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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
See accordingly: "when they heard it," it says, "they glorified God," - not praised nor admired Paul: for in such wise had he narrated, as referring all to Him - "and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believed." Observe with what modest deference they too speak: "they said to him:" not James as Bishop discourses authoritatively, but they take Paul as partner with them in their view; "Thou seest, brother:" as though immediately and at the outset apologizing for themselves, and saying, "We …
Theophylact of Ohrid
These thousands of Jews who believed were from those who cried out: "His blood be on us and on our children" (Matt. 27:25). Yet the Lover of mankind accepted many both from them and from their children and granted them innumerable blessings.
Oecumenius
"You see, brother, how many thousands." They advise, they do not impose this upon those around James; therefore they persuade. For it was condescension of economy, not of legislation. Therefore this was not a cutting off of the preaching, but an economy. For those in Jerusalem who believed from among the Jews wished still to observe the legal customs. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
I say, therefore, that circumcision and other ordinances of this sort were divinely revealed to the former people through the Testament which we call Old, as types of future things, which were to be fulfilled by Christ. When this fulfillment had come, those obligations remained for the instruction of Christians, to be read simply for the understanding of the previous prophecy, but not to be performed through necessity, as if people had still to await the coming revelation of the faith that was foreshadowed by these things. …
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