Such is the boldness of speech of a man bearing the Cross. Let us then also imitate this: though it be not a time of war, yet it is always the time for boldness of speech. For, "I will also speak," says one, "of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame."* If we chance to be among heathens, let us thus stop their mouths without wrath, without harshness. For if we do it with wrath, it no longer seems to be the boldness (of one who is confident of his cause,) but passion: but if with gentleness, this is boldness indeed. For in one and the same thing success and failure cannot possibly go together. The boldness is a success: the anger is a failure. Therefore, if we are to have boldness, we must be clean from wrath that none may impute our words to that. No matter how just your words may be, when you speak with anger, you ruin all: no matter how boldly you speak, how fairly reprove, or what not. See Stephen, how free from passion as he discourses to them! For he did not abuse them: he did but remind them of the words of the Prophets. For, to show you that it was not anger, at the very moment he was suffering evil at their hands, he prayed, saying, "Do not hold this sin against them."† So far was he from speaking these words in anger; no, he spake in grief and sorrow for their sakes.
John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 7
* Psalm 119:46
† Acts 7:60
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