The Contendings of the Apostles, Part 1

The Contendings of the Apostles, Part 1

continued

The Acts of Saint Thomas in India: the Second Act

1 How Thomas built a palace for the king. Now when the Apostle had entered into the country of India with ʿAbnēs the merchant, ʿAbnēs departed to salute Gondapór (Gondaforus) the king; and he told him concerning the workman whom he had brought with him, and the king rejoiced and commanded ʿAbnēs to bring him unto him. And when the Apostle had come into his presence, the king said unto him, "What is thy handicraft?" And the Apostle said unto him, "I am a carpenter and stone mason." Then the king said unto him, "What dost thou know how to make in wood, and what in stone?" And the Apostle said unto him, "In wood [I can make] ploughs, and yokes, and measures, and wheels, and ships, and oars, and steering poles; and in stone I can make statues, and build houses with halls and courts [fit for] kings." Then straightway the king said unto him, "Canst thou build me a palace?" And the Apostle said unto him, "Yea, I can build [one] and finish it, for I have come hither for the purpose of working at my trade of stone mason and carpenter."

2 And the king took them and they went out through the gates of the city, and he began to converse with the Apostle about building the palace, and about how and where he would dig out and lay the foundations, and at length he came to the place wherein the king had thought to build [his palace]. Then the king said, "See, here is the place where I wish to build it." And the Apostle said unto him, "Yea, this place is very suitable and excellent for the purpose;" now the place was swampy and marshy, and there was much water in it. Then the king said unto him, "Begin to build [here]." [And the Apostle answered and said, "I cannot begin to build now], but only at the [proper] season." Then the king said unto him, "When then wilt thou be able [to begin]?" And the Apostle said, "After two months. [I will begin it] at the new moon of the month Ḥadār, and I will finish it in the month of Miyāzyā." Now the king was silent and marvelled at him, and said unto him, "All buildings are built in the summer, and canst

3 "thou build and set up thy palace in the winter?" And the Apostle said unto him, "It must be [done] in this wise, for there is no other [way]." Then the king said, "If it seemeth that it must be thus unto thee, mark out for me [on the ground the place] where the buildings of the palace will come; then [after] the lapse of a certain time I will come [back] here." Then the Apostle took a reed and divided and measured the ground into lengths, and marked out the position of the foundations of the building and of its hall, and he set the building to face the east whence cometh the light of the sun, and he placed the windows thereof to face the west whence come the winds, and the door of the bakehouse (or kitchen) [faced] the south, and the best water [flowed] by the side of the bakehouse. And when the king saw him, he said unto the Apostle, "Verily, thou art a cunning handicraftsman, and it is meet for thee to be in the service of the kingdom;" and he gave him much money, and passed on. And straightway the Apostle went on building, and the king sent unto him silver (or money) and every thing which was necessary for himself, and for the other workmen who were performing the work with him; and he received it all and took it and began to go about teaching and giving alms to the poor, and the sick, and the needy, and the wretched, and thus he gave them relief. And he said, "What belongeth unto the king shall be given unto the king; and there shall be relief (or rest) unto many." Thus was his desire.

4 Then after all these things the king sent a messenger unto the Apostle, and he wrote unto him, saying thus:—"Write to me [an account of] everything, and what I shall say unto thee, and concerning whatsoever thou desirest send me word, and I will despatch it unto thee." And the Apostle wrote unto him, saying, "The palace is finished, but the roof thereof is wanting." Now when the king heard this, he sent unto him much gold and silver, and he wrote unto the Apostle, saying, "I have built the palace, and I will finish the roof thereof." Then the Apostle prayed unto God and said, "I give thanks unto Thee, O God, for all things, and because through Thy death I shall live for ever, and because Thou didst sell me so that Thou mightest set free from bondage many." And the Apostle ceased not to teach and to comfort those who were in sorrow, saying, "Do Thou, O God, bestow gifts of grace upon them;" for it is He Who feedeth and keepeth in safety the orphans, and it is He Who supporteth the widows and all those who are cast away, and it is He Who causeth them to have rest and peace.

5 And when the king came into the city he made enquiries of his friends concerning the palace which Judas Thomas had built for him, and they said unto him, "He hath neither built a palace nor anything else, and," they added, "He hath done nothing at all except go about through the city and the country round about it, and everything that thou didst give him, and everything which he had, he hath given to the poor and needy. And he hath been teaching the people a new God, and healing the sick, and casting out devils, and besides these things he hath been performing many wonderful things. Now we think that he is a sorcerer, only the things which come from his hands are mercy, and grace, and healing; and moreover, the humility and wisdom which he maketh manifest for the sake of [his] faith make us believe that he is truly the Apostle of the God Whom he preacheth, for he fasteth and prayeth always. With his bread he eateth nothing except salt, his drink is water, and his apparel, both in summer and in winter, consisteth of nothing but one garment; he taketh nothing from any man, and that which he hath he giveth unto others." Now when the king heard this, he rubbed his face with his hands, and he smote his head, being filled with wrath.

6 And in that same hour he sent and caused the Apostle to be brought unto him, and also the merchant who had brought Judas Thomas to him. Then the king said unto him, "Hast thou built the palace for me?" And the Apostle answered and said unto him, "Yea, I have built [it]." Then the king said unto him, "When can we go and see it?" And the Apostle answered [and said unto him], "Thou canst not go to see it now, but only when thou hast departed from this world wilt thou be able to see it." Then was the king exceedingly wroth, and he commanded them to put the merchant and Judas Thomas in prison, and they took him to the prison-house that they might question him and find out unto whom he had given the king's money; and when they had questioned him they were to kill him and the merchant who had brought him [there]. And Judas Thomas went unto the prison-house with rejoicing, and he said unto the merchant, "Fear thou nothing whatsoever, only believe in the God Whom I preach, and thou shalt be saved in this world, and in that which is to come thou shalt receive life [everlasting]."

7 Meanwhile the king was meditating upon the manner in which he would punish them, and he determined to do so by means of fire, after they had been flayed alive. And it came to pass on that same night that 158b. 8 Gādōn (Gad). the brother of the king, fell sick and ill by reason of his sorrow for the grief and fraud which had come upon the king. Then the king's brother sent for the king, and said unto him, "I commit my house and my children into thy safe keeping, for by reason of the fraud which hath come upon thee am I stricken with sorrow, and I shall die because of this; and if thou dost not seize and slay that worker of sorcery thou wilt [not] give my soul rest in death. And the king said unto his brother, "I have been think-ing this very-night by what means I should kill him, and I have determined that I will burn him in a blazing fire, after he and the merchant who brought him have been flayed alive. Now whilst the king was speaking in this wise the soul of Gādōn (Gad), the brother of the king, departed. Then the king mourned for his brother, for he loved him dearly, and he commanded that he should be buried with a royal burial and at great expense. And whilst all these things were being performed, the angels took the soul of Gādōn (Gad), the brother of the king, and bore it unto heaven, and they shewed it the place of its abode, and they asked him, saying, "In which of these places wouldst thou dwell?

9 Now when he had come to the building which Thomas had built for the king [in heaven], and had looked upon it, Gādōn said unto the angels, "I beseech you, O my lords, to allow me to dwell in this mansion. And the angels said unto him, "Thou canst not dwell in this building; and he said unto them, "Why [not]? Then they said unto him, "Because this is the palace which the Christian hath built for thy brother; and he said unto them, "I beseech you, O my lords, to allow me to go unto my brother, and to buy this palace from him, for he knoweth nothing whatever concerning it, and he will sell it unto me." 10 And it came to pass that, when the angels had let the soul of Gādōn go free, it returned unto his body as they were swathing it for burial, and it spake and said unto those who were standing by it, "Call ye for me my brother, that I may ask him a certain question." Then straightway they went and related the matter unto him, and said unto him, "Thy brother hath returned whence he had departed and hath come back to life." And the king ran, together with many people, and when he had arrived at the place where his brother was, and had entered in, he stood up by the bier of his brother in wonderment, and he was unable to speak with him. Then his brother answered and said unto him, "Thou must know, O my brother, and be sure that if thou wilt grant unto me the petition which I shall ask of thee for myself I will give thee even unto the half of my kingdom; so now, grant unto me my one request for a price." And the king answered and said unto him, "What is the petition which thou wouldst have me sell unto thee?" Then his brother said unto him, "Swear thou unto me by thy faith that thou wilt grant it unto me;" and the king sware an oath unto him, saying, "Whatsoever thou askest of me, if I possess it, I will give unto thee." Then he said unto the king, "This palace which thou hast in the heavens sell thou unto me;" and the king said unto him, "Where have I a 159b.

11 "palace in the heavens?" Then his brother said unto him, "I mean this palace which the Christian hath built. This Christian is the man who is now in the prison-house, and he was brought unto thee by the merchant who bought him from a Man Whose name was Jesus; this Christian is the Hebrew slave whom thou wishest to condemn to death because he defrauded thee, and because of whom through sorrow for thee I died. But behold, I am now alive." And straightway the king perceived, and understood, and knew of a certainty that the good deeds would endure for ever, and that they would benefit him, and he said unto him, "I cannot sell this palace, nay, I pray and entreat [God] that I may enter therein and dwell there, and then He will grant unto me a portion like unto that which He hath given unto those who are therein. And as for thyself, if thou thinkest to make such a palace as this, behold, he who built it is [still] alive, and he can build a better one for thee."

12 Then straightway the king sent and brought out the Apostle, and the merchant who was shut up with him in the prison-house, and he said unto him, "I entreat thee, even as one who maketh entreaty to a priest of God, to pray on my behalf and to beseech Him, Whose messenger thou art, to remit unto me and to forgive everything which I have done unto thee, and everything which I have meditated concerning thee, and to let me dwell in that palace, at [the building] of which I have in no way toiled, for thou alone hast laboured therein, grace being thy helper. And let me, even me, become the minister of this God Whom thou preachest, and let me serve Him. Then the brother of the king bowed down before the Apostle, and said unto him, "I beseech and entreat thee in the presence of thy God that I also may become the minister of Him Whose angels have made Him known unto me. And the Apostle rejoiced and said, "I give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, because Thou hast revealed Thy righteousness, and because Thou, the God of righteousness, art God alone, and there is no other god besides Thee. Thou knowest all hidden things, and Thou shewest mercy unto all, and Thou art pitiful unto men; and those who are wicked, and who have no understanding, forgive Thou them [because they] have no knowledge.

13 And now, I pray and beseech Thee, accept the king and his brethren, and lead Thou them among Thy flock, and purify them in Thy compassion, that which is right being over them, and guard them against the Satans, and bring them into Thy haven, and give them to drink of Thy gracious gifts and from Thine own fountain, which never faileth. And let them beseech and entreat Thee, and ask Thee mercifully to grant them escape from the Enemy Who hath in times past hated them, and who would have slain them, even as for our sakes all these things did come upon Thee. And forgive us, O Thou Who art indeed the Shepherd, and grant unto them that they may come to their right minds with Thee, and that they may obtain help from Thee. Let them wait for the hope of their salvation from Thee, and let them abide in Thy mystery, and let them receive Thy gracious gifts, and fulfil what Thou wouldst [they should do], and let them rejoice in serving Thee, and

14 ,, finally let them array themselves in apparel which is "from Thy Father, because they have believed in Thine Apostles." And when the Apostle had thus spoken Gandápór (Gondaforus) the king and his brother Gádón (Gad) departed, and they withdrew themselves, and waited for the Apostle to ask them for whatsoever he wished, and they became a place of rest for everyone, and asked that they might receive the seal of his words. Then he said unto them, "Prepare your souls, and desire it greatly from God, and then I will give unto you the seal itself." And they said unto him, "We have heard thee say that the God Whom thou preachest knoweth His own sheep by His own seal." Then the Apostle answered and said unto them, "I rejoice, and I beseech [you] to receive this seal and to associate yourselves with me in this fasting, and giving of thanks, in the blessing of God, and to become perfect wholly in [our] God, Jesus Christ, in Whose Name I preach, and to believe in the Name of the Father of righteousness, con-

15 "cerning Whom I have taught you." And he commanded them to bring oil and to receive the seal, and they brought oil and lit many lamps, for it was night. Then the Apostle rose up and recited prayers over them with [his] voice, saying, "Peace be unto you, O my brethren;" now they heard the voice only, but they did not see the form, for as yet they had not received baptism. And the Apostle took the oil, and poured it over their heads, and recited prayers over them; and he answered and said, "Let the Name of Christ, which is over all things, come! Let the Name which is holy, and exalted, and of perfect mercy, come, and let Thy mercy come, and let Thine excellent participation [with us] come! And let that which is a hidden mystery come! And let the mother of seven habitations come, so that Thy rest may be in the eighth habitation! And let the intercession of wisdom, and of counsel, and of understanding come and associate itself with these young men! Let the Holy Spirit come and cleanse their heart and reins!" and he recited prayers over them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And when the exorcisms had been said a young Man appeared unto them, and He held a lighted lamp [in His hand], whereupon all the [other] lamps flickered, and went out, and became extinguished. Then the Apostle said unto the Lord, "O Thou Who art able [to do] all things, we are not able to bear Thy light which Thou hast revealed unto us, for the grace which is Thine is mighty compared with the grace which is ours." And when the earth had become bright, and the morning had come, he dispensed unto them the bread of association, and they stood up in thanksgiving unto Christ, and they rejoiced and were glad.

16 Then many other people believed, and were added unto them, and came into the refuge of Christ. But the Apostle ceased not to teach and to preach, and he said unto them, "O men and women, and young men and maidens, and aged men and youths, whether ye be bond, or whether ye be free, flee from injustice, and fornication, and the service of the belly, for under these three heads are [grouped] iniquities of every kind. For fornication burneth up the mind, and it darkeneth the "eyes of the soul, and it maketh the doing of good works by the body to cease, for ye know that a woman turneth the mind of a man away from them, and leadeth him into suffering. And avarice bringeth the soul into fear and shame, and this [vice] it is which dwelleth in the body, and which plundereth the possessions of others, and it is this which thinketh that it should not restore the possessions of others, and it maketh the soul not to give them unto their owners. And the service of the belly cloudeth over the mind, and casteth sorrow into the soul; for it is this [vice] which meditateth whether it will be in need of such and such things, and it asketh for the things which are remote from it, and it wondereth whether it will be saved from the things which are to come, and whether it shall have rest. Therefore ye shall dwell without sorrow and without fear, and this Saviour of Whom I speak shall dwell with you; and ye shall take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.

17 "And remember ye these words which were spoken concerning the ravens in olden time: — 'Look at the birds of heaven, for they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and God feedeth them; how little is the faith which ye have!' But ye must accept Him Who shall come, that is to say, our Lord, in Whom your hope shall be. And believe in His Name, for He shall be the Judge of the living and of the dead, and He shall reward every man according to his work. And at His coming and at His appearance at the last day, there shall be St. Matthew vi. 26; St. Luke xii. 24, 28. "no word which a man can utter that will excuse him, for He shall judge according to the Law, [and it will avail men naught to say that] they did not hear. The word of His preaching is in the four quarters of the world. Understand ye then that which is preached, and believe ye at this present these words, and take upon you the easy yoke and the burden which is light, so that ye may live and not die. Keep ye these things, and confirm yourselves in these commandments, and go forth from the darkness, so that ye may be received into the light. Come ye unto the Good One that ye may receive of His gracious gift, and may fill your souls with the doctrine which is His."

18 And when the Apostle had said these things, some of those who were standing [there] said unto him, "It is time for those to whom a debt is due to be paid;" and he answered and said unto them, "God always taketh from others so that He may remit [the debt] to him that wisheth [it]; but let us give unto Him that which is meet." And he blessed them, and took bread, and oil, and sheep's flesh(?), and salt, and gave unto them, but he himself continued his fast until the dawn of the Christian Sabbath came. And in the night our Lord came and stood by the Apostle, near his pillow, and said unto him, "Rise up forthwith, O Thomas, and at daybreak, at the time of prayer, go forth along the road which goeth towards the east for a distance of two stages, and there I will shew thee My glory, and because of thy going there shall be many who shall come and take refuge in Me, and the might and mind of the Enemy shall be rebuked." And when he had 148b.

19 risen up from his slumber he said unto the brethren who were with him, "O my children and brethren, God hath the desire to work miracles and to do wonders by me. But let us pray and entreat Him that there may be no cessation to them through us, but on the contrary, that they may never cease; and now, let it happen unto us according to His counsel and His will." Then having said these words, he laid his hand upon them, and blessed them, and said unto them, "Let this thanksgiving be with you, and mercy, and compassion, and may it not be for judgment;" and they said, Amen.

The Acts of Saint Thomas in India: the Third Act

1 The miracle of the snake. And the Apostle departed to go forth unto the place whither our Lord had commanded him. And when he had drawn nigh thereto, being about one stage from it, he withdrew a little from the way and saw by chance a young man of very handsome appearance [lying] dead. And the Apostle said unto our Lord, "Was it because of this, O Lord, that Thou didst make me to go forth and come hither, that Thou mightest make me to experience this trial? But, inasmuch as Thou hast sent me, let Thy will be done in this matter." Then he began to pray, saying, "O God, Thou Judge of the quick and of the dead, the quick being those who are standing, and the dead those who are [lying down], Thou God of all, Who art the Father of those who are 205b. 2 "in the body, and of those who are in the spirit but have departed [from the body], O Lord, Thou art the Judge in this hour, and therefore I cry unto Thee; let me see Thy glory through this [young man] who is here. Then he turned to those who were following him, and said, "The matter is not a light one, but one which the Enemy himself hath performed that he might bring [the young man to him]; but see, he shall not have the power to do it unto any one else, and he shall not do it unto any other man except him that shall be obedient unto him. Now when he had said these words a large snake, which was by the side of a stone, put forth its head and shook it, and its tail was in the earth. And it cried out with a loud voice, saying, "I will declare before thee in the following words the story of the quarrel which I had with this [young man], for," he continued, "I know that thou hast come hither that thou mayest rebuke my deeds. And the Apostle said unto him, "Yea, speak. Then the serpent said, "There was a certain beautiful woman who lived in the village opposite [this place], and because she lived there I saw her, and I loved her, and I followed her, and I watched her;

3 and I found that this young man was wont to kiss her, and to lie with her, and to work other things with her, which it would be easy for me to declare, but it is not meet for me to reveal them before thee, for I know that thou art the twin of Christ Who doth continually do away our souls. At the time when he was with her I did not slay him, but I watched her until the evening had come, and then I smote him, and killed him, because he was wont to do this thing on the Sabbath of the Christians." 4 And the Apostle answered and said unto him, "Of what kith and kin art thou?" Then the serpent said, "I am he who moveth and who is moved, and I am an oppressor and have the power to oppress, and I am the son of him who sitteth upon the throne in the heavens, and who gathereth together those belonging unto him who have been avenged. I am the son of him that fettereth the drunken man. I am the kinsman of him who is on the outside of the Ocean, and whose tail is in his mouth. I am he who was born in the Garden, and who dwelt therein, and I came in with Eve, and I held converse with her, and I spake the things which my father commanded me to speak. I am he who incited Cain and made him burn to slay his brother, and because of me the thorn and the thistle sprouted and blossomed on the earth. I am he who made the angels to come down from on high, and I snared them with the lust for women so that the children of earth might arise from them, and I wrought my will [upon them]. I am he who hardened the heart of Pharaoh that he might slay the children of Israel, and make them serve under a cruel yoke. I am he who corrupted the multitudes in the desert when they made the gravenimage. I am he who inflamed Herod, and I incited Caiaphas when [the Jews] made false accusations before Pilate against Him Whom it is meet [I should] worship. I am he who caused Judas to sell Christ and to deliver Him over unto death. I am he who layeth hold upon the depth of the cold, although the Son of God desireth it not. I am he who hath led the way, and whatsoever He hath chosen from me He hath chosen. I am the

5 EE* 206a. "kinsman of Him Who shall come from the east, and to Whom hath been given the power to do in the earth whatsoever He pleaseth." Now these things did the serpent say whilst all the multitude was listening. And the Apostle answered and said unto him, "Be silent, and [hearken unto] what I shall say unto thee, O abominable one, and thou shalt be put to shame. For the time for thee to be destroyed hath arrived, and thou shalt never "again speak these words wherein thou didst proclaim what thou didst do for those who listened unto thy speech. I command thee in the Name of Jesus Who hath lived until this present, and Who shall live for ever, and because of these chosen men, to suck out and withdraw from this [young man] the poison which thou hast cast into him." And the snake spake again, saying, "The time hath not yet come for [my] destruction as thou sayest, and why wilt thou make me to take [back] that which I have cast into this young man? [Why]

6 "should I die before my time? For it was [my] father himself who made the poison, and who took it and cast it into the world, and the destruction thereof took place." Then the Apostle said, "Shew me now what thy father made." And the serpent, having drawn nigh, put his mouth into the wound, and in the presence of all the multitude sucked out his poison and, little by little, the appearance of the young man, which was like unto purple, changed and became white even as it had been formerly. Now the serpent became puffed out as he collected within himself the poison which he took from the young man, but the young man leaped up and embraced the feet of the Apostle; and straightway the serpent became filled out full, and he burst asunder, and all his venom and poison were poured out. And the place where the poison was poured out was rent asunder to a great depth in the earth, and the serpent was swallowed up. Then the Apostle commanded the king and his brother, and they brought hirelings and covered over the place, and they laid the foundations, and built upon it houses wherein the poor might dwell.

7 Then the young man spake unto the Apostle, saying, "In what have I sinned against thee, O thou man, whose grace is twofold? What thou thinkest upon that thou obtainest, and there is nothing impossible unto thee, even as I see [from] this man who is standing by thee. And moreover, he telleth me that I shall see many miracles through thee, and that by thee I shall perform many mighty works, and that I shall fulfil them in such wise that there shall be a reward [unto me], and that many shall be saved by them, and shall attain unto the rest and the light which is for ever, and shall become children of God. Now thou hast given life unto me, a young man who was held fast by the Enemy, and thou hast placed me under thine own protection; thy advent among us was for good, and unto good things thou wilt guide us. I have become free from sorrow and trouble, and I have returned from the darkness into the light. I have rested from the service of the world, and I have been saved from him that would urge me to perform the deeds of error; and I have forsaken him that was born with the darkness, and who would have forced me to commit sin by my acts. But now I have found Him Who will give me light, and Who will be a kinsman 163b.

8 "and a Redeemer unto me, and He will [cover] our eyes, and will draw those who hearken unto Him that they may have knowledge, and may work, and may be ashamed, and shewing themselves penitent may be saved(?). And now I have seen this deed, which is of the light, and is one which, indeed, cannot be put to shame. I am delivered from this work of darkness and error, and I shall not be put to shame. I have found him who will do good unto me, and who will drive away evil from me, and I have come unto him that is indeed the son and kinsman of the Wonder, Who will dispel the cloud, and illumine the world, and heal our wounds and overthrow hatred of Him. O servant of God, I beseech thee to shew Him again unto me so that I may know Him, and may hear His marvellous voice, which it is impossible to describe, for the music of [His] Person is beyond that of nature."

9 And the Apostle answered and said unto him, "If thou art saved, and hast placed thy trust as thou hast known how to do, even as thou sayest, Who is he who hath wrought this upon thee, and hath given thee knowledge and testimony? Because thy love is certain unto thee, thou desirest to see Him, and to be with Him for ever, and to abide among His own creatures, and to have thy rest in his joy. And if it be untrue that thou hast fled unto Him for refuge, and if thou hast returned again unto the work which thou didst aforetime, then forsake the beauty of the work of His goodness which hath now appeared unto thee, and the light of His baptism which thou now desirest. And if thou forgettest Him thou shalt lose not only this life which perisheth, but also that which is to come, and thou shalt return to thy former state which is behind thee of which thou speakest. And when the Apostle had thus spoken, he came into the city holding the young man [by the hand, and he was saying unto him all these things: — "[What thou hast seen] are only a few out of many of the things which are with God, and He doth not give you information concerning the things which are seen, but He sheweth you things which are greater.

10 As long as we belong to the body we are not able to declare and manifest openly the things which He hath prepared for those who believe on Him; and if I would declare unto you the Light [it would be a hard thing for me to do. And if we say unto you that He is rich, since His riches do not appear in this world we can only make mention [thereof] and cannot seek them. For He said, 'It belongeth unto what is difficult if a rich man entereth into the kingdom of heaven.' And it hath been heard and said, 'Those who wear fine raiment are found in the palace.' And because of those who are pure the suppers which we have been wont to take have been spoken and declaimed against, that we might know within ourselves that we must not overload our bodies either with strong drink or with the care of this world. Take not thought for yourselves what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, nor for your bodies [what ye shall put on; for the soul is of more account than the food, and your bodies are of more account than the raiment. If we speak of the pleasure "[which is caused by] a little food, a judgment is waiting thereupon. But we speak concerning Him that is above the world, and concerning God and His Angels, and concerning the saints and those who keep vigil, and

11 "concerning the way of joy, and concerning the drinking of the wine of the true Vine, and concerning the putting on of apparel which abideth and which groweth not old, which the eye hath not seen, nor the ear heard, and which it hath not entered into the heart of sinful man to imagine, and which God hath made ready for those who love Him." Of these things we speak, and of such "do we preach. Believe thou then in Him that thou mayest live, that thy hope may be upon Him, and thou mayest not die. For He desireth not a gift, and with a gift He cannot be appeased if thou wouldst give Him [one]; and He asketh not thee to offer up sacrifices unto Him. But put thy trust in Him, and He will not reject thee; and turn unto Him, and He will not forsake thee.

12 "For His goodness will induce thee to love him, and when thou hast turned unto Him He will never forsake thee." Now when the Apostle had said these things unto the young man, many people came unto him. And the Apostle looked at them, and saw that they were stretching up their heads that they might see him, and that they were going up unto a place which was higher than he was that they might observe him. Then 1 St. Matthew vi. 25. 2 Isaiah lxiv. 4; 1 Corinthians ii. 9. 13 he said unto them, "O ye men who have come that ye may believe in the works of Christ, henceforth know ye and understand that unless ye raise yourselves a little above the ground ye cannot see me who am a man like unto yourselves. How then will ye be able to see Him Who dwelleth in the height and in the depths unless, first of all, ye withdraw yourselves from your former habits, and from the works wherein there is no benefit? I desire that ye keep yourselves from that wherein there is no profit, and from the riches which perish, and from the possessions which grow old and fall into decay in the earth, and from [fine] apparel, and [from] the flesh which groweth old and decayeth; and moreover, all your bodies also wax old, and are buried in the ground, and become dust, and return to their former state and become ashes. This is the body which worketh! But believe ye, and be baptized in Christ Jesus, Whom we preach, so that He may become your hope. Then shall your life be everlasting, for He shall be your guide in this land of violence, and He shall become unto you a haven amid the billows of the sea. He shall be unto you a fountain of pure water in this land of thirst, and He shall be unto you food in every place, and a resting-place for your souls, and a healing for your bodies."

14 Then the multitudes of the people who had gathered themselves together wept [when] they heard [these things], and they said unto him, "O man of the God Whom thou preachest, of the God Who is God, it is not meet for us to say that we are His, for the works which we have been wont to do are alien unto Him, and remote from "Him, and they are not well-pleasing unto Him. But if He will have compassion upon us, and will shew mercy unto us, and will redeem us, and will deliver us from our former works, and from all the evil and from the error wherein we have erred and gone astray, and will neither keep in mind nor remember against us our transgressions of former times, we will conform unto His will, and we will keep His commandments perfectly." Then the Apostle answered and said unto them, "He will neither keep in mind, nor remember against you your transgressions, nor the error wherein ye have lived, and He will not keep beneath His eye the sins which ye have committed."

The Acts of Saint Thomas in India: the Fourth Act

1 How an ass spake to the Apostle. 2 Now whilst the Apostle was standing in that place and talking with the multitude, the colt of an ass came and stood before him; and he opened his mouth, and said unto the Apostle, "O kinsman of Christ, and Apostle of the Most High! Thou art full of the word of Christ, thou art he that knoweth hidden things; thou who wast a free man, like unto the Son of God, didst turn thyself into a slave, even as He did, that thou mightest redeem many; thou who art of noble race didst bind thyself unto an enemy, and didst deliver his chosen one, and didst become the means of life unto many in the country of India; and thou didst come unto the sinful men, who at the appearance of thee and through the voice of God have turned unto the things which God sent thee to teach them. If thou wilt mount and ride upon me thou canst have rest until thou enterest the city. And the Apostle answered and said, "O Jesus, by Whose desire Thy mercy is given for the perfecting of patience, Who speakest by means of animals which speak not, Who art the hidden rest, and Who art [only] revealed by divers means, our Redeemer and our Nourisher, and our Guardian, Who giveth us rest in the body and salvation unto our souls, sweet spring and pure fountain which never fail, and never become befouled!

3 Thou art the Merciful One, and Thou art the Helper of those who are Thy servants and who fight for Thee, Thou turnest back the Enemy, and makest him to withdraw from us, and Thou dost wage war on our behalf in many combats, and we overcome [through Thee], Who art indeed [the Athlete] and Angel Who cannot be overcome, Thou holy, victorious, and glorious God! Thou givest unto Thy chosen ones the joy which never endeth, and the rest which is without labour; Thou didst give Thyself on behalf of Thy sheep, and didst vanquish the wolf, and didst deliver us Who are the sheep of Thy pasture, and Thou dost lead them in the ordinances which are good. Thee we glorify, and Thee we praise, together with Thy Father, Who is invisible, and the Holy Spirit, for Thou art the Righteous One in all the world." 4 And when the Apostle had said these things unto him, the multitudes who were there were looking at the Apostle and waiting anxiously [to hear] what answer he would make unto the ass's colt. Then when he had stood for a long time in astonishment, and with his gaze fixed upon heaven, the Apostle said unto him, "Who art thou? Unto whom dost thou belong? For that which hath gone forth from thy mouth is astonishing, and glorious, and thereby many most marvellous and hidden things [are made known]. And the ass's colt answered and said unto him, "I am of the generations of the ass which served Balaam, and upon my father, from whose offspring I have come, did thy Lord and teacher sit. And now, I have been sent unto thee that I might give thee rest, and that thou mightest ride upon me. Then the Apostle believed, and said in his heart, "This is my portion which hath come unto me through thy labour; I will go; rise up. And the Apostle said [unto the ass, "He Who hath given unto thee this gracious gift is able to make it perfect for thee from generation to generation, for the matter is too honourable for me, and I am not meet therefor; and he refused to ride upon the colt of the ass.

5 Then the colt of the ass asked and entreated the Apostle that he might receive a blessing from him, and he stood still, and the Apostle mounted upon him, and told him [to journey on]. And all the people followed him, some running in front of him, and some behind him, that they might see the conclusion of the matter and how he would leave the colt of the ass. Now when he came to the gates of the city, he threw himself off him, and said unto him, "Go, and take heed where thou goest; and straightway the ass's colt fell down before him and died. And all those who were there were terrified, and said unto the Apostle, "Bring him to life, and raise him up again. Then the Apostle answered and said unto them, "I have the power to raise him up through the might of Jesus Christ, but he is better thus; and He Who gave him a voice to speak with is able to make him not to die and to raise him up again, but He wisheth it not. This state is best for him. And the Apostle commanded those who were standing there to dig a hole and bury the body of the colt of the ass.