Oecumenius

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

“One mile, which was the distance of the Sabbath's journey, as Origen says in the fifth Homily, was two thousand cubits. And moreover the holy tent and the ark occupied this same space before the encampment, and from that distance they encamped.”

to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”

“Specifically, he says, "In this ministry," for there were also others. And he calls his own place the gallows, that is, the one for which Judas prepared himself by his betrayal.”

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you…

“In the foregoing passages indeed Peter shows concern, when he allows the multitude the choice of him who was to be appointed with the eleven; here, however, openness.”

I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

“Now, "The sun shall be turned into darkness," and the preceding, "blood and fire and vapor of smoke," these refer to the coming judgment. More appropriately and specifically they speak of Jerusalem and its then captivity, as is shown by the nature of those suffering.”

He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.

“Since they advanced in their daring by means of the cross, he also attempts to free them by saying, "and foreknowledge of God," at once showing that his suffering was voluntary and that he ministered to the predestined, but even while clearing them he does…”

This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

“And by saying, "For to you is the promise and to your children and to all who are far off, and to those who are near," he indicates the greatness of the gift, that it is sufficient not only for them but also for their…”

And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple…

“How does he not say the name of the lame man? because even the apostles did not know him. For the man was entirely unknown to them.”

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong.

“What then is the faith proclaimed through him? He explains it himself. "That they may know you the only true one," (Jn.”

Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!”

“For the deliverance by the angel of the prison proved to the apostles a comfort, and to the Jews a benefit.”

They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.

“Oh, the folly of those men! who indeed had recognized the carefulness of the mob by a hidden fear, and likewise of God, who plainly always snatches away his own with his hands as if they were birds: yet nevertheless they never wished to be…”

Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him.

“Then, bringing examples of those who have acted thoughtlessly in such matters and to their own ruin, he adduces Theudas and Judas the Galilean, who did not reach a favorable end for themselves.”

Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

“With the common ordination of the seven having taken place, Stephen obtained the greater grace of choice for the one more suitable for selection.”

So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,

“Stealthy attackers everywhere press on: seizing Christ through murderous men, bearing swords, and with the help of torches and the blaze of lamps of the night.”

where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

“They brought men who said that "we have heard him uttering blasphemous words against Moses and God." What were the words? "That this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place." And indeed Stephen said this, though not perhaps in so bare a form.”

After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.

“Now he calls the Son of God an angel, just as elsewhere he calls him a man. For he is the angel of great counsel. (Isa.”

But it was Solomon who built the house for Him. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands.

“In the four hundred eightieth year after the exodus of the sons of Israel from Egypt, Solomon began to build the temple in Jerusalem, as the third book of Kings relates.”

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.

“The Spirit seized Philip, for though the eunuch had indeed wished to converse, Philip, refusing and denying because it was not yet time, nevertheless would have grieved him.”

He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.

“He says "Hellenists" of those speaking in Greek, and very wisely. For the others, that is, the native Jews, did not even wish to see him. [CHRYSOSTOM]”

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”

“And then having sent for, they summoned Peter. They did not do this before her death, considering it unworthy to disturb the disciples for such matters and to distract them from the preaching. Wherefore he also says that he was near.”

He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.

“See the humility of his spirit. For he did not say, "Call Peter to me"; for he would not summon him in the name of rank. Therefore he recounted everything so as even to persuade: so modest was the man.”

not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

“Therefore, he confirms Christ's resurrection by the fact that they ate with him after the resurrection. For he did not make any sign from the resurrection; for the resurrection itself was a great sign, and there was no such sign of a resurrection as eating…”

All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

“Those who, he says, prophesied spoke concerning the forgiveness of sins; in this matter they said that these are forgiven by Jesus. Therefore also Isaiah, bringing forward his very person, says: "I am the one who wipes away your sins, and your lawless deeds." (Isa.”

He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each.

“"four squads of four." That is, the total number sixteen; for four times four makes sixteen. Perhaps at each watch, that is, in the third watch, there were four guards.”

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.”

“He says that it shone so that they could both see and hear Peter and not think it a vision. The phrase "quickly [ἐν τάχει]" does not mean making a noise, but persuading not to delay. [CHRYSOSTOM]”

On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people.

“Immediately the flatterers cried out from different places, as if addressing a god and declaring him to be caring. Although until now we feared him as a man, from this point we confess him superior to nature.”