775 discourse iii: the scourging of the sinner Lawrence Justinian: “He is bound,” he says, “Jesus is scourged, and His whole body is completely destroyed by the scourges; now the shoulders, now the abdomen, now the arms, now the legs they surround: They add wounds to wounds, blows to fresh blows.”19 At one time, on account of the insistence of the Jews, the tribune ordered Paul to be whipped with scourges and to be tortured. “But when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?” […] So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him instantly; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him” (Acts 22:25-29). He [Paul] was so greatly esteemed that he was written down in the records of the city of Rome. The only begotten Son of the Lord and eternal Author of all things, the all-powerful King of all kingdoms, of men and Angels, and moreover all the heavens, while fettered to a pillar of marble, is most cruelly struck to pieces by the most wicked servants of the devils. The sun never beheld such an excellent man neither in the deadly array of criminals, nor among those seated upon a royal throne. What is [the significance of ] the Roman citizen [Paul] compared to this One? What [is the significance of ] the leaders, kings, and Caesars of all the centuries? Together, they are but shadow and dust. Yet no one is found who would cry out, while the most holy, the Son of God in person and by nature, is placed under the most dreadful scourges in the very bloody hands of the most bloodthirsty henchmen: Hebrews, what are you doing? Is it permissible to hand over the promised Messiah, whom you ought to receive with the greatest gratitude and adore with the highest worship, to be tortured by wicked men, to be torn to pieces in a way worthy of tears? He, whom your patriarchs were begging for from the Heavenly Father in the most fervent prayers, whom the most faithful prophets were foretelling was to 19 Cf. Laurentius Iustinianus, De triumphali agone mediatoris Christi, c. 13: Divi Laurenti Iustiniani Protopatriarche Veneti Opera Omnia, Venetiis 1606, f.204r.
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