[142] Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, it may be that even a single bhikkhu has doubt or uncertainty concerning the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, or the path (magga), or the practice (paṭipadā). Ask, bhikkhus! Do not be remorseful afterwards, thinking: 'The Teacher was present before us, yet we were not able to question the Blessed One face to face.'" When this was said, those bhikkhus remained silent. A second time the Blessed One … A third time the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, it may be that even a single bhikkhu has doubt or uncertainty concerning the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, or the path, or the practice. Ask, bhikkhus! Do not be remorseful afterwards, thinking: 'The Teacher was present before us, yet we were not able to question the Blessed One face to face.'" A third time those bhikkhus remained silent.
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, it may be that you do not ask out of reverence for the Teacher. Then, bhikkhus, let one companion inform his companion." When this was said, those bhikkhus remained silent. Then the Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: "It is wonderful, venerable sir; it is marvellous, venerable sir! I have such confidence in this Saṅgha of bhikkhus that there is not, in this Saṅgha of bhikkhus, even a single bhikkhu who has doubt or uncertainty concerning the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, or the path, or the practice." "You speak out of confidence, Ānanda; but herein the Tathāgata has knowledge (ñāṇa): there is not, in this Saṅgha of bhikkhus, even a single bhikkhu who has doubt or uncertainty concerning the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, or the path, or the practice. For among these five hundred bhikkhus, Ānanda, even the most backward bhikkhu is a stream-enterer (sotāpanna), not subject to falling into a lower world, fixed in destiny, with full awakening as his destination."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.