Section 59

On another occasion two brothers were traveling to Antony when their water ran out along the way. One of them died, and the other was near death. He no longer had strength to continue but lay on the ground expecting to die.

Antony was sitting on the mountain when he called two monks who happened to be with him and urged them: “Take a jar of water and run along the road toward Egypt. Two men were coming here. One is already dead, and the other will die unless you hurry. This was revealed to me while I was praying.”

The monks went and found one man lying dead. They buried him, revived the other with water, and brought him to the old man. The place was a day’s journey away.

If anyone asks why Antony did not speak before the first man died, that question should not be pressed. The sentence of death did not belong to Antony but to God, who judged the one and revealed the condition of the other.

The wonder in Antony’s case was this: while sitting on the mountain he kept his heart watchful, and the Lord showed him events taking place far away.