make him an easy prey to all. ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 18.4.

POWER IN THE NAME. JOHN CASSIAN: Those men who received power from God never used that power as if it were their own but referred the power to him from whom they received it; for the power itself could never have any force except through the name of him who gave it. And so both the apostles and all the servants of God never did anything in their own name but in the name and invocation of Christ. For the power itself derived its force from the same source as its origin, and it could not be given through the instrumentality of the ministers, unless it had come from the Author. ON THE INCARNATION OF THE LORD AGAINST NESTORIUS 7.19.

SPIRITUAL WEALTH. ORIGEN: Do you see the riches of Christ’s ministers? Do you see the greatness and nature of the gifts they bestow when they have nothing? Earthly possession cannot bestow those riches. HOMILIES ON GENESIS 16.5.

GENEROUSLY FOLLOWING THE POOR CHRIST. EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: And who would not be astonished at their indifference to money, certified by their not turning from but welcoming a Master who forbade the possession of gold and silver, whose law did not even allow the acquisition of a second coat? Why, anyone only hearing such a law might reject it as too heavy, but these men are shown to have carried out the words in fact. PROOF OF THE GOSPEL 3.5.

Acts