Atos 19
Oecumenius
Atos 19:1-3
Knowing only John's baptism. It is worth asking how, if he knew only John's baptism, he nevertheless possessed the Spirit; for the Spirit was not given in that way. And if those who came after him needed the baptism of Christ, much more would he have needed it. What then is one to say? For he did not simply set both side by side. It seems, therefore, that he was one of the one hundred and twenty who were baptized after the apostles. [CHRYSOSTOM] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:4
From John's baptism he prophesies, and he leads them to understand that this was John's baptism. From this point it is shown that John's baptism was incomplete. For he did not say that it was forgiveness, but that it was of repentance. [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:5-6
Then, having been baptized into the name of the Lord, he says that by the laying on of Paul's hands they immediately receive the Spirit. But this he did not see; for it is invisible. Yet grace gave some perceptible proof of that operation. And one spoke in the Persian tongue, another in the Roman, another in the Indian, another in some other such language; he uttered speech. And this was revealed to those outside, that the Spirit was in the one who uttered, God showing that this is of the highest authority. [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:9
"criticizing the way." Either "the Way" means Christ, or it means the true faith. For this is the Way that leads into the kingdom of heaven. From this also he instructs us to separate those who believe in him from those who blaspheme the Son of God. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:12
"handkerchiefs or aprons." I think both are linen-like; but the handkerchiefs are placed upon the head, while the aprons are held in the hands by those unable to wear handkerchiefs, such as those who wear secondary garments or sleaves to wipe away the moistures of the face, for example sweat, spittle, tears, and the like. [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:13-16
"Some of the roaming Jewish exorcists." This statement shows that they did not, like exorcists believing in Jesus, adjure unclean spirits in the name of the Lord, but were testing them: wherefore also, since they were not faithful, as the evil spirit says, they shortly paid the penalty of their foolishness. For the spirit exposed them, and wholly exposed their deceit, moved by anger: as when one placed in extreme dangers is attacked by some enemy, and all wrath is poured out upon him. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:18-19
"confessing and proclaiming their deeds." It is necessary for every faithful person to confess his own sins, and to turn away by reproving himself, so as no longer to do the same things, in order that he may be justified according to the saying: "You first confess your sins, so that you may be justified." (James 5:16) It should also be noted in what follows that although their magical books were valuable, like the finest possessions of those who live in the world, those who believed in Christ did not sell them but burned them; for, although there were others there who wished to acquire such books, first so that no one might share in the soul-destroying influence that comes from them, and secondly so that no one might obtain anything on account of such a cause. For just as gain from fornication was forbidden to be offered to God, so neither did the apostles judge it right or acceptable that the money from this source should be placed at their feet. [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:35
The Diopetes, of the temple of Zeus, that is, the round-shaped one. Or it was likewise called another sanctuary among them. But instead of "temple-keeper" [Νεωκόρον] he says "temple-servant" [ἱερόδουλόν]; to "sweep" is the act of cleansing, from which also temple-keeper, the one who tends the temple, is so called, that is, he who sweeps the temple. [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:35
The scribe shows how great the superstition of the Ephesians was, both in adorning the temple of Artemis and in honoring her image, which they and the Diopetes said to be fallen from Zeus. For they all called that shell the Diopetes, sent from heaven by Zeus, either a fallen statue that had come down from the sky, or the Palladium, as the Greeks invented in order to astonish the more gullible, which they supposed to have been fashioned from above by Zeus and not by humans. [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:38
"and have recourse to the courts and to the magistrates." There was a class of judges in Asia called the magistrates, of humble status, who in some cases judged the poor and market-people; therefore they were called magistrates, just as there are public prosecutors in certain cities. The proconsuls, however, listened to cases concerning the rich or crimes. The term magistrates is also applied to advocates, from the word ἀγορεύειν, that is, "to speak publicly." [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts