Chapter XXXII.—Simon’s Challenge.

Then said Simon:  “I am astonished at your folly.  For you so propound the words of your Master, as if it were held to be certain concerning him that he is a prophet; while I can very easily prove that he often contradicted himself.  In short, I shall refute you from those words which you have yourself brought forward.  For you say, that he said that every kingdom or every city divided in itself shall not stand; and elsewhere you say, that he said that he would send a sword, that he might separate those who are in one house, so that son shall be divided from father, daughter from mother, brother from brother; so that if there be five in one house, three shall be divided against two, and two against three.⁶²⁷⁶²⁷    Luke xii. 51–53.  If, then, everything that is divided falls, he who makes divisions furnishes causes of falling; and if he is such, assuredly he is wicked.  Answer this if you can.”