By H.H. Pope Shenouda III
Do not think that you had this before the first sin only, for the righteous in every age has this dignity and authority. Let us examine some examples from the Old Testament: Samson tore apart the lion with his hand and killed it; Daniel was in the lions' den and they did him no harm; Jonah was swallowed by the fish but it vomited him without daring to injure him, and the three lads were in the fire furnace but the fire became for them cold and peaceful. The same can be found in the New Testament: St. Mark and his lion is one example. Another example is St. Paul who the viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand, but he shook it off into the fire and felt no harm; so the people were amazed and said he was a god (Acts 28:3-7). You also are given the power to trod the serpents and the scorpions and every power of the enemy (The Prayer of Thanksgiving).
