There is a consensus of opinion among Syriac scholars that our Greek text of these Acts is a version from Syriac. The Syriac original was edited and translated by Wright in his Apocryphal Acts, and older fragments have since been published by Mrs. Lewis (Horae Semiticae IV, 1904. Mythological Acts of the Apostles).
Certain hymns occur in the Syriac which were undoubtedly composed in that language: most notable is the Hymn of the Soul (edited separately by A. A. Bevan, and others) which is not relevant to the context. It has been ascribed to Bardaisan the famous Syrian heretic. Only one Greek MS. of the Acts (the Vallicellian, at Rome, Bonnet's MS. U, of the eleventh century) contains it; it is paraphrased by Nicetas of Thessalonica in his Greek rechauffe of the Acts.
There is, in fact, no room to doubt that the whole text of the Acts, as preserved complete in MS. U and partially in other manuscripts, is a translation from the Syriac. But in the Martyrdom four manuscripts (including a very important Paris copy-Gr. 1510, of eleventh century, and another of ninth century) present a quite different, and superior. text, indubitably superior in one striking point: that whereas Syr. places the great prayer of Thomas in the twelfth Act, some little time before the Martyrdom (ch. 144 sqq.), the four manuscripts place it immediately before, after ch. 167, and this is certainly the proper place for it.
It is, I believe, still arguable (though denied by the Syriacists) that here is a relic of the original Greek text: in other words, the Acts were composed in Greek, and early rendered into Syriac. Becoming scarce or being wholly lost in Greek they were retranslated out of Syriac into Greek. But meanwhile the original Greek of the Martyrdom had survived separately, and we have it here. This was M. Bonnet's view, and it is one which I should like to adopt.
At the very least, we have a better text of the Martyrdom preserved in these four manuscripts than in U and its congeners.
As to other versions. The Latin Passions-one probably by Gregory of Tours- have been much adulterated. We have also Ethiopic versions of some episodes, and there is also an Armenian one of which little use has been made. However, versions are of little account in this case, where we have such comparatively good authorities as the Greek and Syriac for the whole book.
My version is made from the Greek text, (Bonnet, 1903) with an eye on the Syriac as rendered by Wright and by Mrs. Lewis and Bevan.
The First Act, when he went into India with Abbanes the merchant.
At that season all we the apostles were at Jerusalem, Simon which is called Peter and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Canaanite, and Judas the brother of James: and we divided the regions of the world, that every one of us should go unto the region that fell to him and unto the nation whereunto the Lord sent him.
According to the lot, therefore, India fell unto Judas Thomas, which is also the twin: but he would not go, saying that by reason of the weakness of the flesh he could not travel, and 'I am an Hebrew man; how can I go amongst the Indians and preach the truth?' And as he thus reasoned and spake, the Saviour appeared unto him by night and saith to him: Fear not, Thomas, go thou unto India and preach the word there, for my grace is with thee. But he would not obey, saying: Whither thou wouldest send me, send me, but elsewhere, for unto the Indians I will not go.
2 And while he thus spake and thought, it chanced that there was there a certain merchant come from India whose name was Abbanes, sent from the King Gundaphorus [Gundaphorus is a historical personage who reigned over a part of India in the first century after Christ. His coins bear his name in Greek, as Hyndopheres], and having commandment from him to buy a carpenter and bring him unto him.
Now the Lord seeing him walking in the market-place at noon said unto him: Wouldest thou buy a carpenter? And he said to him: Yea. And the Lord said to him: I have a slave that is a carpenter and I desire to sell him. And so saying he showed him Thomas afar off, and agreed with him for three litrae of silver unstamped, and wrote a deed of sale, saying: I, Jesus, the son of Joseph the carpenter, acknowledge that I have sold my slave, Judas by name, unto thee Abbanes, a merchant of Gundaphorus, king of the Indians. And when the deed was finished, the Saviour took Judas Thomas and led him away to Abbanes the merchant, and when Abbanes saw him he said unto him: Is this thy master? And the apostle said: Yea, he is my Lord. And he said: I have bought thee of him. And thy apostle held his peace.
3 And on the day following the apostle arose early, and having prayed and besought the Lord he said: I will go whither thou wilt, Lord Jesus: thy will be done. And he departed unto Abbanes the merchant, taking with him nothing at all save only his price. For the Lord had given it unto him, saying: Let thy price also be with thee, together with my grace, wheresoever thou goest.
And the apostle found Abbanes carrying his baggage on board the ship; so he also began to carry it aboard with him. And when they were embarked in the ship and were set down Abbanes questioned the apostle, saying: What craftsmanship knowest thou? And he said: In wood I can make ploughs and yokes and augers (ox-goads, Syr.), and boats and oars for boats and masts and pulleys; and in stone, pillars and temples and court-houses for kings. And Abbanes the merchant said to him: Yea, it is of such a workman that we have need. They began then to sail homeward; and they had a favourable wind, and sailed prosperously till they reached Andrapolis, a royal city.
4 And they left the ship and entered into the city, and lo, there were noises of flutes and water-organs, and trumpets sounded about them; and the apostle inquired, saying: What is this festival that is in this city? And they that were there said to him: Thee also have the gods brought to make merry in this city. For the king hath an only daughter, and now he giveth her in marriage unto an husband: this rejoicing, therefore, and assembly of the wedding to-day is the festival which thou hast seen. And the king hath sent heralds to proclaim everywhere that all should come to the marriage, rich and poor, bond and free, strangers and citizens: and if any refuse and come not to the marriage he shall answer for it unto the king. And Abbanes hearing that, said to the apostle: Let us also go, lest we offend the king, especially seeing we are strangers. And he said: Let us go.
And after they had put up in the inn and rested a little space they went to the marriage; and the apostle seeing them all set down (reclining), laid himself, he also, in the midst, and all looked upon him, as upon a stranger and one come from a foreign land: but Abbanes the merchant, being his master, laid himself in another place.
5 And as they dined and drank, the apostle tasted nothing; so they that were about him said unto him: Wherefore art thou come here, neither eating nor drinking? but he answered them, saying: I am come here for somewhat greater than the food or the drink, and that I may fulfil the king's will. For the heralds proclaim the king's message, and whoso hearkeneth not to the heralds shall be subject to the king's judgement.
So when they had dined and drunken, and garlands and unguents were brought to them, every man took of the unguent, and one anointed his face and another his beard and another other parts of his body; but the apostle anointed the top of his head and smeared a little upon his nostrils, and dropped it into his ears and touched his teeth with it, and carefully anointed the parts about his heart: and the wreath that was brought to him, woven of myrtle and other flowers, he took, and set it on his head, and took a branch of calamus and held it in his hand.
Now the flute-girl, holding her flute in her hand, went about to them all and played, but when she came to the place where the apostle was, she stood over him and played at his head for a long space: now this flute-girl was by race an Hebrew.
6 And as the apostle continued looking on the ground, one of the cup-bearers stretched forth his hand and gave him a buffet; and the apostle lifted up his eyes and looked upon him that smote him and said: My God will forgive thee in the life to come this iniquity, but in this world thou shalt show forth his wonders and even now shall I behold this hand that hath smitten me dragged by dogs. And having so said, he began to sing and to say this song:
The damsel is the daughter of light, in whom consisteth and dwelleth
the proud brightness of kings, and the sight of her is delightful, she
shineth with beauty and cheer. Her garments are like the flowers of spring,
and from them a waft of fragrance is borne; and in the crown of her head
the king is established which with his immortal food (ambrosia) nourisheth
them that are founded upon him; and in her head is set truth, and with
her feet she showeth forth joy. And her mouth is opened, and it becometh
her well: thirty and two are they that sing praises to her. Her tongue
is like the curtain of the door, which waveth to and fro for them that
enter in: her neck is set in the fashion of steps which the first maker
hath wrought, and her two hands signify and show, proclaiming the dance
of the happy ages, and her fingers point out the gates of the city. Her
chamber is bright with light and breatheth forth the odour of balsam and
all spices, and giveth out a sweet smell of myrrh and Indian leaf, and
within are myrtles strown on the floor, and 8 And when he had sung and ended this song, all that were there present
gazed upon him; and he kept silence, and they saw that his likeness was
changed, but that which was spoken by him they understood not, forasmuch
as he was an Hebrew and that which he spake was said in the Hebrew tongue.
But the flute-girl alone heard all of it, for she was by race an Hebrew
and she went away from him and played to the rest, but for the most part
she gazed and looked upon him, for she loved him well, as a man of her
own nation; moreover he was comely to look upon beyond all that were there.
And when the flute-girl had played to them all and ended, she sat down
over against him, gazing and looking earnestly upon him. But he looked
upon no man at all, neither took heed of any but only kept his eyes looking
toward the ground, waiting the time when he might depart thence.
But the cup-bearer that had buffeted him went down to the well to draw
water; and there chanced to be a lion there, and it slew him and left him
Iying in that place, having torn his lirmbs in pieces, and forthwith dogs
seized his members, and among them one black dog holding his right hand
in his mouth bare it into the place of the banquet.
9 And all when they saw it were amazed and inquired which of them it
was that was missing. And when it became manifest that it was the hand
of the cup-bearer which had smitten the apostle, the flute-girl brake her
flute and cast it away and went and sat down at the apostle's feet, saying:
This is either a god or an apostle of God, for I heard him say in the Hebrew
tongue: ' I shall now see the hand that hath smitten me dragged by dogs',
which thing ye also have now beheld; for as he said, so hath it come about.
And some believed her, and some not.
But when the king heard of it, he came and said to the apostle: Rise
up and come with me, and pray for my daughter: for she is mine only-begotten,
and to-day I give her in marriage. But the apostle was not willing to go
with him, for the Lord was not yet revealed unto him in that place. But
the king led him away against his will unto the bride-chamber that he might
pray for them.
10 And the apostle stood, and began to pray and to speak thus: My Lord
and mv God, that travellest with thy servants, that guidest and correctest
them that believe in thee, the refuge and rest of the oppressed, the hope
of the poor and ransomer of captives, the physician of the souls that lie
sick and saviour of all creation, that givest life unto the world and strengthenest
souls; thou knowest things to come, and by our means accomplishest them:
thou Lord art he that revealeth hidden mysteries and maketh manifest words
that are secret: thou Lord art the planter of the good tree, and of thine
hands are all good works engendered: thou Lord art he that art in all things
and passest through all, and art set in all thy works and manifested in
the working of them all. Jesus Christ, Son of compassion and perfect saviour,
Christ, Son of the living God, the undaunted power that hast overthrown
the enemy, and the voice that was heard of the rulers, and made all their
powers to quake, the ambassador that wast sent from the height and camest
down even unto hell, who didst open the doors and bring up thence them
that for many ages were shut up in the treasury of darkness, and showedst
them the way that leadeth up unto the height: l beseech thee, Lord Jesu,
and offer unto thce supplication for these young persons, that thou wouldest
do for them the things that shall help them and be expedient and profitable
for them. And he laid his hands on them and said: The Lord shall be with
you, and left them in that place and departed.
11 And the king desired the groomsmen to depart out of the bride-chamber;
and when all were gone out and the doors were shut, the bridegrroom lifted
up
the curtain of the bride-chamber to fetch the bride unto him. And he saw
the Lord Jesus bearing the likeness of Judas Thomas and speaking with the
bride; even of him that but now had blessed them and gone out from them,
the apostle; and he saith unto him: Wentest thou not out in the sight of
all? how then art thou found here? But the Lord said to him: I am not Judas
which is also called Thomas but I am his brother. And the Lord sat down
upon the bed and bade them also sit upon chairs, and began to say unto
them:
12 Remember, my children, what my brother spake unto you and what he
delivered before you: and know this, that if ye abstain from this foul
intercourse, ye become holy temples, pure, being quit of impulses and pains,
seen and unseen, and ye will acquire no cares of life or of children, whose
end is destruction: and if indeed ye get many children, for their sakes
ye become grasping and covetous, stripping orphans and overreaching widows,
and by so doing subject yourselves to grievous punishments. For the more
part of children become useless oppressed of devils, some openly and some
invisibly, for they become either lunatic or half withered or blind or
deaf or dumb or paralytic or foolish; and if they be sound, again they
will be vain, doing useless or abominable acts, for they will be caught
either in adultery or murder or theft or fornication, and by all these
vvill ye be afflicted.
But if ye be persuaded and keep your souls chaste before God, there
will come unto you living children whom these blemishes touch not, and
ye shall be without care, leading a tranquil life without grief or anxiety,
looking to receive that incorruptible and true marriage, and ye shall be
therein groomsmen entering into that bride-chamber which is full of immortality
and light.
13 And when the young people heard these things, they believed the Lord
and gave themselves up unto him, and abstained from foul desire and continued
so, passing the night in that place. And the Lord departed from before
them, saying thus: The grace of the Lord shall be with you.
And when the morning was come the king came to meet them and furnished
a table and brought it in before the bridegroom and the bride. And he found
them sitting over against each other and the face of the bride he found
unveiled, and the bridegroom was right joyful.
And the mother came unto the bride and said: Why sittest thou so, child,
and art not ashamed, but art as if thou hadst lived with thine husband
a long season? And her father said: Because of thy great love toward thine
husband dost thou not even veil thyself?
14 And the bride answered and said: Verily, father, I am in great love,
and I pray my Lord that the love which I have perceived this night may
abide with me, and I will ask for that husband of whom I have learned to-day:
and therefore I will no more veil myself, because the mirror (veil) of
shame is removed from me; and therefore am I no more ashamed or abashed,
because the deed of shame and confusion is departed far from me; and that
I am not confounded, it is because my astonishment hath not continued with
me; and that I am in cheerfulness and joy, it is because the day of my
joy hath not been troubled; and that I have set at nought this husband
and this marriage that passeth away from before mine eyes, it is because
I am joined in another marriage; and that I have had no intercourse with
a husband that is temporal, whereof the end is with lasciviousness and
bitterness of soul, it is because I am yoked unto a true husband.
15 And while the bride was saying yet more than this, the bridegroom
answered and said: I give thee thanks, O Lord, that hast been proclaimed
by the stranger, and found in us; who hast removed me far from corruption
and sown life in me; who hast rid me of this disease that is hard to be
healed and cured and abideth for ever, and hast implanted sober health
in me; who hast shown me thyself and revealed unto me all my state wherein
I am; who hast redeemed me from falling and led me to that which is better,
and set me free from temporal things and made me worthy of those that are
immortal and everlasting; that hast made thyself lowly even down to me
and my littleness, that thou mayest present me unto thy greatness and unite
me unto thyself; who hast not withheld thine own bowels from me that was
ready to perish, but hast shown me how to seek myself and know who I was,
and who and in what manner I now am, that I may again become that which
I was: whom I knew not, but thyself didst seek me out: of whom I was not
aware, but thyself hast taken me to thee: whom I have perceived, and now
am not able to be unmindful of him: whose love burneth within me, and I
cannot speak it as is fit, but that which I am able to say of it is little
and scanty, and not fitly proportioned unto his glory: yet he blameth me
not that presume to say unto him even that which I know not: for it is
because of his love that I say even this much.
16 Now when the king heard these things from the bridegroom and the
bride, he rent his clothes and said unto them that stood by him: Go forth
quickly and go about the whole city, and take and bring me that man that
is a sorcerer who by ill fortune came unto this city; for with mine own
hands I brought him into this house, and I told him to pray over this mine
ill-starred daugllter; and whoso findeth and bringeth him to me, I will
give him whatsoever he asketh of me. They went, therefore and went about
seeking him, and found him not; for he had set sail. They went also unto
the inn where he had lodged and found there the flute-girl weeping and
afflicted because he had not taken her with him. And when they told her
the matter that had befallen with the young people she was exceeding glad
at hearing it, and put away her grief and said: Now have I also found rest
here. And she rose up and went unto them, and was with them a long time,
until they had instructed the king also. And many of the brethren also
gathered there until they heard the report of the apostle, that he was
come unto the cities of India and was teaching there: and they departed
and joined themselves unto him.
The Second Act: concerning his coming unto the king Gundaphorus.
17 Now when the apostle was come into the cities of India with Abbanes
the merchant, Abbanes went to salute the king Gundaphorus, and reported
to him of the carpenter whom he had brought with him. And the king was
glad, and commanded him to come in to him. So when he was come in the king
said unto him: What craft understandest thou? The apostle said unto him:
The craft of carpentering and of building. The king saith unto him: What
craftsmanship, then, knowest thou in wood, and what in stone? The apostle
saith: In wood: ploughs, yokes, goads, pulleys, and boats and oars and
masts; and in stone: plllars, temples, and court-houses for kings. And
the king said: Canst thou build me a palace? And he answered: Yea, I can
both build and furnish it; for to this end am I come, to build and to do
the work of a carpenter.
18 And the king took him and went out of the city gates and began to
speak with him on the way concerning the building of the court-house, and
of the foundations, how they should be laid, until they came to the place
wherein he desired that the building should be; and he said: Here will
I that the building should be. And the apostle said: Yea, for this place
is suitable for the building. But the place was woody and there was much
water there. So the king said: Begin to build. But he said: I cannot begin
to build now at this season. And the king said: When canst thou begin?
And he said: I will begin in the month Dius and finish in Xanthicus. But
the king marvelled and said: Every building is builded in summer, and canst
thou in this very winter build and make ready a palace? And the apostle
said: Thus it must be, and no otherwise is it possible. And the king said:
If, then, this seem good to thee, draw me a plan, how the work shall be,
because I shall return hither after some long time. And the apostle took
a reed and drew, measuring the place; and the doors he set toward the sunrising
to look toward the light, and the windows toward the west to the breezes,
and the bakehouse he appointed to be toward the south and the aqueduct
for the service toward the north. And the king saw it and said to the apostle:
Verily thou art a craftsman and it belitteth thee to be a servant of kings.
And he left much money with him and departed from him.
19 And from time to time he sent money and provision, and victual for
him and the rest of the workmen. But Thomas receiving it all dispensed
it, going about the cities and the villages round about, distributing and
giving alms to the poor and afflicted, and relieving them, saying: The
king knoweth how to obtain recompense fit for kings, but at this time it
is needful that the poor should have refreshment.
After these things the king sent an ambassador unto the apostle, and
wrote thus: Signify unto me what thou hast done or what I shall send thee,
or of what thou hast need. And the apostle sent unto him, saying: The palace
(praetorium) is builded and only the roof remaineth. And the king hearing
it sent him again gold and silver (lit. unstamped), and wrote unto him:
Let the palace be roofed, if it is done. And the apostle said unto the
Lord: I thank thee O Lord in all things, that thou didst die for a little
space that I might live for ever in thee, and that thou hast sold me that
by me thou mightest set free many. And he ceased not to teach and to refresh
the afflicted, saying: This hath the Lord dispensed unto you, and he giveth
unto every man his food: for he is the nourisher of orphans and steward
of the widows, and unto all that are afflicted he is relief and rest.
20 Now when the king came to the city he inquired of his friends concerning
the palace which Judas that is called Thomas was building for him. And
they told him: Neither hath he built a palace nor done aught else of that
he promised to perform, but he goeth about the cities and countries, and
whatsoever he hath he giveth unto the poor, and teacheth of a new God,
and healeth the sick, and driveth out devils, and doeth many other wonderful
things; and we think him to be a sorcerer. Yet his compassions and his
cures which are done of him freely, and moreover the simplicity and kindness
of him and his faith, do declare that he is a righteous man or an apostle
of the new God whom he preacheth; for he fasteth continually and prayeth,
and eateth bread only, with salt, and his drink is water, and he weareth
but one garment alike in fair weather and in winter, and receiveth nought
of any man, and that he hath he giveth unto others. And when the king heard
that, he rubbed his face with his hands, and shook his head for a long
space.
21 And he sent for the merchant which had brought him, and for the apostle,
and said unto him: Hast thou built me the palace? And he said: Yea. And
the king said: When, then, shall we go and see it? but he answered him
and said: Thou canst not see it now, but when thou departest this life,
then thou shalt see it. And the king was exceeding wroth, and commanded
both the merchant and Judas which is called Thomas to be put in bonds and
cast into prison until he should inquire and learn unto whom the king's
money had been given, and so destroy both him and the merchant.
And the apostle went unto the prison rejoicing, and said to the merchant:
Fear thou nothing, only believe in the God that is preached by me, and
thou shalt indeed be set free from this world, but from the world to come
thou shalt receive life. And the king took thought with what death he should
destroy them. And when he had determined to flay them alive and burn them
with fire, in the same night Gad the king's brother fell sick, and by reason
of his vexation and the deceit which the king had suffered he was greatly
oppressed; and sent for the king and said unto him: O king my brother,
I commit unto thee mine house and my children; for I am vexed by reason
of the provocation that hath befallen thee, and lo, I die; and if thou
visit not with vengeance upon the head of that sorcerer, thou wilt give
my soul no rest in hell. And the king said to his brother: All this night
have I considered how I should put him to death and this hath seemed good
to me, to flay him and burn him with fire, both him and the merchant which
brought him (Syr. Then the brother of the king said to him: And if there
be anything else that is worse than this, do it to him; and I give thee
charge of my house and my children).
22 And as they talked together, the soul of his brother Gad departed.
And the king mourned sore for Gad, for he loved him much, and commanded
that he should be buried in royal and precious apparel (Syr. sepulchre).
Now after this angels took the soul of Gad the king's brother and bore
it up into heaven, showing unto him the places and dwellings that were
there, and inquired of him: In which place wouldest thou dwell? And when
they drew near unto the building of Thomas the apostle which he had built
for the king, Gad saw it and said unto the angels: I beseech you, my lords,
suffer me to dwell in one of the lowest rooms of these. And they said to
him: Thou canst not dwell in this building. And he said: Wherefore ? And
they say unto him: This is that palace which that Christian builded for
thy brother. And he said: I beseech you, my lords, suffer me to go to my
brother, that I may buy this palace of him, for my brother knoweth not
of what sort it is, and he will sell it unto me.
23 Then the angels let the soul of Gad go. And as they were putting
his grave clothes upon him, his soul entered into him and he said to them
that stood about him: Call my brother unto me, that I may ask one petition
of him. Straightway therefore they told the king, saying: Thy brother is
revived. And the king ran forth with a great company and came unto his
brother and entered in and stood by his bed as one amazed, not being able
to speak to him. And his brother said: I know and am persuaded, my brother,
that if any man had asked of thee the half of thy kingdom, thou wouldest
have given it him for my sake; therefore I beg of thee to grant me one
favour which I ask of thee, that thou wouldest sell me that which I ask
of thee. And the king answered and said: And what is it which thou askest
me to sell thee? And he said: Convince me by an oath that thou wilt grant
it me. And the king sware unto him: One of my possessions, whatsoever thou
shalt ask, I will give thee. And he saith to him: Sell me that palace which
thou hast in the heavens ? And the king said: Whence should I have a palace
in the heavens? And he said: Even that which that Christian built for thee
which is now in the prison, whom the merchant brought unto thee, having
purchased him of one Jesus: I mean that Hebrew slave whom thou desiredst
to punish as having suffered deceit at his hand: whereat I was grieved
and died, and am now revived.
24 Then the king considering the matter, understood it of those eternal
benefits which should come to him and which concerned him, and said: That
palace I cannot sell thee, but I pray to enter into it and dwell therein
and to be accounted worthy of the inhabiters of it, but if thou indeed
desirest to buy such a palace, lo, the man liveth and shall build thee
one better than it. And forthwith he sent and brought out of prison the
apostle and the merchant that was shut up with him, saying: I entreat thee,
as a man that entreateth the minister of God, that thou wouldest pray for
me and beseech him whose minister thou art to forgive me and overlook that
which I have done unto thee or thought to do, and that I may become a worthy
inhabiter of that dwelling for the which I took no pains, but thou hast
builded it for me, labouring alone, the grace of thy God working with thee,
and that I also may become a servant and serve this God whom thou preachest.
And his brother also fell down before the apostle and said: I entreat and
supplicate thee before thy God that I may become worthy of his ministry
and service, and that it may fall to me to be worthy of the things that
were shown unto me by his angels.
25 And the apostle, filled with joy, said: I praise thee, O Lord Jesu,
that thou hast revealed thy truth in these men; for thou only art the God
of truth, and none other, and thou art he that knoweth all things that
are unknown to the most; thou, Lord, art he that in all things showest
compassion and sparest men. For men by reason of the error that is in them
have overlooked thee but thou hast not overlooked them. And now at mv supplication
and request do thou receive the king and his brother and join them unto
thy fold, cleansing them with thy washing and anointing them with thine
oil from the error that encompasseth them: and keep them also from the
wolves, bearing them into thy meadows. And give them drink out of thine
immortal fountain which is neither fouled nor drieth up; for they entreat
and supplicate thee and desire to become thy servants and ministers, and
for this they are content even to be persecuted of thine enemies, and for
thy sake to be hated of them and to be mocked and to die, like as thou
for our sake didst suffer all these things, that thou mightest preserve
us, thou that art Lord and verily the good shepherd. And do thou grant
them to have confidence in thee alone, and the succour that cometh of thee
and the hope of their salvation which they look for from thee alone; and
that they may be grounded in thy mysteries and receive the perfect good
of thy graces and gifts, and flourish in thy ministry and come to perfection
in thy Father.
26 Being therefore wholly set upon the apostle, both the king Gundaphorus
and Gad his brother followed him and departed not from him at all, and
they also relieved them that had need giving unto all and refreshing all.
And they besought him that they also might henceforth receive the seal
of the word, saying unto him: Seeing that our souls are at leisure and
eager toward God, give thou us the seal; for we have heard thee say that
the God whom thou preachest knoweth his own sheep by his seal. And the
apostle said unto them: I also rejoice and entreat you to receive this
seal, and to partake with me in this eucharist and blessing of the Lord,
and to be made perfect therein. For this is the Lord and God of all, even
Jesus Christ whom I preach, and he is the father of truth, in whom I have
taught you to believe. And he commanded them to bring oil, that they might
receive the seal by the oil. They brought the oil therefore, and lighted
many lamps; for it was night (Syr. whom I preach: and the king gave orders
that the bath should be closed for seven days, and that no man should bathe
in it: and when the seven days were done, on the eighth day they three
entered into the bath by night that Judas might baptize them. And many
lamps were lighted in the bath).
27 And the apostle arose and sealed them. And the Lord was revealed
unto them by a voice, saying: Peace be unto you brethren. And they heard
his voice only, but his likeness they saw not, for they had not yet received
the added sealing of the seal (Syr. had not been baptized). And the apostle
took the oil and poured it upon their heads and anointed and chrismed them,
and began to say (Syr. And Judas went up and stood upon the edge of the
cistern and poured oil upon their heads and said):
Come, thou holy name of the Christ that is above every name. Come, thou
power of the Most High, and the compassion that is perfect. Come, gift
(charism) of the Most High. Come, compassionate mother. Come, communion
of the male. Come, she that revealeth the hidden mysteries. Come, mother
of the seven houses, that thy rest may be in the eighth house. Come, elder
of the five members, mind, thought, refiection, consideration, reason;
communicate with these young men. Come, holy spirit, and cleanse their
reins and their heart, and give them the added seal, in the name of the
Father and Son and Holy Ghost.
And when they were sealed, there appeared unto them a youth holding
a lighted torch, so that their lamps became dim at the approach of the
light thereof. And he went forth and was no more seen of them. And the
apostle said unto the Lord: Thy light, O Lord, is not to be contained by
us, and we are not able to bear it, for it is too great for our sight.
And when the dawn came and it was morning, he brake bread and made them
partakers of the eucharist of the Christ. And they were glad and rejoiced.
And many others also, believing, were added to them, and came into the
refuge of the Saviour.
28 And the apostle ceased not to preach and to say unto them: Ye men
and women, boys and girls, young men and maidens, strong men and aged,
whether bond or free, abstain from fornication and covetousness and the
service of the belly: for under these three heads all iniquity cometh about.
For fornication blindeth the mind and darkeneth the eyes of the soul, and
is an impediment to the life (conversation) of the body, turning the whole
man unto weakness and casting the whole body into sickness. And greed putteth
the soul into fear and shame; being within the body it seizeth upon the
goods of others, and is under fear lest if it restore other men's goods
to their owner it be put to shame. And the service of the belly casteth
the soul into thoughts and cares and vexations, taking thought lest it
come to be in want, and have need of those things that are far from it.
If, then, ye be rid of these ye become free of care and grief and fear,
and that abideth with you which was said by the Saviour: Take no thought
for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
Remember also that word of him of whom I spake: Look at the ravens and
see the fowls of the heaven, that they neither sow nor reap nor gather
into barns, and God dispenseth unto them; how much more unto you, O ye
of little faith? But look ye for his coming and have your hope in him and
believe on his name. For he is the judge of quick and dead, and he giveth
to every one according to their deeds, and at his coming and his latter
appearing no man hath any word of excuse when he is to be judged by him,
as though he had not heard. For his heralds do proclaim in the four quarters
(climates) of the world. Repent ye, therefore, and believe the promise
and receive the yoke of meekness and the light burden, that ye may live
and not die. These things get, these keep. Come forth of the darkness that
the light may receive you! Come unto him that is indeed good, that ye may
receive grace of him and implant his sign in your souls.
29 And when he had thus spoken, some of them that stood by said: It
is time for the creditor to receive the debt. And he said unto them: He
that is lord of the debt desireth alway to receive more; but let us give
him that which is due. And he blessed them, and took bread and oil and
herbs and salt and blessed and gave unto them; but he himself continued
his fast, for the Lord's day was coming on (Syr. And he himself ate, because
the Sunday was dawning).
And when night fell and he slept, the Lord came and stood at his head,
saying: Thomas, rise early, and having blessed them all, after the prayer
and the ministry go by the eastern road two miles and there will I show
thee my glory: for by thy going shall many take refuge with me, and thou
shalt bring to light the nature and power of the enemy. And he rose up
from sleep and said unto the brethren that were with him: Children, the
Lord would accomplish somewhat by me to-day, but let us pray, and entreat
of him that we may have no impediment toward him, but that as at all times,
so now also it may be done according to his desire and will by us. And
having so said, he laid his hands on them and blessed them, and brake the
bread of the eucharist and gave it them, saying: This encharist shall be
unto you for compassion and mercy, and not unto judgement and retribution.
And they said Amen.
Note by Professor F. C. Burliitt, D.D.
In the Acts of Thomas, 27, the apostle, being about to baptize Gundaphorus
the king of India with his brother Gad, invokes the holy name of the Christ,
and among other invocations says (according to the best Greek text):
'Come, O elder of the five members, mind, idea, thoughtfulness, consideration,
reasoning, communicate with these youths.'
What is the essential distinction of these five words for 'mind', and
what is ment by the 'elder' (presbuteros, greek)? We turn to the Syriac,
as the original language in which our tale was composed though our present
text, which rests here on two manuscripts, has now and then been bowdlerized
in the direction of more conventional phraseology, a process that the Greek
has often escaped. Here in the Syriac we find (Wright, p.193, l.13; E.Tr.,
p.166, last line but one):
' Come, Messenger of reconciliation, and communicate with the minds
of these youths.'
The word for 'Come' is fem., while 'Messenger' (Izgadda) is masc. This
is because the whole prayer is an invocation of the Holy Spirit, which
in old Syriac is invariably treated as feminine. The word for Messenger
is that used in thc Manichaean cosmogony for a heavenly Spirit sent from
the Divine Light: this Spirit appeared as androgynous, so that the use
of the word here with the feminine verb is not inappropriate. It further
leads us to look out for other indications of Manichaean phraseology in
the passage. But first it suggests to us that [presbuteros] in our passage
is a corruption of, or is used for, [presbeutes], 'an ambassador'.
As for the five words for 'mind', they are clearly the equivalents of
[hauna, mad'a, re'yana, mahshebhatha, tar'itha], named by Theodore bar
Khoni as the Five Shekhinas, or Dwellings, or Manifestations, of the Father
of Greatness, the title by which the Manichaeans spoke of the ultimate
Source of Light. There is a good discussion of these five words by M. A.
Kugener in F. Cumont's [Recherches sur le Manicheisme] i, p. 10, note 3.
In English we may say:
hauna means 'sanity'
mad'a means 'reason'
re'yana means 'mind'
mahshabhetha means 'imagination'
tar'itha means 'intention'
The Greek terms, used here and also in Acta Archelai, _ 9, are in my
opinion merely equivalents for the Syriac terms.
Act the Third: concerning the servent
30 And the apostle went forth to go where the Lord had bidden him; and
when he was near to the second mile (stone) and had turned a little out
of the way, he saw the body of a comely youth Iying, and said: Lord, is
it for this that thou hast brought me forth, to come hither that I might
see this (trial) temptation? thy will therefore be done as thou desirest.
And he began to pray and to say: O Lord, the judge of quick and dead, of
the quick that stand by and the dead that lie here, and master and father
of all things; and father not only of the souls that are in bodies but
of them that have gone forth of them, for of the souls also that are in
pollutions (al. bodies) thou art lord and judge; come thou at this hour
wherein I call upon thee and show forth thy glory upon him that lieth here.
And he turned himself unto them that followed him and said: This thing
is not come to pass without cause, but the enemy hath effected it and brought
it about that he may assault (?) us thereby; and see ye that he hath not
made use of another sort, nor wrought through any other creature save that
which is his subjcct.
31 And when he had so said, a great (Syr. black) serpent (dragon) came
out of a hole, beating with his head and shaking his tail upon the ground,
and with (using) a loud voice said unto the apostle: I will tell before
thee the cause wherefor I slew this man, since thou art come hither for
that end, to reprove my works. And the apostle said: Yea, say on. And the
serpent: There is a certain beautiful woman in this village over against
us; and as she passed by me (or my place) I saw her and was enamoured of
her, and I followed her and kept watch upon her; and I found this youth
kissing her, and he had intercourse with her and did other shameful acts
with her: and for me it was easy to declare them before thee, for I know
that thou art the twin brother of the Christ and alway abolishest our nature
(Syr. easy for me to say, but to thee I do not dare to utter them because
I know that the ocean-flood of the Messiah will destroy our nature): but
because I would not affright her, I slew him not at that time, but waited
for him till he passed by in the evening and smote and slew him, and especially
because he adventured to do this upon the Lord's day.
And the apostlc inquired of him, saying: Tell me of what seed and of
what race thou art. 32 And he said unto him: I am a reptile of the reptile
nature and noxious son of the noxious father: of him that hurt and smote
the four brethren which stood upright (om. Syr.: the elerments or four
cardinal points may be meant) I am son to him that sitteth on a throne
over all the earth that receiveth back his own from them that borrow: I
am son to him that girdeth about the sphere: and I am kin to him that is
outside the ocean, whose tail is set in his own mouth: I am he that entered
through the barrier (fence) into paradise and spake with Eve the things
which my father bade me speak unto her: I am he that kindled and inflamed
Cain to kill his own brother, and on mine account did thorns and thistles
grow up in the earth: I am he that cast down the angels from above and
bound them in lusts after women, that children born of earth might come
of them and I might work my will in them: I am he that hardened Pharaoh's
heart that he should slay the children of Israel and enslave them with
the yoke of cruelty: I am he that caused the multitude to err in the wilderness
when they made the calf: I am he that inflamed Herod and enkindled Caiaphas
unto false accusation of a lie before Pilate; for this was fitting to me:
I am he that stirred up Judas and bribed him to deliver up the Christ:
I am he that inhabiteth and holdeth the deep of hell (Tartarus), but the
Son of God hath wronged rne, against my will, and taken (chosen) them that
were his own from me: I am kin to him that is to come from the east, unto
whom also power is given to do what he will upon the earth.
33 And wllen that serpent had spoken these things in the hearing of
all the people, the apostle lifted up his voice on high and said: Cease
thou henceforth, O most shameless one, and be put to confusion and die
wholly, for the end of thy destruction is come, and dare not to tell of
what thou hast done by them that have become subject unto thee. And I charge
thee in the name of that Jesus who until now contendeth with you for the
men that are his own, that thou suck out thy venom which thou hast put
into this man, and draw it forth and take it from him. But the serpent
said: Not yet is the end of our time come as thou hast said. Wherefore
compellest thou me to take back that which I have put into this man, and
to die before my time? for mine own father, when he shall draw forth and
suck out that which he hath cast into the creation, then shall his end
come. And the apostle said unto him: Show, then, now the nature of thy
father. And the serpent came near and set his mouth upon the wound of the
young man and sucked forth the gall out of it. And by little and little
the colour of the young man which was as purple, became white, but the
serpent swelled up. And when the serpent had drawn up all the gall into
himself, the young man leapt up and stood, and ran and fell at the apostle's
feet: but the serpent being swelled up, burst and died, and his venom and
gall were shed forth; and in the place where his venom was shed there came
a great gulf, and that serpent was swallowed up therein. And the apostle
said unto the king and his brother: Take workmen and fill up that place,
and lay foundations and build houses upon them, that it may be a dwelling-place
for strangers.
34 But the youth said unto the apostle with many tears: Wherein have
I sinned against thee? for thou art a man that hast two forms, and wheresoever
thou wilt, there thou art found, and art restrained of no man, as I behold.
For I saw that man that stood by thee and said unto thee: I have many wonders
to show forth by thy means and I have great works to accomplish by thee,
for which thou shalt receive a reward; and thou shalt make many to live,
and they shall be in rest in light eternal as children of God. Do thou
then, saith he, speaking unto thee of me, quicken this youth that hath
been stricken of the enemy and be at all times his overseer. Well, therefore,
art thou come hither, and well shalt thou depart again unto him, and yet
he never shall leave thee at any time. But I am become without care or
reproach: and he hath enlightened me from the care of the night and I am
at rest from the toil of the day: and I am set free from him that provoked
me to do thus, sinning against him that taught me to do contrary thereto:
and I have lost him that is the kinsman of the night that compelled me
to sin by his own deeds, and have found him that is of the light, and is
my kinsman. I have lost him that darkeneth and blindeth his own subjects
that they may not know what they do and, being ashamed at their own works,
may depart from him, and their works come to an end; and have found him
whose works are light and his deeds truth, which if a man doeth he repenteth
not of them. And I have left him with whom Iying abideth, and before whom
darkness goeth as a veil, and behind him followeth shame, shameless in
indolence; and I have found him that showeth me fair things that I may
take hold on them, even the son of the truth that is akin unto concord,
who scattereth away the mist and enlighteneth his own crcation, and healeth
the wounds thereof and overthroweth the enemies thereof. But I beseech
thee, O man of God, cause me to behold him again, and to see him that is
now become hidden from me, that I may also hear his voice whereof I am
not able to express the wonder, for it belongeth not to the nature of this
bodily organ.
[Before this speech Syr. (Wright) inserts one of equal length, chiefly
about man's free will and fall. But the fifth-century palimpsest edited
by Mrs. Lewis agrees with the Greek.]
35 And the apostle answered him, saying: If thou depart from these things
whereof thou hast received knowledge, as thou hast said, and if thou know
who it is that hath wrought this in thee, and learn and become a hearer
of him whom now in thy fervent love thou seekest; thou shalt both see him
and be with him for ever, and in his rest shalt thou rest, and shalt be
in his joy. But if thou be slackly disposed toward him and turn again unto
thy former deeds, and leave that beauty and that bright countenance which
now was showed thee, and forget the shining of his light which now thou
desirest, not only wilt thou be bereaved of this life but also of that
which is to come and thou wilt depart unto him whom thou saidst thou hadst
lost, and will no more behold him whom thou saidst thou hadst found.
36 And when the apostle had said this, he went into the city holding
the hand of that youth, and saying unto him: These things which thou hast
seen, my child, are but a few of the many which God hath, for he doth not
give us good tidings concerning these things that are seen, but greater
things than these doth he promise us; but so long as we are in the bodv
we are not able to speak and show forth those which he shall give unto
our souls. If we say that he giveth us light, it is this which is seen,
and we have it: and if we say it of wealth, which is and appeareth in the
world, we name it (we speak of something which is in the world, Syr.),
and we need it not, for it hath been said: Hardly shall a rich man enter
into the kingdom of heaven: and if we speak of apparel of raiment wherewith
they that are luxurious in this life are clad, it is named (we mention
something that nobles wear, Syr.), and it hath been said: They that wear
soft raiment are in the houses of kings. And if of costiy banquets, concerning
these we have received a commandment to beware of them, not to be weighed
down With revelling and drunkenness and cares of this life -speaking of
things that are- and it hath been said: Take no thought for your life (soul),
what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, neither for your body, what ye
shall put on, for the soul is more than the meat and the body than the
raiment. And of rest, if we speak of this temporal rest, a judgement is
appointed for this also. But we speak of the world which is above, of God
and angels, of watchers and holy ones of the immortal (ambrosial) food
and the drink of the true vine, of raiment that endureth and groweth not
old, of things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have they
entered into the heart of sinful men, the things which God hath prepared
for them that love him. Of these things do we converse and of these do
we bring good tidings. Do thou therefore also believe on him that thou
mayest live, and put thy trust in him, and thou shalt not die. For he is
not persuaded with gifts, that thou shouldest offer them to him, neither
is he in need of sacrifices, that thou shouldest sacrifice unto him. But
look thou unto him, and he will not overlook thee; and turn unto him, and
he will not forsake thee. For his comeliness and his beauty will make thee
wholly desirous to love him: and indeed he permitteth thee not to turn
thyself away.
37 And when the apostle had said these things unto that youth, a great
multitude joined themselves unto them. And the apostle looked and saw them
raising themselves on high that they might see him, and they were going
up into high places; and the apostle said unto them: Ye men that are come
unto the assembly of Christ, and would believe on Jesus, take example hereby,
and see that if ye be not lifted up, ye cannot see me who am little, and
are not able to spy me out who am like unto you. If, then, ye cannot see
me who am like you unless ye lift yourselves up a little from the earth,
how can ye see him that dwelleth in the height and now is found in the
depth, unless ye first lift yourselves up out of your former conversation,
and your unprofitable deeds, and your desires that abide not, and the wealth
that is left here, and the possession of earth that groweth old, and the
raiment that corrupteth, and the beauty that waxeth old and vanisheth away,
and yet more out of the whole body wherein all these things are stored
up, and which groweth old and becometh dust, returning unto its own nature?
For it is the body which maintaineth all these things. But rather believe
on our Lord Jesus Christ, vvhom we preach, that your hope may be in him
and in him ye may have life world without end, that he may become your
fellow traveller in this land of error, and may be to you an harbour in
this troublous sea. And he shall be to you a fountain springing up in this
thirsty land and a chamber fill of food in this place of them that hunger,
and a rest unto your souls, yea, and a physician for your bodies.
38 Then the multitude of them that were gathered together hearing these
things wept, and said unto the apostle: O man of God, the God whom thou
preachest, we dare not say that we are his, for the works which we have
done are alien unto him and not pleasing to him; but if he will have compassion
on us and pity us and save us, overlooking our former decds, and will set
us free from the evils which we committed being in error, and not impute
them unto us nor make remembrance of our former sins, we will become his
servants and will accomplish his will unto the end. And the apostle answered
them and said: He reckoneth not against you, neither taketh account of
the sins which ye committed being in error, but overlooketh your transgressions
which ye have done in ignorance.
The Fourth Act: concerning the colt
39 And while the apostle yet stood in the highway and spake with the
multitude, A she ass's colt came and stood before him (Syr. adds, And Judas
said: It is not without the direction of God that this colt has come hither.
But to thee I say, O colt that by the grace of our Lord there shall be
given to thee speech before these multitudes who are standing here; and
do thou say whatsoever thou wilt, that they may believe in the God of truth
whom we preach. And the mouth of the colt was opened, and it spake by the
power of our Lord and said to him) and opened its mouth and said: Thou
twin of Christ, apostle of the Most High and initiate in the hidden word
of Christ who receivest his secret oracles, fellow worker with the Son
of God, who being free hast become a bondman, and being sold hast brought
many into liberty. Thou kinsman of the great race that hath condemned the
enemy and redeemed his own, that hast become an occasion of life unto man
in the land of the Indians; for thou hast come (against thy will, Syr.)
unto men that were in error, and by thy appearing and thy divine words
they are now turning unto the God of truth which sent thee: mount and sit
upon me and repose thyself until thou enter into the city. And the apostle
answered and said: O Jesu Christ (Son) that understandest the perfect mercy!
O tranquillity and quiet that now art spoken of (speakest, Syr.) by (among)
brute beasts! O hidden rest, that art manifested by thy working, Saviour
of us and nourisher, keeping us and resting in alien bodies! O Saviour
of our souls! spring that is sweet and unfailing; fountain secure and clear
and never polluted; defender and helper in the fight of thine own servants,
turning away and scaring the enemy from us, that fightest in many battles
for us and makest us conquerors in all; our true and undefeated champion
(athlete); our holy and victorious captain: glorious and giving unto thine
own a joy that never passeth away, and a relief wherein is none affliction;
good shepherd that givest thyself for thine own sheep, and hast vanquished
the wolf and redeemed thine own lambs and led them into a good pasture:
we glorify and praise thee and thine invisible Father and thine holy sipirit
[and] the mother of all creation.
40 And when the apostle had said these things, all the multitude that
were there looked upon him, expecting to hear what he would answer to the
colt. And the apostle stood a long time as it were astonied, and looked
up into heaven and said to the colt: Of whom art thou and to whom belongest
thou? for marvellous are the things that are shown forth by thy mouth,
and amazing and such as are hidden frorn the many. And the colt answered
and said: I am of that stock that served Balaam, and thy lord also and
teacher sat upon one that appertained unto me by race. And I also have
now been sent to give thee rest by thy sitting upon me: and (that) I may
receive (Syr. these may be confirmed in) faith, and unto me may be added
that portion which now I shall receive by thy service wherewith I serve
thee; and when I have ministered unto thee, it shall be taken from me.
And the apostle said unto him: He is able who granted thee this gift, to
cause it to be fulfilled unto the end in thee and in them that belong unto
thee by race: for as to this mystery I am weak and powerless. And he would
not sit upon him. But the colt besought and entreated him that he might
be blessed of him by ministering unto him. Then the apostic mounted him
and sat upon him; and they followed him, some going before and some following
after, and all of them ran, desiring to see the end, and how he would dismiss
the colt.
41 But when he came near to the city gates he dismounted from him, saying:
Depart, and be thou kept safe where thou wert. And straightway the colt
fell to the ground at the apostle's feet and died. And all they that were
present were sorry and said to the apostle: Bring him to life and raise
him up. But he answered and said unto them: I indeed am able to raise him
by the name of Jesus Christ: but this is by all means expedient (or, this
is The Fifth Act: concerning the devil that took up his abode in the woman
42 And the apostle entered into the city and all the multitude followed
him. And he thought to go unto the parents of the young man whom he had
made alive when he was slain by the serpent: for they earnestly besought
him to come unto them and enter into their house. But a very beautiful
woman on a sudden uttered an exceeding loud cry, saying: O Apostle of the
new God that art come into India, and servant of that holy and only good
God; for by thee is he preached, the Saviour of the souls that come unto
him, and by thee are healed the bodies of them that are tormented by the
enemy, and thou art he that is become an occasion of life unto all that
turn unto him: command me to be brought before thee that I may tell thee
what hath befallen me, and peradventure of thee I may have hope, and these
that stand by thee may be more confident in the God whom thou preachest.
For I am not a little tormented by the adversary now this five years' space
[one Greek MS. And the apostle bade her come unto him, and the woman stood
before him and said: I, O servant of him that is indeed God am a woman:
the rest have, As a woman] I was sitting at the first in quiet, and peace
encompassed me on every side and I had no care for anything, for I took
no thought for any other. 43 And it fell out one day that as I came out
from the bath there met me a man troubled and disturbed, and his voice
and speech seemed to me exceeding faint and dim; and he stood before me
and said: I and thou will be in one love and we will have intercourse together
as a man with his wife; And I answered and said to him: I never had to
do with my betrothed, for I refused to marry, and how shall I yield myself
to thee that wouldest have intercourse with me in adulterous wise? And
having so said, I passed on, and I said to rny handmaid that was with me:
Sawest thou that youth and his shamelessness, how boldly he spake with
me, and had no shame? but she said to me: I saw an old man speaking to
thee. And when I was in mine house and had dined my soul suggested unto
me some suspicion and especially because he was seen of me in two forms;
and having this in my mind I fell asleep. He came, therefore, in that night
and was joined unto me in his foul intercourse. And when it was day I saw
him and fled from him, and on the night following that he came and abused
me; and now as thou seest me I have spent five years being troubled by
him, and he hath not departed from me. But I know and am persuaded that
both devils and spirits and destroyers are subject unto thee and are filled
with trembling at thy prayers: pray thou therefore for me and drive away
from me the devil that ever troubleth me, that I also may be set free and
be gathered unto the nature that is mine from the beginning, and receive
the grace that hath been given unto my kindred.
44 And the apostle said: O evil that cannot be restrained! O shamelessness
of the enemy! O envious one that art never at rest! O hideous one that
subduest the comely! O thou of many forms! As he will he appeareth, but
his essence cannot be changed. O the crafty and faithless one! O the bitter
tree whose fruits are like unto him! O the devil that overcometh them that
are alien to him! O the deceit that useth impudence! O the wickedness that
creepeth like a serpent, and that is of his kindred! (Syr. wrongly adds
a clause bidding the devil show himself.) And when the apostle said this,
the malicious one came and stood before him, no man seeing him save the
woman and the apostle, and with an exceeding loud voice said in the hearing
of all: 45 What have we to do with thee, thou apostle of the Most High!
What have we to do with thee, thou servant of Jesus Christ? What have we
to do with thee, thou counsellor of the holy Son of God? Wherefore wilt
thou destroy us, whereas our time is not yet come? Wherefore wilt thou
take away our power? for unto this hour we had hope and time remaining
to us. What have we to do with thee? Thou hast power over thine own, and
we over ours. Wherefore wilt thou act tyrannously against us, when thou
thyself teachest others not to act tyrannously? Wherefore dost thou crave
other men's goods and not suffice thyself with thine own? Wherefore art
thou made like unto the Son of God which hath done us wrong? for thou resemblest
him altogether as if thou wert born of him. For we thought to have brought
him under the yoke like as we have the rest, but he turned and made us
subject unto him: for we knew him not; but he deceived us with his form
of all uncomeliness and his poverty and his neediness: for seeing him to
be such, we thought that he was a man wearing flesh, and knew not that
it is he that giveth life unto men. And he gave us power over our own,
and that we should not in this present time Ieave them but have our walk
in them: but thou wouldest get more than thy due and that which was given
thee, and afflict us altogether.
46 And having said this the devil wept, saying: I leave thee, my fairest
consort, whom long since I found and rested in thee; I forsake thee, my
sure sister, my beloved in whom I was well pleased. What I shall do I know
not, or on whom I shall call that he may hear me and help me. I know what
I will do: I will depart unto some place where the report of this man hath
not been heard, and peradventure I shall call thee, my beloved by another
name (Syr. for thee my beloved I shall find a substitute). And he lifted
up his voice and said: Abide in peace for thou hast taken refuge with one
greater than I, but I will depart and seek for one like thee, and if I
find her not, I will return unto thee again: for I know that whilst thou
art near unto this man thou hast a refuge in him, but when he departeth
thou wilt be such as thou wast before he appeared, and him thou wilt forget,
and I shall have opportunity and confidence: but now I fear the name of
him that hath saved thee. And having so said the devil vanished out of
sight: only when he departed fire and smoke were seen there: and all that
stood there were astonied.
47 And the apostle seeing it, said unto them: This devil hath shown
nought that is alien or strange to him, but his own nature, wherein also
he shall be consumed, for verily the fire shall destroy him utterly and
the smoke of it shall be scattered abroad. And he began to say:
Jesu, the hidden mystery that hath been revealed unto us, thou art he
that hast shown unto us many mysteries; thou that didst call me apart from
all my fellows and spakest unto me three (one, Syr.) words wherewith I
am inflamed, and am not able to speak them unto others. Jesu, man that
wast slain, dead buried! Jesu, God of God, Saviour that quickenest the
dead, and healest the sick! Jesu, that wert in need like and savest as
one that hath no need, that didst catch the fish for the breakfast and
the dinner and madest all satisfied with a little bread. Jesu, that didst
rest from the weariness of wayfaring like a man, and walkedst on the waves
like a God. 48 Jesu most high, voice arising from perfect mercy, Saviour
of all, the right hand of the light, overthrowing the evil one in his own
nature, and gathering all his nature into one place; thou of many forms,
that art only begotten, first-born of many brethren God of the Most High
God, man despised until now (Syr. and humble). Jesu Christ that neglectest
us not when we call upon thee, that art become an occasion of life unto
all mankind, that for us wast judged and shut up in prison, and loosest
all that are in bonds, that wast called a deceiver and redeemest thine
own from error: I beseech thee for these that stand here and believe on
thee, for they entreat to obtain thy gifts, having good hope in thy help,
and having their refuge in thy greatness; they hold their hearing ready
to listen unto the words that are spoken by us. Let thy peace come and
tabernacle in them and renew them from their former deeds, and let them
put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new that now is proclaimed
unto them by me.
49 And he laid his hands on them and blessed them, saying: The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be upon you for ever. And they said, Amen.
And the woman besought him, saying: O apostle of the Most High, give me
the seal, that that enemy return not again unto me. Then he caused her
to come near unto him (Syr. went to a river which was close by there),
and laid his hands upon her and sealed her in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Ghost; and many others also were sealed with her.
And the apostle bade his minister (deacon) to set forth a table; and he
set forth a stool which they found there, and spread a linen cloth upon
it and set on the bread of blessing; and the apostle stood by it and said:
Jesu, that hast accounted us worthy to partake of the eucharist of thine
holy body and blood, lo, we are bold to draw near unto thine eucharist
and to call upon thine holy name: come thou and communicate unto us (Syr.
adds more).
50 And he began to say: Come, O perfect compassion, Come O communion
of the male, Come, she that knoweth the mysteries of him that is chosen,
Come, she that hath part in all the combats of the noble champion (athlete),
Come, the silence that revealeth the great things of the whole greatness,
Come, she that manifesteth the hidden things and maketh the unspeakable
things plain, the holy dove that beareth the twin young, Come, the hidden
mother, Come, she that is manifest in her deeds and giveth joy and rest
unto them that are joined unto her: Come and communicate with us in this
eucharist which we celebrate in thy name and in the love-feast wherein
we are gathered together at thy calling. (Syr. has other clauses and not
few variants.) And having so said he marked out the cross upon the bread,
and brake it, and began to distribute it. And first he gave unto the woman,
saying: This shall be unto thee for remission of sins and eternal transgressions
(Syr. and for the everlasting resurrection). And after her he gave unto
all the others also which had received the seal (Syr. and said to them:
Let this eucharist be unto you for life and rest, and not for judgement
and vengeance. And they said, Amen. Cf. 29 fin.).
The Sixth Act: of the youth that murdered the Woman.
51 Now there was a certain youth who had wrought an abominable deed,
and he came near and received of the eucharist with his mouth: but his
two hands withered up, so that he could no more put them unto his own mouth.
And they that were there saw him and told the apostle what had befallen;
and the apostle called him and said unto him: Tell me, my child, and be
not ashamed, what was it that thou didst and camest hither? for the eucharist
of the Lord hath convicted thee. For this gift which passeth among many
doth rather heal them that with faith and love draw near thereto, but thee
it hath withered away; and that which is come to pass hath not befallen
without some effectual cause. And the Youth, being convicted by the eucharist
of the Lord, came and tell at the apostle's feet and besought him, saying:
I have done an evil deed, yet I thought to do somewhat good. I was enamoured
of a woman that dwelleth at an inn without the city, and she also loved
me; and when I heard of thee and believed, that thou proclaimest a living
God, I came and received of thee the seal with the rest; for thou saidst:
Whosoever shall partake in the polluted union, and especially in adultery,
he shall not have life with the God whom I preach. Whereas therefore I
loved her much, I entreated her and would have persuaded her to become
my consort in chastity and pure conversation, which thou also teachest:
but she would not. When, therefore, she consented not, I took a sword and
slew her: for I could not endure to see her commit adultery with another
man.
52 When the apostle heard this he said: O insane union how ruinest thou
unto shamelessness! O unrestrained lust, how hast thou stirred up this
man to do this! O work of the serpent, how art thou enraged against thine
own! And the apostle bade water to be brought to him in a bason; and when
the water was brought, he said: Come, ye waters from the living waters,
that were sent unto us, the true from the true, the rest that was sent
unto us from the rest, the power of salvation that cometh from that power
which conquereth all things and subdueth them unto its own will: come and
dwell in these waters, that the gift of the Holy Ghost may be perfcctly
consummated in them. And he said unto the youth: Go, wash thy hands in
these waters. And when he had washed they were restored; and the apostle
said unto him: Believest thou in our Lord Jesus Christ that he is able
to do all things? And he said: Though I be the least, yet I believe. But
I committed this deed thinking that I was doing somewhat good: for I besought
her as I told thee, but she would not obey me, to keep herself chaste.
53 And the apostle said to him: Come, let us go unto the inn where thou
didst commit this deed. And the youth went before the apostle in the way,
and when they came to the inn they found her Iying dead. And the apostle
when he saw her was sorry, for she was a comely girl. And he commanded
her to be brought into the midst of the inn: and they laid her on a bed
and brought her forth and set her down in the midst of the court of the
inn. And the apostle laid his hand upon her and began to say: Jesu, who
alway showest thyself unto us; for this is thy will, that we should at
all times seek thee, and thyself hast given us this power, to ask and to
receive, and hast not only permitted this, but hast taught us to pray:
who art not seen of our bodily eyes, but art never hidden from the eyes
of our soul, and in thine aspect art concealed, but in thy works art manifested
unto us: and in thy many acts we have known thee so far as we are able,
and thyself hast given us thy gifts without measure, saying: Ask and it
shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be
opened unto you: we beseech thee, therefore, having the fear (suspicion)
of our sins; and we ask of thee, not riches, not gold, not silver, not
possessions, not aught else of the things which come of the earth and return
again unto the earth; but this we ask of thee and entreat, that in thine
holy name thou wouldest raise up the woman that lieth here, by thy power,
to the glory and faith of them that stand by.
54 And he said unto the youth (Syr. ' Stretch thy mind towards our Lord,'
and he signed him with the cross), having signed (sealed) him: Go and take
hold on her hand and say unto her: I with my hands slew thee with iron,
and with my hands in the faith of Jesus I raise thee up. So the youth went
to her and stood by her, saying: I have believed in thee, Christ Jesu.
And he looked unto Judas Thomas the apostle and said to him: Pray for me
that my Lord may come to my help, whom I also call upon. And he laid his
hand upon her hand and said: Come, Lord Jesu Christ: unto her grant thou
life and unto me the earnest of faith in thee. And straightway as he drew
her hand she sprang up and sat up, looking upon the great company that
stood by. And she saw the apostle also standing over against her, and leaving
the bed she leapt forth and fell at his feet and caught hold on his raiment,
saying: I beseech thee, my lord where is that other that was with thee,
who left me not to remain in that fearful and cruel place, but delivered
me unto thee, saying: Take thou this woman, that she may be made perfect,
and hereafter be gathered into her place?
55 And the apostle said unto her: Relate unto us where thou hast been.
And she answered: Dost thou who wast with me and unto whom I was delivered
desire to hear? And she began to say: [This desciption of hell-tourments
is largely derived from the Apocalypse of Peter] A man took me who was
hateful to look upon altogether black, and his raiment exceedingly foul,
and took me away to a place wherein were many pits (chasms), and a great
stench and hateful odour issued thence. And he caused me to look into every
pit, and I saw in the (first) pit flaming fire, and wheels of fire ran
round there, and souls were hanged upon those wheels, and were dashed (broken)
against each other; and very great crying and howling was there, and there
was none to deliver. And that man said to me: These souls are of thy tribe,
and when the number of their days is accomplishcd (lit. in the days of
the number) they are (were) delivered unto torment and affliction, and
then are others brought in in their stead, and likewise these into another
place. These are they that have reversed the intercourse of male and female.
And I looked and saw infants heaped one upon another and struggling with
each other as they lay on them. And he answered and said to me: These are
the children of those others, and therefore are they set here for a testimony
against them. (Syr. omits this clause of the children, and lengthens and
dilutes the preceding speech.)
56 And he took me unto another pit, and I stooped and looked and saw
mire and worms welling up, and souls wallowing there, and a great gnashing
of teeth was heard thence from them. And that man said unto me: These are
the souls of women which forsook their husbands and committed adultery
with others, and are brought into this torment. Another pit he showed me
whereinto I stooped and looked and saw souls hanging, some by the tongue,
some by the hair, some by the hands, and some head downward by the feet,
and tormented (smoked) with smoke and brimstone; concerning whom that man
that was with me answered me: The souls which are hanged by the tongue
are slanderers, that uttered Iying and shameful words, and were not ashamed,
and they that are hanged by the hair are unblushing ones which had no modesty
and went about in the world bareheaded; and they that are hanged by the
hands, these are they that took away and stole other men's goods, and never
gave aught to the needy nor helped the afflicted, but did so, desiring
to take all, and had no thought at all of justice or of the law; and they
that hang upside down by the feet, these are they that lightly and readily
ran in evil ways and disorderly paths, not visiting the sick nor escorting
them that depart this life, and therefore each and every soul receiveth
that which was done by it. (Syr. omits almost the whole section.)
57 Again he took me and showed me a cave exceeding dark, breathing out
a great stench, and many souls were looking out desiring to get somewhat
of the air, but their keepers suffered them not to look forth. And he that
was with me said: This is the prison of those souls which thou sawest:
for when they have fulfilled their torments for that which each did, thereafter
do others succeed them: and there be some that are wholly consumed and
(some, Syr.) that are delivered over unto other torments. And they that
kept the souls which were in the dark cave said unto the man that had taken
me: Give her unto us that we may bring her in unto the rest until the time
cometh for her to be delivered unto torment. But he answered them: I give
her not unto you, for I fear him that delivered her to me: for I was not
charged to leave her here, but I take her back with me until I shall receive
order concerning her. And he took me and brought me unto another place
wherein were men being sharply tormented (Syr. where men were). And he
that was like unto thee took me and delivered me to thee, saying thus to
thee: Take her, for she is one of the sheep that have gone astray. And
I was taken by thee, and now am I before thee. I beseech thee, therefore,
and supplicate that I may not depart unto those places of punishment which
I have seen.
58 And the apostle said: Ye have heard what this woman hath related:
and there are not these torments only, but others also, worse than these;
and ye, if ye turn not unto this God whom I preach, and abstain from your
former works and the deeds which ye committed without knowledge, shall
have your end in those torments. Believe therefore on Christ Jesus, and
he will forgive you the sins ye have committed hitherto, and will cleanse
you from all your bodily lusts that abide on the earth, and will heal you
of all your trespasses which follow you and depart with you and are found
upon (before) you. Put off therefore every one of you the old man, and
put on the new, and forsake your former walk and conversation; and let
them that stole steal no more, but live by labouring and working; and let
the adulterous no more fornicate, lest they deliver themselves unto eternal
torment; for adultery is before God exceeding evil beyond other sins. And
put away from you covetousness and Iying and drunkenness and slandering,
and render not evil for evil: for all these things are strange and alien
unto the God who is preached by me: but rather walk ye in faith and meekness
and holiness and hope, wherein God delighteth, that ye may become his own,
expecting of him the gifts which some few only do receive.
59 All the people therefore believed and gave their souls obediently
unto the living God and Christ Jesus, rejoicing in the blessed works of
the Most High and in his holy service. And they brought much money for
the service of the widows: for the apostle had them gathered together in
the cities, and unto all of them he sent provision by his own ministers
(deacons), both clothes and nourishment. And he himself ceased not preaching
and speaking to them and showing that this is Jesus Christ whom the scriptures
proclaimed, who is come and was crucified, and raised the third day from
the dead. And next he showed them plainly, beginning from the prophets,
the things concerning the Christ, that it was necessary that he should
come, and that in him should be accomplished all things that were foretold
of him. And the fame of him went forth into all the cities and countries,
and all that had sick or them that were oppressed by unclean spirits brought
them, and some they laid in the way whereby he should pass, and he healed
them all by the power of the Lord. Then all that were healed by him said
with one accord: Glory be to thee, Jesu, who hast granted us all alike
healing through thy servant and apostle Thomas. And now being whole and
rejoicing, we beseech thee that we may be of thy flock, and be numbered
among thy sheep; receive us therefore, Lord, and impute not unto us our
transgressions and our former faults which we committed being in ignorance.
60 And the apostle said: Glory be to the only-begotten of the Father!
Glory be to the first-born of many brethren! Glory be to thee, the defender
and helper of them that come unto thy refuge! that sleepest not, and awakest
them that are asleep that livest and givest life to them that lie in death!
O God Jesu Christ, Son of the living God, redeemer and helper, refuge and
rest of all that are weary (labour) in thy work, giver of healing to them
that for thy name s sake bear the burden and heat of the day: we give thanks
for (to) the gifts that are given us of thee and granted us by thy help
and thy dispensation that cometh unto us from thee.
61 Perfect thou therefore these things in us unto the end that we may
have the boldness that is in thee: look upon us for for thy sake have we
forsaken our homes and our parents, and for thy sake have we gladly and
willingly become strangers: look upon us, Lord, for we have forsaken our
own possessions for thy sake, that we might gain thee the possession that
cannot be taken away: look upon us, Lord, for we have forsaken them that
belong unto us by race, that we might be joined unto thy kinship: look
upon us, Lord, that have forsaken our fathers and mothers and fosters,
that we might behold thy Father, and be satisfied with his divine food:
look upon us, Lord, for for thy sake have we forsaken our bodily consorts
and our earthly fruits, that we might be partakers in that enduring and
true fellowship, and bring forth true fruits, whose nature is from above,
which no man can take from us, with whom we shall abide and who shall abide
with us.
The Seventh Act: of the Captain.
62 Now while the apostle Thomas was proclaiming throughout all India
the word of God, a certain captain of the king Misdaeus (Mazdai, Syr.)
came to him and said unto him: I have heard of thee that thou takest no
reward of any man, but even that thou hast thou givest to them that need.
For if thou didst receive rewards, I would have sent thee a great sum,
and would not have come myself, for the king doeth nought without me: for
I have much substance and am rich, even one of the rich men of India. And
I have never done wrong to any; but the contrary hath befallen me. I have
a wife, and of her I had a daughter and I am well affectioned toward her,
as also nature requireth and have never made trial of another wife. Now
it chanced that there was a wedding in our city, and they that made the
marriage feast were well beloved of me: they came in therefore and bade
me to it, bidding also my mife and her daughter. Forasmuch then as they
were my good friends I could not refuse: I sent her therefore, though she
desired not to go, and with them I sent also many servants: so they departed,
both she and her daughter, decked with many ornaments.
63 And when it was evening and the time was come to depart from the
wedding I sent lamps and torches to meet them: and I stood in the street
to espy when she should come and I should see her with my daughter. And
as I stood I heard a sound of lamentation. Woe for her! vvas heard out
of every mouth. And my servants with their clothes rent came to me and
told me what was done. We saw, said they, a man and a boy with him. And
the man laid his hand upon thy wife, and the boy upon thy daughter: and
they fled from them: and we smote (wounded) them with our swords, but our
swords fell to the ground. And the same hour the womem fell down, gnashing
their teeth and beating their heads upon the earth and seeing this we came
to tell it thee. And when I heard this of my servants I rent my clothes
and smote my face with my hands, and becoming like one mad I ran along
the street, and came and found them cast in the market-place; and I took
them and brought them to my house, and after a long space they awaked and
stood up, and sat down.
64 I began therefore to inquire of my wife: What is it that hath befallen
thee? And she said to me: Knowest thou not what thou hast done unto me?
for I prayed thee that I might not go to the wedding, because I was not
of even health in my body; and as I went on the way and came near to the
aqueduct wherein the water floweth, I saw a black man standing over against
me nodding at me with his head, and a boy like unto him standing by him;
and I said to my daughter: Look at those two hideous men, whose teeth are
like milk and their lips like soot. And we left them and went towards the
aqueduct; and when it was sunset and we departed from the wedding, as we
passed by with the young men and drew near the aqueduct, my daughter saw
them first, and was affrighted and fled towards me; and after her I also
beheld them coming against us: and the servants that were with us fled
from them (Syr.) and they struck us, and cast down both me and my daughter.
And when she had told me these things, the devils came upon them again
and threw them down: and from that hour they are not able to come forth,
but are shut up in one room or a second (Syr. in a room within another):
and on their account I suffer much, and am distressed: for the devils throw
them down wheresoever they find them, and strip them naked. I beseech and
supplicate thee before God, help me and have pity on me, for it is now
three years that a table hath not been set in my house, and my wife and
my daughter have not sat at a table: and especially for mine unhappy daughter,
which hath not seen any good at all in this world.
65 And the apostle, hearing these things from the captain, was greatly
grieved for him, and said unto him: Believest thou that Jesus will heal
them? And the captain said: Yea. And the apostle said: Commit thyself then
unto Jesus, and he will heal them and procure them succour. And the captain
said: Show me him, that I may entreat him and believe in him. And the apostle
said: He appeareth not unto these bodily eyes, but is found by the eyes
of the mind. The captain therefore lifted up his voice and said: I believe
thee, Jesu, and entreat and supplicate thee, help my little faith which
I have in thee. And the apostle commanded Xenophon (Syr. Xanthippus) the
deacon to assemble all the brethren; and when the whole multitude was gathered,
the apostle stood in the midst and said:
66 Children and brethren that have believed on the Lord, abide in this
faith, preaching Jesus who was proclaimed unto you by me, to bring you
hope in him; and forsake not (be not forsaken of) him, and he will not
forsake you. While ye sleep in this slumber that weigheth down the sleepers,
he, sleeping not, keepeth watch over you; and when ye sail and are in peril
and none can help, he walking upon the waters supporteth and aideth. For
I am now departing from you, and it appeareth not if I shall again see
you according to the flesh. Be ye not therefore like unto the people of
Israel, who losing sight of their pastors for an hour, stumbled. But I
leave unto you Xenophon the deacon in my stead; for he also like myself
proclaimeth Jesus: for neither am I aught, nor he, but Jesus only; for
I also am a man clothed with a body, a son of man like one of you; for
neither have I riches as it is found with some, which also convict them
that possess them, being wholly useless, and left behind upon the earth,
whence also they came, and they bear away with them the transgressions
and blemishes of sins which befall men by their means. And scantly are
rich men found in almsgivillg: but the merciful and lowly in heart, these
shall inherit the kingdom of God: for it is not beauty that endureth with
men, for they that trust in it, when age cometh upon them, shall suddenly
be put to shame: all things therefore have their time; in their season
are they loved and hated. Let your hope then be in Jesus Christ the Son
of God, which is always loved, and always desired: and be mindful of us,
as we of you: for we too, if we fulfil not the burden of the commandments
are not worthy to be preachers of this name, and hereafter shall we pay
the price (punishment) of our own head.
67 And he prayed with them and continued with them a long time in prayer
and supplication, and committing them unto the Lord, he said: O Lord that
rulest over every soul that is in the body; Lord, Father of the souls that
have their hope in thee and expect thy mercies: that redeemest from error
the men that are thine own and settest free from bondage and corruption
thy subjects that come unto thy refuge: be thou in the flock of Xenophon
and anoint it with holy oil, and heal it of sores, and preserve it from
the ravening wolves. And he laid his hand on them and said: The peace of
the Lord shall be upon you and shall journey with us.
The Eighth Act: of the wild asses.
68 The apostle therefore went forth to depart on the way: and they all
escorted him, weeping and adjuring him to make remembrance of them in his
prayers and not to forget them. He went up then and sat upon the chariot,
leaving all the brethren, and the captain came and awaked the driver, saying:
I entreat and pray that I may become worthy to sit beneath his feet, and
I will be his driver upon this way, that he also may become my guide in
that way whereby few go.
69 And when they had journeyed about two miles, the apostle begged of
the captain and made him arise and caused him to sit by him, suffering
the driver to sit in his own place. And as they went along the road, it
came to pass that the beasts were wearied with the great heat and could
not be stirred at all. And the captain was greatly vexed and wholly cast
down, and thought to run on his own feet and bring other beasts for the
use of the chariot; but the apostle said: Let not thine heart be troubled
nor affrighted, but believe on Jesus Christ whom I have proclaimed unto
thee, and thou shalt see great wonders. And he looked and saw a herd of
wild asses feeding by the wayside, and said to the captain: If thou hast
believed on Christ Jesus, go unto that herd of wild asses and say: Judas
Thomas the apostle of Christ the new God saith unto you: Let four of you
come, of whom we have need (or, of whom we may have use).
70 And the captain went in fear, for they were many; and as he went,
they came to meet him; and when they were near, he said unto them: Judas
Thomas the apostle of the new God commandeth you: Let four of you come,
of whom I have need. And when the wild asses heard it, they ran with one
accord and came to him, and when they came they did him reverence. [Syr.
has a long prayer: And Judas Thomas the apostle of our Lord lifted up his
voice in praise and said: Glorious art thou, God of truth and Lord of all
natures, for thou didst will with thy will, and make all thy works and
finish all thy creatures, and bring them to the rule of their nature, and
lay upon them all thy fear that they might be subject to thy command. And
thy will trod the path from thy secrecy to manifestation, and was caring
for every soul that thou didst make, and was spoken of by the mouth of
all the prophets, in all visions and sounds and voices; but Israel did
not obey because of their evil inclination. And thou, because thou art
Lord of all, hast a care for the creatures, so that thou spreadest over
us thy mercy in him who came by thy will and put on the body, thy creature,
which thou didst will and form according to thy glorious wisdom. He whom
thou didst appoint in thy secrecy and establish in thy manifestation, to
him thou hast given the name of Son, he who was thy will, the power of
thy thought; so that ye are by various names, the Father and the Son and
the Spirit, for the sake of the government of thy creatures, for the nourishing
of all natures, and ye are one in glory and power and will; and ye are
divided without being separated, and are one though divided, and all subsists
in thee and is subject to thee, because all is thine. And I rely upon thee,
Lord, and by thy command have subjected these dumb beasts, that thou mightest
show thy ministering power upon us and upon them because it is needful,
and that thy name might be glorilied in us and in the beasts that cannot
speak.] And the apostle said unto them: Peace be unto you. Yoke ye four
of you in the stead of these beasts that have come to a stand. And every
one of them came and pressed to be yoked: there were then four stronger
than the rest, which also were yoked. And the rest, some went before and
some followed. And when they had journeyed a little way he dismissed the
colts, saying: I say unto you the inhabiters of the desert, depart unto
your pastures, for if I had had need of all, ye would all have gone with
me; but now go unto your place wherein ye dwell. And they departed quietly
until they were no more seen.
71 Now as the apostle and the captain and the driver went on, the wild
asses drew the chariot quietly and evenly, lest they should disturb the
apostle of God. And when they came near to the city gate they turned aside
and stood still before the doors of the captain's house. And the captain
said: It is not possible for me to relate what hath happened, but when
I see the end I will tell it. The whole city therefore came to see the
wild asses under the yoke; and they had heard also the report of the apostle
that he was to come and visit them. And the apostle asked the captain:
Where is thy dwelling, and whither dost thou bring us? And he said to him:
Thou thyself knowest that we stand before the doors, and these which by
thy commandment are come with thee know it better than I.
72 And having so said he came down from the chariot. The apostle therefore
began to say: Jesu Christ, that art blasphemed by the ignorance of thee
in this country; Jesu, the report of whom is strange in this city; Jesu,
that receivest all (Syr. sendest on before the apostles in every country
and in every city, and all thine that are worthy are glorified in thee;
Jesu, that didst take a form and become as a man, and wert seen of all
us that thou mightest not separate us from thine own love: thou, Lord,
art he that gavest thyself for us, and with thy blood hast purchased us
and gained us as a possession of great price: and what have we to give
thee, Lord, in exchange for thy life which thou gavest for us? for that
which we would give, thou gavest us: and this is, that we should entreat
of thee and live.
73 And when he had so said, many assembled from every quarter to see
the apostle of the new God. And again the apostle said: Why stand we idle?
Jesu, Lord, the hour is come: what wilt thou have done? command therefore
that that be fulfilled which needeth to be done. Now the captain's wife
and her daughter were sore borne down by the devils, so that they of the
house thought they would rise up no more: for they suffered them not to
partake of aught, but cast them down upon their beds recognizing no man
until that day when the apostle came thither. And the apostle said unto
one of the wild asses that were yoked on the right hand: Enter thou within
the gate, and stand there and call the devils and say to them: Judas Thomas
the apostle and disciple of Jesus Christ saith unto you: Come forth hither:
for on your account am I sent and unto them that pertain to you by race,
to destroy you and chase you unto your place, until the time of the end
come and ye go down into your own deep of darkness.
74 And that wild ass went in, a great multitude being with him, and
said: Unto you I speak, the enemies of Jesus that is called Christ: unto
you I speak that shut your eyes lest ye see the light: unto you I speak,
children of Gehenna and of destruction, of him that ceaseth not from evil
until now, that alway reneweth his workings and the things that befit his
being: unto you I speak, most shameless, that shall perish by your own
hands. And what I shall say of your destruction and end, and what I shall
tell, I know not. For there are many things and innumerable to the hearing:
and greater are your doings than the torment that is reserved for you (Syr.
however great your bodies, they are too small for your retributions). But
unto thee I speak, devil, and to thy son that followeth with thee: for
now am I sent against you. And wherefore should I make many words concerning
your nature and root, which yourselves know and are not ashamed? but Judas
Thomas the apostle of Christ Jesus saith unto you, he that by much love
and affection is sent hither: Before all this multitude that standeth here,
come forth and tell me of what race ye are.
75 And straightway the woman came forth with her daughter, both like
dead persons and dishonoured in aspect: and the apostle beholding them
was grieved. especially for the girl, and saith unto the devils: God forbid
that for you there should be sparing or propitiation, for ye know not to
spare nor to have pity: but in the name of Jesus, depart from them and
stand by their side. And when the apostle had so said, the women fell down
and became as dead; for they neither had breath nor uttered speech: but
the devil answered with a loud voice and said: Art thou come hither again,
thou that deridest our nature and race? art thou come again, that blottest
out our devices? and as I take it, thou wouldest not suffer us to be upon
the earth at all: but this at this time thou canst not accomplish. And
the apostle guessed that this devil was he that had been driven out from
that other woman.
76 And the devil said: I beseech thee, give me leave to depart even
whither thou wilt, and dwell there and take commandment from thee, and
I will not fear the ruler that hath authority over me. For like as thou
art come to preach good tidings, so I also am come to destroy; and like
as, if thou fulfil not the will of him that sent thee, he will bring punishment
upon thy head, so I also if I do not the will of him that sent me, before
the season and time appointed, shall be sent unto mine own nature; and
like as thy Christ helpeth thee in that thou doest, so also my father helpeth
me in that I do; and like as for thee he prepareth vessels worthy of thine
inhabiting, so also for me he seeketh out vessels whereby I may accomplish
his deeds; and like as he nourisheth and provideth for his subjects, so
also for me he prepareth chastisements and torments, with them that become
my dwellingplaces (Syr. those in whom I dwell); and like as for a recompense
of thy working he giveth thee eternal life, so also unto me he giveth for
a reward of my works eternal destruction; and like as thou art refreshed
by thy prayer and thy good works and spiritual thanksgivings, so I also
am refreshed by murders and adulteries and sacrifices made with wine upon
altars (Syr. sacrifices and libations of wine), and like as thou convertest
men unto eternal life, so I also pervert them that obey me unto eternal
destruction and torment: and thou receivest thine own and I mine.
77 And when the devil had said these things and yet more the apostle
said: Jesus commandeth thee and thy son by me to enter no more into the
habitation of man: but go ye forth and depart and dwell wholly apart from
the habitation of men. And the devils said unto him: Thou hast laid on
us a harsh commandment: but what wilt thou do unto them that now are concealed
from thee? for they that have wrought all the images rejoice in them more
than thee: and many of them do the more part worship, and perform their
will, sacrificing to them and bringing them food, by libations and by wine
and water and oflering with oblations. And the apostle said: They also
shall now be abolished, with their works. And suddenly the devils vanished
away: but the women lay cast upon the earth as if were dead, and without
speech.
78 And the wild asses stood together and parted not one from another;
but he to whom speech was given by the power of the Lord -while all men
kept silence, and looked to see what they would do- the wild ass said unto
the apostle: Why standest thou idle, O apostle of Christ the Most High,
who looketh that thou shouldest ask of him the best of learning? Wherefore
then tarriest thou? (Syr. that thou shouldest ask him, and he would give
thee? Why delayest thou, good disciple?) for lo, thy teacher desireth to
show by thy hands his mighty works. Why standest thou still, O herald of
the hidden one? for thy (Lord) willeth to manifest through thee his unspeakable
things, which he reserveth for them that are worthy of him, to hear them.
Why restest thou, O doer of mighty works in the name of the Lord? for thy
Lord encourageth thee and engendereth boldness in thee. Fear not, therefore;
for he will not forsake the soul that belongeth unto thee by birth. Begin
therefore to call upon him and he will readily hearken to thee. Why standest
thou marvelling at all his acts and his workings? for these are small things
which he hath shown by thy means. And what wilt thou tell concerning his
great gifts? for thou wilt not be sufficient to declare them. And why marvellest
thou at his cures of the body which he worketh? (Syr. which come to an
end) especially when thou knowest that healing of his which is secure and
lasting, which he bringeth forth by his own nature? And why lookest thou
unto this temporal life, and hast no thought of that which is eternal (Syr.
when thou canst every day think on that which is eternal)?
79 But unto you the multitudes that stand by and look to see these that
are cast down raised up, I say, believe in the apostle of Jesus Christ:
believe the teacher of truth, believe him that showeth vou the truth, believe
Jesus, believe on the Christ that was born, that the born may live by his
life: who also was raised up through infancy, that perfection might appear
by his manhood (man). He did teach his own disciples: for he is the teacher
of the truth and maketh wise men wise (Syr. who went to school that through
him perfect wisdom might be known: he taught his teacher because he was
the teacher of verity and the master of the wise). Who also offered the
gift in the temple that he might show that all the (every) offering was
sanctified. This is his apostle, the shewer-forth of truth: this is he
that performeth the will of him that sent him. But there shall come false
apostles and prophets of lawlessness, whose end shall be according to their
deeds; preaching indeed and ordaining to flee from ungodliness, but themselves
at all times detected in sins, clad indeed with sheep's clothing, but within,
ravening wolves. Who suffice not themselves with one wife but corrupt many
women; who, saying that they despise children, dcstroy many children (boys),
for whom they vvill pay the penalty; that content not themselves wiih their
own possessions, but desire that all useless things should minister unto
them only; professing to be his disciples; and with their mouth they utter
one thing, but in their heart they think another; charging other men to
beware of evil, but they themselves perform nought that is good; who are
accounted temperate, and charge other men to abstain from fornication theft,
and covetousness, but in all these things do they themselves walk secretly,
teaching other men not to do them.
80 And when the wild ass had declared all these things, all men gazed
upon him. And when he ceased the apostle said: What I shall think concerning
thy beauty, O Jesu, and what I shall tell of thee, I know not, or rather
I am not able, for I have no power to declare it, O Christ that art in
rest, and only wise that only knowest the inward of the heart and understandest
the thought. Glory be to thee, merciful and tranquil. Glory to thee, wise
word. Glory to thy compassion that was born unto us. Glory to thy mercy
that was spread out over us. Glory to thy greatness that was made small
for us. Glory to thy most high kingship that was humbled for us. Glory
to thy might which was enfeebled for us. Glory to thy Godhead that for
us was seen in likeness of men. Glory to thy manhood that died for us that
it might make us live. Glory to thy resurrection from the dead; for thereby
rising and rest cometh unto our souls. Glory and praise (good report) to
thine ascending into the heavens; for thereby thou hast shewed us the path
of the height, and promised that we shall sit with thee on thy right hand
and with thee judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Thou art the heavenly
word of the Father: thou art the hidden light of the understanding, shewer
of the way of truth, driver away of darkness, and blotter-out of error.
81 Having thus spoken, the apostle stood over the women, saying: My
Lord and my God, I am not divided from thee (or doubt not concerning thee),
nor as one unbelieving do I call upon thee, who art always our helper and
succourer and raiser-up; who breathest thine own power into us and encouragest
us and givest confidence in love unto thine own servants. I beseech thee,
let these souls be healed and rise up and become such as they were before
they were smitten of the devils. And when he thus spake the women turned
and sat up. And the apostle bade the captain that his servants should take
them and bring them within (Syr. and give them food, for they had not eaten
for many days). And when they were gone in, the apostle said unto the wild
asses, Follow me. And they went after him until he had brought them without
the gate. And when they had gone out, he said to them: Depart in peace
unto your pastures. The wild asses therefore went away willingly; and the
apostle stood and took heed to them lest they should be hurt of any, until
they had gone afar off and were no more seen. And the apostle returned
with the multitude into the house of the captain.
The Ninth Act: of the Wife of Charisius.
82 Now it chanced that a certain woman, the wife of Charisius, that
was next unto the king, whose name was Mygdonia, came to see and behold
the new name and the new God who was being proclaimed, and the new apostle
who had come to visit their country: and she was carried by her own servants;
and because of the great crowd and the narrow way they were not able to
bring her near unto him. And she sent unto her husband to send her more
to minister to her; and they came and approached her, pressing upon the
people and beating them. And the apostle saw it and said to them: Wherefore
overthrow ye them that come to hear the word, and are eager for it? and
ye desire to be near me but are far off, as it was said of the multitude
that came unto the Lord: Having eyes ye see not, and having ears ye hear
not; and he said to the multitudes: He that hath ears to hear, let him
hear; and: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest.
83 And looking upon them that carried her, he said unto them: This blessing
and this admonition [Here and elsewhere there is a marked divergence between
the texts of U and P, the Roman and Paris MSS.: Bonnet prints them separately.
P is on the whole much shorter. Syr. differs from both. I follow U, but
it is very corrupt.] which was promised unto them is for you that are heavily
burdened now. Ye are they that carry burdens grievous to be borne, and
are borne about by her command. And though ye are men, they lay on you
loads as on brute beasts, for they that have authority over you think that
ye are not men such as themselves, whether bond or free. For neither shall
possessions profit the rich, nor poverty save the poor from judgement;
nor have we received a commandment which we are not able to perform, nor
hath he laid on us burdens grievous to be borne nhich we are not able to
carry; nor building which men build; nor to hew stones and prepare houses,
as your craftsmen do by their own knowledge. But this commandment have
we reccived of the Lord, that that which pleaseth not us when it is done
by another this we should not do to any other man.
84 Abstain therefore first from adultery, for this is the beginning
of all evils, and next from theft, which enticed Judas Iscariot, and brought
him unto hanging; (and from covetousness,) for as manv as yield unto covetousness
see not that which they do; and from vainglory and from all foul deeds,
especially them of the body, whereby cometh eternal condemnation. For this
is the chief city of all evils; and likewise it bringeth them that hold
their heads (necks) high unto tyranny, and draweth them down unto the deep,
and subdueth them under its hands that they see not what they do; wherefore
the things done of them are hidden from them.
85 But do ye become well-pleasing unto God in all good things, in meekness
and quietness: for these doth God spare, and granteth eternal life and
setteth death at nought. And in gentleness which followeth on all good
things, and overcometh all enemies and alone receiveth the crown of victory:
with gentleness (Syr.), and stretching out of the hand to the poor, and
supplying the want of the needy, and distributing to them that are in necessity,
especially them that walk in holiness. For this is chosen before God and
leadeth unto eternal life: for this is before God the chief city of all
good: for they that strive not in the course (stadium) of Christ shall
not obtain holiness. And holiness did appear from God, doing away fornication,
overthrowing the enemy, well-pleasing unto God: for she is an invincible
champion (athlete), having honour from God, glorified of many: she is an
ambassador of peace, announcing peace: if any gain her he abideth without
care, pleasing the Lord, expecting the time of redemption: for she doeth
nothing amiss, but giveth life and rest and joy unto all that gain her.
[P has nothing of this, and Syr. makes better sense, but is not very interesting.]
86 But meekness hath overcome death and brought him under authority,
meekness hath enslaved the enemy (U and P and Syr. now present the same
text), meekness is the good yoke: meekness feareth not and opposeth not
the many: meekness is peace and joy and exaltation of rest. Abide ye therefore
in holiness and receive freedom from me, and be near unto meekness for
in these three heads is portrayed the Christ whom I proclaim unto you.
Holiness is the temple of Christ, and he that dwelleth in her getteth her
for an habitation <Syr. and temperance is the rest of God, because for
forty days and forty nights he fasted, tasting nothing: and he that keepeth
her shall dwell in her as on a mountain. And meekness is his boast: for
he said unto Peter our fellow apostle: Turn back thy sword and put it again
into the sheath thereof: for if I had willed so to do, could I not have
brought more than twelve legions of angels from my Father?
87 And when the apostle had said these things in the hearing of all
the multitude, they trode and pressed upon one another: and the wife of
Charisius the king's kinsman Ieapt out of her chair and cast herself on
the earth before the apostle, and caught his feet and besought and said:
O disciple of the living God, thou art come into a desert country, for
we live in the desert; being like to brute beasts in our conversation,
but now shall we be saved by thy hands; I beseech thee, therefore, take
thought of me, and pray for me, that the compassion of the God whom thou
preachest may come upon me, and I may become his dwelling place and be
joined in prayer and hope and faith in him, and I also may receive the
seal and become an holy temple and he may dwell in me.
88 And the apostle said: I do pray and entreat for you all, brethren,
that believe on the Lord, and for you, sisters, that hope in Christ, that
in all of you the word of God may tabernacle and have his tabernacle therein:
for we have no power over them (Syr. because ye are given power over your
own souls). And he began to say unto the woman Mygdonia: Rise up from the
earth and compose thyself (take off thine ornaments, P; be mindful of thyself,
Syr.). For this attire that is put on shall not profit thee nor the beauty
of thy body, nor thine apparel, neither yet the fame of thy rank, nor the
authority of this world, nor the polluted intercourse with thine husband
shall avail thee if thou be bereaved of the true fellowship: for the appearance
(fantasy) of ornamenting cometh to nought, and the body waxeth old and
changeth, and raiment weareth out, and authority and lordship pass away
(U corrupt; P abridges; Syr. has: passeth away accompanied with punishment,
according as each person hath conducted himself in it), and the fellowship
of procreation also passeth away, and is as it were condemnation. Jesus
only abideth ever, and they that hope in him. Thus he spake, and said unto
the woman: Depart in peace, and the Lord shall make thee worthy of his
own mysteries. But she said: I fear to go away, lest thou forsake me and
depart unto another nation. But the apostle said to her: Even if I go,
I shall not leave thee alone, but Jesus of his compassion will be with
thee. And she fell down and did him reverence and departed unto her house.
89 Now Charisius, the kinsman of Misdaeus the king, bathed himself and
returned and laid him down to dine. And he inquired concerning his wife,
where she was; for she had not come out of her own chamber to meet him
as she was wont. And her handmaids said to him: She is not well. And he
entered quickly into the chamber and found her Iying on the bed and veiled:
and he unveiled her and kissed her, saying: Wherefore art thou sorrowful
to-day? And she said: I am not well. And he said unto her: Wherefore then
didst thou not keep the guise of thy freedom (Syr. pay proper respect to
thy position as a free woman) and remain in thy house, but didst go and
listen unto vain speeches and look upon works of sorcery? but rise up and
dine with me, for I cannot dine without thee. But she said to him: To-day
I decline it, for I am greatly afeared.
90 And when Charisius heard this of Mygdonia, he would not go forth
to dinner, but bade his servants bring her to dine with him (Syr. bring
food to him that he might sup in her presence): when then they brought
it in, he desired her to dine with him, but she excused herself; since
then she would not, he dined alone, saying unto her: On thine account I
refused to dine with Misdaeus the king, and thou, wast thou not willing
to dine with me? but she said: It is because I am not well. Charisius therefore
rose up as he was wont and would sleep with her, but she said: Did I not
tell thee that for today I refused it?
91 When he heard that he went to another bed and slept; and awaking
out of sleep he said: My lady Mygdonia, hearken to the dream which I have
seen. I saw myself lie at meat near to Misdaeus the king, and a dish of
all sorts was set before us: and I saw an eagle come down from heaven and
carry off from before me and the king two partridges, which he set against
his heart; and again he came over us and flew about above us, and the king
bade a bow to be brought to him; and the eagle again caught away from before
us a pigeon and a dove, and the king shot an arrow at him, and it passed
through him from one side to the other and hurt him not; and he being unscathed
rose up into his own nest. And I awoke, and I am full of fear and sore
vexed, because I had tasted of the partridge, and he suffered me not to
put it to my mouth again. And Mygdonia said unto him: Thy dream is good:
for thou every day eatest partridges, but this eagle had not tasted of
a partridge until now.
92 And when it was morning Charisius went and dressed himself and shod
his right foot with his left shoe; and he stopped, and said to Mygdonia:
What then is this matter? for look, the dream and this action of mine!
But Mygdonia said to him: And this also is not evil, but seemeth to me
very good; for from an unlucky act there will be a change unto the better.
And he washed his hands and went to salute Misdaeus the king.
93 And likewise Mygdonia rose up early and went to salute Judas Thomas
the apostle, and she found him discoursing with the captain and all the
multitude, and he was advising them and speaking of the woman which had
received the Lord in her soul, whose wife she was; and the captain said:
She is the wife of Charisius the kinsman of Misdaeus the king. And: Her
husband is a hard man, and in every thing that he saith to the king he
obeyeth him: and he will not suffer her to continue in this mind which
she hath promised; for often-times hath he praised her before the king,
saying that there is none other like her in love: all things therefore
that thou speakest unto her are strange unto her. And the apostle said:
If verily and surely the Lord hath risen upon her soul and she hath received
the seed that was cast on her, she will have no care of this temporal life,
nor fear death, neither will Charisius be able to harm her at all: for
greater is he whom she hath received into her soul, if she have received
him indeed.
94 And Mygdonia hearing this said unto the apostle: In truth, my lord,
I have received the seed of thy words, and I will bear fruit like unto
such seed. The apostle saith: Our souls give praise and thanks unto thee,
O Lord, for they are thine: our bodies give thanks unto thee, which thou
hast accounted worthy to become the dwelling-place of thy heavenly gift.
And he said also to them that stood by: Blessed are the holy, whose souls
have never condemned them, for they have gained them and are not divided
against themselves: blessed are the spirits of the pure, and they that
have received the heavenly crown whole from the world (age) which hath
been appointed them: blessed are the bodies of the holy, for they have
been made worthy to become temples of God, that Christ may dwell in them:
blessed are ye, for ye have power to forgive sins: blessed are ye if ye
lose not that which is committed unto you, but rejoicing and departing
bear it away with you: blessed are ye the holy, for unto you it is given
to ask and receive: blessed are ye meek for you hath God counted worthy
to become heirs of the heavenly kingdom. Blessed are ye meek, for ye are
they that have overcome the enemy: blessed are ye meek, for ye shall see
the face of the Lord. Blessed are ye that hunger for the Lord's sake for
for you is rest laid up, and your souls rejoice from henceforth. Blessed
are ye that are quiet, (for ye have been counted worthy) to be set free
from sin [and from the exchange of clean and unclean beasts]. And when
the apostle had said these things in the hearing of all the multitude,
Mygdonia was the more confirmed in the faith and glory and greatness of
Christ.
95 But Charisius the kinsman and friend of Misdaeus the king came to
his breakfast and found not his wife in the house; and he inquired of all
that were in his house: Whither is your mistress oone? And one of them
answered and said: She is gone unto that stranger. And when he heard this
of his servant, he was wroth with the other servants because they had not
straightway told him what was done: and he sat down and waited for her.
And when it was evening and she was come into the house he said to her:
Where wast thou? And she answered and said: With the physician. And he
said: Is that stranger a physician? And she said: Yea, he is a physician
of souls: for most physicians do heal bodies that are dissolved, but he
souls that are not destroyed. Charisius, hearing this, was very angry in
his mind with Mygdonia because of the apostle, but he answered her nothing,
for he was afraid; for she was above him both in wealth and birth: but
he departed to dinner, and she went into her chamber. And he said to the
servants: Call her to dinner. But she would not come.
96 And when he heard that she would not come out of her chamber, he
went in and said unto her: Wherefore wilt thou not dine with me and perchance
not sleep with me as the wont is? yea, concerning this I have the greater
suspicion, for I have heard that that sorcerer and deceiver teacheth that
a man should not live with his wife, and that which nature requireth and
the godhead hath ordained he overthroweth. When Charisius said these things,
Mygdonia kept silence. He saith to her again: My lady and consort Mygdonia,
be not led astray by deceitful and vain words, nor by the works of sorcery
which I have heard that this man performeth in the name of Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost; for it was never yet heard in the world that any raised
the dead, and, as I hear, it is reported of this man that he raiseth dead
men. And for that he neither eateth nor drinketh, think not that for righteousness
sake he neither eateth nor drinketh but this he doth because he possesseth
nought, for what should he do which hath not even his daily bread? And
he hath one garment because he is poor, and as for his not receiving aught
of any (he doth so, to be sure, because he knoweth in himself that he doth
not verily heal any man, Syr.).
97 And when Charisius so said, Mygdonia was silent as any stone, but
she prayed, asking when it should be day, that she might go to the apostle
of Christ. And he withdrew from her and went to dinner heavy in mind, for
he thought to sleep with her according to the wont. And when he was gone
out, she bowed her knees and praved, saying: Lord God and Master, merciful
Father, Savionr Christ, do thou give me strength to overcome thc shamelessness
of Charisius, and grant me to keep the holiness wherein thou delightest,
that I also may by it find eternal life. And when she had so prayed she
laid herself on her bed and veiled herself.
98 But Charisius having dined came upon her, and she cried out, saying:
Thou hast no more any room by me: for my Lord Jesus is greater than thou,
who is with me and resteth in me. And he laughed and said: Well dost thou
mock, saying this of that sorcerer, and well dost thou deride him, who
saith: Ye have no life with God unless ye purify yourselves. And when he
had so said he essayed to sleep with her, but she endured it not and cried
out bitterly and said: I call upon thee, Lord Jesu, forsake me not! for
with thee have I made my refuge; for when I learned that thou art he that
seekest out them that are veiled in ignorance and savest them that are
held in error And now I entreat thee whose report I have heard and believed,
come thou to my help and save me from the shamelessness of Charisius, that
his foulness may not get the upper hand of me. And she smote her hands
together (tied his hands, Syr.) and fled from him naked, and as she went
forth she pulled down the curtain of the bed-chamber and wrapped it about
her; and went to her nurse, and slept there with her.
99 But Charisius was in heaviness all night, and smote his face with
his hands, and he was minded to go that very hour and tell the king concerning
the violence that was done him, but he considered with himself, saying:
If the great heaviness which is upon me compelleth me to go now unto the
king, who will bring me in to him? for I know that my abuse hath overthrown
me from my high looks and my vainglory and majesty, and hath cast me down
into this vileness and separated my sister Mygonia from me. Yea, if the
king himself stood before the dools at this hour, I could not have gone
out and answered him. But I will wait until dawn, and I know that whatsoever
I ask of the king, he granteth it me: and I will tell him of the madness
of this stranger, how that it tyrannously casteth down the great and illustrious
into the depth. For it is not this that grieveth me, that I am deprived
of her companying, but for her am I grieved, because her greatness of soul
is humbled: being an honourable lady in whom none of her house ever found
fault (condemned), she hath fled away naked, running out of her own bedchamber,
and I know not whither she is gone; and it may be that she is gone mad
by the means of that sorcerer, and in her madness hath gone forth into
the market-place to seek him; for there is nothing that appealeth unto
her lovable except him and the things that are spoken by him.
100 And so saving he began to lament and say: Woe to me, O my consort,
and to thee besides! for I am too quickly bereaved of thee. Woe is me,
my most dear one, for thou excellest all my race: neither son nor daughter
have I had of thee that I might find rest in them; neither hast thou yet
dwelt with me a full year, and an evil eye hath caught thee from me. Would
that the violence of death had taken thee, and I should yet have reckoned
myself among kings and nobles: but that I should suffer this at the hands
of a stranger, and belike he is a slave that hath run away, to mine ill
fortune and the sorrow of mine unhappy soul! Let there be no impediment
for me until I destroy him and avenge this night, and may I not be well-pleasing
before Misdaeus the king if he avenge me not with the head of this stranger;
(and I will also tell him) of Siphor the captain vvho hath been the occasion
of this. For by his means did fhe stranger appear here, and lodgeth at
his house: and many there be that go in and come out whom he teacheth a
new doctrine; saying that none can live if he quit not all his substance
and become a renouncer like himself: and he striveth to make many partakers
with him.
101 And as Charisius thought on these things, the day dawned: and after
the night (?) he put on a mean habit, and shod himself, and went downcast
and in heaviness to salute the king. And when the king saw him he said:
Wherefore art thou sorrowful, and comest in such garb? and I see that thy
countenance is changed. And Charisius said unto the king: I have a new
thing to tell thee and a new desolation which Siphor hath brought into
India, even a certain Hebrew, a sorcerer, whom he hath sitting in his house
and who departeth not from him: and many are there that go in to him: whom
also he teacheth of a new God, and layeth on them new laws such as never
yet were heard, saving: It is impossible for you to enter into that eternal
life which I proclaim unto you, unless ye rid you of your wives, and likewise
the wives of their husbands. And it chanced that mine unlucky wife also
went to him and became a hearer of his words, and she believed them, and
in the night she forsook me and ran unto the stranger. But send thou for
both Siphor and that sorcerer that is hid with (in) him, and visit it (?)
on their head, lest all that are of our nation perish.
102 And when Misdaeus his friend heard this he saith to him: Be not
grieved nor heavy, for I will send for him and avenge thee, and thou shalt
have thy wife again, and the others that cannot I will avenge. And the
king went forth and sat on the judgement seat, and when he was set he commanded
Siphor the captain to be called. They went therefore unto his house and
found him sitting on the right hand of the apostle and Mygdonia at his
feet, hearkening to him with all the multitude. And they that were sent
from the king said unto Siphor: Sittest thou here listening to vain words,
and Misdaeus the king in his wrath thinketh to destroy thee because of
this sorcerer and deceiver whom thou hast brought into thine house? And
Siphor hearing it was cast down, not because of the king's threat against
him, but for the apostle, because the king was disposed contrary to him.
And he said to the apostle: I am grieved concerning thee: for I told thee
at the first that that woman is the wife of Charisius the king's friend
and kinsman, and he will not suf'fer her to perform that she hath promised,
and all that he asketh of the king he granteth him. But the apostle said
unto Siphor: Fear nothing, but believe in Jesus that pleadeth for us all,
for unto his refuge are we gathered together. And Siphor, hearing that,
put his garment about him and went unto Misdaeus the king,
103 And the apostle inquired of Mygdonia: What was the cause that thy
husband was wroth with thee and devised this against us? And she said:
Because I gave not myself up unto his corruption (destruction): for he
desired last night to subdue me and subject me unto that passion which
he serveth: and he to whom I have committed my soul delivered me out of
his hands; and I fled away from him naked, and slept with my nurse: but
that which befell him I know not, wherefore he hath contrived this. The
apostle saith: These things will not hurt us; but believe thou on Jesus,
and he shall overthrow the wrath of Charisius and his madness and his impulse;
and he shall be a companion unto thee in the fearful way, and he shall
guide thee into his kingdom, and shall bring thee unto eternal life giving
thee that confidence which passeth not away nor changeth.
104 Now Siphor stood before the king, and he inquired of him: Who is
that sorcerer and whence, and what teacheth he whom thou hast lurking in
thine house? And Siphor answered the king: Thou art not ignorant, O king,
what trouble and grief I, with my friends had concerning my wife, whom
thou knowest and many others remember, and concerning my daughter, whom
I value more than all my possessions, what a time and trial I suffered;
for I became a laughing-stock and a curse in all our country. And I heard
the report of this man and went to him and entreated him, and took him
and brought him hither. And as I came by the way I saw wonderful and amazing
things: and here also many did hear the wild ass and concerning that devil
whom he drove out, and healed my wife and daughter, and now are they whole;
and he asked no reward but requireth faith and holiness, that men should
become partakers with him in that which he doeth: and this he teacheth
to worship and fear one God, the ruler of all things, and Jesus Christ
his Son, that they may have eternal life. And that which he eateth is bread
and salt, and his drink is water from evening unto evening, and he maketh
many prayers; and whatsoever he asketh of his God, he giveth him. And he
teacheth that this God is holy and mighty, and that Christ is living and
maketh alive, wherefore also he chargeth them that are there present to
come unto him in holiness and purity and love and faith.
105 And when Misdaeus the king heard these things of Siphor he sent
many soldiers unto the house of Siphor the captain, to bring Thomas the
apostle and all that were found there. And they that were sent entered
in and found him teaching much people; and Mygdonia sat at his feet. And
when they beheld the great multitude that were about him, they feared,
and departed to their king and said: We durst not say aught unto him, for
there was a great multitude about him, and Mygdonia sitting at his feet
was listening to the things that were spoken by him. And when Misdaeus
the king and Charisius heard these things, Charisius leaped out from before
the king and drew much people with him and said: I will bring him, O king,
and Mygdonia whose understanding he hath taken away. And he came to the
house of Siphor the captain, greatly disturbed, and found him (Thomas)
teaching: but Mygdonia he found not, for she had withdrawn herself unto
her house, having learnt that it had been told her husband that she was
there.
106 And Charisius said unto the apostle: Up, thou wicked one and destroyer
and enemy of mine house: for me thy sorcery harmeth not, for I will visit
thy sorcery on thine head. And when he so said, the apostle looked upon
him and said unto him: Thy threatenings shall return upon thee, for me
thou wilt not harm any whit: for greater than thee and thy king and all
your army is the Lord Jesus Christ in whom I have my trust. And Chalisius
took a kerchief (turban, Syr.) of one of his slaves and cast it about the
neck of the apostle, saying: Hale him and bring him away; let me see if
his God is able to deliver him out of my hands. And they haled him and
led him away to Misdaeus the king. And the apostle stood before the king,
and the king said to him: Tell me who thou art and by what power thou doest
these things. But the apostle kept silence. And the king commanded his
officers (subjects) that he should be scourged with an hundred and twenty-eight
(hundred and fifty, Syr.) blows, and bound, and be cast into the prison;
and they bound him and led him away. And the king and Charisius considered
how they should put him to death, for the multitude worshipped him as God.
And they had it in mind to say: The stranger hath reviled the king and
is a deceiver.
107 But the apostle went unto the prison rejoicing and exulting, and
said: I praise thee, Jesu, for that thou hast not only made me worthy of
faith in thee, but also to endure much for thy sake. I give thee thanks
therefore, Lord, that thou hast taken thought for me and given me patience:
I thank thee Lord, that for thy sake I am called a sorcerer and a wizard.
Receive thou me therefore with the blessing (Syr. Iet me receive of the
blessing) of the poor, and of the rest of the weary, and of the blessings
of them whom men hate and persecute and revile, and speak evil words of
them. For lo, for thy sake I am hated: lo for thy sake I am cut off from
the many, and for thy sake they call me such an one as I am not.
108 And as he prayed, all the prisoners looked on him, and besought
him to pray for them: and when he had prayed and was set down, he began
to utter a psalm in this wise:
[Here follows the Hymn of the Soul: a most remarkable composition, originally
Syriac, and certainly older than the Acts, with which it has no real connexion.
We have it in Greek in one manuscript, the Vallicellian, and in a paraphrase
by Nicetas of Thessalonica, found and edited by Bonnet.]
1 When I was an infant child
in the palace of my Father
2 and resting in the wealth and luxury of my nurturers,
out of the East, our native country, my parents provisioned me and sent
me.
4 And of the wealth of those their treasures they put together a load
5 both great and light, that I might carry it alone.
6 Gold is the load, of them that are above (or of the land of the Ellaeans
or Gilaeans),
and silver of the great treasures (or of Gazzak the great)
7 and stones, chalcedonies from the Indians
and pearls from 8 And they armed me with adamant 9 and they took off from me (Gr. put on me) the garment set with gems,
spangled with gold, which they had made for me because they loved me
10 and the robe that was yellow in hue, made for my stature.
11 And they made a covenant with me, and inscribed it on mine understanding,
that I should 12 If thou go down into Egypt, and bring back thence the one pearl
13 which is there 14 thou shalt put on 15 and become with thy brother that is next unto us (Gr. of the well-
remembered) an heir (Gr. herald) in our kingdom.
109. 16 And I came out of the East by a road difficult and fearful,
with two guides
17 and I was untried in travelling by it.
18 And I passed by the borders of the Mosani (Maishan) where is the
resort of the merchants of the East,
19 and reached the land of the Babylonians 20 But when I entered into Egypt, the guides left me which had journeyed
with me.
21 And I set forth by the quickest way to the serpent, and by his hole
I abode
22 watching for him to slumber and sleep, that I might take my pearl
from him.
23 And forasmuch as I was alone I made mine aspect strange, and appeared
as an alien to my people.
24 And there I saw my kinsman from the East, the free-born
25 a lad of grace and beauty, a son of princes (or an anointed one).
26 He came unto me and dwelt with me,
27 and I had him for a companion, and made him my friend and partaker
in my journey (or merchandise).
28 And I charged him to beware of the Egyptians, and of partaking of
those unclean things (or consorting with those unclean men).
29 And I put on their raiment, lest I should seem strange, as one that
had come from without
30 to recover the pearl; and lest the Egyptians should awake the serpent
against me.
31 But, I know not by what occasion, they learned that I was not of
their country.
32 And with guile they mingled for me a deceit, and I tasted of their
food.
33 And I knew no more that I was a king's son, and I became a servant
unto their king.
34 And I forgat also the pearl for which my fathers had sent me,
35 and by means of the heaviness of their food I fell into a deep sleep.
110. 36 But when this befell me, my fathers also were ware of it, and
grieved for me
37 and a proclamation was published in our kingdom, that all should
meet at our doors.
38 And then the kings of Parthia and they that bare office and the great
ones of the East
39 made a resolve concerning me, that I should not be left in Egypt,
40 and the princes wrote unto me signifying thus (and every noble signed
his name to it, Syr.):
41 From the (thy) Father the King of kings, and thy mother that ruleth
the East,
42 and thy brother that is second unto us; unto our son that is in Egypt,
peace.
43 Rise up and awake out of sleep, and hearken unto the words of the
letter
44 and remember that thou art a son of kings; lo, thou hast come under
the yoke of bondage.
45 Remember the pearl for the which thou wast sent into Egypt (Gr. puts
this after 46).
46 Remember thy garment spangled with gold,
47 48 and with thy brother whom thou hast received 111. 49 50 because of the evil ones, even the children of the Babylonians and
the tyrannous demons of Labyrinthus (Sarbug, Syr.).
51 52 It flew and lighted down by me, and became all speech.
53 And I at the voice of it and the feeling of it started up out of
sleep
54 and I took it up and kissed it 55 And it was written concerning that which was recorded in mine heart.
56 And I remembered forthwith that I was a son of kings, and my freedom
yearned (sought) after its kind.
57 I remembered also the pearl for the which I was sent down into Egypt
58 and I began (or came) with charms against the terrible serpent,
59 and I overcame him (or put him to sleep) by naming the name of my
Father upon him,
60 61 And I caught away the pearl and turned back to bear it unto my fathers.
62 And I stripped off the filthy garment and left it in their land,
63 and directed my way forthwith to the light of my fatherland in the
East.
64 And on the way I found my letter that had awakened me,
65 and it, like as it had taken a voice and raised me when I slept,
so also guided me with the light that came from it.
66 For at times the royal garment of silk 67 68 and with love leading me and drawing me onward,
69 I passed by Labyrinthus (Sarbug), and I left Babylon upon my left
hand
70 and I came unto Meson (Mesene; Maishan) the great,
71 that lieth on the shore of the sea,
72 73 from the heights of Warkan (Hyrcania?) had my parents sent thither
74 by the hand of their treasurers, unto whom they committed it because
of their faithfulness.
112. 75 But I remembered not the brightness of it; for I was yet a child
and very young when I had left it in the palace ot my Father,
76 but suddenly, [when] I saw the garment made like unto me as it had
been in a mirror.
77 And I beheld upon it all myself (or saw it wholly in myself) and
I knew and saw myself through it,
78 that we were divided asunder, being of one; and again were one in
one shape.
79 Yea, the treasurers also which brought me the garment
80 I beheld, that they were two, yet one shape was upon both, one royal
sign was set upon both of them.
81 The money and the wealth had they in their hands, and paid me the
due price,
82 and the lovely garment, which was variegated with bright colours
83 with gold and precious stones and pearls of comely hue
84 they were fastened above (or in the height)
85 86 And the likeness of the King of kings was all in all of it.
87 Sapphire stones were fitly set in it above (or, like the sapphire
stone also were its manifold hues).
113. 88 And again I saw that throughout it motions of knowledge were
being sent forth,
89 and it was ready to utter speech.
90 And I heard it speak 91 I am of him that is more valiant than all men, for whose sake I was
reared up with the Father himself.
92 And I also perceived his stature (so Gr.- Syr. I perceived in myself
that my stature grew in accordance with his working).
93 And all its royal motions rested upon me as it grew toward the impulse
of it (And with its kingly motions it was spreading itself toward me).
94 And it hastened, reaching out from the hand of 95 and me also did yearning arouse to start forth and meet it and receive
it.
96 And I stretched forth and received it, and adorned myself with the
beauty of the colours thereof (mostly Syr.; Gr. corrupt)
97 and in my royal robe excelling in beauty I arrayed myself wholly.
98 And when I had put it on, I was lifted up unto the place of peace
(sahltation) and homage
99 and I bowed my head and worshipped the brightness of the Father which
had sent it unto me.
100 for I had performed his commandments, and he likewise that which
he had promised,
101 and at the doors of his palace which was from the beginning I mingled
among 102 and he rejoiced over me and received me with him into his palace,
103 and all his servants do praise him vvith sweet voices.
104 And he promised me that with him I shall be sent unto the gates
of the king,
105 that with my gifts and my pearl we may appear together before the
king.
[Immediately on this, in the Syriac, follows a Song of Praise of Thomas
the apostle consisting of forty-two ascriptions of praise and four final
clauses (Wright, pp. 245-51). It has no bearing on the Acts, and is not
in itself so remarkable as to need to be inserted here.]
114 And Charisius went home glad, thinking that his wife would be with
him, and that she had become such as she was before, even before she heard
the divine word and believed on Jesus. And he went, and found her with
her hair dishevelled and her clothes rent, and when he saw it he said unto
her: My lady Mygdonia, why doth this cruel disease keep hold on thee? and
wherefore hast thou done this? I am thine husband from thy virginity, and
both the gods and the law grant me to have rule over thee, what is this
great madness of thine, that thou art bccome a derision in all our nation?
but put thou away the care that cometh of that sorcerer; and I will remove
his face from among us, that thou mayest see him no more.
115 But Mygdonia when she heard that gave herself up unto grief, groaning
and lamenting and Charisius said again; Have I then so much wronged the
gods that they have afflicted me with such a disease? what is my great
offence that they have cast me into such humiliation? I beseech thee. Mvgdonia
trangle my soul no more with the pitiful sight of thee and thy mean appearance
and afflict not mine heart with care for thee I am Charisius thine husband,
whom all the nation honoureth and feareth. What must I do? I know not whither
to turn. What am I to think? shall I keep silence and endure? yet who can
be patient when men take his treasure? and who can endure to lose thy sweet
ways? and what is there for me? (Syr. thy beauties which are ever before
me) the fragrance of thee is in my nostrils, and thy bright face is fixed
in mine eyes. They are taking away my soul, and the fair body which I rejoiced
to see they are destroying, and that sharpest of eyes they are blinding
and cutting off my right hand: my joy is turning to grief and my life to
death, and the light of it is being dyed (?) with darkness. Let no man
of you my kindred henceforth look on me; from you no help hath come to
me, nor will I hereafter worship the gods of the east that have enwrapped
me in such calamities, nor pray to them any more nor sacrifice to them,
for I am bereaved of my spouse. And what else should I ask of them? for
all my glory is taken away, yet am I a prince and next unto the king in
power; but Mygdonia hath set me at nought, and taken away all these things.
(Would that some one would blind one of my eyes, and that thine eyes would
look upon me as they were wont, Syr. which has more clauses, to the same
effect.)
116 And while Charisius spake thus with tears, Mygdonia sat silent and
looking upon the ground; and again he came unto her and said: My lady Mygdonia,
most desired of me, remember that out of all the women that are in India
I chose and took thee as the most beautiful, though I might have joined
to myself in marriage many more beautiful: but yet I lie, Mygdonia, for
by the gods it would not have been possible to find another like thee in
the land of India; but woe is me alway, for thou wilt not even answer me
a word: but if thou wilt, revile me, so that I may only be vouchsafed a
word from thee. Look at me, for I am more comely than that sorcerer: but
thou art my wealth and honour: and all men know that there is none like
me: and thou art my race and kindred; and lo, he taketh thee away from
me.
117 And when Charisius had so said, Mygdonia saith unto him: He whom
I love is better than thee and thy substance: for thy substance is of earth
and returneth unto the earth; but he whom I love is of heaven and will
take me with him unto heaven. Thy wealth shall pass awav, and thy beauty
shall vanish, and thy robes, and thy many works: and thou shalt be alone,
naked, with thy transgressions. Call not to my remembrance thy deeds (unto
me), for I pray the Lord that I may forget thee, so as to remember no more
those former pleasures and the custom of the body; which shall pass away
as a shadow, but Jesus only endureth for ever, and the souls which hope
in him. Jesus himself shall quit me of the shameful decds which I did with
thee. And when Charisius heard this, he turned him to sleep, vexed (dissolved)
in soul, saying to her: Consider it by thyself all this night: and if thou
wilt be with me such as thou wast before, and not see that sorcerer, I
will do all according to thy mind, and if thou wilt remove thine affection
from him I will take him out of the prison and let him go and remove into
another country, and I will not vex thee, for I know that thou makest much
of the stranger. And not with thee first did this matter come about, for
many other women also hath he deceived with thee; and they have awaked
sober and returned to themselves: do not thou then make nought of my words
and cause me to be a reproach among the Indians.
118 And Charisius having thus spoken went to sleep: but she took ten
denarii (20 zuze, Syr.), and went secretly to give them to the gaolers
that she might enter in to the apostle. But on the way Judus Thomas came
and met her, and she saw him and was afraid, for she thought that he was
one of the rulers: for a great light went before him. And she said to herself
as she fled: have lost thee, O my unhappy soul! for thou wilt not again
see Judas the apostle of The Tenth Act: wherein Mygdonia receiveth baptism.
119 And while Mygdonia thought thus with herself, Judas came and stood
over her, and she saw him and was afraid, and fell down and became lifeless
with terror. But he stood by her and took her by the hand and said unto
her: Fear not, Mygdonia: Jesus will not leave thee, neither will the Lord
unto whom thou hast committed thy soul overlook thee. His compassionate
rest will not forsake thee: he that is kind will not forsake thee, for
his kindness' sake, nor he that is good for his goodness' sake. Rise up
then from the earth, thou that art become wholly above it: look on the
light, for the Lord leaveth not them that love him to walk in darkness:
behold him that travelleth with his servants, that he is unto them a defender
in perils. And Mygdonia arose and looked on him and said: Whither wentest
thou, my lord? and who is he that brought thee out of prison to behold
the sun? Judas Thomas saith unto her: My Lord Jesus is mightier than all
powers and all kings and rulers.
120 And Mygdonia said: Give me the seal of Jesus Christ and I shall
( Iet me) receive the gift at thy hands before thou departest out of life.
And she took him with her and entered into the court and awaked her nurse,
saying unto her: Narcia (Gr. Marcia), my mother and nurse, all thy service
and refreshment thou hast done for me from my childhood until my present
age are vain, and for them I owe thee thanks which are temporal; do for
me now also a ravour, that thou mayest for ever receive a recompense from
him that giveth great gifts. And Narcia in answer saith: What wilt thou,
my daughter Mygdonia, and what is to be done for thy pleasure? for the
honours which thou didst promise me before, the stranger hath not suffered
thee to accomplish, and thou hast made me a reproach among all the nation.
And now what is this new thing that thou commandest me? And Mygdonia saith:
Become thou partaker with me in eternal life, that I may receive of thee
perfect nurture: take bread and bring it me, and wine mingled with water,
and spare my freedom (take pity on me a free-born woman, Syr.). And the
nurse said: I will bring thee many loaves, and for water flagons of wine,
and fulfil thy desire. But she saith to the nurse: Flagons I desire not,
nor the many loaves: but this only, bring wine mingled with water and one
loaf, and oil 121 And when Narcia had brought these things, Mygdonia stood before
the apostle with her head bare; and he took the oil and poured it on her
head, saying: Thou holy oil given unto us for sanctification, sccret mystery
whereby the cross was shown unto us, thou art the straightener of the crooked
limbs, thou art the humbler (softener) of hard things (works), thou art
it that showeth the hidden treasures, thou art the sprout of goodness;
let thy power come, let it be established upon thy servant Mygdonia, and
heal thou her by this freedom. And when the oil was poured upon her he
hade her nurse unclothe her and gird a linen cloth about her; and there
was there a fountain of water upon which the apostle went up, and baptized
Mygdonia in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. And
when she was baptized and clad, he brake bread and took a cup of water
and made her a partaker in the body of Christ and the cup of the Son of
God, and said: Thou hast received thy seal, get for thyself eternal life.
And immediately there was heard from above a voice saying: Yea, amen. And
when Narcia heard that voice, she was amazed, and besought the apostle
that she also might receive the seal; and the apostle gave it her and said:
Let the care of the Lord be about thee as about the rest.
122 And having done these things the apostle returned unto the prison,
and found the doors open and the guards still sleeping. And Thomas said:
Who is like thee, O God? who withholdest not thy loving affection and care
from any who is like thee, the merciful, who hast delivered thy creatures
out of evil. Life that hath subdued death, rest that hath ended toil. Glory
be to the only-begotten of the Father. Glory to the compassionate that
was sent forth of his heart. And when he had said thus, the guards waked
and beheld all the doors open, and the prisoners <+ asleep, Syr.>, and
said in themselves: Did not we fasten the doors? and how are they now open,
and the prisoners within?
123 But at the dawn Charisius went unto Mygdonia 124 And he came near and besought her again, saying: If thou wilt be
persuaded of me, I shall henceforth have no grief; remember that day when
thou didst meet me first; tell the truth: was I more beautiful unto thee
at that time, or Jesus at this? And Mygdonia said: That time required its
own, and this time also; that was the time of the beginning, but this of
the end; that was the time of temporal life, this of eternal; that of pleasure
that passeth away, but this of pleasure that abideth for ever; that, of
day and night, this of day without night. Thou sawest that marriage that
was passing, and here, and single but this marriage continueth for ever;
that was a partnership of corruption, but this of eternal life; those groomsmen
(and maids) were men and women of time, but these abide unto the end. That
marriage upon earth setteth up dropping dew of the love of men (Syr. That
union was founded upon the earth where there is an unceasing press: this
is founded upon the bridge of fire upon which is sprinkled grace: both
corrupt); that bride-chamber is taken down again, but this remaineth always;
that bed was strown with coverlets (that grow old), but this with love
and faith. Thou art a bridegroom that passest away and art dissolved (changed),
but Jesus is a true bridegroom, enduring for ever immortal, that dowry
was of money and robes that grow old, but this is of living words which
never pass away.
125 And when Charisius heard these things he went unto the king and
told him all: and the king commanded Judas to be brought, that he might
judge him and destroy him. But Charisius said: Have patience a little,
O king, and first persuade the man making him afraid, that he may persuade
Mygdonia to be unto me as formerly. And Misdaeus sent and fetched the apostle
of Christ, and all the prisoners were grieved because the apostle departed
from them, for they yearned after him, saying: Even the comfort which we
had have they taken away from us.
126 And Misdaeus said unto Judas: Wherefore teachest thou this new doctrine,
which both gods and men hate, and which hath nought of profit? And Judas
said: What evil do I teach? And Misdaeus said: Thou teachest, saying that
men 127 And Misdaeus hearing these things said: Lo, I let thee go: go then
and persuade Mygdonia, the wife of Charisius, not to desire to depart from
him. Judas saith unto him: Delay not if thou hast aught to do: for her,
if she hath rightly received what she hath learned, neither iron nor fire
nor aught else stronger than these will avail to hurt or to root out him
that is held in her soul. Misdaeus saith unto Judas: Some poisons do dissolve
other poisons, and a theriac cureth the bites of the viper; and thou if
thou wilt canst give a solvent of those diseases, and make peace and concord
betwixt this couple: for by so doing thou wilt spare thyself, for not yet
art thou sated with life; and know thou that if thou do not persuade her,
I will catch thee away out of this life which is desirable unto all men.
And Judas said: This life hath been given as a loan, and this time is one
that changeth, but that life whereof I teach is incorruptible; and beauty
and youth that are seen shall in a little cease to be. The king saith to
him: I have counselled thee for the best, but thou knowest thine own alfairs.
128 And as the apostle went forth from before the king, Charisius came
to him and entreated him and said: I beseech thee, O man: I have not sinned
against thee or any other at any time, nor against the gods; wherefore
hast thou stirred up this great calamity against me? and for what cause
hast thou brought such disturbance upon mine house? and what profit hast
thou of it? but if thou thinkest to gain somewhat, tell me the gain, what
it is, and I will procure it for thee without labour. To what end dost
thou make me mad, and cast thyself into destruction? for if thou persuade
her not, I will both dispatch thee and finally take myself out of life.
But if, as thou sayest, after our departing hence there is there life and
death, and also condemnation and victory and a place of judgement, then
will I also go in thither to be judged with thee: and if that God whom
thou preachest is just and awardeth punishment justly, I know that I shall
gain my cause against thee; for thou hast injured me, having suffered no
wrong at my hands: for indeed even here I am able to avenge myself on thee
and bring upon thee all that thou hast done unto me. Therefore be thou
persuaded, and come home with me and persuade Mygdonia to be with me as
she was at first, before she beheld thee. And Judas saith to him: Believe
me, my child that if men loved God as much as they love one another, they
would ask of him all things and receive them, and none would do them violence
(there would be nothing which would not obey them, Syr.).
129 And as Thomas said this, they came unto the house of Charisius and
found Mygdonia sitting and Narcia standing by her, and her hand supporting
her cheek; and she was saying: Let the remainder of the days of my life,
O mother, be cut off from me, and all the hours become as one hour, and
let me depart out of life that I may go the sooner and behold that beautiful
one, whose report I have heard, even that living one and giver of life
unto them that believe on him, where is not day and night, nor light and
darkness, nor good and evil, nor poor and rich, nor male and female, nor
free and bond, nor proud that subjecteth the humble. And as she spake the
apostle stood by her, and forthwith she rose up and did him reverence.
Then Charisius said unto him: Seest thou how she feareth and honoureth
thee and all that thou shalt bid her she will do willingly?
13O And as he so spake, Judas saith unto Mygdonia: My daughter Mygdonia,
obey that which thy brother Charisius saith. And Mygdonia saith: If thou
wast not able 131 And Judas went out of Charisius' house and departed unto the house
of Siphor and lodged there with him. And Siphor said: I will prepare for
Judas a hall (triclinium) wherein he may teach (Syr. Siphor said to Judas:
Prepare thyself an apartment, &c.). And he did so; and Siphor said
: I and my wife and daughter will dwell henceforth in holiness, and in
chastity, and in one affection. I beseech thee that we mav receive of thee
the seal, and become worshippers of the true God and numbered among his
sheep and lambs. And Judas said: I am afraid to speak that which I think:
yet I know somewhat, and what I know it is not possible for me to utter.
132 And he began to say concerning baptism: This baptism is remission
of sins (the Greek MSS. U and P have divergent texts, both obscure): this
bringeth forth again light that is shed about us: this bringeth to new
birth the new man (this is the restorer of understandings Syr.): this mingleth
the spirit (with the body), raiseth up in threefoldwise a new man and And having thus said, he poured oil over their heads and said: Glory
be to thee the love of compassion (bowels). Glory to thee name of Christ.
Glory to thee, power established in Christ. And he commanded a vessel to
be brought, and baptized them in the name of the Father and the Son and
the Holy Ghost.
133 And when they were baptized and clad, he set bread on the table
and blessed it, and said: Bread of life, the which who eat abide incorruptible:
Bread that filleth the hungry souls with the blessing thereof: thou art
he that vouchsafest to receive a gift, that thou mayest become unto us
remission of sins, and that they who eat thee may become immortal: we invoke
upon thee the name of the mother, of the unspeakable mystery of the hidden
powers and authorities (? we name the name of the unspeakable mystery,
that is hidden from all &c.): we invoke upon thee the name of [thy?]
Jesus. And he said: Let the powers of blessing come, and be established
in this bread, that all the souls which partake of it may be washed from
their sins. And he brake and gave unto Siphor and his wife and daughter.
The Eleventh Act: concerning the wife of Misdaeus.
134 Now Misdaeus the king, when he had let Judas go, dined and went
home, and told his wife what had befallen Charisius their kinsman, saying:
See what hath come to pass to that unhappy man, and thou thyself knowest,
my sister Tertia, that a man hath nought better than his own wife on whom
he resteth; but it chanced that his wife went unto that sorcerer of whom
thou hast heard that he is come to the land of the Indians, and fell into
his charms and is parted from her own husband; and he knoweth not what
he should do. And when I would have destroyed the malefactor, he would
not have it. But do thou go and counsel her to incline unto her husband,
and forsake the vain words of the sorcerer.
135 And as soon as she arose Tertia went to the house of Charisius her
husband's 136 And when Tertia heard this of Mygdonia she said: I pray thee, sister,
bring me unto that stranger that teacheth these great things, that I also
may go and hear him, and be taught to worship the God whom he preacheth,
and become partaker of his prayers, and a sharer in all that thou hast
told me of. And Mygdonia saith to her: He is in the house of Siphor the
captain; for he is become the occasion of life unto all them that are being
saved in India. And hearing that, Tertia went quickly to Siphor's house,
that she might see the new apostle that was come thither. And when she
entered in, Judas said unto her: What art thou come to see? a man that
is a stranger and poor and contemptible and needy, having neither riches
nor substance; yet one thing I possess which neither kings nor rulers can
take away, that neither perisheth nor ceaseth, which is Jesus the Saviour
of all mankind, the Son of the living God, who hath given life unto all
that believe on him and take refuge with him and are known to be of the
number of his servants (sheep, Syr.). Unto whom saith Tertia: May I become
a partaker of this life which thou promisest that all they shall receive
who come together unto the assembly of God. And the apostle said: The treasury
of the holy king is opened wide, and they which worthily partake of the
good things that are therein do rest, and resting do reign: but first,
no man cometh unto him that is unclean and vile: for he knoweth our inmost
hearts and the depths of our thought, and it is not possible for any to
escape him. Thou, then, if verily thou believest in him, shalt be made
worthy of his mysteries; and he will magnify thee and enrich thee, and
make thee to be an heir of his hingdom.
137 And Tertia having heard this returned home rejoicing, and found
her husband awaiting her, not having dined, and when Misdaeus saw her he
said: Whence is it that thine entering in to-day is more beautiful? and
wherefore art thou come walking, which beseemeth not free-born women like
thee? And Tertia saith unto him: I owe thee the greatest of thanks for
that thou didst send me unto Mygdonia, for I went and heard of a new life,
and I saw the new apostle of the God that giveth life unto them that believe
on him and fulfil his commandments; I ought therefore myself to recompense
thee for this favour and admonition with good advice; for thou shalt be
a great king in heaven if thou obey me and fear the God that is preached
by the strangrer, and keep thyself holy unto the living God. For this kingdom
passeth away, and thy comfort will be turned into affliction: but go thou
to that man, and believe him, and thou shalt live unto the end. And when
Misdaeus heard these things of his wife, he smote his face with his hands
and rent his clothes and said: May the soul of Charisius find no rest,
for he hath hurt me to the soul; and may he have no hope, for he hath taken
away my hope. And he went out greatly vexed.
138 And he found Charisius his friend in the market-place, and said
unto him: Why hast thou cast me into hell to be another companion to thyself?
why hast thou emptied and defrauded me to gain nought? why hast thou hurt
me and profited thyself not at all? why hast thou slain me and thyself
not lived? Why hast thou wronged me and thyself not got justice? why didst
thou not suffer me to destroy that sorcerer before he corrupted my house
with his wickedness? And he kept hold upon (was upbraiding, Syr.) Charisius.
And Charisius saith: Why, what hath befallen thee? Misdaeus said: He hath
bewitched Tertia. And they went both of them unto the house of Siphor the
captain, and found Judas sitting and teaching. And all they that were there
rose up before the king, but he arose not. And Misdaeus perceived that
it was he, and took hold of the seat and overset it, and took up the seat
with both his hands and smote his head so that he wounded it, and delivered
him to his soldiers, saying: Take him away, and hale him with violence
and not gently, that his shame may be manifest unto all men. And they haled
him and took him to the place where Misdaeus judged, and he stood there,
held of the soldiers of Misdaeus.
The Twelfth Act: concerning Ouazanes (Iuzanes) the son of Misdaeus.
139 And Ouazanes (Iuzanes, P; Vizan, Syr.) the son of Misdaeus came
unto the soldiers and said: Give me him that I may speak with him until
the king cometh. And they gave him up, and he brought him in where the
king gave judgement. And Iuzanes saith: Knowest thou not that I am the
son of Misdaeus the king, and I have power to say unto the king what I
will, and he will sufier thee to live? tell me then, who is thy God, and
what power dost thou claim and glory in it? for if it be some power or
art of magic, tell it me and teach me, and I will let thee go. Judas saith
unto him: Thou art the son of Misdacus the king who is king for a time,
but I am the servant of Jesus Christ the eternal king, and thou hast power
to say to thy father to save whom thou wilt in the temporal life wherein
men continue not, which thou and thy father grant, but I beseech my Lord
and intercede for men, and he giveth them a new life which is altogether
enduring. And thou boastest thyself of possessions and servants and robes
and luxury and unclean chamberings, but I boast myself of povertv and philosophy
and humility and lasting and prayer and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost
and of my brethren that are worthy of God: and I boast myself of eternal
life. And thou reliest on (hast taken refuge with) a man like unto thyself
and not able to save his own soul from judgement and death, but I rely
upon the living God, upon the saviour of kings and princes, who is the
judge of all men. And ye indeed to-day perchance are, and to-morrow are
no more, but I have taken refuge with him that abideth for ever and knoweth
all our seasons and times. And if thou wilt become the servant of this
God thou shalt soon do so; but show that thou wilt be a servant worthy
of him hereby: first by holiness (puritv), which is the head of all good
things, and then by fellowship with this God whom I preach, and philosophy
and simplicity and love and faith and 140 And the young man was persuaded by the Lord and sought occasion
how he might let Judas escape: but while he thought thereon, the king came,
and the soldiers took Judas and led him forth. And Iuzanes went forth with
him and stood beside him. And when the king was set he bade Judas be brought
in, with his hands bound behind him; and he was brought into the midst
and stood there. And the king saith: Tell me who thou art and by what power
thou doest these things. And Judas saith to him: I am a man like thee,
and by the power of Jesus Christ I do these things. And Misdaeus saith:
Tell me the truth before I destroy thee. And Judas saith: Thou hast no
power against me, as thou supposest, and thou wilt not hurt me at all.
And the king was wroth at his words, and commanded to heat iron plates
and set him upon them barefoot; and as the soldiers took off his shoes
he said: The wisdom of God is better than the wisdom of men. Thou Lord
and King (do thou take counsel against them, Syr.) and let thy goodness
resist his wrath. And they brought the plates which were like fire, and
set the apostle upon them, and straightway water sprang up abundantly from
the earth, so that the plates were swallowed up in it, and they that held
him let him go and withdrew themselves.
141 And the king seeing the abundance of water said to Judas: Ask thy
God that he deliver me from this death, that I perish not in the flood.
And the apostle prayed and said: Thou that didst bind this element (nature)
and gather it into one place and send it forth into divers lands; that
didst bring disorder into order, that grantest mighty works and great wonders
by the hands of Judas thy servant; that hast mercy on my soul, that I may
alway receive thy brightness; that givest wages unto them that have laboured;
thou saviour of my soul, restoring it unto its own nature that it may have
no fellowship with hurtful things; that hast alway been the occasion of
life: do thou restrain this element that it lift not up itself to destroy;
for there are some of them that stand here who shall believe on thee and
live. And when he had prayed, the water was swallowed up by little and
little, and the place became dry. And when Misdaeus saw it he commanded
him to be taken to the prison: Until I shall consider how he must be used.
142 And as Judas was led away to the prison they all followed him, and
Iuzanes the king's son walked at his right hand, and Siphor at the left.
And he entered into the prison and sat down, and Iuzanes and Siphor, and
he persuaded his wife and his daughter to sit down, for they also were
come in to hear the word ot life. For they knew that Misdaeus would slay
him because of the excess of his anger. And Judas began to say: O liberator
of my soul from the bondage of the many, because I gave myself to be sold 143 And as the apostle spake thus, all that were there hearkened, supposing
that in that hour he would depart out of life. And again he said: Believe
on the physician of all 144 Alld having fulfilled these sayings, he arose and prayed thus: our
Father, which art in heaven: hallowed be thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy
will be done, as in heaven so upon earth: My Lord and God, hope and confidence and teacher, thou hast taught me
to pray thus, behold, I pray this prayer and fulfil thy commandment: be
thou with me unto the end; thou art he that from childhood hast sown life
in me and kept me from corruption; thou art he that hast brought me unto
the poverty of this world, and exhorted me unto the true riches; thou art
he that hast made me known unto myself and showed me that I am thine; and
I have kept myself pure from woman, that that which thou requirest be not
found in defilement.
[At the words 'My Lord and God' begins the double text, represented
on the one hand by the MS. U and on the other by the Paris MS. P, and three
(partly four) others. These insert the prayer after ch. 167. Their text,
I believe, may be the original Greek. I follow it here, repeating the first
paragraph.]
(144) My Lord and God, my hope and my confidence and my teacher, that
hast implanted courage in me, thou didst teach me to pray thus; behold,
I pray thy prayer and bring thy will to fulfilment: be thou with me unto
the end. Thou art he that from my youth up didst give me patience in temptation
and 145 My mouth sufficeth not to praise thee, neither am I able to conceive
the care and providence (carefulness) which hath been about me from thee
which thou hast had for me). For I desired to gain riches, but thou by
a vision didst show me that they are full of loss and iniury to them that
gain them and I believed thy showing, and continued in the poverty of the
world until thou, the true riches wert revealed unto me, who didst fill
both me and the rest that were worthy of thee with thine own riches and
set free thine own from care and anxiety. I have therefore fulfilled thy
commandments, O Lord, and accomplished thy will, and become poor and needy
and a stranger and a bondman and set at nought and a prisoner and hungry
and thirsty and nalied and unshod, and I have toiled for thy sake, that
my confidence might not perish and my hope that is in thee might not be
confounded and my much labour might not be in vain and my weariness not
be counted for nought: let not my prayers and rmy continual fastings perish,
and my great zeal toward thee; let not my seed of wheat be changed for
tares out of thy land, Iet not the enemy carry it away and mingle his own
tares therewith; for thy land verily receiveth not his tares, neither indeed
can they be laid up in thine houses.
146 I have planted thy vine in the earth, it hath sent down its roots
into the depth and its growth is spread out in the height, and the fruits
of it are stretched forth upon the earth, and they that are worthy of thee
are made glad by them, whom also thou hast gained. The money which thou
hast from me I laid down upon the table (bank); this, when thou requirest
it, restore unto me with usury, as thou hast promised. With thy one mind
have I traded and have made ten, thou hast added rnore to me beside that
I had, as thou didst covenant. I have forgiven my debtor the mine, require
thou it not at my hands. I was bidden to the supper and I came: and I refused
the land and the yoke of oxen and the wife, that I might not for their
sake be rejected; I was bidden to the wedding, and I put on white raiment,
that I might be worthy of it and not be bound hand and foot and cast into
the outer darkness. My lamp with its bright light expecteth the master
coming from the marriage, that it may receive him, and I may not (? he
may not) see it dimmed because the oil is spent. Mine eyes, O Christ, look
upon thee, and mine heart exulteth with joy because I have fulfilled thy
will and perfected thy commandments; that I may be likened unto that watchful
and careful servant who in his eagerness neglecteth not to keep vigil (other
MSS.: I have not slumbered idly in keeping thy commandments: in the first
sleep and at midnight and at cockcrow, that mine eyes may behold thee,
&c.). All the night have I laboured to keep mine house from robbers,
lest it be broken through.
147 My loins have I girt close with truth and bound my shoes on my feet,
that I may never see them gaping: mine hands have I put unto the yoked
plough and have not turned away backward, lest my furrows go crooked. The
plough-land is become white and the harvest is come, that I may receive
my wages. My garment that groweth old I have worn out, and the labour that
hath brought me unto rest have I accomplished. I have kept the first watch
and the second and the third, that I may behold thy face and adore thine
holy brightness. I have rooted out the worst (pulled down my barns, Syr.)
and left thern desolate upon earth, that I may be filled full from thy
treasures (Gr. MSS. add: all my substance have I sold, that I may gain
thee the pearl). The moist spring that was in me have I dried up, that
I may live and rest beside thine inexhaustible spring (al. and Syr.: rest
beside thy living spring). The captive whom thou didst commit to me I have
slain, that he which is set free in me may not fall from his confidence.
Him that was inward have I made outward and the outward 148 Let not the powers and the officers perceive me, and let them not
have any thought concerning me; let not the publicans and exactors ply
their calling upon me; let not the weak and the evil cry out against me
that am valiant and humble, and when I am borne upward let them not rise
up to stand before me, by thy power, O Jesu, which surroundeth me as a
crown: for they do flee and hide themselves, they cannot look on thee:
but (for) suddenly do they fall upon them that are subject to them, and
the portion of tile sons of the evil one doth itself cry out and convict
them; and it is not hid from them, nor their nature is made known: the
children of the evil one are separated off. Do thou then grant me, Lord,
that I may pass by in quietness and joy and peace, and pass over and stand
before the judge, and let not the devil (or slanderer) look upon me; let
his eyes be blinded by thy light which thou hast made to dwell in me, close
thou up (muzzle) his mouth: for he hath found nought against me.
[We revert to U.]
149 And he said again unto them that were about him: <Believe, my
children. in the God whom I proclaim, believe in Jesus Christ whom I preach;
believe in the giver of life and helper of his servants, Syr. believe in
the Saviour of them that have laboured in his service: for my soul already
flourisheth because my time is near to receive him; for he being beautiful
draweth me on always to speak concerning his beauty, what it is though
I be not able and suffice not to speak it worthily: thou that art the light
(feeder, Syr.) of my poverty and the supplier of my defects and nurturer
of my need: be thou with me until I come and receive thee for evermore.
The Thirteenth Act: wherein Iuzanes receiveth baptism with the rest.
150 And Iuzanes the youth besought the apostle, saying: I pray thee,
O man, apostle of God, suffer me to go, and I will persuade the gaoler
to permit thee to come home with me, that by thee I may receive the seal,
and become thy minister and a keeper of the commandments of the God whom
thou preachest. For indeed, formerly I walked in those things which thou
teachest, until my father compelled me and joined me unto a wife by name
Mnesara; for I am in my one-and-twentieth year, and have now been seven
years married, and before I was joined in marriage I knew no other woman,
wherefore also I was accounted useless of my father, nor have I ever had
son or daughter of this wife and also my wife herself hath lived with me
in chastity all this time, and to-day, if she had been in health, and had
listened to thee, I know well that both I should have been at rest and
she would have received eternal life; but she is in peril and afflicted
with much illness; I will therefore persuade the keeper that he promise
to come with me, for I live by myself: and thou shalt also heal that unhappy
one. And Judas the apostle of the Most High, hearing this, said to Iuzanes:
If thou believest, thou shalt see the marvels of God, and how he saveth
his servants.
151 And as they spake thus together, Tertia and Mvgdonia and Narcia
stood at the door of the prison, and they gave the gaoler 363 staters of
silver and entered in to Judas; and found Iuzanes and Siphor and his wife
and daughter, and all the prisoners sitting and hearing the word. And when
they stood by him he said to them: Who hath suffered you to come unto us?
and who opened unto you the sealed door that ye came forth? Tertia saith
unto him: Didst not thou open the door for us and tell us to come into
the prison that we might take our brethren that were there, and then should
the Lord show forth his glory in us? And when we came near the door, I
know not how, thou wast parted from us and hid thyself and camest hither
before us where also we heard the noise of the door, when thou didst shut
us out. We gave money therefore to the keepers and came in and lo, we are
here praying thee that we may persuade thee and let thee escape until the
king's wrath against thee shall cease. Unto whom Judas said: Tell us first
of all how ye were shut up.
152 And she saith to him: Thou wast with us, and didst never leave us
for one hour, and askest thou how we were shut up? but if thou desirest
to hear, hear. The king Misdaeus sent for me and said unto me: Not yet
hath that sorcercr prevailed over thee, for, as I hear, he bewitcheth men
with oil and water and bread, and hath not yet bewitched thee; but obey
thou me, for if not, I will imprison thee and wear thee out, and him I
will destroy; for I know that if he hath not yet given thee oil and water
and bread, he hath not prevailed to get power over thee. And I said unto
him: Over my body thou hast authority, and do thou all that thou wilt;
but my soul I will not let perish with thee. And hearing that he shut me
up in a chamber (beneath his dining-hall, Syr.): and Charisius brought
Mygdonia and shut her up with me: and thou broughtest us out and didst
bring us even hither; but give thou us the seal quickly, that the hope
of Misdacus who counselleth thus may be cut off.
153 And when the apostle heard this, he said: Glory be to thee, O Jesu
of many forms, glory to thee that appearest in the guise of our poor manhood:
glory to thee that encouragest us and makest us strong and givest grace
and consolest and standest by us in all perils, and strengthenest our weakness.
And as he thus spake, the gaoler came and said: Put out the lamps, lest
any accuse you unto the king. And then they extinguished the lamps, and
turned to sleep; but the apostle spake unto the Lord: It is the time now,
O Jesu, for thee to make haste; for, lo the children of darkness sit (make
us to sit, Syr.) in their own darkness, do thou therefore enlighten us
with the light of thy nature. And on a sudden the whole prison was light
as the day: and while all they that were in the prison slept a deep sleep,
they only that had believed in the Lord continued waking.
154 Judas therefore saith to Iuzanes: Go thou before and make ready
the things for our need. Iuzanes thererore saith: And who will open me
the doors of the prison? for the gaolers shut them and are gone to sleep.
And Judas saith: Believe in Jesus, and thou shalt find the doors open.
And when he went forth and departed from them, all the rest followed after
him. And as Iuzanes was gone on before, Mnesara his wife met him coming
unto the prison. And she knew him and said: My brother Iuzanes, is it thou?
and he saith, Yea, and art thou Mnesara? and she saith Yea. Iuzanes said
unto her; Whither walkest thou, especialiy at so untimely an hour? and
how wast thou able to rise up? And she said: This youth laid his hand on
me and raised me up, and in a dream I say that I should go where the stranger
sitteth, and become perfectly whole. Iuzanes saith to her: What youth is
with thee? And she said: Seest thou not him that is on my right hand, leading
me by the hand?
155 And while they spake together thus, Judas, with Siphor and his wife
and daughter and Tertia and Mygdonia and Narcia came unto Iuzanes' house.
And Mnesara the wife of Iuzanes seeing him did reverence and said: Art
thou come that savedst us from the sore disease? thou art he whom I saw
in the night delivering unto me this youth to bring me to the prison. But
thy goodness suffered me not to grow weary, but thou thyself art come unto
me. And so saying she turned about and saw the youth no more; and finding
him not, she saith to the apostle: I am not able to walk alone: for the
youth whom thou gavest me is not here. And Judas said: Jesus will henceforth
lead thee. And thereafter she came running unto him. And when they entered
into the house of Iuzanes the son of Misdaeus the king though it was yet
night, a great light shined and was shed about them.
156 And then Judas began to pray and to speak thus: O companion and
defender (ally) and hope of the weak and confidence of the poor: refuge
and lodging of the weary: voice that came forth of the height (sleep, Gr.):
comforter dwelling in the midst: port and harbour of them that pass through
the regions of the rulers: physician that healest without payment: who
among men wast crucified for many: who didst go down into hell with great
might: the sight of whom the princes of death endured not; and thou camest
up with great glory, and gathering all them that fled unto thee didst prepare
a way, and in thy footsteps all they journeyed whom thou didst redeem;
and thou broughtest them into thine own fold and didst join them with thy
sheep: son of mercy, the son that for love of man wast sent unto us from
the perfect country (fatherland) that is above, the Lord of all possessions
(undefiled possessions, Syr.): that servest thy servants that they may
live: that fillest creation with thine own riches: the poor, that wast
in need and didst hunger forty days: that satisfiest thirsty souls with
thine own good things; be thou with Iuzanes the son of Misdaeus and with
Tertia and Mnesara, and gather them into thy fold and mingle them with
thy number; Be unto them a guide in the land of error: be unto them a physician
in the land of sickness: be unto them a rest in the land of the weary:
sanctify them in a polluted land: be their physician both of bodies and
souls: make them holy temples of thee, and let thine holy spirit dwell
in them.
157 Having thus prayed over them, the apostle said unto Mygdonia: Unclothe
thy sisters. And she took off their clothes and girded them with girdles
and brought them: but Iuzanes had first gone before, and they came after
him; and the apostle took oil in a cup of silver and spake thus over it:
Fruit more beautifull than all other fruits, unto which none other whatsoever
may be compared: altogether merciful: fervent with the force of the word:
power of the tree which men putting upon them overcome their adversaries:
crowner of the conquerors: help (symbol) and joy of the sick: that didst
announce unto men their salvation that showest light to them that are in
darkness; whose leaf is bitter, but in thy most sweet fruit thou art fair,
that art rough to the sight but soft to the taste; seeming to be weak,
but in the greatness of thy strength able to bear the power that beholdeth
all things. Having thus said [a corrupt word follows]: Jesu: let his victorious
might come and be established in this oil, like as it was established in
the tree (wood) that was its kin, even his might at that time, whereof
they that crucified thee could not endure the word: let the gift also come
whereby breathing upon his (thine) enemies thou didst cause them to go
backward and fall headlong and let it rest on this oil, whereupon we invoke
thine holy name. And having thus said, he poured it first upon the head
ol Iuzanes and then upon the women's heads, saying: In thy name, O Jesu
Christ, let it be unto these souls for remission of sins and for turning
back of the adversary and for salvation of their souls. And he commanded
Mygdonia to anoint them but he himself anointed Iuzanes. And having anointed
them he led them down into the water in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Ghost.
158 And when they were come up, he took bread and a cup, and blessed
it and said: Thine holy body w}lich was crucified for us do we eat, and
thy blood that was shed for us unto salvation do we drink; let therefore
thy body be unto us salvation and thy blood for remission of sins. And
for the gall which thou didst drink for our sakes let the gall of the devil
be removed from us: and for the vinegar which thou hast drunk for us, let
our weakness be made strong: and for the spitting which thou didst receive
for us, let us receive the dew of thy goodness: and by (or for) the reed
wherewith they smote thee for us, let us receive the perfect house: and
whereas thou receivedst a crown of thorns for our sake, let us that have
loved thee put on a crown that fadeth not away; and for the linen cloth
wherein thou wast Wrapped, let us also be girt about with thy power that
is not vanquished and for the new tomb and the burial let us receive renewing
of soul and body: and for that thou didst rise up and revive, let us revive
and live and stand before thee in righteous judgement. And he brake and
gave the eucharist unto Iuzanes and Tertia and Mnesara and the wife and
daughter of Siphor and said: Let this eucharist be unto you for salvation
and joy and health of your souls. And they said: Amen. And a voice was
heard, saying: Amen: fear ye not, but only believe.
[THE MARTYRDOM]
Here we revert to the text of P and its companions.
159 And after these things Judas departed to be imprisoned.
And Tertia with Mygdonia and Narcia also went to be imprisoned. And
the apostle Thomas said unto them -the multitude of them that had believed
being present: Daughters and sisters and fellow-servants which have believed
in my Lord and God, ministers of my Jesus, hearken to me this day: for
I do deliver my word unto you, and I shall no more speak with you in this
flesh nor in this world; for I go up unto my Lord and God Jesus Christ,
unto him that sold me, unto that Lord that humbled himself even unto me
the little, and brought me up unto eternal greatness, that vouchsafed to
me to become his servant in truth and steadfastness: unto him do I depart,
knowing that the time is fulfilled, and the day appointed hath drawn near
for me to go and receive my recompense from my Lord and God: for my recompenser
is righteous, who knoweth me, how I ought to receive my reward; for he
is not grudging nor envious, but is rich in his gifts, he is not a lover
of craft (OT sparing) in that he giveth, for he hath confidence in his
possessions which cannot fail.
160 I am not Jesus, but I am his servant: I am not Christ, but I am
his minister; I am not the Son of God, but I pray to become worthy of God.
Continue ye in the faith of Christ: continue in the hope of the Son of
God: faint not at affliction, neither be divided in mind if ye see me mocked
or that I am shut up in prison 161 When the apostle had ended these sayings, they went into the house,
and the apostle Thomas said: Saviour that didst suffer many things for
us, let these doors be as they were and let seals be set on them. And he
left them and went to be imprisoned: and they wept and were in heaviness,
for they knew that Misdaeus would slay him (not knowing that, M. would
release him, P.).
162 And the apostle found the keepers wrangling and saying: Wherein
have we sinned against this wizard? for by his art magic he hath opened
the doors and would have had all the prisoners escape: but let us go and
report it unto the king, and tell him concerning his wife and his son.
And as they disputed thus, Thomas held his peace. They rose up early, therefore,
and went unto the king and said unto him: Our lord and king, do thou take
away that sorcerer and cause him to be shut up elsewhere, for we are not
able to keep him; for except thy good fortune had kept the prison, all
the condemned persons would have escaped for now this second time have
we found the doors open: and also thy wife, O king, and thy son and the
rest depart not from him. And the king, hearing that, went, and found the
seals that were set on the doors whole; and he took note of the doors also,
and said to the keepers: Wherefore lie ye? for the seals are whole. How
said ye that Tertia and Mygdonia come unto him into the prison? And the
keepers said: We have told thee the truth.
163 And Misdaeus went to the prison and took his seat, and sent for
the apostle Thomas and stripped him (and girded him with a girdle) and
set him before him and saith unto him: Art thou bond or free? Thomas said:
I am the bondsman of one only, over whom thou hast no authority. And Misdaeus
saith to him: How didst thou run away and come into this country? And Thomas
said: I was sold hither by my master, that I might save many, and by thy
hands depart out of this world. And Misdaeus said: Who is thy lord? and
what is his name? and of what country is he? And Thomas said: My Lord is
thy master and he is Lord of heaven and earth. And Misdaeus saith: What
is his name? Thomas saith: Thou canst not hear his true name at this time:
but the name that was given unto him is Jesus Christ. And Misdaeus saith
unto him: I have not made haste to destroy thee, but have had long patience
with thee: but thou hast added unto thine evil deeds, and thy sorceries
are dispersed abroad and heard of throughout all the country: but this
I do that thy sorceries may depart with thee, and our land be cleansed
from them. Thomas saith unto him; These sorceries depart <not, Syr.
with me when I set forth hence, and know thou this that I <they, Syr.
shall never forsake them that are here.
164 When the apostle had said these things, Misdaeus considered how
he should put him to death; for he was afraid because of the much people
that were subject unto him, for many also of the nobles and of them that
were in authority believed on him. He took him therefore and went forth
out of the city; and armed soldiers also went with him. And the people
supposed that the king desired to learn somewhat of him, and they stood
still and gave heed. And when they had walked one mile, he delivered him
unto four soldiers and an offlcer, and commanded them to take him into
the mountain and there pierce him with spears and put an end to him, and
return again to the city. And saying thus unto the soldiers, he himself
also returned unto the city.
165 But the men ran after Thomas, desiring to deliver him from death.
And two soldiers went at the right hand of the apostle and two on his left,
holding spears, and the officer held his hand and supported him. And the
apostle Thomas said: O the hidden mysteries which even until our departure
are accomplished in us! O riches of his glory, who will not suffer us to
be swallowed up in this passion of the body! Four are they that cast me
down, for of four am I made; and one is he that draweth me, for of one
I am, and unto him I go. And this I now understand, that my Lord and God
Jesus Christ being of one was pierced by one, but I, which am of four,
am pierced by four.
166 And being come up into the mountain unto the place where he was
to be slain, he said unto them that held him, and to the rest: Brethren,
hearken unto me now at the last; for I am come to my departure out of the
body. Let not then the eyes of your heart be blinded, nor your ears be
made deaf. Believe on the God whom I preach, and be not guides unto yourselves
in the hardness of your heart, but walk in all your liberty, and in the
glory that is toward men, and the life that is toward God.
167 And he said unto Iuzanes: Thou son (to the son, P) of the (earthly)
king Misdaeus and minister (to the minister) of our Lord Jesus Christ:
give unto the servants of Misdaeus their price that they may suffer me
to go and pray. And Iuzanes persuaded the soldiers to let him pray. And
the blessed Thomas went to pray, and kneeled down, and rose up and stretched
forth his hands unto heaven, and spake thus:
[Here P and the rest give -rightly- the prayer of cc. 144-8. U and its
companions give the foilowing: He turned to his prayer; and it was this:
My Lord and my God, and hope and redeemer and leader and guide in all countries,
be thou with all them that serve thee, and guide me this day as I come
unto thee. Let not any take my soul which I have committed unto thee: let
not the publicans see me, and let not the exactors accuse me falsely (play
the sycophant with me). Let not the serpent see me, and let not the children
of the dragon hiss at me. Behold, Lord, I have accomplished thy work and
perfected thy commandment. I have become a bondman; therefore to-day do
I receive freedom. Do thou therefore give me this and perfect me: and this
I sav, not for that I doubt, but that they may hear for whom it is needful
to hear.]
168 And when he had thus prayed he said unto the soldiers: Come hither
and accomplish the commandments of him that sent you. And the four came
and pierced him with their spears, and he fell down and died.
And all the brethren wept; and they brought beautiful robes and much
and fair linen, and buried him in a royal sepulchre wherein the former
(first) kings were laid.
169 But Siphor and Iuzanes would not go down to the city, but continued
sitting by him all the day. And the apostle Thomas appeared unto them and
said: Why sit ye here and keep watch over me? I am not here, but I have
gone up and received all that I was promised. But rise up and go down hence;
for after a little time ye also shall be gathered unto me.
But Misdaeus and Charisius took away Mygdonia and Tertia and afflicted
them sorely: howbeit they consented not unto their will. And the apostle
appeared unto them and said: Be not deceived: Jesus the holy, the living
one, shall quickly send help unto you. And Misdaeus and Charisius, when
they perceived that Mygdonia and Tertia obeyed them not, suffered them
to live according to their own desire.
And the brethren gathered together and rejoiced in the grace of the
Holy Ghost: now the apostle Thomas when he departed out of the world made
Siphor a presbyter and Iuzanes a deacon, when he went up into the mountain
to die. And the Lord wrought with them, and many were added unto the faith.
170 Now it came to pass after a long time that one of the children of
Misdaeus the king was smitten by a devil, and no man could cure him, for
the devil was exceeding fierce. And Misdaeus the king took thought and
sad: I will go and open the sepulchre, and take a bone of the apostle of
God and hang it upon my son and he shall be healed. But while Misdaeus
thought upon this, the apostle Thomas appeared to him and said unto him:
Thou believedst not on a living man, and wilt thou believe on the dead?
yet fear not, for my Lord Jesus Christ hath compassion on thee and pitieth
thee of his goodness.
And he went and opened the scpulchre, but found not the apostle there,
for one of the brethren had stolen him away and taken him unto Mesopotamia;
but from that place where the bones of the apostle had lain Misdaeus took
dust and put it about his son's neck, saying: I believe on thee, Jesu Christ,
now that he hath left me which troubleth men and opposeth them lest they
should see thee. And when he had hung it upon his son, the Iad became whole.
Misdaeus the king therefore was also gathered among the brethren, and
bowed his head under the hands of Siphor the priest; and Siphor said unto
the bretbren: Pray ye for Misdaeus the king, that he may obtain mercy of
Jesus Christ, and that he may no more remember evil against him. They all
therefore, with one accord rejoicing, rmade prayer for him; and the Lord
that loveth men, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, granted Misdaeus
also to have hope in him; and he was gathered with the multitude of them
that had believed in Christ, glorifying the Father and the Son and the
Holy Ghost, whose is power and adoration, now and for ever and world without
end. Amen.
[U (and Syr.) ends: The acts of Judas Thomas the apostle are completed,
which he did in India, fulfilling the commandment of him that sent him.
Unto whom be glory, world without end. Amen.]
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