4. “Eorum” of the Vulgate is to be connected with “reminiscamini,” on which it depends. The comma ought to be before “eorum;” the Greek text makes this clear. As we said above on verse 1, the fact that Christ had foretold these persecutions, would be another proof of His Divinity. Moreover, since He knew that these persecutions were in store, and did not avert them, the Apostles ought to learn from this to bear them with resignation, inasmuch as they were not merely endured for Him, but permitted by Him. 5. Haec autem vobis ab initio 5. But I told you not these non dixi, quia vobiscum eram. things from the beginning, Et nunc vado ad eum, qui misit because I was with you. And me: et nemo ex vobis now I go to him that sent me, interrogat me, Quo vadis? and none of you asketh me: Whither goest thou? 5. *But I told you not these things from the beginning.* “These things,” we again understand, as in verse 1, both of the persecutions which were before them, and of the coming of the Holy Ghost to take Christ’s place, and console the Apostles. But had He not already predicted that the Apostles were to be persecuted? Had He not said: “But beware of men. For they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before governors and before kings for My sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles”? (Matt. x. 17, 18). To this we may reply, with Mald., that He had never predicted persecution until now, and that St. Matthew, in recording, in the passage cited, the prediction of persecution, does not follow the order of time, but inserts, in connection with the mission of the Apostles to the Jews what was spoken long after, probably immediately before, Christ’s ascension, when they were receiving their mission to the whole world. (Matt. xxviii. 19, 20). Or we may reply—and this answer we prefer—that although He had before predicted the persecution of the Apostles, yet He had not till now told them what He told them on this occasion; namely, that they should be excommunicated by the Jews, and that men would think they were actually honouring God in persecuting them. So that although He had before predicted persecution, still it was only now He predicted its terrible violence. *And* (Gr. δε = _but_) *now I go to him that sent me*. These words are to be connected closely with the preceding. Before, He had not told them these things, _but_ now He is about to leave them, and there is, therefore, a special reason for His referring to the future.