Yesterday, while preparing for an upcoming sermon based upon Acts 3, I spent time in Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible. For those unfamiliar with this commentary, Adam Clarke (1762–1832) was a highly respected British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar. In his exegesis of Acts 3:6, he shared a powerful quotation from one of the Catholic Church’s greatest theologians and philosophers, Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274). Here is the quotation …
Thomas Aquinas, surnamed the angelical doctor, who was highly esteemed by Pope Innocent IV, going one day into the pope‘s chamber, where they were reckoning large sums of money, the pope, addressing himself to Aquinas, said: “You see that the Church is no longer in an age in which she can say, Silver and gold have I none?” “It is true, holy father,” replied the angelical doctor, “nor can she now say to the lame man, Rise up and walk!”
It’s Billy again. Nothing more needs to be added … except for maybe an “ouch”, or, if you are one of those old-time shoutin’ people, “preach”.
Good Lordy!!!