John Chrysostom appeals to me today as there is so much unbelief in the world. His commentary on the Acts of the Apostles reveals a sharp understanding of the lack of faith compared with those who have the eyes of faith.
Christ was teaching the Apostles humility by His exhortation for them to wait for the Holy Spirit. The Apostles had to prepare themselves for the Gifts.
Do we not, on our road to perfection, have to do the same? Wait, pray, be humble...
But why did He appear not to
all, but to the Apostles only?15 Because to the many it
would have seemed a mere apparition, inasmuch as they understood not
the secret of the mystery. For if the disciples themselves were at
first incredulous and were troubled, and needed the evidence of actual
touch with the hand, and of His eating with them, how would it have
fared in all likelihood with the multitude? For this reason therefore
by the miracles [wrought by the Apostles] He renders the evidence of
His Resurrection unequivocal, so that not only the men of those
times—this is what would come of the ocular proof—but also
all men thereafter, should be certain of the fact, that He was risen.
Upon this ground also we argue with unbelievers. For if He did not rise
again, but remains dead, how did the Apostles perform miracles in His
name? But they did not, say you, perform miracles? How then was our
religion (ἔθνος) instituted? For this certainly they will
not controvert nor impugn what we see with our eyes: so that when they
say that no miracles took place, they inflict a worse stab16 upon themselves. For this would be the
greatest of miracles, that without any miracles, the whole world should
have eagerly come to be taken in the nets of twelve poor and illiterate
men. For not by wealth of money, not by wisdom of words, not by any
thing else of this kind, did the fishermen prevail; so that objectors
must even against their will acknowledge that there was in these men a
Divine power, for no human strength could ever possibly effect such
great results. For this He then remained forty days on earth,
furnishing in this length of time the sure evidence of their seeing Him
in His own proper Person, that they might not suppose that what they
saw was a phantom. And not content with this, He added also the
evidence of eating with them at their board: as to signify this, the
writer adds, “And being at table17 with them, He
commanded.”18 (v. 4.) And this circumstance the Apostles themselves always put
forth as an fallible token of the Resurrection; as where they say,
“Who did eat and drink with Him.” (Acts x. 41.)
And what did He, when appearing
unto them those forty days? Why, He conversed with them, says the
writer, “concerning the kingdom of God.” (v. 3.) For, since the disciples both had been distressed and
troubled at the things which already had taken place, and were about to
go forth to encounter great difficulties, He recovered them by His
discourses concerning the future. “He commanded them that they
should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the
Father.” (v.
4.)
First, He led them out to Galilee, afraid and trembling, in order that
they might listen to His words in security. 6Afterwards, when they had
heard, and had passed forty days with Him, “He commanded them
that they should not depart from Jerusalem.” Wherefore? Just as
when soldiers are to charge a multitude, no one thinks of letting them
issue forth until they have armed themselves, or as horses are not
suffered to start from the barriers until they have got their
charioteer; so Christ did not suffer these to appear in the field
before the descent of the Spirit, that they might not be in a condition
to be easily defeated and taken captive by the many. Nor was this the
only reason, but also there were many in Jerusalem who should believe.
And then again that it might not be said, that leaving their own
acquaintance, they had gone to make a parade among strangers, therefore
among those very men who had put Christ to death do they exhibit the
proofs of His Resurrection, among those who had crucified and buried
Him, in the very town in which the iniquitous deed had been
perpetrated; thereby stopping the mouths of all foreign objectors. For
when those even who had crucified Him appear as believers, clearly this
proved both the fact of the crucifixion and the iniquity of the deed,
and afforded a mighty evidence of the Resurrection. Furthermore, lest
the Apostles should say, How shall it be possible for us to live among
wicked and bloody men, they so many in number, we so few and
contemptible, observe how He does away their fear and distress, by
these words, “But wait for the promise of the Father, which ye
have heard of Me.” (v.
4.)
You will say, When had they heard this? When He said, “It is
expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come unto you.” (John xvi. 7.) And again,
“I will pray the Father, and He shall send you another Comforter,
that He may abide with you.” (ib. xiv. 16.)
