Acts 2:14

"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them." In a former place you saw his provident forethought, here you see his manly courage. For if they were astonished and amazed, was it not as wonderful that he should be able in the midst of such a multitude to find language, he, an unlettered and ignorant man? If a man is troubled when he speaks among friends, much more might he be troubled among enemies and bloodthirsty men. That they are not drunken, he shows immediately by his very voice, that they are not beside themselves, as the soothsayers: and this too, that they were not constrained by some compulsory force. What is meant by, "with the eleven?" They expressed themselves through one common voice, and he was the mouth of all. The eleven stood by as witnesses to what he said. "He lifted up his voice," it is said. That is, he spoke with great confidence, that they might perceive the grace of the Spirit. He who had not endured the questioning of a poor girl, now in the midst of the people, all breathing murder, discourses with such confidence, that this very thing becomes an unquestionable proof of the Resurrection: in the midst of men who could deride and make a joke of such things as these!

For wherever the Holy Spirit is present, He makes men of gold out of men of clay. Look, I pray you, at Peter now examine well that timid one, and devoid of understanding; as Christ said, "Are ye also yet without understanding?" the man, who after that marvellous confession was called "Satan." Consider also the unanimity of the Apostles. They themselves ceded to him the office of speaking; for it was not necessary that all should speak. "And he lifted up his voice," and spoke out to them with great boldness. Such a thing it is to be a spiritual man! Only let us also bring ourselves into a state meet for the grace from above, and all becomes easy. For as a man of fire falling into the midst of straw would take no harm, but do it to others: not he could take any harm, but they, in assailing him, destroy themselves. For the case here was just as if one carrying hay should attack one bearing fire: even so did the Apostles encounter these their adversaries with great boldness.

"Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem," whom the writer above described as strangers. Here he directs his discourse to those others, the mockers, and while he seems to reason with those, he sets these right. For indeed it was divinely ordered that "some mocked," that he might have a starting-point for his defence, and by means of that defence, might teach. "And all ye that dwell in Jerusalem." It seems they accounted it a high encomium to dwell in Jerusalem too. "Be this," says he, "known unto you, and hearken unto my words." In the first instance he made them more disposed to attend to him.

Well, let us look over again what has been said. It is well managed, that as against men laughing and mocking, he starts up and begins with, "Be this known unto you all and hearken unto my words." But he begins by saying, "Ye men of Judea." By the expression "Judea," I take him to mean those that lived in Judea. And, if you please, let us compare those expressions in the Gospel, that you may learn what a sudden change has taken place in Peter. "A damsel," it is written, "came out unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth." And, says he, "I know not the Man." And being again questioned, "he began to curse and to swear." But see here his boldness, and his great freedom of speech. He did not praise those who had said, "We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God;" but by his severity towards those others, he made these more earnest, and at the same time his address is clear from all appearance of adulation. And it is well to remark, on all occasions, however the Apostles may condescend to the level of their hearers, their language is clear from all appearance both of adulation and of insolence: which is a difficult point to manage.

In the foregoing passages indeed Peter shows concern, when he allows the multitude the choice of him who was to be appointed with the eleven; here, however, openness. And he does this not having friendly listeners, but mocking and scoffing and shouting: moreover he himself was unlearned and uneducated. How then would what was done not be for a man? that is, to utter a voice.

He says "with the eleven," indicating that by common will and voice he was the voice of all: for the eleven stood as witnesses of the things that were to be spoken.

And he raised his voice, that is, he spoke with great freedom of words, so that they might immediately perceive from the outset the grace of the Spirit. For he who before this time did not bear the question of a slave girl, (see Jn. 18:17) here in the midst of the people, with all crying out, preaches so unwavering that this is unquestionably a sign of the resurrection.

"But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them," etc. But blessed Peter, standing up with the eleven apostles, spoke with a loud voice, saying that, seeing it was but the third hour of the day, they were not, as some thought, drunk with must, but rather filled with the honor of the Holy Ghost. He also supported this claim with a quote from the prophet Joel, so as to declare to them that the knowledge exhibited by the disciples was not to be ascribed to intoxication but truly to divine mercy. Then, he condemned the wickedness of the Jews, who chose to crucify the Lord Christ, whom God, loosing the laws of hell, raised up from the dead. This is also supported by an example from Psalm 15.

Above you saw providence; here observe courage, because if all the listeners were amazed, then was it not equally amazing that a simple and unlearned man raised his voice amid such a multitude, despite the fact that there were both slanderers and those capable of killing? Is this not beyond human strength? But look: immediately upon raising his voice, he (that is, Peter) exposes the deception, proving that they are not drunk. But neither are they in a frenzy. What then is happening with him and the eleven? Peter was expressing the common opinion and common voice and was the mouth of all, while the eleven stood by, bearing witness to what he was saying. "He raised his voice," that is, he began his speech with great boldness so that immediately, at its beginning, they would feel the grace of the Spirit. The one who could not withstand the question of a weak servant girl, that very same man speaks with such boldness among the people and murderers. Before receiving the gift of tongues, Peter was frightened when only one doorkeeper servant girl questioned him, and he said: "I do not know this Man" (Mark 14:71). There, one servant girl and great fear; here, a countless multitude and a voice full of great boldness.