Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Read Chapter 8
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
That perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. The word perhaps, as the interpreters commonly observe on this and other places, many times does not imply any doubt or uncertainty. There could be no doubt, says St. Chrysostom, only as to his repenting: if he repented, it is certain he would find remission of his sins. (Witham)
St. Augustine (ep. cviii.) understands the text, metanoeson apo of penance done for heinous offences in the primitive Church, and teaches us to translate it thus, as it is in the Vulgate, both here and 2 Corinthians xii. 21, and Apocalypse ix. 21, and adds, that very good men do daily penance for venial sins, by fasting, prayer, and alms.
Do you see it was a wicked thought he had entertained? Therefore he says, If haply it may be forgiven you: because he knew him to be incorrigible. (a) For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Even this he did only formally, as words of course, when he ought to have wept and mourned as a penitent. If perchance it may be forgiven you. Not as though it would not have been pardoned, had he wept, but this is the manner of the Prophet also, to denounce absolutely, (ἀ παγορεύειν) and not to say, Howbeit, if you do this, your sin shall be forgiven, but that in any wise the punishment shall take effect.
For had it been done with simplicity, he would have even welcomed his willing mind. Do you see that to have mean conceptions of great things is to sin doubly? Accordingly, two things he bids him: Repent and pray, if haply the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. Acts 8:22 Do you see it was a wicked thought he had entertained? Therefore he says, If haply it may be forgiven you: because he knew him to be incorrigible.
