Didascalia Apostolorum

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io8 DIDASCALIA. f. 69 b Matt. xix. 4 5 Jer. iv. 3 sic Joel 11. 13 IB. 1. 16 Of. Acts xv. 1 Acts xv. 5 Cf.Actsxv. 7ff. f. 70 a Cf. Acts x. 9-16 man," and in the Gospel our Lord said, that " He that created in the beginning the male hath said that He created also the female1. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh ; what therefore God hath joined together let no man put asunder." But the spiritual circumcision of the heart is sufficient for believers, as it is said in Jeremiah, " Light a lamp for yourselves ; sow not among thorns " (S. + " circumcise to the Lord your God ; circumcise the foreskins of your hearts, ye men of Judah " ; and again in Joel He saith, " Rend your hearts and not your garments "). About Baptism also, this one alone is sufficient (S. 4 to you), the one which has completely taken away your sins ; for Isaiah did not say " Be ye washed," but " Wash yourselves once and be clean." But we had a long disputation, as men who wrestle for the sake of life ; it was not among us the Apostles only, but also among the people, with James the Bishop and Saint of Jerusalem, him who according to the flesh was brother of our Lord, (S. + and with his Elders) and the Deacons 2of the Church of Jerusalem2. Because also some days before men had come down from Judaea to Antioch, and had taught the brethren, " Except ye be circumcised, and conduct yourselves according to the Law of Moses, and be cleansed from meats (S. + and from all the other things), ye cannot be saved." And they had much vexation (S. 4- and disputation). 3The brethren of Antioch did not know3 that we were all assembled and come in order to examine about these things ; they sent to us believing men who were acquainted with the Scriptures, that they might learn about this question, (S. + and when they were come to Jerusalem, they told us about the dispute) which they had in the Church at Antioch. But some men of the doctrine of the Pharisees who believed arose and said, " Ye ought to be circumcised, and to keep the Law of Moses/' (S. + and others also cried out and said thus). Then I Peter rose and said unto them, " Men and our brethren, ye also know that from the first days when I was among you, God chose that by means of me the Gentiles should hear the Gospel and believe ; and God, who searcheth the hearts, bare witness to them, to Cornelius the Centurion, when the Angel appeared to him, and spoke to him about me, and he sent for me. But while I was getting ready to go to him, it was revealed (S. + to me) about the Gentiles who should believe," and about all meats ; for I went up on a roof to pray ; and I saw the Heavens opened, and a garment bound at its four corners, and it was let down and 1 This passage stands nearly thus in the Old Syriac. 2 S. and with all the Church. 3 S. When the brethren of Antioch knew.