Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily III/Chapter 29

Chapter XXIX.&#8212;The Signal Given.

While Peter was about to explain fully to us this mystic word, Zacch&#230;us came, saying:&#160; &#8220;Now indeed, O Peter, is the time for you to go out and engage in the discussion; for a great crowd awaits you, packed together in the court; and in the midst of them stands Simon, like a war-chieftain attended by his spearmen.&#8221;&#160; And Peter, hearing this, ordered me to withdraw for prayer, as not yet having received baptism for salvation, and then said to those who were already perfected:&#160; &#8220;Let us rise and pray that God, by His unfailing mercies, may help me striving for the salvation of the men whom He has made.&#8221;&#160; And having thus said, and having prayed, he went out into the uncovered portion of the court, which was a large space; and there were many come together for the purpose of seeing him, his pre-eminence having made them more eagerly hasten to hear.