(NOTE: The electronic text obtained from The Electronic Bible Society was
not completely corrected. EWTN has corrected all mistakes found.)

THIS FILE CONTAINS:
Apocryphal Gospels, etc:
   The Protevangelium of James
   The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
   The gospel of the Nativity of Mary
   The History of Joseph the Carpenter
   The Gospel of Thomas
   The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Saviour
   The Gospel of Nicodemus
   The Letter of Pontius Pilate concerning our Lord Jesus Christ
   The Report of Pilate the Procurator concerning our Lord Jesus Christ
   The Report of Pontius Pilate
   The Giving up of Pontius Pilate
   The Death of Pilate
   The Narrative of Joseph
   The Avenging of the Saviour

[Translated by Alexander Walker, Esq., one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of
Schools for Scotland.]


THE PROTEVANGELIUM OF JAMES

THE BIRTH OF MARY THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, AND VERY GLORIOUS MOTHER OF JESUS
CHRIST. (1)

   1. IN the records of the twelve tribes of lsrael was Joachim, a man
rich exceedingly; and he brought his offerings double, (2) saying: There
shall be of my superabundance to all the people, and there shall be the
offering for my forgiveness (3) to the Lord for a propitiation for me. (4)
For the great day of the Lord was at hand, and the sons of lsrael were
bringing their offerings. And there stood over against him Rubim, saying:
It is not meet for thee first to bring thine offerings, because thou hast
not made seed in Israel. (5) And Joachim was exceedingly grieved, and went
away to the registers of the twelve tribes of the people, saying: I shall
see the registers of the twelve tribes of lsrael, as to whether I alone
have not made seed in lsrael. And he searched, and found that all the
righteous had raised up seed in lsrael. And he called to mind the patriach
Abraham, that in the last day (6) God gave him a son Isaac. And Joachim was
exceedingly grieved, and did not come into the presence of his wife; but he
retired to the desert, (7) and there pitched his tent, and fasted forty
days and forty nights, (8) saying in himself: I will not go down either for
food or for drink until the Lord my God shall look upon me, and prayer
shall be my food and drink.

   2. And his wife Anna (9) mourned in two mournings, and lamented in two
lamentations, saying: I shall bewail my widowhood; I shall bewail my
childlessness. And the great day of the Lord was at hand; and Judith (10)
her maid-servant said: How long dost thou humiliate thy soul? Behold, the
great day of the Lord is at hand, and it is unlawful for thee to mourn. But
take this head-band, which the woman that made it  gave to me; for it is
not proper that I should wear it, because I am a maid-servant, and it has a
royal appearance. (11) And Anna said: Depart from me; for I have not done
such things, and the Lord has brought me very low. I fear that some wicked
person has given it to thee, and thou hast come to make me a sharer in thy
sin. And Judith said: Why should I curse thee, seeing that (12) the Lord
hath shut thy womb, so as not to give thee fruit in Israel? And Anna was
grieved exceedingly, and put off her garments of mourning, and cleaned her
head, and put on her wedding garments, and about the ninth hour went down
to the garden to walk. And she saw a laurel, and sat under it, and prayed
to the Lord, saying: O God of our fathers, bless me and hear my prayer, as
Thou didst bless the womb of Sarah, and didst give her a son Isaac. (13)

   3. And gazing towards the heaven, she saw a sparrow's nest in the
laurel, (14) and made a lamentation in herself, saying: Alas! who begot me?
and what womb produced me? because I have become a curse in the presence of
the sons of Israel, and I have been reproached, and they have driven me in
derision out of the temple of the Lord. Alas! to what have I been likened?
I am not like the fowls of the heaven, because even the fowls of the heaven
are productive before Thee, O Lord. Alas! to what have I been likened? I am
not like the beasts of the earth, because even the beasts of the earth are
productive before Thee, O Lord. Alas! to what have I been likened? I am not
like these waters, because even these waters are productive before Thee, O
Lord. Alas! to what have I been likened? I am not like this earth, because
even the earth bringeth forth its fruits in season, and blesseth Thee, O
Lord. (1)

   4. And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood by, saying: Anna, Anna, the
Lord hath heard thy prayer, and thou shalt conceive, and shall bring forth;
and thy seed shall be spoken of in all the world. And Anna said: As the
Lord my God liveth, if I beget either male or female, I will bring it as a
gift to the Lord my God; and it shall minister to Him in holy things all
the days of its life. (2) And, behold, two angels came, saying to her:
Behold, Joachim thy husband is coming with his flocks. (3) For an angel of
the  Lord went down to him, saying: Joachim, Joachim, the Lord God hath
heard thy prayer Go down hence; for, behold, thy wife Anna shall conceive.
And Joachim went down and called his shepherds, saying: Bring me hither ten
she-lambs without spot or blemish, and they shall be for the Lord my God;
and bring me twelve tender calves, and they shall be for the priests and
the elders; and a hundred goats for all the people. And, behold, Joachim
came with his flocks; and Anna stood by the gate, and saw Joachim coming,
and she ran anti hung upon his neck, saying: Now I know that the Lord God
hath blessed me exceedingly; for, behold the widow no longer a widow, and I
the childless shall conceive. And Joachim rested the first day in his
house.

   5. And on the following day he brought his offerings, saying in
himself: If the Lord God has been rendered gracious to me, the plate (4) on
the priest's forehead will make it manifest to me. And Joachim brought his
offerings, and observed attentively the priest's plate when he went up to
the altar of the Lord, and he saw no sin in himself. And Joachim said: Now
I know that the Lord has been gracious unto me, and has remitted all my
sins. And he went down from the temple of the Lord justified, and departed
to his own house. And her months were fulfilled, and in the ninth (5) month
Anna brought forth. And she said to the midwife: What have I brought forth?
and she said: A girl. And said Anna: My soul has been magnified this day.
And she laid her down. And the days having been fulfilled, Anna was
purified, and gave the breast to the child, (6) and called her name Mary.

   6. And the child grew strong day by day; and when she was six (7)
months old, her mother set her on the ground to try whether she could
stand, and she walked seven steps and came  into her bosom; and she
snatched her up, saying: As the Lord my God liveth, thou shall not walk on
this earth until I bring thee into the temple of the Lord. And she made a
sanctuary in her bed-chamber, and allowed nothing common or unclean to pass
through her. And she  called the undefiled daughters of the Hebrews, and
they led her astray. (8) And when she was a year old, Joachim made a great
feast, and invited the priests, and the scribes, and the elders, and all
the people of Israel. And Joachim brought the child to the priests; and
they blessed her, saying: O God of our fathers, bless this child, and give
her an everlasting name to be named in all generations. And all the people
said: So be it, so be it, amen. And he brought her to the chief priests;
and they blessed her, saying: O God most high, look upon this child, and
bless her with the utmost blessing, which shall be for ever. And her mother
snatched her up, and took her into the sanctuary of her bed-chamber, and
gave her the breast. And Anna made a song to the Lord God, saying: I will
sing a song to the Lord my God, for He hath looked upon me, and hath taken
away the reproach of mine enemies; and the Lord hath given the the fruit of
His righteousness, singular in its kind, and richly endowed before Him. Who
will tell the sons of Rubim that Anna gives suck? Hear, hear, ye twelve
tribes of Israel, that Anna gives suck. And she laid her to rest in the
bed-chamber of her sanctuary, and went out and ministered unto them. And
when the supper was ended, they went down rejoicing, and glorifying the God
of  Israel. (9)

   7. And her months were added to the child. And the child was two years
old, and Joachim said: Let us take her up to the temple of the Lord, that
we may pay the vow that we have vowed, lest perchance the Lord send to us,
(10) and our offering be not received. And Anna said: Let us wait for the
third year, in order that the child may not seek for father or mother. And
Joachim said: So let us wait. And the child was three years old, and
Joachim said: Invite the daughters of the Hebrews that are undefiled, and
let them take each a lamp, and let them stand with the lamps burning, that
the child may not turn back, and her heart be captivated from the temple of
the Lord. And they did so until they went up into the temple of the Lord.
And the priest received her, and kissed her, and blessed her, saying: The
Lord has magnified thy name in all generations. In thee, on the last of the
days, the Lord will manifest His redemption to the sons of lsrael. And he
set her down upon the third step of the altar, and the Lord God sent grace
upon her; and she danced with her feet, and all the house of Israel loved
her.

   8. And her parents went down marvelling, and praising the Lord God,
because the child had not turned back. And Mary was in the temple of the
Lord as if she were a dove that dwelt there, and she received food from the
hand of an angel. And when she was twelve (1) years old there was held a
council of the priests, saying: Behold, Mary has reached the age of twelve
years in the temple of the Lord. What then shall we do with her, test
perchance she defile the sanctuary of the Lord? And they said to the high
priest: Thou standest by the altar of the Lord; go in, and pray concerning
her; and whatever the Lord shall manifest unto thee, that also will we do.
And the high priest went in, taking the robe (2) with the twelve bells into
the holy of holies; and he prayed concerning her. And behold an angel of
the Lord stood by him, saying unto him: Zacharias, Zacharias, go out and
assemble the widowers of the people, and let them bring each his rod; and
to whomsoever the Lord shall show a sign, his wife shall she be. And the
heralds went out through all the circuit of Judaea, and the trumpet of the
Lord sounded, and all ran. 9. And Joseph, throwing away his axe, went out
to meet them; and when they had assembled, they went away to the high
priest, taking with them their rods. And he, taking the rods of all of
them, entered into the temple, and prayed; and having ended his prayer, he
took the rods and came out, and gave them to them: but there was no sign in
them, and Joseph took his rod last; and, behold, a dove came out of the
rod, and flew upon Joseph's head. And the priest said to Joseph, Thou hast
been chosen by lot to take into thy keeping the virgin of the Lord. But
Joseph refused, saying: I have children, and I am an old man, and she is a
young girl. I am afraid lest I become a laughing-stock to the sons of
lsrael. And the priest said to Joseph: Fear the Lord thy God, and remember
what the Lord did to Dathan, and Abiram, and Korah; (3) how the earth
opened, and they were swallowed up on account of their contradiction. And
now fear, O Joseph, lest the same things happen in thy house. And Joseph
was afraid, and took her into his keeping. And Joseph said to Mary: Behold,
I have received thee from the temple of the Lord; and now I leave thee in
my house, and go away to build my buildings, and I shall come to thee. The
Lord will protect thee.

   10. And there was a council of the priests, saying: Let us make a veil
for the temple of the Lord. And the priest said: Call to me the undefiled
virgins of the family of David. And the officers went away, and sought, and
found seven virgins. And the priest remembered the child Mary, that she was
of the family of David, and undefiled before God. And the officers went
away and brought her. And they brought them into the temple of the Lord.
And the priest said: Choose for me by lot who shall spin the gold, and the
white, (4) and the fine linen, and the silk, and the blue, (5) and the
scarlet, and the true purple. (6) And the true purple and the scarlet fell
to the lot of Mary, and she took them, and went away to her house. And at
that time Zacharias was dumb, and Samuel was in his place until the time
that Zacharias spake. And Mary took the scarlet, and span it.

   11. And she took the pitcher, and went out to fill it with water. And,
behold, a voice saying: Hail, thou who hast received grace; the Lord is
with thee; blessed art thou among women! (7) And she looked round, on the
right hand and on the left, to see whence this voice came. And she went
away, trembling, to her house, and put down the pitcher; and taking the
purple, she sat down on her seat, and drew it out. And, behold, an angel of
the Lord stood before her, saying: Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found
grace before the Lord of all, and thou shalt conceive, according to His
word. And she hearing, reasoned with herself, saying: Shall I conceive by
the Lord, the living God? and shall I bring forth as every woman brings
forth? And the angel of the Lord said: Not so, Mary; for the power of the
Lord shall overshadow thee: wherefore also that holy thing which shall be
born of thee shall be called the Son of the Most High. And thou shalt call
His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. And Mary
said: Behold, the servant of the Lord before His face: let it be unto me
according to thy word.

   12. And she made the purple and the scarlet, and took them to the
priest. And the priest blessed her, and said: Mary, the Lord God hath
magnified thy name, and thou shall be blessed in all the generations of the
earth. And Mary, with great joy, went away to Elizabeth her kinswoman, (1)
and knocked at the door. And when Elizabeth heard her, she threw away the
scarlet, (2) and ran to the door, and opened it; and seeing Mary, she
blessed her, and said: Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord
should come to me? for, behold, that which is in me leaped and blessed
thee. (3) But Mary had forgotten the mysteries of which the archangel
Gabriel had spoken, and gazed up into heaven, and said: Who am I, O Lord,
that all the generations of the earth should bless me? (4) And she remained
three months with Elizabeth; and day by day she grew bigger. And Mary being
afraid, went away to her own house, and hid herself from the sons of
Israel. And she was sixteen (5) years old when these mysteries happened.

   13. And she was in her sixth month; and, behold, Joseph came back from
his building, and, entering into his house, he discovered that she was big
with child. And he smote (6) his face, (7) and threw himself on the ground
upon the sackcloth, and wept bitterly, saying: With what face shall I look
upon the Lord my God? and what prayer shall I make about this maiden?
because I received her a virgin out of the temple of the Lord, and I have
not watched over her. Who is it that has hunted me (8) down? Who has done
this evil thing in my house, and defiled the virgin? Has not the history of
Adam been repeated in me? For just as Adam was in the hour of his singing
praise, (9) and the serpent  came, and found Eve alone, and completely
deceived her, so it has happened to me also. And Joseph stood up from the
sackcloth, and called Mary, and said to her: O thou who hast been cared for
by God, why hast thou done this and forgotten the Lord thy God? Why hast
thou brought low thy soul, thou that wast brought up in the holy of holies,
and that didst receive food from the hand of an angel? And she wept
bitterly, saying: I am innocent, and have known no man. And Joseph said to
her: Whence then is that which is in thy womb? And she said: As the Lord my
God liveth, I do not know whence it is to me.

   14. And Joseph was greatly afraid, and retired from her, and considered
what he should do in regard to her. (10) And Joseph said: If I conceal her
sin, I find myself fighting against the law of the Lord; and if I expose
her to the sons of lsrael, I am afraid lest that which is in her be from an
angel, (11) and I shall be found giving up innocent blood to the doom of
death. What then shall I do with her? I will put her away from me secretly.
And night came upon him; and, behold, an angel of the Lord appears to him
in a dream, saying: Be not afraid for this maiden, for that which is in her
is of the Holy Spirit; and she will bring forth a Son, and thou shall call
His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. (12) And
Joseph arose from sleep, and glorified the God of lsrael, who had given him
this grace; and he kept her.

   15. And Annas the scribe came to him, and said: Why hast thou not
appeared in our assembly? And Joseph said to him: Because I was weary from
my journey, and rested the first day. And he turned, and saw that Mary was
with child. And he ran away to the priest,(13) and said to him: Joseph,
whom thou didst vouch for, has committed a grievous crime. And the priest
said: How so? And he said: He has defiled the virgin whom he received out
of the temple of the Lord, and has married her by stealth, andhas not
revealed it to the sons of lsrael. And the priest answering, said: Has
Joseph done this? Then said Annas the scribe: Send officers, and thou wilt
find the virgin with child. And the officers went away, and found it as he
had said; and they brought her along with Joseph to the tribunal. And the
priest said: Mary, why hast thou done this? and why hast thou brought thy
soul low, and forgotten the Lord thy God? Thou that wast reared in the holy
of holies, and that didst receive food from the hand of an angel, and didst
hear the hymns, and didst dance before Him, why hast thou done this? And
she wept bitterly, saying: As the Lord my God liveth, I am pure before Him,
and know not a man. And the priest said to Joseph: Why hast thou done this?
And Joseph said: As the Lord liveth, I am pure concerning her. Then said
the priest: Bear not false witness, but speak the truth. Thou hast married
her by stealth, and hast not revealed it to the sons of Israel, and hast
not bowed thy head under the strong hand, that thy seed might be blessed.
And Joseph was silent.

   16. And the priest said: Give up the virgin whom thou didst receive out
of the temple of the Lord. And Joseph burst into tears. And the priest
said: I will give you to drink of the water of the ordeal of the Lord, (14)
and He shall make manifest your sins in your eyes. And the priest took the
water, and gave Joseph to drink and sent him away to the hill-country; and
he returned unhurt. And he gave to Mary also to drink, and sent her away to
the hill-country; and she returned unhurt. And all the people wondered that
sin did not appear in them. And the priest said: If the Lord God has not
made manifest your sins, neither do I judge you. And he sent them away. And
Joseph took Mary, and went away to his own house, rejoicing and glorifying
the God of Israel.

   17. And there was an order from the Emperor Augustus, that all in
Bethlehem of Judaea should be enrolled. (1) And Joseph said: I shall enrol
my sons, but what shall I do with this maiden? How shall I enrol her? As my
wife? I am ashamed. As my daughter then? But all the sons of Israel know
that she is not my daughter. The day of the Lord shall itself bring it to
pass (2) as the Lord will. And he saddled the ass, and set her upon it; and
his son led it, and Joseph followed. (3) And when they had come within
three miles, Joseph turned and saw her sorrowful; and he said to himself:
Likely that which is in her distresses her. And again Joseph turned and saw
her laughing. And he said to her: Mary, how is it that I see in thy face at
one time laughter, at another sorrow? And Mary said to Joseph: Because I
see two peoples with my eyes; the one weeping and lamenting, and the other
rejoicing and exulting. And they came into the middle of the road, and Mary
said to him: Take me down from off the ass, for that which is in me presses
to come forth. And he took her down from off the ass, and said to her:
Whither shall I lead thee, and cover thy disgrace? for the place is desert.

   18. And he found a cave (4) there, and led her into it; and leaving his
two sons beside her, he went out to seek a widwife in the district of
Bethlehem.

   And I Joseph was walking, and was not walking; and I looked up into the
sky, and saw the sky astonished; and I looked up to the pole of the
heavens, and saw it standing, and the birds of the air keeping still. And I
looked down upon the earth, and saw a trough lying, and work-people
reclining: and their hands were in the trough. And those that were eating
did not eat, and those that were rising did not carry it up, and those that
were conveying anything to their mouths did not convey it; but the faces of
all were looking upwards. And I saw the sheep walking, and the sheep stood
still; and the shepherd raised his hand to strike them, and his hand
remained up. And I looked upon the current of the river, and I saw the
mouths of the kids resting on the water and not drinking, and all things in
a moment were driven from their course.

   19. And I saw a woman coming down from the hill-country, and she said
to me: O man, whither art thou going? And I said: I am seeking an Hebrew
midwife. And she answered and said unto me: Art thou of Israel? And I said
to her: Yes. And she said: And who is it that is bringing forth in the
cave? And I said: A woman betrothed to me. And she said to me: Is she not
thy wife?  And I said to her: It is Mary that was reared in the temple of
the Lord, and I obtained her by lot as my wife. And yet she is not my wife,
but has conceived of the Holy Spirit.

  And the widwife said to him: Is this true? And Joseph said to her: Come
and see. And the midwife went away with him. And they stood in the place of
the cave, and behold a luminous cloud overshadowed the cave. And the
midwife said: My soul has been magnified this day, because mine eyes have
seen strange things -- because salvation has been brought forth to lsrael.
And immediately the cloud disappeared out of the cave, and a great light
shone in the cave, so that the eyes could not bear it. And in a little that
light gradually decreased, until the infant appeared, and went and took the
breast from His mother Mary. And the midwife cried out, and said: This is a
great day to me, because I have seen this strange sight. And the midwife
went forth out of the cave, and Salome met her. And she said to her:
Salome, Salome, I have a strange sight to relate to thee: a virgin has
brought forth -- a thing which her nature admits not of. Then said Salome:
As the Lord my God liveth, unless I thrust in my finger, and search the
parts, I will not believe that a virgin has brought forth.

   20. And the midwife went in, and said to Mary: Show thyself; for no
small controversy has arisen about thee. And Salome put in her finger, and
cried out, and said: Woe is me for mine iniquity and mine unbelief, because
I have tempted the living God; and, behold, my hand is dropping off as if
burned with fire. And she bent her knees before the Lord, saying: O God of
my fathers, remember that I am the seed of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob;
do not make a show of me to the sons of Israel, but restore me to the poor;
for Thou knowest, O Lord, that in Thy name I have performed my services,
and that I have received my reward at Thy hand. And, behold, an angel of
the Lord stood by her, saying to her: Salome, Salome, the Lord hath heard
thee. Put thy hand to the infant, and carry it, and thou wilt have safety
and joy. And Salome went and carried it, saying: I will worship Him,
because a great King has been born to lsrael. And, behold, Salome was
immediately cured, and she went forth out of the cave justified. And behold
a voice saying: Salome, Salome, tell not the strange things thou hast seen,
until the child has come into Jerusalem.

   21. And, behold, Joseph was ready to go into Judaea. And there was a
great commotion in Bethlehem of Judaea, for Magi came, saying: Where is he
that is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and
have come to worship him. And when Herod heard, he was much disturbed, and
sent officers to the Magi. And he sent for the priests, and examined them,
saying: How is it written about the Christ? where is He to be born? And
they said: In Bethlehem of Judaea, for so it is written. (1) And he sent
them away. And he examined the Magi, saying to them: What sign have you
seen in reference to the king that has been born? And the Magi said: We
have seen a star of great size shining among these stars, and obscuring
their light, so that the stars did not appear; and we thus knew that a king
has been born to Israel, and we have come to worship him. And Herod said:
Go and seek him; and if you find him, let me know, in order that I also may
go and worship him. And the Magi went out. And, behold, the star which they
had seen in the east went before them until they came to the cave, and it
stood over the top of the cave. And the Magi saw the infant with His mother
Mary; and they brought forth from their bag gold, and frankincense, and
myrrh. And having been warned by the angel not to go into Judaea, they went
into their own country by another road. (2)

   22. And when Herod knew that he had been mocked by the Magi, in a rage
he sent murderers, saying to them: Slay the children (3) from two years old
and under. And Mary, having heard that the children were being killed, was
afraid, and took the infant and swaddled Him, and put Him into an ox-stall.
And Elizabeth, having heard that they were searching for John, took him and
went up into the hill-country, and kept looking where to conceal him. And
there was no place of concealment. And Elizabeth, groaning with a loud
voice, says: O mountain of God, receive mother and child. And immediately
the mountain was cleft, and received her. And a light shone about them, for
an angel of the Lord was with them, watching over them.

   23. And Herod searched for John, and sent officers to Zacharias,
saying: Where hast thou hid thy son? And he, answering, said to them: I am
the servant of God in holy things, and I sit constantly in the temple of
the Lord: I do not know where my son is. And the officers went away, and
reported all these things to Herod. And Herod was enraged, and said: His
son is destined to be king over Israel. And he sent to him again, saying:
Tell the truth; where is thy son? for thou knowest that thy life is in my
hand. And Zacharias said: I am God's martyr, if thou sheddest my blood; for
the Lord will receive my spirit, because thou sheddest innocent blood at
the vestibule of the temple of the Lord. And Zacharias was murdered about
daybreak. And the sons of lsrael did not know that he had been murdered.
(4)

   24. But at the hour of the salutation the priests went away, and
Zacharias did not come forth to meet them with a blessing, according to his
custom. (5) And the priests stood waiting for Zacharias to salute him at
the prayer, (6) and to glorify the Most High. And he still delaying, they
were all afraid. But one of them ventured to go in, and he saw clotted
blood beside the altar; and he heard a voice saying: Zacharias has been
murdered, and his blood shall not be wiped up until his avenger come. And
hearing this saying, he was afraid, and went out and told it to the
priests. And they ventured in, and saw what had happened; and the fretwork
of the temple made a wailing noise, and they rent their clothes (7) from
the top even to the bottom. And they found not his body, but they found his
blood turned into stone. And they were afraid, and went out and reported to
the people that Zacharias had been murdered. And all the tribes of the
people heard, and mourned, and lamented for him three days and three
nights. And after the three days, the priests consulted as to whom they
should put in his place; and the lot fell upon Simeon. For it was he who
had been warned by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death until he
should see the Christ in the flesh. (8)

   And I James that wrote this history in Jerusalem, a commotion having
arisen when Herod died, withdrew myself to the wilderness until the
commotion in Jerusalem ceased, glorifying the Lord God, who had given me
the gift and the wisdom to write this history. (1) And grace shall be with
them that fear our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory to ages of ages.
Amen. (2)


THE GOSPEL OF PSEUDO-MATTHEW

   HERE beginneth the book of the Birth of the Blessed Mary and the
Infancy of the Saviour. Written in Hebrew by the Blessed Evangelist
Matthew, and translated into Latin by the Blessed Presbyter Jerome.

   To their well-beloved brother Jerome the Presbyter, Bishops Cromatius
and Heliodorus in the Lord, greeting.

   The birth of the Virgin Mary, and the nativity and infancy of our Lord
Jesus Christ, we find in apocryphal books. But considering that in them
many things contrary to our faith are written, we have believed that they
ought all to be rejected, lest perchance we should transfer the joy of
Christ to Antichrist. (1) While, therefore, we were considering these
things, there came holy men, Parmenius and Varinus, who said that your
Holiness had found a Hebrew volume, written by the hand of the most blessed
Evangelist Matthew, in which also the birth of the virgin mother herself,
and the infancy of our Saviour, were written. And accordingly we entreat
your affection by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, to render it from the
Hebrew into Latin, (2) not so much for the attainment of those things which
are the insignia of Christ, as for the exclusion of the craft of heretics,
who, in order to teach bad doctrine, have mingled their own lies with the
excellent nativity of Christ, that by the sweetness of life they might hide
the bitterness of death. It will therefore become your purest piety, either
to listen to us as your brethren entreating, or to let us have as bishops
exacting, the debt of affection which you may deem due.

REPLY TO THEIR LETTER BY JEROME.

   To my lords the holy and most blessed Bishops Cromatius and Heliodorus,
Jerome, a humble servant of Christ, in the Lord greeting.

   He who digs in ground where he knows that there is gold, (3) does not
instantly snatch at whatever the uptorn trench may pour forth; but, before
the stroke of the quivering spade raises aloft the glittering mass, he
meanwhile lingers over the sods to turn them over and lift them up, and
especially he who has not added to his gains. An arduous task is enjoined
upon me, since what your Blessedness has commanded me, the holy Apostle and
Evangelist Matthew himself did not write for the purpose of publishing. For
if he had not done it somewhat secretly, he would have added it also to his
Gospel which he published. But he composed this book in Hebrew; and so
little did he publish it, that at this day the book written in Hebrew by
his own hand is in the possession of very religious men, to whom in
successive periods of time it has been handed down by those that were
before them. And this book they never at any time gave to any one to
translate. And so it came to pass, that when it was published by a disciple
of Manichaeus named Leucius, who also wrote the falsely styled Acts of the
Apostles, this book afforded matter, not of edification, but of perdition;
and the opinion of the Synod in regard to it was according to its deserts,
that the ears of the Church should not be open to it. Let the snapping of
those that bark against us now cease; for we do not add this little book to
the canonical writings, but we translate what was written by an Apostle and
Evangelist, that we may disclose the falsehood of heresy. In this work,
then, we obey the commands of pious bishops as well as oppose impious
heretics. It is the love of Christ, therefore, which we fulfil, believing
that they will assist us by their prayers, who through our obedience attain
to a knowledge of the holy infancy of our Saviour.

There is extant another letter to the same bishops, attributed to Jerome: -
-

   You ask me to let you know what I think of a book held by some to be
about the nativity of St. Mary. And so I wish you to know that there is
much in it that is false. For one Seleucus, who wrote the Sufferings of the
Apostles, composed this book. But, just as he wrote what was true about
their powers, and the miracles they worked, but said a great deal that was
false about their doctrine; so here too he has invented many untruths out
of his own head. I shall take care to render it word for word, exactly as
it is in the Hebrew, since it is asserted that it was composed by the holy
Evangelist Matthew, and written in Hebrew, and set at the head of his
Gospel. Whether this be true or not, I leave to the author of the preface
and the trustworthiness of the writer: as for myself, I pronounce them
doubtful; I do not affirm that they are clearly false. But this I say
freely--and I think none of the faithful will deny it -- that, whether
these stories be true or inventions, the sacred nativity of St. Mary was
preceded by great miracles, and succeeded by the greatest; and so by those
who believe that God can do these things, they can be believed and read
without damaging their faith or imperilling their souls. In short, so far
as I can, following the sense rather than the words of the writer, and
sometimes walking in the same path, though not in the same footsteps,
sometimes digressing a little, but still keeping the same road, I shall in
this way keep by the style of the narrative, and shall say nothing that is
not either written there, or might, following the same train of thought,
have been written.

   CHAP. 1. (1) -- In those days there was a man in Jerusalem, Joachim by
name, of the tribe of Judah. He was the shepherd of his own sheep, fearing
the Lord in integrity and singleness of heart. He had no other care than
that of his herds, from the produce of which he supplied with food all that
feared God, offering double gifts in the fear of God to all who laboured in
doctrine, and who ministered unto Him. Therefore his lambs, and his sheep,
and his wool, and all things whatsoever he possessed, he used to divide
into three portions: one he gave to the orphans, the widows, the strangers,
and the poor; the second to those that worshipped God; and the third he
kept for himself and all his house. (2) And as he did so, the Lord
multiplied to him his herds, so that there was no man like him in the
people of Israel. This now he began to do when he was fifteen years old.
And at the age of twenty he took to wife Anna, the daughter of Achar, of
his own tribe, that is, of the tribe of Judah, of the family of David. And
though they had lived together for twenty years, he had by her neither sons
nor daughters. (3)

   CHAP. 2. -- And it happened that, in the time of the feast, among those
who were offering incense to the Lord, Joachim stood getting ready his
gifts in the sight of the Lord. And the priest, Ruben by name, coming to
him, said: It is not lawful for thee to stand among those who are doing
sacrifice to God, because God has not blessed thee so as to give thee seed
in lsrael. Being therefore put to shame in the sight of the people, he
retired from the temple of the Lord weeping, and did not return to his
house, but went to his flocks, taking with him his shepherds into the
mountains to a far country, so that for five months his wife Anna could
hear no tidings of him. And she prayed with tears, saying: O Lord, most
mighty God of Israel, why hast Thou, seeing that already Thou hast not
given me children, taken from me my husband also? Behold, now five months
that I have not seen my husband; and I know not where he is tarrying; (4)
nor, if I knew him to be dead, could I bury him. And while she wept
excessively, she entered into the court of His house; and she fell on her
face in prayer, and poured out her supplications before the Lord. After
this, rising from her prayer, and lifting her eyes to God, she saw a
sparrow's nest in a laurel tree, (5) and uttered her voice to the Lord with
groaning, and said: Lord God Almighty, who hast given offspring to every
creature, to beasts wild and tame, to serpents, and birds, and fishes, and
they all rejoice over their young ones, Thou hast shut out me alone from
the gift of Thy benignity. For Thou, O God, knowest my heart, that from the
beginning of my married life I have vowed that, if Thou, O God, shouldst
give me  son or daughter, I would offer them to Thee in Thy holy temple.
And while she was thus speaking, suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared
before her, saying: Be not afraid, Anna, for there is seed for thee in the
decree of God; and all generations even to the end shall wonder at that
which shall be born of thee. And when he had thus spoken, he vanished out
of her sight. But she, in fear and dread because she had seen such a sight,
and heard such words, at length went into her bed-chamber, and threw
herself on the bed as if dead. And for a whole day and night she remained
in great trembling and in prayer. And after these things she called to her
her servant, and said to her: Dost thou see me deceived in my widowhood and
in great perplexity, and hast thou been unwilling to come in to me? Then
she, with a slight murmur, thus answered and said: If God hath shut up thy
womb, and hath taken away thy husband from thee, what can I do for thee?
And when Anna heard this, she lifted up her voice, and wept aloud.

   CHAP. 3. -- At the same time there appeared a young man on the
mountains to Joachim while he was feeding his flocks, and said to him: Why
dost thou not return to thy wife? And Joachim said: I have had her for
twenty years, and it has not been the will of God to give me children by
her. I have been driven with shame and reproach from the temple of the
Lord: why should I go back to her, when I have been once cast off and
utterly despised? Here then will I remain with my sheep; and so long as in
this life God is willing to grant me light, I shall willingly, by the hands
of my servants, bestow their portions upon the poor, and the orphans, and
those that fear God. And when he had thus spoken, the young man said to
him: I am an angel of the Lord, and I have to-day appeared to thy wife when
she was weeping and praying, and have consoled her; and know that she has
conceived a daughter from thy seed, and thou in thy ignorance of this hast
left her. She will be in the temple of God, and the Holy Spirit shall abide
in her; and her blessedness shall be greater than that of all the holy
women, so that no one can say that any before her has been like her, or
that any after her in this world will be so. Therefore go down from the
mountains, and return to thy wife, whom thou wilt find with child. For God
hath raised up seed in her, and for this thou wilt give God thanks; and her
seed shall be blessed, and she herself shall be blessed, and shall be made
the mother of eternal blessing. Then Joachim adored the angel, and said to
him: If I have found favour in thy sight, sit for a little in my tent, and
bless thy servant. (1) And the angel said to him: Do not say servant, but
fellow-servant; for we are the servants of one Master. (2) But my food is
invisible, and my drink cannot be seen by a mortal. Therefore thou oughtest
not to ask me to enter thy tent; but if thou wast about to give me
anything, (3) offer it as a burnt-offering to the Lord. Then Joachim took a
lamb without spot, and said to the angel: I should not have dared to offer
a burnt-offering to the Lord, unless thy command had given me the priest's
right of offering. (4) And the angel said to him: I should not have invited
thee to offer unless I had known the will of the Lord. And when Joachim was
offering the sacrifice to God, the angel and the odour of the sacrifice
went together straight up to heaven with the smoke. (5)

   Then Joachim, throwing himself on his face, lay in prayer from the
sixth hour of the day even until evening. And his lads and hired servants
who were with him saw him, and not knowing why he was lying down, thought
that he was dead; and they came to him, and with difficulty raised him from
the ground. And when he recounted to them the vision of the angel, they
were struck with great fear and wonder, and advised him to accomplish the
vision of the angel without delay, and to go back with all haste to his
wife. And when Joachim was turning over in his mind whether he should go
back or not, it happened that he was overpowered by a deep sleep; and,
behold, the angel who had already appeared to him when awake, appeared to
him in his sleep, saying: I am the angel appointed by God as thy guardian:
go down with confidence, and return to Anna, because the deeds of mercy
which thou and thy wife Anna have done have been told in the presence of
the Most High; and to you will God give such fruit as no prophet or saint
has ever had from the beginning, or ever will have. And when Joachim awoke
out of his sleep, he called all his herdsmen to him, and told them his
dream. And they worshipped the Lord, and said to him: See that thou no
further despise the words of the angel. But rise and let us go hence, and
return at a quiet pace, feeding our flocks.

   And when, after thirty days occupied in going back, they were now near
at hand, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Anna, who was standing
and praying, and said: (6) Go to the gate which is called Golden, (7) and
meet thy husband in the way, for to-day he will come to thee. She therefore
went towards him in haste With her maidens, and, praying to the Lord, she
stood a  long time in the gate waiting for him. And when she was wearied
with long waiting, she lifted up  her eyes and saw Joachim afar off coming
with his flocks; and she ran to him and hung on his neck, giving thanks to
God, and saying: I was a widow, and behold now I am not so: I was barren,
and behold I have now conceived. And so they worshipped the Lord, and went
into their own house. And when this was heard of, there was great joy among
all their neighbours and acquaintances, so that the whole land of lsrael
congratulated them.

   CHAP. 4. --After these things, her nine months being fulfilled, Anna
brought forth a daughter, and called her Mary. And having weaned her in her
third year, Joachim, and Anna his wife, went together to the temple of the
Lord to offer sacrifices to God, and placed the infant, Mary by name, in
the community of virgins, in which the virgins remained day and night
praising God. And when she was put down before the doors of the temple, she
went up the fifteen steps (1) so swiftly, that she did not look back at
all; nor did she, as children are wont to do, seek for her parents.
Whereupon her parents, each of them anxiously seeking for the child, were
both alike astonished, until they found her in the temple, and the priests
of the temple themselves wondered.

   CHAP. 5. -- Then Anna, filled with the Holy Spirit, said before them
all: The Lord Almighty, the God of Hosts, being mindful of His word, hath
visited His people with a good and holy visitation, to bring down the
hearts of the Gentiles who were rising against us, and turn them to
Himself. He hath opened His ears to our prayers: He hath kept away from us
the exulting of all our enemies. The barren hath become a mother, and hath
brought forth exultation and gladness to lsrael. Behold the gifts which I
have brought to offer to my Lord, and mine enemies have not been able to
hinder me. For God hath turned their hearts to me, and Himself hath given
me everlasting joy.

   CHAP. 6. -- And Mary was held in admiration by all the people of
Israel; and when she was three years old, she walked with a step so mature,
she spoke so perfectly, and spent her time so assiduously in the praises of
God, that all were astonished at her, and wondered; and she was not
reckoned a young infant, but as it were a grown-up person of thirty years
old. She was so constant in prayer, and her appearance was so beautiful and
glorious, that scarcely any one could look into her face. And she occupied
herself constantly with her wool-work, so that she in her tender years
could do all that old women were not able to do. And this was the order
that she had set for herself: (2) From the morning to the third hour she
remained in prayer; from  the third to the ninth she was occupied with her
weaving; and from the ninth she again applied herself to prayer. She did
not retire from praying  until there appeared to her the angel of the Lord,
from whose hand she used to receive food; and thus she became more and more
perfect in the work of God. Then, when the older virgins rested from the
praises of God, she did not rest at all; so that in the praises and vigils
of God none were found before her, no one more learned in the wisdom of the
law of God, more lowly in humility, more elegant in singing, more perfect
in all virtue. She was indeed stedfast, immoveable, unchangeable, and daily
advancing to perfection. No one saw her angry, nor heard her speaking evil.
All her speech was so full of grace, that her God was acknowledged to be in
her tongue. She was always engaged in prayer and in searching the law, and
she was anxious lest by any word of hers she should sin with regard to her
companions. Then she was afraid lest in her laughter, or the sound of her
beautiful voice, she should commit any fault, or lest, being elated, she
should display any wrong-doing or haughtiness to one of her equals. (3) She
blessed God without intermission; and lest perchance, even in her
salutation, she might cease from praising God; if any one saluted her, she
used to answer by way of salutation: Thanks be to God. And from her the
custom first began of men saying, Thanks be to God, when they saluted each
other. She refreshed herself only with the food which she daily received
from the hand of the angel; but the food which she obtained from the
priests she divided among the poor. The angels of God were often seen
speaking with her, and they most diligently obeyed her. If any one who was
unwell touched her, the same hour he went home cured.

   CHAP. 7. -- Then Abiathar the priest offered gifts without end to the
high priests, in order that he might obtain her as wife to his son. But
Mary forbade them, saying: It cannot be that I should know a man, or that a
man should know me. For all the priests and all her relations  kept saying
to her: God is worshipped in children and adored in posterity, as has
always happened among the sons of Israel. But Mary answered and said unto
them: God is worshipped in chastity, as is proved first of all. (4) For
before Abel there was none righteous among men, and he by his offerings
pleased God, and was without mercy slain by him who displeased Him. Two
crowns, therefore, he received -- of oblation and of virginity, because in
his flesh there was no pollution. Elias also, when he was in the flesh, was
taken up in the flesh, because he kept his flesh unspotted. Now I, from my
infancy in the temple of God, have learned that virginity can be
sufficiently dear to God. And so, because I can offer what is dear to God,
I have resolved in my heart that I should not know a man at all.

   CHAP. 8. -- Now it came to pass, when she was fourteen s years old, and
on this account there was occasion for the Pharisees' saying that it was
now a custom that no woman of that age should abide in the temple of God,
they fell upon the plan of sending a herald through all the tribes of
lsrael, that on the third day all should come together into the temple of
the Lord. And when all the people had come together, Abiathar the high
priest rose, and mounted on a higher step, that he might be seen and heard
by all the people; and when great silence had been obtained, he said: Hear
me, O sons of Israel, and receive my words into your ears. Ever since this
temple was built by Solomon, there have been in it virgins, the daughters
of kings and the daughters of prophets, and of high priests and priests;
and they were great, and worthy of admiration. But when they came to the
proper age they were given in marriage, and followed the course of their
mothers before them, and were pleasing to God. But a new order of life has
been found out by Mary alone, who promises that she will remain a virgin to
God. Wherefore it seems to me, that through our inquiry and the answer of
God we should try to ascertain to whose keeping she ought to be entrusted.
Then these words found favour with all the synagogue. And the lot was east
by the priests upon the twelve tribes, and the lot fell upon the tribe of
Judah. And the priest said: To-morrow let every one who has no wife come,
and bring his rod in his hand. Whence it happened that Joseph (1) brought
his rod along with the young men. And the rods having been handed over to
the high priest, he offered a sacrifice to the Lord God, and inquired of
the Lord. And the Lord said to him: Put all their rods into the holy of
holies of God, and let them remain there, and order them to come to thee on
the morrow to get back their rods; and the man from the point of whose rod
a dove shall come forth, and fly towards heaven, and in whose hand the rod,
when given back, shall exhibit this sign, to him let Mary be delivered to
be kept.

   On the following day, then, all having assembled early, and an incense-
offering having been made, the high priest went into the holy of ho-lies,
and brought forth the rods. And when he had distributed the rods, (2) and
the dove came forth out of none of them, the high priest put on the twelve
bells (3) and the sacerdotal robe; and entering into the holy of holies, he
there made a burnt-offering, and poured forth a prayer. And the angel of
the Lord appeared to him, saying: There is here the shortest rod, of which
thou hast made no account: thou didst bring it in with the rest, but didst
not take it out with  them. When thou hast taken it out, and hast given it
him whose it is, in it will appear the sign of which I spoke to thee. Now
that was Joseph's rod; and because he was an old man, he had been cast off,
as it were, that he might not receive her, but neither did he himself wish
to ask back his rod. (4) And when he was humbly standing last of all, the
high priest cried out to him with a loud voice, saying: Come, Joseph, and
receive thy rod; for we are waiting for thee. And Joseph came up trembling,
because the high priest had called him with a very loud voice. But as soon
as he stretched forth his hand, and laid hold of his rod, immediately from
the top of it came forth a dove whiter than snow, beautiful exceedingly,
which, after long flying about the roofs of the temple, at length flew
towards the heavens. Then all the people congratulated the old man, saying:
Thou hast been made blessed in thine old age, O father Joseph, seeing that
God hath shown thee to be fit to receive Mary. And the priests having said
to him, Take her, because of all the tribe of Judah thou alone hast been
chosen by God; Joseph began bashfully to address them, saying: I am an old
man, and have children; why do you hand over to me this infant, who is
younger than my grandsons? Then Abiathar the high priest said to him:
Remember, Joseph, how Dathan and Abiron and Core perished, because they
despised the will of God. So will it happen to thee, if thou despise this
which is commanded thee by God. Joseph answered him: I indeed do not
despise the will of God; but I shall be her guardian until I can ascertain
concerning the will of God, as to which of my sons can have her as his
wife. Let some virgins of her companions, with whom she may meanwhile spend
her time, be given for a consolation to her. Abiathar the high priest
answered and said: Five virgins indeed shall be given her for consolation,
until the appointed day come in which thou mayst receive her; for to no
other can she be joined in marriage.

   Then Joseph received Mary, with the other five virgins who were to be
with her in Joseph's house. These virgins were Rebecca, Sephora, Susanna,
Abigea, and Cael; to whom the high priest gave the silk, and the blue, (5)
and the fine linen, and the scarlet, and the purple, and the fine flax. For
they cast lots among themselves what each virgin should do, and the purple
for the veil of the temple of the Lord fell to the lot of Mary. And when
she had got it, those virgins said to her: Since thou art the last, and
humble, and younger than all, thou hast deserved to receive and obtain the
purple. And thus saying,  as it were in words of annoyance, they began to
call her queen of virgins. While, however, they were so doing, the angel of
the Lord appeared in the midst of them, saying: These words shall not have
been uttered by way of annoyance, but prophesied as a prophecy most true.
They trembled, therefore, at the sight of the angel, and at his words, and
asked her to pardon them, and pray for them.

   CHAP. 9.--And on the second day, while Mary was at the fountain to fill
her pitcher, the angel of the Lord appeared to her, saying: Blessed art
thou, Mary; for in thy womb thou hast prepared an habitation for the Lord.
For, lo, the light from heaven shall come and dwell in thee, and by means
of thee will shine over the whole world.

   Again, on the third day, while she was working at the purple with her
fingers, there entered a young man of ineffable beauty. And when Mary saw
him, she exceedingly feared and trembled. And he said to her: Hail, Mary,
full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb. [1] And when she heard these words, she
trembled, and was exceedingly afraid. Then the angel of the Lord added:
Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God: Behold, thou shalt
conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a King, who fills not only the
earth, but the heaven, and who reigns from generation to generation.

   CHAP. 10.--While these things were doing, Joseph was occupied with his
work, house-building, in the districts by the sea-shore; for he was a
carpenter. And after nine months he came back to his house, and found Mary
pregnant. Wherefore, being in the utmost distress, he trembled and cried
out, saying: O Lord God, receive my spirit; for it is better for me to die
than to live any longer. And the virgins who were with Mary said to him:
Joseph, what art thou saying? We know that no man has touched her; we can
testify that she is still a virgin, and untouched. We have watched over
her; always has she continued with us in prayer; daily do the angels of God
speak with her; daily does she receive food from the hand of the Lord. We
know not how it is possible that there can be any sin in her. But if thou
wishest us to tell thee what we suspect, nobody but the angel of the Lord
[2] has made her pregnant. Then said Joseph: Why do you mislead me, to
believe that an angel of the Lord has made her pregnant? But it is possible
that some one has pretended to be an angel of the Lord, and has beguiled
her. And thus speaking, he wept, and said: With what face shall I look at
the temple of the Lord, or with what face shall I see the priests of God?
What am I to do? And thus saying, he thought that he would flee, and send
her away.

   CHAP. 11.-- And when he was thinking of rising up and hiding himself,
and dwelling in secret, behold, on that very night, the angel of the Lord
appeared to him in sleep, saying: Joseph, thou son of David, fear not;
receive Mary as thy wife: for that which is in her womb is of the Holy
Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and His name shall be called
Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. And Joseph, rising from
his sleep, gave thanks to God, and spoke to Mary and the virgins who were
with her, and told them his vision. And he was comforted about Mary,
saying: I have sinned, in that I suspected thee at all.

   CHAP. 12.--After these things there arose a great report that Mary was
with child. And Joseph was seized by the officers of the temple, and
brought along with Mary to the high priest. And he with the priests began
to reproach him, and to say: Why hast thou beguiled so great and so
glorious a virgin, who was fed like a dove in the temple by the angels of
God, who never wished either to see or to have a man, who had the most
excellent knowledge of the law of God? If thou hadst not done violence to
her, she would still have remained in her virginity. And Joseph vowed, and
swore that he had never touched her at all. And Abiathar the high priest
answered him: As the Lord liveth, I will give thee to drink of the water of
drinking of the Lord, and immediately thy sin will appear.

   Then was assembled a multitude of people which could not be numbered,
and Mary was brought to the temple. And the priests, and her relatives, and
her parents wept, and said to Mary: Confess to the priests thy sin, thou
that wast like a dove in the temple of God, and didst receive food from the
hands of an angel. And again Joseph was summoned to the altar, and the
water of drinking of the Lord was given him to drink. And when any one that
had lied drank this water, and walked seven times round the altar, God used
to show some sign in his face. When, therefore, Joseph had drunk in safety,
and had walked round the altar seven times, no sign of sin appeared in him.
Then all the priests, and the officers, and the people justified him,
saying: Blessed art thou, seeing that no charge has been found good against
thee. And they summoned Mary, and said: And what excuse canst thou have? or
what greater sign can appear in thee than the conception of thy womb, which
betrays thee? This only we require of thee, that since Joseph is pure
regarding thee, thou confess who it is that has beguiled thee. For it is
better that thy confession should betray thee, than that the wrath of God
should set a mark on thy face, and expose thee in the midst of the people.
Then Mary said, stedfastly and without trembling: O Lord God, King over
all, who knowest all secrets, if there be any pollution in me, or any sin,
or any evil desires, or unchastity, expose me in the sight of all the
people, and make me an example of punishment to all. Thus saying, she went
up to the altar of the Lord boldly, and drank the water of drinking, and
walked round the altar seven times, and no spot was found in her.

   And when all the people were in the utmost astonishment, seeing that
she was with child, and that no sign had appeared in her face, they began
to be disturbed among themselves by conflicting statements: some said that
she was holy and unspotted, others that she was wicked and defiled. Then
Mary, seeing that she was still suspected by the people, and that on that
account she did not seem to them to be wholly cleared, said in the hearing
of all, with a loud voice, As the Lord Adonai liveth, the Lord of Hosts
before whom I stand, I have not known man; but I am known by Him to whom
from my earliest years I have devoted myself. And this vow I made to my God
from my infancy, that I should remain unspotted in Him who created me, and
I trust that I shall so live to Him alone, and serve Him alone; and in Him,
as long as I shall live, will I remain unpolluted. Then they all began to
kiss her feet and to embrace her knees, asking her to pardon them for their
wicked suspicions. And she was led down to her house with exultation and
joy by the people, and the priests, and all the virgins. And they cried
out, and said: Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever, because He hath
manifested thy holiness to all His people Israel.

   CHAP. 13.--And it came to pass some little time after, that an
enrolment was made according to the edict of Caesar Augustus, that all the
world was to be enrolled, each man in his native place. This enrolment was
made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria, [1] It was necessary, therefore,
that Joseph should enrol with the blessed Mary in Bethlehem, because to it
they belonged, being of the tribe of Judah, and of the house and family of
David. When, therefore, Joseph and the blessed Mary were going along the
road which leads to Bethlehem, Mary said to Joseph: I see two peoples
before me, the one weeping, and the other rejoicing. And Joseph answered:
Sit still on thy beast, and do not speak superfluous words. Then there
appeared before them a beautiful boy, clothed in white raiment, who-said to
Joseph: Why didst thou say that the words which Mary spoke about the two
peoples were superfluous? For she saw the people of the Jews weeping,
because they have departed from their God; and the people of the Gentiles
rejoicing, because they have now been added and made near to the Lord,
according to that which He promised to our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob: for the time is at hand when in the seed of Abraham all nations
shall be blessed. [2]

   And when he had thus said, the angel ordered the beast to stand, for
the time when she should bring forth was at hand; and he commanded the
blessed Mary to come down off the animal, and go into a recess under a
cavern, in which there never was light, but always darkness, because the
light of day could not reach it. And when the blessed Mary had gone into
it, it began to shine with as much brightness as if it were the sixth hour
of the day. The light from God so shone in the cave, that neither by day
nor night was light wanting as long as the blessed Mary was there. And
there she brought forth a son, and the angels surrounded Him when He was
being born. And as soon as He was born, He stood upon His feet, and the
angels adored Him, saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace
to men of good pleasure. [3] Now, when the birth of the Lord was at hand,
Joseph had gone away to seek midwives. And when he had found them, he
returned to the cave, and found with Mary the infant which she had brought
forth. And Joseph said to the blessed Mary: I have brought thee two
midwives--Zelomi  [4] and Salome; and they are standing outside before the
entrance to the cave, not daring to come in hither, because of the
exceeding brightness. And when the blessed Mary heard this, she smiled; and
Joseph said to her: Do not smile; but prudently allow them to visit thee,
in case thou shouldst require them for thy cure. Then she ordered them to
enter. And when Zelomi had come in, Salome having stayed without, Zelomi
said to Mary: Allow me to touch thee. And when she had permitted her to
make an examination, the midwife cried out with a loud voice, and said:
Lord, Lord Almighty, mercy on us! It has never been heard or thought of,
that any one should have her breasts full of milk, and that the birth of a
son should show his mother to be a virgin. But there has been no spilling
of blood in his birth, no pain in bringing him forth. A virgin has
conceived, a virgin has brought forth, and a virgin she remains. And
hearing these words, Salome said: Allow me to handle thee, and prove
whether Zelomi have spoken the truth. And the blessed Mary allowed her to
handle her. And when she had withdrawn her hand from handling her, it dried
up, and through excess of pain she began to weep bitterly, and to be in
great distress, crying out, and saying: O Lord God, Thou knowest that I
have always feared Thee, and that without recompense I have cared for all
the poor; I have taken nothing from the widow and the orphan, and the needy
have I not sent empty away. And, behold, I am made wretched because of mine
unbelief, since without a cause I wished to try Thy virgin.

   And while she was thus speaking, there stood by her a young man in
shining garments, saying: Go to the child, and adore Him, and touch Him
with thy hand, and He will heal thee, because He is the Saviour of the
world, and of all that hope in Him. And she went to the child with haste,
and adored Him, and touched the fringe of the cloths in which He was
wrapped, and instantly her hand was cured. And going forth, she began to
cry aloud, and to tell the wonderful things which she had seen, and which
she had suffered, and how she had been cured; so that many through her
statements believed.

   And some shepherds also affirmed that they had seen angels singing a
hymn at midnight, praising and blessing the God of heaven, and saying:
There has been born the Saviour of all, who is Christ the Lord, in whom
salvation shall be brought back to Israel. [1]

   Moreover, a great star, larger than any that had been seen since the
beginning of the world, shone over the cave from the evening till the
morning. And the prophets who were in Jerusalem said that this star pointed
out the birth of Christ, who should restore the promise not only to Israel,
but to all nations.

   CHAP. 14.--And on the third day after the birth of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the most blessed Mary went forth out of the cave, and entering a
stable, placed the child in the stall, and the ox and the ass adored Him.
Then was fulfilled that which was said by Isaiah the prophet, saying: The
ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib. [2] The very animals,
therefore, the ox and the ass, having Him in their midst, incessantly
adored Him. Then was fulfilled that which was said by Abacuc the prophet,
saying: [3] Between two animals thou art made manifest. In the same place
Joseph remained with Mary three days.

   CHAP. 15.--And on the sixth day they entered Bethlehem, where they
spent the seventh day. And on the eighth day they circumcised the child,
and called His name Jesus; for so He was called by the angel before He was
conceived in the womb. [4] Now, after the days of the purifiation of Mary
were fulfilled according to the law of Moses, then Joseph took the infant
to the temple of the Lord. And when the infant had received parhithomus,
[5]--parhithomus, that is, circumcision--they offered for Him a pair of
turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. [6]

   Now there was in the temple a man of God, perfect and just, whose name
was Symeon, a hundred and twelve years old. He had received the answer from
the Lord, that he should not taste of death till he had seen Christ, the
Son of God, living in the flesh. And having seen the child, he cried out
with a loud voice, saying: God hath visited His people, and the Lord hath
fulfilled His promise. And he made haste, and adored Him. And after this he
took Him up into his cloak and kissed His feet, and said: Lord, now lettest
Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have
seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all
peoples, to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people
Israel. [7]

   There was also in the temple of the Lord, Anna, a prophetess, the
daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who had lived with her husband
seven years from her virginity; and she had now been a widow eighty-four
years. And she never left the temple of the Lord, but spent her time in
fasting and prayer. She also likewise adored the child, saying: In Him is
the redemption of the world. [8]

   CHAP. 16.--And when the second year was past, [9] Magi came from the
east to Jerusalem, bringing great gifts. And they made strict inquiry of
the Jews, saying: Where is the king who has been born to you? for we have
seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him. And word of this
came to King Herod, and so alarmed him that he called together the scribes
and the Pharisees, and the teachers of the people, asking of them where the
prophets had foretold that Christ should be born. And they said: In
Bethlehem of Judah. For it is written: And thou Bethelehem, in the land of
Judah, art by no means the least among the princes of Judah; for out of
thee shall come forth a Leader who shall rule my people Israel. [1] Then
King Herod summoned the magi to him, and strictly inquired of them when the
star appeared to them. Then, sending them to Bethlehem, he said: Go and
make strict inquiry about the child; and when ye have found him, bring me
word again, that I may come and worship him also. And while the magi were
going on their way, there appeared to them the star, which was, as it were,
a guide to them, going before them until they came to where the child was.
And when the magi saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy; and going
into the house, they saw the child Jesus sitting in His mother's lap. Then
they opened their treasures, and presented great gifts to the blessed Mary
and Joseph. And to the child Himself they offered each of them a piece of
gold. [2] And likewise one gave gold, another frankincense, and the third
myrrh. [3] And when they were going to return to King Herod, they were
warned by an angel in their sleep not to go back to Herod; and they
returned to their own country by another road. [4]

   CHAP. 17--And when Herod [5] saw that he had been made sport of by the
magi, his heart swelled with rage, and he sent through all the roads,
wishing to seize them and put them to death. But when he could not find
them at all; he sent anew to Bethlehem and all its borders, and slew all
the male children whom he found of two years old and under, according to
the time that he had ascertained from the magi. [6]

   Now the day before this was done Joseph was warned in his sleep by the
angel of the Lord, who said to him: Take Mary and the child, and go into
Egypt by the way of the desert. And joseph went according to the saying of
the angel. [7]

   CHAP. 18.--And having come to a certain cave, and wishing to rest in
it, the blessed [8] Mary dismounted from her beast, and sat down with the
child Jesus in her bosom. And there were with Joseph three boys, and with
Mary a girl, going on the journey along with them. And, lo, suddenly there
came forth from the cave many dragons; and when the children saw them, they
cried out in great terror. Then Jesus went down  from the bosom of His
mother, and stood on His feet before the dragons; and they adored Jesus,
and thereafter retired. Then was fulfilled that which was said by David the
prophet, saying: Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons; ye dragons,
and all ye deeps [9] And the young child Jesus, walking before them,
commanded them to hurt no man. But Mary and Joseph were very much afraid
lest the child should be hurt by the dragons. And Jesus said to them: Do
not be afraid, and do not consider me to be a little child; for I am and
always have been perfect; and all the beasts of the forest must needs be
tame before me.

   CHAP. 19.--Lions and panthers adored Him likewise, and accompanied them
in the desert. Wherever Joseph and the blessed Mary went, they went before
them showing them the way, and bowing their heads; and showing their
submission by wagging their tails, they adored Him with great reverence.
Now at first, when Mary saw the lions and the panthers, and various kinds
of wild beasts, coming about them, she was very much afraid. But the infant
Jesus looked into her face with a joyful countenance, and said: Be not
afraid, mother; for they come not to do thee harm, but they make haste to
serve both thee and me. With these words He drove all fear from her heart.
And the lions kept walking with them, and with the oxen, and the asses, and
the beasts of burden which carried their baggage, and did not hurt a single
one of them, though they kept beside them; but they were tame among the
sheep and the rams which they had brought with them from Judaea, and which
they had with them. They walked among wolves, and feared nothing; and no
one of them was hurt by another. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken
by the prophet: Wolves shall feed with lambs; the lion and the ox shall eat
straw together. [10] There were together two oxen drawing a waggon with
provision for the journey, and the lions directed them in their path.

   CHAP. 20.-- And it came to pass on the third day of their journey,
while they were walking, that the blessed Mary was fatigued by the
excessive heat of the sun in the desert; and seeing a palm tree, she said
to Joseph: Let me rest a little under the shade of this tree. Joseph
therefore made haste, and led her to the palm, and made her come down from
her beast. And as the blessed Mary was sitting there, she looked up to the
foliage of the palm, and saw it full of fruit, and said to Joseph: I wish
it were possible to get some of the fruit of this palm. And Joseph said to
her: I wonder that thou sayest this, when thou seest how high the palm tree
is; and that thou thinkest of eating of its fruit. I am thinking more of
the want of water, because the skins are now empty, and we have none
wherewith to refresh ourselves and our cattle. Then the child Jesus, with a
joyful countenance, reposing in the bosom of His mother, said to the palm:
O tree, bend thy branches, and refresh my mother with thy fruit. And
immediately at these words the palm bent its top down to the very feet of
the blessed Mary; and they gathered from it fruit, with which they were all
refreshed. And after they had gathered all its fruit, it remained bent
down, waiting the order to rise from Him who bad commanded it to stoop.
Then Jesus said to it: Raise thyself, O palm tree, and be strong, and be
the companion of my trees, which are in the paradise of my Father; and open
from thy roots a vein of water which has been hid in the earth, and let the
waters flow, so that we may be satisfied from thee. And it rose up
immediately, and at its root there began to come forth a spring  of water
exceedingly clear and cool and sparkling. And when they saw the spring of
water, they rejoiced with great joy, and were satisfied, themselves and all
their cattle and their beasts. Wherefore they gave thanks to God.

   CHAP. 21. -- And on the day after, when they were setting out thence,
and in the hour in which they began their journey, Jesus turned to the
palm, and said: This privilege I give thee, O palm tree, that one of thy
branches be carried away by my angels, and planted in the paradise of my
Father. And this blessing I will confer upon thee, that it shall be said of
all who conquer in any contest, You have attained the palm of victory. And
while He was thus speaking, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and
stood upon the palm tree; and taking off one of its branches, flew to
heaven with the branch in his hand. And when they saw this, they fell on
their faces, and became as it were dead. And Jesus said to them: Why are
your hearts possessed with fear? Do you not know that this palm, which I
have caused to be transferred to paradise, shall be prepared for all the
saints in the place of delights, as it has been prepared for us in this
place of the wilderness? And they were filled with joy; and being
strengthened, they all rose up.

   CHAP. 22.--After this, while they were going on their journey, Joseph
said to Jesus: Lord, it is a boiling heat; if it please Thee, let us go by
the sea-shore, that we may be able to rest in the cities on the coast.
Jesus said to him: Fear not, Joseph; I will shorten the way for you, so
that what you would have taken thirty days to go over, you shall accomplish
in this one day. And while they were thus speaking, behold, they looked
forward, and began to see the mountains and cities of Egypt.

   And rejoicing and exulting, they came into the regions of Hermopolis,
and entered into a certain city of Egypt which is called Sotinen; [1] and
because they knew no one there from whom they could ask hospitality, they
went into a temple which was called the Capitol of Egypt. And in this
temple there had been set up three hundred and fifty-five idols, [2] to
each of which on its own day divine honours and sacred rites were paid. For
the Egyptians belonging to the same city entered the Capitol, in which the
priests told them how many sacrifices were offered each day, according to
the honour in which the god was held.

   CHAP. 23.--And it came to pass, when the most blessed Mary went into
the temple with the little child, that all the idols prostrated themselves
on the ground, so that all of them were lying on their faces shattered and
broken to pieces; [3] and thus they plainly showed that they were nothing.
Then was fulfilled that which was said by the prophet Isaiah: Behold, the
Lord will come upon a swift cloud, and will enter Egypt, and all the
handiwork of the Egyptians shall be moved at His presence. [4]

   CHAP. 24.--Then Affrodosius, that governor of the city, when news of
this was brought to him, went to the temple with all his army. And the
priests of the temple, when they saw Affrodosius with all his army coming
into the temple, thought that he was making haste only to see vengeance
taken on those on whose account the gods had fallen down. But when he came
into the temple, and saw all the gods lying prostrate on their faces, he
went up to the blessed Mary, who was carrying the Lord in her bosom, and
adored Him, and said to all his army and all his friends: Unless this were
the God of our gods, our gods would not have fallen on their faces before
Him; nor would they be lying prostrate in His presence: wherefore they
silently confess that He is their Lord. Unless we, therefore, take care to
do what we have seen our gods doing, we may run the risk of His anger, and
all come to destruction, even as it happened to Pharaoh king of the
Egyptians, who, not believing in powers so mighty, was drowned in the sea,
with all his army. [5] Then all the people of that same city believed in
the Lord God through Jesus Christ.

   CHAP. 25.--After no long time the angel said to Joseph: Return to the
land of Judah, for they are dead who sought the child's life. [1]

   CHAP. 26.--And it came to pass, after Jesus had returned out of Egypt,
when He was in Galilee, and entering on the fourth year of His age, that on
a Sabbath-day He was playing with some children at the bed of the Jordan.
And as He sat there, Jesus made to Himself seven pools of clay, and to each
of them He made passages, through which at His command He brought water
from the torrent into the pool, and took it back again. Then one of those
children, a son of the devil, moved with envy, shut the passages which
supplied the pools with water, and overthrew what Jesus had built up. Then
said Jesus to him: Woe unto thee, thou son of death, thou son of Satan!
Dost thou destroy the works which I have wrought? And immediately he who
had done this died. Then with great uproar the parents of the dead boy
cried out against Mary and Joseph, saying to them: Your son has cursed our
son, and he is dead. And when Joseph and Mary heard this, they came
forthwith to Jesus, on account of the outcry of the parents of the boy, and
the gathering together of the Jews. But Joseph said privately to Mary: I
dare not speak to Him; but do thou admonish Him, and say: Why hast Thou
raised against us the hatred of the people; and why must the troublesome
hatred of men be borne by us? And His mother having come to Him, asked Him,
saying: My Lord, what was it that he did to bring about his death? And He
said: He deserved death, because he scattered the works that I had made.
Then His mother asked Him, saying: Do not so, my Lord, because all men rise
up against us. But He, not wishing to grieve His mother, with His right
foot kicked the hinder parts of the dead boy, and said to him: Rise, thou
son of iniquity  for thou art not worthy to enter into the rest of my
Father, because thou didst destroy the works which I had made. Then he who
had been dead rose up, and went away. And Jesus, by the word of His power,
brought water into the pools by the aqueduct.

   CHAP. 27.--And it came to pass, after these things, that in the sight
of all Jesus took clay froth the pools which He had made, and of it made
twelve sparrows. And it was the Sabbath when Jesus did this, and there were
very many children with Him. When, therefore, one of the Jews had seen Him
doing this, he said to Joseph: Joseph, dost thou not see the child Jesus
working on the Sabbath at what it is not  lawful for him to do? for he has
made twelve sparrows of clay. And when Joseph heard this, he reproved him,
saying: Wherefore doest thou on the Sabbath such things as are not lawful
for us to do? And when Jesus heard Joseph, He struck His hands together,
and said to His sparrows: Fly! And at the voice of His command they began
to fly. And in the sight and hearing of all that stood by, He said to the
birds: Go and fly through the earth, and through all the world, and live.
And when those that were there saw such miracles, they were filled with
great astonishment. And some praised and admired Him, but others reviled
Him. And certain of them went away to the chief priests and the heads of
the Pharisees, and reported to them that Jesus the son of Joseph had done
great signs and miracles in the sight of all the people of Israel. And this
was reported in the twelve tribes of Israel.

   CHAP. 28.--And again the son of Annas, a priest of the temple, who had
come with Joseph, holding his rod in his hand in the sight of all, with
great fury broke down the dams which Jesus had made with His own hands, and
let out the water which He had collected in them from the torrent.
Moreover, he shut the aqueduct by which the water came in, and then broke
it down. And when Jesus saw this, He said to that boy who had destroyed His
dams: O most wicked seed of iniquity! O son of death! O workshop of Satan!
verily the fruit of thy seed shall be without strength, and thy roots
without moisture, and thy branches withered, bearing no fruit. And
immediately, in the sight of all, the boy withered away, and died.

   CHAP. 29.--Then Joseph trembled, and took hold of Jesus, and went with
Him to his own house, and His mother with Him. And, behold, suddenly from
the opposite direction a boy, also a worker of iniquity, ran up and came
against the shoulder of Jesus, wishing to make sport of Him, or to hurt
Him, if he could. And Jesus said to him: Thou shall not go back safe and
sound from the way that thou goest. And immediately he fell down, and died.
And the parents of the dead boy, who had seen what happened, cried out,
saying: Where does this child come from? It is manifest that every word
that he says is true; and it is often accomplished before he speaks. And
the parents of the dead boy came to Joseph, and said to him: Take away that
Jesus from this place, for he cannot live with us in this town; or at least
teach him to bless, and not to curse. And Joseph came up to Jesus, and
admonished Him, saying: Why doest thou such things? For already many are in
grief and against thee, and hate us on thy account, and we endure the
reproaches of men because of thee. And Jesus answered and said unto Joseph:
No one is a wise son but he whom his father hath taught, according to the
knowledge of this time; and a father's curse can hurt none but evil-doers.
Then they came together against Jesus, and accused him to Joseph. When
Joseph saw this, he was in great terror, fearing the violence and uproar of
the people of Israel. And the same hour Jesus seized the dead boy by the
ear, and lifted him up from the earth in the sight of all: and they saw
Jesus speaking to him like a father to his son. And his spirit came back to
him, and he revived. And all of them wondered.

   CHAP. 30.--Now a certain Jewish schoolmaster named Zachyas[1] heard
Jesus thus speaking; and seeing that He could not be overcome, from knowing
the power that was in Him,[2] he became angry, and began rudely and
foolishly, and without fear, to speak against Joseph. And he said: Dost
thou not wish to entrust me with thy son, that he may be instructed in
human learning and in reverence? But I see that Mary and thyself have more
regard for your son than for what the elders of the people of Israel say
against him. You should have given more honour to us, the elders of the
whole church of Israel, both that he might be on terms of mutual affection
with the children, and that among us he might be instructed in Jewish
learning. Joseph, on the other hand, said to him: And is there any one who
can keep this child, and teach him? But if thou canst keep him and teach
him, we by no means hinder him from being taught by thee those things which
are learned by all. And Jesus, having heard what Zachyas had said, answered
and said unto him: The precepts of the law which thou hast just spoken of,
and all the things that thou hast named, must be kept by those who are
instructed in human learning; but I am a stranger to your law-courts,
because I have no father after the flesh. Thou who readest the law, and art
learned in it, abidest in the law; but I was before the law, But since thou
thinkest that no one is equal to thee in learning, thou shalt be taught by
me, that no other can teach anything but those things which thou hast
named. But he alone can who is worthy.[3] For when I shall be exalted on
earth, I will cause to cease all mention of your genealogy. For thou
knowest not when thou wast born: I alone know when you were born, and how
long your life on earth will be. Then all who heard these words were struck
with astonishment, and cried out: Oh! oh! oh! this marvellously great and
wonderful mystery. Never have we heard the like! Never has it been heard
from any one else, nor has it been said or at any time heard by the
prophets, or the Pharisees, or the scribes. We know whence he is sprung,
and he is scarcely five years old; and whence does he speak these words?
The Pharisees answered: We have never heard such words spoken by any other
child so young. And Jesus answered and said unto them: At this do ye
wonder, that such things are said by a child? Why, then, do ye not believe
me in those things which I have said to you? And you all wonder because I
said to you that I know when you were born. I will tell you greater things,
that you may wonder more. I have seen Abraham, whom you call your father,
and have spoken with him; and he has seen me.[4] And when they heard this
they held their tongues, nor did any of them dare to speak. And Jesus said
to them: I have been among you with children, and you have not known me; I
have spoken to you as to wise men, and you have not understood my words;
because you are younger than I am,[5] and of little faith.

   CHAP. 31--A second time the master Zachyas, doctor of the law, said to
Joseph and Mary: Give me the boy, and I shall hand him over to master Levi,
who shall teach him his letters and instruct him. Then Joseph and Mary,
soothing Jesus, took Him to the schools, that He might be taught His
letters by old Levi. And as soon as He went in He held His tongue. And the
master Levi said one letter to Jesus, and, beginning from the first letter
Aleph, said to Him: Answer. But Jesus was silent, and answered nothing.
Wherefore the preceptor Levi was angry, and seized his storax-tree rod, and
struck Him on the head. And Jesus said to the teacher Levi: Why dost thou
strike me? Thou shall know in truth, that He who is struck can teach him
who strikes Him more than He can be taught by him. For I can teach you
those very things that yon are saying. But all these are blind who speak
and hear, like sounding brass or tinkling cymbal, in which there is no
perception of those things which are meant by their sound.[6] And Jesus in
addition said to Zachyas: Every letter from Aleph even to Thet[7] is known
by its arrangement. Say thou first, therefore, what Thet is, and I will
tell thee what Aleph is. And again Jesus said to them: Those who do not
know Aleph, how can they say Thet, the hypocrites? Tell me what the first
one, Aleph, is; and I shall then believe you when you have said Beth. And
Jesus began to ask the names of the letters one by one, and said: Let the
master of the law tell us what the first letter is, or why it has many
triangles, gradate, subacute, mediate, obduced, produced, erect, prostrate,
curvistrate.[1] And when Levi heard this, he was thunderstruck at such an
arrangement of the names of the letters. Then he began in the heating of
all to cry out, and say: Ought such a one to live on the earth? Yea, he
ought to be hung on the great cross. For he can put out fire, and make
sport of other modes of punishment. I think that he lived before the flood,
and was born before the deluge. For what womb bore him? or what mother
brought him forth? or what breasts gave him suck? I flee before him; I am
not able to withstand the words from his mouth, but my heart is astounded
to hear such words. I do not think that any man can understand what he
says, except God were with him. Now I, unfortunate wretch, have given
myself up to be a laughing-stock to him. For when I thought I had a
scholar, I, not knowing him, have found my master. What shall I say? I
cannot withstand the words of this child: I shall now flee from this town,
because I cannot understand them. An old man like me has been beaten by a
boy, because I can find neither beginning nor end of what he says. For it
is no easy matter to find a beginning of himself.[2] I tell you of a
certainty, I am not lying, that to my eyes the proceedings of this boy, the
commencement of his conversation, and the upshot of his intention, seem to
have nothing in common with mortal man. Here then I do not know whether he
be a wizard or a god; or at least an angel of God speaks in him. Whence he
is, or where he comes from, or who he will turn out to be, I know not. Then
Jesus, smiling at him with a joyful countenance, said in a commanding voice
to all the sons of Israel standing by and hearing: Let the unfruitful bring
forth fruit, and the blind see, and the lame walk right, and the poor enjoy
the good things of this life, and the dead live, that each may return to
his original state, and abide in Him who is the root of life and of
perpetual sweetness. And when the child Jesus had said this, forthwith all
who had fallen under malignant diseases were restored. And they did not
dare to say anything more to Him, or to hear anything from Him.

   CHAP. 32.--After these things, Joseph and Mary departed thence with
Jesus into the city of Nazareth; and He remained there with His parents.
And on the first of the week, when Jesus was playing with the children on
the roof of a certain house, it happened that one of the children pushed
another down from the roof to the ground, and he was killed. And the
parents of the dead boy, who had not seen this, cried out against Joseph
and Mary, saying: Your son has thrown our son down to the ground, and he is
dead. But Jesus was silent, and answered them nothing. And Joseph and Mary
came in haste to Jesus.; and His mother asked Him, saying: My lord, tell me
if thou didst throw him down. And immediately Jesus went down from the roof
to the ground, and called the boy by his name, Zeno. And he answered Him:
My lord. And Jesus said to him: Was it I that threw thee down from the roof
to the ground? And he said: No, my lord. And the parents of the boy who had
been dead wondered, and honoured Jesus for the miracle that had been
wrought. And Joseph and Mary departed thence with Jesus to Jericho.

   CHAP. 33.--Now Jesus was six years old, and His mother sent Him with a
pitcher to the fountain to draw water with the children. And it came to
pass, after He had drawn the water, that one of the children came against
Him, and struck the pitcher, and broke it. But Jesus stretched out the
cloak which He had on, and took up in His cloak as much water as there had
been in the pitcher, and carried it to His mother. And when she saw it she
wondered, and reflected within herself, and laid up all these things in her
heart.[3]

   CHAP. 34.--Again, on a certain day, He went forth into the field, and
took a little wheat from His mother's barn, and sowed it Himself. And it
sprang up, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. And at last it came to
pass that He Himself reaped it, and gathered as the produce of it three
kors,[4] and gave it to His numerous acquaintances.[5]

   CHAP. 35.--There is a road going out of Jericho and leading to the
river Jordan, to the place where the children of Israel crossed: and there
the ark of the covenant is said to have rested. And Jesus was eight years
old, and He went out of Jericho, and went towards the Jordan. And there was
beside the road, near the bank of the Jordan, a cave where a lioness was
nursing her cubs; and no one was safe to walk that way. Jesus then, coming
from Jericho, and knowing that in that cave the lioness bad brought forth
her young, went into it in the sight of all. And when the lions saw Jesus,
they ran to meet Him, and adored Him. And Jesus was sitting in the cavern,
and the lion's cubs ran hither and thither round His feet, fawning upon
Him, and sporting. And the older lions, with their heads bowed down, stood
at a distance, and adored Him, and fawned upon Him with their tails. Then
the people who were standing afar off, not seeing Jesus, said: Unless he or
his parents had committed grievous sins, he would not of his own accord
have offered himself up to the lions. And when the people were thus
reflecting within themselves, and were lying under great sorrow, behold, on
a sudden, in the sight of the people, Jesus came out of the cave, and the
lions went before Him, and the lion's cubs played with each other before
His feet. And the parents of Jesus stood afar off, with their heads bowed
down, and watched; likewise also the people stood at a distance, on account
of the lions; for they did not dare to come close to them. Then Jesus began
to say to the people: How much better are the beasts than you, seeing that
they recognise their Lord, and glorify Him; while you men, who have been
made after the image and likeness of God, do not know Him! Beasts know me,
and are tame; men see me, and do not acknowledge me.

   CHAP. 36.--After these things Jesus crossed the Jordan, in the sight of
them all, with the lions; and the water of the Jordan was divided on the
right hand and on the left.[1] Then He said to the lions, in the hearing of
all: Go in peace, and hurt no one; but neither let man injure you, until
you return to the place whence you have come forth. And they, bidding Him
farewell, not only with their gestures but with their voices, went to their
own place. But Jesus returned to His mother.

   CHAP. 37.--Now Joseph[2] was a carpenter, and used to make nothing else
of wood but ox-yokes, and ploughs, and implements of husbandry, and wooden
beds. And it came to pass that a certain young man ordered him to make for
him a couch six cubits long. And Joseph commanded his servant[3] to cut the
wood with an iron saw, according to the measure which he had sent. But he
did not keep to the prescribed measure, but made one piece of wood shorter
than the other. And Joseph was in perplexity, and began to consider what he
was to do about this. And when Jesus saw him in this state of cogitation,
seeing that it was a matter of impossibility to him, He addresses him with
words of comfort, saying: Come, let us take hold of the ends of the pieces
of wood, and let us put them together, end to end, and let us fit them
exactly to each other, and draw to us, for we shall be able to make them
equal. Then Joseph did what he was bid, for he knew that He could do
whatever He wished. And Joseph took hold of the ends of the pieces of wood,
and brought them together against the wall next himself, and Jesus took
hold of the other ends of the pieces of wood, and drew the shorter piece to
Him, and made it of the same length as the longer one. And He said to
Joseph: Go and work, and do what thou hast promised to do. And Joseph did
what he had promised.[4]

   CHAP. 38.--And it came to pass a second time, that Joseph and Mary were
asked by the people that Jesus should be taught His letters in school. They
did not refuse to do so; and according to the commandment of the elders,
they took Him to a master to be instructed in human learning. Then the
master began to teach Him in an imperious tone, saying: Say Alpha.[5] And
Jesus said to him: Do thou tell me first what Betha is, and I will tell
thee what Alpha is. And upon this the master got angry and struck Jesus;
and no sooner had he struck Him, than he fell down dead.

   And Jesus went home again to His mother. And Joseph, being afraid,
called Mary to him, and said to her: Know of a surety that my soul is
sorrowful even unto death on account of this child. For it is very likely
that at some time or other some one will strike him in malice, and he will
die. But Mary answered and said: O man of God! do not believe that this is
possible. You may believe to a certainty that He who has sent him to be
born among men will Himself guard him from all mischief, and will in His
own name preserve him from evil.

   CHAP. 39.--Again the Jews asked Mary and Joseph a third time to coax
Him to go to another master to learn. And Joseph and Mary, fearing the
people, and the overbearing of the princes, and the threats of the priests,
led Him again to school, knowing that He could learn nothing from man,
because He had perfect knowledge from God only. And when Jesus had entered
the school, led by the Holy Spirit, He took the book out of the hand of the
master who was teaching the law, and in the sight and hearing of all the
people began to read, not indeed what was written in their book; but He
spoke in the Spirit of the living God, as if a stream of water were gushing
forth from a living fountain, and the fountain remained always full. And
with such power He taught the people the great things of the living God,
that the master himself fell to the ground and adored Him. And the heart of
the people who sat and heard Him saying such things was turned into
astonishment. And when Joseph heard of this, he came running to Jesus,
fearing that the master himself was dead. And when the master saw him, he
said to him: Thou hast given me not a scholar, but a master; and who can
withstand his words? Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the
Psalmist: The river of God is full of water: Thou hast prepared them corn,
for so is the provision for it.[1]

   CHAP. 40.--After these things Joseph departed thence with Mary and
Jesus to go into Capernaum by the sea-shore, on account of the malice of
his adversaries. And when Jesus was living in Capernaum, there was in the
city a man named Joseph, exceedingly rich. But he had wasted away under his
infirmity, and died, and was lying dead in his couch. And when Jesus heard
them in the city mourning, and weeping, and lamenting over the dead man, He
said to Joseph: Why dost thou not afford the benefit of thy favour to this
man, seeing that he is called by thy name? And Joseph answered him: How
have I any power or ability to afford him a benefit? And Jesus said to him:
Take the handkerchief which is upon thy head, and go and put it on the face
of the dead man, and say to him: Christ heal thee; and immediately the dead
man will be healed, and will rise from his couch. And when Joseph heard
this, he went away at the command of Jesus, and ran, and entered the house
of the dead man, and put the handkerchief which he was wearing on his head
upon the face of him who was lying in the couch, and said: Jesus heal thee.
And forthwith the dead man rose from his bed, and asked who Jesus was.[2]

   CHAP. 41.--And they went away from Capernaum into the city which is
called Bethlehem; and Joseph lived with Mary in his own house, and Jesus
with them. And on a certain day Joseph called to him his first-born son
James,[3] and sent him into the vegetable garden to gather vegetables for
the purpose of making broth. And Jesus followed His brother James into the
garden; but Joseph and Mary did not know this. And while James was
collecting the vegetables, a viper suddenly came out of a hole and struck
his hand,[4] and he began to cry out from excessive pain. And, becoming
exhausted, he said, with a bitter cry: Alas! alas! an accursed viper has
struck my hand. And Jesus, who was standing opposite to him, at the bitter
cry ran up to James, and took hold of his hand; and all that He did was to
blow on the hand of James, and cool it: and immediately James was healed,
and the serpent died. And Joseph and Mary did not know what had been done;
but at the cry of James, and the command of Jesus, they ran to the garden,
and found the serpent already dead, and James quite cured.

   CHAP. 42.--And Joseph having come to a feast with his sons, James,
Joseph, and Judah, and Simeon and his two daughters, Jesus met them, with
Mary His mother, along with her sister Mary of Cleophas, whom the Lord God
had given to her father Cleophas and her mother Anna, because they had
offered Mary the mother of Jesus to the Lord. And she was called by the
same name, Mary, for the consolation of her parents.[5] And when they had
come together, Jesus sanctified and blessed them, and He was the first to
begin to eat and drink; for none of them dared to eat or drink, or to sit
at table, or to break bread, until He had sanctified them, and first done
so. And if He happened to be absent, they used to wait until He should do
this. And when He did not wish to come for refreshment, neither Joseph nor
Mary, nor the sons of Joseph, His brothers, came. And, indeed, these
brothers, keeping His life as a lamp before their eyes, observed Him, and
feared Him. And when Jesus slept, whether by day or by night, the
brightness of God shone upon Him. To whom be all praise and glory for ever
and ever. Amen, amen.


THE GOSPEL OF THE NATIVITY OF MARY

   CHAP. 1.--The blessed and glorious ever-virgin Mary, sprung from the
royal stock and family of David, born in the city of Nazareth, was brought
up at Jerusalem in the temple of the Lord. Her father was named Joachim,
and her mother Anna. Her father's house was from Galilee and the city of
Nazareth, but her mother's family from Bethlehem. Their life was guileless
and right before the Lord, and irreproachable and pious before men. For
they divided all their substance into three parts. One part they spent upon
the temple and the temple servants; another they distributed to strangers
and the poor; the third they reserved, for themselves and the necessities
of their family. Thus, dear to God, kind to men, for about twenty years
they lived in their own house, a chaste married life, without having any
children. Nevertheless they vowed that, should the Lord happen to give them
offspring, they would deliver it to the service of the Lord; on which
account also they used to visit the temple of the Lord at each of the
feasts during the year.

   CHAP. 2.--And it came to pass that the festival of the dedication[1]
was at hand; wherefore also Joachim went up to Jerusalem with some men of
his own tribe. Now at that time Issachar[2] was high priest there. And when
he saw Joachim with his offering among his other fellow-citizens, he
despised him, and spurned his gifts, asking why he, who had no offspring,
presumed to stand among those who had; saying that his gifts could not by
any means be acceptable to God, since He had deemed him unworthy of off-
spring: for the Scripture said, Cursed is every one who has not begot a
male or a female in Israel.[3] He said, therefore, that he ought first to
be freed from this curse by the begetting of children; and then, and then
only, that be should come into the presence of the Lord with his offerings.
And Joachim, covered with shame from this reproach that was thrown in his
teeth, retired to the shepherds, who were in their pastures with their
flocks; nor would he return home, test perchance he might be branded with
the same reproach by those of his own tribe, who were there at the time,
and had heard this from the priest.

   CHAP. 3.--Now, when he had been there for some time, on a certain day
when he was alone, an angel of the Lord stood by him in a great light. And
when he was disturbed at his appearance, the angel who had appeared to him
restrained his fear, saying: Fear not, Joachim, nor be disturbed by my
appearance; for I am the angel of the Lord, sent by Him to thee to tell
thee that thy prayers have been heard, and that thy charitable deeds have
gone up into His presence.[4] For He hath seen thy shame, and hath heard
the reproach of unfruitfulness which has been unjustly brought against
thee. For God is the avenger of sin, not of nature: and, therefore, when He
shuts up the womb of any one, He does so that He may miraculously open it
again; so that that which is born may be acknowledged to be not of lust,
but of the gift of God. For was it not the case that the first mother of
your nation--Sarah--was barren up to her eightieth year?[5] And,
nevertheless, in extreme old age she brought forth Isaac, to whom the
promise was renewed of the blessing of all nations. Rachel also, so
favoured of the Lord, and so beloved by holy Jacob, was long barren; and
yet she brought forth Joseph, who was not only the lord of Egypt, but the
deliverer of many nations who were ready to perish of hunger. Who among the
judges was either stronger than Samson, or more holy than Samuel? And yet
the mothers of both were barren. If, therefore, the reasonableness of my
words does not persuade thee, believe in fact that conceptions very late in
life, and births in the case of women that have been barren, are usually
attended with something wonderful. Accordingly thy wife Anna will bring
forth a daughter to thee, and thou shall call her name Mary: she shall be,
as you have vowed, consecrated to the Lord from her infancy, and she shall
be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from her mother's womb. She shall
neither eat nor drink any unclean thing, nor shall she spend her life among
the crowds of the people without, but in the temple of the Lord, that it
may not be possible either to say, or so much as to suspect, any evil
concerning her. Therefore, when she has grown up, just as she herself shall
be miraculously born of a barren woman, so in an incomparable manner she, a
virgin, shall bring forth the Son of the Most High, who shall be called
Jesus, and who, according to the etymology of His name, shall be the
Saviour of all nations. And this shall be the sign to thee of those things
which I announce: When thou shalt come to the Golden gate in Jerusalem,
thou shalt there meet Anna thy wife, who, lately anxious from the delay of
thy return, will then rejoice at the sight of thee. Having thus spoken, the
angel departed from him.

   CHAP. 4--Thereafter he appeared to Anna his wife, saying: Fear not,
Anna, nor think that it is a phantom which thou seest. For I am that angel
who has presented your prayers and alms before God; and now have I been
sent to you to announce to you that thou shalt bring forth a daughter, who
shall be called Mary, and who shall be blessed above all women. She, full
of the favour of the Lord even from her birth, shall remain three years in
her father's house until she be weaned. Thereafter, being delivered to the
service of the Lord, she shall not depart from the temple until she reach
the years of discretion. There, in fine, serving God day and night in
fastings and prayers, she shall abstain from every unclean thing; she shall
never know man, but alone, without example, immaculate, uncorrupted,
without intercourse with man, she, a virgin, shall bring forth a son; she,
His hand-maiden, shall bring forth the Lord--both in grace, and in name,
and in work, the Saviour of the world. Wherefore arise, and go up to
Jerusalem; and when thou shalt come to the gate which, because it is plated
with gold, is called Golden, there, for a sign, thou shalt meet thy
husband, for whose safety thou hast been anxious. And when these things
shall have so happened, know that what I announce shall without doubt be
fulfilled.

   CHAP. 5.--Therefore, as the angel had commanded, both of them setting
out from the place where they were, went up to Jerusalem; and when they had
come to the place pointed out by the angel's prophecy, there they met each
other. Then, rejoicing at seeing each other, and secure in the certainty of
the promised offspring, they gave the thanks due to the Lord, who exalteth
the humble. And so, having worshipped the Lord, they returned home, and
awaited in certainty and in gladness the divine promise. Anna therefore
conceived, and brought forth a daughter; and according to the command of
the angel, her parents called her name Mary.

   CHAP. 6.--And when the circle of three years had rolled round, and the
time of her weaning was fulfilled, they brought the virgin to the temple of
the Lord with offerings. Now there were round the temple, according to the
fifteen Psalms of Degrees,[1] fifteen steps going up; for, on account of
the temple having been built on a mountain, the altar of burnt-offering,
which stood outside, could not be reached except by steps. On one of these,
then, her parents placed the little girl, the blessed virgin Mary. And when
they were putting off the clothes which they had worn on the journey, and
were putting on, as was usual, others that were neater and cleaner, the
virgin of the Lord went up all the steps, one after the other, without the
help of any one leading her or lifting her, in such a manner that, in this
respect at least, you would think that she had already attained full age.
For already the Lord in the infancy of His virgin wrought a great thing,
and by the indication of this miracle foreshowed how great she was to be.
Therefore, a sacrifice having been offered according to the custom of the
law, and their vow being perfected, they left the virgin within the
enclosures of the temple, there to be educated with the other virgins, and
themselves returned home.

   CHAP. 7.--But the virgin of the Lord advanced in age and in virtues;
and though, in the words of the Psalmist, her father and mother had
forsaken her, the Lord took her up.[2] For daily was she visited by angels,
daily did she enjoy a divine vision, which preserved her from all evil, and
made her to abound in all good. And so she reached her fourteenth year; and
not only were the wicked unable to charge her with anything worthy of
reproach, but all the good, who knew her life and conversation, judged her
to be worthy of admiration. Then the high priest publicly announced that
the virgins who were publicly settled in the temple, and had reached this
time of life, should return home and get married, according to the custom
of the nation and the ripeness of their years. The others readily obeyed
this command; but Mary alone, the virgin of the Lord, answered that she
could not do this, saying both that her parents had devoted her to the
service of the Lord, and that, moreover, she herself had made to the Lord a
vow of virginity, which she would never violate by any intercourse with
man. And the high priest, being placed in great perplexity of mind, seeing
that neither did he think that the vow should be broken contrary to the
Scripture, which says, Vow and pay,[1] nor did he dare to introduce a
custom unknown to the nation, gave order that at the festival, which was at
hand, all the chief persons from Jerusalem and the neighbourhood should be
present, in order that from their advice he might know what was to be done
in so doubtful a case. And when this took place, they resolved unanimously
that the Lord should be consulted upon this matter. And when they all bowed
themselves in prayer, the high priest went to consult God in the usual way.
Nor had they long to wait: in the hearing of all a voice issued from the
oracle and from the mercy-seat, that, according to the prophecy of Isaiah,
a man should be sought out to whom the virgin ought to be entrusted and
espoused. For it is clear that Isaiah says: A rod shall come forth from the
root of Jesse, and a flower shall ascend from his root; and the Spirit of
the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the
spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of wisdom and piety; and he
shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord.[2] According to
this prophecy, therefore, he predicted that all of the house and family of
David that were unmarried and fit for marriage should bring there rods to
the altar; and that he whose rod after it was brought should produce a
flower, and upon the end of whose rod the Spirit of the Lord should settle
in the form of a dove, was the man to whom the virgin ought to be entrusted
and espoused.

   CHAP. 8.--Now there was among the rest Joseph, of the house and family
of David, a man of great age: and when all brought there rods, according to
the order, he alone withheld his. Wherefore, when nothing in conformity
with the divine voice appeared, the high priest thought it necessary to
consult God a second time; and He answered, that of those who had been
designated, he alone to whom the virgin ought to be espoused had not
brought his rod. Joseph, therefore, was found out. For when he had brought
his rod, and the dove came from heaven; and settled upon the top of it, it
clearly appeared to all that he was the man to whom the virgin should be
espoused. Therefore, the usual ceremonies of betrothal having been gone
through, he went back to the city of Bethlehem to put his house in order,
and to procure things necessary for the marriage. But Mary, the virgin of
the Lord, with seven other virgins of her own age, and who had been weaned
at the same time, whom she had received from the priest, returned to the
house of her parents in Galilee.

   CHAP. 9.--And in those days, that is, at the time of her first coming
into Galilee, the angel Gabriel was sent to her by God, to announce to her
the conception of the Lord, and to explain to her the manner and order of
the conception. Accordingly, going in, he filled the chamber where she was
with a great light; and most courteously saluting her, he said: Hail, Mary!
O virgin highly favoured by the Lord, virgin full of grace, the Lord is
with thee; blessed art thou above all women, blessed above all men that
have been hitherto born.[3] And the virgin, who was already well acquainted
with angelic faces, and was not unused to the light from heaven, was
neither terrified by the vision of the angel, nor astonished at the
greatness of the light, but only perplexed by his words; and she began to
consider of what nature a salutation so unusual could be, or what it could
portend, or what end it could have. And the angel, divinely inspired,
taking up this thought, says: Fear not, Mary, as if anything contrary to
thy chastity were hid under this salutation. For in choosing chastity, thou
hast found favour with the Lord; and therefore thou, a virgin, shalt
conceive without sin, and shalt bring forth a son. He shall be great,
because He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends
of the earth;[4] and He shall be called the Son of the Most High, because
He who is born on earth in humiliation, reigns in heaven in exaltation; and
the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He shall
reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no
end;[5] forasmuch as He is King of kings and Lord of lords,[6] and His
throne is from everlasting to everlasting. The virgin did not doubt these
words of the angel; but wishing to know the manner of it, she answered: How
can that come to pass? For while, according to my vow, I never know man,
how can I bring forth without the addition of man's seed? To this the angel
says: Think not, Mary, that thou shalt conceive in the manner of mankind:
for without any intercourse with man, thou, a virgin, wilt conceive; thou,
a virgin, wilt bring forth; thou, a virgin, wilt nurse: for the Holy Spirit
shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow
thee,[7] without any of the heats of lust; and therefore that which shall
be born of thee shall alone be holy, because it alone, being conceived and
born without sin, shall be called the Son of God. Then Mary stretched forth
her hands, and raised her eyes to heaven, and said: Behold the hand-maiden
of the Lord, for I am not worthy of the name of lady; let it be to me
according to thy word.

   It will be long, and perhaps to some even tedious, if we insert in this
little work every thing which we read of as having preceded or followed the
Lord's nativity: wherefore, omitting those things which have been more
fully written in the Gospel, let us come to those which are held to be less
worthy of being narrated.

   CHAP. 10.--Joseph therefore came from Judaea into Galilee, intending to
marry the virgin who had been betrothed to him; for already three months
had elapsed, and it was the beginning of the fourth since she had been
betrothed to him. In the meantime, it was evident from her shape that she
was pregnant, nor could she conceal this from Joseph. For in consequence of
his being betrothed to her, coming to her more freely and speaking to her
more familiarly, he found out that she was with child. He began then to be
in great doubt and perplexity, because he did not know what was best for
him to do. For, being a just man, he was not willing to expose her; nor,
being a pious man, to injure her fair fame by a suspicion of fornication.
He came to the conclusion, therefore, privately to dissolve their contract,
and to send her away secretly. And while he thought on these things,
behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph,
thou son of David, fear not; that is, do not have any suspicion of
fornication in the virgin, or think any evil of her; and fear not to take
her as thy wife: for that which is begotten in her, and which now vexes thy
soul, is the work not of man, but of the Holy Spirit. For she alone of all
virgins shall bring forth the Son of God, and thou shalt call His name
Jesus, that is, Saviour; for He shall save His people from their sins.
Therefore Joseph, according to the command of the angel, took the virgin as
his wife; nevertheless he knew her not, but took care of her, and kept her
in chastity.[1] And now the ninth month from her conception was at hand,
when Joseph, taking with him his wife along with what things he needed,
went to Bethlehem, the city from which he came. And it came to pass, while
they were there, that her days were fulfilled that she should bring forth;
and she brought forth her first-born son, as the holy evangelists have
shown, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Son[2] and the
Holy Ghost lives and reigns God from everlasting to everlasting.


THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH THE CARPENTER

   IN the name of God, of one essence and three persons.

   The History of the death of our father, the holy old man, Joseph the
carpenter.

   May his blessings and prayers preserve us all, O brethren! Amen.

   His whole life was one hundred and eleven years, and his departure from
this world happened on the twenty-sixth of the month Abib, which answers to
the month Ab. May his prayer preserve us! Amen. And, indeed, it was our
Lord Jesus Christ Himself who related this history to His holy disciples on
the Mount of Olives, and all Joseph's labour, and the end of his days. And
the holy apostles have preserved this conversation, and have left it
written down in the library at Jerusalem. May their prayers preserve us!
Amen.[1]

   1. It happened one day, when the Saviour, our Master, God, and Saviour
Jesus Christ, was sitting along with His disciples, and they were all
assembled on the Mount of Olives, that He said to them: O my brethren and
friends, sons of the Father who has chosen you from all men, you know that
I have often told you that I must be crucified, and must die for the
salvation of Adam and his posterity, and that I shall rise from the dead.
Now I shall commit to you the doctrine of the holy gospel formerly
announced to you, that you may declare it. throughout the whole world. And
I shall endow you with power from on high, and fill you with the Holy
Spirit.[2] And you shall declare to all nations repentance and remission of
sins.[3] For a single cup of water,[4] if a man shall find it in the world
to come, is greater and better than all the wealth of this whole world. And
as much ground as one foot can occupy in the house of my Father, is greater
and more excellent than all the riches of the earth. Yea, a single hour in
the joyful dwelling of the pious is more blessed and more precious than a
thousand years among sinners:[5] inasmuch as their weeping and lamentation
shall not come to an end, and their tears shall not cease, nor shall they
find for themselves consolation and repose at any time for ever. And now, O
my honoured members, go declare to all nations, tell them, and say to them:
Verily the Saviour diligently inquires into the inheritance which is due,
and is the administrator of justice. And the angels will cast down their
enemies, and will fight for them in the day of conflict. And He will
examine every single foolish and idle word which men speak, and they shall
give an account of it.[6] For as no one shall escape death, so also the
works of every man shall be laid open on the day of judgment, whether they
have been good or evil.[7] Tell them also this word which I have said to
you to-day: Let not the strong man glory in his strength, nor the rich man
in his riches; but let him who wishes to glory, glory in the Lord.[8]

   2. There was a man whose name was Joseph, sprung from a family of
Bethlehem, a town of Judah, and the city of King David. This same man,
being well furnished with wisdom and learning, was made a priest in the
temple of the Lord. He was, besides. skilful in his trade, which was that
of a carpenter; and after the manner of all men, he married a wife.
Moreover, he begot for himself sons and daughters, four sons, namely, and
two daughters. Now these are their names--Judas, Justus, James, and Simon.
The names of the two daughters were Assia and Lydia. At length the wife of
righteous Joseph, a woman intent on the divine glory in all her works,
departed this life. But Joseph, that righteous man, my father after the
flesh, and the spouse of my mother Mary, went away with his sons to his
trade, practising the art of a carpenter.

   3. Now when righteous Joseph became a widower, my mother Mary, blessed,
holy, and pure, was already twelve years old. For her parents offered her
in the temple when she was three years of age, and she remained in the
temple of the Lord nine years. Then when the priests saw that the virgin,
holy and God-fearing, was growing up, they spoke to each other, saying: Let
us search out a man, righteous and pious, to whom Mary may be entrusted
until the time of her marriage; lest, if she remain in the temple, it
happen to her as is wont to happen to women, and lest on that account we
sin, and God be angry with us.

   4. Therefore they immediately sent out, and assembled twelve old men of
the tribe of Judah. And they wrote down the names of the twelve tribes of
Israel. And the lot fell upon the pious old man, righteous Joseph. Then the
priests answered, and said to my blessed mother: Go with Joseph, and be
with him till the time of your marriage. Righteous Joseph therefore
received my mother, and led her away to his own house. And Mary found James
the Less in his father's house, broken-hearted and sad on account of the
loss of his mother, and she brought him up. Hence Mary was called the
mother of James.[1] Thereafter Joseph left her at home, and went away to
the shop where he wrought at his trade of a carpenter. And after the holy
virgin had spent two years in his house her age was exactly fourteen years,
including the time at which he received her.

   5. And I chose her of my own will, with the concurrence of my Father,
and the counsel of the Holy Spirit. And I was made flesh of her, by a
mystery which transcends the grasp of created reason. And three months
after her conception the righteous man Joseph returned from the place where
he worked at his trade; and when he found my virgin mother pregnant, he was
greatly perplexed, and thought of sending her away secretly.[2] But from
fear, and sorrow, and the anguish of his heart, he could endure neither to
eat nor drink that day.

   6. But at mid-day there appeared to him in a dream the prince of the
angels, the holy Gabriel, furnished with a command from my Father; and he
said to him: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary as thy wife: for
she has conceived of the Holy Spirit; and she will bring forth a son, whose
name shall be called Jesus. He it is who shall rule all nations with a rod
of iron.[3] Having thus spoken, the angel departed from him. And Joseph
rose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord had said to him; and
Mary abode with him.[4]

   7. Some time after that, there came forth an order from Augustus Caesar
the king, that all the habitable world should be enrolled, each man in his
own city. The old man therefore, righteous Joseph, rose up and took the
virgin Mary and came to Bethlehem, because the time of her bringing forth
was at hand. Joseph then inscribed his name in the list; for Joseph the son
of David, whose spouse Mary was, was of the tribe of Judah. And indeed
Mary, my mother, brought me forth in Bethlehem, in a cave near the tomb of
Rachel the wife of the patriarch Jacob, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

   8. But Satan went and told this to Herod the Great, the father of
Archelaus. And it was this same Herod[5] who ordered my friend and relative
John to be beheaded. Accordingly he searched for me diligently, thinking
that my kingdom was to be of this world.[6] But Joseph, that pious old man,
was warned of this by a dream. Therefore he rose and took Mary my mother,
and I lay in her bosom. Salome[7] also was their fellow-traveller. Having
therefore set out from home, he retired into Egypt, and remained there the
space of one whole year, until the hatred of Herod passed away.

   9. Now Herod died by the worst form of death, atoning for the shedding
of the blood of the children whom he wickedly cut off, though there was no
sin in them. And that impious tyrant Herod being dead, they returned into
the land of Israel, and lived in a city of Galilee which is called
Nazareth. And Joseph, going back to his trade of a carpenter, earned his
living by the work of his hands; for, as the law of Moses had commanded, he
never sought to live for nothing by another's labour.[8]

   10. At length, by increasing years, the old man arrived at a very
advanced age. He did not, however, labour under any bodily weakness, nor
had his sight failed, nor had any tooth perished from his mouth. In mind
also, for the whole time of his life, he never wandered; but like a boy he
always in his business displayed youthful vigour, and his limbs remained
unimpaired, and free from all pain. His life, then, in all, amounted to one
hundred and eleven years, his old age being prolonged to the utmost limit.

   11. Now Justus and Simeon, the eider sons of Joseph, were married, and
had families of their own. Both the daughters were likewise married, and
lived in their own houses. So there remained in Joseph's house, Judas and
James the Less, and my virgin mother. I moreover dwelt along with them, not
otherwise than if I had been one of his sons. But I passed all my life
without fault. Mary I called my mother, and Joseph father, and I obeyed
them in all that they said; nor did I ever contend against them, but
complied with their commands, as other men whom earth produces are wont to
do; nor did I at any time arouse their anger, or give any word or answer in
opposition to them. On the contrary, I cherished them with great love, like
the pupil of my eye.

   12. It came to pass, after these things, that the death of that old
man, the pious Joseph, and his departure from this world, were approaching,
as happens to other men who owe their origin to this earth. And as his body
was verging on dissolution, an angel of the Lord informed him that his
death was now close at hand. Therefore fear and great perplexity came upon
him. So he rose up and went to Jerusalem; and going into the temple of the
Lord, he poured out his prayers there before the sanctuary, and said:

   13. O God! author of all consolation, God of all compassion, and Lord
of the whole human race; God of my soul, body, and spirit; with
supplications I reverence thee, O Lord and my God. If now my days are
ended, and the time draws near when I must leave this world, send me, I
beseech Thee, the great Michael, the prince of Thy holy angels: let him
remain with me, that my wretched soul may depart from this afflicted body
without trouble, without terror and impatience. For great fear and intense
sadness take hold of all bodies on the day of their death, whether it be
man or woman, beast wild or tame, or whatever creeps on the ground or flies
in the air. At the last all creatures under heaven in whom is the breath of
life are struck with horror, and their souls depart from their bodies with
strong fear and great depression. Now therefore, O Lord and my God, let Thy
holy angel be present with his help to my soul and body, until they shall
be dissevered from each other. And let not the face of the angel, appointed
my guardian from the day of my birth,[1] be turned away from me; but may he
be the companion of my journey even until he bring me to Thee: let his
countenance be pleasant and gladsome to me, and let him accompany me in
peace. And let not demons of frightful aspect come near me in the way in
which I am to go, until I come to Thee in bliss. And let not the
doorkeepers hinder my soul from entering paradise. And do not uncover my
sins, and expose me to condemnation before Thy terrible tribunal. Let not
the lions rush in upon me; nor let the waves of the sea of fire overwhelm
my soul--for this must every soul pass through[2]--before I have seen the
glory of Thy Godhead. O God, most righteous Judge, who in justice and
equity wilt judge mankind, and wilt render unto each one according to his
works, O Lord and my God, I beseech Thee, be present to me in Thy
compassion, and enlighten my path that I may come to Thee; for Thou art a
fountain overflowing with all good things, and with glory for evermore.
Amen.

   14. It came to pass thereafter, when he returned to his own house in
the city of Nazareth, that he was seized by disease, and had to keep his
bed. And it was at this time that he died, according to the destiny of all
mankind. For this disease was very heavy upon him, and he had never been
ill, as he now was, from the day of his birth. And thus assuredly it
pleased Christ[3] to order the destiny of righteous Joseph. He lived forty
years unmarried; thereafter his wife remained under his care forty-nine
years, and then died. And a year after her death, my mother, the blessed
Mary, was entrusted to him by the priests, that he should keep her until
the time of her marriage. She spent two years in his house; and in the
third year of her stay with Joseph, in the fifteenth year of her age, she
brought me forth on earth by a mystery which no creature can penetrate or
understand, except myself, and my Father and the Holy Spirit, constituting
one essence with myself.[4]

   15. The whole age of my father, therefore, that righteous old man, was
one hundred and eleven years, my Father in heaven having so decreed. And
the day on which his soul left his body was the twenty-sixth of the month
Abib. For now the fine gold began to lose its splendour, and the silver to
be worn down by use--I mean his understanding and his wisdom. He also
loathed food and drink, and lost all his skill in his trade of carpentry,
nor did he any more pay attention to it. It came to pass, then, in the
early dawn of the twenty-sixth day of Abib, that Joseph, that righteous old
man, lying in his bed, was giving up his unquiet soul. Wherefore he opened
his mouth with many sighs, and struck his hands one against the other, and
with a loud voice cried out, and spoke after the following manner:--

   16. Woe to the day on which I was born into the world! Woe to the womb
which bare me! Woe to the bowels which admitted me! Woe to the breasts
which suckled me! Woe to the feet upon which I sat and rested! Woe to the
hands which carried me and reared me until I grew up!(1) For I was
conceived in iniquity, and in sins did my mother desire me.(2) Woe to my
tongue and my lips, which have brought forth and spoken vanity, detraction,
falsehood, ignorance, derision, idle tales, craft, and hypocrisy! Woe to
mine eyes, which have looked upon scandalous things! Woe to mine ears,
which have delighted in the words of slanderers! Woe to my hands, which
have seized what did not of right belong to them! Woe to my belly and my
bowels, which have lusted after food unlawful to be eaten! Woe to my
throat, which like a fire has consumed all that it found! Woe to my feet,
which have too often walked in ways displeasing to God! Woe to my body; and
woe to my miserable soul, which has already turned aside from God its
Maker! What shall I do when I arrive at that place where I must stand
before the most righteous Judge, and when He shall call me to account for
the works which I have heaped up in my youth? Woe to every man dying in his
sins! Assuredly that same dreadful hour, which came upon my father
Jacob,(3) when his soul was flying forth from his body, is now, behold,
near at hand for me. Oh! how wretched I am this day, and worthy of
lamentation! But God alone is the disposer of my soul and body; He also
will deal with them after His own good pleasure.

   17. These are the words spoken by Joseph, that righteous old man. And
I, going in beside him, found his soul exceedingly troubled, for he was
placed in great perplexity. And I said to him: Hail! my father Joseph, thou
righteous man; how is it with thee? And he answered me: All hail! my well-
beloved son. Indeed, the agony and fear of death have already environed me;
but as soon as I heard Thy voice, my soul was at rest. O Jesus of Nazareth!
Jesus, my Saviour! Jesus, the deliverer of my soul! Jesus, my protector!
Jesus! O sweetest name in my mouth, and in the mouth of all those that love
it! O eye which seest, and ear which hearest, hear me! I am Thy servant;
this day I most humbly reverence Thee, and before Thy face I pour out my
tears. Thou art altogether my God; Thou art my Lord, as the angel has told
me times without number, and especially on that day when my soul was driven
about with perverse thoughts about the pure and blessed Mary, who was
carrying Thee in her womb, and whom I was thinking of secretly sending
away. And while I was thus meditating, behold, there appeared to me in my
rest angels of the Lord, saying to me in a wonderful mystery: O Joseph,
thou son of David, fear not to take Mary as thy wife; and do not grieve thy
soul, nor speak unbecoming words of her conception, because she is with
child of the Holy Spirit, and shall bring forth a son, whose name shall be
called Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. Do not for this
cause wish me evil, O Lord! for I was ignorant of the mystery of Thy birth.
I call to mind also, my Lord, that day when the boy died of the bite of the
serpent. And his relations wished to deliver Thee to Herod, saying that
Thou hadst killed him; but Thou didst raise him from the dead, and restore
him to them. Then I went up to Thee, and took hold of Thy hand, saying: My
son, take care of thyself. But Thou didst say to me in reply: Art thou not
my father after the flesh? I shall teach thee who I am.(4) Now therefore, O
Lord and my God, do not be angry with me, or condemn me on account of that
hour. I am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaiden;(5) but Thou art my
Lord, my God and Saviour, most surely the Son of God.

   18. When my father Joseph had thus spoken, he was unable to weep more.
And I saw that death now had dominion over him. And my mother, virgin
undefiled, rose and came to me, saying: O my beloved son, this pious old
man Joseph is now dying. And I answered: Oh my dearest mother, assuredly
upon all creatures produced in this world the same necessity of death lies;
for death holds sway over the whole human race. Even thou, O my virgin
mother, must look for the same end of life as other mortals. And yet thy
death, as also the death of this pious man, is not death, but life enduring
to eternity. Nay more, even I must die, as concerns the body which I have
received from thee. But rise, O my venerable mother, and go in to Joseph,
that blessed old man, in order that thou mayst see what will happen as his
soul ascends from his body.

   19. My undefiled mother Mary, therefore, went and entered the place
where Joseph was. And I was sitting at his feet looking at him, for the
signs of death already appeared in his countenance. And that blessed old
man raised his head, and kept his eyes fixed on my face; but he had no
power of speaking to me, on account of the agonies of death, which held him
in their grasp. But he kept fetching many sighs. And I held his hands for a
whole hour; and he turned his face to me, and made signs for me not to
leave him. Thereafter I put my hand upon his breast, and perceived his soul
now near his throat, preparing to depart from its receptacle.

   20. And when my virgin mother saw me touching his body, she also
touched his feet. And finding them already dead and destitute of heat, she
said to me: O my beloved son, assuredly his feet are already beginning to
stiffen, and they are as cold as snow. Accordingly she summoned his sons
and daughters, and said to them: Come, as many as there are of you, and go
to your father; for assuredly he is now at the very point of death. And
Assia, his daughter, answered and said: Woe's me, O my brothers, this is
certainly the same disease that my beloved mother died of. And she lamented
and shed tears; and all Joseph's other children mourned along with her. I
also, and my mother Mary, wept along with them.(1)

   21. And turning my eyes towards the region of the south, I saw Death
already approaching, and all Gehenna with him, closely attended by his army
and his satellites; and their clothes, their faces, and their mouths poured
forth flames. And when my father Joseph saw them coming straight to him,
his eyes dissolved in tears, and at the same time he groaned after a
strange manner. Accordingly, when I saw the vehemence of his sighs, I drove
back Death and all the host of servants which accompanied him. And I called
upon my good Father, saying:--

   22. O Father of all mercy, eye which seest, and ear which hearest,
hearken to my prayers and supplications in behalf of the old man Joseph;
and send Michael, the prince of Thine angels, and Gabriel, the herald of
light, and all the light of Thine angels, and let their whole array walk
with the soul of my father Joseph, until they shall have conducted it to
Thee. This is the hour in which my father has need of compassion. And I say
unto you, that all the saints, yea, as many men as are born in the world,
whether they be just or whether they be perverse, must of necessity taste
of death.

   23. Therefore Michael and Gabriel came to the soul of my father Joseph,
and took it, and wrapped it in a shining wrapper. Thus he committed his
spirit into the hands of my good Father, and He bestowed upon him peace.
But as yet none of his children knew that he had fallen asleep. And the
angels preserved his soul from the demons of darkness which were in the
way, and praised God even until they conducted it into the dwelling-place
of the pious.

   24. Now his body was lying prostrate and bloodless; wherefore I reached
forth my hand, and put right his eyes and shut his mouth, and said to the
virgin Mary: O my mother, where is the skill which he showed in all the
time that he lived in this world? Lo! it has perished, as if it had never
existed. And when his children heard me speaking with my mother, the pure
virgin, they knew that he had already breathed his last, and they shed
tears, and lamented. But I said to them: Assuredly the death of your father
is not death, but life everlasting: for he has been freed from the troubles
of this life, and has passed to perpetual and everlasting rest. When they
heard these words, they rent their clothes, and wept.

   25. And, indeed, the inhabitants of Nazareth and of Galilee, having
heard of their lamentation, flocked to them, and wept from the third hour
even to the ninth. And at the ninth hour they all went together to Joseph's
bed. And they lifted his body, after they had anointed it with costly
unguents. But I entreated my Father in  the prayer of the celestials--that
same prayer which with any own hand I made before I was carried in the womb
of the virgin Mary, my mother. And as soon as I had finished it, and
pronounced the amen, a great multitude of angels came up; and I ordered two
of them to stretch out their shining garments, and to wrap in them the body
of Joseph, the blessed old man.

   26. And I spoke to Joseph, and said: The smell or corruption of death
shall not have dominion over thee, nor shall a worm ever come forth from
thy body. Not a single limb of it shall be broken, nor shall any hair on
thy head be changed. Nothing of thy body shall perish, O my father Joseph,
but it will remain entire and uncorrupted even until the banquet of the
thousand years.(2) And whosoever shall make an offering on the day of thy
remembrance, him will I bless and recompense in the congregation of the
virgins; and whosoever shall give food to the wretched, the poor, the
widows, and orphans from the work of his hands, on the day on which thy
memory shall be celebrated, and in thy name, shall not be in want of good
things all the days of his life. And whosoever shall have given a cup of
water, or of wine, to drink to the widow or orphan in thy name, I will give
him to thee, that thou mayst go in with him to the banquet of the thousand
years. And every man who shall present an offering on the day of thy
commemoration will I bless and recompense in the church of the virgins: for
one I will render unto him thirty, sixty, and a hundred. And whosover shall
write the history of thy life, of thy labour, and thy departure from this
world, and this narrative that has issued from my mouth, him shall I commit
to thy keeping as long as he shall have to do with this life. And when his
soul departs from the body, and when he must leave this world, I will bum
the book of his sins, nor will I torment him with any punishment in the day
of judgment; but he shall cross the sea of flames, and shall go through it
without trouble or pain.(1) And upon every poor man who can give none of
those things which I have mentioned this is incumbent: viz., if a son is
born to him, he shall call his name Joseph. So there shall not take place
in that house either poverty or any sudden death for ever.

   27. Thereafter the chief men of the city came together to the place
where the body of the blessed old man Joseph had been laid, bringing with
them burial-clothes; and they wished to wrap it up in them after the manner
in which the Jews are wont to arrange their dead bodies. And they perceived
that he kept his shroud fast; for it adhered to the body in such a way,
that when they wished to take it off, it was found to be like iron--
impossible to be moved or loosened. Nor could they find any ends in that
piece of linen, which struck them with the greatest astonishment. At length
they carried him out to a place where there was a cave, and opened the
gate, that they might bury his body beside the bodies of his fathers. Then
there came into my mind the day on which he walked with me into Egypt, and
that extreme trouble which he endured on my account. Accordingly,  I
bewailed his death for a long time; and lying upon his body, I said:--

   28. O Death! who makest all knowledge to vanish away, and raisest so
many tears and lamentations, surely it is God my Father Himself who hath
granted thee this power. For men die for the transgression of Adam and his
wife Eve, and Death spares not so much as one. Nevertheless, nothing
happens to any one, or is brought upon him, without the command of my
Father. There have certainly been men who have prolonged their life even to
nine hundred years; but they died. Yea, though some of them have lived
longer, they have, notwithstanding, succumbed to the same fate; nor has any
one of them ever said: I have not tasted death. For the Lord never sends
the same punishment more than once, since it hath pleased my Father to
bring it upon men. And at the very moment when it, going forth, beholds the
command descending to it from heaven, it says: I will go forth against that
man, and will greatly move him. Then, without delay, it makes an onset on
the soul, and  obtains the mastery of it, doing with it whatever it will.
For, because Adam did not the will of my Father, but transgressed His
commandment, the wrath of my Father was kindled against him, and He doomed
him to death; and thus it was that death came into the world. But if Adam
had observed my Father's precepts, death would never have fallen to his
lot. Think you that I can ask my good Father to send me a chariot of
fire,(2) which may take up the body of my father Joseph, and convey it to
the place of rest, in order that it may dwell with the spirits? But on
account of the transgression of Adam, that trouble and violence of death
has descended upon all the human race. And it is for this cause that I must
die according to the flesh, for my work which I have created, that they may
obtain grace.

   29. Having thus spoken, I embraced the body of my father Joseph, and
wept over it; and they opened the door of the tomb, and placed his body in
it, near the body of his father Jacob. And at the time when he fell asleep
he had fulfilled a hundred and eleven years. Never did a tooth in his mouth
hurt him, nor was his eyesight rendered less sharp, nor his body bent, nor
his strength impaired; but he worked at his trade of a carpenter to the
very last day of his life; and that was the six-and-twentieth of the month
Abib.

   30. And we apostles, when we heard these things from our Saviour, rose
up joyfully, and prostrated ourselves in honour of Him, and said: O our
Saviour, show us Thy grace. Now  indeed we have heard the word of life:
nevertheless we wonder, O our Saviour, at the fate of Enoch and Elias,
inasmuch as they had not to undergo death. For truly they dwell in the
habitation of the righteous even to the present day, nor have their bodies
seen corruption. Yet that old man Joseph the carpenter was, nevertheless,
Thy father after the flesh. And Thou hast ordered us to go into all the
world and preach the holy Gospel; and Thou hast said: Relate to them the
death of my father Joseph, and celebrate to him with annual solemnity a
festival and sacred day. And whosoever shall take anything away from this
narrative, or add anything to it, commits sin.(3) We wonder especially that
Joseph, even from that day on which Thou wast born in Bethlehem, called
Thee his son after the flesh. Wherefore, then, didst Thou not make him
immortal as well as them, and Thou sayest that he was righteous and chosen?

   31. And our Saviour answered and said: Indeed, the prophecy of my
Father upon Adam, for his disobedience, has now been fulfilled. And all
things are arranged according to the will and pleasure of my Father. For if
a man rejects the commandment of God, and follows the works of the devil by
committing sin, his life is prolonged; for be is preserved in order that he
may perhaps repent, and reflect that he must be delivered into the hands of
death. But if any one has been zealous of good works, his life also is
prolonged, that, as the fame of his old age increases, upright men may
imitate him. But when you see a man whose mind is prone to anger, assuredly
his days are shortened; for it is these that are taken away in the flower
of their age. Every prophecy, therefore, which my Father has pronounced
concerning the sons of men, must be fulfilled in every particular. But with
reference to Enoch and Elias, and how they remain alive to this day,
keeping the same bodies with which they were born; and as to what concerns
my father Joseph, who has not been allowed as well as they to remain in the
body: indeed, though a man live in the world many myriads of years,
nevertheless at some time or other he is compelled to exchange life for
death. And I say to you, O my brethren, that they also, Enoch and Elias,(1)
must towards the end of time return into the world and die--in the day,
namely, of commotion, of terror, of perplexity, and affliction. For
Antichrist will slay four bodies, and will pour out their blood like water,
because of the reproach to which they shall expose him, and the ignominy
with which they, in their lifetime, shall brand him when they reveal his
impiety.

   32. And we said: O our Lord, our God and Saviour, who are those four
whom Thou hast said Antichrist will cut off from the reproach they bring
upon him? The Lord answered: They are Enoch, Elias, Schila, and Tabitha.(2)
When we heard this from our Saviour, we rejoiced and exulted; and we
offered all glory and thanksgiving to the Lord God, and our Saviour Jesus
Christ. He it is to whom is due glory, honour, dignity, dominion, power,
and praise, as well as to the good Father with Him, and to the Holy Spirit
that giveth life, henceforth and in all time for evermore. Amen.


THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS

FIRST GREEK FORM.

 THOMAS THE ISRAELITE PHILOSOPHER'S ACCOUNT OF THE INFANCY OF THE LORD.

   1. I THOMAS, an Israelite, write you this account, that all the
brethren from among the heathen may know the miracles of our Lord Jesus
Christ in His infancy, which He did after His birth in our country. The
beginning of it is as follows:--

   2. This child Jesus, when five years old, was playing in the ford of a
mountain stream; and He collected the flowing waters into pools, and made
them clear immediately, and by a word alone He made them obey Him. And
having made some soft clay, He fashioned out of it twelve sparrows. And it
was the Sabbath when He did these things. And there were also many other
children playing with Him. And a certain Jew, seeing what Jesus was doing,
playing on the Sabbath, went off immediately, and said to his father
Joseph: Behold, thy son is at the stream, and has taken clay, and made of
it twelve birds, and has profaned the Sabbath. And Joseph, coming to the
place and seeing, cried out to Him, saying: Wherefore doest thou on the
Sabbath what it is not lawful to do? And Jesus clapped His hands, and cried
out to the sparrows, and said to them: Off you go! And the sparrows flew,
and went off crying. And the Jews seeing this were amazed, and went away
and reported to their chief men what they had seen Jesus doing.(1)

   3. And the son of Annas the scribe was standing there with Joseph; and
he took a willow branch, and let out the waters which Jesus had collected.
And Jesus, seeing what was done, was angry, and said to him: O wicked,
impious, and foolish! what harm did the pools and the waters do to thee?
Behold, even now thou shalt be dried up like a tree, and thou shalt not
bring forth either leaves, or root,(2) or fruit. And  straightway that boy
was quite dried up. And Jesus departed, and went to Joseph's house. But the
parents of the boy that had been dried up took him up, bewailing his youth,
and brought him to Joseph, and reproached him because, said they, thou hast
such a child doing such things.(3)

   4. After that He was again passing through the village; and a boy ran
up against Him, and struck His shoulder. And Jesus was angry, and said to
him: Thou shalt not go back the way thou camest. And immediately he fell
down dead. And some who saw what had taken place, said: Whence was this
child begotten, that every word of his is certainly accomplished? And the
parents of the dead boy went away to Joseph, and blamed him, saying: Since
thou hast such a child, it is impossible for thee to live with us in the
village; or else teach him to bless, and not to curse:(4) for he is killing
our children.

   5. And Joseph called the child apart, and admonished Him, saying: Why
doest thou such things, and these people suffer, and hate us, and persecute
us? And Jesus said: I know that these words of thine are not thine own;(5)
nevertheless for thy sake I will be silent; but they shall bear their
punishment. And straightway those that accused Him were struck blind. And
those who saw it were much afraid and in great perplexity, and said about
Him: Every word which he spoke, whether good or bad, was an act, and became
a wonder. And when they saw that Jesus had done such a thing, Joseph rose
and took hold of His ear, and pulled it hard. And the child was very angry,
and said to him: It is enough for thee to seek, and not to find; and most
certainly thou hast not done wisely. Knowest thou not that I am thine? Do
not trouble me.(6)

   6. And a certain teacher, Zacchaeus by name, was standing in a certain
place, and heard Jesus thus speaking to his father; and he wondered
exceedingly, that, being a child, he should speak in such a way. And a few
days thereafter he came to Joseph, and said to him: Thou hast a sensible
child, and he has some mind. Give him to me, then, that he may learn
letters; and I shall teach him along with the letters all knowledge, both
how to address all the elders, and to honour them as forefathers and
fathers, and how to love those of his own age. And He said to him all the
letters from the Alpha even to the Omega, clearly and with great exactness.
And He looked upon the teacher Zacchaeus, and said to him: Thou who art
ignorant of the nature of the Alpha, how canst thou teach others the Beta?
Thou hypocrite! first, if thou knowest. teach the A, and then we shall
believe thee about the B. Then He began to question the teacher about the
first letter, and he was not able to answer Him. And in the hearing of
many, the child says to Zacchaeus: Hear, O teacher, the order of the first
letter, and notice here how it has lines, and a middle stroke crossing
those which thou seest common; (lines) brought together; the highest part
supporting them, and again bringing them under one head; with three points
of intersection; of the same kind; principal and subordinate; of equal
length. Thou hast the lines of the A.(1)

   7. And when the teacher Zacchaeus heard the child speaking such and so
great allegories of the first letter, he was at a great loss about such a
narrative, and about His teaching. And He said to those that were present:
Alas! I, wretch that I am, am at a loss, bringing shame upon myself by
having dragged this child hither. Take him away, then, I beseech thee,
brother Joseph. I cannot endure the sternness of his look; I cannot make
out his meaning at all. That child does not belong to this earth; he can
tame even fire. Assuredly he was born before the creation of the world.
What sort of a belly bore him, what sort of a womb nourished him, I do not
know. Alas! my friend, he has carried me away; I cannot get at his meaning:
thrice wretched that I am, I have deceived myself. I made a struggle to
have a scholar, and I was found to have a teacher. My mind is filled with
shame, my friends, because I, an old man, have  been conquered by a child.
There is nothing for me but despondency and death on account of this boy,
for I am not able at this hour to look him in the face; and when everybody
says that I have been beaten by a little child, what can I say? And how can
I give an account of the lines of the first letter that he spoke about? I
know not, O my friends; for I can make neither beginning nor end of him.
Therefore, I beseech thee, brother Joseph, take him home. What great thing
he is, either god or angel, or what I am to say, I know not.(2)

   8. And when the Jews were encouraging Zacchaeus, the child laughed
aloud, and said: Now let thy learning bring forth fruit, and let the blind
in heart see. I am here from above, that I may curse them, and call them to
the things that are above, as He that sent me on your account has commanded
me. And when the child ceased speaking, immediately all were made whole who
had fallen under His curse. And no one after that dared to make Him angry,
lest He should curse him, and he should be maimed.

   9. And some days after, Jesus was playing in an upper room of a certain
house, and one of the children that were playing with Him fell down from
the house, and was killed. And, when the other children saw this, they ran
away, and Jesus alone stood still. And the parents of the dead child
coming, reproached(3) ... and they threatened Him. And Jesus leaped down
from the roof, and stood beside the body of the child, and cried with a
loud voice, and said: Zeno--for that was his name--stand up, and tell me;
did I throw thee down?  And he stood up immediately, and said: Certainly
not, my lord; thou didst not throw me down, but hast raised me up. And
those that saw this were struck with astonishment. And the child's parents
glorified God on account of the miracle that had happened, and adored
Jesus.(4)

   10. A few days after, a young man was splitting wood in the corner,(5)
and the axe came down and cut the sole of his foot in two, and he died from
loss of blood. And there was a great commotion, and people ran together,
and the child Jesus ran there too. And He pressed through the crowd, and
laid hold of the young man's wounded foot, and he was cured immediately.
And He said to the young man: Rise up now, split the wood, and remember me.
And the crowd seeing what had happened, adored the child, saying: Truly the
Spirit of God dwells in this child.

   11. And when He was six years old, His mother gave Him a pitcher, and
sent Him to draw water, and bring it into the house. But He struck against
some one in the crowd, and the pitcher was broken. And Jesus unfolded the
cloak which He had on, and filled it with water, and carried it to His
mother. And His mother, seeing the miracle that had happened, kissed Him,
and kept within herself the mysteries which she had seen Him doing.(1)

   12. And again in seed-time the child went out with His father to sow
corn in their land. And while His father was sowing, the child Jesus also
sowed one gain of corn. And when He had reaped it, and threshed it, He made
a hundred kors;(2) and calling all the poor of the village to the
threshing-floor, He gave them the corn, and Joseph took away what was left
of the corn. And He was eight years old when He did this miracle.(3)

   13. And His father was a carpenter, and at that time made ploughs and
yokes. And a certain rich man ordered him to make him a couch. And one of
what is called the cross pieces being too short, they did not know what to
do. The child Jesus said to His father Joseph: Put down the two pieces of
wood, and make them even in the middle. And Joseph did as the child said to
him. And Jesus stood at the other end, and took hold of the shorter piece
of wood, and stretched it, and made it equal to the other. And His father
Joseph saw it, and wondered, and embraced the child, and blessed Him,
saying: Blessed am I, because God has given me this child.(4)

   14. And Joseph, seeing that the child was vigorous in mind and body,
again resolved that He should not remain ignorant of the letters, and took
Him away, and handed Him over to another teacher. And the teacher said to
Joseph: I shall first teach him the Greek letters, and then the Hebrew. For
the teacher was aware of the trial that had been made of the child, and was
afraid of Him. Nevertheless he wrote out the alphabet, and gave Him all his
attention for a long time, and He made him no answer. And Jesus said to
him: If thou art really a teacher, and art well acquainted with the
letters, tell me  the power of the Alpha, and I will tell thee the power of
the Beta. And the teacher was enraged at this, and struck Him on the head.
And the child, being in pain, cursed him; and immediately he swooned away,
and fell to the ground on his face. And the child returned to Joseph's
house; and Joseph was grieved, and gave orders to His mother, saying: Do
not let him go outside of the door, because those that make him angry
die.(5)

   15. And after some time, another master again, a genuine friend of
Joseph, said to him: Bring the child to my school; perhaps I shall be able
to flatter him into learning his letters. And Joseph said: If thou hast the
courage, brother, take him with thee. And he took Him with him in fear and
great agony; but the child went along pleasantly. And going boldly into the
school, He found a book lying on the reading-desk; and taking it, He read
not the letters that were in it, but opening His mouth, He spoke by the
Holy Spirit, and taught the law to those that were standing round. And a
great crowd having come together, stood by and heard Him, and wondered at
the ripeness of His teaching, and the readiness of His words, and that He,
child as He was, spoke in such a way. And Joseph hearing of it, was afraid,
and ran to the school, in doubt test this master too should be without
experience.(6) And the master said to Joseph: Know, brother, that I have
taken the child as a scholar, and he is full of much grace and wisdom; but
I beseech thee, brother, take  him home. And when the child heard this, He
laughed at him directly, and said: Since thou hast spoken aright, and
witnessed aright, for thy sake he also that was struck down shall be cured.
And immediately the other master was cured. And Joseph took the child, and
went away home.(7)

   16. And Joseph sent his son James to tie up  wood and bring it home,
and the child Jesus also followed him. And when James was gathering the
fagots, a viper bit James' hand. And when he was racked with pain, and at
the point of death, Jesus came near and blew upon the bite; and the pain
ceased directly, and the beast burst, and instantly James remained safe and
sound.(8)

   17. And after this the infant of one of Joseph's neighbours fell sick
and died, and its mother  wept sore. And Jesus heard that there was great
lamentation and commotion, and ran in haste, and found the child dead, and
touched his breast, and said: I say to thee, child, be not dead, but live,
and be with thy mother. And directly it looked up and laughed. And He said
to the woman: Take it, and give it milk, and remember me. And seeing this,
the crowd that was standing by wondered, and said: Truly this child was
either God or an angel of God, for every word of his is a certain fact. And
Jesus went out thence, playing with the other children.(9)

   18. And some time after there occurred a great commotion while a house
was building, and Jesus stood up and went away to the place. And seeing a
man lying dead, He took him by the hand, and said: Man, I say to thee,
arise, and go on with thy work. And directly he rose up, and adored Him.
And seeing this, the crowd wondered, and said: This child is from heaven,
for he has saved many souls from death, and he continues to save during all
his life.

   19. And when He was twelve years old His parents went as usual to
Jerusalem to the feast of the passover with their fellow-travellers. And
after the passover they were coming home again. And while they were coming
home, the child Jesus went back to Jerusalem. And His parents thought that
He was in the company. And having gone one day's journey, they sought for
Him among their relations; and not finding Him, they were in great grief,
and turned back to the city seeking for Him. And after the third day they
found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing
the law and asking them questions. And they were all attending to Him, and
wondering that He, being a child, was shutting the mouths of the elders and
teachers of the people, explaining the main points of the law and the
parables of the prophets. And His mother Mary coming up, said to Him: Why
hast thou done this to us, child? Behold, we have been seeking for thee in
great trouble. And Jesus said to them: Why do you seek me? Do you not know
that I must be about my Father's business?(1) And the scribes and the
Pharisees said: Art thou the mother of this child? And she said: I am. And
they said to her: Blessed art thou among women, for God hath blessed the
fruit of thy womb; for such glory, and such virtue and wisdom, we have
neither seen nor heard ever. And Jesus rose up, and followed His mother,
and was subject to His parents. And His mother observed all these things
that had happened. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and stature, and
grace.(2)To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

SECOND GREEK FORM

THE WRITING OF THE HOLY APOSTLE THOMAS CONCERNING THE CHILDHOOD OF THE
LORD.

   1. I THOMAS the Israelite have deemed it necessary to make known to all
the brethren of the heathen the great things which our Lord Jesus Christ
did in His childhood, when He dwelt in the body in the city of Nazareth,
going in the fifth year of His age.

   2. On one of the days, there being a rainstorm, He went out of the
house where His mother was, and played on the ground where the waters were
flowing. And He made pools, and brought in the waters, and the pools were
filled with water. Then He says: It is my will that you become clear and
excellent waters. And they became so directly. And a certain boy, the son
of Annas the scribe, came past, and with a willow branch which he was
carrying threw down the pools, and the water flowed out. And Jesus turning,
said to him: O impious and wicked, how have the pools wronged thee, that
thou hast emptied them? Thou shall not go on thy way, and thou shalt be
dried up like the branch which thou art carrying. And as he went along, in
a short time he fell down and died. And when the children that were playing
with him saw this, they wondered, and went away and told the father of the
dead boy. And he ran and found his child dead, and he went away and
reproached Joseph.

   3. And Jesus made of that clay twelve sparrows, and it was the Sabbath.
And a child ran and told Joseph, saying: Behold, thy child is playing about
the stream, and of the clay he has made sparrows, which is not lawful. And
when he heard this, he went, and said to the child: Why dost thou do this,
profaning the Sabbath? But Jesus gave him no answer, but looked upon the
sparrows, and said: Go away, fly, and live, and remember me. And at this
word they flew, and went up into the air. And when Joseph saw it, he
wondered.

   4. And some days after, when Jesus was going through the midst of the
city, a boy threw a stone at Him, and struck Him on the shoulder. And Jesus
said to him: Thou shalt not go on thy way. And directly failing down, he
also died. And they that happened to be there were struck with
astonishment, saying: Whence is this child, that every word he says is
certainly accomplished? And they also went and reproached Joseph, saying:
It is impossible for  thee to live with us in this city: but if thou
wishest to do so, teach thy child to bless, and not to curse: for he is
killing our children, and everything that he says is certainly
accomplished.

   5. And Joseph was sitting in his seat, and the child stood before him;
and he took hold of Him by the ear, and pinched it hard. And Jesus looked
at him steadily, and said: It is enough for thee.

   6. And on the day after he took Him by the hand, and led Him to a
certain teacher, Zacchaeus by name, and says to him: O master, take this
child, and teach him his letters. And he says: Hand him over to me,
brother, and I shall teach him the Scripture; and I shall persuade him to
bless all, and not to curse. And Jesus hearing, laughed, and said to them:
You say what you know; but I know more than you, for I am before the ages.
And I know when your fathers' fathers were born; and I know how many are
the years of your life. And hearing this, they were struck with
astonishment. And again Jesus said to them: You wonder because I said to
you that I knew how many are the years of your life. Assuredly I know when
the world was created. Behold, you do not believe me now. When you see my
cross, then will ye believe that I speak the truth. And they were struck
with astonishment when they heard these things.

   7. And Zacchaeus, having written the alphabet in Hebrew, says to Him:
Alpha. And the child says: Alpha. And again the teacher: Alpha; and the
child likewise. Then again the teacher says the Alpha for the third time.
Then Jesus, looking in the master's face, says: How canst thou, not knowing
the Alpha, teach another the Beta? And the child, beginning from the Alpha,
said by Himself the twenty-two letters. Then also He says again: Hear, O
teacher, the order of the first letter, and know how many entrances and
lines it has, and strokes common, crossing and coming together.(1) And when
Zacchaeus heard such an account of the one letter, he was so struck with
astonishment, that he could make no answer. And he turned and said to
Joseph: This child assuredly, brother, does not belong to the earth. Take
him, then, away from me.

   8. And after these things, on one of the days Jesus was playing with
other children on the roof of a house. And one boy was pushed by another,
and hurled down upon the ground, and he died. And seeing this, the boys
that were playing with him ran away; and Jesus only was left standing upon
the roof from which the boy had been hurled down. And when the news was
brought to the parents of the dead boy, they ran weeping; and finding their
boy lying dead upon the ground, and Jesus standing above, they supposed
that their boy had been thrown down by Him; and fixing their eyes upon Him,
they reviled Him. And seeing this, Jesus directly came down from the roof,
and stood at the head of the dead body, and says to him: Zeno, did I throw
thee down? Stand up, and tell us. For this was the name of the boy. And at
the word the boy stood up and adored Jesus, and said: My lord, thou didst
not throw me down, but thou hast brought me to life when I was dead.

   9. And a few days after, one of the neighbours, when splitting wood,
cut away the lower part of his foot with the axe, and was on the point of
death from loss of blood. And a great number of people ran together, and
Jesus came with them to the place. And He took hold of the young man's
wounded foot, and cured him directly, and says to him: Rise up, split thy
wood. And he rose up and adored Him, giving thanks, and  splitting the
wood. Likewise also all that were there wondered, and gave thanks to Him.

   10. And when He was six years old, Mary His mother sent Him to bring
water from the fountain. And as He went along, the pitcher was broken. And
going to the fountain He unfolded His overcoat, and drew water from the
fountain, and filled it, and took the water to His mother. And seeing this,
she was struck with astonishment, and embraced Him, and kissed Him.

   11. And when Jesus had come to the eighth  year of His age, Joseph was
ordered by a certain rich man to make him a couch. For he was a carpenter.
And he went out into the field to get wood; and Jesus went with him. And
having cut two pieces of wood, and smoothed them with the axe, he put the
one beside the other; and in measuring he found it too short. And when he
saw this he was grieved, and sought to find another piece. And seeing this,
Jesus says to him: Put these two pieces together, so as to make both ends
even. And Joseph, in doubt as to what the child should mean, did as he was
told. And He says to him again: Take a firm hold of the short piece. And
Joseph, in astonishment, took hold of it. Then Jesus also, taking hold of
the other end, drew it towards Himself, and make it equal to the other
piece of wood. And He says to Joseph: Grieve no more, but do thy work
without hindrance. And seeing this, he wondered greatly, and says to
himself: Blessed am I, because God has given me such a boy. And when they
came back to the city, Joseph gave an account of the matter to Mary. And
when she heard and saw the strange miracles of her son, she rejoiced and
glorified Him, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and for
evermore. Amen.

LATIN FORM

HERE BEGINNETH THE TREATISE OF THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS ACCORDING TO THOMAS.

CHAP. I.--HOW MARY AND JOSEPH FLED WITH HIM INTO EGYPT.

   WHEN a commotion took place in consequence of the search made by Herod
for our Lord Jesus Christ to kill Him, then an angel said to Joseph: Take
Mary and her boy, and flee into Egypt from the face of those who seek to
kill Him. And Jesus was two years old when He went into Egypt.

   And as He was walking through a field of corn, He stretched forth His
hand, and took of the ears, and put them over the fire, and rubbed them,
and began to eat.

   And when they had come into Egypt, they received hospitality in the
house of a certain widow, and they remained in the same place one year.

   And Jesus was in His third year. And seeing boys playing, He began to
play with them. And He took a dried fish, and put it into a basin, and
ordered it to move about. And it began to move about. And He said again to
the fish: Throw out thy salt which thou hast, and walk into the water. And
it so came to pass. And the neighbours, seeing what had been done, told it
to the widow woman in whose house Mary His mother lived. And as soon as she
heard it, she thrust them out of her house with great haste.

CHAP. II.--HOW A SCHOOLMASTER THRUST HIM OUT OF THE CITY.

   And as Jesus was walking with Mary His mother through the middle of the
city market-place, He looked and saw a schoolmaster teaching his scholars.
And behold twelve sparrows that were quarrelling fell over the wall into
the bosom of that schoolmaster, who was teaching the boys. And seeing this,
Jesus was very much amused, and stood still. And when that teacher, saw Him
making merry, he said to his scholars with great fury: Go and bring him to
me. And when they had carried Him to the master, he seized Him by the ear,
and said: What didst thou see, to amuse thee so much? And He said to him:
Master, see my hand full of wheat. I showed it to them, and scattered the
wheat among them, and they carry it out of the middle of the street where
they are in danger; and on this account they fought among themselves to
divide the wheat. And Jesus did not pass from the place until it was
accomplished. And this being done, the master began to thrust Him out of
the city, along with His mother.

CHAP. III.--HOW JESUS WENT OUT OF EGYPT.

   And, lo, the angel of the Lord met Mary, and said to her: Take up the
boy, and return into the land of the Jews, for they who sought His life are
dead. And Mary rose up with Jesus; and they proceeded into the city of
Nazareth, which is among the possessions of her father. And when Joseph
went out of Egypt after the death of Herod, he kept Him in the desert until
there should be quietness in Jerusalem on the part of those who were
seeking the boy's life. And he gave thanks to God because He had given him
understanding, and because he had found favour in the presence of the Lord
God. Amen.

CHAP. IV.--WHAT THE LORD JESUS DID IN THE CITY OF NAZARETH.

   It is glorious that Thomas the Israelite and apostle of the Lord gives
an account also of the works of Jesus after He came out of Egypt into
Nazareth. Understand all of you, my dearest brethren, what the Lord Jesus
did when He was in the city of Nazareth; the first chapter of which is as
follows:--

   And when Jesus was five years old, there fell a great rain upon the
earth, and the boy Jesus walked up and down through it. And there was a
terrible rain, and He collected it into a fish-pond, and ordered it by His
word to become clear. And immediately it became so. Again He took of the
clay which was of that fish-pond, and made of it to the number of twelve
sparrows. And it was the Sabbath when Jesus did this among the boys of the
Jews. And the boys of the Jews went away, and said to Joseph His father:
Behold, thy son was playing along with us, and he took clay and made
sparrows, which it was not lawful to do on the Sabbath; and he has broken
it. And Joseph went away to the boy Jesus, and said to Him: Why hast thou
done this, which it was not lawful to do on the Sabbath? And Jesus opened
His hands, and ordered the sparrows, saying: Go up into the air, and fly;
nobody shall kill you. And they flew, and began to cry out, and praise God
Almighty. And the Jews seeing what had happened, wondered, and went away
and told the miracles which Jesus had done. But a Pharisee who was with
Jesus took an olive branch, and began to let the water out of the fountain
which Jesus had made. And when Jesus saw this, He said to him in a rage:
Thou impious and ignorant Sodomite, what harm have my works the fountains
of water done thee? Behold, thou shalt become like a dry tree, having
neither roots, nor leaves, nor fruit. And immediately he dried up, and fell
to the ground, and died. And his parents took him away dead, and reproached
Joseph, saying: See what thy son has done; teach him to pray, and not to
blaspheme.

CHAP. V.--HOW THE CITIZENS WERE ENRAGED AGAINST JOSEPH ON ACCOUNT OF THE
DOINGS OF JESUS.

   And a few days after, as Jesus was walking through the town with
Joseph, one of the children ran up and struck Jesus on the arm. And Jesus
said to him: So shalt thou not finish thy journey. And immediately he fell
to the ground, and died. And those who saw these wonderful things cried
out, saying: Whence is that boy? And they said to Joseph: It is not right
for such a boy to be among us. And Joseph went and brought Him.  And they
said to him: Go away from this place; but if thou must live with us, teach
him to; pray, and not to blaspheme: hut our children have been killed.
Joseph called Jesus, and reproved Him, saying: Why dost thou blaspheme? For
these people who live here hate us And Jesus said: I know that these words
are not mine, but thine; but I will hold my tongue for thy sake: and let
them see to it in their wisdom. And immediately those who were speaking
against Jesus became blind. And they walked up and down, and said: All the
words which proceed from his mouth are accomplished. And Joseph seeing what
Jesus bad done, in a fury seized Him by the ear; and Jesus said to Joseph
in anger: It is enough for thee to see me, not to touch me. For thou
knowest not who I am; but if thou didst know, thou wouldst not make me
angry. And although just now I am with thee, I was made before thee.

CHAP. VI.--HOW JESUS WAS TREATED BY THE SCHOOLMASTER.

   Therefore a certain man named Zacheus(1) listened to all that Jesus was
saying to Joseph, and in great astonishment said to himself: Such a boy
speaking in this way I have never seen. And he went up to Joseph, and said:
That is an intelligent boy of thine; hand him over to me to learn his
letters; and when he has thoroughly learned his letters, I shall teach him
honourably, so that he may be no fool. But Joseph answered and said to him:
No one can teach him but God alone. You do not believe that that little boy
will be of little consequence? And when Jesus heard Joseph speaking in this
way, He said to Zacheus: Indeed, master, whatever proceeds from my mouth is
true. And before all I was Lord, but you are foreigners. To me has been
given the glory of the ages, to you has been given nothing; because I am
before the ages. And I know how many years of life thou wilt have, and that
thou wilt be carried into exile: and my Father hath appointed this, that
thou mayest understand that whatever proceeds from my mouth is true. And
the Jews who were standing by, and hearing the words which Jesus spoke,
were astonished, and said: We have seen such wonderful things, and heard
such words from that boy, as we have never heard, nor are likely  to hear
from any other human being,--either from the high priests, or the masters,
or the Pharisees. Jesus answered and said to them: Why do you wonder? Do
you consider it incredible that I have spoken the truth? I know when both
you and your fathers were born, and to tell you more, when the world was
made: I know also who sent me to you.(2) And when the Jews heard the words
which the child had spoken, they wondered, because that they were not able
to answer. And, communing with Himself, the child exulted and said: I have
told you a proverb; and I know that you are weak and ignorant.

   And that schoolmaster said to Joseph: Bring him to me, and I shall
teach him letters. And Joseph took hold of the boy Jesus, and led Him to
the house of a certain schoolmaster, where other boys were being taught.
Now the master in soothing words began to teach Him His letters, and wrote
for Him the first line, which is from A to T,(3) and began to stroke Him
and  teach Him. And that teacher struck the child on the head: and when He
had received the blow, the child said to him: I should teach thee, and not
thou me; I know the letters which thou wishest to teach me, and I know that
you are to me like vessels from which there come forth only sounds, and no
wisdom. And, beginning the line, He said the letters from A to T in full,
and very fist. And He looked at the master, and said to  him: Thou indeed
canst not tell us what A and B are; how dost thou wish to teach others? O
hypocrite, if thou knowest and will tell me about the A, then will I tell
thee about the B. And when that teacher began to tell(4) about the first
letter, he was unable to give any answer. And Jesus said to Zacheus: Listen
to me, master; understand the first letter. See how it has two lines;
advancing in the middle, standing still, giving, scattering, varying,
threatening; triple intermingled with double; at the same time homogeneous,
having all common.(1)

   And Zacheus, seeing that He so divided the first letter, was stupefied
about the first letter, and about such a human being and such learning; and
he cried out, and said: Woe's me, for I am quite stupefied; I have brought
disgrace upon myself through, that child. And he said to Joseph: I
earnestly entreat thee, brother, take him away from me, because I cannot
look upon his face, nor hear his mighty words. Because that child can tame
fire and bridle the sea: for he was born before the ages. What womb brought
him forth, or what mother(2) nursed him, I know not. Oh, my friends, I am
driven out of my senses; I have become a wretched laughing-stock. And I
said that I had got a scholar; but he has been found to be my master. And
my disgrace I cannot get over, because I am an old man; and what to say to
him I cannot find. All I have to do is to fall into some grievous illness,
and depart from this world; or to leave this town, because all have seen my
disgrace. An infant has deceived me. What answer can I give to others, or
what words can I say, because he has got the better of me in the first
letter? I am struck dumb, O my friends and acquaintances; neither beginning
nor end can I find of an answer to him. And now I beseech thee, brother
Joseph, take him away from me, and lead him home, because he is a master,
or the Lord, or an angel. What to say I do not know. And Jesus turned to
the Jews who were with Zacheus, and said to them: Let all not seeing see,
and not understanding understand; let the deaf hear, and let those who are
dead through me rise again; and those who are exalted, let me call to still
higher things, as He who sent me to you hath commanded me. And when Jesus
ceased speaking, all who had been affected with any infirmity through His
words were made whole. And they did not dare to speak to Him.

CHAP. VII.--HOW JESUS RAISED A BOY TO LIFE.

   One day, when Jesus was climbing on a certain house, along with the
children, He began to play with them. And one of the boys fell down through
a back-door, and died immediately: And when the children saw this, they all
ran away; but Jesus remained in the house.(3) And when the parents of the
boy who had died had come, they spoke against Jesus: Surely it was thou who
made him fall down; and they reviled Him. And Jesus, coming down from the
house. stood over the dead child, and with a loud voice called out the name
of the child: Sinoo, Sinoo, rise and say whether it was I that made thee
fall down. And suddenly he rose up, and said: No, my lord. And his parents,
seeing such a great miracle done by Jesus, glorified God, and adored Jesus.

CHAP. VIII.--HOW JESUS HEALED A BOY'S FOOT.

   And a few days thereafter, a boy in that town was splitting wood, and
struck his foot. And a great crowd went to him, and Jesus too went with
them. And He touched the foot which had been hurt, and immediately it was
made whole. And Jesus said to him: Rise, and split the wood, and remember
me. And when the crowd saw the miracles that were done by Him, they adored
Jesus, and said: Indeed we most surely believe that Thou art God.

CHAP. IX.--HOW JESUS CARRIED WATER IN A CLOAK.

   And when Jesus was six years old, His mother sent Him to draw water.
And when Jesus had come to the fountain, or to the well, there were great
crowds there, and they broke His pitcher. And He took the cloak which He
had on, and filled it with water, and carried it to His mother Mary. And
His mother, seeing the miracles which Jesus had done, kissed Him, and said:
O Lord, hear me, and save my son.

CHAP. X.--HOW JESUS SOWED WHEAT.

   In the time of sowing, Joseph went out to sow wheat, and Jesus followed
him. And when Joseph began to sow, Jesus stretched out His hand, and took
as much wheat as He could hold in His fist, and scattered it. Joseph
therefore came at reaping-time to reap his harvest. Jesus came also, and
collected the ears which He had scattered, and they made a hundred pecks(4)
of the best grain; and he called the poor, and the widows, and the orphans,
and distributed to them the wheat which He had made. Joseph also took a
little of the same wheat, for the blessing of Jesus to his house.

CHAP. XI.--HOW JESUS MADE A SHORT PIECE OF WOOD OF THE SAME LENGTH AS A
LONGER ONE.

   And Jesus reached the age of eight years, Joseph was a master
builder,(5) and used to make ploughs and ox-yokes. And one day a rich man
said to Joseph: Master, make me a couch, both  useful and beautiful. And
Joseph was in distress, because the wood which he had brought (1) for the
work was too short. And Jesus said to him: Do not be annoyed. Take hold of
this piece of wood by one end, and I by the other;I and let us draw it out.
And they did so; and immediately he found it useful for that which he
wished. And He said to Joseph: Behold, do the work which thou wishest. And
Joseph, seeing what He had done, embraced Him, and said: Blessed am I,
because God hath given me such a son.

CHAP. XII. -- HOW JESUS WAS HANDED OVER TO LEARN HIS LETTERS.

   And Joseph, seeing that He had such favour, and that He was increasing
in stature, thought it right to take Him to learn His letters. And he
handed Him over to another teacher to be taught. And that teacher said to
Joseph: What letters dost thou wish me to teach that boy? Joseph answered
and said: First teach him the Gentile letters, and then the Hebrew. For the
teacher knew that He was very intelligent, and willingly took Him in hand.
And writing for Him the first line, which is A and B, he taught Him for
some hours. (2) But Jesus was silent, and made him no answer. Jesus said to
the master: If thou art indeed a master, and if thou indeed knowest the
letters, tell me the power (3) of the A, and I shall tell thee the power of
the B. Then His master was filled with fury, and struck Him on the head.
And Jesus was angry, and cursed him; and he suddenly fell down, and died.

   And Jesus returned home. And Joseph gave orders to Mary His mother, not
to let Him go  out of the court of his house.

CHAP. XIII. -- HOW HE WAS HANDED OVER TO ANOTHER MASTER.

   Many days after came another teacher, a friend of Joseph, and said to
him: Hand him over to me, and I with much sweetness will teach him his
letters. And Joseph said to him: If thou art able, take him and teach him.
May it be attended with joy. When the teacher had taken Him, he went along
in fear and in great firmness, and held Him with exultation. And when He
had come to the teacher's house, He found a book lying there, and took it
and opened it, and did not read what was written in the book; but opened
His mouth, and spoke from the Holy Spirit, and taught the law. And, indeed,
all who were standing there listened to Him attentively;

and the master sat down beside Him, and listened to Him with pleasure, and
entreated Him to teach them more. And a great crowd being  gathered
together, they heard all the holy teaching which He taught, and the choice
words which I came forth from the mouth of Him who, child as He was, spake
such things. And Joseph, hearing of this, was afraid, and running (4) . . .
the master, where Jesus was, said to Joseph: Know, brother, that I have
received thy child to teach him or train him; but he is filled with much
gravity and wisdom. Lo, now, take him home with joy, my brother; because
the gravity which he has, has been given him by the Lord. And Jesus,
hearing the master thus speaking, became cheerful, and said: Lo, now,
master, thou hast truly said. For thy sake, he who is dead shall rise
again. And Joseph took Him home.

CHAP. XIV. -- HOW JESUS DELIVERED JAMES FROM THE BITE OF A SERPENT.

   And Joseph sent James to gather straw, and Jesus followed him. And
while James was gathering the straw, a viper bit him; and he fell to the
ground, as if dead from the poison. And Jesus seeing this, blew upon his
wound; and immediately James was made whole, and the viper died.

CHAP. XV. -- HOW JESUS RAISED A BOY TO LIFE.

   A few days after, a child, His neighbour, died, and his mother mourned
for him sore. Jesus, hearing this, went and stood over the boy, and knocked
upon his breast, and said: I say to thee, child, do not die, but live. And
immediately the child rose up. And Jesus said to the boy's mother: Take thy
son, and give him the breast, and remember me. And the crowd, seeing this
miracle, said: In truth, this child is from heaven; for already has he
freed many souls from death, and he has made whole all that hope in him.

   The scribes and Pharisees said to Mary: Art thou the mother of this
child? And Mary said: Indeed I am. And they said to her: Blessed art thou
among women, (5) since God hath blessed the fruit of thy womb, seeing that
He hath given thee such a glorious child, and such a gift of wisdom, as we
have never seen nor heard of. Jesus rose up and followed His mother. And
Mary kept in her heart all the great miracles that Jesus had done among the
people, in healing many that were diseased. And Jesus grew in stature and
wisdom; and all who saw Him glorified God the Father Almighty, who is
blessed for ever and ever. Amen.

   And all these things I Thomas the Israelite have written what I have
seen, and have recounted them to the Gentiles and to our brethren, and many
other things done by Jesus, who was born in the land of Judah. Behold, the
house of lsrael has seen all, from the first even to the last; how great
signs and wonders Jesus did among them, which were exceedingly good, and
invisible to their father, (1) as holy Scripture relates, and the prophets
have borne witness to His works in all the peoples of Israel. And He it is
who is to judge the world according to the will of immortality, since He is
the Son of God throughout all the world. To Him is due all glory and honour
for ever, who lives and reigns God through all ages of ages. Amen.


THE ARABIC GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY OF THE SAVIOUR

   IN the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God.

   With the help and favour of the Most High we begin to write a book of
the miracles of our Lord and Master and Saviour Jesus Christ, which is
called the Gospel of the Infancy: in the peace of the Lord. Amen.

   1. We find (1) what follows in the book of Joseph the high priest, who
lived in the time of Christ. Some say that he is Caiaphas. (2) He has said
that Jesus spoke, and, indeed, when He was lying in His cradle said to Mary
His mother: I am Jesus, the Son of God, the Logos, whom thou hast brought
forth, as the Angel Gabriel announced to thee; and my Father has sent me
for the salvation of the world.

   2. In the three hundred and ninth year of the era of Alexander,
Augustus put forth an edict, that every man should be enrolled in his
native place. Joseph therefore arose, and taking Mary his spouse, went away
to (3) Jerusalem, and came to Bethlehem, to be enrolled along with his
family in his native city. And having come to a cave, Mary told Joseph that
the time of the birth was at hand, and that she could not go into the city;
but, said she, let us go into this cave. This took place at sunset. And
Joseph went out in haste to go for a woman to be near her. When, therefore,
he was busy about that, he saw an Hebrew old woman belonging to Jerusalem,
and said: Come hither, my good woman, and go into this cave, in which there
is a woman near her time.

   3. Wherefore, after sunset, the old woman,  and Joseph with her, came
to the cave, and they both went in. And, behold, it was filled with lights
more beautiful than the gleaming of lamps and candles, (4) and more
splendid than the light of the sun. The child, enwrapped in swaddling
clothes, was sucking the breast of the Lady Mary His mother, being placed
in a stall. And when both were wondering at this light, the old woman asks
the Lady Mary: Art thou the mother of this Child? And when the Lady Mary
gave her assent, she says: Thou art not at all like the daughters of Eve.
The Lady Mary said: As my son has no equal among children, so his mother
has no equal among women. The old woman replied: My mistress, I came to get
payment; I have been for a long time affected with palsy. Our mistress the
Lady Mary said to her: Place thy hands upon the child. And the old woman
did so, and was immediately cured. Then she went forth, saying: Henceforth
I will be the attendant and servant of this child all the days of my life.

   4. Then came shepherds; and when they had lighted a fire, and were
rejoicing greatly, there appeared to them the hosts of heaven praising and
celebrating God Most High. And while the shepherds were doing the same, the
cave was at that time made like a temple of the upper world, since both
heavenly and earthly voices glorified and magnified God on account of the
birth of the Lord Christ. And when that old Hebrew woman saw the
manifestation of those miracles, she thanked God, saying: I give Thee
thanks, O God, the God of Israel, because mine eyes have seen the birth of
the Saviour of the world.

   5. And the time of circumcision, that is, the eighth day, being at
hand, the child was to be circumcised according to the law. Wherefore they
circumcised Him in the cave. And the old Hebrew woman took the piece of
skin; but some say that she took the navel-string, and laid it past in a
jar of old oil of nard. And she had a son, a dealer in unguents, and she
gave it to him, saying: See that thou do not sell this jar of unguent of
nard, even although three hundred denarii (5) should be offered thee for
it. And this is that jar which Mary the sinner bought and poured upon the
head and feet of our Lord Jesus Christ, which thereafter she wiped with the
hair of her head. (1) Ten days after, they took Him to Jerusalem; and on
the fortieth day (2) after His birth they carried Him into the temple, and
set Him before the Lord, and offered sacrifices for Him, according to the
command-meet of the law of Moses, which is: Every male that openeth the
womb shall be called the holy of God. (3)

   6. Then old Simeon saw Him shining like a pillar of light, when the
Lady Mary, His virgin mother, rejoicing over Him, was carrying Him in her
arms. And angels, praising Him, stood round Him in a circle, like life
guards standing by a king. Simeon therefore went up in haste to the Lady
Mary, and, with hands stretched out before her, said to the Lord Christ:
Now, O my Lord, let Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for
mine eyes have seen Thy compassion, which Thou hast prepared for the
salvation of all peoples, a light to all nations, and glory to Thy people
Israel. Hanna also, a prophetess, was present, and came up, giving thanks
to God, and calling the Lady Mary blessed. (4)

   7. And it came to pass, when the Lord Jesus was born at Bethlehem of
Judaea, in the time of King Herod, behold, magi came from the east to
Jerusalem, as Zeraduscht (5) had predicted; and there were with them gifts,
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And they adored Him, and presented to
Him their gifts. Then the Lady Mary took one of the swaddling-bands, and,
on account of the smallness of her means, gave it to them; and they
received it from her with the greatest marks of honour. And in the same
hour there appeared to them an angel in the form of that star which had
before guided them on their journey; and they went away, following the
guidance of its light, until they arrived in their own country. (6)

   8. And their kings and chief men came together to them, asking what
they had seen or done, how they had gone and come back, what they had
brought with them. And they showed them that swathing-cloth which the Lady
Mary had given them. Wherefore they celebrated a feast, and, according to
their custom, lighted a fire and worshipped it, and threw that swathing-
cloth into it; and the fire laid hold of it, and enveloped it. And when the
fire had gone out, they took out the swathing-cloth exactly as it had been
before, just as if the fire had not touched it. Wherefore they began to
kiss it, and to put it on their heads and their eyes, saying: This verily
is the truth without doubt. Assuredly it is a great thing that the fire was
not able to burn or destroy it. Then they took it, and with the greatest
honour laid it up among their treasures.

   9. And when Herod saw that the magi had left him, and not come back to
him, he summoned the priests and the wise men, and said to them: Show me
where Christ is to be born. And when they answered, In Bethlehem of Judaea,
he began to think of putting the Lord Jesus Christ to death. Then appeared
an angel of the Lord to Joseph in his sleep, and said: Rise, take the boy
and His mother, and go away into Egypt. (7) He rose, therefore, towards
cockcrow, and set out.

   10. While he is reflecting how be is to set about his journey, morning
came upon him after he had gone a very little way. And now he was
approaching a great city, in which there was an idol, to which the other
idols and gods of the Egyptians offered gifts and vows. And there stood
before this idol a priest ministering to him, who, as often as Satan spoke
from that idol, reported it to the inhabitants of Egypt and its
territories. This priest had a son, three years old, beset by several
demons; and he made many speeches and utterances; and when the demons
seized him, he tore his clothes, and remained naked, and threw stones at
the people. And there was a hospital in that city dedicated to that idol.
And when Joseph and the Lady Mary had come to the city, and had turned
aside into that hospital, the citizens were very much afraid; and all the
chief men and the priests of the idols came together to that idol, and said
to it: What agitation and commotion is this that has arisen in our land?
The idol answered them: A God has come here in secret, who is God indeed;
nor is any god besides Him worthy of divine worship, because He is truly
the Son of God. And when this land became aware of His presence, it
trembled at His arrival, and was moved and shaken; and we are exceedingly
afraid from the greatness of His power. And in the same hour that idol fell
down, and at its fall all, inhabitants of Egypt and others, ran together.

   11. And the son of the priest, his usual disease having come upon him,
entered the hospital, and there came upon Joseph and the Lady Mary, from
whom all others had fled. The Lady Mary had washed the cloths of the Lord
Christ, and had spread them over some wood. That demoniac boy, therefore,
came and took one of the cloths, and put it on his head. Then the demons,
fleeing in the shape of ravens and serpents, began to go forth out of his
mouth. The boy, being immediately healed at the command of the Lord Christ,
began to praise God, and then to give thanks to the Lord who had healed
him. And when his father saw him restored to health, My son, said he, what
has happened to thee? and by what means hast thou been healed? The son
answered: When the demons had thrown me on the ground, I went into the
hospital, and there I found an august woman with a boy, whose newly-washed
cloths she had thrown upon some wood: one of these I took up and put upon
my head, and the demons left me and fled. At this the father rejoiced
greatly, and said: My son, it is possible that this boy is the Son of the
living God who created the heavens and the earth: for when he came over to
us, the idol was broken, and all the gods fell, and perished by the power
of his magnificence.

   12. Here was fulfilled the prophecy which says, Out of Egypt have I
called my son. (1) Joseph indeed, and Mary, when they heard that that idol
had fallen down and perished, trembled, and were afraid. Then they said:
When we were in the land of Israel, Herod thought to put Jesus to death,
and on that account slew all the children of Bethlehem and its confines;
and there is no doubt that the Egyptians, as soon as they have heard that
this idol has been broken, will burn us with fire. (2)

   13. Going out thence, they came to a place where there were robbers who
had plundered several men of their baggage and clothes, and had bound them.
Then the robbers heard a great noise, like the noise of a magnificent king
going out of his city with his army, and his chariots and his drums; and at
this the robbers were terrified, and left all their plunder. And their
captives rose up, loosed each other's bonds, recovered their baggage, and
went away. And when they saw Joseph and Mary coming up to the place, they
said to them: Where is that king, at the hearing of the magnificent sound
of whose approach the robbers have left us, so that we have escaped safe?
Joseph answered them: He will come behind us.

   14. Thereafter they came into another city, where there was a demoniac
woman whom Satan, accursed and rebellious, had beset, when on one occasion
she had gone out by night for water. She could neither bear clothes, nor
live in a house; and as often as they tied her up with chains and thongs,
she broke them, and fled naked into waste places; and, standing in cross-
roads and cemeteries, she kept throwing stones at people, and brought very
heavy calamities upon her friends. And when the Lady Mary saw her, she
pitied her; and upon this Satan immediately left her, and fled away in the
form of a young man, saying: Woe to me from thee, Mary, and from thy son.
So that woman was cured of her torment, and being restored to her senses,
she blushed on account of her nakedness; and shunning the sight of men,
went home to her friends. And after she put on her clothes, she gave an
account of the matter to her father and her friends; and as they were the
chief men of the city, they received the Lady Mary and Joseph with the
greatest honour and hospitality.

   15. On the day after, being supplied by them with provision for their
journey, they went away, and on the evening of that day arrived at another
town, in which they were celebrating a marriage; but, by the arts of
accursed Satan and the work of enchanters, the bride had become dumb, and
could not speak a word. And after the Lady Mary entered the town, carrying
her son the Lord Christ, that dumb bride saw her, and stretched out her
hands towards the Lord Christ, and drew Him to her, and took Him into her
arms, and held Him close and kissed Him, and leaned over Him, moving His
body back and forwards. Immediately the knot of her tongue was loosened,
and her ears were opened; and she gave thanks and praise to  God, because
He had restored her to health. And that night the inhabitants of that town
exulted with joy, and thought that God and His angels had come down to
them.

   16. There they remained three days, being held in great honour, and
living splendidly. Thereafter, being supplied by them with provision for
their journey, they went away and came to another city, in which, because
it was very populous, they thought of passing the night. And there was in
that city an excellent woman: and once, when she had gone to the river to
bathe, lo, accursed Satan, in the form of a serpent, had leapt upon her,
and twisted himself round her belly; and as often as night came on, he
tyrannically tormented her. This woman, seeing the mistress the Lady Mary,
and the child, the Lord Christ, in her bosom, was struck with a longing for
Him, and said to the mistress the Lady Mary: O mistress, give me this
child, that I may carry him, and kiss him. She therefore gave Him to the
woman; and when He was brought to her, Satan let her go, and fled and left
her, nor did the woman ever see him after that day. Wherefore all who were
present praised God Most High, and that woman bestowed on them liberal
gifts

   17. On the day after, the same woman took scented water to wash the
Lord Jesus; and after she had washed Him, she took the water with which she
had done it, and poured part of it upon a girl who was living there, whose
body was white with leprosy, and washed her with it. And as soon as this
was done, the girl was cleansed from her leprosy. And the townspeople said:
There is no doubt that Joseph and Mary and that boy are gods, not men. And
when they were getting ready to go away from them, the girl who had
laboured under the leprosy came up to them, and asked them to let her go
with them.

   18. When they had given her permission, she went with them. And
afterwards they came to a city, in which was the castle of a most
illustrious prince, who kept a house for the entertainment of strangers.
They turned into this place; and the girl went away to the prince's wife;
and she found her weeping and sorrowful, and she asked why she was weeping.
Do not be surprised, said she, at my tears; for I am overwhelmed by a great
affliction, which as yet I have not endured to tell to any one. Perhaps,
said the girl, if you reveal it and disclose it to me, I may have a remedy
for it. Hide this secret, then, replied the princess, and tell it to no
one. I was married to this prince, who is a king and ruler over many
cities, and I lived long with him, but by me he had no son. And when at
length I produced him a son, he was leprous; and as soon as he saw him, he
turned away with loathing, and said to me: Either kill him, or give him to
the nurse to be brought up in some place from which we shall never hear of
him more. After this I can have nothing to do with thee, and I will never
see thee more. On this account I know not what to do, and I am overwhelmed
with grief. Alas! my son. Alas! my husband. Did I not say so? said the
girl. I have found a cure for thy disease, and I shall tell it thee. For I
too was a leper; but I was cleansed by God, who is Jesus, the son of the
Lady Mary. And the woman asking her where this God was whom she had spoken
of, Here, with thee, said the girl; He is living in the same house. But how
is this possible? said she. Where is he? There, said the girl, are Joseph
and Mary; and the child who is with them is called Jesus; and He it is who
cured me of my disease and my torment. But by what means, said she, wast
thou cured of thy leprosy? Wilt thou not tell me that? Why not? said the
girl. I got from His mother the water in which He had been washed, and
poured it over myself; and so I was cleansed from my leprosy. Then the
princess rose up, and invited them to avail themselves of her hospitality.
And she prepared a splendid banquet for Joseph in a great assembly of the
men of the place. And on the following day she took scented water with
which to wash the Lord Jesus, and thereafter poured the same water over her
son, whom she had taken with her; and immediately her son was cleansed from
his leprosy. Therefore, singing thanks and praises to God, she said:
Blessed is the mother who bore thee, O Jesus; dost thou so cleanse those
who share the same nature with thee with the water in which thy body has
been washed? Besides, she bestowed great gifts upon the mistress the Lady
Mary, and sent her away with great honour.

   19. Coming thereafter to another city, they wished to spend the night
in it. They turned aside, therefore, to the house of a man newly married,
but who, under the influence of witchcraft, was not able to enjoy his wife;
and when they had spent that night with him, his bond was loosed. And at
daybreak, when they were girding themselves for their journey, the
bridegroom would not let them go, and prepared for them a great banquet.

   20. They set out, therefore, on the following day; and as they came
near another city, they saw three women weeping as they came out of a
cemetery. And when the Lady Mary beheld them, she said to the girl who
accompanied her: Ask them what is the matter with them, or what calamity
has befallen them. And to the girl's questions they made no reply, but
asked in their turn: Whence are you, and whither are you going? for the day
is already past, and night is coming on apace. We are travellers, said the
girl, and are seeking a house of entertainment in which we may pass the
night. They said: Go with us, and spend the night with us. They followed
them, therefore, and were brought into a new house with splendid
decorations and furniture. Now it was winter; and the girl, going into the
chamber of these women, found them again weeping and lamenting. There stood
beside them a mule, covered with housings of cloth of gold, and sesame was
put before him; and the women were kissing him, and giving him food. And
the gift said: What is all the ado, my ladies, about this mule? They
answered her with tears, and said: This mule, which thou seest, was our
brother, born of the same mother with ourselves. And when our father died,
and left us great wealth, and this only brother, we did our best to get him
married, and were preparing his nuptials for him, after the manner of men.
But some women, moved by mutual jealousy, bewitched him unknown to us; and
one night, a little before daybreak, when the door of our house was shut,
we saw that this our brother had been turned into a mule, as thou now
beholdest him. And we are sorrowful, as thou seest, having no father to
comfort us: there is no wise man, or magician, or enchanter in the world
that we have omitted to send for; but nothing has done us any good. And as
often as our hearts are overwhelmed with grief, we rise and go away with
our mother here, and weep at our father's grave, and come back again.

   21. And when the girl heard these things, Be of good courage, said she,
and weep not: for the cure of your calamity is near; yea, it is beside you,
and in the middle of your own house. For I  also was a leper; but when I
saw that woman, and  along with her that young child, whose name is Jesus,
I sprinkled my body with the water with  which His mother had washed Him,
and I was cured. And I know that He can cure your affliction also. But
rise, go to Mary my mistress; bring her into your house, and tell her your
secret; and entreat and supplicate her to have pity upon yon. After the
woman had heard the girl's words, they went in haste to the Lady Mary, and
brought her into their chamber, and sat down before her weeping, and
saying: O our mistress, Lady Mary, have pity on thy hand-maidens; for no
one older than ourselves, and no head of the family, is left--neither
father nor brother--to live with us; but this mule which thou seest was our
brother, and women have made him such as thou seest by witchcraft. We
beseech thee, therefore, to have pity upon us. Then, grieving at their lot,
the Lady Mary took up the Lord Jesus, and put Him on the mule's back; and
she wept as well as the women, and said to Jesus Christ: Alas! my son, heal
this mule by Thy mighty power, and make him a man endowed with reason as he
was before. And when these words were uttered by the Lady Mary, his form
was changed, and the mule became a young man, free from every defect. Then
he and his mother and his sisters adored the Lady Mary, and lifted the boy
above their heads, and began to kiss Him, saying: Blessed is she that bore
Thee, O Jesus, O Saviour of the world; blessed are the eyes which enjoy the
felicity of seeing Thee.

   22. Moreover, both the sisters said to their mother: Our brother
indeed, by the aid of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the salutary
intervention of this girl, who pointed out to us Mary and  her son, has
been raised to human form. Now, indeed, since our brother is unmarried, it
would do very well for us to give him as his wife this girl, their servant.
And having asked the Lady  Mary, and obtained her consent, they made a
splendid wedding for the girl; and their sorrow  being changed into joy,
and the beating of their breasts into dancing, they began to be glad, to
rejoice, to exult, and sing--adorned, on account of their great joy, in
most splendid and gorgeous attire. Then they began to recite songs and
praises, and to say: O Jesus, son of David, who  turnest sorrow into
gladness, and lamentations into joy! And Joseph and Mary remained there ten
clays. Thereafter they set out, treated with  great honours by these
people, who bade them farewell, and from bidding them farewell returned
weeping, especially the girl.

   23. And turning away from this place, they came to a desert; and
hearing that it was infested by robbers, Joseph and the Lady Mary resolved
to cross this region by night. But as  they go along, behold, they see two
robbers lying  in the way, and along with them a great number of robbers,
who were their associates, sleeping. Now those two robbers, into whose
hands they had fallen, were Titus and Dumachus. Titus therefore said to
Dumachus: I beseech thee to let these persons go freely, and so that our
comrades may not see them. And as Dumachus refused, Titus said to him
again: Take to thyself forty drachmas from me, and hold this as a pledge.
At the same time he held out to him the belt which he had about his waist,
to keep him from opening his mouth or speaking. And the Lady Mary, seeing
that the robber had done them a kindness, said to him: The Lord God will
sustain thee by His right hand, and will grant thee remission of thy sins.
And the Lord Jesus answered, and said to His mother: Thirty years hence, O
my mother, the Jews will crucify me at Jerusalem, and these two robbers
will be raised upon the cross along with me, Titus on my right hand and
Dumachus on my left; and after that day Titus shall go before me into
Paradise. And she said: God keep this from thee, my son. And they went
thence towards a city of idols, which, as they came near it, was changed
into sand-hills.

   24. Hence they turned aside to that sycamore which is now called
Matarea,[1] and the Lord Jesus brought forth in Matarea a fountain in which
the Lady Mary washed His shirt. And from the sweat of the Lord Jesus which
she sprinkled there, balsam was produced in that region.

   25. Thence they came down to Memphis, and saw Pharaoh, and remained
three years in Egypt; and the Lord Jesus did in Egypt very many miracles
which are recorded neither in the Gospel of the Infancy nor in the perfect
Gospel.

   26. And at the end of the three years He came back out of Egypt, and
returned. And when they had arrived at Judaea, Joseph was afraid to enter
it; but hearing that Herod was dead, and that Archelaus his son had
succeeded him, he was afraid indeed, but he went into Judaea. And an angel
of the Lord appeared to him, and said: O Joseph, go into the city of
Nazareth, and there abide.

   Wonderful indeed, that the Lord of the world should be thus borne and
carried about through the world!

   27. Thereafter, going into the city of Bethlehem, they saw there many
and grievous diseases infesting the eyes of the children, who were dying in
consequence. And a woman was there with a sick son, whom, now very near
death, she  brought to the Lady Mary, who saw him as she was washing Jesus
Christ. Then said the woman to her: O my Lady Mary, look upon this son of
mine, who is labouring under a grievous disease. And the Lady Mary listened
to her, and said: Take a little of that water in which I have washed my
son, and sprinkle him with it. She therefore took a little of the water, as
the Lady Mary had told her, and sprinkled it over her son. And when this
was done his illness abated; and after sleeping a little, he rose up from
sleep safe and sound. His mother rejoicing at this, again took him to the
Lady Mary. And she said to her: Give thanks to God, because He hath healed
this thy son.

   28. There was in the same place another woman, a neighbour of her whose
son had lately been restored to health. And as her son was labouring under
the same disease, and his eyes were now almost blinded, she wept night and
day. And the mother of the child that had been cured said to her: Why dost
thou not take thy son to the Lady Mary, as I did with mine when he was
nearly dead? And he got well with that water with which the body of her son
Jesus had been washed. And when the woman heard this from her, she too went
and got some of the same water, and washed her son with it, and his body
and his eyes were instantly made well. Her also, when she had brought her
son to her, and disclosed to her all that had happened, the Lady Mary
ordered to give thanks to God for her son's restoration to health, and to
tell nobody of this matter.

   29. There were in the same city two women, wives of one man, each
having a son ill with fever. The one was called Mary, and her son's name
was Cleopas. She rose and took up her son, and went to the Lady Mary, the
mother of Jesus, and offering her a beautiful mantle, said: O my Lady Mary,
accept this mantle, and for it give me one small bandage. Mary did so, and
the mother of Cleopas went away, and made a shirt of it, and put it on her
son. So he was cured of his disease; but the son of her rival died. Hence
there sprung up hatred between them; and as they did the house-work week
about, and as it was the turn of Mary the mother of Cleopas, she heated the
oven to bake bread; and going away to bring the lump that she had kneaded,
she left her son Cleopas beside the oven. Her rival seeing him alone--and
the oven was very hot with the fire blazing under it--seized him and threw
him into the oven, and took herself off. Mary coming back, and seeing her
son Cleopas lying in the oven laughing, and the oven quite cold, as if no
fire had ever come near it, knew that her rival had thrown him into the
fire. She drew him out, therefore, and took him to the Lady Mary, and told
her of what had happened to him. And she said: Keep silence, and tell
nobody of the affair; for I am afraid for you if you divulge it. After this
her rival went to the well to draw water; and seeing Cleopas playing beside
the well, and nobody near, she seized him and threw him into the well, and
went home herself. And some men who had gone to the well for water saw the
boy sitting on the surface of the water; and so they went down and drew him
out. And they were seized with a great admiration of that boy, and praised
God. Then came his mother, and took him up, and went weeping to the Lady
Mary, and said: O my lady, see what my rival has done to my son, and how
she has thrown him into the well; she will be sure to destroy him some day
or other. The Lady Mary said to her: God will avenge thee upon her.
Thereafter, when her rival went to the well to draw water, her feet got
entangled in the rope, and she fell into the well. Some men came to draw
her out, but they found her skull fractured and her bones broken. Thus she
died a miserable  death, and in her came to pass that saying: They have
digged a well deep, but have fallen into the pit which they had
prepared.[1]

   30. Another woman there had twin sons who had fallen into disease, and
one of them died, and the other was at his last breath. And his mother,
weeping, lifted him up, and took him to the Lady Mary, and said: O my lady,
aid me and succour me. For I had two sons, and I have just buried the one,
and the other is at the point of death. See how I am going to entreat and
pray to God. And she began to say: O Lord, Thou art compassionate, and
merciful, and full of affection. Thou gavest me two sons, of whom Thou hast
taken away the one: this one at least leave to me. Wherefore the Lady Mary,
seeing the fervour of her weeping, had compassion on her, and said: Put thy
son in my son's bed, and cover him with his clothes. And when she had put
him in the bed in which Christ was lying, he had already closed his eyes in
death; but as soon as the smell of the clothes of the Lord Jesus Christ
reached the boy, he opened his eyes, and, calling upon his mother with a
loud voice, he asked for bread, and took it and sucked it. Then his mother
said: O Lady Mary, now I know that the power of God dwelleth in thee, so
that thy son heals those that partake of the same nature with himself, as
soon as they have touched his clothes. This boy that was healed is he who
in the Gospel is called Bartholomew.

   31. Moreover, there was there a leprous woman, and she went to the Lady
Mary, the mother of Jesus, and said: My lady, help me. And the Lady Mary
answered: What help dost thou seek? Is it gold or silver? or is it that thy
body be made clean from the leprosy? And that woman asked: Who can grant me
this? And the Lady Mary said to her: Wait a little, until I shall have
washed my son Jesus, and put him to bed. The woman waited, as Mary had told
her; and when she had put Jesus to bed, she held out to the woman the water
in which she had washed His body, and said: Take a little of this water,
and pour it over thy body. And as soon as she had done so, she was
cleansed, and gave praise and thanks to God.

   32. Therefore, after staying with her three days, she went away; and
coming to a city, saw there one of the chief men, who had married the
daughter of another of the chief men. But when he saw the woman, he beheld
between her eyes the mark of leprosy in the shape of a star; and so the
marriage was dissolved, and became null and void. And when that woman saw
them in this condition, weeping and overwhelmed with sorrow, she asked the
cause of their grief. But they said: Inquired not into our condition, for
to no one living can we tell our grief, and to none but ourselves can we
disclose it. She urged them, however, and entreated them to entrust it to
her, saying that she would perhaps be able to tell them of a remedy. And
when they showed her the girl, and the sign of leprosy which appeared
between her eyes, as soon as she saw it, the woman said: I also, whom you
see here, laboured under the same disease, when, upon some business which
happened to come in my way, I went to Bethlehem. There going into a cave, I
saw a woman named Mary, whose  son was he who was named Jesus; and when she
saw that I was a leper. she took pity on me, and handed me the water with
which she had washed her son's body. With it I sprinkled my body, and came
out clean. Then the woman said to her: Wilt thou not, O lady, rise and go
with us, and show us the Lady Mary? And she  assented; and they rose and
went to the Lady Mary, carrying with them splendid gifts. And when they had
gone in, and presented to her the gifts, they showed her the leprous girl
whom  they had brought. The Lady Mary therefore said: May the compassion of
the Lord Jesus Christ descend upon you; and handling to them also a little
of the water in which she had washed  the body of Jesus Christ, she ordered
the wretched woman to be bathed in it. And when this had  been done, she
was immediately cured; and they, and all standing by, praised God. Joyfully
therefore they returned to their own city, praising the Lord for what He
had done. And when the chief heard that his wife had been cured, he took
her home, and made a second marriage, and gave thanks to God for the
recovery of his wife's health.

   33. There was there also a young woman afflicted by Satan; for that
accursed wretch repeatedly appeared to her in the form of a huge dragon,
and prepared to swallow her. He also sucked out all her blood, so that she
was left like a corpse. As often as he came near her, she, with her hands
clasped over her head, cried out, and said: Woe, woe's me, for nobody is
near to free me from that accursed dragon. And her father and mother, and
all who were about her or saw her, bewailed her lot; and men stood round
her in a crowd, and all wept and lamented, especially when she wept, and
said: Oh, my brethren and friends, is there no one to free me from that
murderer? And the daughter of the chief who had been healed of her leprosy,
hearing the girl's voice, went up to the roof of her castle, and saw her
with her hands clasped over her head weeping, and all the crowds standing
round her weeping as wall. She therefore asked the demoniac's husband
whether his wife's mother were alive. And when he answered that both her
parents were living, she said: Send for her mother to come to me. And when
she saw that he had sent for her, and she had come, she said: Is that
distracted girl thy daughter? Yes, O lady, said that sorrowful and weeping
woman, she is my daughter. The chiefs daughter answered: Keep my secret,
for I confess to thee that I was formerly a leper; but now the Lady Mary,
the mother of Jesus Christ, has healed me. But if thou wishest thy daughter
to be healed, take her to Bethlehem, and seek Mary the mother of Jesus, and
believe that thy daughter will be healed; I indeed believe that thou wilt
come back with joy, with thy daughter healed. As soon as the woman heard
the words of the chief's daughter, she led away her daughter in haste; and
going to the place indicated, she went to the Lady Mary, and revealed to
her the state of her daughter. And the Lady Mary hearing her words, gave
her a little of the water in which she had washed the body of her son
Jesus, and ordered her to pour it on the body of her daughter. She gave her
also from the clothes of the Lord Jesus a swathing-cloth, saying: Take this
cloth, and show it to thine enemy as often as thou shalt see him. And she
saluted them, and sent them away.

   34. When, therefore, they had gone away from her, and returned to their
own district, and the time was at hand at which Satan was wont to attack
her, at this very time that accursed one appeared to her in the shape of a
huge dragon, and the girl was afraid at the sight of him. And her mother
said to her: Fear not, my daughter; allow him to come near thee, and then
show him the cloth which the Lady Mary hath given us, and let us see what
will happen. Satan, therefore, having come near in the likeness of a
terrible dragon, the body of the girl shuddered for fear of him; but as
soon as she took out the cloth, and placed it on her head, and covered her
eyes with it, flames and live coals began to dart forth from it, and to be
cast upon the dragon. O the great miracle which was done as soon as the
dragon saw the cloth of the Lord Jesus, from which the fire darted, and was
cast upon his head and eyes! He cried out with a loud voice: What have I to
do with thee, O Jesus, son of Mary? Whither shall I fly from thee? And with
great fear he turned his back and departed from the girl, and never
afterwards appeared to her. And the girl now had rest from him, and gave
praise and thanks to God, and along with her all who were present at that
miracle.

   35. Another woman was living in the same place, whose son was tormented
by Satan. He, Judas by name, as often as Satan seized him, used to bite all
who came near him; and if he found no one near him, he used to bite his own
hands and other limbs. The mother of this wretched creature, then, hearing
the fame of the Lady Mary and her son Jesus, rose up and brought her son
Judas with her to the Lady Mary. In the meantime, James and Joses had taken
the child the Lord Jesus with them to play with the other children; and
they had gone out of the house and sat down, and the Lord Jesus with them.
And the demoniac Judas came up, and sat down at Jesus' right hand: then,
being attacked by Satan in the same manner as usual, he wished to bite the
Lord Jesus, but was  not able; nevertheless he struck Jesus on the right
side, whereupon He began to weep. And  immediately Satan went forth out of
that boy, fleeing like a mad dog. And this boy who struck Jesus, and out of
whom Satan went forth in the shape of a dog, was Judas Iscariot, who
betrayed Him to the Jews; and that same side on which Judas struck Him, the
Jews transfixed with a lance.(1)

   36. Now, when the Lord Jesus had completed seven years from His birth,
on a certain day He was occupied with boys of His own age. For they were
playing among clay, from which they were making images of asses, oxen,
birds, and other animals; and each one boasting of his skill, was praising
his own work. Then the Lord Jesus said to the boys: The images that I have
made I will order to walk. The boys asked Him whether then he were the son
of the Creator; and the Lord Jesus bade them walk. And they immediately
began to leap; and then, when He had given them leave, they again stood
still. And He had made figures of birds and sparrows, which flew when He
told them to fly, and stood still when He told them to stand, and ate and
drank when He handed them food and drink. After the boys had gone away and
told this to their parents, their fathers said to them: My sons, take care
not to keep company with him again, for he is a wizard: flee from him,
therefore, and avoid him, and do not play with him again after this.

   37. On a certain day the Lord Jesus, running about and playing with the
boys, passed the shop of a dyer, whose name was Salem; and he had in his
shop many pieces of cloth which he was to dye. The Lord Jesus then, going
into his shop, took up all the pieces of cloth, and threw them into a tub
full of indigo. And when Salem came and saw his cloths destroyed, he began
to cry out with a loud voice, and to reproach Jesus, saying: Why hast thou
done this to me, O son of Mary? Thou hast disgraced me before all my
townsmen: for, seeing that every one wished the colour that suited himself,
thou indeed hast come and destroyed them all. The Lord Jesus answered: I
shall change for thee the colour of any piece of cloth which thou shalt
wish to be changed. And immediately He began to take the pieces of cloth
out of the tub, each of them of that colour which the dyer wished, until He
had taken them all out. When the Jews saw this miracle and prodigy, they
praised God.

   38. And Joseph used to go about through the whole city, and take the
Lord Jesus with him, when people sent for him in the way of his trade to
make for them doors, and milk-pails, and beds, and chests; and the Lord
Jesus was with him wherever he went. As often, therefore, as Joseph had to
make anything a cubit or a span longer or shorter, wider or narrower, the
Lord Jesus stretched His hand towards it; and as soon as He did so, it
became such as Joseph wished. Nor was it necessary for him to make anything
with his own hand, for Joseph was not very skilful in carpentry.

   39. Now, on a certain day, the king of Jerusalem sent for him, and
said: I wish thee, Joseph, to make for me a throne to fit that place in
which I usually sit. Joseph obeyed, and began the work immediately, and
remained in the palace two years, until he finished the work of that
throne. And when he had it carried to its place, he perceived that each
side wanted two spans of the prescribed measure. And the king, seeing this,
was angry with Joseph; and Joseph, being in great fear of the king, spent
the night without supper, nor did he taste anything at all. Then, being
asked by the Lord Jesus why he was afraid, Joseph said: Because I have
spoiled all the work that I have been two years at. And the Lord Jesus said
to him: Fear not, and do not lose heart; but do thou take hold of one side
of the throne; I shall take the other; and we shall put that to rights. And
Joseph, having done as the Lord Jesus had said and each having drawn by his
own side, the throne was put to rights, and brought to the exact measure of
the place. And those that stood by and saw this miracle were struck with
astonishment, and praised God. And the woods used in that throne were of
those which are celebrated in the time of Solomon the son of David; that
is, woods of many and various kinds.

   40. On another day the Lord Jesus went out into the road, and saw the
boys that had come together to play, and followed them; but the boys hid
themselves from Him. The Lord Jesus, therefore, having come to the door of
a certain house, and seen some women standing there, asked them where the
boys had gone; and when they answered that there was no one there, He said
again: Who are these whom you see in the furnace?' They replied that they
were kids of three years old. And the Lord Jesus cried out, and said: Come
out hither, O kids, to your Shepherd. Then the boys, in the form of kids,
came out, and began to dance round Him; and the women, seeing this, were
very much astonished, and were seized with trembling, and speedily,
supplicated and adored the Lord Jesus, saying: O our Lord Jesus, son of
Mary, Thou art of a truth that good Shepherd of Israel; have mercy on Thy
handmaidens who stand before Thee, and who have never doubted: for Thou
hast come, O our Lord, to heal, and not to destroy. And when the Lord Jesus
answered that the sons of Israel were like the Ethiopians among the
nations, the women said: Thou, O Lord, knowest all things, nor is anything
hid from Thee; now, indeed, we beseech Thee, and ask Thee of Thy affection
to restore these boys Thy servants to their former condition. The Lord
Jesus therefore said: Come, boys, let us go and play. And immediately,
while these women were standing by, the kids were changed into boys.

   41. Now in the month Adar, Jesus, after the  manner of a king,
assembled the boys together. They spread their clothes on the ground, and
He sat down upon them. Then they put on  His head a crown made of flowers,
and, like chamber-servants, stood in His presence, on the right and on the
left, as if He were a king. And whoever passed by that way was forcibly
dragged by the boys, saying: Come hither, and adore the king; then go thy
way.

   42. In the meantime, while these things were going on, some men came up
carrying a boy. For this boy had gone into the mountain with those of his
own age to seek wood, and there he found a partridge's nest; and when he
stretched out his hand to take the eggs from it, a venomous serpent bit him
from the middle of the nest, so that he called out for help. His comrades
accordingly went to him with haste, and found him lying on the ground like
one dead. Then his relations came and took hun up to carry him back to the
city. And after they had come to that place where the Lord Jesus was
sitting like a king, and the rest of the boys standing round Him like His
servants, the boys went hastily forward to meet him who had been bitten by
the serpent, and said to his relations: Come and salute the king. Bat when
they were unwilling to go, on account of the sorrow in I which they were,
the boys dragged them by force against their will. And when they had come
up to the Lord Jesus, He asked them why they were carrying the boy. And
when they answered that a serpent had bitten him, the Lord Jesus said to
the boys: Let us go and kill that serpent. And the parents of the boy asked
leave to go away, because their son was in the agony of death; but the boys
answered them, saying: Did you not hear the king saying: Let us go kill the
serpent? and will yon not obey him? And so, against their will the could
was carried back. And when they came to the nest, the Lord Jesus said to
the boys: Is this the serpent's place? They saint that it was; and the
serpent, at the call of the Lord, came forth without delay, and submitted
itself to Him. And He said to it: Go away, and suck out all the poison
which thou hast infused into this boy. And so the serpent crawled to the
boy, and sucked out all its poison. Then the Lord Jesus cursed it, and
immediately on this being done it burst asunder; and the Lord Jesus stroked
the boy with his hand, and he was healed. And he began to weep; but Jesus
said: Do not weep, for by and by thou shalt be my disciple. And this is
Simon the Cananite,(2) of whom mention is made in the Gospel.(3)

   43. On another day, Joseph sent his son James to gather wood, and the
Lord Jesus went with him as his companion. And when they had come to the
place where the wood was, and James had begun to gather it, behold, a
venomous viper bit his band, so that he began to cry out and weep. The Lord
Jesus then, seeing him in this condition, went up to him, and blew upon the
place where the viper had bitten him; and this being done, he was healed
immediately.

   44. One day, when the Lord Jesus was again with the boys playing on the
roof of a house, one of the boys fell down from above, and immediately
expired. And the rest of the boys fled in all directions, and the Lord
Jesus was left alone on the roof. And the relations of the boy came up and
said to the Lord Jesus: It was thou who didst throw our son headlong from
the roof. And when He denied it, they cried out, saying: Our son is dead,
and here is he who has killed him. And the Lord Jesus said to them: Do not
bring an evil report against me; but if you do not believe me, come and let
us ask the boy himself, that be may bring the truth to light. Then the Lord
Jesus went down, and standing over the dead body, said, with a loud voice:
Zeno, Zeno, who threw thee down from the roof? Then the dead boy answered
and said: My lord, it was not thou who didst throw me down, but such a one
cast me down from it. And when the Lord commanded those who were standing
by to attend to His words, all who were present praised God for this
miracle.

   45. Once upon a time the Lady Mary bad ordered the Lord Jesus to go and
bring her water from the well. And when He had gone to get the water, the
pitcher already full was knocked against something, and broken. And the
Lord Jesus stretched out His handkerchief, and collected the water, and
carried it to His mother; and she was astonished at it. And she hid and
preserved in her heart all that she saw.

   46. Again, on another day, the Lord Jesus was with the boys at a stream
of water, and they had again made little fish-ponds. And the Lord Jesus had
made twelve sparrows, and had arranged them round His fish-pond, three on
each side. And it was the Sabbath-day. Wherefore a Jew, the son of Hanan,
coming up, and seeing them thus engaged, said in anger and great
indignation: Do you make figures of clay on the Sabbath-day? And he ran
quickly, and destroyed their fish-ponds. But when the Lord Jesus clapped
His hands over the sparrows which He had made, they flew away chirping.

   Then the son of Hanan came up to the fish-pond of Jesus also, and
kicked it with his shoes, and the water of it vanished away. And the Lord
Jesus said to him: As that water has vanished away, so thy life shall
likewise vanish away. And immediately that boy dried up.

   47. At another time, when the Lord Jesus was returning home with Joseph
in the evening. He met a boy, who ran up against Him with so much force
that He fell. And the Lord Jesus said to him: As thou hast thrown me down,
so thou shall fall and not rise again. And the same hour the boy fell down,
and expired.

   48. There was, moreover, at Jerusalem, a certain man named Zacchaeus,
who taught boys. He said to Joseph: Why, O Joseph, dost thou not bring
Jesus to the to learn his letters? Joseph agreed to do so, and reported the
matter to the Lady Mary. They therefore took Him to the master; and he, as
soon as he saw Him, wrote out the alphabet for Him, and told Him to say
Aleph. And when He had said Aleph, the master ordered Him to pronounce
Beth. And the Lord Jesus said to him: Tell me first the meaning of the
letter Aleph, and then I shall pronounce Beth. And when the master
threatened to flog Him, the Lord Jesus explained to him the meanings of the
letters Aleph and Beth; also which figures of the letter were straight,
which crooked, which drawn round into a spiral, which marked with points,
which without them, why one letter went before another; and many other
things He began to recount and to elucidate which the master himself had
never either heard or read in any book. The Lord Jesus, moreover, said to
the master: Listen, and I shall say them to thee. And He began clearly and
distinctly to repeat Aleph, Beth, Gimel, Daleth, on to Tau. And the master
was astonished, and said: I think that this boy was born before Noah. And
turning to Joseph, be said: Thou hast brought to me to be taught a boy more
learned than all the masters. To the Lady Mary also be said: This son of
thine has no need of instruction.

   49. Thereafter they took Him to another and a more learned master, who,
when be saw Him, said: Say Aleph. And when He had said Aleph, the master
ordered him to pronounce Beth. And the Lord Jesus answered him, and said:
First tell me the meaning of the letter Aleph, and then I shall pronounce
Beth. And when the master hereupon raised his hand and flogged Him,
immediately his hand dried up, and he died. Then said Joseph, to the Lady
Mary: From this time we shall not let him go out of the house, since every
one who opposes him is struck dead.

   50. And when He was twelve years old, they took Him to Jerusalem to the
feast. And when the feast was finished, they indeed returned; but the Lord
Jesus remained in the temple among the teachers and elders and learned men
of the sons of Israel, to whom He put various questions upon the sciences,
and gave answers in His turn.(1) For He said to them: Whose son is the
Messias? They answered Him: The son of David. Wherefore then, said He, does
he in the Spirit call him his lord, when he says, The Lord said to my lord,
Sit at my right hand, that I may put thine enemies under thy footsteps?(1)
Again the chief of the teachers said to Him: Hast thou read the books? Both
the books, said the Lord Jesus, and the things contained in the books. And
He explained the books, and the law, and the precepts, and the statutes,
and the mysteries, which are contained in the books of the prophets--things
which the understanding of no creature attains to. That teacher therefore
said: I hitherto have neither attained to nor heard of such knowledge: Who,
pray, do you think that boy will be?

   51. And a philosopher who was there present, a skilful astronomer,
asked the Lord Jesus whether He had studied astronomy. And the Lord Jesus
answered him, and explained the number of the spheres, and of the heavenly
bodies, their natures and operations; their opposition; their aspect,
triangular, square, and sextile; their course, direct and retrograde; the
twenty-fourths,(2) and sixtieths of twenty-fourths; and other things beyond
the reach of reason.

   52. There was also among those philosophers one very skilled in
treating of natural science, and he asked the Lord Jesus whether He had
studied medicine. And He, in reply, explained to him physics and
metaphysics, hyperphysics and hypophysics, the powers likewise and humours
of the body, and the effects of the same; also the number of members and
bones, of veins, arteries, and nerves; also the effect of heat and dryness,
of cold and moisture, and what these give rise to; what was the operation
of the soul upon the body, and its perceptions and powers; what was the
operation of the faculty of speech, of anger, of desire; lastly, their
conjunction and  disjunction, and other things beyond the reach  of any
created intellect. Then that philosopher rose up, and adored the Lord
Jesus, and said: O Lord, from this time I will be thy disciple and slave.

   53. While they were speaking to each other of these and other things,
the Lady Mary came, after having gone about seeking Him for three days
along with Joseph. She therefore, seeing Him sitting among the teachers
asking them questions, and answering in His turn, said to Him: My son, why
hast thou treated us thus? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee with
great trouble. But He said: Why do you seek me? Do you not know that I
ought to occupy myself in my Father's house? But they did not understand
the words that He spoke to them. Then those teachers asked Mary whether He
were her son; and when she signified that He was, they said: Blessed art
thou, O Mary, who hast brought forth such a son. And returning with them to
Nazareth, He obeyed them in all things. And His mother kept all these words
of His in her heart. And the Lord Jesus advanced in stature, and in wisdom,
and in favour with God and man.(3)

   54. And from this day He began to hide His miracles and mysteries and
secrets, and to give attention to the law, until He completed His thirtieth
year, when His Father publicly declared Him at the Jordan by this voice
sent down from heaven: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am  well pleased;
the Holy Spirit being present in the form of a white dove.(4)

   55. This is He whom we adore with supplications, who hath given us
being and life, and who hath brought us from our mothers' wombs; who for
our sakes assumed a human body, and  redeemed us, that He might embrace us
in eternal compassion, and show to us His mercy according to His
liberality, and beneficence, and generosity, and benevolence. To Him is
glory, and beneficence, and power, and dominion from this time forth for
evermore. Amen.

   Here endeth the whole Gospel of the Infancy, with the aid of God Most
High, according to what we have found in the original.


THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS

PART I.--THE ACTS OF PILATE

FIRST GREEK FORM.

MEMORIALS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, DONE IN THE TIME OF PONTIUS PILATE.

   PROLOGUE.--I Ananias, of the propraetor's body-guard, being learned in
the law, knowing our Lord Jesus Christ from the Holy Scriptures, coming to
Him by faith, and counted worthy of the holy baptism, searching also the
memorials written at that time of what was done in the case of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which the Jews had laid up in the time of Pontius Pilate,
found these memorials written in Hebrew, and by the favour of God have
translated them into Greek for the information of all who call upon the
name of our Master Jesus Christ, in the seventeenth year of the reign of
our Lord Flavius Theodosius, and the sixth of Flavius Valentinianus, in the
ninth indiction.(1)

   All ye, therefore, who read and transfer into other books, remember me,
and pray for me, that God may be merciful to me, and pardon my sins which I
have sinned against Him.

   Peace be to those who read, and to those who hear and to their
households. Amen.

   In the fifteenth year(2) of the government of Tiberius Caesar, emperor
of the Romans, and Herod being king of Galilee, in the nineteenth year of
his rule, on the eighth day before the Kalends of April, which is the
twenty-fifth of March, in the consulship of Rufus and Rubellio, in the
fourth year of the two hundred and second Olympiad, Joseph Caiaphas being
high priest of the Jews.

   The account that Nicodemus wrote in Hebrew, after the cross and passion
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour God, and left to those that came
after him, is as follows:--

   CHAP. 1.--Having called a council, the high priests and scribes Annas
and Caiaphas and Seines and Dathaes, and Gamaliel, Judas, Levi and
Nephthalim, Alexander and Jairus,(3) and the rest of the Jews, came to
Pilate accusing Jesus about many things, saying: We know this man to be the
son of Joseph the carpenter, born of Mary; and he says that he is the Son
of God, and a king; moreover, he profanes the Sabbath, and wishes to do
away with the law of our fathers. Pilate says: And what are the things
which he does, to show that he wishes to do away with it?(4) The Jews say:
We have a law not to cure any one on the Sabbath; but this mans has on the
Sabbath cured the lame and the crooked, the withered and the blind and the
paralytic, the dumb and the demoniac, by evil practices. Pilate says to
them: What evil practices? They say to him: He is a magician, and by
Beelzebul prince of the demons be casts out the demons, and all are subject
to him. Pilate says to them: This is not casting out the demons by an
unclean spirit, but by the god AEsculapius.

The Jews say to Pilate: we entreat your highness that he stand at thy
tribunal, and be heard.(1) And Pilate having called them, says: Tell me how
I, being a procurator, can try a king? They say to him: W do not say that
he is a king, but he himself says that he is. And Pilate having called the
runner, says to him: Let Jesus be brought in with respect. And the runner
going out, and recognising Him, adored Him, and took his cloak into his
hand, and spread it on the ground, and says to him: My lord, walk on this,
and come in, for the procurator calls thee. And the Jews seeing what the
runner had done, cried out against Pilate, saying: Why hast thou ordered
him to come in by a runner, and not by a crier? for assuredly the runner,
when he saw him, adored him, and spread his doublet on the ground, and made
him walk like a king.

   And Pilate having called the runner, says to him: Why hast thou done
this, and spread out thy cloak upon the earth, and made Jesus walk upon it?
The runner says to him: My lord procurator, when thou didst send me to
Jerusalem to Alexander,(2) I saw him sitting upon an ass, and the sons of
the Hebrews held branches in their hands, and shouted; and other spread
their clothes under him saying, Save now, thou who art in the highest:
blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.(3)

   The Jews cry out, and say, to the runner: The soils of the Hebrews
shouted in Hebrew; whence then hast thou the Greek? The runner says to
them: I asked one of the Jews, and said,  What is it they are shouting in
Hebrew? And he interpreted it for me. Pilate says to them: And what did
they shout in Hebrew? The Jews  say to him: HOSANNA MEMBROME BARUCHAMMA
ADONAI.(4) Pilate says to them: And this hosanna, etc., how is it
interpreted? The Jews say to him: Save now in the highest; blessed is he;
that cometh in the name of the Lord. Pilate says to them: If you bear
witness to the words spoken by the children, in what has the runner done
wrong? And they were silent. And the procurator says to the runner: Go out,
and bring him in what way thou wilt. And the runner going out, did in the
same manner as before, and says to Jesus: My lord, come in; the procurator
calleth thee.

   And Jesus going in, and the standard-bearers holding their standards,
the tops of the standards were bent down, and adored Jesus. And the Jews
seeing the bearing of the standards, how they were bent down and adored
Jesus, cried(5) out vehemently against the standard-bearers. And Pilate
says to the Jews: Do you not wonder how the tops of the standards were bent
down, and adored Jesus? The Jews say to Pilate: We saw how the standard-
bearers bent them down, and adored him. And the procurator having called
the standard-bearers, says to them: Why have you done this? They say to
Pilate: We are Greeks and temple-slaves, and how could we adore him? and
assuredly, as we were holding them up, the tops bent down of their own
accord, and adored him.

   Pilate says to the rulers of the synagogue and the elders of the
people: Do you choose for yourselves men strong and powerful, and let them
hold up the standards, and let us see whether they will bend down with
them. And the elders of the Jews picked out twelve men powerful and strong,
and made them hold up the  standards six by six; and they were placed in
front of the procurator's tribunal. And Pilate says to the runner: Take him
outside of the praetorium, and bring him in again in whatever way may
please thee. And Jesus and the runner went out of the praetorium. And
Pilate, summoning those who had formerly held up the standards, says to
them: I have sworn by tile health of Caesar, that if the standards do not
bend down when Jesus comes in, I will cut off your heads. And the
procurator ordered Jesus to come in the second time. And the runner did in
the same manner as before, and made many entreaties to Jesus to walk on his
cloak. And He walked on it, and went ill. And as He went in, the standards
were again bent down, and adored Jesus.

   CHAP. 2.--And Pilate seeing this, was afraid, and sought to go away
from the tribunal; but when he was still thinking of going away, his  wife
sent to him, saying: Have nothing to do with this just man, for many things
have I suffered on his account this night.(6) And Pilate, summoning the
Jews, says to them: You know that my wife is a worshipper of God, and
prefers to adhere to the Jewish religion along with you. They say to him:
Yes; we know. Pilate says to them: Behold, my wife(7) has sent to me,
saying, Have nothing to do with this just man, for many things have I
suffered on account of him this night. And the Jews answering, say unto
Pilate: Did we not tell thee that he was a sorcerer?(8) behold, he has sent
a dream to thy wife.

   And Pilate, having summoned Jesus, says to Him: What do these witness
against thee? Sayest thou nothing? And Jesus said: Unless they had the
power, they would say nothing; for every one has the power of his own mouth
to speak both good and evil. They shall see to it.(1)

   And the eiders of the Jews answered, and said to Jesus: What shall we
see? first, that thou wast born of fornication; secondly, that thy birth in
Bethlehem was the cause of the murder of the infants; thirdly, that thy
father Joseph and thy mother Mary fled into Egypt because they had no
confidence in the people.

   Some of the bystanders, pious men of the Jews, say: we deny that he was
born of fornication; for we know that Joseph espoused Mary, and he was not
born of fornication. Pilate says to the Jews who said that he was of
fornication: This story of yours is not true, because they were betrothed,
as also these fellow-countrymen of yours say. Annas and Caiaphas say to
Pilate: All the multitude of us cry out that he was born of fornication,
and are not believed; these are proselytes, and his disciples. And Pilate,
calling Annas and Caiaphas, says to them: What are proselytes? They say to
him: They are by birth children of the Greeks, and have now become Jews.
And those that said that He was not born of fornication, viz.--Lazarus,
Asterius, Antonius, James, Atones, Zeras, Samuel, Isaac, Phinees, Crispus,
Agrippas, and Judas(2)--say: We are not proselytes, but are children of the
Jews, and speak of the truth; for we were present at the betrothal of
Joseph and Mary.

   And Pilate, calling these twelve men who said that He was not born of
fornication, says to them: I adjure you by the health of Caesar, to tell me
whether it be true that you say, that he was not born of fornication. They
say to Pilate: We have a law against taking oaths, because it is a sin; but
they will swear by the health of Caesar,(3) that it is not as we have said,
and we are liable to death. Pilate says to Annas and Caiaphas: Have you
nothing to answer to this? Annas and Caiaphas say to Pilate: These twelve
are believed when they say that he was not born of fornication; all the
multitude of us cry out that he was born of fornication, and that he is a
sorcerer, and he says that he is the Son of God and a king, and we are not
believed.

   And Pilate orders all the multitude to go out, except the twelve men
who said that He was not born of fornication, and he ordered Jesus to be
separated from them. And Pilate says to them: For what reason do they wish
to put him to death? They say to him: They are angry because he cures on
the Sabbath. Pilate says: For a good work do they wish to put him to death?
They say to him: Yes.

  CHAP. 3.--And Pilate, filled with rage, went outside of the praetorium,
and said to them: I take the sun to witness(4) that I find no fault in this
man. The Jews answered and said to the procurator: Unless this man were an
evil-doer, we should not have delivered him to thee. And Pilate said, Do
you take him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said to Pilate:
It is not lawful for us to put any one to death. Pilate said: Has God said
that you are not to put to death, but that I am?

   And Pilate went again into the praetorium, and spoke to Jesus
privately, and said to Him: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered
Pilate: Dost thou say this of thyself, or have others said it to thee of
me? Pilate answered Jesus: Am I also a Jew?(5) Thy nation and the chief
priests have given thee up to me. What hast thou done? Jesus answered: My
kingdom is not of this world; for if my kingdom were of this world, my
servants would fight in order that I should not be given up to the Jews:
but now my kingdom is not from thence. Pilate said to Him: Art thou then a
king? Jesus answered him: Thou sayest that I am a king. Because for this
have I been born, and have I come, in order that every one who is of the
truth might hear my voice. Pilate says to him: What is truth? Jesus says to
him: Truth is from heaven. Pilate says: Is truth not upon earth? Jesus says
to Pilate: Thou seest how those who speak the truth are judged by those
that have the power upon earth.

   CHAP. 4.--And leaving Jesus within the praetorium, Pilate went out to
the Jews, and said to them: I find no fault in him. The Jews say to him: He
said, I can destroy this temple, and in three days build it. Pilate says:
What temple? The Jews say: The one that Solomon(6) built in forty-six
years, and this man speaks of pulling it down and building it in three
days. Pilate says to them: I am innocent of the blood of this just man. See
you to it. The Jews say: His blood be upon us, and upon our children.

   And Pilate having summoned the eiders and priests and Levites, said to
them privately: Do not act thus, because no charge that you bring against
him is worthy of death; for your charge is about curing and Sabbath
profanation. The elders and the priests and the Levites say: If any one
speak evil against Caesar, is he worthy of death or not? Pilate says: He is
worthy of death The Jews say to Pilate: If any one speak evil against
Caesar, he is worthy of death; but this man has spoken evil against God.

   And the procurator ordered the Jews to go outside of the praetorium;
and summoning Jesus, he says to Him: What shall I do to thee? Jesus says to
Pilate: As it has been given to thee. Pilate says: How given? Jesus says:
Moses and the prophets have proclaimed beforehand of my death and
resurrection. And the Jews noticing this, and hearing it, say to Pilate:
What more wilt thou hear of this blasphemy? Pilate says to the Jews: If
these words be blasphemous, do you take him for the blasphemy, and lead him
away to your synagogue, and judge him according to your law. The Jews say
to Pilate: Our law bears that a man who wrongs his fellow-men is worthy to
receive forty save one; but he that blasphemeth God is to be stoned with
stones.(1)

   Pilate says to them: Do you take him, and punish him in whatever way
you please. The Jews say to Pilate: we wish that he be crucified. Pilate
says: He is not deserving of crucifixion.

   And the procurator, looking round upon the crowds of the Jews standing
by, sees many of the Jews weeping, and says: All the multitude do not wish
him to die. The elders of the Jews say: For this reason all the multitude
of us have come, that he should die. Pilate says to the Jews: Why should he
die? The Jews say: Because he called himself Son of God, and King.

   CHAP. 5.--And one Nicodemus, a Jew, stood before the procurator, and
said: I beseech your honour, let me say a few words. Pilate says: Say on.
Nicodemus says: I said to the elders and the priests and Levites, and to
all the multitude of the Jews in the synagogue, What do you seek to do with
this man? This man many miracles anti strange things, which no one has done
or will do. Let him go, and do not wish any evil against him. If the
miracles which he does are of God, they will stand; but if man, they will
come to nothing.(2) For assuredly Moses, being sent by God into Egypt, did
many miracles, which the Lord commanded him to do before Pharaoh king of
Egypt. And there were there Jannes and Jambres, servants of Pharaoh, and
they also did not a few of the miracles which Moses did; and the Egyptians
took them to be gods--this Jannes and this Jambres.(3) But, since the
miracles which they did were not of God, both they and those who believed
in them were destroyed. And now release this man, for he is not deserving
of death.

   The Jews say to Nicodemus: Thou hast become his disciple, and therefore
thou defendest him. Nicodemus says to them: Perhaps, too, the procurator
has become his disciple, because he defends him. Has the emperor not
appointed him to this place of dignity? And the Jews were vehemently
enraged, and gnashed their teeth against Nicodemus. Pilate says to I them:
Why do you gnash your teeth against him when you hear the truth? The Jews
say to Nicodemus: Mayst thou receive his truth and his portion. Nicodemus
says: Amen, amen; may I receive it, as you have said.

   CHAP. 6.--One of the Jews, stepping up, asked leave of the procurator
to say a word. The procurator says: If thou wishest to say any thing, say
on And the Jew said: Thirty-eight years I lay in my bed in great agony.And
when Jesus came, many demoniacs, and many lying ill of various diseases,
were cured by him. And some young men, taking pity on me, carried me, bed
and all, and took me to him. And when Jesus saw me, bed had compassion on
me, and said to me: Take up thy couch and walk. And I took up my couch, and
walked. The Jews say to pilate: Ask him on what day it was that he was
cured. He that had been cured says: On a Sabbath.(4) The Jews say: Is not
this the very thing that we said, that on a Sabbath he cures and casts out
demons?

   And another Jew stepped up and said: I was born blind; I heard sounds,
but saw not a face. And as Jesus passed by, I cried out with a loud  voice,
Pity me, O son of David. And he pitied me, and put his hands upon my eyes,
and I instantly received my sight.(5) And another Jew stepped up and said:
I was crooked, and he straightened me with a word. And another said: I was
a leper, and he cured me with a word.(6)

   CHAP. 7--And a woman(7) cried out from a distance, and said: I had an
issue of blood, and I touched the hem of his garment, and the issue of
blood which I had had for twelve years was stopped.(8) The Jews say: we
have a law, that a woman's evidence is not to be received.(9)

   CHAP. 8.--And others, a multitude both of men and women, cried out,
saying: This man is a prophet, and the demons are subject to him. Pilate
says to them who said that the demons were subject to Him: Why, then, were
not your teachers also subject to him? They say to Pilate: We do not know.
And others said: He raised Lazarus from the tomb after he had been dead
four days.(1) And the procurator trembled, and said to all the multitude of
the Jews: Why do you wish to pour out innocent blood?

   CHAP. 9--And having summoned Nicodemus and the twelve men that said He
was not born of fornication, he says to them: What shall I do, because
there is an insurrection among the people? They say to him: We know not;
let them see to it. Again Pilate, having summoned all the multitude of the
Jews, says: You know that it is customary, at the feast of unleavened
bread, to release one prisoner to you. I have one condemned prisoner in the
prison, a murderer named Barabbas, and this man standing in your presence,
Jesus, in whom I find no fault. Which of them do you wish me to release to
you? And they cry out: Barabbas. Pilate says: What, then, shall we do to
Jesus who is called Christ? The Jews say: Let him be crucified. And others
said: Thou art no friend of Caesar's if thou release this man, because he
called himself Son of God and king. You wish, then, this man to be king,
and not Caesar?(2)

   And Pilate, in a rage, says to the Jews: Always has your nation been
rebellious, and you always speak against your benefactors. The Jews say:
What benefactors? He says to them: Your God led you out of the land of
Egypt from bitter slavery, and brought you safe through the sea as through
dry land, and in the desert fed you with manna, and gave you quails, and
quenched your thirst with water from a rock, and gave you a law; and in all
these things you provoked your God to anger, and sought a molten calf. And
you exasperated your God, and He sought to slay you. And Moses prayed for
you, and you were not put to death. And now you charge me with hating the
emperor.(3)

   And rising up from the tribunal, he sought to go out. And the Jews cry
out, and say: We know that Caesar is king, and not Jesus. For assuredly the
magi brought gifts to him as to a king. And when Herod heard from the magi
that a king had been born, he sought to slay him; and his father Joseph,
knowing this, took him and his mother, and they fled into Egypt. And Herod
hearing of it, destroyed the children of the Hebrews that had been born in
Bethlehem.(4)

   And when Pilate heard these words, he was afraid; and ordering the
crowd to keep silence, because they were crying out, he said to them: So
this is he whom Herod sought? The Jews say: Yes, it is he. And, taking
water, Pilate washed his hands in the face of the sun, saying: I am
innocent of the blood of this just man; see you to it. Again the Jews cry
out: His blood be upon us, and upon our children.

   Then Pilate ordered the curtain of the tribunal where he was sitting to
be drawn,(5) and says to Jesus: Thy nation has charged thee with being a
king. On this account I sentence thee, first to be scourged, according to
the enactment of venerable kings, and then to be fastened on the cross in
the garden where thou wast seized. And let Dysmas and Gestas, the two
malefactors, be crucified with thee.

   CHAP. 10.--And Jesus went forth out of the praetorium, and the two
malefactors with Him. And when they came to the place, they stripped Him of
his clothes, and girded Him with a towel, and put a crown of thorns on Him
round His head. And they crucified Him; and at the same time also they hung
up the two malefactors along with Him. And Jesus said: Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do. And the soldiers parted His clothes
among them; and the people stood looking at Him. And the chief priests, and
the rulers with them, mocked Him, saying: He saved others; let him save
himself. If he be the Son of God, let him come down from the cross. And the
soldiers made sport of Him, coming near and offering Him vinegar mixed with
gall, and said: Thou art the king of the Jews; save thyself.(6)

   And Pilate, after the sentence, ordered the charge made against Him to
be inscribed as a superscription in Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, according
to what the Jews had said: He is king of the Jews.

   And one of the malefactors hanging up spoke to Him, saying: If thou be
the Christ, save  thyself and us. And Dysmas answering, reproved him,
saying: Dost thou not fear God, because thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly, for we receive the fit punishment of our deeds; but
this man has done no evil. And he said to Jesus: Remember me, Lord, in Thy
kingdom. And Jesus said to him: Amen, amen; I say to thee, To-day shall
thou be(7) with me in Paradise.

   CHAP. II.--And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over
the earth until the ninth hour, the sun being darkened; and the curtain of
the temple was split in the middle. And crying out with a loud voice, Jesus
said: Father, BADDACH EPHKID RUEL, which is, interpreted: Into Thy hands I
commit my spirit.(1) And having said this, He gave up the ghost. And the
centurion, seeing what had happened, glorified God, and said: This was a
just man. And all the crowds that were present at this spectacle, when they
saw what had happened, beat their breasts and went away.

   And the centurion reported what had happened to the procurator. And
when the procurator and his wife heard it, they were exceedingly grieved,
and neither ate nor drank that day. And Pilate sent for the Jews, and said
to them: Have you seen what has happened? And they say: There has been an
eclipse of the sun in the usual way.(2)

   And His acquaintances were standing at a distance, and the women who
came with Him from Galilee, seeing these things. And a man named Joseph, a
councillor from the city of Arimathaea, who also waited for the kingdom of
God, went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and
wrapped it in clean linen, and placed it in a tomb hewn out of the rock, in
which no one had ever lain.

   CHAP. 12.--And the Jews, hearing that Joseph had begged the booty of
Jesus, sought him and the twelve who said that Jesus was not born of
fornication, and Nicodemus, and many others who had stepped up before
Pilate and declared His good works. And of all these that were hid,
Nicodemus alone was seen by them, because he was a ruler of the Jews. And
Nicodemus says to them: How have you come into the synagogue? The Jews say
to him: How hast thou come into the synagogue? for thou art a confederate
of his, and his portion is with thee in the world to come. Nicodemus says:
Amen, amen. And likewise Joseph also stepped out and said to them: Why are
you angry against me because I begged the body of Jesus? Behold, I have put
him in my new tomb, wrapping him in clean linen; and I have rolled a stone
to the door of the tomb. And you have acted not well against the just man,
because you have not repented of crucifying him, but also have pierced him
with a spear. And the Jews seized Joseph, and ordered him to be secured
until the first day of the week, and said to him: Know that the time does
not allow us to do anything against thee, because the Sabbath is dawning;
and know that thou shall not be deemed worthy of burial, but we shall give
thy flesh to the birds of the air. Joseph says to them: These are the words
of the arrogant Goliath, who reproached the living God and holy David.(3)
For God has said by the prophet, Vengeance is mine, and I will repay, saith
the Lord.(4) And now he that is uncircumcised in flesh, but circumcised in
heart, has taken water, and washed his hands in the face of the sun,
saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just man; see ye to it. And you
answered and said to Pilate, His blood be upon us, and upon our children.
And now I am afraid lest the wrath of God come upon you, and upon your
children, as you have said. And the Jews, hearing these words, were
embittered in their souls, and seized Joseph, and locked him into a room
where there was no window; and guards were stationed at the door, and they
sealed the door where Joseph was locked in.

   And on the Sabbath, the rulers of the synagogue,(5) and the priests and
the Levites, made a decree that all should be found in the synagogue on the
first day of the week. And rising up early, all the multitude in the
synagogue consulted by what death they should slay him. And when the
Sanhedrin was sitting, they ordered him to be brought with much indignity.
And having opened the door, they found him not. And all the people were
surprised, and struck with dismay, because they found the seals unbroken.
and because Caiaphas had the key. And they no longer dared to lay hands
upon those who had spoken before Pilate in Jesus' behalf.

   CHAP.13.--And while they were still sitting in the synagogue, and
wondering about Joseph, there come some of the guard whom the Jews had
begged of Pilate to guard the tomb of Jesus, that His disciples might not
come and steal Him. And they reported to the rulers of the synagogue, and
the priests and the Levites, what had happened: how there had been a great
earthquake; and we saw an angel coming down from heaven, and he rolled away
the stone from the mouth of the tomb, and sat upon it; and he shone like
snow, and like lightning. And we were very much afraid, and lay like dead
men; and we heard the voice of the angel saying to the women who remained
beside the tomb, Be not afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was
crucified. He is not here: He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place
where the Lord lay: and go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen
from the dead, and is in Galilee.(6)

   The Jews say: To what women did he speak? The men of the guard say: We
do not know who they were. The Jews say: At what time was this? The men of
the guard say: At midnight. The Jews say: And wherefore did you not lay
hold of them? The men of the guard say: We were like dead men from fear,
not expecting to see the light of day, and how could we lay hold of them?
The Jews say: As the Lord liveth, we do not believe you. The men of the
guard say to the Jews: You have seen so great miracles in the case of this
man, and have not believed; and how can you balieve us? And assuredly you
have done well to swear that the Lord liveth, for indeed He does live.
Again the men of the guard say: We have heard that you have locked up the
man that begged the body of Jesus, and put a seal on the door; and that you
have opened it, and not found him. Do you then give us the man whom you
were guarding, and we shall give you Jesus. The Jews say: Joseph has gone
away to his own city. The men of the guard say to the Jews: And Jesus has
risen, as we heard from the angel, and is in Galilee.

   And when the Jews heard these words, they were very much afraid, and
said: We must take care lest this story he heard, and all incline to Jesus.
And the Jews called a council, and paid down a considerable sum of money,
and gave it to the soldiers, saying: Say, while we slept, his disciples
came by night and stole him; and if this come to the ears of the
procurator, we shall persuade him, and keep you out of trouble. And they
took it, and said as the had been instructed.(1)

   CHAP. 14.--And Phinees a priest, and Adas a teacher, and Haggai a
Levite, came down from Galilee to Jerusalem, and said to the rulers of the
synagogue, and the priests and the Levites: We saw Jesus and his disciples
sitting on the mountain called Mamilch;(2) and he said to his disciples, Go
into all the world, and preach to every creature: he that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be condemned. And
these signs shall attend those who have believed: in my name they shall
cast out demons, speak new tongues, take up serpents; and if they drink any
deadly thing, it shall by no means hurt them; they shall lay hands on the
sick, and they shall be well. And while Jesus was speaking to his
disciples, we saw him taken up to heaven.(3)

   The elders and the priests and Levites say: Give glory to the God of
Israel, and confess to Him whether you have heard and seen those things of
which you have given us an account. And those who had given the account
said: As the Lord liveth, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
we heard these things, and saw him taken up into heaven. The ciders and the
priests and the Levites say to them: Have you come to give us this
announcement, or to offer prayer to God? And they say: To offer prayer to
God. The elders and the chief priests and the Levites say to them: If you
have come to offer prayer to God, why then have you told these idle tales
in the presence of all the people?(4) Says Phinees the priest, and Atlas
the teacher, and Haggai the Levite to the rulers of the synagogues. and the
priests and the Levites: If what we have said and seen be sinful, behold,
we are before you; do to us as seems good in your eyes. And they took the
law, and made them swear upon it, not to give any more an account of these
matters to any one. And they gave them to cat and drink, and sent them out
of the city, having given them also money, and three men with them; and
they sent them away to Galilee.

   And  these men having gone into Galilee, the chief priests, and the
rulers of the synagogue, and the elders, came together into the synagogue,
and locked the door, and lamented with a great lamentation, saying: Is this
a miracle that has happened in Israel? And Annas and Caiaphas said: Why are
you so much moved? Why do you weep? Do you not know that his disciples have
given a sum of gold to the guards of the tomb, and have instructed them to
say that an angel came down and rolled away the stone from the door of the
tomb? And the priests and the elders sand: Be it that his disciples have
stolen his body; how is it that the life has come into his body, and that
he is going, about in Galilee? And they being unable to give an answer to
these things, said, after great hesitation: It is not lawful for us to
believe the uncircumcised.

   CHAP. 15.--And Nicodemus stood up, and stood before the Sanhedrin,
saying: You say well;(5) you are not ignorant, you people of the Lord, of
these men that come down from Galilee, that they fear God, and are men of
substance, haters of covetousness, men of peace; and they have declared
with an oath. We saw Jesus upon the mountain Mamilch with his disciples,
and he taught what we heard from him, and we saw him taken up into heaven.
And no one asked them in what form he went up. For assuredly, as the book
of the Holy Scriptures taught us, Helias also was taken up into heaven, and
Elissaeus cried out with a loud voice, and Helias threw his sheepskin upon
Elissaeus, and Elissaeus threw his sheepskin upon the Jordan, and crossed,
and came into Jericho. And the children of the prophets met him, and said,
O Elissaeus, where is thy master Helias? And he said, He has been taken up
into heaven. And they said to Elissaeus, Has not a spirit seized him, arid
thrown him upon one of the mountains? But let us take our servants(1) with
us, and seek him. And they persuaded Elissaeus, and he went away with them.
And they sought him three days, and did not find him; and they knew he had
been taken up.(2) And now listen to me, and let us send into every district
of Israel, and see lest perchance Christ has been taken up by a spirit, and
thrown upon one of the mountains? And this proposal pleased all. And they
sent into every district of Israel, and sought Jesus, and did not find Him;
but they found Joseph in Arimathaea, and no one dared to lay hands on him.

   And they reported to the elders, and the priests, and the Levites: We
have gone round to every district of Israel, and have not found Jesus; but
Joseph we have found in Arimathaea. And hearing about Joseph, they were
glad, and gave glory to the God of Israel. And the rulers of the synagogue,
and the priests and the Levites, having held a council as to the manner in
which they should meet with Joseph, took a piece of paper, and wrote to
Joseph as follows:--

   Peace to thee! We know that we have sinned against God, anti against
thee; and we have prayed to the God of Israel, that thou shouldst deign to
come to thy fathers, and to thy children, because we have all been grieved.
For having opened the door, we did not find thee. And we know that we have
counselled evil counsel against thee; but the Lord has defended thee, and
the Lord Himself has scattered to the winds our counsel against thee, O
honourable father Joseph.

   And they chose from all Israel seven men, friends of Joseph, whom also
Joseph himself was acquainted with; and the rulers of the synagogue, and
the priests and the Levites, say to them: Take notice: if, after receiving
our letter, he read it, know that he will come with you to us; but if he do
not read it, know that he is ill-disposed towards us. And having saluted
him in peace, return to us. And having blessed the men, they dismissed
them. And the men came to Joseph, and did reverence to him, and said to
him: Peace to thee! And he said: Peace to  you, and to all the people of
Israel! And they  gave him the roll of the letter. And Joseph having
received it, read the letter and rolled it up, and blessed God, and said:
Blessed be the Lord God, who has delivered Israel, that they should not
shed innocent blood; and blessed be the Lord, who sent out His angel, and
covered me under his wings. And he set a table for   them; and they ate and
drank, and slept there. And they rose up early, and prayed. And Joseph
saddled his ass, and set out with the men; and they came to the holy city
Jerusalem. And all the people met Joseph, and cried out: Peace to thee in
thy coming in! And he said to all the people: Peace to you! and he kissed
them. And the people prayed with Joseph, and they were astonished at the
sight of him. And Nicodemus received him into his house, and made a great
feast, and called Annas and Caiaphas, and the eiders, and the priests, and
the Levites to his house. And they rejoiced, eating and drinking with
Joseph; and after singing hymns, each proceeded to his own house. But
Joseph remained in the house of Nicodemus.

   And on the following day, which was the preparation, the rulers of the
synagogue and the priests and the Levites went early to the house of
Nicodemus; and Nicodemus met them, and said: Peace to you! And they said:
Peace to thee, and to Joseph, and to all thy house, and to all the house of
Joseph! And he brought them into his house. And all the Sanhedrin sat down,
and Joseph sat down between Annas and Caiaphas: and no one dared to say a
word to him. And Joseph said: Why have you called me? And they signalled to
Nicodemus to speak to Joseph. And Nicodemus, opening his mouth, said to
Joseph: Father, thou knowest that the honourable teachers, and the priests
and the Levites, see to learn a word from thee. And Joseph said: Ask. And
Annas and Caiaphas having taken the law, made Joseph swear, saying: Give
glory to the God of Israel, and give Him confession; for Achar being made
to swear by the prophet  Jesus,(3) did not forsware himself, but declared
unto him all, and did not hide a word from him. Do thou also accordingly
not hide from us to the extent of a word. And Joseph said: I shall not hide
from you one word. And they said to him: With grief were we grieved because
thou didst beg the body of Jesus, and wrap it in clean linen, and lay it in
a tomb. And on account of this we secured thee in a room where there was no
windows: and we put locks and seals upon the doors and guards kept watching
where thou wast locked in And on the first day of the week we opened, and
found thee not, and were grieved exceedingly; and astonishment fell upon
all the people of the Lord until yesterday. And now relate to us what has
happened to thee.

   And Joseph said: On the preparation, about the tenth hour, you locked
me up, and I remained all the Sabbath. And at midnight, as I was standing
and praying, the room where you locked me in was hung up by the four
corners, and I saw a light like lightning into my eyes.(1) And I was
afraid, and fell to the ground. And some one took me by the hand, and
removed me from the place where I had fallen; and moisture of water was
poured from my head even to my feet, and a smell of perfumes came about my
nostrils. And he wiped my face, and kissed me, and said to me, Fear not,
Joseph; open thine eyes, and see who it is that speaks to thee. And looking
up, I saw Jesus. And I trembled and thought it was a phantom; and I said
the commandments, and he said them with me.(2) Even so you are not ignorant
that a phantom, if it meet anybody, and hear the commandments, takes to
flight. And seeing that he said them with the, I said to him, Rabbi Helias.
And he said to me, I am not Helias. And I said to him, Who art thou, my
lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus, whose body thou didst beg from Pilate;
and thou didst clothe me with clean, linen. and didst put a napkin on my
face, and  didst lay me in thy new tomb, and didst roll a great stone to
the door of the tomb. And I said to him that was speaking to me, Show me
the place where I laid thee. And he carried me away, and showed me the
place where I laid him; and the linen cloth was lying in it, and the napkin
for his face. And I knew that it was Jesus. And he took me by the hand, and
placed me, though the doors were locked, in the middle  of my house, and
led me away to my bed, and said to me, Peace to thee! And he kissed me, and
said to me, For forty days go not forth out of thy house; for, behold, I go
to my brethren into Galilee.

   CHAP. 16.--And the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests and the
Levites, when they heard these words from Joseph, became as dead, and fell
to the ground, and fasted until the ninth hour. And Nicodemus, along with
Joseph, exhorted Annas and Caiaphas, the priests and the Levites, saying:
Rise up and stand upon your feet, and taste bread, and strengthen your
souls, because to-morrow is the Sabbath of the Lord. And they rose up, and
prayed to God, and ate and drank, and departed every man to his own house.

   And on the Sabbath our teachers and the priests and Levites sat
questioning each other,  and saying: What is this wrath that has come upon
us? for we know his father and mother.  Levi, a teacher, says: I know that
his parents fear God, and do not withdraw themselves from the prayers, and
give the tithes thrice a year.(3) And when Jesus was born, his parents
brought him to this place, and gave sacrifices and burnt-offerings to God.
And when the great teacher Symeon took him into his arms, he said, Now Thou
sendest away Thy servant, Lord, according to Thy word, in peace; for mine
eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of
all the peoples: a light for the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory
of Thy people Israel. And Symeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother,
I give thee good news about this child. And Mary said, It is well, my lord.
And Symeon said to her, It is well; behold, he lies for the fall and rising
again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against; anti of thee
thyself a sword shall go through the soul, in order that the reasoning of
many hearts may be revealed.(4)

   They say to the teacher Levi: How knowest thou these things? Levi says
to them: Do you not know that from him I learned the law? The Sanhedrin say
to him: We wish to see thy father. And they sent for his father. And they
asked him; anti he said to them: Why have you not believed my son? The
blessed and just Symeon himself taught him the law. The Sanhedrin says to
Rabbi Levi: Is the word that you have said true? And he said: It is true.
And the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests and the Levites, said to
themselves: Come, let  us send into Galilee to the three men that came and
told about his teaching and his taking up,  and let them tell us how they
saw him taken up. And this saying pleased all. And they sent away the three
men who had already gone away into Galilee with them; and they say to them:
Say to Rabbi Adas, and Rabbi Phinees, and Rabbi Haggai: Peace to you, and
all who are with you! A great inquiry having taken place in tile Sanhedrin,
we have been sent to you to call you to this holy place, Jerusalem.

   And the men set out into Galilee, and found them sitting and
considering the law; and they saluted them in peace. And the men who were
in Galilee said to those who had come to them: Peace upon all Israel! And
they said: Peace to you! And they again said to them: Why have you come?
And those who had been sent said: The Sanhedrin call you to the holy city
Jerusalem. And when the men heard that they were sought by the Sanhedrin,
they prayed to God, and reclined with the men, and ate and drank, and rose
up, and set out in peace to Jerusalem.

   And on the following day the Sanhedrin sat in the synagogue, and asked
them, saying: Did you really see Jesus sitting on the mountain Mamilch
teaching his eleven disciples, and did you see him taken up? And the men
answered them, and said: As we saw him taken up, so also we said.

   Annas says: Take them away from one another, and let us see whether
their account agrees. And they took them away from one another. And first
they call Adas, and say to him: How didst thou see Jesus taken up? Adas
says: While he was yet sitting on the mountain Mamilch, and teaching his
disciples, we saw a cloud overshadowing both him and his disciples. And the
cloud took him up into heaven, and his disciples lay upon their face upon
the earth. And they call Phinees the priest, and ask him also, saying: How
didst thou see Jesus taken up? And he spoke in like manner. And they again
asked Haggai, and he spoke in like manner. And the Sanhedrin said: The law
of Moses holds: At the mouth of two or three every word shall be
established.(1) Buthem, a teacher, says: It is written in the law, And
Enoch walked with God, and is not, because God took him.(2) Jairus, a
readier, said: And the death of holy Moses we have heard of, and have not
seen it; for it is written in the law of the Lord, And Moses died from the
mouth of the Lord, and no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.(3)
And Rabbi Levi said: Why did Rabbi Symeon say, when he saw Jesus, "Behold,
he lies for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign
spoken against?"(4) And Rabbi Isaac said: It is written in the law, Behold,
I send my messenger before thy face, who shall go before thee to keep thee
in every good way, because my name has been called upon him.(5)

   Then Annas and Caiaphas said: Rightly have you said what is written in
the law of Moses, that no one saw the death of Enoch, and no one has named
the death of Moses; hut Jesus was tried before Pilate, and we saw him
receiving blows and spittings on his face, and the soldiers put about him a
crown of thorns, and he was scourged, and received sentence from Pilate,
and  was crucified upon the Cranium, and two robbers with him; and they
gave him to drink vinegar with gall, and Longinus the soldier pierced his
side with a spear; and Joseph our honourable father begged his body, and,
as he says, he is risen; and as the three teachers say, We saw him taken up
into heaven; and Rabbi Levi has given evidence of what was said by Rabbi
Symeon, and that he said, Behold, he lies for the fall and rising again of
many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against. And all the teachers said to
all the people of the Lord: If this was from  the Lord, and is wonderful in
your eyes,(6) knowing you shall know, O house of Jacob, that it is written,
Cursed is every one that hangeth upon a tree.(7) And another Scripture
teaches: The gods which have not made the heaven and the earth shall be
destroyed.(8) And the priests and the Levites said to each other: If his
memorial be until the year that is called Jobel,(9) know that it shall it
endure for ever, and he hath raised for himself a new people. Then the
rulers of the synagogue, and the priests and the Levites, announced to all
Israel, saying: Cursed is that man who shall worship the work of man's
hand, and cursed is the man who shall worship the creatures more than the
Creator. And all the people said, Amen, amen.(10)

   And all the people praised(11) the Lord, and said: Blessed is the Lord,
who hath given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He hath
spoken; there hath not fallen one word of every good word of His that He
spoke to Moses His servant. May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with
our fathers: let Him not destroy us. And let Him not destroy us, that we
may incline our hearts to Him, that we may walk in all His ways, that we
may keep His commandments and His judgments which He commanded to our
fathers.(12) And the Lord shall be for a king over all the earth in that
day; and there shall he one Lord, and His name one.(13) The Lord is our
king: He shall save us.(14) There is none like Thee, O Lord.(15) Great art
Thou, O Lord, and great is Thy name. By Thy power heal us. O Lord, and we
shall be healed: save us, O Lord, and we shall be saved;(16) because we are
Thy lot and heritage. And the Lord will not leave His people, for His great
name's sake; for the Lord has begun to make us into His people.(17)

   And all, having sung praises, went away each man to his own house,
glorifying God; for His is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

SECOND GREEK FORM.

   A NARRATIVE about the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His holy
resurrection.

   Written by a Jew, AEneas by name, and translated out of the Hebrew
tongue into the Romaic language by Nicodemus, a Roman toparch.

   After the dissolution of the kingdom of the Hebrews, four hundred years
having run their course, and the Hebrews also coming at last under the
kingdom of the Romans, and the king of the Romans appointing them a king;
when Tiberius Caesar at last swayed the Roman sceptre, in the eighteenth
year of his reign,(1) he appointed as king of Judaea, Herod, the son of the
Herod who had formerly slaughtered the infants in Bethlehem, and he made
Pilate procurator in Jerusalem; when Annas and Caiaphas held the high-
priesthood of Jerusalem, Nicodemus, a Roman toparch, having summoned a Jew,
AEneas by name, asked him to write an account of the things done in
Jerusalem about Christ in the times of Annas and Caiaphas. The Jew
accordingly did this, and delivered it to Nicodemus; and he, again,
translated it from the Hebrew writing into the Romaic language. And the
account is as follows:--

   CHAP. I.--Our Lord Jesus Christ having wrought in Judaea many and great
and extraordinary miracles, and on account of this being hated by the
Hebrews, while Pilate was procurator in Jerusalem, and Annas and Caiaphas
high priests, there came of the Jews to the chief priests, Judas, Levi,
Nephthalim, Alexander, Syrus, and many others, speaking against Christ. And
these chief priests sent them away to say these things to Pilate also. And
they went away, and said to him: A man walks about in this city whose
father is called Joseph, and his mother Mary; and he calls himself king and
Son of God; and being a Jew, he overturns the Scriptures, and does away
with the Sabbath. Pilate then asked, in order to learn from them in what
manner lie did away with the Sabbath. And they answered, saying: He cures
tile sick on the Sabbath. Pilate says: If he makes the sick whole, he does
no evil. They say to him: If he effected the cures properly, small would be
the evil; but by using magic he does these things, and by having the demons
on his side. Pilate says: To cure a person that is ill is not a diabolic
work, but a grace from God.

   The Hebrews said: We beseech your highness to summon him, in order that
thou mayst make accurate inquiry into what we say. Pilate therefore,
throwing off his cloak, gave it to one of his officers,(2) saying: Go away,
and show this to Jesus, and say to him, Pilate the procurator calls thee to
come before him. The officer accordingly went away, and finding Jesus,
summoned Him, having unfolded on the ground also Pilate's mantle, and urged
Him to walk upon it. And the Hebrews, seeing this, and being greatly
enraged, came to Pilate, murmuring against him, how he had deemed Jesus
worthy of so great honour.

   And he, having inquired of the officer who had been sent how he had
done so, the officer answered: When thou didst send me to the Jew
Alexander, I came upon Jesus entering the gate of the city, sitting upon an
ass. And I saw that the Hebrews spread their garments in the way, and the
ass walked upon the garments; and others cut branches, and they went forth
to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna in the highest! Thus, therefore, it was
necessary for me also to do.

   The Jews, hearing these words, said to him: How didst thou, being a
Roman, know what was said by the Hebrews? The officer answered: I asked one
of the Hebrews, and he told the these things. Pilate said: What means
Hosanna? The Jews said: Save us, O Lord. Pilate answered: Since you confess
that your children said so, how now do you bring charges, and say against
Jesus what you do say? The Jews were silent, and had nothing to answer.(3)

   Now, as Jesus was coming to Pilate, the soldiers of Pilate adored Him.
And others also were standing before Pilate holding standards. And as Jesus
was coming, the standards also bowed down, and adored Him. As Pilate,
therefore, was wondering at what had happened, the Jews said to him: My
lord, it was not the standards that adored Jesus, but the soldiers who were
holding them carelessly.

   Pilate says to the ruler of the synagogue: Choose twelve powerful men,
and give them the standards, so that they may hold them firmly. And this
having taken place, Pilate ordered the officer to take Jesus outside, and
bring Him in again. And as He was coming in, the standards again bowed
down, and adored Him. Pilate therefore wondered greatly. But the Jews said:
He is a magician, and through that he does these things.

   CHAP. 2.--Pilate says to Jesus: Hearest thou what these testify against
thee, and answerest thou not?(1) And Jesus answered and said: Every man has
power to speak either good or bad, as he wishes; these also, therefore,
having power, say what they wish.(2)

   The Jews said to Him: What have we to say about thee? First, that thou
wast begotten from sin; second, that on account of thee, when thou wast
born, the infants(3) were murdered; third, that thy father and thy mother
fled into Egypt, because they had no confidence in the people.

   To these the Jews who were there present, God-fearing men, answered and
said: We say that his birth is not from sin; for we know that Joseph
received into keeping his mother Mary, according to the practice of
betrothal. Pilate said: Consequently you lie who say that his birth is from
sin. They say again to Pilate: All the people testify that he is a
magician. The God-fearing Jews answered and said: We also were at the
betrothal of his mother, and we are Jews, and know all his daily life; but
that he is a magician, that we do not know. And the Jews that thus said
were these: Lazarus, Astharius, Antonius, James, Zaras, Samuel, Isaac,
Phinees, Crispas, Dagrippus, Amese, and Judas.

   Pilate therefore says to them: By the life of Caesar, I wish you to
swear whether the birth of this man is without sin. They answered: Our law
lays down that we are to swear not at all, because an oath is great sin.
Notwithstanding, by the life of Caesar we swear that his birth is without
sin; and if we lie, order us all to be beheaded. And when they had thins
spoken, the Jews that were bringing the charge answered Pilate, and said:
And dost thou believe these twelve single Jews more than all the multitude
and us, who know for certain that he is a magician and blasphemer, and that
he names himself Son of God?

   Then Pilate ordered them all to go forth out of the praetorium except
the said twelve alone. And when this had been done, Pilate says to them
privately: As to this man, it appears that from envy and madness the Jews
wish to murder him: for of one thing--that he does away with the Sabbath--
they accuse him; but he then does a good work, because he cures the sick.
For this, sentence of death is not upon the man. The twelve also say to
him: Assuredly, my lord, it is so.

   Chap. 3.--Pilate therefore went outside in rage and anger, and says to
Annas and Caiaphas, and to the crowd who brought Jesus: I take the sun to
witness that I find no fault in this man. The crowd answered: If he were
not a sorcerer, and a magician, and a blasphemer, we should not have
brought him to your highness. Pilate said: Try him yourselves; and since
you have a law, do as your law says. The Jews said: Our law permits to put
no man to death.(4) Pilate says: If you are unwilling to put him to death,
how much more am I!

   Then Pilate returned to the palace, and says to Jesus: Tell me, art
thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered: Dost thou say this, or have the
other Jews said this to thee, that thou mightst question me? Pilate said:
Thou dost not think that I am a Hebrew? I am not a Hebrew. Thy people and
the chief priests have delivered thee into my hands; and tell me if thou
art king of the Jews? Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world; for
if my kingdom were in this world, my soldiers would not be unconcerned at
my being seized: wherefore my kingdom is not in this world. Pilate says:
But art thou a king? Jesus said: Thou hast said: for this was I born, to
bear witness to the truth; and if any one be a man of the truth, he
believes my word, and does it. Pilate says: What is the truth?(5) Jesus
answered: The truth is from the heavens. Pilate says: On earth, then, is
there no truth? Christ says: I am the truth; and how is the truth judged on
earth by those that have earthly power!

   Chap. 4.--Pilate therefore, leaving Christ alone, went outside, and
says to the Jews: I find no fault in this man. The Jews answered: Let us
tell your highness what he said. He said, I am able to destroy the temple
of God, and in three days to build it. Pilate says: And what temple did he
say that he was to destroy? The Hebrews say: The temple of Solomon, which
Solomon built in forty-six years.(6)

   Pilate says privately to the chief priests and the scribes and the
Pharisees: I entreat you, do nothing evil against this man; for if you do
evil against him, you will do unjustly: for it is not just that such a man
should die, who has done great good to many men. They said to Pilate: If,
my lord, he who has dishonoured Caesar is worthy of death, how much more
this man who dishonours God!

   Then Pilate dismissed them, and they all went outside. Thereupon he
says to Jesus: dost thou wish that I shall do to thee? Jesus says to
Pilate: Do to me as is determined. Pilate says: How is it determined? Jesus
answered: Moses and the prophets wrote about me being crucified, and rising
again. The Hebrews, hearing this, said to Pilate: Why do you seek to hear a
greater insult out of him against God? Pilate says: These words are not an
insult against God, since they are written in the books of the prophets.
The Hebrews said: Our Scripture says, If a man offend against a man, that
is to say, if he insult him, he is worthy to receive forty strokes with a
rod; but if any one insult God, to be stoned.(1)

   Then came a messenger from Procle, the wife of Pilate, to him; and the
message said: Take care that thou do not agree that any evil should happen
to Jesus the good man; because during this night I have seen fearful dreams
on account of him.(2) And Pilate spoke to the Hebrews, saying: If you hold
as insult against God the words which you declare Jesus to have spoken,
take and judge him yourselves according to your law.(3) The Jews said to
Pilate: We wish that you should crucify him. Pilate says: This is not good.

   And Pilate, turning towards the people, saw many weeping, and said: To
me it seems that it is not the wish of all the people that this man should
die. The priests and the scribes say: We on this account have brought all
the people, that thou mightst have full conviction that all wish his death.
Pilate says: For what evil hath he done? The Hebrews said: He says that he
is a king, and the Son of God.

   CHAP. 5.--A God-fearing Jew, therefore, Nicodemus by name, stood up in
the midst, and said to Pilate: I entreat your highness to permit me to say
a few words. Say on, said Pilate. Nicodemus says: I, being present in the
synagogue, said to the priests, and the Levites, and the scribes, and the
people, What have you to say against this man? This man does many miracles,
such as man has never yet done nor will do. Let him go, therefore; and if
indeed what he does be from God, it will stand; but if from man, it will be
destroyed.(4) Just as happened also when God sent Moses into Egypt, and
Pharoah king of Egypt told him to do a miracle, and he did it. Then Pharoah
had also two magicians, Jannes and Jambres; and they also did miracles by
the use of magic art, but not such as Moses did.(5) And the Egyptians held
these magicians to be gods; but because they were not from God, what they
did was destroyed. This Jesus, then, raised up Lazarus, and he is alive. On
this account I entreat thee, my lord, by no means to allow this man to be
put to death.

   The Hebrews were enraged against Nicodemus, and said: Mayst thou
receive the truth of Jesus, and have a portion with him. Nicodemus says:
Amen, amen; be it to me as you say.

   Chap. 6.--And when Nicodemus had thus spoken, another Hebrew rose up,
and said to Pilate: I beg of thee, my lord Pilate, hear me also. Pilate
answered: Say what thou wishest. The Hebrew says: I lay sick in bed thirty-
eight years; and when he saw me he was grieved, and said to me, Rise, take
up thy couch, and go into thine house. And while he was saying the word to
me, I rose and walked about. The Hebrews say: Ask him on what day of the
week this happened. He says: On Sabbath.(6) The Jews said: And consequently
we say truly, that he does not keep the Sabbath.

   Another, again, standing in the midst, said: I was born blind; and as
Jesus was going along the road, I cried to him, saying, Have mercy upon me,
Lord, thou son of David. And he took clay, and anointed mine eyes; and
straight, way I received my sight.(7) Another said: I was crooked; and
seeing him, I cried, Have mercy upon me, O Lord. And he took me by the
hand, and I was immediately raised.(8) Another said: I was a leper, and he
healed me merely by a word.(9)

   Chap. 7.--There was found there also a woman named Veronica, and she
said: Twelve years I was in an issue of blood, and I only touched the edge
of his garment, and directly I was cured.(10) The Jews say: Our law does
not admit the testimony of a woman.(11)

   Chap.(8).--Other men cried: This man is a prophet, and the demons are
afraid of him. Pilate says: And how were the demons not at all thus afraid
of your parents also? They say: We do not know. Others, again, said:
Lazarus, after having been four days in the tomb, he raised by a single
word.(12) Pilate therefore, hearing of the raising of Lazarus, was afraid,
and said to the people: Why do you wish to shed the blood of a just man?

   Chap. 9.--Then he summoned Nicodemus and the twelve God-fearing Jews,
and said to them: What do you say that I should do? because the people are
in commotion They say: We do not know: do as thou wilt; but what the people
do, they do unjustly, in order to kill him. Pilate again went outside, and
said to the people: You know that in the feasts of unleavened bread it is
customary that I free on your account one of the criminals kept in custody.
I have, then, one malefactor in the prison, a robber named Barabbas. I have
also Jesus, who has never done any evil. Which of the two, then, do you
wish that I release to you? The people answered: Release to us Barabbas.
Pilate says: What then shall I do with Jesus? They say: Let him be
crucified.(1) Again, others of them cried out: If thou release Jesus, thou
art no friend of Caesar,(2) because he calls himself Son of God, and king.
And if thou free him, he becomes a king, and will take Caesar's kingdom.

   Pilate therefore was enraged, and said: Always has your nation been
devilish(3) and unbelieving; and ever have you been adversaries to your
benefactors. The Hebrews say: And who were our benefactors? Pilate says:
God, who freed you out of the hand of Pharaoh, and brought yon through the
Red Sea as upon dry land, and fed you with quails, and gave you water to
drink out of the dry rock, and who gave you a law which, denying God you
broke; and if Moses had not stood and entreated God, you would have
perished by a bitter death. All these, then, you have forgotten. Thus also,
even now, you say that I do not at all love Caesar, but bate him, and wish
to plot against his kingdom.

   And having thus spoken, Pilate rose up from the throne with anger,
wishing to flee from them. The Jews therefore cried out, saying: We wish
Caesar to be king over us, not Jesus, because Jesus received gifts(4) from
the Magi. And Herod also heard this--that there was going to be a king--and
wished to put him to death, and for this purpose sent and put to death all
the infants that were in Bethlehem. And on this account also his father
Joseph and iris mother fleet from fear of him into Egypt.(5)

   So then Pilate, hearing this, silenced all the people, and said: This,
then, is the Jesus whom Herod then sought that he might put him to death?
They say to him: Yes. Pilate therefore, having ascertained that he was of
the jurisdiction of Herod, as being derived of the race of the Jews, sent
Jesus to him. And Herod, seeing Him, rejoiced greatly, because he had been
long desiring to see Him, hearing of the miracles which He did. He put on
Him, therefore, white garments. Then he began to question Him. But Jesus
did not give him an answer. And Herod, wishing to see also some miracle or
other done by Jesus, and not seeing it, and also because He did not answer
him a single word, sent Him back again to Pilate.(6) Pilate. seeing this,
ordered his officers to bring water. Washing, then, his bands with the
water, he said to the people: I am innocent of the blood of this good man.
See yon to it. that he is unjustly put to death, since neither I have found
a fault in him, nor Herod; for because of this he has sent him back again
to me. The Jews said: His blood be upon us, and upon our children.(7)

   Then Pilate sat down upon his throne to pass sentence. He gave order,
therefore, and Jesus came before him. And they brought a crown of thorns,
and put it on His head, and a reed into His right hand.(8) Then he passed
sentence, and said to Him: Thy nation says, and testifies against thee,
that thou wishest to be a king. Therefore I decree that they shall beat
thee first with a rod forty strokes, as the laws of the kings decree, and
that they shall mock thee; and finally, that they shall crucify thee.

   Chap. 10.--The sentence to this effect, then, having been passed by
Pilate, the Jews began to strike Jesus, some with roots, others with their
hands, others with their feet; some also spat in His face. Immediately,
therefore, they got ready the cross, and gave it to Him, and flew to take
the road. And thus going along, bearing also the cross, He came as far as
the gate of the city of Jerusalem. But as He, from the many blows and the
weight of the cross, was unable to walk, the Jews, out of the eager desire
they had to crucify Him as quickly as possible, took the cross from Him,
and gave it to a man that met them, Simon by name, who had also two sons,
Alexander and Rufus. And he was from the city of Cyrene.(9) They gave the
cross, then, to him, not because they pitied Jesus, and wished to lighten
Him of the weight, but because they eagerly desired, as has been said, to
put Him to death more speedily.

   Of His disciples, therefore, John followed Him there. Then he came
fleeing to the mother of God.(10) and said to her: Where hast thou been,
that thou hast not come to see what has happened? She answered: What is it
that has happened? John says: Know that the Jews have laid hold of my
Master, and are taking Him away to crucify Him. Hearing this, His mother
cried out with a loud voice, saying: My son, my son, what evil then hast
thou done, that(1) they are taking thee away to crucify thee? And she rose
up as if blinded,(2) and goes along the road weeping. And women followed
her--Martha, and Mary Magdalene, and Salome, and other virgins. And John
also was with her. When, therefore, they came to the multitude of the
crowd, the mother of God says to John: Where is my son? John says: Seest
thou Him bearing the crown of thorns, and having His hands bound? And the
mother of God, hearing this, and seeing Him, fainted, and fell backwards to
the ground, and lay a considerable time. And the women, as many as followed
her, stood round her, and wept. And as soon as she revived and rose up, she
cried out with a loud voice: My Lord, my son, where has the beauty of thy
form sunk? how shall I endure to see thee suffering such things? And thus
saying, she tore her face with her nails, and beat her breast. Where are
they gone, said she, the good deeds which thou didst in Judaea? What evil
hast thou done to the Jews? The Jews, then, seeing her thus lamenting and
crying, came and drove her from the road; but she would not flee, but
remained, saying: Kill me first, ye lawless Jews.

   Then they got safe to the place called Cranium, which was paved with
stone;(3) and there the Jews set up the cross. Then they stripped Jesus,
and the soldiers took His garments, and divided them among themselves; and
they put on Him a tattered robe of scarlet, and raised Him, and drew Him up
on the cross at the sixth hour of the day. After this they brought also two
robbers, the one on His right, the other on His left.

   Then the mother of God, standing and looking, cried out with a loud
voice, saying: My son! my son: And Jesus, turning to her, and seeing John
near her, and weeping with the rest of the women, said: Behold thy son!
Then He says also to John: Behold thy mother!(4) And she wept much, saying:
For this I weep, my son, because thou sufferest unjustly, because the
lawless Jews have delivered thee to a bitter death. Without thee, my son,
what will become of me? How shall I live without thee? What sort of life
shall I spend? Where are thy disciples, who boasted that they would die
with thee? Where those healed by thee? How has no one been found to help
thee? And looking to the cross, she said: Bend down, O cross, that I may
embrace and kiss my son, whom I suckled at these breasts after a strange
manner, as not having known than. Bend down, O cross; I wish to throw my
arms round my son. Bend down, O cross, that I may bid farewell to my son
like a mother. The Jews, hearing these words, came forward, and drove to a
distance both her and the women and John.

   Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: Father, let not this
sin stand against them; for they know not what they do.(5) Then He says: I
thirst. And immediately there ran one of the soldiers, and took a sponge,
and filled it with gall and vinegar mixed, and put it on a reed, and gave
Jesus to drink. And having tasted it, He would not drink it.(6) And the
Jews standing and looking on laughed at Him, and said: If thou truly sayst
that thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross, and immediately,
that we may believe in thee. Others said mocking: Others he saved, others
he cured, and he healed the sick, the paralytic, the lepers, the demoniacs,
the blind, the lame, the dead; and himself he cannot cure.(7)

   In the same manner also, the robber crucified on His left hand said to
Him: If thou art the Son of God, come down and save both thyself and us.
His name was Gistas. And he that was crucified on the right, Dysmas by
name, reproved that robber, saying: O wretched and miserable man, dost thou
not fear God? We suffer the due punishment of what we have done; but this
man has done no evil at all. And turning to Jesus, he says to Him: Lord,
when Thou shalt reign do not forget me. And He said to him: To-day, I tell
thee truth, I shall have thee in paradise with me.(8)

   Chap. 11.--Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, Father, into Thy
hands I shall commit my spirit, breathed His last.(9) And immediately one
could see the rocks rent: for there was an earthquake over all the earth;
and from the earthquake being violent and great, the rocks also were rent.
And the tombs of the dead were opened, and the curtain of the temple was
rent, and there was darkness from the sixth hour till the ninth. And from
all these things that had happened the Jews were afraid, and said:
Certainly this was a just man. And Longinus, the centurion who stood by,
said: Truly this was a son of God. Others coming and seeing Him, beat their
breasts from fear, and again turned back.(1)

   And the centurion having perceived all these so great miracles, went
away and reported them to Pilate. And when he heard, he wondered and was
astonished, and from his fear and grief would neither eat nor drink that
day. And he sent notice, and all the Sanhedrin came to him as soon as the
darkness was past; and he said to the people: You know how the sun has been
darkened; you know how the curtain has been rent. Certainly I did well in
being by no means willing to put to death the good man. And the malefactors
said to Pilate: This darkness is an eclipse of the sun, such as has
happened also at other times. Then they say to him: We hold the feast of
unleavened bread to-morrow; and we entreat thee, since the crucified are
still breathing, that their bones be broken, and that they be brought down.
Pilate said: It shall be so. He therefore sent soldiers, and they found the
two robbers yet breathing, and they broke their legs; but finding Jesus
dead, they did not touch Him at all, except that a soldier speared Him in
the right side, and immediately there came forth blood and water.(2)

   And as the day of the preparation(3) was drawing towards evening,
Joseph, a man well-born and rich, a God-fearing Jew, finding Nicodemus,
whose sentiments his foregoing speech had shown, says to him: I know that
thou didst love Jesus when living, and didst gladly hear his words, and I
saw thee fighting with the Jews on his account. If, then, it seem good to
thee, let us go to Pilate, and beg the body of Jesus for burial, because it
is a great sin for him to lie unburied. I am afraid, said Nicodemus, lest
Pilate should be enraged, and some evil should befall me. But if thou wilt
go alone, and beg the dead, and take him, then will I also go with thee,
and help thee to do everything necessary for the burial. Nicodemus having
thus spoken, Joseph directed his eyes to heaven, and prayed that he might
not fail in his request; and he went away to Pilate, and having saluted
him, sat down. Then he says to him: I entreat thee, my lord, not to be
angry with me, if I shall ask anything contrary to what seems good to your
highness. And he said: And what is it that thou askest? Joseph says: Jesus,
the good man whom through hatred the Jews have taken away to crucify, him I
entreat that thou give me for burial. Pilate says: And what has happened,
that we should deliver to be honoured again the dead body of him against
whom evidence of sorcery was brought by his nation, and who was in
suspicion of taking the kingdom of Caesar, and so was given up by us to
death? And Joseph, weeping and in great grief, fell at the feet of Pilate,
saying: My lord, let no hatred fall upon a dead man; for all the evil that
a man has done should perish with him in his death. And I know your
highness, how eager thou wast that Jesus should not be crucified, and how
much thou saidst to the Jews on his behalf, now in entreaty and again in
anger, and at last how thou didst wash thy hands, and declare that thou
wouldst by no means take part with those who wished him to be put to death;
for all which reasons I entreat thee not to refuse my request. Pilate,
therefore, seeing Joseph thus lying, and supplicating, and weeping, raised
him up, and said: Go, I grant thee this dead man; take him, and do whatever
thou wilt.

   And then Joseph, having thanked Pilate, and kissed his hands and his
garments, went forth, rejoicing indeed in heart as having obtained his
desire, but carrying tears in his eyes. Thus also, though grieved, he was
glad. Accordingly he goes away to Nicodemus, and discloses to him all that
had happened. Then, having bought myrrh and aloes a hundred pounds, and a
new tomb,(4) they, along with the mother of God and Mary Magdalene and
Salome, along with John, and the rest of the women, did what was customary
for the body with white linen, and placed it in the tomb.(5)

   And the mother of God said, weeping: How am I not to lament thee, my
son? How should I not tear my face with my nails? This is that, my son,
which Symeon the elder foretold to me when I brought thee, an infant of
forty days old, into the temple. This is the sword which now goes through
my soul.(6) Who shall put a stop to my tears, my sweetest son? No one at
all except thyself alone, if, as thou saidst, thou shalt rise again in
three days.

   Mary Magdalene said, weeping: Hear, O peoples, tribes, and tongues, and
learn to what death the lawless Jews have delivered him who did them ten
thousand good deeds. Hear, and be astonished. Who will let these things be
heard by all the world? I shall go alone to Rome, to the Caesar. I shall
show him what evil Pilate hath done in obeying the lawless Jews. Likewise
also, Joseph lamented, saying: Ah, me! sweetest Jesus, most excellent of
men, if indeed it be proper to call thee man, who hast wrought such
miracles as no man has ever done. How shall I enshroud thee? How shall I
entomb thee? There should now have been here those whom thou fedst with a
few loaves; for thus should I not have seemed to fail in what is due. Then
Joseph, along with Nicodemus, went home; and likewise also the mother of
God, with the women, John(1) also being present with them.

   Chap. 12.--When the Jews were made acquainted with these things done by
Joseph and Nicodemus, they were greatly stirred up against them. And the
chief priests Annas and Caiaphas sent for Joseph, and said: Why hast thou
done this service to Jesus? Joseph says: I know that Jesus was a man just,
and true, and good in all respects; and I know also that you, through
hatred, managed to murder him: and therefore I buried him. Then the high
priests were enraged, and laid hold of Joseph, and threw him into prison,
and said to him: If we had not to-morrow the feast of unleavened bread,
tomorrow also should we have put thee, like him, to death; but being kept
in the meantime, early in the morning of the Lord's day(2) thou shall be
given up to death. Thus they spoke, and affixed their seal to the prison,
having secured it by fastenings of all sorts.

   Thus, therefore, when the Preparation was ended, early on the Sabbath
the Jews went away to Pilate, and said to him: My lord, that deceiver said,
that after three days he should rise again. Lest, therefore, his disciples
should steal him by night, and lead the people astray by such deceit, order
his tomb to be guarded. Pilate therefore, upon this, gave them five hundred
soldiers, who also sat round the sepulchre so as to guard it, after having
put seals upon the stone of the tomb.(3)

   The Lord's day, then, having dawned, the chief priests, along with the
Jews, called a council, and sent to take Joseph out of the prison, in order
to put him to death. But having opened it, they found him not. And they
were astonished at this--how, with the doors shut, and the bolts safe, and
the seals unbroken, Joseph had disappeared.

   Chap. 13.--And upon this there came up one of the soldiers guarding the
tomb, and he said in the synagogue: Learn that Jesus has risen. The Jews
say: How? And he said: First there was an earthquake; then an angel of the
Lord, clothed with lightning, came from heaven, and rolled the stone from
the tomb, and sat upon it. And from fear of him, all of us soldiers became
as dead, and were able neither to flee nor speak. And we heard the angels
saying to the women who came there to see the tomb: Be not you afraid, for
I know that you seek Jesus. He is not here, but is risen, as He told you
before. Bend down and see the tomb where His body lay; but go and tell His
disciples that He is risen from the dead, and let them go into Galilee, for
there shall they find Him. For this reason I tell you this first.(4)

   The Jews say to the soldiers: What sort of women were they who came to
the tomb? and why did you not lay hold of them? The soldiers say: From the
fear and the mere sight of the angel, we were able neither to speak nor
move. The Jews said: As the God of Israel liveth, we do not believe a word
you say. The soldiers say: Jesus did so great wonders, and you believed
not, and are you going to believe us? You say truly that God liveth; and
certainly he whom you crucified truly liveth. But we have heard that you
had Joseph shut up in the prison, and that you afterwards opened the doors,
and did not find him. Do you then present Joseph, and so we also shall
present Jesus. The Jews say: Joseph, that fled from the prison, you will
find in Arimathaea, his own country. And the soldiers say: Go you too into
Galilee, and you will find Jesus, as the angel said to the women.

   At these words the Jews were afraid, and said to the soldiers: See that
you tell this story to nobody, or all will believe in Jesus. And for this
reason they gave them also much money. And the soldiers said: We are afraid
lest by any chance Pilate hear that we have taken money, and he will kill
us. And the Jews said: Take it; and we pledge ourselves that we shall speak
to Pilate in your defence. Only say that you were asleep, and in your
slumber the disciples of Jesus came and stole him from the tomb. The
soldiers therefore took the money, and said as they were bid. And up to
this day this same lying tale is told among the Jews.(5)

   Chap. 14.--And a few days after there came from Galilee to Jerusalem
three men. One of them was a priest, by name Phinees; the second a Levite,
by name Aggai; and the third a soldier, by name Adas. These came to the
chief priests, and said to them and to the people: Jesus, whom you
crucified, we have seen in Galilee with his eleven disciples upon the Mount
of Olives, teaching them, and saying, Go into all the world, and proclaim
the good news; and whosoever will believe and be baptized shall be saved;
but whosoever will not believe shall be condemned. And having thus spoken,
he went up into heaven.(6) And both we and many others of the five
hundred(7) besides were looking on.

   And when the chief priests and the Jews heard these things, they said
to these three: Give glory to the God of Israel, and repent of these lies
that you have told. They answered: As the God of our fathers Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob liveth, we do not lie, but tell you the truth. Then the
high priest spoke, and they brought the old covenant of the Hebrews out of
the temple, and he made them swear, and giving them also money, he sent
them into another place, in order that they might not proclaim in Jerusalem
the resurrection of Christ.

   And when these stories had been heard by all the people, the crowd came
together into the temple, and there was a great commotion. For many said:
Jesus has risen from the dead, as we hear, and why did you crucify him? And
Annas and Caiaphas said: Do not believe, ye Jews, what the soldiers say;
and do not believe that they saw an angel coming down from heaven. For we
have given money to the soldiers, in order that they should not tell such
tales to any one; and thus also have the disciples of Jesus given them
money, in order that they should say that Jesus has risen from the dead.

   Chap. 15.--Nicodemus says: O children of the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
the prophet Helias went up into the height of heaven with a fiery chariot,
and it is nothing incredible if Jesus too has risen; for the prophet Helias
was a prototype of Jesus, in order that you, hearing that Jesus has risen,
might not disbelieve. I therefore say and advise, that it is befitting that
we send soldiers into Galilee, to that place where these men testify, that
they saw him with his disciples, in order that they may go round about and
find him, and that thus we may ask pardon of him for the evil which we have
done to him. This proposal pleased them; and they chose soldiers, and sent
them away into Galilee. And Jesus indeed they did not find; but they found
Joseph in Arimathaea.

   When, therefore, the soldiers had returned, the chief priests, having
ascertained that Joseph was found, brought the people together, and said:
What shall we do to get Joseph to come to us? After deliberating,
therefore, they wrote to him a letter to the following effect:--O father
Joseph, peace be to thee and all thy house, and thy friends! We know that
we have offended against God, and against thee His servant. On account of
this, we entreat thee to come here to us thy children. For we bare wondered
much how thou didst escape from the prison, and we say in truth that we had
an evil design against thee. But God, seeing that our designs against thee
were unjust, has delivered thee out of our hands. But come to us, for thou
art the honour of our people.

   This letter the Jews sent to Arimathaea, with seven soldiers, friends
of Joseph. And they went away and found him; and having respectfully
saluted him, as they had been ordered, they gave him the letter, And after
receiving it and reading it, he glorified God, and embraced the soldiers;
and having set a table, ate and drank with them during all the day and the
night.

   And on the following day he set out with them to Jerusalem; and the
people came forth to meet him, and embraced him. And Nicodemus received him
into his own house. And the day after, Annas and Caiaphas, the chief
priests, having summoned him to the temple, said to him: Give glory to the
God of Israel, and tell us the truth. For we know that thou didst bury
Jesus; and on this account we laid hold of thee, and locked thee up in the
prison. Thereafter, when we sought to bring thee out to be put to death, we
did not find thee, and we were greatly astonished and afraid. Moreover, we
prayed to God that we might find thee, and ask thee. Tell us therefore the
truth.

   Joseph said to them: In the evening of the Preparation, when you
secured me in prison, I fell a-praying throughout the whole night, and
throughout the whole day of the Sabbath. And at midnight I see the prison-
house that four angels lifted it up,(1) holding it by the four corners. And
Jesus came in like lightning, and I fell to the ground from fear. Taking
hold of me, therefore, by the hand, he raised me, saying, Fear not, Joseph.
Thereafter, embracing me, he kissed me, and said, Turn thyself, and see who
I am. Turning myself, therefore, and looking, I said, My lord, I know not
who thou art. He says, I am Jesus, whom thou didst bury the day before
yesterday. I say to him, Show me the tomb, and then I shall believe. He
took me, therefore, by the hand, and led me away to the tomb, which had
been opened. And seeing the linen and the napkin, and recognising him, I
said, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord;(2) and I adored
him. Then taking me by the hand, and accompanied by the angels, he brought
me to my house in Arimathaea, and said to me, Sit here for forty days; for
I go to my disciples, in order that I may enable them fully to proclaim my
resurrection.

   Chap. 16.--When Joseph had thus spoken, the chief priests cried out to
the people: We know that Jesus had a father and mother; how can we believe
that he is the Christ? One of the Levites answered and said: I know the
family of Jesus, noble-minded men,(3) great servants of God, and receiving
tithes from the people of the Jews. And I know also Symeon the eider, that
he received him when he was an infant, and said to him: Now thou sendest
away Thy servant, O Lord.

   The Jews said: Let us now find the three men that saw him on the Mount
of Olives, that we may question them, and learn the truth more accurately.
They found them, and brought them before all, and made them swear to tell
the truth. And they said: As the God of Israel liveth, we saw Jesus alive
on the Mount of Olives, and going up into heaven.

   Then Annas and Caiaphas took the three apart, one by one, and
questioned them singly in private. They agreed with one another, therefore,
and gave, even the three, one account. The chief priests answered, saying:
Our Scripture says that every word shall be established by two or three
witnesses.(1) Joseph, then, has confessed that he, along with Nicodemus,
attended to his body, and buried him, and how it is the truth that he has
risen.(2)

THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS

Part II.--The Descent of Christ Into Hell.

Greek Form.

   Chap. 1 (17).--Joseph says: And why do you wonder that Jesus has risen?
But it is wonderful that He has not risen alone, but that He has also
raised many others of the dead who have appeared in Jerusalem to many.(1)
And if you do not know the others, Symeon at least, who received Jesus, and
his two sons whom He has raised up--them at least you know. For we buried
them not long ago; but now their tombs are seen open and empty, and they
are alive, and dwelling in Arimathaea. They therefore sent men, and they
found their tombs open and empty. Joseph says: Let us go to Arimathaea and
find them.

   Then rose up the chief priests Annas and Caiaphas, and Joseph, and
Nicodemus, and Gamaliel, and others with them, and went away to Arimathaea,
and found those whom Joseph spoke of. They made prayer, therefore, and
saluted each other. Then they came with them to Jerusalem, and brought them
into the synagogue, and secured the doors, and placed in the midst the old
covenant of the Jews; and the chief priests said to them: We wish you to
swear by the God of Israel and Adonai, and so that you tell the truth, how
you have risen, and who has raised you from the dead.

   The men who had risen having heard this, made upon their faces the sign
of the cross, and said to the chief priests: Give us paper and ink and pen.
These therefore they brought. And sitting down, they wrote thus:--

   Chap. 2 (18).--O Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life of
the world, grant us grace that we may give an account of Thy resurrection,
and Thy miracles which Thou didst in Hades. We then were in Hades, with all
who had fallen asleep since the beginning of the world. And at the hour of
midnight there rose a light as if of the sun, and shone into these dark
regions; and we were all lighted up, and saw each other. And straightway
our father Abraham was united with the patriarchs and the prophets, and at
the same time they were filled with joy, and said to each other: This light
is from a great source of light. The prophet Hesaias, who was there
present, said: This light is from the Father, and from the Son, and from
the Holy Spirit; about whom I prophesied when yet alive, saying, The land
of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, the people that sat in darkness,
have seen a great light.(2)

   Then there came into the midst another, an ascetic from the desert; and
the patriarchs said to him: Who art thou? And he said: I am John, the last
of the prophets, who made the paths of the Son of God straight,(3) and
proclaimed to the people repentance for the remission of sins.(4) And the
Son of God came to me; and I, seeing Him a long way off, said to the
people: Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.(5)
And with my hand I baptized Him in the river Jordan, and I saw like a dove
also the Holy Spirit coming upon Him;(6) and I heard also the voice of God,
even the Father,(7) thus saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.(8) And on this account He sent me also to you, to proclaim how the
only begotten Son of God is coming here, that whosoever shall believe in
Him shall be saved, and whosoever shall not believe in Him shall be
condemned.(1) On this account I say to you all, in order that when you see
Him you all may adore Him, that now only is for you the time of repentance
for having adored idols in the vain upper world, and for the sins you have
committed, and that this is impossible at any other time.

   Chap. 3 (19).--While John, therefore, was thus teaching those in Hades,
the first created and forefather Adam heard, and said to his son Seth: My
son, I wish thee to tell the forefathers of the race of men and the
prophets where I sent thee, when it fell to my lot to die. And Seth said:
Prophets and patriarchs, hear. When my father Adam, the first created, was
about to fall once upon a time into death, he sent me to make entreaty to
God very close by the gate of paradise, that He would guide me by an angel
to the tree of compassion and that I might take oil and anoint my father,
and that he might rise up from his sickness: which thing, therefore, I also
did. And after the prayer an angel of the Lord came, and said to me: What,
Seth, dost thou ask? Dost thou ask oil which raiseth up the sick, or the
tree from which this oil flows, on account of the sickness of thy father?
This is not to be found now. Go, therefore, and tell thy father, that after
the accomplishing of five thousand five hundred years(2) from the creation
of the world, thou shall come into the earth the only begotten Son of God,
being made man; and He shall anoint him with this oil, and shall raise him
up; and shall wash clean, with water and with the Holy Spirit, both him and
those out of him, and then shall he be healed of every disease; but now
this is impossible.(3)

   When the patriarchs and the prophets heard these words, they rejoiced
greatly.

   Chap. 4 (20).--And when all were in such joy, came Satan the heir of
darkness, and said to Hades: O all-devouring and insatiable, hear my words.
There is of the race of the Jews one named Jesus, calling himself the Son
of God; and being a man, by our working with them the Jews have crucified
him: and now when he is dead, be ready that we may secure him here. For I
know that he is a man, and I heard him also saying, My soul is exceeding
sorrowful, even unto death.(4) He has also done me many evils when living
with mortals in the upper world. For wherever he found my servants, he
persecuted them; and whatever men I made crooked, blind, lame, lepers, or
any such thing, by a single word he healed them; and many whom I had got
ready to be buried, even these through a single word he brought to life
again.

   Hades says: And is this man so powerful as to do such things by a
single word? or if he be so, canst thou withstand him? It seems to me that,
if he be so, no one will be able to withstand him. And if thou sayest that
thou didst hear him dreading death, he said this mocking thee, and
laughing, wishing to seize thee with the strong hand; and woe, woe to thee,
to all eternity!

   Satan says: O all-devouring and insatiable Hades, art thou so afraid at
hearing of our common enemy? I was not afraid of him, but worked in the
Jews, and they crucified him, and gave him also to drink gall with
vinegar.(5) Make ready, then, in order that you may lay fast hold of him
when he comes.

   Hades answered: Heir of darkness, son of destruction, devil, thou hast
just now told me that many whom thou hadst made ready to be buried, be
brought to life again by a single word. And if he has delivered others from
the tomb, how and with what power shall he be laid hold of by us? For I not
long ago swallowed down one dead, Lazarus by name; and not long after, one
of the living by a single word dragged him up by force out of my bowels:
and I think that it was he of whom thou speakest. If, therefore, we receive
him here, I am afraid lest perchance we be in danger even about the rest.
For, lo, all those that I have swallowed from eternity I perceive to be in
commotion, and I am pained in my belly. And the snatching away of Lazarus
beforehand seems to me to be no good sign: for not like a dead body, but
like an eagle, he flew out of me; for so suddenly did the earth throw him
out. Wherefore also I adjure even thee, for thy benefit and for mine, not
to bring him here; for I think that he is coming here to raise all the
dead. And this I tell thee: by the darkness in which we live, if thou bring
him here, not one of the dead will be left behind in it to me.

   Chap. 5 (21).--While Satan and Hades were thus speaking to each other,
there was a great voice like thunder, saying: Lift up your gates, O ye
rulers; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting gates; and the King of glory
shall come in.(6) When Hades heard, he said to Satan: Go forth, if thou art
able, and withstand him. Satan therefore went forth to the outside. Then
Hades says to his demons: Secure well and strongly the gates of brass and
the bars of iron, and attend to my bolts, and stand in order,(7) and see to
everything; for if he come in here, woe will seize us.

   The forefathers having heard this, began all to revile him, saying: O
all-devouring and insatiable! open, that the King of glory may come in.
David the prophet says: Dost thou not know, O blind, that I when living in
the world prophesied this saying: Lift up your gates, O ye rulers? Hesaias
said: I, foreseeing this by the Holy Spirit, wrote: The dead shall rise up,
and those in their tombs shall be raised, and those in the earth shall
rejoice.(1) And where, O death, is thy sting? where, O Hades, is thy
victory?(2)

   There came, then, again a voice saying: Lift up the gates. Hades,
hearing the voice the second time, answered as if forsooth he did not know,
and says: Who is this King of glory? The angels of the Lord say: The Lord
strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.(3) And immediately with these
words the brazen gates were shattered, and the iron bars broken, and all
the dead who had been bound came out of the prisons, and we with the n And
the King of glory came in in the form of a man, and all the dark places of
Hades were lighted up.

   Chap. 6 (22).--Immediately Hades cried out: We have been conquered: woe
to us! But who art thou, that hast such power and might? and what art thou,
who comest here without sin who art seen to be small and yet of great
power, lowly and exalted, the slave and the master, the soldier and the
king, who hast power over the dead and the living? Thou wast nailed on the
cross, and placed in the tomb; and now thou art free, and hast destroyed
all our power. Art thou then the Jesus about whom the chief satrap Satan
told us, that through cross and death thou art to inherit the whole world?

   Then the King of glory seized the chief satrap Satan by the head, and
delivered him to His angels, and said: With iron chains bind his hands and
his feet, and his neck, and his mouth. Then He delivered him to Hades, and
said: Take him, and keep him secure till my second appearing.

   Chap. 7 (23).--And Hades receiving Satan, said to him: Beelzebul, heir
of fire and punishment, enemy of the saints, through what necessity didst
thou bring about that the King of glory should be crucified, so that he
should come here and deprive us of our power? Turn and see that not one of
the dead has been left in me, but all that thou hast gained through the
tree of knowledge, all hast thou lost through the tree of the cross: and
all thy joy has been turned into grief; and wishing to put to death the
King of glory, thou hast put thyself to death. For, since i have received
thee to keep thee safe, by experience shall thou learn how many evils I
shall do unto thee. O arch-devil, the beginning of death, root of sin, end
of all evil, what evil didst thou find in Jesus, that thou shouldst compass
his destruction? how hast thou dared to do such evil? how hast thou busied
thyself to bring down such a man into this darkness, through whom thou hast
been deprived of all who have died from eternity?

   Chap. 8 (24).--While Hades was thus discoursing to Satan, the King of
glory stretched out His right hand, and took hold of our forefather Adam,
and raised him. Then turning also to the rest, He said: Come all with me,
as many as have died through the tree which he touched: for, behold, I
again raise you all up through the tree of the cross. Thereupon He brought
them all out, and our forefather Adam seemed to be filled with joy, and
said: I thank Thy majesty, O Lord, that Thou hast brought me up out of the
lowest Hades.(4) Likewise also all the prophets and the saints said: We
thank Thee, O Christ, Saviour of the world, that Thou hast brought our life
up out of destruction.(5)

   And after they had thus spoken, the Saviour blessed Adam with the sign
of the cross on his forehead, and did this also to tire patriarchs, and
prophets, and martyrs, and forefathers; and He took them, and sprang up out
of Hades. And while He was going, the holy fathers accompanying Him sang
praises, saying: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord:(6)
Alleluia; to Him be the glory of oil the saints.

   Chap. 9 (25).--And setting out to paradise, He took hold of our
forefather Adam by the hand, and delivered him, and all the just, to the
archangel Michael. And as they were going into the door of paradise, there
met them two old men, to whom the holy fathers said: Who are you, who have
not seen death, and have not come down into Hades, but who dwell in
paradise in your bodies and your souls? One of them answered, and said: I
am Enoch, who was well-pleasing to God, and who was translated hither by
Him; and this is Helias the Thesbite; and we are also to live until the end
of the world; and then we are to be sent by God to withstand Antichrist,
and to be slain by him, and after three days to rise again, and to be
snatched up in clouds to meet the Lord.(7)

   Chap. 10 (26).--While they were thus speaking, there came another lowly
man, carrying also upon his shoulders a cross, to whom the holy fathers
said: Who art thou, who hast the look of a robber; and what is the cross
which thou bearest upon thy shoulders? He answered: I, as you say, was a
robber and a thief in the world, and for these things the Jews laid hold of
me, and delivered me to the death of the cross, along with our Lord Jesus
Christ. While, then, He was hanging upon the cross, I, seeing the miracles
that were done, believed in Him, and entreated Him, and said, Lord, when
Thou shall be King, do not forget me. And immediately He said to me, Amen,
amen: to-day, I say unto thee, shall thou be with me in paradise. Therefore
I came to paradise carrying my cross; and finding the archangel Michael, I
said to him, Our Lord Jesus, who has been crucified, has sent me here;
bring me, therefore, to the gate of Eden. And the flaming sword, seeing the
sign of the cross, opened to me, and I went in. Then the archangel says to
me, Wait a little, for there cometh also the forefather of the race of men,
Adam, with the just, that they too may come in. And now, seeing you, I came
to meet you.

   The saints hearing these things, all cried out with a loud voice: Great
is our Lord, and great is His strength.(1)

   Chap. 11 (27).--All these things we saw and heard; we, the two
brothers, who also have been sent by Michael the archangel, and have been
ordered to proclaim the resurrection of the Lord, but first to go away to
the Jordan and to be baptized. Thither also we have gone, and have been
baptized with the rest of the dead who have risen. Thereafter also we came
to Jerusalem, and celebrated the passover of the resurrection. But now we
are going away, being unable to stay here. And the love of God, even the
Father, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit, be with you all.(2)

   Having written these things, and secured the rolls, they gave the half
to the chief priests, and the half to Joseph and Nicodemus. And they
immediately disappeared: to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS

PART I.--ACTS OF PILATE

LATIN FORM.

   I AENEAS was at first a protector of the Hebrews, and follower of the
law; then the grace of the Saviour and His great gift took possession of
me. I recognised Christ Jesus in holy Scripture; I came to Him, and
embraced His faith, so that I might become worthy of His holy baptism.
First of all I searched for the memoirs written in those times about our
Lord Jesus Christ, which the Jews published in the age of Pontius Pilate,
and we found them in Hebrew writings, drawn up in the age of the Lord Jesus
Christ; and I translated them into the language of the Gentiles, in the
reign of the eminent Theodosius, who was fulfilling his seventeenth
consulship, and of Valentinian, consul for the fifth time in the ninth
indiction. Whosoever of you read this book, and transfer it to other
copies, remember me, and pray for me, AEneas, least of the servants of God,
that He be merciful to me, and pardon my sins which I have committed
against Him. Peace be to all who shall read these, and to all their house,
for ever! Amen.

   Now it came to pass, in the nineteenth year of the reign of Tiberius
Caesar, emperor of the Romans, and of Herod, son of Herod king of Galilee,
in the nineteenth year of his rule, on the eighth day before the kalends of
April, which is the twenty-fifth day of the month of March, in the
consulship of Rufinus and Rubellio, in the fourth year of the 202d
Olympiad, under the rule of Joseph and Caiaphas, priests of the Jews: the
things done by the chief priests and the rest of the Jews, which Nicodemus
recorded after the cross and passion of the Lord, Nicodemus himself
committed to Hebrew letters.

   CHAP. I.--Annas and Caiaphas, Summas and Datam, Gamaliel, Judas, Levi,
Neptalim, Alexander and Jairus, and the rest of the Jews, came to Pilate,
accusing the Lord Jesus Christ of many things, and saying: We know him to
be the son of Joseph the carpenter, born of Mary; and he says that he is
the Son of God, and a king. Not only so, but he also breaks the Sabbath,
and wishes to do away with the law of our fathers. Pilate says: What is it
that he does, and wishes to destroy the law? The Jews say: we have a law,
not to heal any one on the Sabbath; but he, by evil arts, heals on the
Sabbath the lame and the hunchbacked, the blind, the palsied, the lepers,
and the demoniacs. Pilate says to them: By what evil arts? They say to him:
He is a sorcerer; and by Beelzebub, prince of the demons, he casts out
demons, and they are all subject to him. Pilate says to them: It is not in
an unclean spirit to cast out demons, but in the god of Scolapius.

   The Jews say: We pray thy majesty to set him before thy tribunal to be
heard. Pilate, calling the Jews to him, says to them: How can I, seeing
that I am a governor,(1) hear a king? They say to him: We do not say that
he is a king, but he himself says he is. And Pilate, calling a runner, says
to him: Let Jesus be brought in with kindness. And the runner, going out
and recognising Him, adored Him, and spread on the ground the cloak which
he carried in his hand, saying: My lord, walk upon this, and come in,
because the governor calls thee. But the Jews, seeing what the runner did,
cried out against Pilate, saying: Why didst not thou make him come in by
the voice of a crier, but by a runner? for the runner, too, seeing him, has
adored him, and has spread out before him on the ground the cloak which he
held in his hand, and has said to him: My lord, the governor calls thee.

   And Pilate, calling the runner, says to him: Wherefore hast thou done
this, and honoured Jesus, who is called Christ? The runner says to him:
When thou didst send me into Jerusalem to Alexander, I saw him sitting upon
an ass, and the children of the Hebrews breaking branches from the trees,
strewing them in the way; and others held branches in their hands; and
others spread their garments in the way, shouting and saying, Save,
therefore, Thou who art in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the
name of the Lord!

   The Jews cried out, saying against the runner: The children of the
Hebrews indeed cried out in Hebrew. How canst thou, a Gentile, know this?
The runner says to them: I asked one of the Jews, and said, What is it that
they cry out in Hebrew? and he explained to me. Pilate says to them: And
how did they cry out in Hebrew? The Jews said: Osanna in the highest!
Pilate says to them: What is the meaning of Osanna in the highest? They say
to him: Save  us, Thou who art in the highest. Pilate says to them: If you
yourselves bear witness to the terms and words in which the children cried
out, in what has the runner sinned? And they were silent. The governor says
to the runner: Go out, and lead him in, in whatever way thou wilt. And the
runner, going forth, did after the same form as before, and says to Jesus:
My lord, go in, because the governor calls thee.

   As Jesus, then, was going in, and the standard-bearers bearing the
standards, the heads of the standards were bowed of themselves, and adored
Jesus. And the Jews, seeing the standards, how they bowed themselves and
adored Jesus, cried out the more against the standard-bearers. And Pilate
says to the Jews: Do you not wonder at the way in which the standards have
bowed themselves and adored Jesus? The Jews say to Pilate: we saw bow the
men carrying the standards bowed themselves and adored Jesus. And the
governor, calling the standard-bearers, says to them:  Why have you so
done? They say to Pilate: We are Gentile men, and slaves of the temples:
how had we(1) to adore him? for when we were holding the figures,(2) they
themselves bowed and adored him.

   Pilate says to the chiefs of the synagogue and the elders of the
people: Choose ye men powerful and strong, and let them hold the standards,
and let us see whether they will bow of themselves. And the elders of the
Jews, taking twelve men very strong and powerful, made them hold the
standards, six and six; and they stood before the governor's tribunal.
Pilate says to the runner: Take out Jesus outside of the praetorium, and
bring him in again, In whatever way thou wilt. And Jesus and the runner
went outside of the praetorium. And Pilate, calling those who had formerly
held the standards, said to them: By the health of Caesar, if the standards
do not bow themselves when Jesus comes in, I will cut off your heads. And
the governor ordered Jesus to come in a second time. And the runner did
after the same form as before, and besought Jesus much that He would go up
and walk upon his cloak. And He walked upon it, and went in. And as Jesus
was going in, immediately the standards bowed themselves, and adored Jesus.

   CHAP. 2.--And Pilate seeing, fear seized him, and immediately he wished
to rise from the tribunal. And while he was thinking of this, viz., to rise
and go away, his wife sent to him, saying: Have nothing to do with that
just man,(3) for I have suffered much on account of him this night. And
Pilate, calling the Jews, said to them: Ye know that my wife is a
worshipper of God, and in Judaism thinks rather with you. The Jews say to
him: So it is, and we know. Pilate says to them: Lo, my wife has sent to
me, saying: Have nothing to do with that just man,(3) for I have suffered
much on account of him this night. And the Jews answering, said to Pilate:
Did we not say to thee that he is a magician? Lo, he has sent a vision of
dreams to thy wife.

   Pilate called Jesus, and said to him: What is it that these witness
against thee, and sayest thou nothing to them? And Jesus answered: If they
had not the power, they would not speak. Every one has power over his own
mouth to say good and evil; let them see(4) to it.

   And the elders of the Jews answering, say to Jesus: What shall we see?
First, that thou wast born of fornication; second, that at thy birth in
Bethlehem there took place a massacre of infants; third, that thy father
Joseph and thy mother Mary fled into Egypt, because they had no confidence
in the people.

   Some of the bystanders, kind men of the Jews, say: We say that he was
not born of fornication; but we know that Mary, was espoused to Joseph, and
that he was not born of fornication. Pilate says to the Jews who said that
he was of fornication: This speech of yours is not true, seeing that the
betrothal took place, as these of your nation say. Annas and Caiaphas say
to Pilate: We with all the multitude say that he was born of fornication,
and that he is a magician; but these are proselytes, and his disciples. And
Pilate, calling Annas and Caiaphas, says to them: What are proselytes? They
say  to him: They have been born sons of the Gentiles, and then have become
Jews. Then answered those who testified that Jesus was not born of
fornication, Lazarus and Asterius, Antonius and James, Annes and Azaras,
Samuel and Isaac, Finees and Crispus, Agrippa and Judas: We were not born
proselytes, but are sons of the Jews, and we speak the truth; for we were
present at the betrothal of Mary.

   And Pilate, calling to him those twelve men who proved that Jesus had
not been born of fornication, said to them: I adjure you by the health of
Caesar, tell me if it be true that Jesus was not born of fornication. They
say to Pilate We have a law not to swear, because it is a sin; but let them
swear by the health of Caesar that it is not as we say, and we are worthy
of death. Then said Pilate to Annas and Caiaphas: Answer you nothing to
those things which these testify? Annas and Caiaphas say to Pilate: Those
twelve are believed that he is not born of fornication; we--all the people-
-cry out that he was born of fornication, and is a magician, and says that
he himself is the Son of God and a king, and we are not believed.

   And Pilate ordered all the multitude to go outside, except the twelve
men who said that He was not born of fornication, and ordered to separate
Jesus from them. And Pilate says to them: For what reason do the Jews wish
to put Jesus to death? And they say to him: They are angry because he heals
on the Sabbath. Pilate said: For a good work do they wish to put him to
death? They say to him: Yes, my lord.

   CHAP. 3.--Pilate, filled with fury, went forth outside of the
praetorium, and says to them: I take the sun to witness that I find in this
man not even one fault. The Jews answered and said to the governor: If he
were not an evil-doer, we should never have delivered him to thee. Pilate
says to them: Take him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews
answered: It is not permitted to us to put any one to death. Pilate says to
them: Has God said to you not to put any one to death? has He therefore
said to me that I am to kill?

   Pilate, having again gone into the praetorium, called Jesus to him
privately, and said to Him: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered
Pilate: Speakest thou this of thyself, or have others said it to thee of
me? Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy nation and the chief priests have
delivered thee to me. What hast thou done? Jesus answering, said: My
kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom  were of this world, my
servants would assuredly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews;
but now my kingdom is not from hence. Pilate said to Him: Art thou then a
king? Jesus said to him: Thou sayest that I am a king. For I for this was
born, and for this have I come, that I should bear witness to the truth;
and every one who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate says to him: What
is truth? Jesus says: Truth is from heaven. Pilate says: Is not there truth
upon earth? Jesus says to Pilate: Notice now the truth-speaking are judged
by those who have power upon earth.

   CHAP. 4.--Pilate therefore, leaving Jesus within the praetorium, went
out to the Jews, and says to them: I find not even one fault in him. The
Jews say to him: He said, I can destroy that temple, and in three days
raise it again. Pilate said to them: What temple? The Jews say to him: The
temple which Solomon built in forty and six years; and he says that he can
destroy and build it in three days. Pilate says to them: I am innocent of
the blood of this man; see ye to it. The Jews say to him: His blood be upon
us, and upon our children.

   And Pilate, calling the elders and priests and Levites, says to them
privately: Do not do so; for in nothing, though you accuse him, do I find
him deserving of death, not even about the healing and the breaking of the
Sabbath. The priests and Levites and elders say: Tell us, if any one
blaspheme Caesar, is he deserving of death or not? Pilate says to them: He
deserves to die. The Jews answered him: How much more is he who has
blasphemed God deserving to die!

   And the governor ordered the Jews to go outside of the praetorium; and
calling Jesus, said to Him: What am I to do to thee? Jesus says to Pilate:
As it has been given thee. Pilate says: How has it been given? Jesus says:
Moses and the prophets made proclamation of my death and resurrection. And
the Jews, hearing this, say to Pilate: Why do you desire any more to hear
blasphemy? And Pilate said: If this speech is blasphemous, do you take him,
and lead him to your synagogue, and judge him according to your law. The
Jews say to Pilate: Our law holds, If a man have sinned against a man, he
is worthy to receive forty less one; but he who has blasphemed against God,
to be stoned.

   Pilate says to them: Then judge him according to your law. The Jews say
to Pilate: we wish that he be crucified. Pilate says to them: He does not
deserve to be crucified.

   And the governor, looking upon the people of the Jews standing round,
saw very many of the Jews weeping, and said: All the multitude does not
wish him to die. The elders say to Pilate: And for this reason have we
come--the whole multitude--that he should die. Pilate said to the Jews:
What has he done that he should die? They say: Because he said that he was
the Son of God, and a king.

   CHAP. 5.--But one Nicodemus, a Jew, stood before the governor, and
said: I entreat, mercifully allow me to say a few words. Pilate says to
him: Say on. Nicodemus says: I said to the elders and the priests and the
Levites, and to all the multitude of the Jews, in the synagogue, What have
you to do with this man? This man does many wonders and signs, which no one
of men has done or can do, Let him go, and do not devise any evil against
him: if the signs which he does are of God, they will stand; but if of men,
they will come to nothing. For Moses also, being sent by God into Egypt,
did many signs, which God told him to do before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And
the sorcerers Jamnes and Mambres were there healing, and they did, they
also, the signs which Moses did, but not all; and the Egyptians deemed them
as gods, Jamnes and Mambres. And since the signs which they did were not of
God, they perished, both they and those who believed in them. And now let
this man go, for he is not deserving of death.

   The Jews say to Nicodemus: Thou hast become his disciple, and takest
his part.(1) Nicodemus says to them: Has the governor also become his
disciple, and does he take his part? Has not Caesar set him over that
dignity? And the Jews were raging and gnashing with their teeth against
Nicodemus. Pilate says to them: Why do you gnash with your teeth against
him, when you are hearing the truth? The Jews say to Nicodemus: Mayst thou
receive his truth, and a portion with him! Nicodemus says: Amen, amen,
amen; may I receive it, as you have said!

   CHAP. 6.--And of the Jews a certain other one, starting up, asks the
governor that he might say a word. The governor says: What thou wishest to
say, say. And he said: For thirty-eight years I lay in infirmity in my bed
in very grievous pain. And at the coming of Jesus, many demoniacs, and
persons held down by divers infirmities, were healed by him. And some young
men had pity on me; and carrying me in my bed, laid me before him. And
Jesus, seeing, had pity on me, and said the word to me, Take up thy bed,
and walk. And immediately I was made whole; I took up my bed, and walked.
The Jews say to Pilate: Ask him what was the day on which he was healed. He
said: The Sabbath. The Jews say: Have we not so informed thee, that on the
Sabbath he heals, and drives out demons?

   And a certain other Jew starting up, said: I was born blind; I heard a
voice, and saw no man. And as Jesus was passing by, I cried out with a loud
voice, Have pity upon me, thou son of David. And he had pity upon me, and
laid his hands upon my eyes, and I saw immediately. And another Jew
starting up, said: I was hunchbacked, and he straightened me with a word.
And another said: I was leprous, and he healed me with a word.

   CHAP. 7.--And also a certain woman, Veronica by name, from afar off
cried out to the governor: I was flowing with blood for twelve years; and I
touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately the flowing of my blood
stopped. The Jews say: We have a law, that a woman does not come to bear
witness.

   CHAP. 8.--And certain others, a multitude of men and women, cried out,
saying: That man is a prophet, and the demons are subject to him. Pilate
says to those who said the demons are subject to him: And your masters, why
are they not subject to him? They say to Pilate: We do not know. And others
said to Pilate: He raised up dead Lazarus from the tomb after four days.
The governor, hearing this, said trembling to all the multitude of the
Jews: Why do you wish to shed innocent blood?

   CHAP. 9.--And Pilate, calling Nicodemus and the twelve men who said
that He was not born of  fornication, says to them: What am I to do, seeing
that there is a sedition among the people? They say to him: We do not know;
let them see to it. Again Pilate, calling all the multitude of the Jews,
said: You know that you have a custom during the day of unleavened bread,
that I should release to you one that is bound. I have a notable one bound
in the prison, a murderer who is called Barabbas, and Jesus who is called
Christ, in whom I find no cause of death. Whom do you wish that I should
release unto you? And they all cried out, saying: Release unto us Barabbas.
Pilate says to them: What, then, am I to do with Jesus who is called
Christ? They all say: Let him be crucified. Again the  Jews said: Thou art
no friend of Caesar's if thou release; this man, for he called himself the
Son of God, and a king; unless, perhaps, thou wishest  this man to be king,
and not Caesar.

   Then, filled with fury, Pilate said to them: Always has your nation
been seditious, and always have you been opposed to those who were for you.
The Jews answered: Who are for us? Pilate says to them: Your God,--who
rescued you from the hard slavery of the Egyptians, and led you forth out
of Egypt through the sea as if through dry land, and fed you in the desert
with manna and quail, and brought water to you out of the rock, and gave
you to drink, and gave you a law; and in all these things you provoked your
God, and sought for yourselves a god, a molten calf. And you exasperated
your God, and He wished to slay you; and Moses made supplication for you,
that ye should not die. And now you say that I hate the king.

   And rising up from the tribunal, he wished to go outside. And the Jews
cried out, and said to him: We know that Caesar is king, and not Jesus. For
the Magi also presented gifts to him as to a king; and Herod, hearing from
the Magi that a king was born, wished to slay him. But when this was known,
his father Joseph took him and his mother, and fled into Egypt; and Herod
hearing, destroyed the infants of the Jews which were born in Bethlehem.

   Pilate, hearing those words, was afraid. And silence being made among
the people, who were crying out, Pilate said: This, then, is he whom Herod
sought? They say to him: It is he. And taking water, Pilate washed his
hands in presence of the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this
just man; see ye to it. Again the Jews cried out, saying: His blood be upon
us, and upon our children.

   Then Pilate ordered the veil to be loosened,(1) and said to Jesus:
Thine own nation have brought charges against thee as a king; and therefore
I have sentenced thee first to be scourged on account of the statutes of
the emperors, and then to be crucified on a cross.

   CHAP. 10.--And when Jesus was scourged, he delivered Him to the Jews to
be crucified, and two robbers with Him; one by name Dismas, and the other
by name Gestas. And when they came to the place, they stripped Him of His
garments, and girt Him about with a linen cloth, and put a crown of thorns
upon His head. Likewise also they hanged the two robbers with Him, Dismas
on the right and Gestas on the left. And Jesus said: Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do. And the soldiers parted His garments among
them. And the people stood waiting; and their chief priests and judges
mocked Him, saying among themselves: He saved others, now let him save
himself; if he is the Son of God, let him come down from the cross. And the
soldiers mocked Him, falling prostrate(2) before Him, and offering vinegar
with gall, and saying: If thou art the King of the Jews, set thyself free.

   And Pilate, after sentence, ordered a title to be written in Hebrew.
Greek, and Latin letters, according to what the Jews said: This is the King
of the Jews.

   And one of the robbers who were hanged, by name Gestas, said to Him: If
thou art the Christ, free thyself and us. And Dismas answering, rebuked
him, saying: Dost not even thou fear God, who art in this condemnation? for
we justly and deservedly have received those things which we endure; but He
has done no evil. And he kept saying to Jesus: Remember me, Lord, in Thy
kingdom. And Jesus said to him: Verily I say unto thee, that to-day shalt
thou be with me in paradise.

   CHAP. 11.--And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over
the whole earth; and the sun was obscured, and the veil of the temple was
rent in the midst. And crying out with a loud voice, He said: Father, into
Thy hands I commend my spirit. And thus saying, He gave up the ghost. And
the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: This was a just
man. And all the people who were present at that spectacle, seeing what was
done, beating their breasts, returned.

   And the centurion reported to the governor what was done. And the
governor and his wife hearing, were very sorrowful, and neither ate nor
drank that day. And Pilate, calling together the Jews, said to them: Have
you seen what has been done? And they said to the governor: There has been
an eclipse of the sun, as is usual.

   And his acquaintances also stood afar off, and the women who had
followed Him from Galilee, seeing these things. And lo, a certain man, by
name Joseph, holding office, a man good and just, who did not consent to
their counsels nor their deeds, from Arimathaea,(3) a city of the Jews,
waiting, he also, for the kingdom of God, went to Pilate and begged the
body of Jesus. And taking Him down from the cross, he wrapped Him in clean
linen, and laid Him in his own new tomb, in which no one had been laid.

   CHAP. 12.--And the Jews, hearing that Joseph had begged the body of
Jesus, sought for him; and those twelve men who had said that He was not
born of fornication, and Nicodemus, and many others, who had stood before
Pilate and declared His good works. And all of them being hid, Nicodemus
alone appeared to them, because he was a chief man of the Jews; and he says
to them: How have ye come into the synagogue? The Jews say to him: And
thou, how hast thou come into the synagogue, seeing that thou consentest
with him? May his portion be with thee in the world to come! Nicodemus
said: Amen, amen, amen. Likewise also Joseph, coming forth, said to them:
Why are you enraged against me because I begged the body of Jesus? Lo, I
have laid him in my own new tomb, wrapping him in clean linen; and I have
rolled a stone to the door of the cave. And ye have not acted well against
a just man, since you have not borne in mind how you crucified him, and
pierced him with a lance. The Jews therefore, laying hold of Joseph,
ordered him to be imprisoned because of the Sabbath-day; and they say to
him: Know that the hour compels us not to do anything against thee, because
the Sabbath is dawning. But understand that thou art worthy not even of
burial, but we will give thy, flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts
of the  earth. Joseph says to them: That is the speech of proud Goliath,
who reviled the living God against holy David. And God hath said, Vengeance
is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. And Pilate, intercepted(1) in his
heart, took water, and washed his hands before the sun, saying, I am
innocent of the blood of this just man; see ye to it. And you answered and
said to Pilate, His blood be upon us, and upon our children. And now I fear
that some time or other the wrath of God will come upon you and your
children, as you have said. And the Jews, hearing this, were embittered in
heart; and taking Joseph, shut him up in a house where there was no window,
and set guards at the gates, and sealed the gate where Joseph had been shut
up.

   And on the Sabbath morning they took counsel with the priests and the
Levites, that they should all be assembled after the Sabbath-day. And
awaking at dawn, all the multitude in the synagogue took counsel by what
death they should slay him. And when the assembly was sitting, they ordered
him to be brought with much indignity; and opening the gate, they found him
not. All the people therefore were in terror, and wondered with exceeding
astonishment, because they found the seals sealed, and because Caiaphas had
the keys. And no longer did they dare to lay hand upon those who spoke
before Pilate in Jesus' defence.

   CHAP. 13.--And while they were sitting in the synagogue, and
recriminating about Joseph, there came certain of the guards whom they had
asked from Pilate to guard the sepulchre of Jesus, lest His disciples
coming should steal Him.  And they reported, saying to the rulers of the
synagogue, and the priests and the Levites, what  had happened: how there
had happened a great  earthquake, and we saw how an angel of the  Lord came
down from heaven, and rolled away  the stone from the door of the tomb, and
sat  upon it; and his countenance was like lightning, and his raiment like
snow. And for fear. we became as dead. And we heard the voice of the angel
speaking to the women who had come to the sepulchre, and saying, Be not ye
afraid; for I know that ye seek Jesus who was crucified: He is not here; He
has risen, as He said: come and see the place where the Lord was laid. And
go immediately and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and
will go before you into Galilee, as He said to you.

   The Jews say: To what women was he speaking? The soldiers say: We do
not know who the women were. The Jews say: At what hour was it? The guards
say: At midnight. The Jews say: And why did you not detain them? The guards
say: We became as dead from fear of the angel, not hoping now to see the
light of day; and how could we detain them? The Jews says: As the Lord God
liveth, we do not believe you. And the guards said to the Jews: You have
seen so great signs in that man, and have not believed; and how can you
believe us, that the Lord lives? For well have ye sworn that the Lord Jesus
Christ lives. Again the guards say to the Jews: we have heard that you have
shut up Joseph, who begged the body of Jesus, in the prison, and have
sealed it with your rings; and on opening, that you have not found him.
Give us Joseph, then, and we shall give you Jesus Christ. The Jews said:
Joseph has gone to Arimathea, his own city. The guards say to the Jews: And
Jesus, as we have heard from the angel, is in Galilee.

   And the Jews, hearing these sayings, feared exceedingly, saying: Lest
at some time or other this saying be heard, and all believe in Jesus. And
the Jews, taking counsel among themselves, brought forth a sufficient
number of silver pieces, and gave to the soldiers, saying: Say that, while
we slept, his disciples came and stole him. And if this be heard by the
governor, we shall persuade(2) him, and make you secure. And the soldiers,
taking the money, said as they were advised by the Jews; and their saying
was spread abroad among all.

   CHAP. 14.--And Finees a certain priest, and Addas a teacher, and Egias
a Levite, coming down from Galilee to Jerusalem, reported to the rulers of
the synagogue, and the priests and the Levites, how they had seen Jesus
sitting, and his disciples with him, on tile Mount of Olivet, which is
called Mambre or Malech. And he said to his disciples: Go into all the
world, and declare to every creature the Gospel of the kingdom of God. He
who believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he who believeth not
shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow them who believe: In my
name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak in new tongues; they
shall take up serpents; and if they have drunk any deadly thing, it shall
not hurt them; they shall lay hands upon the sick, and they shall be well.
And as Jesus was thus speaking to his disciples, we saw him taken up into
heaven.(1)

   The priests and the Levites and the elders say to them: Give glory to
the God of Israel, and give confession to Him, whether you have both heard
and seen those things which you have related. Those who had made the report
say: As the Lord God of our fathers liveth, the God of Abraham, and the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, we have heard and seen. The Jews say to
them: Have you come for this--to tell us? or have you come to give prayer
to God? They said: We have come to give prayer to God. The elders and chief
priests and Levites say to them: And if you have come to give prayer to
God, why have you murmured before all the people about that foolish tale?
Finees the priest, and Addas the teacher, and Egias the Levite, say to the
rulers of the synagogue, and the priests and the Levites: If those words
which we have spoken, which we have seen and heard, be sin, behold, we are
in your presence; do unto us according to that which is good in your eyes.
And they, taking the law, adjured them to report the words to no one
thereafter. And they gave them to eat and drink, and put them outside of
the city, giving them silver and pieces, and three men with them, who
should conduct them as far as Galilee.

   Then the Jews took counsel among themselves when those men had gone up
into Galilee; and the rulers of the synagogue shut themselves in, and were
cut up(2) with great fury, saying: What sign is this which hath come to
pass in Israel? And Annas and Caiaphas say: Why are your souls sorrowful?
Are we to believe the soldiers, that an angel of the Lord came down from
heaven, and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb? No; but that
his disciples have given much gold to those who were guarding the
sepulchre, and have taken Jesus away, and have taught them thus to say: Say
ye that an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and rolled away the
stone from the door of the tomb. Do you not know that it is unlawful for
Jews to believe foreigners in a single word, knowing that these same who
received sufficient gold from us have said as we taught them?

   Chap. 15.--And Nicodemus rising up, stood in the midst of the counsel,
and said: You have said rightly. And are not the men who have come down
from Galilee God-fearing, men of peace, hating a lie? And they recounted
with an oath, how "we saw Jesus sitting on Mount Mambre with his disciples,
and he taught them in our hearing," and that they saw him taken up into
heaven. And no one asked them this: How he was taken up into heaven. And,
as the writing of the holy book teaches us, holy Elias too was taken up
into heaven, and Elisaeus cried out with a loud voice, and Elias threw his
sheepskin over Elisaeus; and again Elisaeus threw that sheepskin over the
Jordan, and went over and came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets met
him, and said to Elisaeus, Where is thy master Elias? And he said, He has
been taken up into heaven. And they said to Elisaeus, Has a spirit snatched
him away, and thrown him upon one of the mountains? But rather let us take
our boys(3) with us and seek him. And they persuaded Elisaeus, and he went
with them. And they sought him for three days and three nights, and found
him not, because he was taken up. And now, men, hear me, and let us send
into all Israel, and see lest Jesus can have been taken up somewhere or
other, and thrown upon one of the mountains. And that saying pleased all.
And they sent to all the mountains of Israel to seek Jesus, and they found
Him not; but they found Joseph of Arimathaea, and no one dared to lay hold
of him.

   And they reported to the elders and priests and Levites: We have gone
round all the mountains of Israel, and not found Jesus; but we have found
Joseph in Arimathaea. And hearing of Joseph, they rejoiced, and gave glory
to the God of Israel. And the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests and
the Levites, taking counsel in what manner they should send to Joseph, took
paper, and wrote to Joseph:--

   Peace to thee and all that is thine! We know that we have sinned
against God, and against thee; and thou hast prayed to the God of Israel,
and He has delivered thee out of our hands. And now deign to come to thy
fathers and thy children, because we have been vehemently grieved. We have
all sought for thee--we who opened the door, and found thee not. We know
that we counselled evil counsel against thee; but the Lord hath supplanted
our counsel against thee. Thou art worthy to be honoured, father Joseph, by
all the people.

   And they chose out of all Israel seven men friendly to Joseph, whom
also Joseph knew to be friendly; and the rulers of the synagogue and the
priests and the Levites say to them: See, if he take the letter and read
it, for certain he will come with you to us; but if he do not read it, you
may know that he is ill-disposed toward us, and, saluting him in peace,
return to us. And blessing them, they sent them away. And they came to
Arimathaea to Joseph, and adored him on their face upon the ground, and
said: Peace to thee and all thine! And Joseph said: Peace to you, and to
all the people of Israel! And they gave him the roll of the letter. And
Joseph took and read it, and rolled up the letter, and blessed God, and
said: Blessed be the Lord God, who hath delivered Israel from shedding
innocent blood; and blessed be God, who sent His angel, and covered me
under his wings. And he kissed them, and set a table for them; and they ate
and drank, and slept there.

   And they rose in the morning; and Joseph saddled his ass, and travelled
with them, and they came into the holy city Jerusalem. And there met them
all the people, crying out, and saying: Peace be in thy coming in, father
Joseph! To whom he answered and said: The peace of the Lord be upon all the
people! And they all kissed him. And they prayed with Joseph, and were
terrified at the sight of him. And Nicodemus took him into his house, and
made a great feast, and called Annas and Caiaphas, and the elders and chief
priests and Levites, to his house. And making merry, and eating and
drinking with Joseph, they blessed God, and went every one to his own
house. And Joseph remained in the house of Nicodemus.

   And on the next day, which is the preparation, the priests and the
rulers of the synagogue and the Levites rose early, and came to the house
of Nicodemus. And Nicodemus met them, and said to them: Peace to you! And
they said to him: Peace to thee and Joseph, and to thy house and Joseph's
house! And Nicodemus brought them into his house. And the council sat; and
Joseph sat between Annas and Caiaphas, and no one dared to say a word. And
Joseph said to them: Why have you called me? And they made signs with their
eyes to Nicodemus, that he should speak with Joseph. And Nicodemus, opening
his mouth, said: Father Joseph, thou knowest that the reverend teachers,
priests, and Levites seek to hear a word from thee. And Joseph said: Ask.
And Annas and Caiaphas, taking up the law, adjured Joseph, saying: Give
glory to the God of Israel, and give confession to Him, that thou wilt not
hide any word(1) from us. And they said to him: With grief were we grieved
that thou didst beg the body of Jesus, and wrap it in clean linen, and lay
it in a tomb. Therefore we shut thee up in a house where there was no
window, and put a lock and a seal on the gate; and on the first day of the
week we opened the gates, and found thee not. We were therefore exceedingly
grieved, and astonishment came over all the people of God. And therefore
hast thou been sent for; and now tell us what has happened.

   Then said Joseph: On the day of the Preparation, about the tenth hour,
you shut me in, and I remained there the whole Sabbath in full. And when
midnight came, as I was standing and praying, the house where you shut me
in was hung up by the four corners, and there was a flashing of light in
mine eyes. And I fell to the ground trembling. Then some one lifted me up
from the place where I had fallen, and poured over me an abundance of water
from the head even to the feet, and put round my nostrils the odour of a
wonderful ointment, and rubbed my face with the water itself, as if washing
me, and kissed me, and said to me, Joseph, fear not; but open thine eyes,
and see who it is that speaks to thee. And looking, I saw Jesus; and being
terrified, I thought it was a phantom. And with prayer and the commandments
I spoke to him, and he spoke with me. And I said to him: Art thou Rabbi
Elias? And he said to me: I am not Elias. And I said: Who art thou, my
lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus, whose body thou didst beg from Pilate,
and wrap in clean linen; and thou didst lay a napkin on my face, and didst
lay me in thy new tomb, and roll a stone to the door of the tomb. Then I
said to him that was speaking to me: Show me, Lord, where I laid thee. And
he led me, and showed me the place where I laid him, and the linen which I
had put on him, and the napkin which I had wrapped upon his face; and I
knew that it was Jesus. And he took hold of me with his hand, and put me in
the midst of my house though the gates were shut, and put me in my bed, and
said to me: Peace to thee! And he kissed me, and said to me: For forty days
go not out of thy house; for, lo, I go to my brethren into Galilee.

   Chap. 16.--And the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests and the
Levites, hearing these words from Joseph, became as it were dead, and fell
to the ground, and fasted until the ninth hour. And Joseph and Nicodemus
entreated them, saying: Arise and stand upon your feet, and taste bread,
and comfort your souls, seeing that to-morrow is the Sabbath of the Lord.
And they arose, and entreated the Lord, and ate and drank, and went every
man to his own house.

   And on the Sabbath the teachers and doctors sat questioning each other,
and saying: What is this wrath that has come upon us? because we know his
father and mother. Levi the teacher said: I know that his parents fear God,
and never depart from prayer, and give tithes thrice a-year. And when Jesus
was born, his parents brought him up to this place, and gave to God
sacrifices and burnt-offerings. And assuredly the great teacher Simeon took
him into his arms, saying: Now Thou sendest away Thy servant, O Lord,
according to Thy word, in peace; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light for the
revealing of the nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel. And he
blessed Mary his mother, and said, I make an announcement to thee
concerning this child. And Mary said, Well, my lord.(1) And Simeon said,
Well. And he said again, Lo, he has been set for the fall and rising again
of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against; and a
sword shall pierce thine own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be
revealed.

   And the Jews said to Levi: And how knowest thou these things? Levi
says: Do you note know that from him I learned the law? They of the council
say: We wish to see thy father. And they searched out his father, and got
information; for he said: Why did you not believe my son? The blessed and
just Simeon taught him the law. The council says to Rabbi Levi: The saying
which thou hast spoken is true. The chief priests and rulers of the
synagogue, and Levites, said to each other: Come, let us send into Galilee
to the three men who came hither and gave an account of his teaching and
his being taken up, and let them tell us how they saw him taken up into
heaven. And that saying pleased all. Then they sent three men into Galilee;
and Go, said they, say to Rabbi Addas and Rabbi Finees and Rabbi Egias,
Peace to you and yours! Many investigations have been made in the council
concerning Jesus; therefore have we been instructed to call you to the holy
place, to Jerusalem.

   The men went to Galilee, and found them sitting, and meditating on the
law. And they saluted them in peace. And they said: Why have you come? The
messengers said: The council summon you to the holy city Jerusalem. And the
men, hearing that they were sought for by the council, prayed to God, and
reclined with the men, and ate and drank with them. And rising in the
morning, they went to Jerusalem in peace.

   And on the morrow the council sat; and they questioned them, saying:
Did you plainly see Jesus sitting on Mount Mambre teaching his disciples,
and taken up into heaven?

   First Addas the teacher says: I really saw him sitting on Mount Mambre
teaching his disciples; and a shining cloud overshadowed him and his
disciples, and he went up into heaven; and his disciples prayed upon their
faces on the ground. And calling Finees the priest, they questioned him
also, saying: How didst thou see Jesus taken up? And he said the same as
the other. And again they called the third, Rabbi Egias, and questioned
him, and he said the same as the first and second. And those who were in
the council said: The law of Moses holds that by the mouth of two or three
every word should stand. Abudem, a teacher, one of the doctors, says: It is
written in the law, Enoch walked with God, and was translated; for God took
him. Jairus, a teacher, said: And we have heard of the death of holy Moses,
and have not seen it; for it is written in the law of the Lord, And Moses
died according to the word(2) of the Lord, and no man knoweth of his
burying even to the present day. Rabbi Levi said: What is it that Rabbi
Simeon said: Lo, he lies for the fall and rising again of many in Israel,
and for a sign which shall be spoken against? Rabbi Isaac said: It is
written in the law, Lo, I send mine angel, who shall go before thy face to
keep thee in every good way, because I have brought his(3) new name.

   Then Annas and Caiaphas said: Rightly have ye said that these things
are written in the law of Moses, that no one saw the death of Enoch, and no
one has named the burying of holy Moses. And Jesus gave account to(4)
Pilate, and we saw him scourged, and receiving spitting on his face; and
the soldiers put a crown of thorns on him, and he received sentence from
Pilate; and then he was crucified, and they gave him gall and vinegar to
drink, and two robbers were crucified with him, and the soldier Longinus
pierced his side with a lance; and our honourable father Joseph begged his
body, and he has risen again, and, as they say, the three teachers have
seen him taken up into heaven. And Rabbi Levi has borne witness to what was
said by Simeon the elder--that he has been set for the fall and rising
again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against.

   Then Didas, a teacher, said to all the assembly: If all the things
which these have borne witness to have come to pass in Jesus, they are from
God, and let it not be wonderful in our eyes.(5) The chiefs of the
synagogue, and the priests and the Levites, said to each other how our law
holds, saying: His name shall be blessed for ever: His place endureth
before the sun, and His seat before the moon: and all the tribes of earth
shall be blessed in Him, and all nations shall serve Him; and kings shall
come from far, adoring and magnifying Him.(6)

THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS

Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell

LATIN. FIRST VERSION

   Chap. 1 (17).--And Joseph rose up and said to Annas and Caiaphas: Truly
and well do you wonder, since you have heard that Jesus has been seen alive
from the dead, ascending up into heaven. But it is more to be wondered at
that he is not the only one who has risen from the dead: but he has raised
up alive out of their tombs many others of the dead, and they have been
seen by many in Jerusalem. And hear me now, that we all know the blessed
Simeon, the great priest, who took up with his hands Jesus, when an infant,
in the temple. And Simeon himself had two sons, full brothers; and we all
were at their filling asleep, and at their burial. Go, therefore, and see
their tombs: for they are open, because they have risen; and, behold, they
are in the city of Arimathaea, living together in prayers. And, indeed,
they are heard crying out, but speaking with nobody, and they are silent as
the dead. But come, let us go to them; let us conduct them to us with all
honour and respect. And if we adjure them, perhaps they will speak to us of
the mystery of their resurrection.

   At hearing this they all rejoiced. And Annas and Caiaphas, Nicodemus,
and Joseph, and Gamaliel, went, and did not find them in their sepulchres;
but, walking into the city of Arimathea, they found them there, on their
bended knees, and spending their time in prayer. And kissing them, they
conducted them to Jerusalem, into the synagogue, with all veneration and
fear of God. And shutting the doors, and lifting up the law of the Lord,
they put it in their hands, adjuring them by the God Adonai, and the God of
Israel, who by the law and the prophets spoke to our fathers, saying: Do
you believe that it was Jesus who raised you from the dead? Tell us how you
have risen from the dead.

   Karinus and Leucius, hearing this adjuration, trembled in their body,
and groaned, being disturbed in heart. And together they looked towards
heaven, and with their fingers made the sign of the cross on their tongues,
and immediately they spoke together, saying: Give each of us sheets of
paper, and let us write what we have seen and heard. And they gave it to
them. And they sat down, and each of them wrote, saying:--

   Chap. 2 (18).--O Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life of
the dead, permit us to speak mysteries through the death of Thy cross,
because we have been adjured by Thee. For Thou didst order Thy servants to
relate to no one the secrets of Thy divine majesty which Thou didst in
Hades. And when we were, along with all our fathers, lying in the deep, in
the blackness of darkness, suddenly there appeared a golden heat(1) of the
sun, and a purple royal light shining upon us. And immediately the father
of all the human race, with all the patriarchs and prophets, exulted,
saying: That light is the source of eternal light, which hath promised to
transmit to us co-eternal light. And Esaias cried out, and said: This is
the light of the Father, the Son of God, as I predicted when I was alive
upon earth: The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim across Jordan,
Galilee of the nations, the people who sat in darkness, have seen a great
light; and light was shining among those who are in the region of the
shadow of death. And now it has come and shone upon us sitting in death.

   And when we were all exulting in the light which shone over us, there
came up to us our father Simeon; and he said, exulting: Glorify the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Son of God; because I took Him up when born, an infant,
in my hands in the temple; and instigated by the Holy Spirit, I said to
Him, confessing: Now mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast
prepared in the sight of all peoples, a light for the revealing of the
nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel. When they beard this, all the
multitude of the saints exulted more.

   And after this there comes up, as it were, a dweller m the desert; and
he is asked by all: Who art thou? To whom he says in answer: I am John, the
voice and prophet of the Most High, going before the face of His coming to
prepare His ways, to give the knowledge of salvation to His people for the
remission of their sins. And seeing Him coming to me, instigated by the
Holy Spirit, I said: Behold the Lamb of God! behold Him who taketh away the
sins of the world! And I baptized Him in the river of Jordan, and I saw the
Holy Spirit descending upon Him in the form of a dove; and I heard a voice
from the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
And now I have gone before His face, and have descended to announce to you
that the rising Son of God is close at hand to visit us, coming from on
high to us sitting in darkness and the shadow of death.

   Chap. 3 (19).--And when the first created, father Adam, had heard this,
that Jesus was baptized in Jordan, he cried out to his son Seth: Tell thy
sons, the patriarchs and the prophets, all that thou heardest from Michael
the archangel when I sent thee to the gates of paradise to implore God that
he might send thee His angel to give thee oil from the tree of mercy, with
which to anoint my body when I was sick. Then Seth, coming near to the holy
patriarchs and prophets, said: When I, Seth, was praying to the Lord at the
gates of paradise, behold Michael, the angel of the Lord, appeared to me,
saying, I have been sent to thee by the Lord. I am set over the human
race.(1) And to thee, Seth, I say, do not labour with tears in prayers and
supplications on account of the oil of the tree of mercy to anoint thy
father Adam for the pain of his body, because in no wise shalt thou receive
of it, except in the last days and times, except when five thousand and
five hundred years have been fulfilled: then will come upon the earth the
most beloved Son of God, to raise up again the body of Adam, and the bodies
of the dead; and He, when He comes, will be baptized in Jordan. And when he
shall have come out of the water of Jordan, then with the oil of His mercy
shall He anoint all that believe on Him; and that oil of mercy shall be for
the generation of those who shall be born out of water and the Holy Spirit
into life eternal. Then, descending upon earth, Christ Jesus, the most
beloved Son of God, will lead our father Adam into paradise to the tree of
mercy.

   And when they heard all these things from Seth, all the patriarchs and
prophets exulted with great exultation.

   Chap. 4 (20).--And when all the saints were exulting, lo, Satan, the
prince and leader of death, said to Hades: Make thyself ready to receive
Jesus, who boasts himself to be the Son of God, and is a man fearing death,
and saying, My soul is sorrowful, even unto death. And he has withstood me
much, doing me evil; and many whom I made blind, lame, deaf, leprous, and
demoniac, he has healed with a word; and those whom I have brought to thee
dead, he has dragged away from thee.

   Hades, answering, said to Prince Satan: Who is he that is so powerful,
when he is a man in fear of death? For all the powerful of the earth are
kept in subjection by my power, whom thou hast brought into subjection by
thy power. If then, thou art powerful, what is that man Jesus like, who,
though fearing death, withstands thy power? If he is so powerful in
humanity, verily I say unto thee, he is all-powerful in divinity, and his
power can no one resist. And when he says that he fears death, he wishes to
lay hold on thee, and woe will be to thee to the ages of eternity. And
Satan, prince of Tartarus, answered and said: Why hast thou doubted, and
feared to receive this Jesus, thy adversary and mine? For I have tempted
him, and I have roused up my ancient people the Jews with hatred and anger
against him; I have sharpened a lance to strike him; I have mixed gall and
vinegar to give him to drink; and I have prepared wood to crucify him, and
nails to pierce him, and his death is near at hand, that I may bring him to
thee, subject to thee and me.

   Tartarus answered and said: Thou hast told me that it is he himself who
has dragged away the dead from me. Now there are many who are here kept by
me, who, while they lived on earth, took the dead from me, not by their own
powers, but by godly prayers, and their almighty God dragged them away from
me. Who is that Jesus, who by his word has withdrawn the dead from me
without prayers? Perhaps he is the same who, by, the word of his command,
brought alive Lazarus, after he had been four days in stench and
corruption, whom I kept dead. Satan prince of death answered and said: That
Jesus is the same. And when Hades heard this he said to him: I adjure thee
by thy powers and mine, do not bring him to me. For I at that time, when I
heard the command of his word, trembled with terror and dismay, and all my
officers at the same time were confounded along with me. Nor could we keep
that Lazarus; but, shaking himself like an eagle, he sprang out, and went
forth from us with all activity and speed, and the same ground which held
the dead body of Lazarus immediately gave him forth alive. So now, I know
that that man who could do these things is God, strong in authority,
powerful in humanity, and He is the Saviour of the human race. But if thou
bring Him to me, all who are here shut up in the cruelty of the prison, and
bound by their sins in chains that cannot be loosened, He will let loose,
and will bring to the life of His divinity for ever.

   Chap. 5 (21).--And as Prince Satan and Hades were thus speaking to each
other in turn, suddenly there was a voice as of thunders, and a shouting of
spirits: Lift up your gates, ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye
everlasting gates; and the King of glory shall come in.(1) Hades hearing
this, said to Prince Satan: Retire from me, and go outside of my realms: if
thou art a powerful warrior, fight against the King of glory. But what hast
thou to do with Him? And Hades thrust Satan outside of his realms. And
Hades said to his impious officers: Shut the cruel gates of brass, and put
up the bars of iron, and resist bravely, that we, holding captivity, may
not take Him captive.(2)

   And all the multitude of the saints, hearing this, said to Hades, with
the voice of reproach: Open thy gates, that the King of glory may come in.
And David cried out, saying: Did I not, when I was alive upon earth,
prophesy to you: Let them confess to the Lord His tender mercies and His
wonderful works to the children of men: for He has shattered the brazen
gates, and burst the iron bars; He has taken them up out of the way of
their iniquity?(3) And after this, in like manner, Esaias said: Did not I,
when I was alive upon earth, prophesy to you: The dead shall rise up, and
those who are in their tombs shall rise again, and those who are upon earth
shall exult; because the dew, which is from the Lord, is their health?(4)
And again I said, Where, O Death, is thy sting? where, O Hades, is thy
victory?(5)

   And when all the saints heard this from Esaias, they said to Hades:
Open thy gates. Since thou art now conquered, thou wilt be weak and
powerless. And there was a great voice, as of thunders, saying: Lift up
your gates, ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye infernal gates; and the
King of glory shall come in. Hades, seeing that they had twice shouted out
this, says, as if not knowing: Who is the king of glory? David says, in
answer to Hades: I recognise those words of the shout, since I prophesied
the same by His Spirit. And now, what I have said above I say to thee, The
Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle; He is the King of
glory.(6) And the Lord Himself hath looked down from heaven upon earth, to
hear the groans of the prisoners, and to release the sons of the slain.(7)
And now, most filthy and most foul Hades, open thy gates, that the King of
glory may come in. While David was thus speaking, there came to Hades, in
the form of a man, the Lord of majesty, and lighted up the eternal
darkness, and burst asunder the indissoluble chains; and the aid of
unconquered power visited us, sitting in the profound darkness of
transgressions, and in the shadow of death of sins.(8)

   Chap. 6 (22).--When this was seen by Hades and Death, and their impious
officers, along with their cruel servants, they trembled at perceiving in
their own dominions the clearness of so great a light, when they saw Christ
suddenly in their abodes; and they cried out, saying: We have been overcome
by thee. Who art thou, that to the Lord directest our confusion?(9) Who art
thou, that, undestroyed by corruption, the uncorrupted proof of thy
majesty, with fury condemnest our power? Who art thou, so great and little,
lowly and exalted, soldier and commander, wonderful warrior in the form of
a slave, and the king of glory dead and alive, whom slain the cross has
carried? Thou, who didst lie dead in the sepulchre, hast come down to us
alive; and in thy death every creature trembled, and the stars in a body
were moved; and now thou hast been made free among the dead, and disturbest
our legions. Who art thou, that settest free those who art held captive,
bound by original sin, and recallest them to their former liberty? Who art
thou, who sheddest a divine, and splendid, and illuminating light upon
those who have been blinded by the darkness of their sins?

   In like manner, also, all the legions of the demons, terror-stricken
with like fear from their fearful overthrow, cried out, saying: Whence art
thou, O Jesus, a man so powerful and splendid in majesty, so excellent,
without spot, and free from guilt? For that world of earth which has been
subject to us always until now, which used to pay tribute for our uses, has
never sent us such a dead man, has never destined such gifts for the powers
below. Who therefore art thou, that hast so intrepidly entered our bounds,
and who hast not only no fear of our punishments, but, moreover, attemptest
to take all away from our chains? Perhaps thou art that Jesus of whom our
prince Satan said, that by thy death of the cross thou wast destined to
receive the dominion of the whole world.

   Then the King of glory, trampling on death by His majesty, and seizing
Prince Satan, delivered him to the power of Hades, and drew Adam to His
brightness.

   CHAP. 7 (23).--Then Hades, receiving Prince Satan, said to him, with
vehement revilings: O prince of perdition, and leader of extermination,
Beelzebub, derision of angels, to be spit upon by the just, why didst thou
wish to do this? Didst thou wish to crucify the King of glory, in whose
death thou didst promise us so great spoils? Like a fool, thou didst not
know what thou wast doing. For, behold, that Jesus by the splendour of His
divinity is putting to flight all the darkness of death, and He has broken
into the strong lowest depths of our dungeons, and has brought out the
captives, and released those who were bound. And all who used to groan
under our torments insult us, and by their prayers our dominions are taken
by stem, and our realms conquered, and no race of men has now any respect
for us. Moreover, also, we are grievously threatened by the dead, who have
never been haughty to us, and who have not at any time been joyful as
captives. O Prince Satan, father of all impious wretches and renegades, why
didst thou wish to do this? Of those who from the beginning, even until
now, have despaired of salvation and life, no bellowing after the usual
fashion is now heard here; and no groaning of theirs resounds, nor in any
of their faces is a trace of tears found. O Prince Satan, possessor of the
keys of the lower regions, all thy riches which thou hadst acquired by the
tree of transgression and the loss of paradise, thou hast now lost by the
tree of the cross, and all thy joy has perished. When thou didst hang up
that Christ Jesus the King of glory, thou wast acting against thyself and
against me. Henceforth thou shall know what eternal torments and infinite
punishments thou art to endure in my everlasting keeping. O Prince Satan,
author of death, and source of all pride, thou oughtest first to have
inquired into the bad cause of that Jesus. Him in whom thou perceivedst no
fault, why, without reason, didst thou dare unjustly to crucify? and why
hast thou brought to our regions one innocent and just, and lost the
guilty, the impious, and the unjust of the whole world?

   And when Hades had thus spoken to Prince Satan, then the King of glory
said to Hades: Satan the prince will be in thy power for ever, in place of
Adam and his sons, my just ones.

   CHAP. 8 (24).--And the Lord stretched out His hand, and said: Come to
me, all my saints, who have my image and likeness. Do you, who have been
condemned through the tree and the devil and death, now see the devil and
death condemned through the tree. Immediately all the saints were brought
together under the hand of the Lord. And the Lord, holding Adam by the
right hand, said to him: Peace be to thee, with all thy children, my
righteous ones! And Adam fell down at the knees of the Lord, and with
tearful entreaty praying, said with a loud voice: I will extol Thee, O
Lord; for Thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over
me. O Lord God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me. O Lord, Thou
hast brought out my soul from the powers below; Thou hast saved me from
them that go down into the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, all His saints,
and confess to the memory of His holiness; since there is anger in His
indignation, and life in His goodwill.[1] In like manner also all the
saints of God, falling on their knees at the feet of the Lord, said with
one voice: Thou hast come, O Redeemer of the world: as Thou hast foretold
by the law and Thy prophets, so hast Thou fulfilled by Thy deeds. Thou hast
redeemed the living by Thy cross; and by the death of the cross Thou hast
come down to us, to rescue us from the powers below, and from death, by Thy
majesty. O Lord, as Thou hast set the title of Thy glory in heaven, and
hast erected as the title of redemption Thy cross upon earth, so, O Lord,
set in Hades the sign of the victory of Thy cross, that death may no more
have dominion.

   And the Lord, stretching forth His hand, made the sign of the cross
upon Adam and upon all His saints; and holding Adam by the right hand, went
up from the powers below: and all the saints followed Him. Then holy David
cried out aloud, saying: Sing unto the Lord a new song, for He hath done
wonderful things; His right hand and His holy arm have brought salvation to
Himself. The Lord hath made known His salvation; His righteousness hath He
revealed in the sight of the heathen.[2] And all the multitude of the
saints answered, saying: This is glory to all His saints. Amen, alleluia.

   And after this the prophet Habacuc cried out, saying: Thou wentest
forth for the salvation of Thy people, to deliver Thine elect.[3] And all
the saints answered, saying: Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the
Lord; God is the Lord, and He hath shone upon us.[1] Amen, alleluia. In
like manner after this the prophet Michaeas also cried out, saying: Who is
a God like unto thee, O Lord, taking away iniquities and passing by sins?
And now Thou dost withhold Thine anger for a testimony against us, because
Thou delightest in mercy. And Thou turnest again, and hast compassion upon
us, and pardonest all our iniquities; and all our sins hast Thou sunk in
the multitude of death,[2] as Thou hast sworn unto our fathers in the days
of old.[3] And all the saints answered, saying: This is our God to
eternity, and for ever and ever; and He will direct us for evermore.[4]
Amen, alleluia. So also all the prophets, quoting the sacred writings
concerning His praises,[5] and all the saints crying, Amen, alleluia,
followed the Lord.

   CHAP. 9 (25).--And the Lord, holding the hand of Adam, delivered him to
Michael the archangel: and all the saints followed Michael the archangel,
and he led them all into the glorious grace of paradise. And there met them
two men, ancient of days. The saints asked them: Who are you, that have not
yet been dead, along with us in the regions below, and have been placed in
paradise in the body? One of them answered, and said: I am Enoch, who by
the word of the Lord have been translated hither; and he who is with me is
Elias the Thesbite, who was taken up by a fiery chariot. Here also even
until now we have not tasted death, but have been reserved to the coming of
Antichrist, by divine signs and wonders to do battle with him, and, being
killed by him in Jerusalem, after three days and half a day to be taken up
alive again in the clouds.[6]

   CHAP. 10 (26).--And while the saints Enoch and Elias were thus
speaking, behold, there came up another man, most wretched, carrying on his
shoulders the sign of the cross. And seeing him, all the saints said to
him: Who art thou? because thy appearance is that of a robber. Anti what is
the sign which thou carriest on thy shoulders? In answer to them, he said:
Truly have you said that I was a robber, doing all sorts of evil upon the
earth. And the Jews crucified me along with Jesus; and I saw the miracles
in created things which were done through the cross of Jesus crucified, and
I believed Him to be the Creator of all created things, and the King
omnipotent; and I entreated Him, saying, Be mindful of me, Lord, when Thou
shall have come into Thy kingdom. Immediately He accepted my entreaty, and
said to me, Amen; I say to thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in
paradise.[7] And He gave me this sign of the cross, saying, Walk into
paradise carrying this; and if the guardian angel of paradise will not let
thee go in, show him the sign of the cross, and thou shall say to him,
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who has now been crucified, has sent me.
Having done so, I said all this to the guardian angel of paradise. And when
he heard this, he immediately opened, and led me in, and placed me at the
right of paradise, saying, Lo, hold a little, and there will come in the
father of the whole human race, Adam, with all his children, holy and just,
after the triumph and glory of the ascension of Christ the crucified Lord.
Hearing all these words of the robber, all the holy patriarchs and prophets
with one voice said: Blessed art Thou, O Lord Almighty, Father of
everlasting benefits, and Father of mercies, who hast given such grace to
Thy sinners, and hast brought them back into the grace of paradise, and
into Thy rich pastures; for this is spiritual life most sure. Amen, amen.

   CHAP. 11 (27).--These are the divine and sacred mysteries which we saw
and heard, I Karinus, and Leucius. More we are not allowed to tell of the
other mysteries of God, as Michael the archangel adjured us, and said: You
shall go into Jerusalem with your brethren, and continue in prayers, and
you shall cry out, and glorify the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ,
who has raised you up again from the dead with Himself. And with none of
men shall you speak; and you shall sit as if dumb, until the hour shall
come when the Lord Himself shall permit you to relate the mysteries of His
divinity. And Michael the archangel ordered us to walk across Jordan into a
place rich and fertile, where there are many who rose again along with us
for an evidence of the resurrection of Christ the Lord; because only three
days were allowed to us who have risen from the dead to celebrate in
Jerusalem the passover of the Lord, with our living relations, for an
evidence of the resurrection of Christ the Lord: and we have been baptized
in the holy river of Jordan, receiving each of us white robes. And after
three days, when we had celebrated the passover of the Lord, all who rose
again along with us were snatched up into the clouds. and taken across the
Jordan, and were no longer seen by any one. But we were told to remain in
the city of Arimathaea in prayers.

   These are the things which the Lord commanded us to relate to you. Give
Him praise and confession, and be penitent, that He may have mercy upon
you. Peace be to you from the same Lord Jesus Christ, and the Saviour of
all of us! Amen.

   And after they had finished all, writing on separate sheets of paper,
they arose. And Karinus gave what he wrote into the hands of Annas and
Caiaphas and Gamaliel; in like manner also Leucius gave what he wrote into
the hands of Nicodemus and Joseph. And being suddenly transfigured, they
became exceedingly white, and were seen no more. And their writings were
found exactly the same, not one letter more or less.

   All the synagogue of the Jews, hearing all these wonderful sayings of
Karinus and Leucius, said to each other: Truly all these things have been
done by the Lord, and blessed be the Lord for ever and ever. Amen. And they
all went out with great anxiety, beating their breasts with fear and
trembling; and they went away, each to his own house.

   All these things which were said by the Jews in their synagogue Joseph
and Nicodemus immediately reported to the proconsul. And Pilate himself
wrote all which had been done and said concerning Jesus by the Jews, and he
placed all the words in the public records of his praetorium.

   CHAP. 12 (28).--After this, Pilate going into the temple of the Jews,
assembled all the chief priests, and learned men, and scribes, and teachers
of the law, and went in with them into the sanctuary of the temple, and
ordered that all the gates should be shut, and said to them: We have heard
that you have a certain great collection of books in this temple: therefore
I ask you that it be presented before us. And when four officers brought in
that collection of books, adorned with gold and precious gems, Pilate said
to all: I adjure you by the God of your fathers, who ordered you to build
this temple in the place of his sanctuary, not to conceal the truth from
me. You all know what is written in that collection of books; but now say
whether you have found in the writings that Jesus, whom you have crucified,
to be the Son of God that was to come for the salvation of the human race,
and in how many revolutions of the seasons he ought to come. Declare to me
whether you crucified him in ignorance of this, or knowing it.

   Being thus adjured, Annas and Caiaphas ordered all the others who were
with them to go out of the sanctuary; and themselves shut all the gates of
the temple and the sanctuary, and said to Pilate: We have been adjured by
thee, O good judge, by the building of this temple, to give thee the truth,
and a clear account of this matter. After we had crucified Jesus, not
knowing Him to be the Son of God, thinking that He did miracles by means of
some charm, we made a great synagogue in this temple. And conferring with
each other of the signs of the miracles which Jesus had done, we found many
witnesses of our nation who said that they had seen Jesus alive after
suffering death, and that He had penetrated into the height of heaven. And
we have seen two witnesses, whom Jesus raised up again from the dead, who
told us many wonderful things that Jesus did among the dead, which we have
in our hands, written out. And our custom is, every year before our
synagogue, to open that holy collection of books, and seek out the
testimony of God. And we have found in the first book of the LXX., where
the archangel Michael spoke to the third son of Adam, the first man, of
five thousand and five hundred years, in which the Christ, the most beloved
Son of God, was to come from the heavens; and upon this we have considered
that perhaps He was the God of Israel who said to Moses,[1] Make to thee
the ark of the covenant, two cubits and a half in length, one cubit and a
half in breadth, one cubit and a half in height. In these five and a half
cubits we have understood and recognised, from the structure of the ark of
the old covenant, that in five and a half thousands of years, Jesus Christ
was to come in the ark of the body; and we have found Him to be the God of
Israel, the Son of God. Because after His passion, we, the chief priests,
wondering at the signs which happened on account of Him, opened this
collection of books, searching out all the generations, even to the
generation of Joseph, and reckoning that Mary the mother of Christ was of
the seed of David; and we have found that from the time that God made the
heaven and the earth and the first man, to the deluge, are two thousand two
hundred and twelve[2] years; and from the deluge to the building of the
tower, five hundred and thirty-one[3] years; and from the building of the
tower to Abraham, six hundred and six[4] years; and from Abraham to the
arrival of the children of Israel from Egypt, four hundred and seventy
years; from the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt to the
building of the temple, five hundred and eleven years; and from the
building of the temple to the destruction of the same temple, four hundred
and sixty-four years. Thus far have we found in the book of Esdras. After
searching, we find that from the burning of the temple to the advent of
Christ, and His birth, there are six hundred and thirty-six[5] years, which
together were five thousand five hundred years, as we have found written in
the book that Michael the archangel foretold to Seth the third son of Adam,
that in five and a half thousands of years Christ the Son of God would
come. Even until now we have told no one, that there might be no dissension
in our synagogues. And now thou hast adjured us, O good judge, by this holy
book of the testimonies of God, and we make it manifest to thee. And now we
adjure thee, by thy life and safety, to make manifest these words to no one
in Jerusalem.

   CHAP. 13 (29).--Pilate, hearing these words of Annas and Caiaphas, laid
them all up in the acts of our Lord and Saviour, in the public records of
his praetorium, and wrote a letter to Claudius, king of the city of
Rome,[2] saying:--

   Pontius Pilate to Claudius his king, greeting. It has lately happened,
as I myself have also proved, that the Jews, through envy, have punished
themselves and their posterity by a cruel condemnation. In short, when
their fathers had a promise that their God would send them from heaven his
holy one, who should deservedly be called their king, and promised that he
would send him by a virgin upon the earth: when, therefore, while I was
procurator, he had come into Judaea, and when they saw him enlightening the
blind, cleansing the lepers, curing the paralytics, making demons flee from
men, even raising the dead, commanding the winds, walking dryshod upon the
waves of the sea, and doing many other signs of miracles; and when all the
people of the Jews said that he was the Son of God, the chief priests felt
envy against him, and seized him, and delivered him to me; and, telling me
one lie after another, they said that he was a sorcerer, and was acting
contrary to their law.

   And I believed that it was so, and delivered him to be scourged,
according to their will. And they crucified him, and set guards over him
when buried. And he rose again on the third day, while my soldiers were
keeping guard. But so flagrant was the iniquity of the Jews, that they gave
money to my soldiers, saying, Say that his disciples have stolen his body.
But after receiving the money they could not keep secret what had been
done; for they bore witness both that he had risen again, that they had
seen him,[3] and that they had received money from the Jews.

   This accordingly I have done, test any one should give a different and
a false account of it, and lost thou shouldst think that the lies of the
Jews are to be believed.

LATIN. SECOND VERSION.

   CHAP. 1 (17).--Then Rabbi Addas, and Rabbi Finees, and Rabbi Egias, the
three men who had come from Galilee, testifying that they had seen Jesus
taken up into heaven, rose up in the midst of the multitude of the chiefs
of the Jews, and said before the priests and the Levites, who had been
called together to the council of the Lord: When we were coming from
Galilee, we met at the Jordan a very great multitude of men, fathers[1] who
had been some time dead. And present among them we saw Karinus and Leucius.
And they came up to us, and we kissed each other, because they were dear
friends of ours; and we asked them, Tell us, friends and brothers, what is
this breath of life and flesh? and who are those with whom you are going?
and how do you, who have been some time dead, remain in the body?

   And they said in answer: We have risen again along with Christ from the
lower world, and He has raised us up again from the dead. And from this you
may know that the gates of death and darkness have been destroyed, and the
souls of the saints have been brought out thence, and have ascended into
heaven along with Christ the Lord. And indeed to us it has been commanded
by the Lord Himself, that for an appointed time we should walk over the
banks of Jordan and the mountains; not, however, appearing to every one,
nor speaking to every one, except to those to whom He has permitted us. And
just now we could neither have spoken nor appeared to you, unless it had
been allowed to us by the Holy Spirit.

   And when they heard this, all the multitude who were present in the
council were struck with fear and trembling, and wondered whether these
things had really happened which these Galilaeans testified. Then Caiaphas
and Annas said to the council: What these have testified, first and last,
must shortly be altogether made clear: If it shall be found to be true that
Karinus and Leucius remain alive in the body, and if we shall be able to
behold them with our own eyes, then what they testify is altogether true;
and if we find them, they will inform us of everything; but if not, you may
know that it is all lies.

   Then the council having suddenly risen, it pleased them to choose men
fit for the duty, fearing God, and who knew when they died, and where they
were buried, to inquire diligently, and to see whether it was as they had
heard. The men therefore proceeded to the same place, fifteen in number,
who through all were present at their falling asleep, and had stood at
their feet when they were buried, and had beheld their tombs. And they came
and found their tombs open, and very many others besides, and found a sign
neither of their bones nor of their dust. And they returned in all haste,
and reported what they had seen.

   Then all their synagogue was in great grief and perplexity, and they
said to each other: What shall we do? Annas and Caiaphas said: Let us turn
to where we have heard that they are, and let us send to them men of rank,
asking and entreating them: perhaps they will deign to come to us. Then
they sent to them Nicodemus and Joseph, and the three men, the Galilaean
rabbis who had seen them, asking that they should deign to come to them.
And they went, and walked round all the region of Jordan and of the
mountains, and they were coming back without finding them.

   And, behold, suddenly there appeared coming down from Mount Amalech a
very great number, as it were, twelve thousand men, who had risen with the
Lord. And though they recognised very many there, they were not able to say
anything to them for fear and the angelic vision; and they stood at a
distance gazing and hearing them, how they walked along singing praises,
and saying: The Lord has risen again from the dead, as He had said; let us
all exult and be glad, since He reigns for ever. Then those who had been
sent were astonished, and fell to the ground for fear, and received the
answer from them, that they should see Karinus and Leucius in their own
houses.

   And they rose up and went to their houses, and found them spending
their time in prayer. And going in to them, they fell on their faces to the
ground, saluting them; and being raised up, they said: O friends of God,
all the multitude of the Jews have directed us to you, hearing that you
have risen from the dead, asking and beseeching you to come to them, that
we all may know the great things of God which have happened around us in
our times. And they immediately, at a sign from God, rose up, and came with
them, and entered their synagogue. Then the multitude of the Jews, with the
priests, put the books of the law in their hands, and adjured them by the
God Heloi, and the God Adonai, and by the law and the prophets, saying:
Tell us how you have risen from the dead, and what are those wonderful
things which have happened in our times, such as we have never heard to
have happened at any other time; because already for fear all our bones
have been benumbed, and have dried up, and the earth moves itself under our
feet: for we have joined all our hearts to shed righteous and holy blood.

   Then Karinus and Leucius signed to them with their hands to give them a
sheet of paper and ink. And this they did, because the Holy Spirit did not
allow them to speak to them. And they gave each of them paper, and put them
apart, the one from the other in separate cells. And they, making with
their fingers the sign of the cross of Christ, began to write on the
separate sheets; and after they had finished, as if out of one mouth from
the separate cells, they cried out, Amen. And rising up, Karinus gave his
paper to Annas, and Leucius to Caiaphas; and saluting each other, they went
out, and returned to their sepulchres.

   Then Annas and Caiaphas, opening the sheet of paper, began each to read
it in secret. But all the people took it ill, and so all cried out: Read
these writings to us openly; and after they have been read through we shall
keep them, lest perchance this truth of God be turned through wilful
blindness, by unclean and deceitful men, into falsehood. At this Annas and
Caiaphas fell a-trembling, and delivered the sheet of paper to Rabbi Addas,
and Rabbi Finees, and Rabbi Egias, who had come from Galilee, and announced
that Jesus had been taken up into heaven. All the multitude of the Jews
trusted to them to read this writing. And they read the paper containing
these words:--

   CHAP. 2 (18).--I Karinus. 0 Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
permit me to speak of Thy wonders which Thou hast done in the lower world.
When, therefore, we were kept in darkness and the shadow of death in the
lower world, suddenly there shone upon us a great light, and Hades and the
gates of death trembled. And then was heard the voice of the Son of the
Father most high, as if the voice of a great thunder; and loudly
proclaiming, He thus charged them: Lift up your gates, ye princes; lift up
the everlasting gates; the King of glory, Christ the Lord, will come up to
enter in.

   Then Satan, the leader of death, came up, fleeing in terror, saying to
his officers and the powers below: My officers, and all the powers below,
run together, shut your gates, put up the iron bars, and fight bravely, and
resist, lest they lay hold of us, and keep us captive in chains. Then all
his impious officers were perplexed, and began to shut the gates of death
with all diligence, and by little and little to fasten the locks and the
iron bars, and to hold all their weapons[1] grasped in their hands, and to
utter howlings in a direful and most hideous voice.

   CHAP. 3 (19).--Then Satan said to Hades: Make thyself ready to receive
him whom I shall bring down to thee. Thereupon Hades thus replied to Satan:
That voice was from nothing else than the cry of the Son of the Father most
high, because the earth and all the places of the world below so trembled
trader it: wherefore I think that myself and all my dungeons are now lying
open. But I adjure thee, Satan, head of all evils, [2] by thy power and my
own, bring him not to me, lest, while we wish to take him, we be taken
captive by him. For if, at his voice only, all my power has been thus
destroyed, what do you think he will do when he shall come in person?

   To him Satan, the leader of death, thus replied: What art thou crying
out about? Do not be afraid, my old most wicked friend, because I have
stirred up the people of the Jews against him; I have told them to strike
him with blows on the face, and I have brought upon him betrayal by one of
his disciples; and he is a man in great fear of death, because from fear he
said, My soul is sorrowful, even unto death; and I have brought him to
this, that he has just been lifted up and hanged on the cross. Then Hades
said to him: If he be the same who, by the mere word of his command, made
Lazarus fly away like an eagle from my bosom, when he had already been dead
four days, he is not a man in humanity, but God in majesty. I entreat thee
not to bring him to me. And Satan says to him: Make thyself ready
nevertheless; be not afraid; because he is already hanging on the cross, I
can do nothing else. Then Hades thus replied to Satan: If, then, thou canst
do nothing else, behold, thy destruction is at hand. I, in short, shall
remain cast down and dishonoured; thou, however, wilt be tortured under my
power.

   CHAP. 4 (20).--And the saints of God heard the wrangling of Satan and
Hades. They, however, though as yet not at all recognising each other,
were, notwithstanding, in the possession of their faculties. But our holy
father Adam thus replied to Satan at once: O captain of death, why dost
thou fear and tremble? Behold, the Lord is coming, who will now destroy all
thy, inventions; and thou shalt be taken by Him, and bound throughout
eternity.

   Then all the saints, hearing the voice of our father Adam, how boldly
he replied to Satan in all points, were strengthened in joy; and all
running together to father Adam, were crowded in one place. Then our father
Adam, gazing on all that multitude, wondered greatly whether all of them
had been begotten from him into the world. And embracing those who were
standing everywhere around him, and shedding most bitter tears, he
addressed his son Seth, saying: Relate, my son Seth, to the holy patriarchs
and prophets what the guardian of paradise said to thee, when I sent thee
to bring to me of that oil of compassion, in order to anoint my body when I
was ill.

   Then he answered: I, when thou sentest me before the gates of paradise,
prayed and en-treated the Lord with tears, and called upon the guardian of
paradise to give me of it therefrom. Then Michael the archangel came out,
and said to me, Seth, why then dost thou weep? Know, being informed
beforehand, that thy father Adam will not receive of this oil of compassion
now, but after many generations of time. For the most beloved Son of God
will come down from heaven into the world, and will be baptized by John in
the river Jordan; and then shall thy father Adam receive of this oil[3] of
compassion, and all that believe in him. And of those who have believed in
him, their kingdom will endure for ever.

   CHAP. 5 (21).--Then all the saints, hearing this again, exulted in joy.
And one of those standing round, Isaias by name, cried out aloud, and
thundered: Father Adam, and all standing round, hear my declaration. When I
was on earth, and by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, in prophecy I sang of
this light: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light; to them
dwelling in the region of the shadow of death light has arisen. At these
words father Adam, and all of them, turned and asked him: Who art thou?
because what thou sayest is true. And he subjoined, and said: My name is
Isaias.

   Then appeared. another near him, as if a hermit. And they asked him,
saying: Who art thou, who bearest such an appearance in thy body?[4] And he
firmly answered: I am John the Baptist, voice and prophet of the Most High.
i went before the face of the same Lord, that I might make the waste and
rough places into plain ways. I with my finger pointed out and made
manifest the Lamb of the Lord, and Son of God, to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem. I baptized Him in the river Jordan. I heard the voice of the
Father from heaven thundering over Him, and proclaiming, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased. I received from Him the answer that He
would descend to the lower world.

   Then father Adam, hearing this, cried with a loud voice, exclaiming:
Alleluia! which is, interpreted, The Lord is certainly coming.

   Chap. 6 (22).--After that, another standing there, pre-eminent as it
were, with a certain mark of an emperor, David by name, thus cried out, and
said: When I was upon earth, I made revelations to the people of the mercy
of God and His visitation, prophesying future joys, saying through all
ages, Let them make confession to the Lord of His tender mercy and His
wonderful works to the sons of men, because He has shattered the gates of
brass, and broken the bars of iron. Then the holy patriarchs and prophets
began mutually to recognise each other, and each to quote his prophecies.

   Then holy Jeremias, examining his prophecies, said to the patriarchs
and prophets: When was upon earth, I prophesied of the Son of God, that He
was seen upon earth, and dwelt with men.

   Then all the saints, exulting in the light of the Lord, and in the
sight of father Adam, and in the answering of all the patriarchs and
prophets, cried out, saying: Alleluia! blessed is He who cometh in the name
of the Lord; so that at their crying out Satan trembled, and sought a way
of escape. And he could not, because Hades and his satellites kept him
bound in the lower regions, and guarded at all points. And they said to
him: Why dost thou tremble? We by no means allow thee to go forth hence.
But receive this, as thou art worthy, from Him whom thou didst daily
assail; but if not, know that thou, bound by Him, shall be in my keeping.

   Chap. 7 (23).--And again there came the voice of the Son of the Father
most high, as it were the voice of a great thunder, saying: Lift up your
gates, ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting gates, and the King
of glory will come in. Then Satan and Hades cried out, saying: Who is the
king of glory? And it was answered to them in the voice of the Lord: The
Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

   After this voice there came a man, whose appearance was that of a
robber, carrying a cross on his shoulder, crying from the outside of the
door, and saying: Open to me, that I may come in. And Satan, opening to him
a little, brought him inside into his dwelling,(1) and again shut the door
after him. And all the saints saw him most clearly, and said to him
forthwith: Thy appearance is that of a robber. Tell us what it is that thou
carriest on thy back. And he answered, and said with humility: Truly I was
a robber altogether; and the Jews hung me up on a cross, along with my Lord
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father most high. I, in fine, have come
heralding(2) Him; He indeed is coming immediately behind me.

   Then holy David, inflamed with anger against Satan, cried out aloud:
Open thy gates, most vile wretch, that the King of glory may come in. In
like manner also all the saints of God rose up against Satan, and would
have seized him, and divided him among them. And again a cry was heard
within: Lift up your gates, ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting
gates; and the King of glory shall come in. Hades and Satan, at that clear
voice, again asked, saying: Who is this king of glory? And it was said to
them by that wonderful voice: The Lord of powers, He is the King of glory.

   Chap. 8 (24).--And, behold, suddenly Hades trembled, and the gates of
death and the bolts were shattered, and the iron bars were broken and fell
to the ground, and everything was laid open. And Satan remained in the
midst, and stood confounded and downcast, bound with fetters on his feet.
And, behold, the Lord Jesus Christ, coming in the brightness of light from
on high, compassionate, great, and lowly, carrying a chain in His hand,
bound Satan by the neck; and again tying his hands behind him, dashed him
on his back into Tartarus, and placed His holy foot on his throat, saying:
Through all ages thou hast done many evils; thou hast not in any wise
rested. To-day I deliver thee to everlasting fire. And Hades being suddenly
summoned, He commanded him, and said: Take this most wicked and impious
one, and have him in thy keeping even to that day in which I shall command
thee. And he, as soon as he received him, was plunged under the feet of the
Lord along with him into the depth of the abyss.

   Chap. 9 (25).--Then the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of all, affectionate
and most mild, saluting Adam kindly, said to him: Peace be to thee, Adam,
with thy children, through immeasurable ages of ages! Amen. Then father
Adam, falling forward at the feet of the Lord, and being raised erect,
kissed His hands, and shed many tears, saying, testifying to all: Behold.
the hands which fashioned me! And he said to the Lord: Thou hast come, O
King of glory, delivering men, and bringing them into Thy everlasting
kingdom. Then also our mother Eve in like manner fell forward at the feet
of our Lord, and was raised erect, and kissed His hands, and poured forth
tears in abundance, and said, testifying to all: Behold the hands which
made me!

   Then all the saints, adoring Him, cried out, saying: Blessed is He who
cometh in the name of the Lord! The Lord God hath shone upon us--amen--
through all ages. Alleluia for ever and ever! Praise, honour, power, glory!
because Thou hast come from on high to visit us. Singing Alleluia
continually, and rejoicing together concerning His glory, they ran together
under the hands of the Lord. Then the Saviour, inquiring thoroughly about
all, seized Hades,(1) immediately threw some down into Tartarus, and led
some with Him to the upper world.

   Chap. 10 (26).--Then all the saints of God asked the Lord to leave as a
sign of victory the sign of His holy cross in the lower world, that its
most impious officers might not retain as an offender any one whom the Lord
had absolved. And so it was done. And the Lord set His cross in the midst
of Hades, which is the sign of victory, and which will remain even to
eternity.

   Then we all went forth thence along with the Lord, leaving Satan and
Hades in Tartarus. And to us and many others it was commanded that we
should rise in the body, giving in the world a testimony of the
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of those things which had been
done in the lower world.

   These are the things, dearest brethren, which we have seen, and which,
adjured by you, we testify, He bearing witness who died for us, and rose
again; because, as it was written, so has it been done in all points.

   Chap. 11 (27).--And when the paper was finished and read through, all
that heard it fell on their faces, weeping bitterly, and cruelly beating
their breasts, crying out, and saying through all: Woe to us! Why has this
happened to us wretched? Pilate flees; Annas and Caiaphas flee; the priests
and Levites flee; moreover also the people of the Jews, weeping and saying,
Woe to us wretched! we have shed sacred blood upon the earth.

   For three days, therefore, and three nights, they did not taste bread
and water at all; nor did any of them return to the synagogue. But on the
third day again the council was assembled, and the other paper of Leucius
was read through; and it was found neither more nor less, to a single
letter, than that which the writing of Karinus contained. Then the
synagogue was perplexed; and they all lamented forty days and forty nights,
looking for destruction from God, and the vengeance of God. But He, pitier
affectionate and most high, did not immediately destroy them, bountifully
giving them a place of repentance. But they were not found worthy to be
turned to the Lord.

   These are the testimonies of Karinus and Leucius, dearest brethren,
concerning Christ the Son of God, and His holy deeds in the lower world; to
whom let us all give praise and glory through immeasurable age of ages.
Amen.


THE LETTER OF PONTIUS PILATE WHICH HE WROTE TO THE ROMAN EMPEROR,
CONCERNING OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

   Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar the emperor, greeting.(1)

   Upon Jesus Christ, whose case I had dearly set forth to thee in my
last, at length by the will of the people a bitter punishment has been
inflicted, myself being in a sort unwilling and rather afraid. A man, by
Hercules, so pious and strict, no age has ever had nor will have. But
wonderful were the efforts of the people themselves, and the unanimity of
all the scribes and chief men and elders, to crucify this ambassador of
truth, notwithstanding that their own prophets, and after our manner the
sibyls, warned them against it: and supernatural signs appeared while he
was hanging, and, in the opinion of philosophers, threatened destruction to
the whole world. His disciples are flourishing, in their work and the
regulation of their lives not belying their master; yea, in his name most
beneficent. Had I not been afraid of the rising of a sedition among the
people, who were just on the point of breaking out, perhaps this man would
still have been alive to us; although, urged more by fidelity to thy
dignity than induced by my own wishes, I did not according to my strength
resist that innocent blood free from the whole charge brought against it,
but unjustly, through the malignity of men, should be sold and suffer, yet,
as the Scriptures signify, to their own destruction. Farewell, 28th March.


THE REPORT OF PILATE THE PROCURATOR CONCERNING OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SENT
TO THE AUGUST(1) CAESAR IN ROME

FIRST GREEK FORM

   In those days, our Lord Jesus Christ having been crucified under
Pontius Pilate, procurator of Palestine and Phoenicia, these records were
made in Jerusalem as to what was done by the Jews against the Lord. Pilate
therefore, along with his private report, sent them to the Caesar in Rome,
writing thus:--

   To the most mighty, venerable, most divine, and most terrible, the
august(1) Caesar, Pilate the governor of the East sends greeting. I have, O
most mighty, a narrative to give thee, on account of which I am seized with
fear and trembling. For in this government of mine, of which one of the
cities is called Jerusalem, all the people of the Jews have delivered to me
a man named Jesus, bringing many charges against him, which they were not
able to convict him of by the consistency of their evidence. And one of the
heresies they had against him was, that Jesus said that their Sabbath
should not be a day of leisure, and should not be observed. For he
performed many cures on that day: he made the blind receive their sight,
the lame walk; he raised up the dead, he cleansed the lepers; he healed
paralytics that were not at all able to make any movement of their body, or
to keep their nerves steady, but who had only speech and the modulation of
their voice, and he gave them the power of walking and running, removing
their illness by a single word. Another thing again, more powerful still,
which is strange even with our gods: he raised up one that had been dead
four days, summoning him by a single word, when the dead man had his blood
corrupted, and when his body was destroyed by the worms produced in it, and
when it had the stink of a dog And seeing him lying in the tomb, he ordered
him to run. Nor had he anything of a dead body about him at all; but as a
bridegroom from the bridal chamber, so he came forth from the tomb filled
with very great fragrance. And strangers that were manifestly demoniac, and
that had their dwelling in deserts, and ate their own flesh, living like
beasts and creeping things, even these he made to be dwellers in cities,
and by his word restored them to soundness of mind, and rendered them wise
and able and reputable, eating with all the enemies of the unclean spirits
that dwelt in them for their destruction, which he cast down into the
depths of the sea. And again there was another having a withered hand; and
not the hand only, but rather the half of the body of the man, was
petrified, so that he had not the form of a than, or the power of moving
his body. And him by a word he healed, and made sound. And a woman that had
an issue of blood for many years, and whose joints(2) and veins were
drained by the flowing of the blood, so that she did not present the
appearance of a human being, but was like a corpse, and was speechless
every day, so that all the physicians of the district could not cure her.
For there was not any hope of life left to her. And when Jesus passed by,
she mysteriously received strength through his overshadowing her; and she
took hold of his fringe behind, and immediately in the same hour power
filled up what in her was empty, so that, no longer suffering any pain, she
began to run swiftly to her own city Kepharnaum, so as to accomplish the
journey in six days.

   And these are the things which I lately had in my mind to report, which
Jesus accomplished on the Sabbath. And other signs greater than these he
did, so that I have perceived that the wonderful works done by him are
greater than can be done by the gods whom we worship.

   And him Herod and Archelaus and Philip, Annas and Caiaphas, with all
the people, delivered to me, making a great uproar against me that I should
try him. I therefore ordered him to be crucified, having first scourged
him, and having found against him no cause of evil accusations or deeds.

   And at the time he was crucified there was darkness over all the world,
the sun being darkened at mid-day, and the stars appearing, but in them
there appeared no lustre; and the moon, as if turned into blood, failed in
her light. And the world was swallowed up by the lower regions, so that the
very sanctuary of the temple, as they call it, could not be seen by the
Jews in their fall; and they saw below them a chasm of the earth, with the
roar of the thunders that fell upon it.(1) And in that terror dead men were
seen that had risen, as the Jews themselves testified; and they said that
it was Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the twelve patriarchs, and Moses
and Job, that had died, as they say, three thousand five hundred years
before. And there were very many whom I also saw appearing in the body; and
they were making a lamentation about the Jews, on account of the wickedness
that bad come to pass through them, and the destruction of the Jews and of
their law.

   And the fear of the earthquake remained from the sixth hour of the
preparation until the ninth hour. And on the evening of the first day of
the week there was a sound out of the heaven, so that the heaven became
enlightened sevenfold more than all the days. And at the third hour of the
night also the sun was seen brighter than it had ever shone before,
lighting up all the heaven. And as lightnings come suddenly in winter, so
majestic men appeared(2) in glorious robes, an innumerable multitude, whose
voice was heard as that of a very great thunder, crying out: Jesus that was
crucified is risen: come up out of Hades, ye that have been enslaved in the
underground regions of Hades. And the chasm of the earth was as if it had
no bottom; but it was as if the very foundations of the earth appeared
along with those that cried out in the heavens, and walked about in the
body in the midst of the dead that had risen. And he that raised up all the
dead, and bound Hades, said: Say to my disciples, He goes before you into
Galilee; there shall you see him.

   And all that night the light did not cease shining. And many of the
Jews died, swallowed up in the chasm of the earth, so that on the following
day most of those who had been against Jesus could not be found. Others saw
the appearing of those that had risen, whom no one of us had ever seen.(3)
And only one(4) synagogue of the Jews was left in this Jerusalem, since all
disappeared in that fall.

   With that terror, being in perplexity, and seized with a most frightful
trembling, I have written what I saw at that time, and have reported to thy
majesty. Having set in order also what was done by the Jews against Jesus,
I have sent it, my lord, to thy divinity.

THE REPORT OF PONTIUS PILATE, PROCURATOR OF JUDAEA SENT TO ROME TO TIBERIUS
CAESAR.

SECOND GREEK FORM.

   To the most mighty, venerable, awful, most divine, the august,--Pilatus
Pontius, the governor of the East: I have to report to thy reverence,
through this writing of mine, being seized with great trembling and fear, O
most mighty emperor, the conjuncture of the present times, as the end of
these things has shown. For while I, my lord, according to the commandment
of thy clemency, was discharging the duties of my government, which is one
of the cities of the East, Jerusalem by name, in which is built the temple
of the Jewish nation, all the multitude of the Jews came together, and
delivered to me a certain man named Jesus, bringing against him many and
groundless charges; and they were not able to convict him in anything. And
one heresy of theirs against him was, that he said that the Sabbath was not
their right rest. And that man wrought many cures, in addition to good
works. He made the blind see; he cleansed lepers; he raised the dead; he
healed paralytics who could not move at all, except that they only had
their voice, and the joining of their bones; and he gave them the power of
walking about and running, commanding them by a single word. And another
mightier work he did, which was strange even with our gods: he raised up a
dead man, Lazarus, who had been dead four days, by a single word ordering
the dead man to be raised, although his body was already corrupted by the
worms that grow in wounds; and that ill-smelling body lying in the tomb he
ordered to run; and as a bridegroom from the bridal chamber, so he came
forth out of the tomb, filled with exceeding fragrance. And some that were
cruelly vexed by demons, and had their dwellings in deserts, and ate the
flesh of their own limbs, and lived along with reptiles and wild beasts, he
made to be dwellers in cities in their own houses, and by a word he
rendered them sound-minded; and he made those that were troubled by unclean
spirits to be intelligent and reputable; and sending away the demons in
them into a herd of swine, he suffocated them in the sea. Another man,
again, who had a withered hand, and lived in sorrow, and had not even the
half of his body sound, he rendered sound by a single word. And a woman
that had a flow of blood for many years, so that, in consequence of the
flowing of her blood, all the joinings of her bones appeared, and were
transparent like glass; and assuredly all the physicians had left her
without hope, and had not cleansed her, for there was not in her a single
hope of health: once, then, as Jesus was passing by, she took hold of the
fringe of his clothes behind, and that same hour the power of her body was
completely restored, and she became whole, as if nothing were the matter
with her, and she began to run swiftly to her own city Paneas.(1)

   And these things indeed were so. And the Jews gave information that
Jesus did these things on the Sabbath. And I also ascertained that the
miracles done by him were greater than any which the gods whom we worship
could do.

   Him then Herod and Archelaus and Philip, and Annas and Caiaphas, with
all the people, delivered to me to try him. And as many were exciting an
insurrection against me, I ordered him to be crucified.

   And when he had been crucified, there was darkness over the whole
earth, the sun having been completely hidden, and the heaven appearing dark
though it was day, so that the stars appeared, but had at the same time
their brightness darkened, as I suppose your reverence is not ignorant of,
because in all the world they lighted lamps from the sixth hour until
evening. And the moon, being like blood, did not shine the whole night, and
yet she happened to be at the full. And the stars also, and Orion, made a
lament about the Jews, on account of the wickedness that had been done by
them.(1)

   And on the first of the week, about the third hour of the night, the
sun was seen such as it had never at any time shone, and all the heaven was
lighted up. And as lightnings come on in winter, so majestic men of
indescribable splendour of dress and of glory appeared in the air, and an
innumerable multitude of angels crying out, and saying: Glory in the
highest to God, and on earth peace, among men goodwill: come up out of
Hades, ye who have been kept in slavery in the underground regions of
Hades. And at their voice all the mountains and hills were shaken, and the
rocks were burst asunder; and great chasms were made in the earth, so that
also what was in the abyss appeared. And there were seen in that terror
dead men raised up,(2) as the Jews that saw them said: We have seen
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the twelve patriarchs, that died two
thousand five hundred years ago; and we have seen Noah manifestly in the
body. And all the multitude walked about, and sang praises to God with a
loud voice, saying: The Lord our God that has risen from the dead has
brought to life all the dead, and has plundered Hades, and put him to
death.

   All that night therefore, my lord, O king, the light ceased not. And
many of the Jews died, and were engulphed and swallowed up in the chasms in
that night, so that not even their bodies appeared. Those, I say, of the
Jews suffered that had spoken against Jesus. And one synagogue was left in
Jerusalem, since all those synagogues that had been against Jesus were
engulphed.

   From that fear, then, being in perplexity, and seized with much
trembling, at that same hour I ordered what had been done by them all to be
written; and I have reported it to thy mightiness.


THE GIVING UP OF PONTIUS PILATE

   AND the writings having come to the city of the Romans, and having been
read to the Caesar, with not a few standing by, all were astounded, because
through the wickedness of Pilate the darkness and the earthquake had come
over the whole world. And the Caesar, filled with rage, sent soldiers, and
ordered them to bring Pilate a prisoner.

   And when he was brought to the city of the Romans, the Caesar, hearing
that Pilate had arrived, sat in the temple of the gods, in the presence of
all the senate, and with all the army, and all the multitude of his power;
and he ordered Pilate to stand forward.(1) And the Caesar says to him: Why
hast thou, O most impious, dared to do such things, having seen so great
miracles in that man? By daring to do an evil deed, thou hast destroyed the
whole world.

   And Pilate said: O almighty(2) king, I am innocent of these things; but
the multitude of the Jews are violent and guilty. And the Caesar said: And
who are they? Pilate says: Herod, Archelaus, Philip, Annas and Caiaphas,
and all the multitude of the Jews. The Caesar says: For what reason didst
thou follow out their counsel? And Pilate says: Their nation is rebellious
and insubmissive, not submitting themselves to thy power. And the Caesar
said: When they delivered him to thee, thou oughtest to have made him
secure, and to have sent him to me, and not to have obeyed them in
crucifying such a man, righteous as he was, and one that did such good
miracles, as thou hast said in thy report. For from such miracles Jesus was
manifestly the Christ, the King of the Jews.

   And as the Caesar was thus speaking, when he named the name of Christ,
all the multitude of the gods fell down in a body, and became as dust,
where the Caesar was sitting with the senate. And the people standing
beside the Caesar all began to tremble, on account of the speaking of the
word, and the fall of their gods; and being seized with terror, they all
went away, each to his own house, wondering at what had happened. And the
Caesar ordered Pilate to be kept in security, in order that he might know
the truth about Jesus.

   And on the following day, the Caesar, sitting in the Capitol with all
the senate, tried again to question Pilate. And the Caesar says: Tell the
truth, O most impious, because through thy impious action which thou hast
perpetrated against Jesus, even here the doing of thy wicked deeds has been
shown by the gods having been cast down. Say, then, who is he that has been
crucified; because even his name has destroyed all the gods? Pilate said:
And indeed the records of him are true; for assuredly I myself was
persuaded from his works that he was greater than all the gods whom we
worship. And the Caesar said: For what reason, then, didst thou bring
against him such audacity and such doings, if thou wert not ignorant of
him, and altogether devising mischief against my kingdom? Pilate said: On
account of the wickedness and rebellion of the lawless and ungodly Jews, I
did this.

   And the Caesar, being filled with rage, held a council with all his
senate and his power, and ordered a decree to be written against the Jews
as follows:--To Licianus, the governor of the chief places of the East,
greeting. The reckless deed which has been done at the present time by the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the cities of the Jews round about, and their
wicked action, has come to my knowledge, that they have forced Pilate to
crucify a certain god named Jesus, and on account of this great fault of
theirs the world has been darkened and dragged to destruction. Do thou then
speedily, with a multitude of soldiers, go to them there, and make them
prisoners, in accordance with this decree. Be obedient, and take action
against them, and scatter them, and make them slaves among all the nations;
and having driven them out of the whole of Judaea, make them the smallest
of nations, so that it may not any longer be seen at all, because they are
full of wickedness.(3)

   And this decree having come into the region of the East, Licianus,
obeying from fear of the decree, seized all the nation of the Jews; and
those that were left in Judaea he scattered among the nations, and sold for
slaves:(4) so that it was known to the Caesar that these things had been
done by Licianus against the Jews in the region of the East; and it pleased
him.

And again the Caesar set himself to question Pilate; and he orders a
captain named Albius to cut off Pilate's head, saying: Just as he laid
hands upon the just man named Christ, in like manner also shall he fall,
and not find safety.

And Pilate, going away to the place, prayed. in silence, saying: Lord, do
not destroy me along with the wicked Hebrews, because I would not have laid
hands upon Thee, except for the nation of the lawless Jews, because they
were exciting rebellion against me. But Thou knowest that I did it in
ignorance. Do not then destroy me for this my sin; but remember not evil
against me, O Lord, and against Thy servant Procla, who is standing with me
in this the hour of my death, whom Thou didst appoint to prophesy that Thou
shouldest be nailed to the cross. Do not condemn her also in my sin; but
pardon us, and make us to be numbered in the portion of Thy righteous.

   And, behold, when Pilate had finished his prayer, there came a voice
out of the heaven, saying: All the generations and families of the nations
shall count thee blessed, because under thee have been fulfilled all those
things said about me by the prophets; and thou thyself shall be seen as my
witness at my second appearing, when I shall judge the twelve tribes of
Israel, and those that have not owned my name. And the prefect struck off
the head of Pilate; and, behold, an angel of the Lord received it. And his
wife Procla, seeing the angel coming and receiving his head, being filled
with joy herself also, immediately gave up the ghost, and was buried along
with her husband.(1)


THE DEATH OF PILATE, WHO CONDEMNED JESUS

   AND when Tiberius Caesar, the emperor of the Romans, was labouring
under a grievous disease, and understanding that there was at Jerusalem a
certain physician, Jesus by name, who by a single word cured all
infirmities, he, not knowing that the Jews and Pilate had put Him to death,
ordered a certain friend of his named Volusianus: Go as quickly as possible
across the seas; and thou shalt tell Pilate, my servant and friend, to send
me this physician, that he may restore me to my former health. And this
Volusianus, having heard the emperor's command, immediately departed, and
came to Pilate, as he had been commanded. And he related to the same Pilate
what had been entrusted to him by Tiberius Caesar, saying: Tiberius Caesar,
the emperor of the Romans, thy master, having heard that in this city there
is a physician who by his word alone heals infirmities, begs thee earnestly
to send him to him for the curing of his infirmity. Pilate, hearing this,
was very much afraid, knowing that through envy he had caused Him to be put
to death. Pilate answered the same messenger thus, saying: This man was a
malefactor, and a man who drew to himself all the people; so a council of
the wise men of the city was held, and I caused him to be crucified. And
this messenger returning to his inn, met a certain woman named Veronica,
who had been a friend of Jesus; and he said: O woman, a certain physician
who was in this city, who cured the sick by a word alone, why have the Jews
put him to death? And she began to weep, saying: Ah me! my lord, my God and
my Lord, whom Pilate for envy delivered, condemned, and ordered to be
crucified. Then he, being exceedingly grieved, said: I am vehemently
grieved that I am unable to accomplish that for which my lord had sent me.
And Veronica said to him: When my Lord was going about preaching, and I,
much against my will, was deprived of His presence, I wished His picture to
be painted for me, in order that, while I was deprived of His presence, the
figure of His picture might at least afford me consolation. And when I was
carrying the canvas to the painter to be painted, my Lord met me, and asked
whither I was going. And when I had disclosed to Him the cause of my
journey, He asked of me the cloth, and gave it back to me impressed with
the image of His venerable face. Therefore, if thy lord will devoutly gaze
upon His face,(1) he shall obtain forthwith the benefit of health. And he
said to her: Is a picture of such a sort procurable by gold or silver? She
said to him: No; but by the pious influence of devotion. I shall therefore
set out with thee, and shall carry the picture to be seen by Caesar, and
shall come back again.

   Volusianus therefore came with Veronica to Rome, and said to Tiberius
the emperor: Jesus, whom thou hast been longing for, Pilate and the Jews
have delivered to an unjust death, and have through envy affixed to the
gibbet of the cross. There has therefore come with me a certain matron,
bringing a picture of Jesus himself; and if thou wilt devoutly look upon
it, thou shall immediately obtain the benefit of thy health. Caesar
therefore ordered the way to be strewn with silk cloths, and the picture to
be presented to him; and as soon as he had looked upon it, he regained his
former health.

   Pontius Pilate, therefore, by the command of Caesar, is taken and
brought through to Rome. Caesar. hearing that Pilate had arrived at Rome,
was filled with exceeding fury against him, and caused him to be brought to
him. But Pilate brought down with him the seamless tunic of Jesus; and he
wore it on him in presence of the emperor. And as soon as the emperor saw
him, he laid aside all his anger, and forthwith rose up to meet him. Nor
was he able to speak harshly to him in anything; and he who seemed so
terrible and fierce in his absence, now in his presence is somehow found to
be mild. And when he had sent him away, immediately he blazed out against
him terribly, crying out that he was a wretch, inasmuch as he had not at
all shown him the fury of his heart. And immediately he made him be called
back, swearing and declaring that he was the son of death, and that it was
infamous that he should live upon the earth. And as soon as he saw him, he
forthwith saluted him, and threw away all the ferocity of his mind. All
wondered; and he himself wondered that he should thus blaze out against
Pilate when he was absent, and that while he was present he could say
nothing to him roughly. Then, by a divine impulse, or perhaps by the advice
of some Christian,(1) he caused him to be stripped of that tunic, and
immediately resumed against him his former ferocity of mind. And when at
this the emperor wondered very much, it was told him that that tunic had
belonged to the Lord Jesus. Then the emperor ordered him to be kept in
prison, until he should deliberate in a council of the wise men what ought
to be done with him. And a few days after, sentence was therefore passed
upon Pilate, that he should be condemned to the most disgraceful death.
Pilate, hearing this, killed himself with his own knife, and by such a
death ended his life.

   When Caesar knew of the death of Pilate, he said: Truly he has died by
a most disgraceful death, whom his own hand has not spared. He is therefore
bound to a great mass, and sunk into the river Tiber. But malignant and
filthy spirits in his malignant and filthy body, all rejoicing together,
kept moving themselves in the waters, and in a terrible manner brought
lightnings and tempests, thunders and hail-storms, in the air, so that all
men were kept in horrible fear. Wherefore the Romans, drawing him out of
the river Tiber, in derision carried him down to Vienna, and sunk him in
the river Rhone. For Vienna is called, as it were, Via Gehennoe, the way of
Gehenna, because it was then a place of cursing. But there evil spirits
were present, working the same things in the same place. Those men
therefore, not enduring such a visitation of demons, removed froth
themselves that vessel of malediction, and sent him to be buried in the
territory of Losania.(2) And they, seeing that they were troubled by the
aforesaid visitations, removed him from themselves, and sunk him in a
certain pit surrounded by mountains, where to this day, according to the
account of some, certain diabolical machinations are said to bubble up.


THE NARRATIVE OF JOSEPH

NARRATIVE OF JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA, THAT BEGGED THE LORD'S BODY; IN WHICH
ALSO HE BRINGS IN THE CASES OF THE TWO ROBBERS.

   CHAP. I.--I am Joseph of Arimathaea, who begged from Pilate the body of
the Lord Jesus for burial, and who for this cause was kept close in prison
by the murderous and God-fighting Jews, who also, keeping to the law, have
by Moses himself become partakers in tribulation and having provoked their
Lawgiver to anger, and not knowing that He was God, crucified Him and made
Him manifest to those that knew God. in those days in which they condemned
the Son of God to be crucified, seven days before Christ suffered, two
condemned robbers were sent from Jericho to the procurator Pilate; and
their case was as follows:--

   The first, his name Gestas, put travellers to death, murdering them
with the sword, and others he exposed naked. And he hung up women by the
heels, head down, and cut off their breasts, and drank the blood of infants
limbs, never having known God, not obeying the laws, being violent from the
beginning, and doing such deeds.

   And the case of the other was as follows: He was called Demas, and was
by birth a Galilaean, and kept an inn. He made attacks upon the rich, but
was good to the poor--a thief like Tobit, for he buried the bodies of the
poor.(2) And he set his hand to robbing the multitude of the Jews, and
stole the law(3) itself in Jerusalem, and stripped naked the daughter of
Caiaphas, who was priestess of the sanctuary, and took away from its place
the mysterious deposit itself placed there by Solomon. Such were his
doings.

   And Jesus also was taken on the third day before the passover, in the
evening. And to Caiaphas and the multitude of the Jews it was not a
passover, but it was a great mourning to them, on account of the plundering
of the sanctuary by the robber. And they summoned Judas Iscariot, and spoke
to him, for he was son of the brother(4) of Caiaphas the priest. He was not
a disciple before the face of Jesus; but all the multitude of the Jews
craftily supported him, that he might follow Jesus, not that he might be
obedient to the miracles done by Him, nor that he might confess Him, but
that he might betray Him to them, wishing to catch up some lying word of
Him, giving him gifts for such brave, honest conduct to the amount of a
half shekel, of gold each day. And he did this for two years with Jesus, as
says one of His disciples called John.

   And on the third day, before Jesus was laid hold of, Judas says to the
Jews: Come, let us hold a council; for perhaps it was not the robber that
stole the law, but Jesus himself, and I accuse him. And when these words
had been spoken, Nicodemus, who kept the keys of the sanctuary, came in to
us, and said to all: Do not do such a deed. For Nicodemus was true, more
than all the multitude of the Jews. And the daughter of Caiaphas, Sarah by
name, cried out, and said: He himself said before all against this holy
place, I am able to destroy this temple, and in three days to raise it. The
Jews say to her: Thou hast credit with all of us. For they regarded her as
a prophetess. And assuredly, after the council had been held, Jesus was
laid hold of.

   CHAP. 2.--And on the following day, the fourth day of the week, they
brought Him at the ninth hour into the hall of Caiaphas. And Annas and
Caiaphas say to Him: Tell us, why hast thou stolen our law, and
renounced(5) the ordinances of Moses and the prophets? And Jesus answered
nothing. And again a second time, the multitude also being present, they
say to Him: The sanctuary which Solomon built in forty and six years, why
dost thou wish to destroy in one moment? And to these things Jesus answered
nothing. For the sanctuary of the synagogue had been plundered by the
robber.

   And the evening of the fourth day being ended, all the multitude sought
to burn the daughter of Caiaphas, on account of the loss of the law; for
they did not know how they were to keep the passover. And she said to them:
Wait, my children, and let us destroy this Jesus, and the law will be
found, and the holy feast will be fully accomplished. And secretly Annas
and Caiaphas gave considerable money to Judas Iscariot, saying: Say as thou
saidst to us before, I know that the law has been stolen by Jesus, that the
accusation may be turned against him, and not against this maiden, who is
free from blame. And Judas having received this command, said to them: Let
not all the multitude know that I have been instructed by you to do this
against Jesus; but release Jesus, and I persuade the multitude that it is
so. And craftily they released Jesus.

   And Judas, going into the sanctuary at the dawn of the fifth day, says
to all the people: What will you give me, and I will give up to you the
overthrower[1] of the law, and the plunderer of the prophets? The Jews say
to him: If thou wilt give him up to us, we will give thee thirty pieces of
gold. And the people did not know that Judas was speaking about Jesus, for
many of them confessed that he was the Son of God. And Judas received the
thirty pieces of gold.

   And going out at the fourth hour, and at the fifth, he finds Jesus
walking in the street. And as evening was coming on, Judas says to the
Jews: Give me the aid of soldiers with swords and staves, and I will give
him up to you. They therefore gave him officers for the purpose of seizing
Him. And as they were going along, Judas says to them: Lay hold of the man
whom I shall kiss, for he has stolen the law and the prophets. Going up to
Jesus, therefore, he kissed Him, saying: Hail, Rabbi! it being the evening
of the fifth day. And having laid hold of Him, they gave Him up to Caiaphas
and the chief priests, Judas saying: This is he who stole the law and the
prophets. And the Jews gave Jesus an unjust trial, saying: Why hast thou
done these things? And be answered nothing.

   And Nicodemus and I Joseph, seeing the seat of the plagues,[2] stood
off from them, not wishing to perish along with the counsel of the ungodly.

   CHAP. 3.--Having therefore done many and dreadful things against Jesus
that night, they gave Him up to Pilate the procurator at the dawn of the
preparation, that he might crucify Him; and for this purpose they all came
together. After a trial, therefore, Pilate the procurator ordered Him to be
nailed to the cross, along with the two robbers. And they were nailed up
along with Jesus, Gestas on the left. and Demas on the right.

   And he that was on the left began to cry out, saying to Jesus: See how
many evil deeds I have done in the earth; and if I had known that thou wast
the king, I should have cut off thee also. And why dost thou call thyself
Son of God, and canst not help thyself in necessity? how canst thou afford
it to another one praying for help? If thou art the Christ, come down from
the cross, that I may believe in thee. But now I see thee perishing along
with me, not like a man, but like a wild beast. And many other things he
began to say against Jesus, blaspheming and gnashing his teeth upon Him.
For the robber was taken alive in the snare of the devil.[3]

   But the robber on the right hand, whose name was Demas, seeing the
Godlike grace of Jesus, thus cried out: I know Thee, Jesus Christ, that
Thou art the Son of God. I see Thee, Christ, adored by myriads of myriads
of angels. Pardon me my sins which I have done. Do not in my trial make the
stars come against me, or the moon, when Thou shall judge all the world;
because in the night I have accomplished my wicked purposes. Do not urge
the sun, which is now darkened on account of Thee, to tell the evils of my
heart, for no gift can I give Thee for the remission of my sins. Already
death is coming upon me because of my sins; but Thine is the propitiation.
Deliver me, O Lord of all, from Thy fearful judgment. Do not give the enemy
power to swallow me up, and to become heir of my soul, as of that of him
who is hanging on the left; for I see how the devil joyfully takes his
soul, and his body disappears. Do not even order me to go away into the
portion of the Jews; for I see Moses and the patriarchs in great weeping,
and the devil rejoicing over them. Before, then, O Lord, my spirit departs,
order my sins to be washed away, and remember me the sinner in Thy kingdom,
when upon the great most lofty throne[4] thou shalt judge the twelve tribes
of Israel.[5] For Thou hast prepared great punishment for Thy world on
account of Thyself.

   And the robber having thus spoken, Jesus says to him: Amen, amen; I say
to thee, Demas, that to-day thou shalt be with me in paradise.[6] And the
sons of the kingdom, the children of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and
Moses, shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.[7] And thou alone shalt dwell in paradise until my
second appearing, when I am to judge those who do not confess my name. And
He said to the robber: Go away, and tell the cherubim and the powers, that
turn the flaming sword, that guard paradise from the time that Adam, the
first created, was in paradise, and sinned, and kept not my commandments,
and I cast him out thence. And none of the first shall see paradise until I
am to come the second time to judge living and dead. And He wrote thus:
Jesus Christ the Son of God, who have come down from the heights of the
heavens, who have come forth out of the bosom of the invisible Father
without being separated from Him,[1] and who have come down into the world
to be made flesh, and to be nailed to a cross, in order that I might save
Adam, whom I fashioned,--to my archangelic powers, the gatekeepers of
paradise, to the officers of my Father: I will and order that he who has
been crucified along with me should go in, should receive remission of sins
through me; and that he, having put on an incorruptible body, should go in
to paradise, and dwell where no one has ever been able to dwell.

   And, behold, after He had said this, Jesus gave up the ghost, on the
day of the preparation, at the ninth hour. And there was darkness over all
the earth; and from a great earthquake that happened, the sanctuary fell
down, and the wing of the temple.

   CHAP. 4.--And I Joseph begged the body of Jesus, and put it in a new
tomb, where no one had been put. And of the robber on the right the body
was not found; but of him on the left, as the form of a dragon, so was his
body.

   And after I had begged the body of Jesus to bury, the Jews, carried
away by hatred and rage, shut me up in prison, where evil-doers were kept
under restraint. And this happened to me on the evening of the Sabbath,
whereby our nation transgressed the law. And, behold, that same nation of
ours endured fearful tribulations on the Sabbath.

   And now, on the evening of the first of the week, at the fifth hour of
the night, Jesus comes to me in the prison, along with the robber who had
been crucified with Him on the right, whom He sent into paradise. And there
was a great light in the building. And the house was hung up by the four
corners, and the place was opened, and I came out. Then I first recognised
Jesus, and again the robber, bringing a letter to Jesus. And as we were
going into Galilee, there shone a great light, which the creation did not
produce. And there was also with the robber a great fragrance out of
paradise.

   And Jesus, having sat down in a certain place, thus read: We, the
cherubim and the six-winged, who have been ordered by Thy Godhead to watch
the garden of paradise, make the following statement through the robber who
was crucified along with Thee, by Thy arrangement: When we saw the print of
the nails of the robber crucified along with Thee, and the shining light of
the letter of Thy Godhead,[2] the fire indeed was extinguished, not being
able to bear the splendour of the print;[3] and we crouched down, being in
great fear. For we heard that the Maker of heaven and earth, and of the
whole creation, had come down from on high to dwell in the lower parts of
the earth, on account of Adam, the first created. And when we beheld the
undefiled cross shining like lightning from the robber, gleaming with
sevenfold the light of the sun, trembling fell upon us. We felt a violent
shaking of the world below;[4] and with a loud voice, the ministers of
Hades said, along with us: Holy, holy, holy is He who in the beginning was
in the highest. And the powers sent up a cry: O Lord, Thou hast been made
manifest in heaven and in earth, bringing joy to the world; and, a greater
gift than this, Thou hast freed Thine own image from death by the invisible
purpose of the ages.

   CHAP. 5.--After I had beheld these things, as I was going into Galilee
with Jesus and the robber, Jesus was transfigured, and was not as formerly,
before He was crucified, but was altogether light; and angels always
ministered to Him, and Jesus spoke with them. And I remained with Him three
days. And no one of His disciples was with Him, except the robber alone.

   And in the middle of the feast of unleavened bread, His disciple John
comes, and we no longer beheld the robber as to what took place. And John
asked Jesus: Who is this, that Thou hast not made me to be seen by him? But
Jesus answered him nothing. And falling down before Him, he said: Lord, I
know that Thou hast loved me from the beginning, and why dost Thou not
reveal to me that man? Jesus says to him: Why dost thou seek what is
hidden? Art thou still without understanding? Dost thou not perceive the
fragrance of paradise filling the place? Dost thou not know who it is? The
robber on the cross has become heir of paradise. Amen, amen; I say to thee,
that it shall belong to him alone until that the great day shall come. And
John said: Make me worthy to behold him.

   And while John was yet speaking, the robber suddenly appeared; and
John, struck with astonishment, fell to the earth. And the robber was not
in his first form, as before John came; but he was like a king in great
power, having on him the cross. And the voice of a great multitude was sent
forth: Thou hast come to the place prepared for thee in paradise. We have
been commanded by Him that has sent thee, to serve thee until the great
day. And after this voice, both the robber and I Joseph vanished, and I was
found in my own house; and I no longer saw Jesus.

   And I, having seen these things, have written them down, in order that
all may believe in the crucified Jesus Christ our Lord, and may no longer
obey the law of Moses, but may believe in the signs and wonders that have
happened through Him, and in order that we who have believed may inherit
eternal life, and be found in the kingdom of the heavens. For to Him are
due glory, strength, praise, and majesty for ever and ever. Amen.


THE AVENGING OF THE SAVIOUR

HERE BEGINNETH THE AVENGING OF THE SAVIOUR.

   IN the days of the Emperor Tiberius Caesar, when Herod was tetrarch,
Christ was delivered under Pontius Pilate by the Jews, and revealed by
Tiberius.

   In those days Titus[1] was a prince under Tiberius in the region of
Equitania, in a city of Libia which is called Burgidalla. And Titus had a
sore in his right nostril, on account of a cancer, and he bad his face torn
even to the eye. There went forth a certain man from Judaea, by name Nathan
the son of Nahum; for he was an Ishmaelite who went from land to land, and
from sea to sea, and in all the ends of the earth. Now Nathan was sent from
Judaea to the Emperor Tiberius, to carry their treaty to the city of Rome.
And Tiberius was ill, and full of ulcers and fevers, and had nine kinds of
leprosy. And Nathan wished to go to the city of Rome. But the north wind
blew and hindered his sailing, and carried him down to the harbour of a
city of Libia. Now Titus, seeing the ship coming, knew that it was from
Judaea; and they all wondered, and said that they had never seen any vessel
so coming from that quarter. And Titus ordered the captain to come to him,
and asked him who he was. And he said: I am Nathan the son of Nahum, of the
race of the Ishmaelites, and I am a subject of Pontius Pilate in Judaea.
And I have been sent to go to Tiberius the Roman emperor, to carry a treaty
from Judaea. And a strong wind came down upon the sea, and has brought me
to a country that I do not know.

   And Titus says: If thou couldst at any time find anything either of
cosmetics or herbs which could cure the wound that I have in my face, as
thou seest, so that I should become whole, and regain my former health, I
should bestow upon thee many good things. And Nathan said to him: I do not
know, nor have I ever known, of such things as thou speakest to me about.
But for all that, if thou hadst been some time ago in Jerusalem, there thou
wouldst have found a choice prophet, whose name was Emanuel, for He will
save His people from their sins. And He, as His first miracle in Cana of
Galilee, made wine from water; and by His word He cleansed lepers, He
enlightened the eyes of one born blind, He healed paralytics, He made
demons flee, He raised up three dead; a woman caught in adultery, and
condemned by the Jews to be stoned, He set free; and another woman, mined
Veronica, who suffered twelve years from an issue of blood, and came up to
Him behind, and touched the fringe of His garment, He healed; and with five
loaves and two fishes He satisfied five thousand men, to say nothing of
little ones and women, and there remained of the fragments twelve baskets.
All these things, and many others, were accomplished before His passion.
After His resurrection we saw Him in the flesh as He had been before. And
Titus said to Him: How did he rise again from the dead, seeing that he was
dead? And Nathan answered and said: He was manifestly dead, and hung up on
the cross, and again taken down from the cross, and for three days He lay
in the tomb: thereafter He rose again from the dead, and went down to
Hades, and freed the patriarchs and the prophets, and the whole human race;
thereafter He appeared to His disciples, and ate with them; thereafter they
saw Him going up into heaven. And so it is the truth, all this that I tell
you. For I saw it with my own eyes, and all the house of Israel. And Titus
said in his own words: Woe to thee, O Emperor Tiberius, full of ulcers, and
enveloped in leprosy, because such a scandal has been committed in thy
kingdom; because thou hast made such laws[1] in Judaea, in the land of the
birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and they have seized the King, and put to
death the Ruler of the peoples; and they have not made Him come to us to
cure thee of thy leprosy, and cleanse me from mine infirmity: on which
account, if they had been before my face, with my own hands I should have
slain the carcases of those Jews, and hung them up on the cruel tree,
because they have destroyed my Lord, and mine eyes have not been worthy to
see His face. And when he had thus spoken, immediately the wound fell from
the face of Titus, and his flesh and his face were restored to health. And
all the sick who were in the same place were made whole in that hour. And
Titus cried out, and all the rest with him, in a loud voice, saying: My
King and my God, because I have never seen Thee, and Thou hast made me
whole, bid me go with the ship over the waters to the land of Thy birth, to
take vengeance on Thine enemies; and help me, O Lord, that I may be able to
destroy them, and avenge Thy death: do Thou, Lord, deliver them into my
hand. And having thus spoken, he ordered that he should be baptized. And he
called Nathan to him, and said to him: How hast thou seen those baptized
who believe in Christ? Come to me, and baptize me in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.[2] For I also firmly
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart, and with all my soul;
because nowhere in the whole world is there another who has created me, and
made me whole from my wounds.

   And having thus spoken, he sent messengers to Vespasian to come with
all haste with his bravest men, so prepared as if for war.

   Then Vespasian brought with him five thousand armed men, and they went
to meet Titus. And when they had come to the city of Libia, he said to
Titus: Why is it that thou hast made me come hither? And he said: Know that
Jesus has come into this world, and has been born in Judaea, in a place
which is called Bethlehem, and has been given up by the Jews, and scourged,
and crucified on Mount Calvary,[3] and has risen again from the dead on the
third day. And His disciples have seen Him in the same flesh in which he
was born, and He has shown Himself to His disciples, and they have believed
in Him. And we indeed wish to become His disciples. Now, let us go and
destroy His enemies from the earth, that they may now know that there is
none like the Lord our God on the face of the earth.

   With this design, then, they went forth from the city of Libia which is
called Burgidalla,[4] and went on board a ship, and proceeded to Jerusalem,
and surrounded the kingdom of the Jews, and began to send them to
destruction. And when the kings of the Jews heard of their doings, and the
wasting of their land, fear came upon them, and they were in great
perplexity. Then Archelaus[5] was perplexed in his words, and said to his
son: My son, take my kingdom and judge it; and take counsel with the other
kings who are in the land of Judah, that you may be able to escape from our
enemies. And having thus said, he unsheathed his sword and leant upon it;
and turned his sword, which was very sharp, and thrust it into his breast,
and died. And his son allied himself with the other kings who were under
him, and they took counsel among themselves, and went into Jerusalem with
their chief men who were in their counsel, and stood in the same place
seven years. And Titus and Vespasian took counsel to surround their city.
And they did so. And the seven years being fulfilled, there was a very sore
famine, and for want of bread they began to eat earth. Then all the
soldiers who were of the four kings took counsel among themselves, and
said: Now we are sure to die: what will God do to us? or of what good is
our life to us, because the Romans have come to take our place and nation?
It is better for us to kill each other, than that the Romans should say
that they have slain us, and gained the victory over us. And they drew
their swords and smote themselves, and died, to the number of twelve
thousand men of them. Then there was a great stench in that city from the
corpses of those dead men. And their kings feared with a very great fear
even unto death; and they could not bear the stench of them, nor bury them,
nor throw them forth out of the city. And they said to each other: What
shall we do? We indeed gave up Christ to death, and now we given up to
death ourselves. Let us bow our heads, and give up the keys of the city to
the Romans, because God has already given us up to death. And immediately
they went up upon the walls of the city, and all cried out with a loud
voice, saying: Titus and Vespasian, take the keys of the city, which have
been given to you by Messiah, who is called Christ.

   Then they gave themselves up into the hands of Titus and Vespasian, and
said: Judge us, seeing that we ought to die, because we judged Christ; and
he was given up without cause. Titus and Vespasian seized them, and some
they stoned, and some they hanged on a tree, feet up and head down, and
struck them through with lances; and others they gave up to be sold, and
others they divided among themselves, and made four parts of them, just as
they had done of the garments of the Lord. And they said: They sold Christ
for thirty pieces of silver, and we shall sell thirty of them for one
denarius. And so they did. And having done so, they seized all the lands of
Judaea and Jerusalem.

   Then they made a search about the face or portrait[1] of Jesus, how
they might find it.[2] And they found a woman named Veronica who had it.
Then they seized Pilate, and sent him to prison, to be guarded by four
quaternions of soldiers at the door of the prison. Then they forthwith sent
their messengers to Tiberius, the emperor of the city of Rome, that he
should send Velosianus to them. And he said to him: Take all that is
necessary for thee in the sea, and go down into Judaea, and seek out one of
the disciples of him who is called Christ and Lord, that he may come to me,
and in the name of his God cure me of the leprosy and the infirmities by
which I am daily exceedingly burdened, and of my wounds, because I am ill
at ease. And send upon the kings of the Jews, who are subject to my
authority, thy forces and terrible engines, because they have put to death
Jesus Christ our Lord, and condemn them to death. And if thou shalt there
find a man as may be able to free me from this infirmity of mine, I will
believe in Christ the Son of God, and will baptize myself in his name. And
Velosianus said: My lord emperor, if I find such a man as may be able to
help and free us, what reward shall I promise him? Tiberius said to him:
The half of my kingdom, without fail, to be in his hand.

   Then Velosianus immediately went forth, and went on board the ship, and
hoisted the sail in the vessel, and went on sailing through the sea. And he
sailed a year and seven days, after which he arrived at Jerusalem. And
immediately he ordered some of the Jews to come to his power, and began
carefully to ask what had been the acts of Christ. Then Joseph, of the city
of Arimathaea, and Nicodemus, came at the same time. And Nicodemus said: I
saw Him, and I know indeed that He is the Saviour of the world. And Joseph
said to him: And I took Him down from the cross, and laid Him in a new
tomb, which had been cut out of the rock. And the Jews kept me shut up on
the day of the preparation, at evening; and while I was standing in prayer
on the Sabbath-day, the house was hung up by the four corners, and I saw
the Lord Jesus Christ like a gleam of light, and for fear I fell to the
ground. And He said to me, Look upon me, for I am Jesus, whose body thou
buriedst in thy tomb. And I said to Him, Show me the sepulchre where I laid
Thee. And Jesus, holding my hand in His right hand, led me to the place
where I buried Him.[3]

   And there came also the woman named Veronica, and said to him: And I
touched in the crowd the fringe of His garment, because for twelve years I
had suffered from an issue of blood; and He immediately healed me. Then
Velosianus said to Pilate: Thou, Pilate, impious and cruel, why hast thou
slain the Son of God? And Pilate answered: His own nation, and the chief
priests Annas and Caiaphas, gave him to me. Volosianus said: Impious and
cruel, thou art worthy of death and cruel punishment. And he sent him back
to prison. And Velosianus at last sought for the face or the countenance of
the Lord. And all who were in that same place said: It is the woman called
Veronica who has the portrait of the Lord in her house. And immediately he
ordered her to be brought before his power. And he said to her: Hast thou
the portrait of the Lord in thy house? But she said, No. Then Velosianus
ordered her to be put to the torture, until she should give up the portrait
of the Lord. And she was forced to say: I have it in clean linen, my lord,
and I daily adore it. Velosianus said: Show it to me. Then she showed the
portrait of the Lord. When Velosianus saw it, he prostrated himself on the
ground; and with a ready heart and true faith he took hold of it, and
wrapped it in cloth of gold, and placed it in a casket, and sealed it with
his ring. And he swore with an oath, and said: As the Lord God liveth, and
by the health of Caesar, no man shall any more see it upon the face of the
earth, until I see the face of my lord Tiberius. And when he had thus
spoken, the princes, who were the chief men of Judaea, seized Pilate to
take him to a seaport. And he took the portrait of the Lord, with all His
disciples, and all in his pay, and they went on board the ship the same
day. Then the woman Veronica, for the love of Christ, left all that she
possessed, and followed Velosianus. And Velosianus said to her: What dost
thou wish, woman, or what dost thou seek? And she answered: I am seeking
the portrait of our Lord Jesus Christ, who enlightened me, not for my own
merits, but through His own holy affection.(1) Give back to me the portrait
of my Lord Jesus Christ; for because of this I die with a righteous
longing. But if thou do not give it back to me, I will not leave it until I
see where thou wilt put it, because I, most miserable woman that I am, will
serve Him all the days of my life; because I believe that He, my Redeemer,
liveth for everlasting.

   Then Velosianus ordered the woman Veronica to be taken down with him
into the ship And the sails being hoisted. they began to go in the vessel
in the name of the Lord, and they sailed through the sea. But Titus, along
with Vespasian, went up into Judaea, avenging all nations upon their
land.(2) At the end of a year Velosianus came to the city of Rome, brought
his vessel into the river which is called Tiberis, or Tiber, and entered
the city which is called Rome. And he sent his messenger to his lord
Tiberius the emperor in the Lateran about his prosperous arrival.

   Then Tiberius the emperor, when he heard the message of Velosianus,
rejoiced greatly, and ordered him to come before his face. And when he had
come, he called him, saying: Velosianus, how hast thou come, and what hast
thou seen in the region of Judaea of Christ the Lord and his disciples?
Tell me, I beseech thee, that he is going to cure me of mine infirmity,
that I may be at once cleansed from that leprosy which I have over my body,
and I give up my whole kingdom into thy power and his.

   And Velosianus said: My lord emperor, I found thy servants Titus and
Vespasian in Judaea fearing the Lord, and they were cleansed from all their
ulcers and sufferings. And I found that all the kings and rulers of Judaea
have been hanged by Titus; Annas and Caiaphas have been stoned, Archelaus
has killed himself with his own lance; and I have sent Pilate to Damascus
in bonds, and kept him in prison under safe keeping. But I have also found
out about Jesus, whom the Jews most wickedly attacked with swords, and
staves, and weapons; and they crucified him who ought to have freed and
enlightened us, and to have come to us, and they hanged him on a tree. And
Joseph came from Arimathaea, and Nicodemus with him, bringing a mixture of
myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds, to anoint the body of Jesus; and
they took him down from the cross, and laid him in a new tomb. And on the
third day he most assuredly rose again froth the dead, and showed himself
to his disciples in the same flesh in which he had been born. At length,
after forty days, they saw him going up into heaven. Many, indeed, and
other miracles did Jesus before his passion and after. First, of water he
made wine; he raised the dead, he cleansed lepers, he enlightened the
blind, he cured paralytics, he put demons to flight; he made the deaf hear,
the dumb speak; Lazarus, when four days dead, he raised from the tomb; the
woman Veronica, who suffered from an issue of blood twelve years, and
touched the fringe of his garment, he made whole. Then it pleased the Lord
in the heavens, that the Son of God, who, sent into this world as the
first-created, had died upon earth, should send his angel; and he commanded
Titus and Vespasian, whom I knew in that place where thy throne is. And it
pleased God Almighty that they went into Judaea and Jerusalem, and seized
thy subjects, and put them under that sentence, as it were, in the same
manner as they did when thy subjects seized Jesus and bound him. And
Vespasian afterwards said: What shall we do about those who shall remain?
Titus answered: They hanged our Lord on a green tree, and struck him with a
lance; now let us hang them on a dry tree, and pierce their bodies through
and through with the lance. And they did so. And Vespasian said: What about
those who are left? Titus answered: They seized the tunic of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and of it made four parts; now let us seize them, and divide them
into four parts,--to thee one, to me one, to thy men another, and to my
servants the fourth part. And they did so. And Vespasian said: But what
shall we do about those who are left? Titus answered him: The Jews sold our
Lord for thirty pieces of silver: now let us sell thirty of them for one
piece of silver. And they did so. And they seized Pilate, and gave him up
to me, and I put him in prison, to be guarded by four quaternions of
soldiers in Damascus. Then they made a search with great diligence to seek
the portrait of the Lord; and they found a woman named Veronica who had the
portrait of the Lord. Then the Emperor Tiberius said to Velosianus: How
hast thou it? And he answered: I have it in clean cloth of gold, rolled up
in a shawl. And the Emperor Tiberius said: Bring it to me, and spread it
before my face, that I, falling to the ground and bending my knees, may
adore it on the ground. Then Velosianus spread out his shawl with the cloth
of gold on which the portrait of the Lord had been imprinted; and the
Emperor Tiberius saw it. And he immediately adored the image of the Lord
with a pure heart, and his flesh was cleansed as the flesh of a little
child. And all the blind, the lepers, the lame, the dumb, the deaf, and
those possessed by various diseases, who were there present, were healed,
and cured, and cleansed. And the Emperor Tiberius bowed his head and bent
his knees, considering that saying: Blessed is the womb which bore Thee,
and the breasts which Thou hast sucked; and he groaned to the Lord, saying
with tears: God of heaven and earth, do not permit me to sin, but confirm
my soul and my body, and place me in Thy kingdom, because in Thy name do I
trust always: free me from all evils, as Thou didst free the three children
from the furnace of blazing fire.

   Then said the Emperor Tiberius to Velosianus: Velosianus, hast thou
seen any of those men who saw Christ? Velosianus answered: I have. He said:
Didst thou ask how they baptize those who believed in Christ? Velosianus
said: Here, my Lord, we have one of the disciples of Christ himself. Then
he ordered Nathan to be summoned to come to him. Nathan therefore came and
baptized him in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen. Immediately the Emperor Tiberius, made whole from all his
diseases, ascended upon his throne, and said: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God
Almighty, and worthy to be praised, who hast freed me from the snare of
death, and cleansed me from all mine iniquities; because I have greatly
sinned before Thee, O Lord my God, and I am not worthy to see Thy face. And
then the Emperor Tiberius was instructed in all the articles of the faith,
fully, and with strong faith.

   May that same God Almighty, who is King of kings and Lord of lords,
Himself shield us in His faith, and defend us, and deliver us from all
danger and evil, and deign to bring us to life everlasting, when this life,
which is temporary, shall fail; who is blessed for ever and ever. Amen.


Taken from "The Early Church Fathers and Other Works" originally published
by Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. in English in Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning in
1867. (ANF 8, Roberts and Donaldson). The digital version is by The
Electronic Bible Society, P.O. Box 701356, Dallas, TX 75370, 214-407-WORD.

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