Oecumenius, on Acts 1:4

“And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth.”

“When did they hear? When he said: It is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you (Jn. 16:7); and again: I will ask the Father, and He will send you another Advocate (Jn. 14:16). But if the Spirit had not yet come, how could he say, "Receive the Holy Spirit"? (Jn. 20:22) Either because he said this, making them receptive and suitable for receiving the Spirit; and they received it when he descended; or because he spoke of the future as if it were already present; or because the giving of the Spirit is both purifying and perfecting. Therefore, the perfecting and completing descent of the Spirit upon the apostles, so as to perfect others as well, occurred at the time of Pentecost; it did not come while he was present; for if he had departed and it remained, the comfort would not have been so great; for they held on to it very firmly and inseparably. But the Spirit did not descend immediately, but after about eight or nine days, so that, having been somewhat discouraged, and having come to desire and need the promise, they might receive the joy at the presence pure and complete. Otherwise, it was necessary for our nature to appear in heaven, and for the reconciliations to be completed, and then for the Spirit to come. Consider, so that after the ascension they might not flee again, how this expectation holds them all there like a certain bond. [CHRYSOSTOM]”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.