Arrival and preaching of Barnabas at Rome.
43.
At length meetings began to be held in various places in the city, and this subject to be discussed in conversation, and to be a matter of wonder who this might be who had appeared, and what message He had brought from God to men;
44.
until, about the same year, a certain man, standing in a most crowded place in the city, made proclamation to the people, saying:
45.
Hear me, O you citizens of Rome.
46.
The Son of God is now in the regions of Judæa, promising eternal life to every one who will hear Him, but upon condition that he shall regulate his actions according to the will of Him by whom He has been sent, even of God the Father.
47.
Wherefore turn ye from evil things to good, from things temporal to things eternal.
48.
Acknowledge that there is one God, ruler of heaven and earth, in whose righteous sight ye unrighteous inhabit His world.
49.
But if you be converted, and act according to His will, then, coming to the world to come, and being made immortal, you shall enjoy His unspeakable blessing sand rewards.
50.
Now, the man who spoke these things to the people was from the regions of the East, by nation a Hebrew, by name Barnabas, who said that he himself was one of His disciples, and that he was sent for this end, that he should declare these things to those who would hear them.
51.
When I heard these things, I began, with the rest of the multitude, to follow him, and to hear what he had to say.
52.
Truly I perceived that there was nothing of dialectic artifice in the man, but that he expounded with simplicity, and without any craft of speech, such things as he had heard from the Son of God, or had seen.
53.
For he did not confirm his assertions by the force of arguments, but produced, from the people who stood round about him, many witnesses of the sayings and marvels which he related.
His Preaching.
54.
Now, inasmuch as the people began to assent willingly to the things which were sincerely spoken, and to embrace his simple discourse, those who thought themselves learned or philosophic began to laugh at the man, and to flout him, and to throw out for him the grappling-hooks of syllogisms, like strong arms.
56.
But he, unterrified, regarding their subtleties as mere ravings, did not even judge them worthy of an answer, but boldly pursued the subject which he had set before him.
57.
At length, some one having proposed this question to him as he was speaking,
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Why a gnat has been so formed, that though it is a small creature, and has six feet, yet it has got wings in addition;
58.
whereas an elephant, though it is an immense animal, and has no wings, yet has only four feet;
59.
he, paying no attention to the question, went on with his discourse, which had been interrupted by the unseasonable challenge, only adding this admonition at every interruption:
60.
We have it in charge to declare to you the words and the wondrous works of Him who has sent us, and to confirm the truth of what we speak, not by artfully devised arguments, but by witnesses produced from among yourselves.
61.
For I recognise many standing in the midst of you whom I remember to have heard along with us the things which we have heard, and to have seen what we have seen.
62.
But be it in your option to receive or to spurn the tidings which we bring to you.
63.
For we cannot keep back what we know to be for your advantage,
because, if we be silent, woe is to us;
but to you, if you receive not what we speak, destruction.
64.
I could indeed very easily answer your foolish challenges, if you asked for the sake of learning truth,— I mean as to the difference of a gnat and an elephant;
65.
but now it were absurd to speak to you of these creatures, when the very Creator and Framer of all things is unknown by you.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER THREE
Divisions 66-95
RECOGNITIONS 1
Clement's Interposition on Behalf of Barnabas.
66.
When he had thus spoken all as with one consent, with rude voice raised a shout of derision,
to put him to shame, and to silence him, crying out that he was a barbarian and a madman.
67.
When I saw matters going on in this way, being filled, I know not whence, with a certain zeal,
and inflamed with religious enthusiasm, I could not keep silence, but cried out with all boldness,
68.
Most righteously does Almighty God hide His will from you,
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whom He foresaw to be unworthy of the knowledge of Himself,
as is manifest to those who are really wise, from what you are now doing.
69.
For when you see that preachers of the will of God have come among you,
because their speech makes no show of knowledge of the grammatical art,
70.
yet in simple and unpolished language they set before you the divine commands,
so that all who hear may be able to follow and to understand the things that are spoken,
71.
you deride the ministers and messengers of your salvation,
not knowing that it is the condemnation of you who think yourselves skillful and eloquent,
that rustic and barbarous men have the knowledge of the truth;
72.
whereas, when it has come to you, it is not even received as a guest,
while, if your intemperance and lust did not oppose, it ought to have been a citizen and a native.
73.
Thus you are convicted of not being friends of truth and philosophers,
but followers of boasting and vain speakers.
74.
You think that truth dwells not in simple, but in ingenious and subtle words,
and produce countless thousands of words which are not to be rated at the worth of one word.
75.
What, then, do you think will become of you, all you crowd of Greeks,
if there is to be, as he says, a judgment of God?
76.
But now give over laughing at this man to your own destruction,
and let any one of you who pleases answer me;
77.
for, indeed, by your barking you annoy the ears even of those who desire to be saved,
and by your clamour you turn aside to the fall of infidelity the minds that are prepared for faith.
78.
What pardon can there be for you who deride and do violence to the messenger of the truth
when he offers to you the knowledge of God?
79.
Whereas, even if he brought you nothing of truth, yet, even for the kindness of his intentions towards you, you ought to receive with gratitude and welcome.
Discourse with Barnabas.
80.
While I was urging these and similar arguments, a great excitement was stirred up among the bystanders, some being moved with pity as towards a stranger, and approving my speech as in accordance with that feeling;
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81.
others, petulant and stolid, rousing the anger of their undisciplined minds as much against me as against Barnabas.
82.
But as the day was declining to evening, I laid hold of Barnabas by the right hand, and led him away, although reluctantly, to my house;
and there I made him remain, lest perchance anyone of the rude rabble should lay hands upon him.
83.
While we were thus placed in contact for a few days, I gladly heard him discoursing the word of truth;
84.
yet he hastened his departure, saying that he must by all means celebrate at Judæa a festal day of his religion which was approaching, and that there he should remain in future with his countrymen and his brethren, evidently indicating that he was horrified at the wrong that had been done to him.
Departure of Barnabas.
85.
At length I said to him,
Only expound to me the doctrine of that man who you say has appeared, and I will arrange your sayings in my language, and will preach the kingdom and righteousness of Almighty God;
86.
and after that, if you wish it, I shall even sail along with you, for I am extremely desirous to see Judæa, and perhaps I shall remain with you always.
87.
To this he answered,
If indeed you wish to see our country, and to learn those things which you desire, set sail with me even now;
88.
or, if there be anything that detains you now, I shall leave with you directions to my dwelling,
so that when you please to come you may easily find me;
for tomorrow I shall set out on my journey.
89.
When I saw him determined, I went down with him to the harbour,
and carefully took from him the directions which he gave me to find his dwelling.
90.
I told him that, but for the necessity of getting some money which was due to me,
I should not at all delay, but that I should speedily follow him.
91.
Having told him this, I commended him to the kindness of those who had charge of the ship, and returned sad;
92.
for I was possessed of the memory of the discourse which I had had with an excellent guest and a choice friend.
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Clement's Arrival at Cæsarea, and Introduction to Peter.
93.
Having then stopped for a few days, and having in some measure finished the business of collecting what was owing to me
94.
(for I neglected many things through my desire of hastening, that I might not be hindered from my purpose),
95.
I set sail direct for Judæa, and after fifteen days landed at Cæsarea Stratonis, which is the largest city in Palestine.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER FOUR
Divisions 96-115
RECOGNITIONS 1
96.
When I had landed, and was seeking for an inn, I learned from the conversation of the people,
that one Peter, a most approved disciple of Him who appeared in Judæa,
and showed many signs and miracles divinely performed among men,
was going to hold a discussion of words and questions the next day with one Simon, a Samaritan.
97.
Having heard this, I asked to be shown his lodging; and having found it, and standing before the door, I informed the doorkeeper who I was, and whence I came;
98.
and, behold, Barnabas coming out, as soon as he saw me rushed into my arms, weeping for joy, and, seizing me by the hand, led me in to Peter.
99.
Having pointed him out to me at a distance,
This, said he, is Peter, of whom I spoke, to you as the greatest in the wisdom of God, and to whom also I have spoken constantly of you.
100.
Enter, therefore, as one well known to him.
101.
For he is well acquainted with all the good that is in you, and has carefully made himself aware of your religious purpose, whence also he is greatly desirous to see you.
102.
Therefore I present you to him today as a great gift.
103.
At the same time, presenting me, he said, This, O Peter, is Clement.
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