dained, among whom Stephen stood out, full of the Holy Spirit. When they were
302 SAINT A UG USTINE - SERMONS had shed in their savage fury—and so had died—they now drank by believing— and so came to life again.9 The faithful understand what I have just said, and these neophytes, because they have already drunk it. So those of you who have not yet drunk should hurry up and drink, so that your minds may be opened; at the moment, you see, they are closed.10 And so, as it is written in the book called the Acts of the Apostles, which is read during these days, They were pricked to the heart, and many thousands of people were added to Christ (Acts 2:37.41).
The gospel spread, after Stephen's martyrdom, like fire spread from a bonfire
4. Then because of the needs of the ministry, the seven deacons were or¬ dained, among whom Stephen stood out, full of the Holy Spirit. When they were ordained, Saint Stephen's spirit could not contain itself from preaching the truth.11 He was bubbling over with fervor, sparkling, on fire, until the Jews, filled with jealousy in the hardness of their hearts, battered him to death with hard stones, and made a martyr for us, who set the standard for all martyrs.
And so, with Stephen killed, the Church which had been bom in Jerusalem suffered persecution. So according to the Lord's promise, the foundation stones of the Church12 started to be shifted from Jerusalem. A persecution broke out, and the brethren were scattered; because from the pile of wood on fire, burning sticks were scattered over the earth, and wherever they landed, they set it ablaze.13 In this way Judea was filled with the gospel, filled too was Samaria; and it went out to the nations, and reached the ends of the world. It was not by being plucked up by the roots, but by growing and spreading through the world, that we observe the gospel fulfilled.
So there you are, we can observe it; look, we hold to a faith that has spread throughout all nations, with them beginning from Jerusalem (Lk 24:47). Let them deny it who dare; it isn't my words striking their ears, but truth itself hitting the deniers in the eye, shutting their mouths; and so is fulfilled what is written:
That the mouths of those who speak iniquity have been stopped (Ps 63:11).
NOTES
1. Both day and date are disputed; Poque thinks it was preached on the Monday of Easter week, between 400 and 410; Kunzelmann and Fischer agreee with the manuscript title that it was preached on the Wednesday of Easter week, and assign it to 393-405. About the day I remain entirely neutral; but the lack of any attempt at stylistic elaboration leads me to agree, possibly, with Poque about the date. I say possibly, because in note 11 below I give a reason for supposing an even later date about 420. '
2. A very common view today among very many Christians who find a bodily resurrection impossible to swallow. Augustine is at the very least reminding them that this puts them at odds with the mind of Luke; in fact he would very probably say that it calls in question their right to call themselves Christians.