"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire" - St. Catherine of Siena
This text was provided via Kathie Walters - www.kathiewaltersministry.com
ACTS AND MARTYRDOM OF THE APOSTLE ANDREW
This is what we, both presbyters and deacons of the churches of Achaia, have seen with our eyes. We have written to all the churches established in the name of Christ Jesus, both in the east and west, north and south. Peace to you, and to all who believe in one God, perfect Trinity, true Father unbegotten, true Son only-begotten, true Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father, and abiding in the Son, in order that there may be shown one Holy Spirit subsisting in the Father and Son in precious Godhead.
This faith we have learned from the Apostle Andrew, whose passion also we have seen before our eyes, and have not hesitated to give an account of it, according to the degree of ability.
The proconsul, Aegeates, came into the city of Patras and began to compel those believing in Christ to worship the idols. Andrew, running up, said: "It would be wise for you, being a judge of men, to acknowledge the Judge who is in the heaven, and worship Him; and turn away your thoughts from those which are not true gods but idols."
Then Aegeates said, "Are you Andrew, who destroys the temples of the gods, and persuades men about the religion which has lately made its appearance, and which the Emperors of the Romans have given orders to suppress?"
Andrew replied, "The Emperors of the Romans have never recognised the truth. And this Jesus, the Son of God, who came on account of the salvation of men, manifestly teaches--that these idols are not gods, but most shameful demons, and hostile to the human race, teaching men to offend God, so that, by being offended, He turns away and will not hear. Therefore they may be held captive by the devil.."
Aegeates said: "These are superfluous and vain words: as for your Jesus, for proclaiming these things to the Jews they nailed him to the tree of the cross."
Andrew answering, said: "Oh, if you would recognise the mystery of the cross.! With what great love the Author of the life, for our restoration, endured this tree of the cross, not unwillingly, but willingly!"
Aegeates said: "Seeing that he was betrayed by his own disciple, and seized by the Jews, he was brought before the procurator, and according to their request was nailed up by the procurator's soldiers. Why do say that he willingly endured the tree of the cross?"
Then Andrew replied, "For this reason I say willingly, since I was with Him when He was betrayed by His disciple. For before He was betrayed, He spoke to us and said that He should be betrayed and crucified for the salvation of men, and foretold that He should rise again on the third day."
"To whom my brother Peter said, ‘Far be it from you, Lord; let this by no means be.’ And so, being angry, Jesus said to Peter, ‘Get you behind me, Satan; for you are not disposed to the things of God.’ And in order that He might most fully explain that He willingly underwent the passion, and He said to us, ‘I have power to lay down my life, and I have power to take it again.’ And, last of all, while He was supping with us, He said, ‘One of you will betray me’.. At these words, we all becoming exceedingly grieved. And, in order that the surmise might be free from doubt, He made it clear, saying, ‘To whomsoever I shall give the piece of bread out of my hand, he it is who betrays me.’ When, therefore, He gave it to one of our fellow-disciples, and gave an account of things to come as if they had already happened, He showed that He was to be willingly betrayed. For neither did He run away, and leave His betrayer at fault; but remaining in the place in where they knew he was, He waited for them."
Aegeates said, "I wonder that you, being a reasonable man, should want to uphold Him on any terms whatever; for, whether willingly or unwillingly, you admit that he was fastened to the cross."
Andrew answered, "This is what I said, if now you apprehend that great is the mystery of the cross, which, if you wish, I will explain." Aegeates said, "A mystery it cannot be called, but a punishment." Andrew said, "This ‘punishment’ is the mystery of man's restoration. If you will listen with any attention, I will prove it." Aegeates said, "I indeed will hear patiently; but you, unless you submit and obey me, shall receive the mystery of the cross for yourself."
Andrew answered, "If I had been afraid of the tree of the cross, I would not have proclaimed the glory of the cross."
Aegeates said: "Your speech is foolish, because you proclaim that the cross is not a punishment, and through your foolhardiness you are not afraid of the punishment of death."
Then Andrew said: "It is not through foolhardiness, but through faith, that I am not afraid of death. And on this account I wish you to hear the mystery of the cross, in order that you perhaps acknowledging it, may believe, may come to the renewing of your soul."
Aegeates said, "That which has perished is for renewing. Do you mean that my soul has perished? I do not understand what you are talking about."
Then Andrew answered. "This is I teach and make known; that though the souls of men are destroyed, they shall be renewed through the mystery of the cross. For the first man, Adam through the tree of transgression, brought in death. So it was necessary that through the suffering of the tree, death, which had come into the world, should be driven out. And since the first man had been produced from the spotless earth, it was necessary that the Son of God should be begotten from the spotless virgin, that He should restore eternal life, which men had lost through Adam. And should cut off the tree of carnal appetite through the tree of the cross."
"Jesus, hanging upon the cross, stretched out His blameless hands and He received gall for food; and taking our mortality upon Himself, He made a gift of His immortality to us."
Aegeates said, "With these words you lead away those who believe in you; but unless you agree to offer sacrifices to the gods, I shall order you, after having been scourged, to be fastened to that very cross which you commend.."
Andrew answered, "To God Almighty, who alone is true, I do bring sacrifice day by day. Not the smoke of incense, nor the flesh of bulls, nor the blood of goats, but sacrificing a spotless lamb day by day on the altar of the cross. And all the people of the faith partake of His body and drink His blood. The Lamb that was sacrificed remains after this whole and alive."
Aegeates said, "How can this be?" Andrew said: "If you would know, take the form of a disciple, that you may learn what you are inquiring after."
Aegeates replied, "I will make you tell, through tortures, the gift of this knowledge."
Then Andrew declared, "I wonder that you, being an intelligent man, should fall into the folly of thinking that you may be able to persuade me, through thy tortures, to disclose to you the sacred things of God. You have heard about the mystery of the cross, you have heard about the mystery of the sacrifice. If you believe in Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified, I will expain to you how the Lamb that was slain, lives, and reigns in His kingdom."
Aegeates said, "And how does the Lamb remain in his kingdom after he has been slain and eaten by all the people, as you have said?"
Then Andrew replied, "If you believe with all thy heart, you shall be able to learn: but if you believe not, you will not understand this truth."
Then Aegeates, enraged, ordered him to be shut up in prison, where, a multitude of the people came together to him from almost all the province. They wished to kill Aegeates, and broke down the doors of the prison to set free the beloved Andrew, the Apostle.
Then Andrew admonished them in these words, saying, "Do not stir up the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ into seditious and devilish uproar. For my Lord, when He was betrayed, endured it with all patience; He did not strive, He did not cry out, nor in the streets did any one hear Him. Therefore, you also keep silence, quietness, and peace; and hinder not my martyrdom, but rather get yourselves also ready beforehand as athletes to the Lord, in order that you may overcome threatenings by having a soul that has no fear of man. For this temporary life is not to be feared; but that should be feared which has no end. The fear of men is like smoke which raises itself up and then disappears."
"And those torments should be feared, which have no end. For these torments, which are light, any one can bear; but those other torments are everlasting, where there are eternal weepings, and mournings, and lamentations, and never-ending torture, to which the proconsul Aegeates is not afraid to go."
Andrew having encouraged the people with these words through the whole night, and when the day dawned, Aegeates, having sent for him, ordered Andrew to be brought to him; and having sat down upon the tribunal, he said: "I have thought that you, by your reflection during the night, might have turned away from folly, and given up your commendation of Christ, that you might be able to be with us, and not throw away the pleasures of life; for it is folly to come for any purpose to the suffering of the cross, and to give oneself up to most shameful punishments and burnings."
Then Andrew answered, "I shall be able to have joy with you if you will believe in Christ, and throw away the worship of idols; for Christ has sent me to this province, in which I have acquired for Christ a multitude of people."
Aegeates said, "For this reason I compel you to make a libation, that these people who have been deceived by you may forsake the vanity of your teaching, and may make offerings to the gods; for not one city has remained in Achaia, in which their temples have not been forsaken and deserted. And now, through you, let them be again restored to the worship of the images, in order that the gods who have been enraged against you, might be pleased. And you might return to their friendship and ours. But if not, you await varied tortures, on account of the vengeance of the gods; and after that, you will be fastened to the tree of the cross which you commend, and you shall die."
Then Andrew lifted his voice and said. "Listen to me, O son of death, and chaff made ready for eternal burnings, I am the servant of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ. Until now I have conversed with you kindly about the faith, in order that you, receiving the truth, might despise vain idols, and worship God, who is in the heavens; but since you remain in the same shamelessness, and you think me to be afraid because of your threats, bring whatever seems greater in the way of tortures."
"For the more I be well pleasing to my King, the more I shall endure in tortures for the confession of His name."
Then the proconsul Aegeates, being enraged, ordered the Apostle of Christ to be afflicted by tortures. Being stretched out, therefore, by seven times three soldiers, and beaten with violence, he was lifted up and brought before the impious Aegeates. And he spoke to him thus, "Listen to me, Andrew, and withdraw your thoughts from the outpouring of thy blood; but if you will not listen to me, I shall cause you to perish on the tree of the cross."
Andrew said, "I am a slave of the cross of Christ, and I ought rather to pray to attain to the trophy of the cross than to be afraid; but for you is laid up eternal torment, which, however, you may escape after you have tested my endurance, if you will believe in my Christ. For I am distressed about your destruction, and I am not disturbed about my own suffering. For my suffering takes up a space of one day, or two at most; but your torments for endless ages shall never come to a close, therefore cease from adding to your miseries, and lighting up everlasting fire for yourself."
Aegeates then being enraged, ordered Andrew to be fastened to the cross. And then he went up to the cross, and said to it with a clear voice, "Rejoice, O cross, which has been consecrated by the body of Christ, and adorned by His limbs as if with pearls, assuredly before my Lord went up on you, you have much earthly fear; but now invested with heavenly longing, you are fitted up according to my prayer. For I know from those who believe, how many graces you have. Free from care and with joy, I come to you, that you also may receive me, the disciple of Him that was hanged upon you; because you have been always faithful to me, and I have desired to embrace you. O good cross, which has received comeliness and beauty from the limbs of the Lord; O much longed for, and fervently sought after, take me away from men, and restore me to my Master, in order that through you He may accept me, who through you has redeemed me.."
And having thus spoken, Andrew, standing on the ground, and looking earnestly upon the cross, stripped himself and gave his clothes to the executioners, having urged the brethren to let the executioners come and do what had been commanded them; for they were standing at some distance. And they lifted him on the cross; and stretched his body across with ropes. They only bound his feet, but did not sever his joints, having received this order from the proconsul: for he wished him to be in distress while hanging, and in the night-time, as he was suspended, to be eaten up alive by dogs..
And a great multitude of the brethren stood by, nearly twenty thousand; and having seen the executioners had done nothing to Andrew of what was usually done, they thought that they would again hear something from him; for as he was hanging, he moved his head smiling. And the Christian, Stratocles (Aegeates brother), asked him, "Why are you smiling, Andrew, servant of God? Your laughter makes us mourn and weep, because we are deprived of you." And Christ’s Apostle answered him. "Shall I not laugh my son, Stratocles, at the empty stratagem of Aegeates, through which he thinks to take vengeance upon us? We have nothing to do with him and his plans. He cannot hear; for if he could, he would be aware, from experience, that a man of Jesus is unpunished."
And having thus spoken, he spoke to them all in common, for the people ran together enraged at the unjust judgment of Aegeates: "You men standing by me, and women, and children, and elders, bond and free, and as many as will hear; I beseech you, forsake this life, you who for my sake have assembled here; and take upon you my life, which leads to heavenly things, and all despise the temporary things." And he exhorted them all, teaching that the sufferings of this transitory life are not worthy to be compared with the future recompense of the eternal life.
And the multitude hearing what was said by him, did not stand off from the place, and Andrew continued to preach to them. And so much was said by him, that a space of three days and nights was taken up, and no one was tired and went away from him. And when also on the fourth day they beheld his nobleness, and the unweariedness of his intellect, and the power of his exhortations, and the stedfastness of his soul, and the sobriety of his spirit, and the fixedness of his mind, and the perfection of his reason, they were enraged against Aegeates; and all with one accord hurried to the tribunal, and cried out against Aegeates, saying: "What is your judgment, O proconsul? You have judged wickedly; your awards are impious. What has the man done wrong; what evil has he done? The city has been put in an uproar; you grieve us; you betray Caesar's city. Grant willingly to the Achaians a just man; grant willingly to us a God-fearing man; do not put to death a godly man. Four days he has been hanging, and is alive; having eaten nothing, he has filled us all. Take down the man from the cross, and we shall all seek after wisdom; release the man, and to all Achaia will mercy be shown.. It is not necessary that he should suffer this, because, though hanging, he does stop proclaiming the truth."
And when the proconsul refused to listen to them, signing with his hand to the crowd to take themselves off, they began to be emboldened against him, being in number about twenty thousand. And the proconsul seeing that they had become maddened, and afraid that something frightful would befall him, rose up from the tribunal and went with them, promising to free the blessed Andrew.
And some went on ahead to tell the Apostle the reason they came to the place.
While the crowd, was rejoicing that Andrew was going to be set free, the proconsul came up with all the brethren, and Maximilla. Then Andrew, having heard this, said to the brethren standing by, "What is necessary for me to say to him, when I am departing to the Lord? For what reason have you again come to us, Aegeates? On what account do you. being a stranger to us, come to us? What will you again dare to contrive? Tell us? Have you come to release me, as having changed your mind? I do not believe that you have really changed your mind."
"Nor would I believe that you are my friend. Do you, proconsul, release him that has been bound? By no means. For I have One with whom I shall be for ever; I have One with whom I shall live to countless ages. To Him I go; to Him I hasten, who also having made you known to me, has said to me, ‘Let not that fearful man terrify you; do not think that he will lay hold of you, for you are mine and he is your enemy..’"
"Therefore, having known you only through him who has spoken to me, I am delivered from you. But if you wish to believe in Christ, there will be opened up a way of access for a time, as I promised you; but if you have come only to release me, I shall not be able to be brought down from this cross alive in the body. For I and my kinsmen depart to our own, allowing you to be what you are. For already I see my King, already I worship Him, already I stand before Him, where the fellowship of the angels is, where He reigns, the only emperor, where there is light without night, where the flowers never fade, where trouble is never known, nor the name of grief heard, where there are cheerfulness and exultation that have no end. O blessed cross! without the longing for you, no one enters into that place.. But I am distressed, Aegeates, about your own miseries, because eternal perdition is ready to receive you. Run then, for your own sake, pitiable man, while yet you can, lest you should wish to repent when you cannot."
When, Aegeates attempted to come near the tree of the cross, to release Andrew, with all the city applauding him, Andrew said with a loud voice: "Do not suffer Andrew, bound upon Your tree, to be released, O Lord; do not give me. who am is in Your mystery. to the shameless devil. O Jesus Christ, let not Your adversary release me, who has been hanged by Your favour."
The executioners, putting out their hands, were not able at all to touch him. Others, endeavoured to release him, and no one at all was able to come near him; for their arms became numb."
Then Andrew, having assured the people, said: "I entreat you earnestly, brethren, that I may first make one prayer to my Lord. All the people therefore kept quiet." Then Andrew, with a loud cry, said: "Do not permit, O Lord, Your servant at this time to be removed from You; for it is time that my body be committed to the earth, and You shall order me to come to You. You who gives eternal life, my Teacher whom I have loved. The One, whom on this cross. I confess; whom I know, whom I possess, receive me, Lord; and as I have confessed You and obeyed You, so now listen to me; and, before my body comes down from the cross, receive me to Yourself, that through my departure there may be access to You of many of my kindred, finding rest for themselves in Your majesty."
When, he had said this, he became in the sight of all glad and rejoicing; for an exceeding splendour like lightning coming forth out of heaven shone down upon him, and encircled him; and because of such brightness their eyes could not look upon him at all. And the dazzling light remained about the space of half an hour. And when he had spoken and glorified the Lord still more, the light withdrew itself, and he gave up his spirit, and along with the brightness itself he departed to the Lord in giving Him thanks."
And after the decease of Andrew the Apostle, Maximilla being the most powerful of the notable women, and continuing among those who had come, as soon as she learned that the Andrew had departed to the Lord, came up and turned her attention to the cross, along with Stratocles, taking no heed at all of those standing by, and with reverence took down the body of the blessed Apostle from the cross. And when it was evening, bestowing upon him the necessary care, she prepared the body for burial with costly spices, and laid it in her own tomb. For she had been parted from Aegeates on account of his brutal disposition and lawless conduct, having chosen for herself a holy and quiet life; and having been united to the love of Christ, she spent her life blessedly along with the brethren.
Aegeates had been very importunate with her, and promised that he would make her mistress of his wealth; but not having been able to persuade her, he was greatly enraged, and was determined to make a public charge against all the people, and to send to Caesar an accusation against both Maximilla and all the people. And while he was arranging these things in the presence of his officers, at the dead of night he rose up, and unseen by all his people, having been tormented by the devil, he fell down from a great height, and rolling into the midst of the market-place of the city, breathed his last.
And this was reported to his brother Stratocles; and he sent his servants, having told them that they should bury him among those who had died a violent death. But he sought nothing of his substance, saying: "Let not my Lord Jesus Christ, in whom I have believed, suffer me to touch anything whatever of the goods of my brother, that the condemnation of him who dared to cut off the apostle of the Lord may not disgrace me."
These things were done in the province of Achaia, in the city of Patras on the day before the kalends of December, where his good deeds are kept in mind even to this day, to the glory and praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
This was blogged by http://www.release.org.au/
