ACC ~ Acts 8 v32

ADMIT THAT WE ARE STRAYING SHEEP. AUGUSTINE: See how often it stresses this point and teaches this to those who are proud and contentious: “He was a wounded man,” it says, “and one who knew how to endure weaknesses; for this reason his face is turned away, bearing injuries and not much appreciated. He bears our infirmities, and he is amid sorrows on our behalf. And we thought that he was suffering sorrows, wounds and punishment. But he was wounded on account of our sins, and he became weak on account of our iniquities. In him we learned of our peace; by his bruises we were healed. We all went astray like sheep, and the Lord handed him over for our sins. And he did not open his mouth because he was mistreated. He was led off like a sheep for sacrifice, and like a lamb before his shearer, he made not a sound; thus he did not open his mouth. His judgment was removed in humility. Who will tell of his generation? For his life will be taken away from the earth. He was brought to death by the iniquities of my people. I will repay evil people on account of his burial and the rich on account of his death, because he did no wrong and had no deceit upon his lips. The Lord wishes to cleanse him of his wound. If you have given your life on account of your sins, you will see offspring with a long life. The Lord wishes to remove his soul from sorrows, to show him the light and form his mind, to justify the righteous one who serves the many well, and he will bear their sins. For this reason he will have many heirs and share the spoils with the mighty, because his soul was handed over to death and he was reckoned as one of the wicked. And he bore the sins of many and was handed over on account of their iniquities.” ON THE MERITS AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND ON INFANT BAPTISM 1.54.

LED LIKE A SHEEP TO THE SLAUGHTER. BEDE: Just as a sheep “does not resist when it is led away to be a sacrificial offering, so too he suffered by his own will.”Or, according to a more profound understanding, just as a lamb was customarily immolated at the Passover, so too “Christ our Passover lamb has been immolated.” COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8.32A.

SILENT BEFORE THE SHEARER. BEDE: He has not only redeemed us with his blood, but he has also clothed us with his wool. This is so that with his clothing he may warm those who are cold with infidelity, and so that we may hear the apostle telling us, “All of you who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” He did not open his mouth during his passion when he chose to answer very little to Pilate and the chief priests and nothing at all to Herod.COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8.32B.

THE SHEEP WHO REDEEMS US. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM: He is called a sheep; not a senseless one, but that which cleanses the world from sin by its precious blood, and when led before its shearer knows when to be silent. CATECHETICAL LECTURE 10.3.

Acts