But when some were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, arguing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Read Chapter 19
John Chrysostom
AD 407
He put a stop, it means, to their evil-speaking: he did not wish to kindle their envy, nor to bring them into more contention. (c) Hence let us also learn not to put ourselves in the way of evil-speaking men, but to depart from them: he did not speak evil, when himself evil spoken of. He disputed daily, and by this gained the many, that, being evil intreated and (evil) spoken of, he did not (utterly) break away from them, and keep aloof. (e) The evil-speakers are defeated. They calumniated the doctrine itself; (therefore) so as neither to rouse the disciples to wrath, nor * * them, he withdrew, showing that everywhere alike they repel salvation from them. Here now he does not even apologize, seeing that the Gentiles everywhere have believed. In the school of one Tyrannus: it was not that he sought the place, but without more ado where there was a school (there he discoursed). (d) And look, no sooner is the trial from those without over, than this from the demons begins. Mark the infatu...
(a) See him in every place forcing his way into the synagogue, and in this manner departing thence. For in every place, he wished to have the occasion given him by them. (c) He wished to separate the disciples thence, and to have the beginning for ceasing to assemble with them, given by (the Jews) themselves. And it was not for nothing that he did this (b) which I have said. He was henceforth provoking them to jealousy. For both the Gentiles readily received him, and the Jews, upon the Gentiles receiving him, repented. (a) This is why he continually made a stir among them, for three months arguing and persuading concerning the kingdom of God: for you must not suppose because you hear of his speaking boldly, that there was any harshness: it was of good things that he discoursed, of a kingdom: who would not have heard him? But when various were hardened, speaking evil of the way. They might well call it the way; this was indeed the way, that led into the kingdom of heaven. He departed fr...
