and those who are called their priests {68b} came into the church,
wishing to see the man of God; for all called him by that name,
because there the Lord cleansed many by him from daemons, and healed
those who were out of their mind. And many heathens wished only to
touch the old man, believing that it would be of use to them; and in
fact as many became Christians in those few days, as would have been
usually converted in a year. And when some thought that the crowd
troubled him, and therefore turned all away from him, he quietly
said that they were not more numerous than the fiends with whom he
wrestled on the mountain. But when he left the city, and we were
setting him on his journey, when we came to the gate a certain woman
called to him: "Wait, man of God, my daughter is grievously vexed
with a devil; wait, I beseech thee, lest I too harm myself with
running after thee." The old man hearing it, and being asked by us,
waited willingly. But when the woman drew near, the child dashed
itself on the ground; and when Antony prayed and called on the name
of Christ, it rose up sound, the unclean spirit having gone out; and
the mother blessed God, and we all gave thanks: and he himself
rejoiced at leaving the city for the mountain, as for his own home.

Now he was very prudent; and what was wonderful, though he had never
learnt letters, he was a shrewd and understanding man. Once, for
example, two Greek philosophers came to him, thinking that they
could tempt Antony. And he was in the outer mountain; and when he
went out to them, understanding the men from their countenances, he
said through an interpreter, "Why have you troubled yourselves so
much, philosophers, to come to a foolish man?" And when they
answered that he was not foolish, but rather very wise, he said, "If
you have come to a fool, your labour is superfluous, but if ye think
me to be wise, become as I am; for we ought to copy what is good,