The Two Brothers in the Desert

Once, when two brothers were coming to him, the water ran out on the way. One died, and the other was at the point of death; he had no strength to go on, but lay on the ground expecting to die. But Antony, sitting on the mountain, called two monks who happened to be there and urged them, saying, “Take a jar of water and run along the road toward Egypt. For of two men who were coming, one is already dead, and the other will die unless you hurry. This has been revealed to me as I was praying.” So the monks went, and they found one lying dead, whom they buried; the other they revived with water and brought to the old man. For it was a day’s journey. [a]

But if anyone asks why he did not speak before the other died, that question ought not to be asked. For the punishment of death was not Antony’s but God’s, who both passed judgment on the one and revealed the condition of the other. The only marvel on Antony’s part was this: that while he sat on the mountain his heart was watchful, and the Lord showed him things far away.