Acts 15:41
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches, commanding them to keep the precepts of the apostles and the ancients.
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Perambulabat autem Syriam et Ciliciam, confirmans ecclesias : præcipiens custodire præcepta Apostolorum et seniorum.
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- διήρχετο δὲ τὴν Συρίαν καὶ τὴν Κιλικίαν ἐπιστηρίζων τὰς ἐκκλησίας.
The Fathers on this verse
St Augustine Letter LXXV
9. As I have shown, therefore, that Peter was thoroughly aware of the abrogation of the law of Moses, but was compelled by fear to pretend to observe it, let us now see whether Paul, who accuses another, ever did anything of the same kind himself. We read in the same book: “Paul passed through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. …
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily XXXIV on Acts xv. 35
Observe again their humility, how they let others also take part in the preaching. “And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good ( ἡξίου see note 3, p. 213) to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention (or exasperation) was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other.” ( v. 36-39 .) And already indeed Luke has described to us the character of the Apostles, that the one was more tender and indulgent, but this one more strict and austere. …
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily XXXIV on Acts xv. 35
( e ) “But Paul,” it says, “departed, having chosen Silas, and being commended to the grace of God.” What is this? They prayed it says: they besought God. See on all occasions how the prayer of the brethren can do great things. And now he journeyed by land, wishing even by his journeying to benefit those who saw ( τοὺς ὁρὥντας ) him. For when indeed they were in haste they sailed, but now not so. ( c ) “And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches. Then came he to Derbe and Lystra.” ( v. 41 .) Mark the wisdom of Paul: he does not go to other cities before he has visited them which had received the Word. For it is folly to run at random. This let us also do: let us teach the first in the first place, that these may not become an hindrance to them that are to come after.
The Fathers are given as they wrote. Where a passage lays the Passion on the Jewish people, the Church teaches that it cannot be charged against all the Jews then living, nor against the Jews of today, and that all sinners were its authors (CCC 597, 598).