And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people.9 Now there arose some of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke.†11 Then they suborned men to say, they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.12 And they stirred up the people, and the ancients, and the scribes; and running together, they took him, and brought him to the council.13 And they set up false witnesses, who said: This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place and the law.14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us.†15 And all that sat in the council, looking on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.
But he was Moses still, even when he was not visible. So also Stephen had already put on the appearance of an angel, although they were none other than his human knees which bent beneath the stoning.
For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.24 For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel.26 I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: teach me thy justifications.27 Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.29 Remove from me the way of iniquity: and out of thy law have mercy on me.30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not forgotten.
He who loves truth, and never utters a false word with his mouth, may say, "I have chosen the way of truth." Moreover, he who always sets the judgments of God before his eyes, and remembers them in every action, will say, "Thy judgments have I not forgotten." And how is our heart enlarged by trials and afflictions! For these pluck out the thorns of anxious thoughts within us, and enlarge the heart for the reception of the divine laws. For, says he, "in affliction Thou hast enlarged me." Then do we walk in the way of God's commandments, well prepared for it by the endurance of trials.
The next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea, saw that there was no other ship there but one, and that Jesus had not entered into the ship with his disciples, but that his disciples were gone away alone.23 But other ships came in from Tiberias; nigh unto the place where they had eaten the bread, the Lord giving thanks.24 When therefore the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they took shipping, and came to Capharnaum, seeking for Jesus.25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him: Rabbi, when camest thou hither?26 Jesus answered them, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God, the Father, sealed.28 They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?29 Jesus answered, and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.
(viii. de Trin. c. 44) A seal throws out a perfect impression of the stamp, at the same time that it takes in that impression. This is not a perfect illustration of the Divine nativity: for sealing supposes matter, different kinds of matter, the impression of harder upon softer. Yet He who was God Only-Begotten, and the Son of man only by the Sacrament of our salvation, makes use of it to express the Father’s fulness as stamped upon Himself. He wishes to shew the Jews He has the power of giving the eternal meat, because He contained in Himself the fulness of God.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)