The Diatessaron Of Tatian

[1] [3618] And after that, Jesus knew that all things were finished; and that the scripture [2] might be accomplished, he said, I thirst. [3619] And there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and in that hour one of them hasted, and took a sponge, and filled it with that [3] vinegar, [3620] and fastened it on a reed, and brought it near [3621] his mouth to give him a [4] drink. [3622] And when Jesus had taken that vinegar, he said, Everything is finished. [5] [3623] But the rest said, Let be, that we may [3624] see whether Elijah cometh to save him. [6, 7] [3625] And Jesus said, My Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and said, My Father, into thy hands I commend [3626] my spirit. [3627] He said that, and bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.

[8] [3628] And immediately the face of [3629] the door of the temple was rent into two parts from [9] top to bottom; [3630] and the earth was shaken; and the stones were split to pieces; and the [Arabic, p.197] tombs were opened; and the bodies of many saints which slept, arose and [10] came forth; [3631] and after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and [11] appeared unto many. [3632] And the officer of the footsoldiers, and they that were with him who were guarding Jesus, [3633] when they saw the earthquake, and the things which came [12] to pass, feared greatly, and praised God, and said, [3634] This man was righteous; and, [13] Truly he was the Son of God. [3635] And all the multitudes that were come together to the sight, when they saw what came to pass, returned and smote upon their breasts.

[14] [3636] And the Jews, because of the Friday, said, Let these bodies not remain on their crosses, [3637] because it is the morning of the sabbath (for that sabbath was a great day); and they asked of Pilate that they might break the legs of those that were [15] crucified, and take them down. [3638] And the soldiers came, and brake the legs of the [16] first, and that other which was crucified with him: [3639] but when they came to Jesus, [17] they saw that he had died before, so they brake not his legs: [3640] but one of the soldiers pierced [3641] him in his side with a spear, and immediately there came forth blood and [18] water. [3642] And he that hath seen hath borne witness, and his witness is true: and he [19] knoweth that he hath said the truth, that ye also may believe. [3643] This he did, that [20] the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, A bone shall not be broken in him; [3644] and the scripture also which saith, Let them look upon him whom they pierced. [3645]

[21] [3646] And there were in the distance all the acquaintance of Jesus standing, and the women that came with him from Galilee, those that followed him and ministered. [22] [3647] One of them was Mary Magdalene; and Mary the mother of James the little and [23] [Arabic, p.198] Joses, [3648] and the mother of the sons of Zebedee, and Salome, and many others which came up with him unto Jerusalem; [3649] and they saw that.

[24] [3650] And when the evening of the Friday was come, because of the entering of the [25] sabbath, [3651] there came a rich man, [3652] a noble [3653] of Ramah, [3654] a city of Judah, [3655] named Joseph, and he was a good man and upright; [3656] and he was a [3657] disciple of Jesus, but [26] was concealing himself for fear of the Jews. [3658] And he did not agree with the accusers [27] in their desire and their deeds: [3659] and he was looking for the kingdom of God. [3660] And this man went boldly, and entered in unto Pilate, and asked of him the body of [28] Jesus. [3661] And Pilate wondered how he had died already: and he called the officer of [29] the footsoldiers, and asked him concerning his death before the time. [3662] And when [30] he knew, he commanded him to deliver up his body unto Joseph. [3663] And Joseph bought for him a winding cloth of pure linen, and took down the body of Jesus, [31] and wound it in it; and they came and took it. [3664] And there came unto him Nicodemus also, who of old came unto Jesus by night; and he brought with him perfume [3665] [32] of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. [3666] And they took the body of Jesus, and wound it in the linen and the perfume, as was the custom of the Jews to bury.

[33] [3667] And there was in the place where Jesus was crucified a garden; and in that garden [34] a new tomb cut out in a rock, [3668] wherein was never man yet laid. [3669] And they left [35] Jesus there because the sabbath had come in, and because the tomb was near. [3670] And they pushed [3671] a great stone, and thrust [3672] it against the door of the sepulchre, and [36] went away. [3673] And Mary Magdalene and Mary that was related to Joses came to [37] [Arabic, p.199] the sepulchre after them, [3674] [3675] and sat opposite the sepulchre, [3676] and saw the [38] body, how they took it in and laid it there. [3677] And they returned, and bought ointment [3678] and perfume, [3679] and prepared [3680] it, that they might come and anoint him. [39] [3681] And on the day which was the sabbath day they desisted according to the command.

[40, 41] [3682] And the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered unto Pilate, and said unto him, [3683] Our lord, we remember that that misleader said, while he was alive, After three days [42] I rise. [3684] And now send beforehand and guard the tomb [3685] until the third day, [3686] lest his disciples come and steal him by night, and they will say unto the people that he [43] is risen from the dead: and the last error shall be worse than the first. [3687] He said unto them, And have ye not guards? [3688] go, and take precautions as ye know how. [44] [3689] And they went, and set guards at the tomb, and sealed that stone, with the guards.

[45] [3690] And in the evening of the sabbath, which is the morning of the first day, and in [46] the dawning [3691] while the darkness yet remained, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and other women to see the tomb. [3692] They brought with them the [47] perfume which they had prepared, and said among themselves, [3693] Who is it that will [48] remove for us the stone from the door of the tomb? for it was very great. [3694] And when they said thus, there occurred a great earthquake; and an angel came down [49] from heaven, and came and removed the stone from the door. [3695] And they came and found the stone removed from the sepulchre, and the angel sitting upon the [50] stone. [3696] And his appearance was as the lightning, and his raiment white as the [51] snow: [3697] and for fear of him the guards were troubled, and became as dead men. [52] [3698] And when he went away, the women entered into the sepulchre; and they found [53] [Arabic, p.200] not the body of Jesus. [3699] And they saw there a young man sitting on the [54] right, arrayed in a white garment; and they were amazed. [3700] [3701] And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear ye not: for I know that ye seek Jesus the [55] Nazarene, who hath been crucified. He is not here; but he is risen, as he said. [3702] Come and see the place where our Lord lay.