The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 7: The Last Times • 233

The Birth of the Church As the sermon concluded, another witness came forward and stood next to Chrysostom. He was a clean- shaven Roman with a proud expression and a heavy, prominent brow. He wore a plain brown robe and carried a leather journal, such that he looked like a scribe. Mentor introduced him as Arator, an author whose epic commentary on the book of Acts had been read before the bishop of Rome. “I was hoping we would hear more from Chrysostom,” I whispered to Father Greg. “I believe we will,” he replied, “but Arator brings a western perspective to balance out Chrysostom’s eastern Church view.” “Long ago,” Arator began his testimony, Malicious men wished to raise their tower of Babel up to the heavens, But their wicked hearts confused the language and thwarted their building. Until the coming of the Church reversed the trend, And one language again prevailed. 9 “Is he talking about Pentecost?” asked Cesar. “Yes, he’s illustrating it from the story of the Tower of Babel,” explained Father Greg. The Holy Spirit, descending from the ethereal hall, illumined with splendor the place where the blessed pedigree of the nascent church was; with fire as their teacher, a glow suffused their mouths, and from their flowing words came forth an abundant harvest of

9 Paraphrase of Schrader, Arator’s On the Acts of the Apostles , page 29.