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There was a very holy patriarch of Alexandria, called John. The Governor of Alexandria had imposed a tax on the city which fell with peculiar severity on the poor, whilst the rich got off with comparative ease. The patriarch went to the Governor, whose name was Nicetas, and remonstrated with him. Nicetas was furious. He stormed against the bishop, and pursued him to his own house and. inner chamber, using fierce abuse. He had completely lost control over himself, so great was his anger at the prelate's interference. John was much agitated and. distressed. He waited all the afternoon, praying for a reconciliation, but not another word had he with the Governor. As the evening drew on, he became still more uneasy. He felt he could not sleep with bitterness subsisting between them. So he wrote on a slip of parchment the words, "The sun is setting," and sent it to Nicetas, who, recalling the maxim of St. Paul, was moved to regret his violence, and he hasted to the patriarch's residence, asked his pardon, and their broken friendship was restored.

(S. Baring Gould, M. A.)

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KJV: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

WEB: "Be angry, and don't sin." Don't let the sun go down on your wrath,