Section 13

His acquaintances continued to visit him. Because he would not allow them to enter, they often remained outside for days and nights. They could hear what sounded like crowds inside shouting, making a great noise, crying out in misery, and saying, “Leave what belongs to us! What are you doing even here in the desert? You will not endure our attack.”

At first those outside thought that men were fighting with Antony and had somehow entered by ladders. But when they bent down and looked through an opening, they saw no one. Then they became afraid, realizing that these were demons, and they called out to Antony.

He heard them at once, though he paid no attention to the demons. Coming to the door, he urged his visitors to leave and not be afraid. “This,” he said, “is how the demons make their pretended attacks against those who are cowardly. Make the sign of the cross over yourselves, go away with confidence, and leave them to amuse themselves.”

So they departed, strengthened by the sign of the cross. Antony remained behind, entirely unharmed by the evil spirits. Nor did he grow weary of the contest. Visions from above came to his aid, while the weakness of the enemy itself relieved much of his trouble and armed him with still greater zeal.

His acquaintances often came expecting to find him dead, but instead they would hear him singing: “Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before his face. As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; as wax melts before the fire, so let sinners perish before the face of God.” And again: “All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I drove them back.”