Unlettered Men

Comperto quod homines essent sine litteris et idiotae, admirabantur. Illitterati mittuntur ad praedicandum, ne fides credentium, non virtute Dei, sed eloquentia atque doctrina fieri putaretur, ut Apostolus ait, Non in sapientia verbi, ut non evacuetur crux Christi. Idiotae enim dicebantur, qui propria tantum lingua, naturallique scienti contenti, litterarum studia nesciebant. Sanctus Beda, Super acta Apostolorum Expositio, Caput III Migne PL 92 953

'Knowing that they were men without letters and learning, they wondered.' 1 Unlettered they were sent to preach, lest the faith of the believers be thought to be on account of the eloquence and learning of men and not by the virtue of God, as the Apostle says, 'Not in the cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ not be emptied.' 2 Thus they are said to be without learning, for with their own tongue alone and their own natural knowledge they had striven, knowing not the study of letters. Saint Bede, from the Commentary on the Acts of The Apostles, Chap 3 1 Acts 4.13 2 1 Cor 1.17