The imprisonment of the apostle Peter

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Guest Author

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14 November 2024

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By prof. A. P. Lopukhin

Acts of the Apostles, chapter 12. 1 – 18. Herod persecutes the Church: the killing of James, the imprisonment of Peter and his miraculous release. 19 – 23. Death of Herod in Caesarea. 24 – 25. The return of Barnabas and Saul to Antioch.

Acts 12:1. At that time king Herod laid his hand on some of the church to do them evil,

“At that time,”–i.e. while Barnabas and Saul carried out the commission of the Antiochians (Acts 11:25, 30).

“King Herod”. This is Herod Agrippa I, son of Aristobulus and Veronica, grandson of Herod (called the Great), who sought to kill the Lord after His birth and killed the Bethlehem infants instead of Him (Matt. 2:1, 13), nephew of Herod Antipas of Galilee, the murderer of John the Baptist (Matt. 14ff.). Such was this family of murderers, who bloodied their hands with the most precious blood for Christians…

King Herod was born around 10 before Christ and grew up in Rome. After the accession of Emperor Caligula to the throne, he received the tetrarchy of his deceased uncle Philip (Matt. 2:22; Luke 3:1) and the tetrarchy of Lysanius (Luke 3:1) with the title of king. Soon he united under his authority the tetrarchy of his other uncle – Herod Antipas. Finally, the emperor Claudius, the successor of Caligula, added Judea to his dominions together with Samaria, so that he, like his grandfather, ruled all Palestine (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 7, 2; XIX, 5, 1; 6, 1 ; the Jewish War II, 9, 6; 11, 5), in which there was no longer a separate Roman procurator over Palestine. Died in 44 sl. R. A.D., reigning no more than four years, after which Judea was again made a Roman province.

“He lifted up his hands… to do evil” – either by imprisonment, or by corporal punishment, or by other cruel measures, including murder, an example of which is given further on.

Acts 12:2. and killed Jacob the brother of John with the sword.

Jacob, the brother of John (Theologian) Zebedee became the second Christian martyr, on whom the Lord’s prediction was exactly fulfilled (Matt. 20:23). Complementing the short notice of the de-writer about his martyrdom, the church tradition tells that the one who accused the apostle was himself converted to Christ by the accused and was martyred together with him (Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History. II, 9). This is how Saint John Chrysostom exclaims: “no longer the Jews and not the Sanhedrin, but the king raises his hands to do evil. This is the highest authority, the most difficult bran, all the more so because it was in favor of the Jews”.

Acts 12:3. And when he saw that this pleased the Jews, he also seized Peter – then were the days of unleavened bread –

“Then were the days of unleavened bread” – the days of unleavened bread began on the day of the Passover and lasted for 7 days. If Herod usually resided in Caesarea, the residence of the Jewish rulers at the time, the mention of the days of unleavened bread makes it clear that Herod took advantage of his stay in Jerusalem for the Passover to persecute the Christians and imprison Peter to satisfy the Jews . The base calculation that guided him was to please as many people as possible with his actions: quite Herodian and worthy of those for whose sake the evil was done.

Acts 12:4. and, seizing him, cast him into prison, and delivered him to four quarters of soldiers to guard him, thinking after the Passover to bring him before the people.

“four quadruple soldiers,” i. four shifts of four people. Such increased security was placed only for particularly important criminals, and in the given case it did not fulfill its duties quite as expected, for “the more careful the guard, the more amazing was the revelation of God’s power…” ( blessed Theophylact of Ohrid).

“thinking after Passover.” On a festival as great as the Passover, no sentence of death or execution was allowed, and so Herod Agrippa wanted to condemn Peter after the festival was over.

“to bring him before the people” – for a solemn public trial, condemnation and capital punishment. A lover of spectacles, brought up by the bloody Roman spectacles, the king wanted to make a public spectacle out of the condemnation and execution of the first supreme apostle.

Acts 12:5. And so Peter was kept in prison; and at that time the church was constantly praying to God for him.

“And at that time the church was constantly praying to God for him.” From the remark it is clear that the miraculous deliverance of the apostle was granted mainly through the prayer of the Church for him. “They (i.e. the believers) were now in the most dangerous position. They were horrified both by the fact that he (Jacob) was killed and by the fact that he (Peter) was thrown into prison… But they did not get angry, did not raise a commotion, but turned to prayer, resorted to this invincible champion…” (Saint John Chrysostom).

Acts 12:6. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter slept between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards at the door guarded the dungeon.

“Through that night,” i. before the day when Herod wanted to try Peter “Peter was sleeping between two soldiers”, chained to them with two chains, as was the rule under a strong guard (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 6, 7; Pliny, Er. X, 65 ).

Acts 12:7. And behold, an Angel of the Lord stood, and a light shone in the dungeon. The angel, pushing Peter in the side, woke him up and said: get up quickly! And the chains fell from his hands.

“A light shone in the dungeon” – φῶς ἔλαμψεν ἐν τῷ οἰκήματι. In the Slavic translation: “the world shines in xpamine” – perhaps not in the entire dungeon, but in that part of it where Peter slept.

“as he pushed Petra”. Peter’s sleep in those anxious minutes was so deep that only a movement could wake him. “You see,” says St. John Chrysostom, “Peter is asleep, he does not give in to despondency or fear.” That night, when they wanted to lead him to death, he slept, surrendering everything to God.”

Acts 12:8. Then the Angel said to him: gird up your tail and put on your shoes. So he did. Then he says to him: put on your clothes and follow me!

“Shut up and put on your shoes.” “Therefore he ordered him to gird himself and put on his shoes, to show him that he was not an apparition, so that Peter would wake up from his sleep and be convinced that it was true. Therefore at that moment the chains fell from his hands and he was told, “get up quickly.” These are words whose purpose is not to disturb, but to convince not to delay…” (Saint John Chrysostom).

Acts 12:9. Peter went out and followed him, and he did not know that what the Angel was doing was true, but thought he was seeing a vision.

Acts 12:10. When they had passed the first and second watch, they came to the iron enemy, who were leading into the city, and who opened themselves to them: they went out and crossed a street, and presently the Angel withdrew from him.

Acts 12:11 Then Peter, coming to himself, said: now I truly understood that the Lord sent His Angel and delivered me from the hands of Herod and from everything that the Jewish people expected.

Acts 12:12. And looking around, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, called Mark, where many were gathered and praying.

“John, called Mark”, who then accompanied Barnabas and Saul to Antioch (Acts 12:25). There are several different traditions about this John-Mark: according to some, he is the same person as the evangelist Mark and Mark, the nephew of Barnabas (Col. 4:10). Others distinguish it from St. Mark and the nephew of Barnabas. Third, distinguishing it from St. the apostle Mark, consider him a nephew of Barnabas. This disagreement, of course, cannot speak against the historical veracity of this account in the book of Acts.

Acts 12:13. When Peter knocked on the road enemy, a servant girl named Rhoda went to eavesdrop.

Acts 12:14. And, recognizing Peter’s voice, he did not open the door for joy, but ran and called that Peter was standing at the door.

Acts 12:15. And they told her: you are out of your mind! But she claimed it was. And they said: this is his Angel.

“You are out of your mind!” In Greek: μαίνῃ. In the Slavic translation: “are you mad?”, i.e. are you crazy So strange and incredible seemed the reported.

“This is his Angel.” As often happens when a person gets confused, faced with something improbable and inexplicable, he finds an explanation of what is happening that is no less difficult and wonderful, and just as little to explain the possibility of the incredible. The teaching about the guardian angel and the director of the salvation of every person could be based on and confirmed by the teaching of the Lord about the angels of infants. This teaching was also known to the apostle Paul (Hebrews 1:14).

Acts 12:16. At that time, Peter kept knocking. And when they opened it, they saw it and were amazed.

“when they opened” – no longer only the maidservant, but everyone gathered rushes to the newcomer and opens the door for him.

Acts 12:17. And he, making a sign with his hand to be silent, told them how the Lord had brought him out of the dungeon, and said: call Jacob and the brothers about this. And going out, he went to another place.

“call Jacob,” i. to the superior of the Jerusalem church, brother of the Lord “and to the brothers”, i.e. to the rest of the believers – to calm down.

“went to another place”, thereby showing prudent caution, which fully corresponded to the Lord’s instruction (Matt. 10:23). “He did not tempt God and did not put himself in danger, because they did this only when they were commanded…” (Saint John Chrysostom). There is an ancient tradition that Peter was in Rome during the first years of the reign of Claudius (Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History, II, 14–15). If this is so, then the most convenient time for Peter to make such a journey was precisely that. In all probability the journey took place in AD 44, after the Jewish Passover, in the fourth year of Claudius’ reign. After that, the writer does not speak about Peter again until the apostolic council (Acts 15).

During this time (several years) he was quite able to make the supposed journey – both for greater safety and because of his zeal to preach Christ in the very center of the life of the world at that time.

Acts 12:18. As he doubted, there was no small confusion among the soldiers, what had become of Peter.

Acts 12:19. And Herod, looking for him and not finding him, investigated the guards and ordered them to be put to death. After that he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and there he lived.

“He went down to Caesarea.” It was the then usual residence of the Roman governors of Judea. The Passover was over and Herod could leave Jerusalem. Moreover, it was now inconvenient for him to remain in the city, because he was ashamed of that part of the people, headed by the Sanhedrin, to whom he had promised a gratuitous spectacle of the apostle’s execution.

Acts 12:20. Herod was angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians; and they talked together, came to him and, having persuaded the king’s bed-bearer Vlasta to their side, begged for peace, because their country was fed from the king’s territory.

By describing Herod’s death immediately after the story of Peter’s release, the scribe wants to present this death as God’s punishment for Herod because of the persecution against Christ’s church.

“Herod was enraged” – for what reason is unknown.

“the king’s bedspread Power” – τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ κοῦῶνος τοῦ βασιλέως. This is the chief servant of the king, the guardian of his life and treasures. Such officials very often became high dignitaries of the state, enjoying great influence over the king and state affairs (cf. Acts 8:27).

“begged for peace”. Friendly relations were especially necessary given the danger of starvation (St. John Chrysostom). The Phoenicians obtained most of their grain wheat from Palestine, as they themselves were primarily a trading rather than an agricultural people. Therefore, without war, Herod could do them too much harm, which forced them to beg him for peace.

Acts 12:21. On the appointed day, Herod put on a royal robe, sat on the throne, and spoke to them;

The reception of the envoys took place on a specially designated day of a solemn public audience.

“clothed himself in a royal garment” – according to Josephus’ account “woven of silver”.

Acts 12:22. and the people shouted: this is the voice of God, and not of man.

Acts 12:23. But suddenly an Angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give glory to God; and he, eaten by worms, died.

The Jewish historian Josephus tells in sufficient detail about the circumstances of Agrippa’s death, with some details and differences (Jewish Antiquities, XIX, 8, 2; cf. Acts 18:6, 7) with a general similarity to the writer. According to Josephus, the king was present in Caesarea at the games in honor of Caesar; on one of these days, the reception of the king’s envoys could have taken place. His magnificent, silver-woven robes shone in the sun with dazzling brilliance; this gave reason also to the flatterers for the most immeasurable praises, in which they called him a god and entrusted themselves to his favor. The king, it seems, was heartened by such flattery, which immediately drew upon him the wrath of God: seeing an owl above him, he fell into a superstitious fear, and at the same time felt such a sharp pain in his stomach that he was immediately carried in his arms into the palace, where after five days of agony he died.

Agrippa’s fear of the owl is explained by the fact that in Rome a soothsayer predicted that he would die when he saw an owl above him for the second time. When this happened, Agrippa fell ill, remembering with horror the prediction. This explanation does not exclude the other, more serious, one of the writer, who says that the cause and beginning of the disease is the invisible defeat of Herod by an angel. The two narrators also do not contradict each other in indicating the duration of Herod’s torments – Josephus directly states five days, and Luke is less definite, saying: “eaten by worms, he died.”

The account of Herod’s death is important because of its chronological date (44), which allows us to determine the time of previous and subsequent events in the life of the church.

Acts 12:24. And the word of God grew and spread.

Acts 12:25. Barnabas and Saul, having fulfilled the commission, returned from Jerusalem (to Antioch), taking with them John, called Mark. Cf. Acts 11:28–30.

Source in Russian: Explanatory Bible, or Commentaries on all the books of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments: In 7 volumes / Ed. prof. A. P. Lopukhin. – Ed. 4th. – Moscow: Dar, 2009, 1232 pp.

Illustration: A rare icon of oil-painted St. Peter on gilt background with intricate tooling and decorated with a border of stippled flowers. Oil and gilt on wood panel. 48.2 x 38.3 cm (19 x 15 1/8 in.). Guilded wooden frame, 19th century.

Public execution in Afghanistan condemned as ‘clear human rights violation’

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United Nations News

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14 November 2024

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Public execution in Afghanistan condemned as ‘clear human rights violation’

The latest incident comes amid growing international concern over the use of capital punishment in the country since 2021, when the Taliban swept back into power 20 years on from the allied invasion that ended their rule, in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States.

Since the Taliban takeover of August 2021, the de facto authorities have reintroduced public executions, floggings and other forms of corporal punishment, despite international appeals to uphold human rights standards.

These practices have raised significant concerns among human rights experts and the international community.

The latest execution, which took place in Gardez, Paktya province, represents a “clear violation of human rights” and demonstrates an alarming pattern of public punishments, according to UN independent expert – or Special Rapporteur – who monitors human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett.

“I condemn today’s horrific public execution,” Mr. Bennett said in a statement on social media, describing the incident as a clear human rights violation. “These atrocious punishments are clear violations of human rights and must be immediately halted”.

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Calls for moratorium

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) emphasised that “executions carried out in public are contrary to Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations and must cease.” The Mission called on the de facto authorities to “establish an immediate moratorium on all executions with a view to abolition of the death penalty”.

“We also call for respect for due process and fair trial rights, in particular access to legal representation,” UNAMA stated.

Deteriorating rights situation

The public execution reflects a broader pattern of human rights deterioration in Afghanistan. The Taliban have issued more than 70 edicts, directives and decrees since their 2021 takeover, including limiting girls to primary level education, banning women from most professions and prohibiting them from using parks, gyms and other public places.

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous recently told the Security Council that “Afghanistan’s women do not only fear these oppressive laws, but they also fear their capricious application,” noting that “a life lived in such circumstance is truly incomprehensible”.

The UN Special Representative in Afghanistan and head of UNAMA Roza Otunbayeva reported in September that while the de facto authorities have “delivered a period of stability,” they are “exacerbating this crisis by policies that focus insufficiently on the real needs of its people.”

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Tragic End in Torrent: Bodies of Missing Children Izan and Rubén Found After DANA Floods

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Newsdesk

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13 November 2024

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Valencia, November 13, 2024 // In a heartbreaking turn of events, the bodies of Izan and Rubén Matías, two young children swept away during the devastating DANA floods in Torrent, have been found lifeless near Catarroja, several kilometers from where they disappeared. The family, after days of agony, shared a poignant message: “Our little angels are now resting from the heavens.”

The boys, aged 3 and 5, went missing two weeks ago when torrential rains brought by the DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) hit their neighborhood in Torrent. It was an unforeseen tragedy—the children were in their home when a container carried by a passing trailer became unhinged, crashing violently into the room they were occupying. The impact sent both Izan and Rubén into the raging floodwaters, setting off a desperate search across the region.

Their disappearance mobilized not only local emergency teams, including the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME), but also community members and specialized rescue groups from around the world. Among the most notable were “Los Topos Aztecas,” a team of renowned Mexican rescuers, who joined the effort despite the daunting conditions, and who were working and assisted by the Scientology Volunteer Ministers who provided logistical support and aided, with many other citizen groups, in the relentless search operation.

Despite daily searches, hopes of finding the children alive slowly dwindled as the days wore on. The area was combed repeatedly, with experts estimating the possible path of the floodwaters to track down the missing boys. Yesterday, the exhaustive search came to a tragic conclusion when both bodies were located together, several kilometers downstream from the house they had once played in.

The story of Izan and Rubén has captured the hearts of many, highlighting both the fragility of life in the face of natural disasters and the extraordinary lengths that people will go to in times of crisis. Rescue teams worked day and night, enduring the challenges of muddy waters and unpredictable weather conditions, hoping against hope for a miracle that never came.

Among the different organizations that assisted, the role of “Los Topos Aztecas” stood out for their bravery, with the seasoned Mexican team arriving in Spain as soon as news of the disaster spread. Their dedication was matched by the “Scientology Volunteer Ministers,” who provided critical coordination, distributing resources and assisting families and teams on the ground.

Although the outcome has been a tragic one, the collective response to the disappearance of Izan and Rubén is a testament to the humanity that surfaces in times of need. Local residents, professional rescue units, and international teams all worked together tirelessly, exemplifying a community united by love and compassion. While the children could not be saved, the dedication of those involved brought some small measure of closure to the grieving family.

“Our hearts are broken, but we’re forever grateful to those who never stopped looking for our boys,” said a family member through tears. As Valencia mourns the loss of these two young lives, the community’s resilience stands as a reminder that, even amidst devastation, people come together—strangers turned allies in a fight against despair.

EU Proposes Digital Portal to Simplify Worker Postings Across Borders

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Newsdesk

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13 November 2024

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tiny model construction workers, working on a mobile phone screen — Photo by Nik on Unsplash

The European Commission has proposed a new digital portal that will make it easier for companies to temporarily send workers to other EU countries. This proposal aims to simplify the paperwork involved in moving employees—known as ‘posted workers’—to different member states, reducing the burden on businesses while keeping worker protections strong.

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Why Is This Important?

The EU’s Single Market includes around 5 million posted workers. These are employees who are sent by their companies to work in a different EU country for a short period of time. Right now, companies face a lot of paperwork, as each EU country has its own rules and forms that need to be completed. This can be complicated and costly, particularly for small businesses that may not have the resources to deal with the complex bureaucracy.

The new portal aims to create a single digital form that can be used across all EU countries. This means that companies will no longer need to fill out 27 different national forms when posting workers, but instead, they can use one standardized form available in all EU languages. The Commission believes that this will reduce the time needed for these declarations by 73%, cutting down the administrative costs for businesses.

How Will This Benefit Businesses and Workers?

The new digital portal will be part of the Internal Market Information System (IMI), which EU countries already use to share information about labor and services. This proposal is voluntary for member states, meaning each country can decide whether or not to use the new system. However, for those that do opt in, it will significantly reduce the paperwork needed when companies post workers across borders.

For businesses, this means a more streamlined process, saving both time and money. It contributes to the EU’s broader goal of reducing administrative burdens for companies by 25%, as outlined in its “Long-term competitiveness of the EU” strategy.

For workers, the new system will ensure that companies comply with existing worker protection laws. The streamlined process will also make it easier for labor authorities in each country to conduct inspections and enforce worker rights, improving compliance and transparency.

Protecting Workers’ Rights

The EU is committed to making sure that workers’ rights are protected, even when they are working temporarily in another country. By simplifying the process for declaring posted workers, the new system aims to ensure that companies follow all the rules set out in the Posting of Workers Directive. This directive ensures that posted workers receive fair treatment, such as appropriate wages and working conditions, similar to local workers.

With the digital portal, member states can also share information more effectively. Authorities will be better equipped to track postings and conduct targeted inspections, ensuring that companies are not bypassing important worker protections.

A Step Toward Fair Mobility

This proposal is part of a broader EU plan to support labor mobility and tackle worker shortages. It was initially announced in the 2020 New Industrial Strategy and was further emphasized in a 2024 action plan to address labor and skills shortages. By making it easier for companies to post workers, the EU hopes to promote fair mobility—meaning workers can move across borders for jobs without losing their rights or facing complicated paperwork.

Summary

The proposed digital portal is designed to simplify the process for companies to send workers to other EU countries, reducing administrative burdens and improving transparency. This is expected to benefit both businesses, by cutting costs, and workers, by ensuring strong protection of their rights. By making it easier to comply with EU rules, the new system aims to make labor mobility fairer and more efficient, while supporting businesses in a competitive global market.

Valencia Cut-off Low, Mobility Restrictions Intensified Due to Climate Alert in 20 Municipalities

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Newsdesk

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13 November 2024

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Burguera, November 13, 2024 — A severe weather alert has led to intensified mobility restrictions across 20 municipalities in the Comunitat, as authorities respond to the ongoing atmospheric conditions. The restrictions will be in effect from 6 PM today until 6 PM tomorrow, particularly affecting areas impacted by the DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos) event that occurred on October 29.

The municipalities under these restrictions include Alaquàs, Albal, Aldaia, Alfafar, Algemesí, Alginet, Benetússer, Beniparrell, Catarroja, Chiva, Guadassuar, L’Alcùdia, Llocnou de la Corona, Massanasa, Paiporta, Picanya, Sedaví, Torrent, Valencia (southern districts), and Xirivella. These areas are primarily located in the regions of l’Horta Sud, Ribera Alta, and Hoya de Buñol.

Authorities have implemented these temporary and exceptional measures to ensure the safety of residents amid the adverse weather conditions, which have prompted a yellow and orange alert in various zones.

Exceptions to the Mobility Restrictions

While the restrictions are stringent, there are exceptions for urgent travel that is adequately justified. These exceptions include:

Medical Assistance: Travel to healthcare centers, services, and establishments.
Return to Residence: Individuals returning to their habitual or family residence.
Care for Vulnerable Individuals: Assistance and care for the elderly, minors, dependents, individuals with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons.
Force Majeure: Travel due to emergencies or situations of necessity.
Other Justified Activities: Any other activities of a similar nature, provided they are properly documented.

As the situation develops, residents are urged to stay informed and adhere to the guidelines set forth by local authorities to ensure their safety and that of others during this challenging weather event.

Torino and Braga win European Capital of Innovation Awards

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Newsdesk

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13 November 2024

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two person standing on gray tile paving — Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Today, the Commission has revealed the winners of the 2024-25 European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital), celebrating a decade of recognising cities that lead the way in delivering innovative solutions for their citizens. This year’s top prizes, funded under the EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, were awarded to the cities of Torino and Braga.

Torino showcases a comprehensive approach to experimentation and innovation, leveraging its rich history and industrial heritage to tackle both present and future urban challenges. Braga has developed a range of innovative solutions, from tech-based clusters to cultural and creative industries, and established a strong innovation ecosystem with a focus on collaboration and inclusivity.

The award ceremony took place on 13 November 2024 in Lisbon at the Web Summit, one of the world’s largest technology events. Commissioner Iliana Ivanova handed the awards to cities that have embedded innovation into daily urban life, advancing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities. The ceremony brought together the mayors from winning cities and past iCapital winners.

In addition to the main category winners, the Commission has announced the 1st and 2nd runners-up for each category:

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European Capital of Innovation category

Torino, winner

Espoo, 2nd place

West Midlands Combined Authority, 3rd place

European Rising Innovative City category

Braga, winner

Linz, 2nd place

Oulu, 3rd place

The European Capital of Innovation category winner, Torino, has received a €1 million prize, while the two runners-up have been awarded €100 000 each. The European Rising Innovative City category winner, Braga, has received €500,000, and the two runner-up cities have each been granted €50,000.

Background

Supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC) under Horizon Europe, the European Capital of Innovation Awards – also known as iCapital – celebrate cities with dynamic, inclusive innovation ecosystems. The competition acknowledges those urban centres that successfully connect citizens, academic institutions, businesses, and public authorities to drive transformative change.

This year celebrates the tenth anniversary of the iCapital Awards. The prize first took place in 2014. Past winners include Barcelona (2014), Amsterdam (2016), Paris (2017), Athens (2018), Nantes (2019), Leuven (2020), Dortmund (2021), Aix-Marseille Provence Metropole (2022) and Lisbon (2023) as European Capitals of Innovation. Past winners in the Rising Innovative city category include Vantaa (2021), Haarlem (2022) and Linköping (2023).

iCapital is one of the five EIC Prizes granted under Horizon Europe. The prize is open to cities from all EU member states and countries associated to Horizon Europe and it is managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency. The winners are chosen following an assessment performed by two high-level juries of independent experts.

Women in the Church in Orthodox perspective

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Newsroom

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12 November 2024

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What is the place of women in the church and in life in general? After all, the Orthodox view is a special view. And the opinions of different priests can differ greatly from each other (even if we do not take into account the misogynist Tkachev) – someone sees Delilah and Herodias in women, someone – myrrh-bearers.

In the world created by God, a man and a woman are two absolutely equal parts of a single whole: the world simply could not exist if they did not complement each other.

It is this unity that the Apostle Paul emphasizes, speaking about the earthly segment of human history: “the two will become one flesh.”

If we talk about eternity, then in it, according to the words of the same Paul: “there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” And this is the same unity, but in its exclusive fullness (“marriage is only a prophetic image of the future century, of humanity in slalu naturae integrae [in a state of integral nature]” – Pavel Evdokimov).

As for the role of women… There is an interesting moment in the Gospel, which for some reason is traditionally ignored by Orthodox (and perhaps other Christian) preachers.

We know that Christ was born of Mary. She became the focus in which the thousand-year history of the Jewish people converged. All the prophets, patriarchs and kings of the people of Israel lived so that at some point this young girl would agree to become the mother of God and give Him the opportunity to save us all.

God did not use her as a “walking incubator” (which is what Orthodox pastors seriously see as the purpose of women), did not deceive her, as Zeus did with Alcmene, Leda or Danae, He chose her as the mother of His Son and gave her the right to freely respond with consent or refusal.

All this is common knowledge. But few people pay attention to the fact that there is no place for a man in this story.

There is God and a woman who save the world. There is Christ, who, dying on the cross, conquers death and redeems humanity with his blood. And there is Mary, standing at the cross of her Divine Son, whose “weapon pierces the soul.”

And all the men are somewhere out there – feasting in palaces, judging, making sacrifices, betraying, shaking with hatred or fear, preaching, fighting, teaching.

They have their own role in this “divine tragedy”, but at this culmination of human history, the main role is played by two – God and Woman.

And true Christianity by no means reduced the entire role of a woman to the birth of children and household chores.

For example, St. Paula, a highly educated woman, helped Blessed Jerome in his work on translating the Bible.

The monasteries of England and Ireland in the 6th and 7th centuries became centers for the training of erudite women who were knowledgeable in theology, canon law, and wrote Latin poetry. St. Gertrude translated the Holy Scriptures from Greek. Female monastic orders in Catholicism carried out a wide variety of social services.

From an Orthodox perspective on the matter, a useful synthesis is provided by a document from the year 2000 – “Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church”, approved by the Holy Synod of Bishops, in the year of the Great Jubilee, at the border between the millennia.

The foundations of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church are intended to serve as a guide for synodal institutions, dioceses, monasteries, parishes and other canonical church institutions in their relations with state power, with various secular organizations, with non-church mass media. On the basis of this document, the ecclesiastical Hierarchy adopts decisions on various issues, the relevance of which is limited within the boundaries of individual countries or to some short period of time, as well as when the subject of consideration is sufficiently private. The document is included in the educational process of the spiritual schools of the Moscow Patriarchate. In accordance with the changes in state and social life, the emergence of new problems in this area, which are important for the Church, the foundations of its social concept can be developed and improved. The results of this process are confirmed by the Holy Synod, by Local or Bishops’ Councils:

X. 5. In the pre-Christian world there existed the idea of woman as an inferior being compared to man. The Church of Christ revealed the dignity and vocation of women in all their fullness by giving them a deep religious justification, which found its peak in the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to Orthodox teaching, the blessed Mary, blessed among women (Luke 1:28), manifested in herself that highest degree of moral purity, spiritual perfection and holiness to which man can rise and which surpasses in dignity the ranks of angels. In her person, motherhood is sanctified and the importance of the feminine is affirmed. The mystery of the Incarnation takes place with the participation of the Mother of God, as she participates in the work of salvation and rebirth of man. The Church deeply honors the evangelical myrrh-bearing women, as well as the numerous Christian figures glorified by the feats of martyrdom, confession and righteousness. From the very beginning of the existence of the ecclesiastical community, women actively participated in its organization, liturgical life, missionary work, preaching, education and charity.

Valuing highly the social role of women and welcoming their political, cultural and social equality with men, at the same time the Church opposes tendencies to belittle the role of women as wife and mother. The fundamental equality of dignity of the sexes does not eliminate their natural differences and does not mean the identification of their vocation both in the family and in society. In particular, the Church cannot misinterpret the words of St. app. Paul about the special responsibility of the man who is called to be “head of the woman” and to love her as Christ loves His Church or about the call of the woman to submit to the man as the Church submits to Christ (Eph. 5 :22-33; Col. 3:18). Here, of course, we are not talking about the despotism of the man or the fortification of the woman, but about the primacy of responsibility, care and love; it should also not be forgotten that all Christians are called to obey “one another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21). Therefore, “neither a man without a woman, nor a woman without a man, is in the Lord.” For as the woman is from the man, so the man is through the woman, and everything is from God” (I Cor. 11:11-12).

Representatives of some social currents tend to downplay, and sometimes even deny the importance of marriage and the institution of the family, paying attention mainly to the social importance of women, including activities that are slightly compatible or even incompatible with female nature (such as for example work involving heavy physical labor). The frequent calls for an artificial equalization of the participation of men and women in all spheres of human activity. The Church sees the purpose of woman not simply in imitating man or competing with him, but in developing her God-given abilities, which are inherent only in her nature. By not emphasizing only the system of distribution of social functions, Christian anthropology places women in a much higher place than modern non-religious ideas. The desire to destroy or minimize natural division in the public sphere is not inherent in ecclesiastical reason. Gender differences, as well as social and ethical ones, do not hinder access to the salvation that Christ has brought to all people: “There is no longer Jew, nor Greek; there is no longer slave, nor free; neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). At the same time, this sotiological statement does not imply the artificial unification of human diversity and should not be mechanically applied to all public relations.

The first Christians in Antioch

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11 November 2024

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By prof. A.P. Lopukhin

Acts of the Apostles, chapter 11. The displeasure of the believers in Jerusalem against Peter because of his association with the uncircumcised and the pacification of the discontented (1 – 18). Preaching the Gospel outside Palestine, especially in Antioch (10-21). Barnabas and Saul in Antioch (22 – 26). Prophecy of famine and almsgiving for Christians in Judea (27-30)

Acts. 11:1. The apostles and brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also accepted the word of God.

Acts. 11:2. And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised besought him,

Acts. 11:3. saying, you went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.

The believers among the Jews (i.e. those who were circumcised) do not reproach Peter for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and baptizing them, but only for “going to the uncircumcised and eating with them…”. In essence, they could not object to the preaching of Christ among the Gentiles, since they could not forget the command of the Lord himself “teach all nations, baptizing them” – Matt. 28:19. Their protest was only against Peter’s permitted communion with the uncircumcised.

As the church song “Tako bysha eshke kosni uchenitsy” (fourth gospel verse, 4 voice) says of the One who himself had once fought so much against those who unreasonably reproached Him that he “eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners”.

In this case the protest of the extreme zealots of the Jewish law and customs, which were not even commanded by Moses, but were only the traditions of unknown old men, was the more dangerous, for it was a manifestation of that false teaching which the late Judaizing false teachers propagated with such force, and which was ready to demand the compulsion of all Judaism, with its circumcision and customs, as a condition of entry into Christianity.

This is already an extreme with which Peter, and later to an even greater extent Paul, struggle – even after the Apostolic Council puts an end to this matter once and for all with its authoritative decrees.

Acts. 11:4. And Peter began to tell them all in turn, saying:

Peter’s account of the event at Caesarea is almost identical to the account of the deist. Peter does not directly answer the reproach leveled at him for going to the uncircumcised and conversing with them, but simply rejects it by the indisputably revealed will of God for the admission of Gentiles into Christ’s Church. When this happens – and not so much by the will and actions of Peter, but by the will and signs of God, it would obviously be unreasonable to oppose God and not recognize them as full members of Christ’s brotherhood, so that in communication with they can no longer be ashamed of anything.

Acts. 11:5. I was in the city of Joppa, and as I was praying, I was carried away and saw a vision: a vessel descended, as if a great cloth, let down from heaven by its four corners, and came near to me.

Acts. 11:6. As I gazed upon it and looked, I saw quadrupeds of the earth, beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

Acts. 11:7. And I heard a voice saying to me: get up, Peter, slaughter and eat!

Acts. 11:8. And I said: no, Lord, because nothing dirty or impure has ever entered my mouth.

Acts. 11:9. And a voice from heaven spoke to me again: what God has cleansed, you do not consider unclean.

Acts. 11:10. This happened three times; and again everything rose to the sky.

Acts. 11:11. And behold, at that hour, three men stopped in front of the house where I was, sent from Caesarea to me.

Acts. 11:12. And the Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six brothers came with me, and we entered the man’s house.

Acts. 11:13. He told us how he saw an Angel (saint) in his house, who stood and said to him: send men to Joppa and call Simon, called Peter;

Acts. 11:14. he will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.

Acts. 11:15. And when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came upon them, as upon us at first.

Acts. 11:16 a.m. Then I remembered the words of the Lord, how He spoke: “John baptizes with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts. 11:17. If, therefore, God gave them an equal gift, as he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who am I to hinder God?

Acts. 11:18. When they heard this, they calmed down and glorified God, saying: God has also given the Gentiles repentance for life.

After this explanation, Peter’s critics not only calmed down, but also praised God, who had also given the Gentiles “repentance for life”, i.e. life in the eternal kingdom of Christ. “Do you see,” says St. John Chrysostom, “what the speech of Peter, who recounts in detail what happened, has done? Because of this, they glorified God, because He also gave them repentance: these words humbled them! Then at last the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles…”

Acts. 11:19. And those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose at the killing of Stephen came to Phenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and preached the word to no one except to the Jews.

Meanwhile, those scattered by the persecutions that followed Stephen reached Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word only to the Jews.

After setting forth the events which require special attention and which occurred after the murder of Stephen (Acts 8, Acts 9, Acts 10), the author proceeds to describe the activities of the scattered believers outside the borders of Judea and Samaria. Its purpose is to present more vividly the important results of the persecution and dispersion of the Christians. “The persecution – says Saint John Chrysostom – has brought no small benefit to the preaching of the Gospel. If the enemies had deliberately sought to spread the Church, they would have done no different: I mean, to scatter the teachers.’

“Phoenicia” – a coastal strip of land north of Galilee, at that time subject to the Romans, with the once famous cities of Tire and Sidon.

“Cyprus” – a large island located near the Syrophoenician coast of the Mediterranean Sea (see Acts 4:36).

“Antioch” – a large and then flourishing city in northwestern Syria, on the Orontes River, 6 hours’ journey from the sea (about 30 versts), founded by Antiochus, father of Seleucus Nicator, founder of the Seleucid kingdom. Its predominant population was Greek, but there were also many Jews. Greek education and language also prevailed in the city.

“they preached the word to no one, except to Jews.” They followed the rule once stated by the apostle Paul that the Jews were the first to be preached the word of God (Acts 13:46).

In this way they preached the gospel to the Jews, bypassing the Gentiles, “not because of human fear, which was nothing to them, but desiring to keep the law and be condescending to them” (St. John Chrysostom), that is, to the Jews who thought that have the greatest rights to be proclaimed with the evangelical gospel.

Acts. 11:20. There were some of them Cypriots and Cyrenes who, having entered Antioch, spoke to the Greeks and preached the Lord Jesus.

“Cyprians and Cyreneans.” After the events at Caesarea (the conversion of Cornelius) the strict distinction between Jews and Gentiles regarding the right to enter Christ’s Church completely lost its force, and since then the spread of the Gospel among the Gentiles has increased. The believers from among the Hellenistic Jews (“Cypriots and Cyrenes”) showed special zeal in this regard, who, coming to Antioch, openly “spoke to the Greeks and preached the good news of the Lord Jesus” and were completely successful, creating the first large community of Christians among the pagans, played a major role in the life of the early Christian Church.

Acts. 11:21. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great multitude believed and turned to the Lord.

“And the hand of the Lord was with them,” i. with the preachers. They were strengthened by a special gracious power of God, through which they performed signs and wonders.

Acts. 11:22 a.m. Word of this came to the Jerusalem church, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

“There was word of it.” In Greek: ὁ λόγος … περὶ αὐτῶν. Literally: “the word for them.”

“to the Jerusalem church” – in its full composition, with the apostles at the head, who sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. Why exactly Barnabas? Barnabas was best suited in case any misunderstandings arose, such as those mentioned in Acts. 11: 2 – 3 and for the leadership of the new Christian community. He was a native of the same Cyprus, whence some of the Antiochian preachers were (Acts 11:20, Acts 4:36); was especially respected in the Jerusalem church (Acts 4:36-37, 9:26-27), was a “good man” and gracious (Acts 11:24). He had a special gift of persuasion and comfort, as the very name Barnabas indicates (Acts 4:36). Such a man must have seemed peculiarly capable of allaying any disturbances that might arise, and of bringing the whole life of the community into a proper spirit.

Acts. 11:23. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and exhorted all with a sincere heart to abide in the Lord,

Upon his arrival, Barnabas could only rejoice in God’s grace among the Christians in Antioch, whom he asked “to abide in the Lord with a sincere heart.” In Greek: τῇ προθέσει τῆς καρδίας προσμένειν τῷ Κυρίῳ. In the Slavic translation: “Izvoleniem serdka terpeti o Gospode”. Literally: with the intent of the heart to abide with the Lord. St. John Chrysostom suggests that after Barnabas praised and approved the believing people, he converted even more people to Christ.

Acts. 11:24. for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And many people joined the Lord.

“because” – refers to verse 22. It explains why Barnabas was sent, and also why Barnabas rejoiced so much and took to heart the condition of the new converts.

Acts. 11:25. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch.

Barnabas doubtless wished to direct Saul, who had removed to Tarsus from Jerusalem, to the new and wide field of activity which had opened up, for which, as an apostle to the Gentiles, he was destined (Acts 8:15, 29-30).

Acts. 11:26. A whole year they gathered together in church and taught a great multitude; and first in Antioch the disciples were called Christians.

“they were meeting in church.” Common worship meetings of Christians are meant.

“they taught quite a people.” In Greek: διδάξαι ὄχλον ἱκανόν. I.e. they instructed and confirmed the new converts in the truths of the faith and the rules of the Christian life. It is noteworthy that Saul’s preaching activity is here described (though jointly with Barnabas) by the word “teaching” (διδάξαι), which is usually used only for apostolic preaching (Acts 4:2, 18, 5:25, 28, 42; cf. Acts 2:42).

“first in Antioch the disciples were called Christians.” Until then, the followers of the Lord were called disciples, brothers, believers, etc. In two places in the New Testament (Acts 26:28 and 1 Pet. 4:16) this name is used by people who were not in the Church. This suggests that the giving of the name Christians is hardly due to the Christians themselves. It is doubtful that it also came from the Jews, who would not dare to give the sacred name Christ (translation of the Hebrew Messiah) to the followers of the One whom they did not consider as such. Therefore, it remains with the greatest probability to suppose that the name Christians was given to the believers by the Antiochian pagans. They did not know the dogmatic and religious-historical meaning of the name Messiah, and accepted its Greek translation (Christ) as a proper name, thus naming the party of His followers. The new name was particularly successful, because it united all those who professed the new faith in one – both those who came from among the Jews and those from the Gentiles who learned Christianity completely independently of Judaism.

Acts. 11:27. In those days, prophets from Jerusalem came down to Antioch.

“prophets came down.” Among the various spiritual gifts in which the supreme church of Christ was so rich, at that time the gift of prophecy also manifested itself in some believers, i.e. the foretelling of future events beyond the reach of natural human knowledge (1 Cor. 12:10). One of these prophets was Agabus, who is mentioned again later (Acts 21:10).

Acts. 11:28. And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine throughout the whole universe, just as it happened under Caesar Claudius.

“announced by the Spirit.” In Greek: ἐσήμανε διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματα. In the Slavic translation: it was intended by the Spirit. I.e. announced by some sign, an external figurative action, symbolic of what was suggested to him by the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 21:10).

“throughout the whole universe…a great famine.” A strong expression is used, signifying the coming of a great famine everywhere (cf. Luke 2:1), in many places, and perhaps not at the same time, but over several years, district by district, and not everywhere at once. The chronicler notes that such a famine “occurred under Claudius Caesar.” This is the successor of Caligula, who ruled the empire 41-54 BC. During all this time a famine raged in certain places in the Roman Empire, and about 44 a great famine occurred throughout Palestine (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XX, 2, 6; 5, 2; Eusebius of Caesarea. Ecclesiastical History. II, 11 ). About the year 50 there was a famine in Italy itself and in other provinces (Tacitus, Annals. XII, 43).

Acts. 11:29. Then the disciples decided, each according to his means, to send help to the brothers who lived in Judea;

In Greek: τῶν δὲ μαθητῶν καθὼς ηὐπορεῖτό τις. Literally: of the disciples, as many as they could, decided… This apparently happened at the beginning of the famine in Judea. Then, for the first time, the touching and brotherly love and unity between the individual Christian communities was manifested.

Acts. 11:30. this they did, sending the collected to the presbyters under Barnabas and Saul.

“to the presbyters.” This is the first mention of presbyters in apostolic history. As appears from further references (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 20, etc.) and from the apostolic epistles (Titus 1:4; 1 Tim. 5:17, 19, etc.), the presbyters were the leaders of the individual Christian communities, shepherds and teachers and performers of the sacraments (cf. Acts 20:17, 28; Eph. 4:11; 1 Pet. 5:1; James 5:14-15).

They were ordained to ministry by the laying on of hands by the apostles (Acts 14:23) or the bishops (1 Tim. 5:22). In those cities where the Christian societies were more numerous, for example Jerusalem, Ephesus, etc., there were several presbyters each (Acts 15:1, 4, etc.; Acts 20:17).

Of the original institution of this sacred degree there is no such special testimony as, for example, of the institution of deacons (Acts 6, etc.). One thing is clear, that the custom of ordaining presbyters in the newly founded Christian communities was established very early (Acts 14:27), apparently caused by the urgent need for each community to have, in addition to a bishop, an authoritative and authorized by the apostolic authority leader, a superior, shepherd and teacher, minister of the sacraments.

It was to the presbyters, as the closest representatives of the individual municipalities, that the help of the Antiochians was handed over.

Source in Russian: Explanatory Bible, or Commentaries on all the books of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments: In 7 volumes / Ed. prof. A.P. Lopukhin. – Ed. 4th. – Moscow: Dar, 2009, 1232 pp.

Apostle Peter and the centurion Cornelius

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11 November 2024

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Apostle Peter And The Centurion Cornelius

By prof. A.P. Lopukhin

Acts of the Apostles, chapter 10. The centurion Cornelius, the appearance of the angel, his ambassadorship to Peter (1-8). Peter’s vision and his meeting with the messengers of Cornelius (9-22). Peter’s journey to Cornelius, preaching in his house, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the hearers and their baptism (23-48)

Acts. 10:1. There was in Caesarea a man named Cornelius, a centurion of a regiment called Italian,

“in Caesarea.” See for this city the interpretation to Acts. 8:40.

“of a regiment called Italian.” This regiment consisted really of Italians, not of soldiers recruited from the natives. Caesarea was the residence of the Roman procurators of Palestine, and therefore they had a special regiment of natural Romans or Italians, as more reliable and skilful warriors. It is probable that Cornelius, the centurion of this regiment, was also a natural Roman or Italian. He was not even a Jewish proselyte, but a Gentile with a good soul and natural piety (cf. Acts 10:28, 34 and before that Acts 10:11, 1, 18, 15:7). The incorporation of such a person into the Church of Christ, and that directly, without any mediation on the part of the Jews, even in the form of proselytism at the gate, is an event of great importance, an epoch in the history of the apostolic Church.

This particular importance of the event of the first conversion of a pagan to Christ also speaks of the fact that it took place through the mediation of the first apostle of Christ – Peter, who was deliberately called by God from another city, although at that time in Caesarea there was the famous evangelist and baptizer of the Ethiopian noble Philip.

Acts. 10:2. a pious and God-fearing man with all his household; he gave many alms to the people and always prayed to God.

“God-fearing … and always prayed to God.” These words show that Cornelius was a worshiper of the One true God, of whom he had probably learned from intercourse with the Jews and their worship, but who worshiped Him in his own way, as his pious heart prompted him, independently and independently of the forms of Jewish worship. worship.

Acts. 10:3. About the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an Angel of God, who came to him and said to him: Cornelius!

“saw clearly in a vision” – εἶδεν ἐν ὁράματι φανερῶς. In the Slavic translation: “saw in visions appeared”. This means that the vision was in a waking state, not in a dream (St. John Chrysostom). It happened about the ninth hour of the day (corresponding to 3:00 p.m.), which was the usual time for prayer among the Jews. Cornelius also prayed at this time, having fasted until that hour (Acts 10:30).

Acts. 10:4. And he looked at him and fearfully said: what, Lord? The angel answered him: your prayers and your alms have gone up as a memorial before God.

“scared”. St. John Chrysostom explains this fear to Cornelius as follows: “The vision created fear in him, but a moderate fear, so that it only made him cautious. The angel’s words dispelled this fear, or more precisely, the praise contained in them softened the unpleasant feeling of fear…”.

“went up as a memorial to God” – a human description of God’s favor to Cornelius because of his prayers and good works.

Acts. 10:5. And now, send men to Joppa and call Simon, who is called Peter:

Acts. 10:6. he is on a visit to a certain Simona, whose house is by the sea; he will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.

“he will speak words to you by which you and all your household will be saved.” In the Slavic translation: “he speaks to you, you and your entire home will be saved in them.” However, the Greek text is quite different: “οὗτος λαλήσει σοι τί σε δεῖ ποιεῖν”, which means: he will tell you what to do.

With this vision, the Lord discovered that good works and piety are not enough by themselves – they must be sanctified through faith in the Savior Christ, which gives value and foundation to the good disposition of man.

Acts. 10:7. When the Angel who had spoken to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his servants and a pious soldier from among those who were constantly with him,

“two of his servants” – δύο τῶν οἰκετῶν αὐτοῦ. Literally, it means “his household,” that is, people who are closer to the master of the house than ordinary servants. They were distinguished by the same piety as Cornelius himself (Acts 10:2).

Acts. 10:8. and, having told them all, sent them to Joppa.

“told them all.” The purpose of the servants is to persuade Peter to go with them to their master (Acts 10:22). Blessed Theophylact writes: “He told them everything in order to persuade Peter to come to him, because he considered it indecent to call him to him because of his authority (of a centurion).”

Acts. 10:9. The next day, as they were traveling and approaching the city, Peter, about the sixth hour, went up on the flat roof of the house to pray.

“The next day … about six o’clock.” The distance from Caesarea to Joppa is about 40-45 versts (1 verst – 1066.8 m.). Those sent by Cornelius after the ninth hour (after 3 p.m., Acts 10:3) probably left the same day in the evening. So they could arrive in Joppa the next day at noon (about six o’clock).

“went up to the flat roof of the house to pray.” The flat roofs of houses in the East are very comfortable places for prayer. This is where Peter also goes up to pray at the appointed hour.

Acts. 10:10. And being hungry, he asked to eat; while they were preparing him, he drifted off,

“he came into rapture” – ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ἔκστασις (lit. fell into ecstasy). In the Slavic translation: “horror struck me”. According to Blessed Theophylact, this is a state in which “a person has no control over his senses, being drawn into the spiritual world.” Saint John Chrysostom writes the same.

Acts. 10:11. and – he sees heaven opened, and a vessel descending to him, as it were a great cloth tied at the four ends and let down to the earth;

Acts. 10:12. in it were all the quadrupeds of the earth, beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

“in it were all the quadrupeds of the earth” – πάντα τὰ τετράποδα τῆς γῆς. Literally: all the four-legged creatures of the earth. In the Slavic translation: “all four-legged land”. As one interpreter justly remarks, “This contemplation cannot be measured humanly, for the ecstasy gave Peter other eyes…”.

Acts. 10:13. And a voice was heard to him: get up, Peter, slaughter and eat!

“get up, Peter” – ἀναστάς, Πέτρε, θῦσον καὶ φάγε. In the Slavic translation: rise up Petre, slaughter and eat! The participle ἀναστάς is used, which here means incitement to the action commanded, as in Acts. 9:11, 39 and elsewhere.

“slaughter and eat”. The vision accommodates the hunger experienced by Peter at that moment, and suggests the most ordinary preparation of food, but with unusual consumption.

Acts. 10:14. And Peter said: No, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unclean or unclean.

Although in the descending cloth Peter may find clean animals to be eaten, yet he answers the invitation with a definite negative – μηδαμῶς, Κύριες· Literally: “by no means, Lord!” He answers in this way because of the unusual for he indifference with which the voice treats the unclean animals prohibited for use according to the law, and it is precisely them that he has in mind.

“Lord.” Since the voice came from the open sky, Peter answered it with the usual address “Lord!”, feeling in his heart that the vision came from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The meaning and purpose of this vision is as follows: all the animals in the canvas symbolically represent all mankind: the clean animals mean the Jewish people, and the unclean animals the Gentiles. With the death of Christ the Savior on the Cross, as a sacrifice to God, offered for the whole world, purification is given to all, not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles, who together must enter the Church of Christ, into the kingdom of the Messiah, alien to every vice and defilement, being washed and continually washed by the blood of the Lamb of God.

Acts. 10:15. And again a voice came to him: what God has cleansed, you do not consider unclean.

It is also understood that the purification of the Gentiles and their entry into the Church of Christ did not require the mediation of Jewish external rites and regulations, which for Judaism itself had a temporary and transitory character. The right of this entrance is given only because of the all-encompassing significance of the sacrifice of God’s Son on the Cross.

Acts. 10:16. This happened three times, and the judgment went up to heaven again.

“It shall be three times.” I.e. the vision, the conversation with Peter was repeated three times, as a sign of the undoubted truth of what was seen and heard, and to assure Peter of the immutability of the Divine decision.

“and the judgment went up again to heaven.” In the pure and holy realm, where even the impure is made pure and preserved as such by God, together with that which has always been pure.

Acts. 10:17. And when Peter was at a loss as to what the vision which he saw meant, behold, the men sent by Cornelia, inquiring about Simon’s house, stopped at the door

“Peter was perplexed.” Peter does not immediately realize what this vision means, but further events explain it.

Acts. 10:18. and, having called one, they asked: Is Simon, who is called Peter, staying here?

“they called one, they asked”. It is not clear from the narrative whether Peter heard this exclamation. It is further said that the Holy Spirit, through a new inner revelation, communicated to him the messengers of Cornelius.

Acts. 10:19. And while Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him: behold, three people are looking for you.

Acts. 10:20. Get up, get down, and go with them without the least hesitation; for I sent them.

“Arise, come down, and go with them” – ἀναστὰς κατάβηθι καὶ πορεύου. See the interpretation on Acts. 10:13.

“without hesitating in the least” – μηδὲν διακρινόμενος. That means without any hesitation. Was this prescient warning given in view of the well-known strict views of the apostle, which must have put him in difficulty whether to follow the invitation to go to Gentiles, with whom intercourse was forbidden by the Jewish law (Acts 10:28)?

Acts. 10:21. When he went down to the men sent by Cornelius to him, Peter said: I am the one you are looking for; what job did you come for?

“for what business did you come?” In the Russian translation (“For what purpose did you come?”) again, an inaccuracy was admitted, as the Slavic translation is closer to the original: “kaya есть vina, ее же ради приидосте?”. In Greek: τίς ἡ αἰτία δι᾿ ἣν πάρεστε; That is, the literal translation is: What is the reason why you have come?

Acts. 10:22. And they answered: the centurion Cornelius, a virtuous and God-fearing man, with a good name among all the Jewish people, received a revelation from a holy angel to call you to his house and listen to your speeches.

“with a good name among all the Jewish people.” From these words, it becomes clear that a large part of Cornelius’ benefactions were precisely among the Jews, who in this respect resembled the other famous evangelical centurion – the one from Capernaum.

“to listen to your speeches” – ἀκοῦσαι ῥήματα παρὰ σοῦ. I.e. to hear your words, your sermon, which should teach me what I need to do for my salvation.

Acts. 10:23. Then Peter invited them in and gave them a feast. And the next day he arose and went with them; and some of the Joppian brothers went with him.

“some of the brothers of Joppa” – i.e. of the believers at Joppa, who were six, as appears from the further account (Acts 11:12).

Peter entertained the messengers of Cornelius, and as they needed rest, they did not set out until the next day, and probably not very early. They did not arrive at Caesarea until the next day, the fourth day after the vision received by Cornelius (Acts 10:30).

Acts. 10:24. The next day they entered Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having summoned his relatives and close friends.

“had called together his relatives and close friends”, who were quite a large group of people (Acts 10:27), of one mind with Cornelius and ready with him to believe in Christ according to the word of Peter. It was the first community of pure pagans to join Christianity without the mediation of Jewish cultic institutions.

Acts. 10:25. As Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.

Acts. 10:26. And Peter lifted him up and said: get up, I am also a man!

Peter refused Cornelius’s obeisance, not only out of humility, but because he felt in this act that Cornelius was honoring him as some embodiment of a higher power, which was so characteristic of the heathen conception of gods in human form (Acts 14:11).

Acts. 10:27. And conversing with him, he entered and found many assembled.

Acts. 10:28. And he said to them: you know that it is not forgiven for a Jew to gather or get close to another tribe; but God revealed to me not to consider any person dirty or impure.

There is no prohibition in the Mosaic Law for a Jew to communicate with foreigners (Gentiles); it is the petty severity of the later rabbinate, which, under the influence of Pharisaism, developed the idea of the holiness of the chosen people to an excessive degree.

Thanks to the well-known influence of the Pharisaic teachings on the people, this view of relations with the pagans immediately acquired the meaning of a general custom and a firmly established rule – a law, which was also reflected in the way of action of the first supreme apostle.

“not to consider any person dirty or impure” – in the sense of the above-mentioned Pharisaic views, as the impossibility of a pagan to be purified and sanctified through faith in Christ, regardless of Judaism.

Acts. 10:29. Therefore, being invited, I came without objection. Now, I ask, on what business did you send for me?

“on what errand didst thou send for me.” Peter already knew in part what the purpose of his coming was. But now he wants to hear this once more from the mouth of Cornelius and the others present, “so that they themselves may confess and be corrected in the faith.” (Blessed Theophylact, Saint John Chrysostom).

The apostle addresses not only Cornelius, but also the rest of the assembled people, assuming in them the same intention and perceiving the invitation of Cornelius as addressed on behalf of all of them.

Acts. 10:30. Cornelius answered: from four days until this hour I fasted, and at the ninth hour I prayed at home; and behold, there stood before me a man in a bright garment

Acts. 10:31. and said: Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms have been remembered before God.

Acts. 10:32. So send to Joppa and call for Simon, who is called Peter; he is a guest at Simona Usmarya’s, by the sea; he will come and talk to you.

Acts. 10:33. I sent for you at once, and you did well to come. Now, therefore, we all stand before God to hear everything that God has commanded you.

“we all stand before God.” These words are a reverent expression of faith in an omnipresent and omniscient God, and show a readiness to fulfill His will, which they expect to be revealed to them by Peter.

Acts. 10:34. Peter spoke and said: truly, I confess that God does not look on faces;

“Peter spoke and said” – Ἀνοίξας δὲ Πέτρος τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ εἶπεν. In the Slavic translation: otverz ze Peter usta said. Literally: Peter opened his mouth and said. See Acts. 8:35.

“indeed, I admit” – ἐπ᾿ ἀληθειας καταλαμβάνομαι. Literally: I really understand. These words show the greatest degree of certainty and confidence.

Acts. 10:35. but in every nation the one who fears Him and walks in righteousness is acceptable to Him.

“is pleasing to Him” – δεκτὸς αὐτῷ ἐστι, i.e. they are accepted by Him, they are not rejected, they are not deprived of the right to participate in the gracious kingdom of Christ. This does not mean that a person can believe whatever he wants and thus be pleasing to God, as long as he acts according to natural justice. Such an understanding would mean that the Christian faith is not necessary for salvation and pleasing God and would allow religious indifference, which is impossible. As it is impossible to be blessed without Christ, outside Christ’s church.

Peter’s point is not that faith does not matter, but that nationality does not matter in bringing to Christ: he who is pleasing to God in any nation on earth can be brought to Christ and joined to His church where he becomes righteous before God. In such a spirit is the interpretation of St. John Chrysostom: “”How? Is he who is of the Persians pleasing to Him? If he is worthy, he will be liked in such a way as to merit faith. Therefore He did not despise even the Ethiopian eunuch. But what, say some, are we to think of men who fear God and yet are neglected? No, no godly man is neglected, for such a man can never be despised.’

Acts. 10:36. He sent the children of Israel the word, announcing peace through Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all.

“send . . . the word,” i.e. The Lord Jesus Christ, His Son, the Son of God, who preaches the kingdom of God, the kingdom of peace and salvation on earth.

“Who is Lord of all.” These words are great for both Jews and Gentiles, because here for the first time in front of Gentiles Jesus Christ is clearly called the Lord “of all” – i.e. both Jews and Gentiles. He calls all men into His kingdom, and all have an equal right to enter it.

Acts. 10:37. You know about the events that took place throughout Judea, which began in Galilee after the baptism preached by John:

“you know about the events that happened”. The apostle supposes that his hearers had heard of these events, at least of the most important ones of the life of Jesus Christ, because they lived not far from these places, and also because, being well disposed to the Jewish faith, they could not fail to be interested in the events, the rumor of which also circulated in the surrounding lands of Palestine.

“they started from Galilee”- τὸ γενόμενον ῥῆμα … ἀρξάμενον ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας. In the Slavic translation: vy veste verb, which was throughout Judea, beginning with Galilee. The word “ῥῆμα” means a verb, a word, a word, and then that which causes them.

“from Galilee”. There the Lord begins His public ministry after baptism (John 2ff.)

Acts. 10:38. how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went out into Judea, doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

“anointed … Jesus.” Of course, in terms of humanity – as the blessed Theophylact of Ohrid interpreted this place: “since He humbled Himself and accepted our flesh and blood (Heb. 2:14), it is said of Him that He, as a man, accepts what is in a nature like God’. This anointing took place at the baptism of Jesus Christ.

“God was with Him.” This is a careful expression of the thought of the divinity of Jesus Christ. The apostle expresses himself in such a way as not to give rise to pagan ideas about the divinity of Jesus, whom the pagans could easily take for the incarnation of one or another pagan deity. Because of the weakness of the listeners, the apostle spoke less about the Person of Christ than he should (St. John Chrysostom).

Acts. 10:39. And we are witnesses of all that He did in the Judean country and in Jerusalem, and how they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree.

Acts. 10:40. God resurrected Him on the third day and gave Him to appear –

Cf. Acts. 1:8, 3:15, 5:30, 2:32.

Acts 10:41. not to all the people, but to us, the pre-chosen witnesses of God, who ate and drank with Him, after His resurrection from the dead.

Cf. John 17:6, 9, 11, 6:37; Rome. 50:1; 1 Cor.1:1; Gal. 1:1, 15; Luke 24:41–43; John 21:12.

Acts. 10:42. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the Judge appointed by God over the living and the dead.

Cf. Acts. 3:24, 2:38; John 3:15; Rome. 3:25, 10:10.

Act. 10:43. Of Him, all the prophets testify that whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins through His name.

Acts. 10:44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came upon all who were listening to the word.

“While Peter was still speaking…” (see Acts chapter 11). This is the only case in the entire apostolic history in which the Holy Spirit descends on those who join the Christian community even before they are baptized. No doubt this was necessary because of the extreme importance of the events – the first accession of Gentiles to the Church of Christ without the mediation of Judaism, after which this mode of accession was to receive an authority of indisputability.

St. John Chrysostom wrote on this occasion: “Look at God’s house-building. Peter had not yet finished his speech, and the baptism was not yet finished, but as they … received the beginning of the teaching and believed … the Spirit came [upon them]. God does this with the intention of giving Peter a strong justification. Not only did they receive the Spirit, but they began to speak in tongues… Why does it happen this way? For the sake of the Jews, for it was too displeasing for them to see this.’

Act. 10:45. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on Gentiles as well;

“the believers of the circumcision . . . were astonished.” This astonishment is explained by the prevailing belief at that time that the Gentiles should be accepted into the Church of Christ only after they become proselytes of Judaism – an opinion with which they continued to comply even after this event, as can be seen from the following events (Acts. 11 et seq.; Acts 15).

Acts. 10:46. for they heard them speak in tongues and glorify God. Then Peter said:

Acts. 10:47. can anyone prevent those who have received the Holy Spirit, as well as we, from being baptized with water?

Peter draws a completely natural conclusion from the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles, namely, that through this descent all obstacles to their inclusion in the Church of Christ, as well as the need for the mediation of the Jewish cult regulations, have been removed. But he thinks that those who have received the Holy Spirit should be baptized, because this is an unchangeable commandment of the Lord (Matt. 28:18).

Acts. 10:48. And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days.

“commanded them to be baptized.” Obviously, he did not baptize them himself, but one of those who came with him (1 Cor. 1:17).

“in the name of Jesus Christ”. Cf. Acts. 2:36.

“he was asked.” Peter certainly granted their request to establish them in the new Christian faith.

The scribe tells nothing more about Cornelius. According to church tradition, he was later bishop of Caesarea, preached Christ in various countries and died a martyr’s death. His memory is celebrated on September 13.

Source in Russian: Explanatory Bible, or Commentaries on all the books of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments: In 7 volumes / Ed. prof. A.P. Lopukhin. – Ed. 4th. – Moscow: Dar, 2009, 1232 pp.

Sudan’s displaced have endured ‘unimaginable suffering, brutal atrocities’

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United Nations News

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8 November 2024

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Sudan’s displaced have endured ‘unimaginable suffering, brutal atrocities’

Nineteen months since conflict erupted between rival militaries the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the transfer of power to civilian rule, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) expressed deep concern that more than three million people have now been forced to flee the country in search of safety.

“It’s been over a year and a half of unimaginable suffering, brutal atrocities and widespread human rights violations,” said Dominique Hyde, UNHCR Director of External Relations. “Every day of every minute, thousands of lives are shattered by war and violence away from the world’s attention.”

Speaking in Geneva after visiting displaced communities sheltering in neighbouring Chad, Ms. Hyde described Chad as “a sanctuary, a lifeline” for 700,000 war refugees.

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Unimaginable testimony

“I spoke to people who watched while their families were murdered,” she said. “People are targeted on the basis of their ethnicity. Men and boys are killed and their bodies are burned. Women raped while fleeing. People told me over and over again how they remember the bodies they saw abandoned by the road as they were fleeing.”

The UNHCR official explained that in the face of massive needs, the UN agency and partners had relocated more than 370,000 refugees in Chad “to six new-build settlements and 10 extensions of pre-existing settlements, all completed in record time. But tens of thousands of families are still waiting for that opportunity to start over”.

Forgotten emergency

The exodus from Sudan has put pressure on surrounding countries to provide assistance to all those in need of shelter and basic services.

“Other countries neighbouring Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Central African Republic have gone above and beyond their means, not only providing safety for people to flee, but extending a chance to refugees to start rebuilding their lives while in exile,” the UNHCR official said.

“Continuing bloodshed” in Sudan’s Darfurs and across the country has created the world’s worst civilian protection crisis in decades, but “the world is not paying any attention”, Ms. Hyde insisted.

In October alone, some 60,000 Sudanese arrived in Chad following an escalation of fighting in Darfur and as floodwaters receded.

The border town of Adre used to be home to 40,000 people, but it now hosts around 230,000 Sudanese refugees; many spend months in harsh conditions while waiting to be relocated inland.

“The exodus from Sudan continues, reaching levels not seen since the beginning of the crisis,” explained Ms. Hyde. “People are arriving in desperate conditions, carrying nothing but memories of unimaginable violence they witnessed and survived – things no one should have to endure.”

As UNHCR continues to register new arrivals in Chad, it reported that a full 71 per cent of suffered human rights violations in Sudan while fleeing.

Of 180 people who fled the Darfur city of El Geneina towards Chad, all but 17 were “massacred”, Ms. Hyde said, recounting the testimony of one young woman who escaped. “Of the 17 that survived, all of the women were raped…six of the women who survived the rape committed suicide.”

The $1.5 billion Refugee Response Plan for Sudan’s displaced which aims to assist 2.7 million people in five neighbouring countries is only 29 per cent funded. “Chad and its people…have been more than generous, more than welcoming,” Ms. Hyde said.

“I heard over and over again that they felt one with the Sudanese community. But we need that support. We need support now.”

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