FORMERLY CALLED THE ACTS OF PONTIUS PILATE.
The Gospel of NICODEMUS, the disciple, concerning the Sufferings and Resurrection of our Master and Savior, JESUS CHRIST.
1
1 Christ accused to Pilate by the Jews of healing on the Sabbath. 9 Summoned before Pilate by a messenger who does him honor. 20 Worshipped by the standards bowing down to him.
ANNAS and Caiphas, and Summas, and Datam, Gamaliel, Judas, Levi, Nepthalim, Alexander, Cyrus, and other Jews, went to Pilate about Jesus, accusing him with many bad crimes.
2And said, We are assured that Jesus is the son of Joseph, the carpenter, and born of Mary, and that he declares himself the Son of God, and a king. And not only so, but attempts the dissolution of the Sabbath, and the laws of our fathers.
3Pilate replied, What is it which he declares? and what is it which he attempts dissolving?
4The Jews told him, We have a law which forbids doing cures on the Sabbath day. But he cures both the lame and the deaf, those afflicted with the palsy, the blind, the lepers, and demoniacs, on that day, by wicked methods.
5Pilate replied, How can he do this by wicked methods? They answered He is a conjurer, and casts out devils by the prince of the devils; and so all things, become subject to him.
6Then said Pilate, Casting out devils seems not to be the work of an unclean spirit, but to proceed from the power of God.
7The Jews replied to Pilate, We beg your highness to summon him to appear before your tribunal, and hear him yourself.
8Then Pilate called a messenger, and said to him, By what means will Christ be brought here?
9Then went the messenger forth, and knowing Christ, worshipped him. And having spread the cloak which he had in his hand upon the ground, he said, Lord, walk upon this, and go in, for the governor calls you.
10When the Jews perceived what the messenger had done, they exclaimed (against him) to Pilate, and said, Why did you not give him his summons by a beadle, and not by a messenger?--For the messenger, when he saw him, worshipped him, and spread the cloak which he had in his hand upon the ground before him, and said to him, Lord, the governor calls you.
11Then Pilate called the messenger, and said, Why have you done thus?
12The messenger replied, When you sent me from Jerusalem to Alexander, I saw Jesus sitting in a mean figure upon a she-ass, and the children of the Hebrews cried out, Hosannah, holding boughs of trees in their hands.
13Others spread their garments in the way, and said, Save us, you who are in heaven; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
14Then the Jews cried out, against the messenger, and said, The children of the Hebrews made their acclamations in the Hebrew language. And how could you, who are a Greek, understand the Hebrew?
15The messenger answered them and said, I asked one of the Jews and said, What is this which the children do cry out in the Hebrew language?
16And he explained it to me, saying, they cry out, Hosannah, which being interpreted, is, O Lord, save me; or, O Lord, save.
17Pilate then said to them, Why do you yourselves testify to the words spoken by the children, namely, by your silence? In what has the messenger done amiss? And they were silent.
18Then the governor said to the messenger, Go forth and try by any means to bring him in.
19But the messenger went forth and did as before; and said, Lord come in, for the governor calls you.
20And as Jesus was going in by the ensigns, who carried the standards, the tops of them bowed down and worshipped Jesus.
21Whereupon the Jews exclaimed more vehemently against the ensigns.
22But Pilate said to the Jews, I know it is not pleasing to you that the tops of the standards did of themselves bow and worship Jesus. But why do you exclaim against the ensigns, as if they had bowed and worshipped?
23They replied to Pilate, We saw the ensigns themselves bowing and worshipping Jesus.
24Then the governor called the ensigns, and said to them, Why did you do thus?
25The ensigns said to Pilate, We are all Pagans and worship the gods in temples; and how should we think anything about worshipping him? We only held the standards in our hands, and they bowed themselves and worshipped him.
26Then said Pilate to the rulers of the synagogue, Do you yourselves choose some strong men, and let them hold the standards, and we shall see whether they will then bend of themselves.
27So the elders of the Jews sought out twelve of the most strong and able old men, and made them hold the standards, and they stood in the presence of the governor.
28Then Pilate said to the messenger, Take Jesus out, and by some means bring him in again. And Jesus and the messenger went out of the hall.
29And Pilate called the ensigns who before had borne the standards, and swore to them, that if they had not borne the standards in that manner when Jesus before entered in, he would cut off their heads.
30Then the governor commanded Jesus to come in again.
31And the messenger did as he had done before, and very much begged Jesus that he would go upon his cloak, and walk on it. And he did walk upon it, and went in.
32And when Jesus went in, the standards bowed themselves as before, and worshipped him.
2
2 Is compassionated by Pilate's wife, 7 charged with being born in fornication. 12 Testimony to the betrothing of his parents. 15 Hatred of the Jews to him.
NOW when Pilate saw this, he was afraid, and was about to rise from his seat.
2But while he thought to rise, his own wife who stood at a distance, sent to him, saying, Have you nothing to do with that just man. For I have suffered much concerning him in a vision this night.
3When the Jews heard this they said to Pilate, Did we not say to you, He is a conjuror? Behold, he has caused your wife to dream.
4Pilate then calling Jesus, said, you have heard what they testify against you, and make no answer?
5Jesus replied, If they had not a power of speaking, they could not have spoke. But because every one has the command of his own tongue, to speak both good and bad, let him look to it.
6But the elders of the Jews answered, and said to Jesus, What shall we look to?
7In the first place, we know this concerning you, that you were born through fornication; secondly, that upon the account of your birth the infants were slain in Bethlehem. Thirdly, that your father and mother Mary fled into Egypt, because they could not trust their own people.
8Some of the Jews who stood by spoke more favorably, We cannot say that he was born through fornication. But we know that his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, and so he was not born through fornication.
9Then said Pilate to the Jews who affirmed him to be born through fornication, This your account is not true, seeing there was a betrothment, as they testify who are of your own nation.
10Annas and Caiphas spoke to Pilate, All this multitude of people is to be regarded, who cry out, that he was born through fornication, and is a conjurer. But they who deny him to be born through fornication, are his proselytes and disciples.
11Pilate answered Annas and Caiphas, Who are the proselytes? They answered, They are those who are the children of Pagans, and are not become Jews, but followers of him.
12Then replied Eleazer, and Asterius, and Antonius, and James, Caras and Samuel, Isaac and Phinees, Crispus and Agrippa, Annas and Judas, We are not proselytes. But children of Jews, and speak the truth, and were present when Mary was betrothed.
13Then Pilate addressing himself to the twelve men who spoke this, said to them, I conjure you by the life of Caesar, that you faithfully declare whether he was born through fornication, and those things be true which you have related.
14They answered Pilate, We have a law whereby we are forbid to swear, it being a sin: Let them swear by the life of Caesar that it is not as we have said, and we will be contented to be put to death.
15Then said Annas and Caiphas to Pilate, Those twelve men will not believe that we know him to be basely born, and to be a conjurer, although he pretends that he is the Son of God, and a king: which we are so far from believing, that we tremble to hear.
16Then Pilate commanded every one to go out except the twelve men who said he was not born through fornication, and Jesus to withdraw to a distance, and said to them, Why have the Jews a mind to kill Jesus?
17They answered him, They are angry because he wrought cures on the sabbath day. Pilate said, Will they kill him for a good work? They say to him, Yes, Sir.
3
1Is exonerated by Pilate.
11Disputes with Pilate concerning truth.
THEN Pilate, filled with anger, went out of the hall, and said to the Jews, I call the whole world to witness that I find no fault in that man.
2The Jews replied to Pilate, If he had not been a wicked person, we had not brought him before you.
3Pilate said to them, Do you take him and try him by your law.
4Then the Jews said, It is not lawful for us to put any one to death.
5Pilate said to the Jews, The command, therefore, you shall not kill, belongs to you, but not to me.
6And he went again into the hall, and called Jesus by himself, and said to him, Are you the king of the Jews?
7And Jesus answering, said to Pilate, Do you speak this of thyself, or did the Jews tell it you concerning me?
8Pilate answering, said to Jesus, Am I a Jew? The whole nation and rulers of the Jews have delivered you up to me. What have you done?
9Jesus answering, said, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight. And I should not have been delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence.
10Pilate said, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king: to this end was I born, and for this end came I into the world. And for this purpose I came, that I should bear witness to the truth; and every one who is of the truth, hears my voice.
11Pilate says to him, What is truth?
12Jesus said, Truth is from heaven.
13Pilate said, Therefore truth is not on earth.
14Jesus says to Pilate, Believe that truth is on earth among those, who when they have the power of judgment, are governed by truth, and form right judgment.
4
1 Pilate finds no fault in Jesus. 16 The Jews demand his crucifixion.
THEN Pilate left Jesus in the hall, and went out to the Jews, and said, I find not any one fault in Jesus.
2The Jews say to him, But he said, I can destroy the temple of God, and in three days build it up again.
3Pilate says to them, What sort of temple is that of which he speaks?
4The Jews say to him, That which Solomon was forty-six years in building, he said he would destroy, and in three days build up.
5Pilate said to them again, I am innocent from the blood of that man! do you look to it.
6The Jews say to him, His blood be upon us and our children. Then Pilate calling together the elders and scribes, priests and Levites, says to them privately, Do not act thus. I have found nothing in your charge (against him) concerning his curing sick persons, and breaking the sabbath, worthy of death.
7The priests and Levites replied to Pilate, By the life of Caesar, if any one be a blasphemer, he is worthy of death; but this man has blasphemed against the Lord.
8Then the governor again commanded the Jews to depart out of the hall; and calling Jesus, said to him, What shall I do with you?
9Jesus answered him, Do according as it is written.
10Pilate said to him, How is it written?
11Jesus says to him, Moses and the prophets have prophesied concerning my suffering and resurrection.
12The Jews hearing this, were provoked, and said to Pilate, Why will you any longer hear the blasphemy of that man?
13Pilate says to them, If these words seem to you blasphemy, do you take him, bring him to your court, and try him according to your law.
14The Jews reply to Pilate, Our law says, he shall be obliged to receive nine and thirty stripes, but if after this manner he shall blaspheme against the Lord, he shall be stoned.
15Pilate says to them, If that speech of his was blasphemy, do you try him according to your law.
16The Jews say to Pilate, Our law command us not to put any one to death. We desire that he may be crucified, because he deserves the death of the cross.
17Pilate says to them, It is not fit he should be crucified: let him be only whipped and sent away.
18But when the governor looked upon the people that were present and the Jews, he saw many of the Jews in tears, and said to the chief priests of the Jews, All the people do not desire his death.
19The elders of the Jews answered to Pilate, We and all the people came here for this very purpose, that he should die.
20Pilate says to them, Why should he die?
21They said to him, Because he declares himself to be the Son of God and a King.
5
1 Nicodemus speaks in defense of Christ, and relates his miracles. 12 Another Jew, 26 with Veronica, 34 Centurio, and others, testify of other miracles.
BUT Nicodemus, a certain Jew, stood before the governor, and said, I beg you, O righteous judge, that you would favor me with the liberty of speaking a few words.
2Pilate said to him, Speak on.
3Nicodemus said, I spoke to the elders of the Jews, and the scribes, and priests and Levites, and all the multitude of the Jews, in their assembly. What is it you would do with this man?
4He is a man who has wrought many useful and glorious miracles, such as no man on earth ever wrought before, nor will ever work. Let him go, and do him no harm; if he comes from God, his miracles, (his miraculous cures) will continue; but if from men, they will come to nought.
5Thus Moses, when he was sent by God into Egypt, wrought the miracles which God commanded him, before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And though the magicians of that country, Jannes and Jambres, wrought by their magic the same miracles which Moses did, yet they could not work all which he did;
6And the miracles which the magicians wrought, were not of God, as you know, O Scribes and Pharisees; but they who wrought them perished, and all who believed them.
7And now let this man go; because the very miracles for which you accuse him, are from God; and he is not worthy of death.
8The Jews then said to Nicodemus, Are you become his disciple, and making speeches in his favor?
9Nicodemus said to them, Is the governor become his disciple also, and does he make speeches for him? Did not Caesar place him in that high post?
10When the Jews heard this they trembled, and gnashed their teeth at Nicodemus, and said to him, May you receive his doctrine for truth, and have your lot with Christ!
11Nicodemus replied, Amen; I will receive his doctrine, and my lot with him, as you have said.
12Then another certain Jew rose up, and desired leave of the governor to hear him a few words.
13And the governor said, Speak, what you have a mind.
14And he said, I lay for thirty- eight years by the sheep-pool at Jerusalem, laboring under a great infirmity, and waiting for a cure which should be wrought by the coming of an angel, who at a certain time troubled the water: and whosoever first after the troubling of the water stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
15And when Jesus saw me languishing there, he said to me, Will you be made whole? And I answered, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool.
16And he said to me, Rise, take up your bed and walk. And I was immediately made whole, and took up my bed and walked.
17The Jews then said to Pilate, Our Lord Governor, pray ask him what day it was on which he was cured of his infirmity.
18The infirm person replied, It was on the sabbath.
19The Jews said to Pilate, Did we not say that he wrought his cures on the sabbath, and cast out devils by the prince of devils?
20Then another certain Jew came forth, and said, I was blind, could hear sounds, but could not see any one. And as Jesus was going along, I heard the multitude passing by, and I asked what was there?
21They told me that Jesus was passing by: then I cried out, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. And he stood still, and commanded that I should be brought to him, and said to me, What will you?
22I said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
23He said to me, Receive your sight: and presently I saw, and followed him, rejoicing and giving thanks,
24Another Jew also came forth, and said, I was a leper, and he cured me by his word only, saying, I will, be you clean. And presently I was cleansed from my leprosy.
25And another Jew came forth, and said I was crooked, and he made me straight by his word.
26And a certain woman named Veronica, said, I was afflicted with an issue of blood twelve years, and I touched the hem of his garment, and presently the issue of blood stopped.
27The Jews then said, We have a law, that a woman shall not be allowed as an evidence.
28And, after other things, another Jew said, I saw Jesus invited to a wedding with his disciples, and there was a want of wine in Cana of Galilee;
29And when the wine was all drank, he commanded the servants that they should fill six pots which were there with water, and they filled them up to the brim, and he blessed them and turned the water into wine, and all the people drank, being surprised at this miracle,
30And another Jew stood forth, and said, I saw Jesus teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. And there was in the synagogue a certain man who had a devil; and he cried out, saying, let me alone; what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you come to destroy us? I know that you are the Holy One of God.
31And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold your peace, unclean spirit, and come out of the man; and presently he came out of him, and did not at all hurt him.
32The following things were also said by a Pharisee: I saw that a great company came to Jesus from Galilee and Judea, and the sea-cost, and many countries about Jordan. And many infirm persons came to him, and he healed them all.
33And I heard the unclean spirits crying out, and saying, You are the Son of God. And Jesus strictly charged them, that they should not make him known.
34After this another person, whose name was Centurio, said, I saw Jesus in Capernaum, and I begged him, saying, Lord, my servant lies at home sick of the palsy.
35And Jesus said to me, I will come and cure him.
36But I said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant shall be healed.
37And Jesus said to me, Go your way; and as you have believed so be it done to you. And my servant was healed from that same hour.
38Then a certain nobleman said, I had a son in Capernaum, who lay at the point of death. And when I heard that Jesus was come into Galilee, I went and begged him that he would come down to my house, and heal my son, for he was at the point of death.
39He said to me, Go your way, your son lives.
40And my son was cured from that hour.
41Besides these, also many others of the Jews, both men and Women, cried out and said, He is truly the Son of God, who cures all diseases only by his word, and to whom the devils are altogether subject.
42Some of them farther said, This power can proceed from none but God.
43Pilate said to the Jews, Why are not the devils subject to your doctors?
44Some of them said, The power of subjecting devils cannot proceed but from God.
45But others said to Pilate, That he had raised Lazarus from the dead, after he had been four days in his grave.
46The governor hearing this, trembling, said to the multitude of the Jews, What will it profit you to shed innocent blood?
6
1 Pilate dismayed by the turbulence of the Jews, 5 who demand Barabbas to be released, and Christ to be crucified. 9 Pilate warmly expostulates with them, 20 washes his hands of Christ's blood, 23 and sentences him to be whipped and crucified.
THEN Pilate having called together Nicodemus, and the fifteen men who said that Jesus was not born through fornication, said to them, What shall I do, seeing there is like to be a tumult among the people.
2They say to him, We know not; let them look to it who raise the tumult.
3Pilate then called the multitude again, and said to them, You know that you have a custom, that I should release to you one prisoner at the feast of the passover:
4I have a noted prisoner, a murderer, who is called Barabbas, and Jesus who is called Christ, in whom I find nothing that deserves death; which of them, therefore, have you a mind that I should release to you?
5They all cry out, and say, Release to us Barabbas.
6Pilate says to them, What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?
7They all answer, Let him be crucified.
8Again they cry out and say to Pilate, You are not the friend of Caesar, if you release this man. For he has declared that he is the Son of God, and a king. But are you inclined that he should be king, and not Caesar?
9Then Pilate filled with anger said to them, Your nation has always been seditious, and you are always against those who have been serviceable to you.
10The Jews replied, Who are those who have been serviceable to us?
11Pilate answered them, Your God who delivered you from the hard bondage of the Egyptians, and brought you over the Red Sea as though it had been dry land, and fed you in the wilderness with manna and the flesh of quails, and brought water out of the rock, and gave you a law from heaven.
12You provoked him all ways, and desired for yourselves a molten calf, and worshipped it, and sacrificed to it, and said, These are your Gods, O Israel, which brought you out of the land of Egypt:
13On account of which your God was inclined to destroy you; but Moses interceded for you, and your God heard him, and forgave your iniquity.
14Afterwards you were enraged against, and would have killed your prophets, Moses and Aaron, when they fled to the tabernacle, and you were always murmuring against God and his prophets.
15And arising from his judgment seat, he would have gone out; but the Jews all cried out, We acknowledge Caesar to be king, and not Jesus;
16Whereas this person, as soon as he was born, the wise men came and offered gifts to him; which when Herod heard, he was very troubled, and would have killed him:
17When his father knew this, he fled with him and his mother Mary into Egypt. Herod, when he heard he was born, would have slain him. And accordingly sent and killed all the children which were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts of it, from two years old and under.
18When Pilate heard this account, he was afraid; and commanding silence among the people, who made a noise, he said to Jesus, Are you therefore a king?
19All the Jews replied to Pilate, he is the very person whom Herod sought to have slain.
20Then Pilate taking water, washed his hands before the people and said, I am innocent of the blood of this just person; look you to it.
21The Jews answered and said, His blood be upon us and our children.
22Then Pilate commanded Jesus to be brought before him, and spoke to him in the following words;
23Your own nation has charged you as making thyself a king; wherefore I, Pilate, sentence you to be whipped according to the laws of former governors. And that you be first bound, then hanged upon a cross in that place where you are now a prisoner; and also two criminals with you, whose names are Dimas and Gestas.
7
1 Manner of Christ's crucifixion with the two thieves.
THEN Jesus went out of the hall, and the two thieves with him.
2And when they came to the place which is called Golgotha, they stript him of his clothing, and girt him about with a linen cloth, and put a crown of thorns upon his head, and put a reed in his hand.
3And in like manner did they to the two thieves who were crucified with him, Dimas on his right hand and Gestas on his left.
4But Jesus said, My Father, forgive them, For they know not what they do.
5And they divided his garments, and upon his clothing they cast lots.
6The people in the mean time stood by, and the chief priests and elders of the Jews mocked him, saying, He saved others, let him now save himself if he can; if he be the son of God, let him now come down from the cross.
7The soldiers also mocked him, and taking vinegar and gall, offered it to him to drink, and said to him, If you are king of the Jews, deliver thyself.
8Then Longinus, a certain soldier, taking a spear, pierced his side, and presently there came forth blood and water.
9And Pilate wrote the title upon the cross in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek letters, viz., THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
10But one of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus, whose name was Gestas, said to Jesus, If you are the Christ, deliver thyself and us.
11But the thief who was crucified on his right hand, whose name was Dimas, answering, rebuked him, and said, Do not you fear God, who are condemned to this punishment? We indeed receive rightly and justly the demerit of our actions; but this Jesus, what evil has he done.
12After this, groaning, he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
13Jesus answering, said to him, Truly I say to you, that this day you shall be with me in Paradise.
8
1 Miraculous appearance at his death. 10 The Jews say the eclipse was natural. 12 Joseph of Arimathea embalms Christ's body and buries it.
AND it was about the sixth hour, and darkness was upon the face of the whole earth until the ninth hour.
2And while the sun was eclipsed, behold the veil of the temple was rent from the top, to the bottom. And the rocks also were rent, and the graves opened, and many bodies of saints, which slept, arose.
3And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani? which being interpreted is, My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
4And after these things, Jesus said, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit; and having said this, he gave up the ghost.
5But when the centurion saw that Jesus thus crying out gave up the ghost, he glorified God, and said, In truth this was a just man.
6And all the people who stood by, were very troubled at the sight; and reflecting upon what had passed, struck upon their breasts, and then returned to the city of Jerusalem.
7The centurion went to the governor, and related to him all that had passed:
8And when he had heard all these things, he was very sorrowful;
9And calling the Jews together, said to them, Have you seen the miracle of the sun's eclipse, and the other things which came to pass, while Jesus was dying?
10Which when the Jews heard, they answered to the governor, The eclipse of the sun happened according to its usual custom.
11But all those who were the acquaintance of Christ, stood at a distance, as did the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, observing all these things.
12And behold a certain man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. But not openly so, for fear of the Jews, came to the governor, and begged the governor that he would give him leave to take away the body of Jesus from the cross.
13And the governor gave him leave.
14And Nicodemus came, bringing with him a mixture of myrrh and aloes about a hundred pounds weight. And they took down Jesus from the cross with tears, and bound him in linen cloths with spices, according to the custom of burying among the Jews;
15And placed him in a new tomb, which Joseph had built, and caused to be cut out of a rock, in which never any man had been put. And they rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher.
9
1 The Jews angry with Nicodemus: 5 and with, Joseph of Arimathea, 7 whom they imprison.
WHEN the unjust Jews heard that Joseph had begged and buried the body of Jesus, they sought after Nicodemus, and those fifteen men who had testified before the governor, that Jesus was not born through fornication, and other good persons who had shown any good actions towards him.
2But when they all concealed themselves through fear of the Jews, Nicodemus alone showed himself to them, and said, How can such persons as these enter into the synagogue?
3The Jews answered him, But how dared you enter into the synagogue, who were a confederate with Christ? Let your lot be along with him in the other world.
4Nicodemus answered, Amen; so may it be, that I may have my lot with him in his kingdom.
5In like manner Joseph, when he came to the Jews, said to them, Why are you angry with me for desiring the body of Jesus of Pilate? Behold, I have put him in my tomb, and wrapped him up in clean linen, and put a stone at the door of the sepulcher:
6I have acted rightly towards him; but you have acted unjustly against that just person, in crucifying him, giving him vinegar to drink, crowning him with thorns, tearing his body with whips, and praying down the guilt of his blood upon you.
7The Jews at the hearing of this were disquieted and troubled. And they seized Joseph, and commanded him to be put in custody before the Sabbath, and kept there till the Sabbath was over.
8And they said to him, Make confession; for at this time it is not lawful to do you any harm, till the first day of the week come. But we know that you will not be thought worthy of a burial; but we will give your flesh to the birds of the air, and the beasts of the earth.
9Joseph answered, That speech is like the speech of proud Goliath, who reproached the living God in speaking against David. But you scribes and doctors know that God says by the prophet, Vengeance is mine, and I will repay to you evil equal to that which you have threatened to me.
10The God whom you have hanged upon the cross, is able to deliver me out of your hands. All your wickedness will return upon you.
11For the governor, when he washed his hands, said, I am clear from the blood of this just person. But you answered and cried out, His blood be upon us and our children. According as you have said, may you perish for ever.
12The elders of the Jews hearing these words, were very enraged. And seizing Joseph, they put him into a chamber where there was no window; they fastened the door, and put a seal upon the lock;
13And Annas and Caiaphas placed a guard upon it, and took counsel with the priests and Levites, that they should all meet after the Sabbath, and they contrived to what death they should put Joseph.
14When they had done this, the rulers, Annas and Caiaphas, ordered Joseph to be brought forth.
(In this place there is a portion of the Gospel lost or omitted. which cannot be supplied. It may, nevertheless, be surmised from the occurrence related in the next chapter, that the order of Annas and Caiaphas were rendered unnecessary by Joseph's miraculous escape, and which was announced to an assembly of people.)
10
1 Joseph's escape. 2 The soldiers relate Christ's resurrection. 18 Christ is seen preaching in Galilee. 21 The Jews repent of their cruelty to him.
WHEN all the assembly heard this (about Joseph's escape), they admired and were astonished, because they found the same seal upon the lock of the chamber, and could not find Joseph.
2Then Annas and Caiaphas went forth, and while they were all admiring at Joseph's being gone, behold one of the soldiers, who kept the sepulcher of Jesus, spoke in the assembly,
3That while they were guarding the sepulcher of Jesus, there was an earthquake; and we saw an angel of God roll away the stone of the sepulcher and sit upon it;
4And his countenance was like lightning and his garment like snow; and we became through fear like persons dead.
5And we heard an angel saying to the women at the sepulcher of Jesus, Do not fear; I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified; he is risen as he foretold;
6Come and see the place where he was laid; and go presently, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. And he will go before you into Galilee; there you shall see him as he told you.
7Then the Jews called together all the soldiers who kept the sepulcher of Jesus, and said to them, Who are those women, to whom the angel spoke? Why did you not seize them.
8The soldiers answered and said, We know not who the women were; besides we became as dead persons through fear, and how could we seize those women?
9The Jews said to them, As the Lord lives, we do not believe you;
10The soldiers answering said to the Jews, when you saw and heard Jesus working so many miracles, and did not believe him, how should you believe us? You well said, As the Lord lives, for the Lord truly does live.
11We have heard that you shut up Joseph, who buried the body of Jesus, in a chamber, under a lock which was sealed; and when you opened it, found him not there.
12Do you then produce Joseph whom you put under guard in the chamber, and we will produce Jesus whom we guarded in the sepulcher.
13The Jews answered and said, We will produce Joseph, do you produce Jesus. But Joseph is in his own city of Arimathea.
14The soldiers replied, If Joseph be in Arimathea, and Jesus in Galilee, we heard the angel inform the women.
15The Jews hearing this, were afraid, and said among themselves, If by any means these things should become public, then everybody will believe in Jesus.
16Then they gathered a large sum of money, and gave it to the soldiers, saying, Do you tell the people that the disciples of Jesus came in the night when you were asleep, and stole away the body of Jesus. And if Pilate the governor should hear of this, we will satisfy him and secure you.
17The soldiers accordingly took the money, and said as they were instructed by the Jews; and their report was spread abroad among all the people.
18But a certain priest Phinees, Ada a schoolmaster, and a Levite, named Ageus, they three came from Galilee to Jerusalem, and told the chief priests and all who were in the synagogues, saying,
19We have seen Jesus, whom you crucified, talking with his eleven disciples, and sitting in the midst of them in Mount Olivet, and saying to them,
20Go forth into the whole world, preach the Gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And whosoever shall believe and be baptized, shall be saved.
21And when he had said these things to his disciples, we saw him ascending up to heaven.
22When the chief priests and elders, and Levites heard these things, they said to these three men, Give glory to the God of Israel, and make confession to him, whether those things are true, which you say you have seen and heard.
23They answering said, As the Lord of our fathers lives, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, according as we heard Jesus talking with his disciples, and according as we saw him ascending up to heaven. So we have related the truth to you.
24And the three men farther answered, and said, adding these words, If we should not own the words which we heard Jesus speak, and that we saw him ascending into heaven, we should be guilty of sin.
25Then the chief priests immediately rose up, and holding the book of the law in their hands, conjured these men, saying, You shall no more hereafter declare those things which you have spoken concerning Jesus.
26And they gave them a large sum of money, and sent other persons along with them, who should conduct them to their own country, that they might not by any means make any stay at Jerusalem.
27Then the Jews did assemble all together, and having expressed the most lamentable concern said, What is this extraordinary thing which is come to pass in Jerusalem?
28But Annas and Caiaphas comforted them, saying, Why should we believe the soldiers who guarded the sepulcher of Jesus, in telling us, that an angel rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?
29Perhaps his own disciples told them this, and gave them money that they should say so, and they themselves took away the body of Jesus.
30Besides, consider this, that there is no credit to be given to foreigners, because they also took a large sum of us, and they have declared to us according to the instructions which we gave them. They must either be faithful to us or to the disciples of Jesus.
11
1 Nicodemus counsels the Jews. 6 Joseph found. 11 Invited by the Jews to return. 19 Relates the manner of his miraculous escape.
THEN Nicodemus arose, and said, You say right, O sons of Israel. You have heard what those three men have sworn by the Law of God, who said, We have seen Jesus speaking with his disciples upon mount Olivet, and we saw him ascending up to heaven.
2And the scripture teaches us that the blessed prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven, and Elisha being asked by the sons of the prophets, Where is our father Elijah? He said to them, that he is taken up to heaven.
3And the sons of the prophets said to him, Perhaps the spirit has carried him into one of the mountains of Israel, there perhaps we shall find him. And they begged Elisha, and he walked about with them three days, and they could not find him.
4And now hear me, O sons of Israel, and let us send men into the mountains of Israel, lest perhaps the spirit has carried away Jesus, and there perhaps we shall find him, and be satisfied.
5And the counsel of Nicodemus pleased all the people; and they sent forth men who sought for Jesus, but could not find him. And they returning, said, We went all about, but could not find Jesus, but we have found Joseph in his city of Arimathea.
6The rulers hearing this, and all the people, were glad, and praised the God of Israel, because Joseph was found, whom they had shut up in a chamber, and could not find.
7And when they had formed a large assembly, the chief priests said, By what means shall we bring Joseph to us to speak with him?
8And taking a piece of paper, they wrote to him, and said, Peace be with you, and all your family, We know that we have offended against God and you. Be pleased to give a visit to us, your fathers, for we were perfectly surprised at your escape from prison.
9We know that it was malicious counsel which we took against you, and that the Lord took care of you, and the Lord himself delivered you from our designs. Peace be to you, Joseph, who are honorable among all the people.
10And they chose seven of Joseph's friends, and said to them, When you come to Joseph, salute him in peace, and give him this letter.
11Accordingly, when the men came to Joseph, they did salute him in peace, and gave him the letter.
12And when Joseph had read it, he said, Blessed be the Lord God, who did deliver me from the Israelites, that they could not shed my blood. Blessed be God, who have protected me under your wings.
13And Joseph kissed them, and took them into his house. And on the morrow, Joseph mounted his ass, and went along with them to Jerusalem.
14And when all the Jews heard these things, they went out to meet him, and cried out, saying, Peace attend your coming here, father Joseph.
15To which he answered, Prosperity from the Lord attend all the people.
13And they all kissed him; and Nicodemus took him to his house, having prepared a large entertainment.
17But on the morrow, being a preparation-day, Annas, and Caiaphas, and Nicodemus, said to Joseph, Make confession to the God of Israel, and answer to us all those questions which we shall ask you;
18For we have been very much troubled, that you did bury the body of Jesus; and that when we had locked you in a chamber, we could not find you. And we have been afraid ever since, till this time of your appearing among us. Tell us therefore before God, all that came to pass.
19Then Joseph answering, said You did indeed put me under confinement, on the day of preparation, till the morning.
20But while I was standing at prayer in the middle of the night, the house was surrounded with four angels. And I saw Jesus as the brightness of the sun, and fell down upon the earth for fear.
21But Jesus laying hold on my hand, lifted me from the ground, and the dew was then sprinkled upon me. But he, wiping my face, kissed me, and said to me, Fear not, Joseph; look upon me for it is I.
22Then I looked upon him, and said, Rabboni Elias! He answered me, I am not Elias, but Jesus of Nazareth, whose body you did bury.
23I said to him, show me the tomb in which I laid you.
24Then Jesus, taking me by the hand, led me to the place where I laid him, and showed me the linen clothes, and napkin which I put round his head. Then I knew that it was Jesus, and worshipped him, and said; Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord.
25Jesus again taking me by the hand, led me to Arimathea, to my own house, and said to me, Peace be to you. But go not out of your house till the fortieth day; but I must go to my disciples.
12
1 The Jews astonished and confounded. 16 Simeon's two sons, Charinus and Lenthius, rise from the dead at Christ's crucifixion. 19 Joseph proposes to get them to relate the mysteries of their resurrection. 21 They are sought and found, 22 brought to the synagogue, 23 privately sworn to secrecy, 25 and undertake to write what they had seen.
WHEN the chief priests and Levites heard all these things, they were astonished, and fell down with their faces on the ground as dead men, and crying out to one another, said, What is this extraordinary sign which is come to pass in Jerusalem? We know the father and mother of Jesus.
2And a certain Levite said, I know many of his relations, religions persons, who are wont to offer sacrifices and burnt-offerings to the God of Israel, in the temple, with prayers.
3And when the high-priest Simeon took him up in his arms, he said to him, Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your word. For mine eyes have seen your salvation, which then halt prepared before the face of all people; a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
4Simeon in like manner blessed Mary the Mother of Jesus, and said to her, I declare to you concerning that child. He is appointed for the fall and rising again of many, and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
5Yes, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, and the thoughts of many hearts shall be revealed.
6Then said all the Jews, Let us send to those three men, who said they saw him talking with his disciples in mount Olivet.
7After this, they asked them what they had seen; who answered with one accord, In the presence of the God of Israel we affirm, that we plainly saw Jesus talking with his disciples in Mount Olivet, and ascending up to heaven.
8Then Annas and Caiaphas took them into separate places, and examined them separately; who unanimously confessed the truth, and said, they had seen Jesus.
9Then Annas and Caiaphas said "Our law says, By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established."
10But what have we said? The blessed Enoch pleased God, and was translated by the word of God; and the burying-place of the blessed Moses is known.
11But Jesus was delivered to Pilate, whipped, crowned with thorns, spit upon, pierced with a spear, crucified, died upon the cross, and was buried, and his body the honorable Joseph buried in a new sepulcher, and he testifies that he saw him alive.
12And besides, these men have declared, that they saw him talking with his disciples in Mount Olivet, and ascending up to heaven.
13Then Joseph rising up, said to Annas and Caiaphas, You may be justly under a great surprise, that you have been told, that Jesus is alive, and gone up to heaven.
14It is indeed a thing really surprising, that he should not only himself arise from the dead, but also raise others from their graves, who have been seen by many in Jerusalem.
15And now hear me a little We all knew the blessed Simeon, the high-priest, who took Jesus when an infant into his arms in the temple.
16This same Simeon had two sons of his own, and we were all present at their death and funeral.
17Go therefore and see their tombs, for these are open, and they are risen: and behold, they are in the city of Arimathea, spending their time together in offices of devotion.
18Some, indeed, have heard the sound of their voices in prayer, but they will not discourse with anyone, but they continue as mute as dead men.
19But come, let us go to them, and behave ourselves towards them with all due respect and caution. And if we can bring them to swear, perhaps they will tell us some of the mysteries of their resurrection.
20When the Jews heard this they were very rejoiced.
21Then Annas and Caiaphas, Nicodemus, Joseph, and Gamaliel, went to Arimathea, but did not find them in their graves. But walking about the city, they found them on their bended knees at their devotions:
22Then saluting them with all respect and deference to God, they brought them to the synagogue at Jerusalem. And having shut the gates, they took the book of the law of the Lord,
23And putting it in their hands, swore them by God Adonai, and the God of Israel, who spoke to our fathers by the law and the prophets, saying, If you believe him who raised you from the dead, to be Jesus, tell us what you have seen, and how you were raised from the dead.
24Charinus and Lenthius, the two sons of Simeon, trembled when they heard these things, and were disturbed, and groaned. And at the same time looking up to heaven, they made the sign of the cross with their fingers on their tongues,
25And immediately they spoke, and said, Give each of us some paper, and we will write down for you all those things which we have seen. And they each sat down and wrote, saying:--
13
1 The narrative of Charinus and Lenthius commences. 3 A great light in hell. 7 Simeon arrives, and announces the coming of Christ.
O LORD Jesus and Father, who are God, also the resurrection and life of the dead, give us leave to declare your mysteries, which we saw after death, belonging to your cross. For we are sworn by your name.
2For you have forbidden your servants to declare the secret things, which were wrought by your divine power in hell.
3When we were Placed with our fathers in the depth of hell, in the blackness of darkness, on a sudden there appeared the color of the sun like gold, and a substantial purple-colored light enlightening the place.
4Presently upon this, Adam, the father of all mankind, with all the patriarchs and prophets, rejoiced and said, That light is the author of everlasting light, who has promised to translate us to everlasting light.
5Then Isaiah the prophet cried out and said, This is the light of the Father, and the Son of God, according to my prophecy, when I was alive upon earth.
6The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, beyond Jordan, a people who walked in darkness, saw a great light. And to them who dwelled in the region of the shadow of death, light is arisen. And now he is come, and has enlightened us who sat in death.
7And while we were all rejoicing in the light which shone upon us, our father Simeon came among us, and congratulating all the company, said, Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God.
8Whom I took up in my arms when an infant in the temple, and being moved by the Holy Ghost, said to him, and acknowledged, That now mine eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people. A light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
9All the saints who were in the depth of hell, hearing this, rejoiced the more.
10Afterwards there came forth one like a little hermit, and was asked by every one, Who are you?
11To which he replied, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, John the Baptist, and the prophet of the Most High, who went before his coming to prepare his way, to give the knowledge of salvation to his people for the forgiveness of sins.
12And I, John, when I saw Jesus coming to me, being moved by the Holy Ghost, I said, Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
13And I baptized him in the river Jordan, and saw the Holy Ghost descending upon him in the form of a dove, and heard a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
14And now while I was going before him, I came down here to acquaint you, that the Son of God will next visit us, and, as the day-spring from on high, will come to us, who are in darkness and the shadow of death.
14
1 Adam causes Seth to relate what he heard from Michael the archangel, when he sent him to Paradise to beg God to anoint his head in his sickness.
BUT when the first man our father Adam heard these things, that Jesus was baptized in Jordan, he called out to his son Seth, and said,
2Declare to your sons, the patriarchs and prophets, all those things, which you heard from Michael, the archangel, when I sent you to the gates of Paradise, to beg God that he would anoint my head when I was sick.
3Then Seth, coming near to the patriarchs and prophets, said, I, Seth, when I was praying to God at the gates of Paradise, beheld the angel of the Lord, Michael, appear to me, saying, I am sent to you from the Lord. I am appointed to preside over human bodies.
4I tell you, Seth, do not pray to God in tears, and beg him for the oil of the tree of mercy with which to anoint your father Adam for his head-ache;
5Because you can not by any means obtain it till the last day and times, namely, till five thousand and five hundred years be past.
6Then will Christ, the most merciful Son of God, come on earth to raise again the human body of Adam, and at the same time to raise the bodies of the dead, and when he comes he will be baptized in Jordan;
7Then with the oil of his mercy he will anoint all those who believe in him. And the oil of his mercy will continue to future generations, for those who shall be born of the water and the Holy Ghost to eternal life.
8And when at that time the most merciful Son of God, Christ Jesus, shall come down on earth, he will introduce our father Adam into Paradise, to the tree of mercy.
9When all the patriarchs and prophets heard all these things from Seth, they rejoiced more.
15
1 Quarrel between Satan and the prince of hell, concerning the expected arrival of Christ in hell.
WHILE all the saints were rejoicing, behold Satan, the prince and captain of death, said to the prince of hell,
2Prepare to receive Jesus of Nazareth himself, who boasted that he was the Son of God, and yet was a man afraid of death, and said, My soul is sorrowful even to death.
3Besides he did many injuries to me and to many others. For those whom I made blind and lame and those also whom I tormented with several devils, he cured by his word. Yes, and those whom I brought dead to you, he by force takes away from you.
4To this the prince of hell replied to Satan, Who is that so powerful prince, and yet a man who is afraid of death?
5For all the potentates of the earth are subject to my power, whom you brought to subjection by your power.
6But if he be so powerful in his human nature, I affirm to you for truth, that he is almighty in his divine nature, and no man can resist his power:
7When therefore he said he was afraid of death, he designed to ensnare you, and unhappy it will be to you for everlasting ages,
8Then Satan replying, said to the prince of hell, Why did you express a doubt, and were afraid to receive that Jesus of Nazareth, both your adversary and mine?
9As for me, I tempted him and stirred up my old people the Jews with zeal and anger against him;
10I sharpened the spear for his suffering; I mixed the gall and vinegar, and commanded that he should drink it. I prepared the cross to crucify him, and the nails to pierce through his hands and feet. And now his death is near at hand, I will bring him here, subject both to you and me.
11Then the prince of hell answering, said, You saidst to me just now, that he took away the dead from me by force.
12They who have been kept here till they should live again upon earth, were taken away hence, not by their own power. But by prayers made to God, and their almighty God took them from me.
13Who then is that Jesus of Nazareth that by his word has taken away the dead from me without prayer to God?
14Perhaps it is the same who took away from me Lazarus, after he had been four days dead, and did both stink and was rotten, and of whom I had possession as a dead person. Yet he brought him to life again by his power.
15Satan answering, replied to the prince of hell, It is the very same person, Jesus of Nazareth.
16Which when the prince of hell heard, he said to him, I adjure you by the powers which belong to you and me, that you bring him not to me.
17For when I heard of the power of his word, I trembled for fear, and all my impious company were at the same disturbed;
18And we were not able to detain Lazarus, but he gave himself a shake, and with all the signs of malice he immediately went away from us. And the very earth, in which the dead body of Lazarus was lodged, presently turned him out alive.
19And I know now that he is Almighty God who could perform such things, who is mighty in his dominion, and mighty in his human nature, who is the Savior of mankind.
20Bring not therefore this person here, for he will set at liberty all those whom I hold in prison under unbelief, and bound with the fetters of their sins, and will conduct them to everlasting life.
16
1 Christ's arrival at hell-gates; the confusion then. 19 He descends into hell.
AND while Satan and the Prince of hell were discoursing thus to each other, on a sudden there was a voice as of thunder, and the rushing of winds, saying, Lift up your gates, O you princes. And be you lift up, O everlasting gates, and the King of Glory shall come in.
2When the prince of hell heard this, he said to Satan, Depart from me, and begone out of my habitations; if you are a powerful warrior, fight with the King of Glory. But what have you to do with him?
3And he cast him forth from his habitations.
4And the prince said to his impious officers, Shut the brass gates of cruelty, and make them fast with iron bars, and fight courageously, lest we be taken captives.
5But when all the company of the saints heard this they spoke with a loud voice of anger to the prince of hell,
6Open your gates, that the King of Glory may come in.
7And the divine prophet David cried out, saying, Did not I, when on earth, truly prophesy and say, O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
8For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. He has taken them because of their iniquity, and because of their unrighteousness they are afflicted.
9After this, another prophet, namely, holy Isaiah, spoke in like manner to all the saints, Did not I rightly prophesy to you when I was alive on earth?
10The dead men shall live, and they shall rise again who are in their graves, and they shall rejoice who are in the earth. For the dew which is from the Lord, shall bring deliverance to them.
11And I said in another place, O grave, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
12When all the saints heard these things spoken by Isaiah, they said to the prince of hell, Open now your gates, and take away your iron bars. For you will now be bound, and have no power.
13Then was there a great voice, as of the sound of thunder, saying, Lift up your gates, O princes. And be you lifted up, you gates of hell, and the King of Glory will enter in.
14The prince of hell perceiving the same voice repeated, cried out, as though he had been ignorant, Who is that King of Glory?
15David replied to the prince of hell, and said, I understand the words of that voice, because I spoke them in his spirit. And now, as I have before said, I say to you, the Lord strong and powerful, the Lord mighty in battle: he is the King of Glory, and he is the Lord in heaven and in earth.
16He has looked down to hear the groans of the prisoners, and to set loose those who are appointed to death.
17And now, you filthy and stinking prince of hell, open your gates, that the King of Glory may enter in; for he is the Lord of heaven and earth.
18While David was saying this, the mighty Lord appeared in the form of a man, and enlightened those places which had ever before been in darkness.
19And broke asunder the fetters which before could not be broken. And with his invincible power visited those who sate in the deep darkness by iniquity, and the shadow of death by sin.
17
1 Death and the devils in great horror at Christ's coming. 13 He tramples on death, seizes the prince of hell, and takes Adam with him to Heaven.
IMPIOUS death and her cruel officers hearing these things, were seized with fear in their several kingdoms, when they saw the clearness of the light,
2And Christ himself on a sudden appearing in their habitations, they cried out therefore, and said, We are bound by you; you seem to intend our confusion before the Lord.
3Who are you, who has no signs of corruption, but that bright appearance which is a full proof of your greatness, of which yet you seem to take no notice?
4Who are you, so powerful, and so weak, so great and so little. Mean, and yet a soldier of the first rank, who can command in the form of a servant and a common soldier?
5The king of Glory, dead and alive, though once slain upon the cross?
6Who lay dead in the grave, and are come down alive to us, and in your death all the creatures trembled. And all the stars were moved; and now have your liberty among the dead, and give disturbance to our legions?
7Who are you, who do release the captives that were held in chains by original sin, and bring them into their former liberty?
8Who are you, who do spread so glorious and divine a light over those who were made blind by the darkness of sin?
9In like manner all the legions of devils were seized with the like horror, and with the most submissive fear cried out, and said,
10From where comes it, O you Jesus Christ, that you are a man so powerful and glorious in majesty so bright as to have no spot, and so pure as to have no crime? For that lower world of earth, which was ever till now subject to us, and from where we received tribute, never sent us such a dead man before, never sent such presents as these to the princes of hell.
11Who therefore are you, who with such courage enter among our abodes, and are not only not afraid to threaten us with the greatest punishments. But also endeavor to rescue all others from the chains in which we hold them?
12Perhaps you are that Jesus, of whom Satan just now spoke to our prince, that by the death of the cross you were about to receive the power of death.
13Then the King of Glory trampling upon death, seized the prince of hell, deprived him of all his power, and took our earthly father Adam with him to his glory.
18
1 Beelzebub, prince of hell, vehemently upbraids Satan for persecuting Christ and bringing him to hell. 14 Christ gives Beelzebub dominion over Satan forever, as a recompence for taking away Adam and his sons.
THEN the prince of hell took Satan, and with great indignation said to him, O you prince of destruction, author of Beelzebub's defeat and banishment, the scorn of God's angels and loathed by all righteous persons! What inclined you to act thus?
2You would crucify the King of Glory, and by his destruction, have made us promises of very large advantages, but as a fool were ignorant of what you were about.
3For behold now that Jesus of Nazareth, with the brightness of his glorious divinity, puts to flight all the horrid powers of darkness and death;
4He has broke down our prisons from top to bottom, dismissed all the captives, released all who were bound. And all who were wont formerly to groan under the weight of their torments, have now insulted us, and we are like to be defeated by their prayers.
5Our impious dominions are subdued, and no part of mankind is now left in our subjection, but on the other hand, they all boldly defy us;
6Though, before, the dead never dared behave themselves insolently towards us, nor being prisoners, could ever on any occasion be merry.
7O Satan, you prince of all the wicked, father of the impious and abandoned, why would you attempt this exploit, seeing our prisoners were hitherto always without the least hope of salvation and life?
8But now there is not one of them does ever groan, nor is there the least appearance of a tear in any of their faces.
9O prince Satan, you great keeper of the infernal regions, all your advantages which you did acquire by the forbidden tree, and the loss of Paradise, you have now lost by the wood of the cross;
10And your happiness all then expired, when you did crucify Jesus Christ the King of Glory.
11You have acted against your own interest and mine, as you will presently perceive by those large torments and infinite punishments which you are about to suffer.
12O Satan, prince of all evil, author of death, and source of all pride, you should first have inquired into the evil crimes of Jesus of Nazareth, and then you would have found that he was guilty of no fault worthy of death.
13Why did you venture, without either reason or justice, to crucify him, and have brought down to our regions a person innocent and righteous, and thereby have lost all the sinners, impious and unrighteous persons in the whole world?
14While the prince of hell was thus speaking to Satan, the King of Glory said to Beelzebub the prince of hell, Satan the prince shall be subject to your dominions for ever, in the room of Adam and his righteous sons, who are mine,
19
1 Christ takes Adam by the hand, the rest of the saints join hands, and they all ascend with him to Paradise.
THEN Jesus stretched forth his hand, and said, Come to me, all you my saints, who were created in my image, who were condemned by the tree of the forbidden fruit, and by the devil and death;
2Live now by the wood of my cross; the devil, the prince of this world, is overcome, and death is conquered,
3Then presently all the saints were joined together under the hand of the most high God. And the Lord Jesus laid hold on Adam's hand, and said to him, Peace be to you, and all your righteous posterity, which is mine.
4Then Adam, casting himself at the feet of Jesus, addressed himself to him with tears, in humble language, and a loud voice, saying,
5"I will extol you, O Lord, for you halt lifted me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you, and you have healed me."
6"O Lord you have brought up my soul from the grave; you have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit."
7"Sing to the Lord, all you saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness, for his anger endures but for a moment; in his favor is life."
8In like manner all the saints, prostrate at the feet of Jesus, said with one voice, You are come, O Redeemer of the world, and have actually accomplished all things, which you did foretell by the law and your holy prophets.
9You have redeemed the living by your cross, and are come down to us, that by the death of the cross you might deliver us from hell, and by your power from death.
10O Lord, as you have put the ensigns of your glory in heaven, and have set up the sign of your redemption, even your cross on earth. So, Lord, set the sign of the victory of your cross in hell, that death may have dominion no longer.
11Then the Lord stretching forth his hand, made the sign of the cross upon Adam, and upon all his saints.
12And taking hold of Adam by his right hand, he ascended from hell, and all the saints of God followed him.
13Then the royal prophet, David, boldly cried, and said, O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him the victory.
14The Lord has made known his salvation, his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight of the heathen.
15And the whole multitude of saints answered, saying, This honor have all his saints, Amen, Praise you the Lord.
16Afterwards, the prophet Habbakuk cried out, and said, You went forth for the salvation of your people, even for salvation with your anointed.
17And all the saints said, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; for the Lord has enlightened us. This is our God for ever and ever; he shall reign over us to everlasting ages. Amen.
18In like manner all the prophets spoke the sacred things of his praise, and followed the Lord.
20
1 Christ delivers Adam to Michael the archangel. 3 They meet Enoch and Elijah in heaven, 5 and also the blessed thief, who relates how he came to Paradise.
THEN the Lord, holding Adam by the hand, delivered him to Michael the archangel; and he led them into Paradise, filled with mercy and glory;
2And two very ancient men met them, and were asked by the saints, Who are you, who have not yet been with us in hell, and have had your bodies placed in Paradise?
3One of them answering, said, I am Enoch, who was translated by the word of God: and this man who is with me, is Elijah the Tishbite, who was translated in a fiery chariot.
4Here we have hitherto been, and have not tasted death. But are now about to return at the coming of Antichrist, being armed with divine signs and miracles, to engage with him in battle, and to be slain by him at Jerusalem, and to be taken up alive again into the clouds, after three days and a half.
5And while the holy Enoch and Elias were relating this, behold there came another man in a miserable figure, carrying the sign of the cross upon his shoulders.
6And when all the saints saw him, they said to him, Who are you? For your countenance is like a thief's; and why do you carry a cross upon your shoulders?
7To which he answering, said, You say right, for I was a thief, who committed all sorts of wickedness upon earth.
8And the Jews crucified me with Jesus; and I observed the surprising things which happened in the creation at the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.
9And I believed him to be the Creator of all things, and the Almighty King; and I prayed to him, saying, Lord remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
10He presently regarded my prayer, and said to me, Truly I say to you, this day you shall be with me in Paradise.
11And he gave me this sign of the cross, saying, Carry this, and go to Paradise. And if the angel who is the guard of Paradise will not admit you, show him the sign of the cross, and say to him Jesus Christ who is now crucified, has sent me here to you.
12When I did this and told the angel who is the guard of Paradise all these things, and he heard them, he presently opened the gates, introduced me, and placed me on the right hand in Paradise,
13Saying, Stay here a little time, till Adam, the father of all mankind, shall enter in, with all his sons, who are the holy and righteous servants of Jesus Christ, who was crucified.
14When they heard all this account from the thief, all the patriarchs said with one voice, Blessed be you, O Almighty God, the Father of everlasting goodness, and the Father of mercies, who have shown such favor to those who were sinners against him, and have brought them to the mercy of Paradise, and have placed them amidst your large and spiritual provisions, in a spiritual and holy life. Amen.
21
1 Charinus and Lenthius being only allowed three days to remain on earth, 7 deliver in their narratives, which miraculously correspond; they vanish, 13 and Pilate records these transactions.
THESE are the divine and sacred mysteries which we saw and heard. We, Charinus and Lenthius are not allowed to declare the other mysteries of God, as the archangel Michael ordered us,
2Saying, you shall go with my brethren to Jerusalem, and shall continue in prayers, declaring and glorifying the resurrection of Jesus Christ, seeing he has raised you from the dead at the same time with himself.
3And you shall not talk with any man, but sit as dumb persons till the time come when the Lord will allow you to relate the mysteries of his divinity.
4The archangel Michael farther commanded us to go beyond Jordan, to an excellent and fat country, where there are many who rose from the dead along with us for the proof of the resurrection of Christ.
5For we have only three days allowed us from the dead, who arose to celebrate the passover of our Lord with our parents, and to bear our testimony for Christ the Lord, and we have been baptized in the holy river of Jordan. And now they are not seen by any one.
6This is as much as God allowed us to relate to you; give you therefore praise and honor to him, and repent, and he will have mercy upon you. Peace be to you from the Lord God Jesus Christ, and the Savior of us all. Amen, Amen, Amen.
7And after they had made an end of writing, and had written on two distinct pieces of paper, Charinus gave what he wrote into the hands of Annas, and Caiaphas, and Gamaliel.
8Lenthius likewise gave what he wrote into the hands of Nicodemus and Joseph; and immediately they were changed into exceeding white forms and were seen no more.
9But what they had written was found perfectly to agree, the one not containing one letter more or less than the other.
10When all the assembly of the Jews heard all these surprising relations of Charinus and Lenthius, they said to each other, Truly all these things were wrought by God, and blessed be the Lord Jesus for ever and ever, Amen.
11And they went all out with great concern, and fear, and trembling, and struck upon their breasts and went away every one to his home.
12But immediately all these things which were related by the Jews in their synagogues concerning Jesus, were presently told by Joseph and Nicodemus to the governor.
13And Pilate wrote down all these transactions, and placed all these accounts in the public records of his hall.
22
1 Pilate goes to the temple; calls together the rulers, and scribes, and doctors. 2 Commands the gates to be shut; orders the book of the Scriptures; and causes the Jews to relate what they really knew concerning Christ. 14 They declare that they crucified Christ in ignorance, and that they now know him to be the Son of God, according to the testimony of the Scriptures; which, after they put him to death, were examined.
AFTER these things Pilate went to the temple of the Jews, and called together all the rulers and scribes, and doctors of the law, and went with them into a chapel of the temple.
2And commanding that all the gates should be shut, said to them, I have heard that you have a certain large book in this temple. I desire you, therefore, that it may be brought before me.
3And when the great book, carried by four ministers of the temple, and adorned with gold and precious stones, was brought, Pilate said to them all, I adjure you by the God of your Fathers, who made and commanded this temple to be built, that you conceal not the truth from me.
4You know all the things which are written in that book. Tell me therefore now, if you in the Scriptures have found any thing of that Jesus whom you crucified, and at what time of the world he, ought to have come: show it me.
5Then having sworn Annas and Caiaphas, they commanded all the rest who were with them to go out of the chapel.
6And they shut the gates of the temple and of the chapel, and said to Pilate, You have made us to swear, O judge, by the building of this temple, to declare to you that which is true and right.
7After we had crucified Jesus, not knowing that he was the Son of God, but supposing he wrought his miracles by some magical arts, we summoned a large assembly in this temple.
8And when we were deliberating among one another about the miracles which Jesus had wrought, we found many witnesses of our own country, who declared that they had seen him alive after his death, and that they heard him discoursing with his disciples, and saw him ascending into the height of the heavens, and entering into them;
9And we saw two witnesses, whose bodies Jesus raised from the dead, who told us of many strange things which Jesus did among the dead, of which we have a written account in our hands.
10And it is our custom annually to open this holy book before an assembly, and to search there for the counsel of God.
11And we found in the first of the seventy books, where Michael the archangel is speaking to the third son of Adam the first man, an account that after five thousand five hundred years, Christ the most beloved son of God was to come on earth,
12And we further considered, that perhaps he was the very God of Israel who spoke to Moses, You shall make the ark of the testimony. Two cubits and a half shall be the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it.
13By these five cubits and a half for the building of the ark of the Old Testament, we perceived and knew that in five thousand years and half (one thousand) years, Jesus Christ was to come in the ark or tabernacle of a body;
14And so our Scriptures testify that he is the Son of God, and the Lord and King of Israel.
15And because after his suffering, our chief priests were surprised at the signs which were wrought by his means, we opened that book to search all the generations down to the generation of Joseph and Mary the mother of Jesus, supposing him to be of the seed of David;
16And we found the account of the creation, and at what time he made the heaven and the earth, and the first man Adam, and that from there to the flood, were two thousand seven hundred and forty- eight years.
17And from the flood to Abraham, nine hundred and twelve. And from Abraham to Moses, four hundred and thirty. And from Moses to David the King, five hundred and ten.
18And from David to the Babylonish captivity five hundred years. And from the Babylonish captivity to the incarnation of Christ, four hundred years.
19The sum of all which amounts to five thousand and half (a thousand.)
20And so it appears, that Jesus whom we crucified, is Jesus Christ the Son of God, and true Almighty God. Amen.
(In the name of the Holy Trinity, thus end the acts of our Savior Jesus Christ, which the Emperor Theodosius the Great found at Jerusalem, in the hall of Pontius Pilate, among the public records. The things were acted in the nineteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of the Romans, and in the seventeenth year of the government of Herod, the son of Herod and of Galilee, on the eighth of the calends of April, which is the twenty-third day of the month of March, in the CCIId Olympiad, when Joseph and Caiaphas were rulers of the Jews. Being a History written in Hebrew by Nicodemus, of what happened after our Savior's crucifixion.)