Effects of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Enemies of Jesus Christ

Source: Croset 1898

Now it happened that the loud noise, the rushing wind, the flashes of lightning and the thunder which were like the forerunners of the coming of the Holy Spirit, disturbed and terrified all the inhabitants of the city who were enemies of the Lord, in proportion to the degree of their malice and perfidy.

This punishment was particular to all those who took part in the death of our Savior and who distinguished themselves by their cruelty and rage. These all fell to the ground and remained there for the space of three hours, beating their heads against the stones. And those who scourged the Savior all died immediately, suffocated by their own blood, which was agitated by their fall and stirred to the point of choking them in vengeance for the blood they had so inhumanely shed.

The reckless man who struck a blow to His divine Majesty not only died on the spot, but was cast in body and soul into hell.

Several other Jews, although they did not die, were also punished by internal pains and certain abominable diseases which were transmitted because of the blood of Jesus Christ with which they burdened themselves, even unto their descendants, and which still punish some of them today, rendering them horrible.

This punishment was public in Jerusalem, although the high priests and the Pharisees took great care to hide it, just as they had done with the resurrection of the Savior. But as it was not such an important matter, the apostles and evangelists made no mention of it in their writings, and the great turmoil in the city made it quickly forgotten.