 Section 10 of Anti-Nicene Christian Library, Translations of the Writings of the Fathers down to AD 325. This is a LibriVox recording, while LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Anti-Nicene Christian Library, Translations of the Writings of the Fathers down to AD 325 by Alexander Roberts, editor. Section 10, The Acts of Pilate. This is the second Greek form. A narrative about the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ and his holy resurrection. Written by a Jew, Ines, by name, and translated out of the Hebrew tongue into the Romeic language by Nicodemus, a Roman toparch. After the dissolution of the Kingdom of the Hebrews, 400 years having run their course, and the Hebrews also coming at last under the Kingdom of the Romans and the King of the Romans appointing them a king, when Tiberius Caesar at last swayed the Roman scepter in the 18th year of his reign, he appointed as king in Judea Herod, the son of the Herod who had formally slaughtered the infants in Bethlehem. And he made Pilate Procurator in Jerusalem, when Anas and Cephas held the high priesthood of Jerusalem. Nicodemus, a Roman toparch, having summoned a Jew, Ines, by name, asked him to write an account of the things done in Jerusalem about Christ in the times of Anas and Cephas. The Jew accordingly did this and delivered it to Nicodemus, and he again translated it from the Hebrew writing into the Romeic language. And the account is as follows. Chapter 1 Our Lord Jesus Christ having wrought in Judea many and great and extraordinary miracles, and on account of this being hated by the Hebrews, while Pilate was Procurator in Jerusalem and Anas and Cephas high priest, there came of the Jews to the chief priests, Judas, Levi, Nethaline, Alexander, Cirrus and many others, speaking against Christ. And these chief priests sent them away to say things to Pilate also. And they went away and said to him, a man walks about in the city whose father is called Joseph and his mother Mary, and he calls himself king and son of God. And being a Jew, he overturns the scriptures and does away with the Sabbath. Pilate then asked, in order to learn from them in what manner he did away with the Sabbath. And they answered, saying he cures the sick on the Sabbath. Pilate says, if he makes the sick whole, he does no evil. They say to him, if he affected the cures properly, small would be the evil, but by using magic he does these things, and by having the demons on his side. Pilate says to cure a person that is ill is not a diabolic work, but a grace from God. The Hebrews said, we beseech your highness to summon him in order that thou mayst make accurate inquiry into what we say. Pilate therefore, throwing off his cloak, gave it to one of his officers, saying, go away and show this to Jesus and say to him, Pilate the procurator calls thee to come before him. The officer accordingly went away and finding Jesus summoned him, having unfolded on the ground also. Pilate's mantle and urged him to walk upon it. And the Hebrews, seeing this and being greatly enraged, came to Pilate murmuring against him how he had deemed Jesus worthy of so great honor. And he having inquired of the officer who had been sent how he had done so, the officer answered, when thou didst send me to the Jew Alexander, I came upon Jesus entering the gate of the city, sitting upon an ass. And I saw that the Hebrews spread their garments in the way, and the ass walked upon the garments. And others cut branches, and they went forth to meet him and cried out, Hosanna and the highest. Thus therefore it was necessary for me also to do. The Jews hearing these words said to him, how dost thou, being a Roman, know what was said by the Hebrews? The officer answered, I asked one of the Hebrews and he told me these things. Pilate said, what means Hosanna? The Jews said, save us, O Lord. Pilate answered, since you confess that your children said so, how now do you bring charges and say against Jesus what you do say? The Jews were silent and had nothing to answer. Now as Jesus was coming to Pilate, the soldiers of Pilate adored him, and others also were standing before Pilate holding standards. And as Jesus was coming, the standards also bowed down and adored him. As Pilate therefore was wondering at what had happened, the Jews said to him, my Lord it was not the standards that adored Jesus, but the soldiers who were holding them carelessly. Pilate says to the ruler of the synagogue, choose twelve powerful men and give them the standards so that they may hold them firmly. In this having taken place, Pilate ordered the officer to take Jesus outside and bring him in again. And as he was coming in, the standards again bowed down and adored him. Pilate therefore wondered greatly, but the Jews said he is a magician and through that he does these things. Chapter 2 Pilate says to Jesus, hearest thou what these testify against thee and answerest thou not? And Jesus answered and said, every man has power to speak either good or bad as he wishes. He is also therefore having power say what they wish. The Jews said to him, what have we to say about thee? First, that thou wasst be gotten from sin. Second, that on account of thee, when thou wasst born, the infants were murdered. Third, that thy father and thy mother fled into Egypt because they had no confidence in the people. To these the Jews who were there present, God-fearing men, answered and said, We say that his birth is not from sin, for we know that Joseph received into keeping his mother Mary according to the practice of betrothal. Pilate said, consequently you lie who say that his birth is from sin. They say again to Pilate, all the people testify that he is a magician. The God-fearing Jews answered and said, we also were at the betrothal of his mother and we are Jews and know all his daily life. But that he is a magician that we do not know. And the Jews that thus said were these, Lazarus, Histarius, Antonius, James, Zaras, Samuel, Isaac, Phineas, Crispus, Degrippus, Ames and Judas. Pilate therefore says to them, by the life of Caesar, I wish you to swear whether the birth of this man is without sin. They answered, our law lays down that we are to swear not at all, because an oath is great sin. Notwithstanding, by the life of Caesar, we swear that his birth is without sin. And if we lie, order us all to be beheaded. And when they had thus spoken, the Jews that were bringing the charge answered Pilate and said, and thus thou believe these twelve single Jews more than all the multitude and us who know for certain that he is a magician and blasphemer, and that he names himself Son of God. Then Pilate ordered them all to go forth out of the Praetorium, except the said twelve alone. And when this had been done, Pilate says to them privately, as to this man it appears that from envy and madness the Jews wished to murder him. For of one thing that he does away with the Sabbath, they accuse him. But he then does a good work, because he cures the sick. For this sentence of death is not upon the man. The twelve also say to him, assuredly, my lord, it is so. Chapter 3 Pilate therefore went out in rage and anger, and says to Annas and Kyphus, and to the crowd who brought Jesus. I take the Son to witness that I find no fault in this man. The crowd answered, if he were not a sorcerer and a magician and a blasphemer, we should not have brought him to your highness. Pilate said, try him yourselves, and since you have a law, do as your law says. The Jews said, our law permits to put no man to death. Pilate says, if you are unwilling to put him to death, how much more am I? Then Pilate returned to the palace and says to Jesus, Tell me, art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered, does thou say this, or have the other Jews said this to thee, that thou miest question me? Pilate said, thou dost not think that I am a Hebrew? I am not a Hebrew. Thy people and the chief priests have delivered thee into my hands. And tell me, if thou art king of the Jews? Jesus answered, my kingdom is not of this world, for if my kingdom were in this world, my soldiers would not be unconcerned at my being seized. Wherefore my kingdom is not in this world? Pilate says, but art thou a king? Jesus said, thou hast said, for this was I born to bear witness to the truth, and if anyone be a man of the truth, he believes my word and does it. Pilate says, what is the truth? Jesus answered, the truth is from the heavens. Pilate says, on earth, then, is there no truth? Christ says, I am the truth. And how is the truth judged on earth by those that have earthly power? Chapter 4 Pilate therefore leaving Christ alone when outside and says to the Jews, I find no fault in this man. The Jews answered, let us tell your highness what he said. He said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and in three days to build it. Pilate says, and what temple did he say that he was to destroy? The Hebrews say, the temple of Solomon, which Solomon built in 46 years. Pilate says privately to the chief priests and the scribes and the Pharisees, I entreat you, do nothing evil against this man. For if you do evil against him, you will do unjustly. For it is not that such a man should die who has done great good to many men. They said to Pilate, if my lord he who has dishonored Caesar is worthy of death, how much more this man who dishonors God? Then Pilate dismissed them and they all went outside. Hereupon he says to Jesus, what does thou wish that I shall do to thee? Jesus said to Pilate, do to me as is determined. Pilate says, how is it determined? Jesus answered, Moses and the prophets wrote about me being crucified and rising again. The Hebrews, hearing this, said to Pilate, why do you seek to hear a greater insult out of him against God? Pilate says, his words are not an insult against God since they are written in the books of the prophets. The Hebrews said, our scripture says if a man offends against a man, that is to say if he insults him, he is worthy to receive forty strokes with a rod, but if anyone insults God to be stoned. Then came a messenger from Proclay, the wife of Pilate, to him and the message said, I care that thou do not agree that any evil should happen to Jesus, the good man, because during this night I have seen fearful dreams on account of him. Then Pilate spoke to the Hebrews saying, if you hold as insult against God the words which you declare Jesus to have spoken, take and judge him yourselves according to your law. The Jews said to Pilate, we wish that you should crucify him. Pilate says this is not good, and Pilate turning towards the people saw many weeping and said, to me it seems that it is not the wish of all the people that this man should die. The priests in the scribe say, we on this account have brought all the people that thou must have full conviction that all wishes death. Pilate says, for what evil hath he done? The Hebrews said, he says that he is a king and the son of God. Chapter 5 A God fearing Jew, therefore Nicodemus by name stood up in the mist and said to Pilate, I entreat your highness to permit me to say a few words. Nicodemus says, I being present in the synagogue said to the priests and the Levites and the scribes and the people, what have you to say against this man? This man does many miracles such as man has never yet done nor will do. Let him go therefore, and if indeed what he does be from God it will stand. But if from man it will be destroyed. Just as happened also when God sent Moses into Egypt, and Pharaoh king of Egypt told him to do a miracle, and he did. Then Pharaoh had also two magicians, Yannis and Yambres, and they also did miracles by the use of magic art, but not such as Moses did. And the Egyptians held these magicians to be gods. But because they were not from God, what they did was destroyed. And this Jesus then raised up Lazarus, and he is alive. On this account I entreat thee, my lord, by no means to allow this man to be put to death. The Hebrews were enraged against Nicodemus and said, mayest thou receive the truth of Jesus and have a portion with him. Nicodemus says, amen, amen, be it to me as you say. Chapter 6 And when Nicodemus had thus spoken another Hebrew rose up and said to Pilate, I beg of thee, my lord, Pilate, hear me also. Pilate answered, say what thou wishest. The Hebrews says, I lay sick in bed 38 years, and when he saw me he was grieved and said to me, Rise, take up thy couch and go into thine house. And while he was saying the word to me, I rose and walked about. The Hebrews say, ask him on what day of the week this happened. He says on Sabbath, the Jews said, and consequently we say truly that he does not keep the Sabbath. Another again, standing in the midst, said, I was born blind, and as Jesus was going along the road, I cried to him, Sing, have mercy upon me, lord, thou son of David. And he took clay and anointed mine eyes, and straight away I received my sight. Another said, I was crooked, and seeing him I cried, Have mercy upon me, oh lord. And he took me by the hand, and I was immediately raised. Another said, I was a leper, and he healed me merely by a word. Chapter 7 There was found there also a woman named Veronica, and she said, twelve years I was in an issue of blood, and I only touched the edge of his garment, and directly I was cured. The Jews said, our laws do not admit the testimony of a woman. Chapter 8 Other men cried, this man is a prophet, and the demons are afraid of him. Pilate says, and how were the demons not at all thus afraid of your parents also? They say we do not know. Others again said, Lazarus, after having been four days in the tomb, he raised by a single word. Pilate, therefore, hearing of the raising of Lazarus, was afraid and said to the people, Why do you wish to shed the blood of a just man? Chapter 9 Then he summoned Nicodemus and the twelve God-fearing Jews and said to them, What do you say that I should do? Because the people are in commotion. They say we do not know, do as thou wilt, but what the people do they do unjustly in order to kill him. Pilate again went outside and said to the people, You know that in the feasts of unleavened bread, it is customary that I free on your account one of the criminals kept in custody. I have, therefore, one malefactor in the prison, a robber named Barabbas. I have also Jesus who has never done any evil. Which of the two, then, do you wish that I release to you? The people answered, Release to us Barabbas. Pilate says, What then shall I deal with Jesus? They say, Let him be crucified. Again, others of them cried out, If thou release Jesus, thou art no friend of Caesar, because he calls himself Son of God and King. And if thou free him, he becomes a king. Pilate, therefore, was enraged and said, Always has your nation been devilish and unbelieving, and ever have you been adversaries to your benefactors. The Hebrews say, And who were our benefactors? Pilate says, God who freed you out of the hand of Pharaoh and brought you through the Red Sea as upon dry land and fed you with quails and gave you water to drink out of the dry rock, and who gave you a law of denying God you broke. And if Moses had not stood and entreated God, you would have perished by bitter death. All these, then, you have forgotten. Thus also even now you say that I do not at all love Caesar, but hate him and wish to plot against his kingdom. And having thus spoken, Pilate rose up from the throne with anger, wishing to flee from them. The Jews, therefore, cried out, saying, We wish Caesar to be king over us, not Jesus, as Jesus received gifts from the Magi. And Herod also heard this, that there was going to be a king and wished to put him to death. And for this purpose sent and put to death all the infants that were in Bethlehem. And on this account also his father Joseph and his mother fled from fear of him into Egypt. So then Pilate, hearing this, silenced all the people and said, This then is the Jesus whom Herod then sought that he might put him to death. Pilate, therefore, having ascertained that he was of the jurisdiction of Herod, as being derived from the race of the Jews, sent Jesus to him. And Herod, seeing him, rejoiced greatly because he had been long desiring to see him, hearing of the miracles which he did. He put on him, therefore, white garments. Then he began to question him. But Jesus did not give him an answer, and Herod wishing to see also some miracle or other done by Jesus and not seeing it, and also because he did not answer him a single word, sent him back again to Pilate. Pilate, seeing this, ordered his officers to bring water. Washing then his hands with the water, he said to the people, I'm innocent of the blood of this good man. See you to it that he is unjustly put to death since neither I have found a fault in him nor Herod. For because of this he has sent him back again to me. The Jews said, his blood be upon us and upon our children. Then Pilate sat down upon his throne to pass sentence. He gave order, therefore, and Jesus came before him. And they brought a crown of thorns and put it on his head and a reed into his right hand. Then he passed sentence and said to him, Thy nation says and testifies against thee that thou wishest to be a king. Therefore I decree that they shall beat thee first with a rod forty strokes as the laws of the king's decree and that they shall mock thee and finally that they shall crucify thee. Chapter 10 The sentence to this effect, thus having been passed by Pilate, the Jews began to strike Jesus, some with rods, others with their hands, others with their feet, some also spat in his face. Immediately, therefore, they got ready the cross and gave it to him. And flew to take the road. And thus going along, bearing also the cross, he came as far as the gate of the city of Jerusalem. But as he, from the many blows and the weight of the cross, was unable to walk, the Jews out of the eager desire they had to crucify him as quickly as possible, took the cross from him and gave it to a man that met them, Simon by name, who had also two sons, Alexander and Rufus. And he was from the city of Cyrene. They gave the cross then to him, not because they pity Jesus and wished to lighten him of the weight because they eagerly desired, as has been said, to put him to death more speedily. Of his disciples, therefore, John followed him there. Then he came fleeing to the mother of God and said to her, Where hath thou been, that thou hast not come to see what has happened? She answered, What is it that has happened? John says, Know that the Jews have laid hold of my master and are taking him away to crucify him. Hearing this, his mother cried out with a loud voice, saying, My son, what evil then hath thou done that they are taking thee away to crucify thee? And she rose up as if blinded and goes along the road weeping. And women followed her, Martha and Mary Magdalene and Salome and other virgins. And John also was with her. When therefore they came to the multitude of the crowd, the mother of God says to John, Where is my son? John says, Seeest thou him bearing the crown of thorns and having his hands bound. And the mother of God, hearing this and seeing him, fainted and fell backwards to the ground and lay a considerable time. And the woman as many as followed her stood ground her and wept. And as soon as she revived and rose up she cried out with a loud voice, My Lord, my son, where hath the beauty of a warm sun, how shall I endure to see thee suffering such things? And thus saying, she tore her face with her nails and beat her breast. Where are they gone, said she, the good deeds which thou dist in Judea? What evil has thou done to the Jews? The Jews then, seeing her thus lamenting and crying, came and drove her from the road. But she would not flee but remain, saying, Kill me first, ye lawless Jews. Then they got safe to the place called Cranium, and the soldiers paved with stone. And therefore the Jews set up the cross. Then they stripped Jesus. And the soldiers took his garments and divided them among themselves. And they put on him a tattered robe of scarlet and raised him and drew him up on the cross at the sixth hour of the day. After this they brought also two robbers, the one on his right, the other on his left. Then the mother of God standing and looking cried out with a loud voice, my son, my son, and Jesus turning to her and seeing John near her and weeping with the rest of the woman said, Behold thy son, and then he says also to John, Behold thy mother. And she wept much, saying, For this I weep my son, because thou sufferest unjustly, because the lawless Jews have delivered thee to a bitter death. Without thee, my son, what will become of me? What life shall I spend? Where are thy disciples who boast it that they would die with thee? Where are those healed by thee? How has no one been found to help thee? In looking to the cross she said, Bend down, O cross, that I may embrace and kiss my son whom I suckle at these breaths after a strange manner as not having known man. Bend down, O cross, I wish to throw my arms round my son. Bend down, O cross, that I may embrace and kiss my son like a mother. The Jews hearing these words came forward and drove to a distance both her and the women and John. Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Father, let not this sin stand against them, for they know not what they do. Then he says, I thirst. And immediately there ran one of the soldiers and took a sponge and filled it with gall and vinegar mixed, and gave it on a reed, and having tasted it he would not drink it. And the Jews standing and looked on, laughed at him and said, If thou truly sayest that thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross, and immediately that we may believe in thee. Others said mocking, others he saved, others he cured, and he healed the sick, the paralytic, the lepers, the demoniacs, the blind, the lame, the dead, and himself he cannot cure. In the same manner also the robber crucified on his left hand said to him, If thou art the Son of God, come down and save both thyself and us. His name was Gistus, and he that was crucified on the right, Dismas, by name, reproved that robber, saying, O wretched and miserable man, dost thou not fear God? We suffer the due punishment of what we have done, but this man has done no evil at all. In turning to Jesus he says to him, Lord, when thou shalt reign, do not forget me. And he said to him, Today I tell thee truth, I shall have thee in paradise with me. Chapter 11 Then Jesus crying out with a loud voice, Father, into thy hands I shall commit my spirit, breathed his last. And immediately one could see the rocks rent, for there was an earthquake over all the earth, and from the earthquake being violent and great the rocks and the tombs of the dead were open, and the curtain of the temple was rent, and there was darkness from the sixth hour to the ninth. And from all these things that had happened the Jews were afraid and said, Certainly this was a just man. And Longinus, the centurion who stood by, said, Truly this was the Son of God. Others coming and seeing him beat their breasts from fear and again turned back. And all these so great miracles went away and reported them to Pilate. And when he heard he wondered and was astonished and from his fear and grief would neither eat nor drink that day. And he sent notice and all the sehedron came to him as soon as the darkness was passed. And he said to the people, You know how the Son has been darkened. You know how the curtain has been rent. Certainly I did well in being by no put to death the good man. And the malfactors said to Pilate, This darkness is an eclipse of the sun such as has happened also at other times. Then they said to him, We hold the feast of unleavened bread tomorrow and we entreat thee since the crucified are still breathing that their bones be broken and that they be brought down. Pilate said it shall be so. He therefore sent soldiers and they found yet breathing and they broke their legs but finding Jesus dead they did not touch him at all except that a soldier speared him in the right side and immediately there came forth blood and water. And as the day of the preparation was drawn toward evening Joseph a man well born and rich a God fearing Jew finding Nicodemus who sentiments his foregoing speech had shown says to him, I know that thou Jesus when living and just gladly hear his words and I saw thee fighting with the Jews on his account. If then it seems good to thee let us go to Pilate and beg the body of Jesus for burial because it is a great sin for him to lie unburied. I'm afraid said Nicodemus lest Pilate should be enraged and some evil should befall me but if thou wilt go alone and beg the dead and take him then will I also go with thee everything necessary for the burial. Nicodemus having thus spoken Joseph directed his eyes to heaven and prayed that he might not fail in his request and he went away to Pilate and having saluted him sat down then he says to him I entreat thee my lord not to be angry with me but I shall ask anything contrary to what seems good to your highness then he said and what is it that thou ask. Joseph says Jesus the good man whom through hatred the Jews have taken away to crucify him I entreat that thou give me for burial. Pilate says and what has happened that we should deliver to be honored again the dead body of whom against whom evidence of sorcery was brought by his nation and who was in suspicion of taking the kingdom of Caesar and so was given up by us to death. In Joseph weeping and in great grief fell at the feet of Pilate saying my lord let no hatred fall upon a dead man for all the evil that a man has done should perish with him in his death and I know your highness how eager thou wasst that Jesus should not be crucified and how much thou set us to the Jews on his behalf now an entreaty and again an anger and at last how thou just washed by hands and declare that thou wasst by no means take part with those who wished to be put to death for all which reasons I entreat thee not to refuse my request Pilate therefore seeing Joseph thus lying and supplicating and weeping raised him up and said go I grant thee this dead man take him and do whatever thou wilt and then Joseph having thanked Pilate and kissed his hands in his garments went forth rejoicing in deed and heart as having obtained his desire but carrying tears in his eyes thus also though grieved he was glad accordingly he goes away to Nicodemus and discloses to him all that had happened then having brought myrrh and aloes a hundred pounds in a new tomb day along with the mother of God and Mary Magdalene and Salome along with John and the rest of the women did what was customary for the body with white linen and placed it in the tomb and the mother of God said weeping not to lament thee my son how should I not tear my face with my nails this is that my son which Simian the elder foretold to me when I brought thee an infinite forty days old into the temple this is the sword which now goes through my soul who shall put a stop to my tears my sweetest son no one at all except thyself alone if as thou sayest thou shalt rise again in three days Mary Magdalene said weeping hear old peoples tribes and tongues and learn to what death the lawless Jews have delivered him who did them ten thousand good deeds hear and be astonished who will let these things be heard by all the world I shall go alone to Rome to the Caesar I shall show him what evil pilot have done in obeying the lawless Jews likewise also Joseph lamented sweetest Jesus most excellent of men if indeed it be proper to call thee man who has wrought such miracles as no man has ever done how shall I enshroud thee how shall I entomb thee there should now have been here those whom thou fettest with a few loaves for thus should I not have seemed to fail in what is due then Joseph alone with Nicodemus went home and likewise also the mother of God with the women John also being present with them Chapter 12 when the Jews were made acquainted with these things done by Joseph and Nicodemus they were greatly stirred up against them and the chief priests Annas and Kyphus sent for Joseph and said why hast thou done this service to Jesus Joseph says I know that Jesus was a man just and true and good in all respects through hatred managed to murder him and therefore I bury him then the high priests were enraged and laid hold of Joseph and threw him into prison and said to him if we had not tomorrow the feast of unleavened bread tomorrow also should we have put thee like him to death but being kept in the meantime early in the morning of the Lord's day thou shalt be given up to death thus they spoke and affixed their seal to the prison having thus therefore when the preparation was ended early on the Sabbath the Jews went away to Pilate and said to him my Lord that deceiver said that after three days he should rise again thus therefore his disciple should steal him by night and lead the people astray by such deceit order his tomb to be guarded Pilate therefore upon this gave them 500 soldiers who also sat round the sepulchre so as to guard it after having the seals upon the stone of the tomb the Lord's day then having dawn the chief priests among them with the Jews called a council and sent to take Joseph out of the prison in order to put him to death but having opened it they found him not and they were astonished at this how with the door shut and the vault safe and the seals unbroken Joseph had disappeared Chapter 13 and upon after the soldiers gardened the tomb and he said in the synagogue learn that Jesus has risen the Jews said how and he said first there was an earthquake then an angel of the Lord clothed when lightning came from heaven and rolled the stone from the tomb and sat upon it and from fear of him all of our soldiers became as dead and were able neither to flee nor speak and we heard the angel saying to the woman who came there to see as I know that you seek Jesus he is not here but is risen as he told you before bend down and see the tomb where his body lay but go and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead and let them go into Galilee for there shall they find him for this reason I tell you this first the Jews said to the soldiers what sort of women were there who came to the tomb why did you not lay hold of them the soldiers say from the fear and the mere sight of the angel we were able neither to speak nor move the Jews said as the God of Israel liveth we do not believe a word you say the soldiers say Jesus did so great wonders and you believe not and are you going to believe us you say truly that God liveth and certainly he whom you crucified truly liveth but we have heard that you had opened the doors and did not find him do you then present Joseph and so also shall we present Jesus the Jews say Joseph that fled from the prison you will find an Arimathea his own country and the soldiers say go you too into Galilee and you will find Jesus as the angel said to the women at these words the Jews were afraid and said to the soldiers see that you tell this story to nobody and you will believe in Jesus and for this reason they gave them also much money and the soldiers said we are afraid lest by any chance Pilate hear that we have taken money and he will kill us and the Jews said take it and we plead yourselves that we shall speak to Pilate in your defense only say that you are asleep and in your slumber the disciples of Jesus came and stole them from the tomb the soldiers therefore took the money and up to this day this same lying tale is told among the Jews chapter 14 and a few days after there came from Galilee to Jerusalem free men one of them was a priest by name Finnes the second a Levite by name Agai and the third a soldier by name Addis these came to the chief priests and said to them to the people Jesus whom you crucified we have seen in Galilee with his eleven disciples upon the Mount of Olives teaching them and saying go into all the world and proclaim the good news and whosoever will believe and be baptized shall be saved but whosoever will not believe shall be condemned and having thus spoken he went up into heaven and both we and many others at the 500 besides were looking on and when the chief priests and the Jews heard these things they said to these three God of Israel and repent of these lies that you have told they answered as the God of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob Levite we do not lie but tell you the truth then the high priest spoke and they brought the old covenant of the Hebrews out of the temple and he made them swear and giving them also money he sent them into another place in order that they might not proclaim in Jerusalem the resurrection of Christ and they were heard by all the people the crowd came together into the temple and there was a great commotion for many said Jesus has risen from the dead as we hear and why did you crucify him and Annas and Kyphus said do not believe you Jews what the soldiers say and do not believe that they saw an angel coming down from heaven for we have given money to the soldiers in order that they should not tell such tales to anyone the disciples of Jesus given the money in order that they should say that Jesus has risen from the dead Chapter 15 Nicodemus says or children of the inhabitants of Jerusalem the prophet Helius went up into the height of heaven with the fiery chariot and is nothing incredible of Jesus to his risen for the prophet Helius was a prototype of Jesus in order that you hearing that Jesus has risen did not disbelieve I therefore say and advise that it is befitting that we send soldiers into Galilee to that place where these men testify that they saw him with his disciples in order that we may go around him and find him and that thus we may ask pardon of him for the evil which we have done to him this proposal pleased them and they chose soldiers and sent them away into Galilee in Jesus indeed they did not find Joseph in Arimathea when therefore the soldiers had returned the chief priests having ascertained that Joseph was found brought the people together and said what shall we do to get Joseph to come to us after deliberating therefore they wrote to him a letter to the following effect O Father Joseph peace be to thee and all thy house and thy friends we know that we have offended against God and against thee his servant on account of this we entreat thee to come here to us thy children for we have wondered much how thou dist escaped from the prison and we say in truth that we had an evil design against thee but God seeing that our designs against thee were unjust has delivered thee out of our hands but come to us for thou art the honor of our people this letter the Jews sent to Arimathea with seven soldiers friends of Joseph and they went away and found him having respectfully saluted him as they had been ordered they gave him the letter and after receiving it and reading it he glorified God and embraced the soldiers and having set a table ate and drank with them during all the day and the night and on the following day he set out with them to Jerusalem and the people came forth to meet him and embraced him and Nicodemus received him into his own house and the day after Annas and Caifas the priest having summoned him to the table said to him give glory to the God of Israel and tell us the truth for we know that thou dist buried Jesus and on this account we laid hold of thee and locked thee up in prison thereafter when we sought to bring thee out to be put to death we did not find thee and we were greatly astonished and afraid moreover we prayed to God that we might find thee and ask thee tell us therefore the truth Joseph said to them in the evening of the preparation when you secured me in prison I fell a praying throughout the whole night and throughout the whole day of the Sabbath and at midnight I see the prison house that four angels lifted it up holding it by the four corners and Jesus came in like lightning and I fell to the ground from fear taking hold of me therefore by the hand he raised me saying fear not Joseph thereafter embracing me he kissed me and said turn thyself and see who I am turning myself therefore and looking I said my lord I know not who thou art he says I am Jesus whom thou dist buried the day before yesterday I say to him show me the tomb and then I shall believe he took me therefore by the hand and led me away to the tomb which had been opened and seeing the linen and the napkin and recognizing him I said in the name of the Lord and I adored him and taking me by the hand and accompanying by the angels he brought me to my house in Arimathea and said to me sit here for forty days for I go to my disciples in order that I may enable them fully to proclaim my resurrection Chapter 16 When Joseph had thus spoken the chief priests cried out to the people we know that Jesus had a father how can we believe that he is the Christ one of the Levites answered and said I know the family of Jesus noble minded men, great servants of God and receiving tithes from the people of the Jews and I know also Simeon the elder that he received him when he was an infant and said to him now thou sendest away thy servant, O Lord the Jews said let us now find the three men that saw him on the Mount of Olives and questioned them and learned the truth more accurately they found them and brought them before all and made them swear to tell the truth and they said as the God of Israel liveth we saw Jesus alive on the Mount of Olives and going up into heaven then Annas and Caiaphas took the three apart one by one and questioned them singly and private they agreed with one another therefore and gave even the three one account the chief priests answered saying our scripture says that every word shall be established by two or three witnesses Joseph then has confessed that he along with Nicodemus attended to the body and buried him and how is it truth that he has risen End of section 10 section 11 of anti-Nicene Christian library translations of the writings of the fathers down to AD 325 this is a LibriVox recording while LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org anti-Nicene Christian library translations of the writings of the fathers down to AD 325 by Alexander Roberts editor the descent of Christ into hell Greek form Chapter 1 Joseph says you wonder that Jesus has risen but it is wonderful that he is not risen alone but that he has also raised many others of the dead who have appeared in Jerusalem to many and if you do not know the others Simeon at least who received Jesus and his two sons whom he has raised up them at least you know for we buried them not long ago but now their tombs are seen open and empty and they are alive and dwelling in Arimathea they therefore sent men and they found their tombs open and empty Joseph says let us go to Arimathea and find them then rose up the chief priests Annas and Kyphus and Joseph and Nicodemus and Gamaliel and others with them and went away to Arimathea and found those who Joseph spoke of they made prayer therefore and saluted each other then they came with them to Jerusalem and opened the doors and and placed in the midst the old covenant of the Jews and the chief priests said to them we wish you to swear by the God of Israel and Adonai and so that you tell the truth how you have risen and who has raised you from the dead the men who had risen having heard this made upon their faces the sign of the cross and said to the chief priests give us paper and ink and pen sitting down they wrote thus Chapter 2 O Lord Jesus Christ the resurrection and the life of the world grant us grace that we may give an account of thy resurrection and thy miracles which thou dist in Hades we were then in Hades with all who had fallen asleep since the beginning of the world and at the hour of midnight there rose a light as if of the sun and shone into these dark regions and we were all lighted up and saw each other and straight away our father Abraham was united with the patriarchs and the prophets and at the same time they were filled with joy and said to each other this light is from a great source of light the prophet Hezaias who was their presence said the light is from the father and from the son and from the Holy Spirit about whom I prophesied when yet alive sang the land of Zebulon and the land of Nethaline the people that sat in darkness have seen a great light then there came into the mist another an ascetic from the desert and the patriarch said to him who art thou and he said I am John the last of the prophets who made the paths of the son of God straight and proclaimed to the people repentance for the remission of sins and the son of God came to me and I seeing him a long way off said to the people behold the Lamb of God who take away the sin of the world and I baptized him in the river Jordan and I saw like a dove also the Holy Spirit coming upon him and I heard also the voice of God even the father thus saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased and on this account he sent me also to you to proclaim how the only begotten son of God is coming here that whoever shall believe in him shall be saved and whoever shall not believe in him shall be condemned I say to you all in order that when you see him you all may adore him that now only is for you the time of repentance for having adored idols in the vain upper world and for the sins you have committed and that this is impossible at any other time Chapter 3 while John therefore was thus teaching those in Hades the first created in forefather Adam heard and said to his son Seth my son I wish thee tell the forefathers of the race of men and the prophets where I sent thee when it fell to my lot to die in Seth said prophets and patriarchs here when my father Adam the first created was about to fall once upon a time into death he sent me to make entree to God very close by the gate of paradise that he would guide me by an angel to the tree of compassion and that I might take oil and anoint my father to rise up from his sickness which thing therefore I also did and after the prayer an angel of the Lord came and said to me what Seth dost thou ask dost thou ask oil which rises up the sick or the tree from which this oil flows on account of the sickness of thy father this is not to be found now go therefore and tell thy father that after the accomplishing of five thousand five hundred years from the creation of the world then shall come into the earth the only begotten Son of God being man made and he shall anoint him with this oil and shall raise him up and shall wash clean with water and with the Holy Spirit both him and those out of him and then shall he be healed of every disease but now this is impossible when the patriarchs and the prophets heard these words they rejoiced greatly Chapter 4 and when all were in such joy came Satan the air of darkness and said to Hades oh all devouring and satiable hear my words there is of the race of the Jews one named Jesus call himself the Son of God and being a man by our working with them the Jews have crucified him and now when he is dead be ready that we may secure him here for I know that he is a man and I heard him also saying my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death he has also done me many evils when living with mortals in the upper world for whenever he found my servants he persecuted them and whatever man I made crooked blind, lame, lepers or any such thing by a single word he healed them and many whom I had got ready to be buried even even these through a single word he brought to life again Hades says and is this man so powerful as to do such things by a single word or if he be so canst thou withstand him it seems to me that if he be so no one will be able to withstand him and if thou sayest that thou just hear him dreading death he said this mocking thee and laughing wishing to seize thee with the strong hand and woe woe to thee to all eternity Satan says oh all devouring and insatiable Hades so afraid at hearing of our common enemy I was not afraid of him but worked in the Jews and they crucified him and gave him also to drink gall with vinegar make ready then in order that you may hold fast of him when he comes Hades answered heir of darkness son of destruction devil thou hast just told me that many whom thou hast made ready to be buried he brought to life again by a single word and if he has delivered others from the tomb how and with what power shall he be laid hold of by us for I not long ago swallowed down one dead, Lazarus by name and not long after one of the living by a single word dragged him up by force out of my vows and I think that it was he of whom thou speakest if therefore we receive him here I am afraid less per chance for lo all those that I have swallowed from eternity I perceive to be in commotion and I am pained in my belly and the snatching away of Lazarus before hand seems to me to be no good sign for not like a dead body but like an eagle he flew out of me and so suddenly did the earth throw him out wherefore also I adore even thee for thy benefit in full mind not to bring him here for I think that he is coming here to hold the dead and this I tell thee by the darkness in which we live if thou bring him here not one of the dead will be left behind in it to me Chapter 5 While Satan and Hades were thus speaking to each other there was a great voice like thunder saying lift up your gates O he rulers and be he lifted up the everlasting gates and the king of glory shall come in thou art able and withstand him Satan therefore went forth to the outside then Hades said to his demons secure well and strongly the gates of brass and the bars of iron and attend to my bolts and stand in order and see to everything for if he come in here woe will seize us the forefathers having heard this began all to revile him saying oh all devouring and insatiable open that the king of glory may come in David the prophet says dost thou not know oh blind that I when living in the world prophesied this saying lift up your gates O ye rulers his eyes said I for seeing this by the Holy Spirit wrote the dead shall rise up and those in their tomb shall be raised and those in the earth shall rejoice and where O death is thy sting where O Hades is thy victory there came then again a voice saying lift up the gates Hades hearing the voice the second time answered as if forsooth he did not know and says who is this king of glory the angels of the Lord say the Lord is strong and mighty the Lord mighty in battle and immediately with these words the brazen gates were shattered and the iron bars broken and all the dead who had been bound came out of the prisons and we with them and the king of glory came in in the form of a man the places of Hades were lighted up Chapter 6 immediately Hades cried out we have been conquered woe to us but who art thou thou has such power and might what art thou who comest here without sin who art seen to be small and yet of great power lowly and exalted the slave and the master the soldier and the king who has power over the dead and the living thou was nailed on the cross and placed in the tomb and now thou art free and has destroyed all our power art thou then the Jesus about whom the chief sat-trop Satan told us that through cross and death thou art to inherit the whole world and the king of glory seized the chief sat-trop Satan by the head and delivered him to his angels and said with iron chains bind his hands and his feet and his neck and his mouth then he delivered him to Hades and said take him and keep him second appearing Chapter 7 In Hades receiving Satan said to him Beasalbum air of fire and punishment enemy of the saints through what necessity disthou bring about that the king of glory should be crucified so that he should come here and deprive us of our power turn and see that not one of the dead has been left in me but all that thou hast gained through the tree of knowledge hast thou lost through the tree of the cross and all thy joy has been turned into grief and wishing to put to death the king of glory thou hast put thyself to death for since I have received thee to keep thee safe by experience shall thou learn how many evils I shall do unto thee O archdevil the beginning of death root of sin end of all evil what evil disthou find in Jesus that thou should compass his destruction hast thou dared to do such evil hast thou busied thyself to bring down such a man into this darkness through whom thou hast been deprive of all who have died from eternity Chapter 8 While Hades was thus discoursing to Satan the king of glory stretched out his right hand and took hold of our forefather Adam and raised him then turning also to the rest he said come all with me as many through the tree which he touched for behold I again raise you all up through the tree of the cross thereupon he brought them all out and our forefather Adam seemed to be filled with joy and said I thank thee Majesty O Lord, thou hast brought me up out of the lowest Hades likewise all prophets and the saints said we thank thee O Christ Saviour of the world that thou has brought our life up out of destruction and after they had thus spoken the Saviour blessed Adam with the sign of the cross on his forehead and did this also to the patriarchs and prophets and martyrs and forefathers and he took them and sprang up out of Hades and while he was rising the Holy Fathers accompanied him sang praises, sang blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord alleluia to him be the glory of all the saints Chapter 9 In setting out to paradise he took hold of the forefather Adam by the hand and delivered him and all the just to the archangel Michael and as they were going to the door of paradise there met them two old men to whom the Holy Father said who are you who have not seen death and have not come down into Hades but who dwell in paradise in your bodies and your souls one of them answered and said I am Enoch who is well pleasing God and who was translated hither by him and this is Elias the Thespite and we are also to live until the end of the world and then we are to be sent by God to withstand antichrists and to be slain by him and after three days rise again and to be snatched up in clouds to meet the Lord. Chapter 10 While they were thus speaking there came another lowly man carrying also upon his shoulders a cross to whom he said who art thou who has the look of a robber and what is the cross which thou barest upon thy shoulders he answered I as you say was a robber and thief in the world and for these things the Jews laid hold of me and delivered me to the death of the cross along with the Lord Jesus Christ while then he was hanging upon the cross I seen the miracles that were done believed in him and then treated him and said to me King do not forget me and immediately he said to me amen, amen today I say unto thee shalt thou be with me in paradise therefore I came to paradise carrying my cross and finding the Archangel Michael I said to him our Lord Jesus who has been crucified has sent me here bring me therefore to the gate of Eden and the flaming sword seeing the sign of the cross open to me and I went in and the Archangel says to me wait a little for there cometh also the forefather of the race of men at him with the just that they too may come in and now seeing you I came to meet you the saints hearing these things all cried out with a loud voice greatest our Lord in greatest his strength Chapter 11 all these things we saw and heard we the two brothers who also have been sent by Michael the Archangel and have been ordered to proclaim the resurrection the Lord but first to go away to the Jordan and to be baptized that there also we have gone and have been baptized with the rest of the dead who have risen there after also we came to Jerusalem celebrated the Passover of the resurrection but now we're going away being unable to stay here and the love of God even the father and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all having written these things and secured the roles they gave the half to the chief priests and the half to Joseph and Nicodemus and they immediately disappeared to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ amen. End of Section 11 Section 12 of Anti-Nicene Christian Library Translations of the Writings of the Fathers down to A.D. 325 by Alexander Roberts editor The Acts of Pilot Latin Form I.N.A.S. was at first a protector of the Hebrews and follower of the law then the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Holy Spirit the age of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I translated them into the language of the Gentiles in the reign of the eminent Theodosius, who was fulfilling his 17th Councilship and of Valentinian Council for the fifth time in the ninth Indiction, whosoever, if you read this book and transfer it to other copies, remember me and pray for me, Aeneas, least of the servants of God, that he be merciful to me, and pardon my sins which I have committed against him. Peace be to all who shall read this, and all their house forever. Amen. Now it came to pass in the nineteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of the Romans and of Herod, son of Herod, king of Galilee, in the nineteenth year of his rule, on the eighth day before the callons of April, which is the twenty-fifth day of the month of March in the Councilship of Rufinus and Rebello, in the fourth year of the two hundred and second Olympian, under the rule of Joseph and Caiphas, priests of the Jews, the things done by the chief priests and the rest of the Jews, which Nicodemus recorded after the cross and passion of the Lord, Nicodemus himself committed to Hebrew letters. Chapter 1 Anas and Caiphas, Sumas and Datum, Gamliel, Judas, Levi, Neptune, Alexander and Jairus, and the rest of the Jews came to Pilate, accusing the Lord Jesus of many things and saying we know him to be the son of Joseph the carpenter, born of Mary, and he says that he is the son of God and a king. Not only so, but he also breaks the Sabbath and wishes to do away with the law of our fathers. Pilate says, what is it that he does and wishes to destroy the law? The Jews say we have a law not to heal anyone on the Sabbath, but he, by evil arts, heals on the Sabbath, the lame and the hunchback, the blind and palsy, the lepers and the demoniacs. Pilate says to them, by what evil arts? They say to him, he is a sorcerer, and by Beaselbub, prince of the demons, he casts out demons, and they are all subject to him. Pilate says to them, it is not in an unclean spirit to cast out demons, but in the God of Skolapius, the Jews say we pray thy majesty to set him before thy tribunal to be heard. Pilate, calling the Jews to him, says to them, how can I seem that I am a governor, you're a king? They say to him, we do not say that he is a king, but he himself says he is. In Pilate, calling a runner, says to him, let Jesus be brought in with kindness, and the runner going out, recognizing him, adored him, and spread on the ground, the cloak which he carried into his hand, saying, my lord, walk upon this and come in, because the governor calls thee. But the Jews, seeing what the runner did, cried out against Pilate, saying, why disnot thou make him come in by the voice of a crier, but by a runner. For the runner too, seeing him, as adored him, and has spread out before him on the ground, the cloak which he held in his hand, and has said to him, my lord, the governor calls thee. And Pilate, calling the runner, says to him, wherefore hast thou done this? And honor Jesus, who is called Christ. The runner says to him, when thou dis-send me into Jerusalem to Alexander, I saw him sitting upon an ass, and the children of the Hebrews breaking branches from the trees, strewing them in the way, and others held branches in their hands, and others spread their garments in the way, shouting and saying, save, therefore, thou who art in the highest, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. The Jews cried out, saying against the runner, the children of the Hebrews indeed cried out in Hebrew. How can't thou a Gentile know this? The runner says to them, I asked one of the Jews, and said, what is it that they cry out in Hebrew? And he explained to me, Pilate says to them, and how did they cry out in Hebrew? The Jews said, Osanna in the highest. Pilate says to them, what is the meaning of Osanna in the highest? They say to him, save us, thou who art in the highest. Pilate says to them, if you yourselves bear witness to the terms and words in which the children cried out, in what has the runner sinned? And they were silent. The governor says to the runner, go out and lead him in, in whatever way thou wilt, and the runner going forth did after the same form as before, and says to Jesus, my Lord go in, because the governor calls thee. And Jesus then was going in, in the standard bearers bearing the standards. The heads of the standards were bowed of themselves and adored Jesus. And the Jews seen the standards, how they bowed themselves and adored Jesus, cried the more against the standard bearers. And Pilate says to the Jews, do you not wonder at the way in which the standards have bowed themselves and adored Jesus? The Jews say to Pilate, we saw how the men carrying the standards bowed themselves and adored Jesus. And the governor calling the standard bearers says to them, why have you so done? They say to Pilate, we are Gentile men and slaves of the temples, how would we to adore him? For when we were holding the figures, they themselves bowed and adored him. Pilate says to the chiefs of the synagogue and the elders of the people, choose ye men powerful and strong, and let them hold the standards, and let us see whether they will bow of themselves. And the elders of the Jews, taking twelve men very strong and powerful, made them hold the standards, six and six, and they stood before the governor's tribunal. Pilate says to the runner, take out Jesus outside of the praetorium and bring him in again in whatever way thou will. And Jesus and the runner went outside of the praetorium, and Pilate calling those who had formerly held the standards, said to them, by the health of Caesar, if the standards do not bow themselves when Jesus comes in, I will cut off your heads. And the governor ordered Jesus to come in a second time, and the runner did after the same form as before, and besought Jesus much that he would go up and walk upon his cloak. And he walked upon it and went in. And as Jesus was going in, immediately the standards bowed themselves and adored Jesus. Chapter 2 And Pilate, seeing fear, seized him, and immediately he wished to rise from the tribunal. And while he was thinking of this, these to rise and go away, his wife sent to him, saying, I have nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered much on account of him this night. And Pilate, calling the Jews, said to them, You know that my wife is a worshiper of God, and in Judea isn't things rather with you. The Jews say to him, So it is, and we know. Pilate says to them, Lo, my wife is sent to me, saying, Have nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered much on account of him this night. And the Jews answering said to Pilate, Did we not say to thee that he is a magician? Lo, he has sent a vision of dreams to thy wife. Pilate called Jesus and said to him, What is it that these witness against thee, and saith thou nothing to them? And Jesus answered, If they had not the power they would not speak, Everyone has power over his own mouth to say good and evil. Let them see to it. And the elders of the Jews answering said to Jesus, What shall we see? First that thou wasst born of fornication. Second that at thy birth in Bethlehem there took place a massacre of infants. Third that thy father Joseph and thy mother Mary fled into Egypt, because they had no confidence in the people. Some of the bystanders, kind men of the Jews say, We say that he was not born of fornication, but we know that Mary was espoused to Joseph, and that he was not born of fornication. Pilate says to the Jews who said that he was a fornication. This speech of yours is not true, seeing that the betrothal took place as these of your nation say. Annas and Caiaphas say to Pilate, We with all the multitude say that he was born of fornication, and that he is a magician. But these are proselytites and his disciples. In Pilate calling Annas and Caiaphas says to him, What are proselytes? They say to him, There have been born sons of the Gentiles and then have become Jews. Then answered those who testify that Jesus was not born of fornication, Lazarus and Asterius, Antonius and James, Annas and Lazarus, Samuel and Isaac, Finnes and Crispus, Agrippa and Judas. We were not born proselytites, but our sons of the Jews, and we speak the truth, for we were present at the betrothal of Mary. In Pilate calling to him, those twelve men who proved that Jesus had not been born of fornication said to them, I adore you by the help of Caesar. Tell me if it is to be true that Jesus was not born of fornication. They say to Pilate, We have a law not to swear, because it is a sin. But let them swear by the health of Caesar that it is not as we say, and we are worthy of death. Then said Pilate, Annas and Caiaphas. Answer you nothing to those things which they testify? Annas and Caiaphas said to Pilate, Those twelve are believed that he is not born of fornication. We, all the people, cry out that he was born of fornication, and is a magician, and says that he himself is the son of God and a king, and we are not believed. And Pilate ordered all the multitude to go outside, except the twelve men who said that he was not born of fornication, in order to separate Jesus from them. And Pilate says to them, For what reason do the Jews wish to put Jesus to death? And they say to him, They are angry because he heals on the Sabbath. Pilate said, For a good work do they wish to put him to death? They say to him, Yes, my lord. Chapter 3 Pilate, filled with fury, went forth outside of the Praetorium and says to them, I take the son to witness that I find in this man not even one fault. The Jews answered and said to the governor, If he were not an evildoer we should never have delivered him to thee. Pilate says to them, Take him and judge him according to your law. The Jews answered, It is not permitted to us to put anyone to death. Pilate says to them, Has God said to you not to put anyone to death? Has he therefore said to me that I am to kill? Pilate, having again gone into the Praetorium, called Jesus to him privately and said to him, Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered, Pilate, Speakest thou this of thyself, or of others set it to thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thy nation and the chief priests have delivered thee to me. What hast thou done? Jesus answering said, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would assuredly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from hence. Pilate said to him, Art thou then a king? Jesus said to him, Thou sayest that I am a king? For I for this was born, and for this have I come, that I should bear witness to the truth. And every one who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate says to him, What is truth? Jesus says, Truth is from heaven. Pilate says, Is not there truth upon earth? Jesus says to Pilate, Notice how the truth speaking are judged by those who have power upon earth. Chapter 4 Pilate, therefore, leaving Jesus within the Praetorium, went out to the Jews and says to them, I find not even one fault in him. The Jews said to him, He said, I can destroy that temple and in three days raise it again. Pilate said to them, What temple? The Jews say to him, The temple which Solomon built in forty and six years, And he says that he can destroy and build it in three days. Pilate says to them, I am innocent of the blood of this man. See ye to it. The Jews say to him, His blood be upon us and upon our children. And Pilate calling to the elders and priests and Levites say to them privately, Do not do so, for in nothing, though you accuse him, Do I find him deserving of death? Not even about the healing and the breaking of the Sabbath. The priests and Levites and elders say, Tell us, if anyone blasphemes Caesar, Is he deserving of death or not? Pilate says to them, He deserves to die. The Jews answered him, How much more is he who has blasphemed God deserving to die? And the governor ordered the Jews to go outside of the Praetorium and calling Jesus said to him, What am I to do with thee? Jesus says to Pilate, As it has been given thee. Pilate says, How has it been given? Jesus says, Moses and the prophets made proclamation of my death and resurrection. And the Jews hearing this say to Pilate, Why do you desire any more to hear blasphemy? And Pilate said, If this speech is blasphemous, do you take him and lead him to your synagogue and judge him according to your law? The Jews say to Pilate, Our law holds if a man has sinned against a man, he is worthy to receive forty less one, but he was blasphemed against God to be stoned. Pilate says to them, Then judge him according to your law. The Jews say to Pilate, We wish that he be crucified. Pilate says to them, He does not deserve to be crucified. And the governor, looking upon the people of the Jews, standing round, saw very many of the Jews weeping and said, All the multitude does not wish him to die. The elders say to Pilate, And for this reason have we come, the whole multitude, that he should die. Pilate said to the Jews, What has he done that he should die? They say because he said that he was the Son of God and a King. Chapter 5 But one Nicodemus, a Jew, stood before the governor and said, I entreat mercifully allow me to say a few words. Pilate says to him, Say on, Nicodemus says, I said to the elders and the priests and the Levites and all the multitude of the Jews in the synagogue, What have you to do with this man? This man does many wonders and signs, which no one of men has done or can do. Let him go and do not devise any evil against him. If the signs which he does are of God they will stand, but if of men they will come to nothing. For Moses also, being sent by God into Egypt, did many signs, which God told him to do before Pharaoh, King of Egypt. And the sorcerers, Jameness and Mambris, were there healing. And they did not. They also, the signs which Moses did, but not all. And the Egyptians deemed them as gods, Jameness and Mambris. And since the signs which they did were not of God, they perished, both they and those who believed in them. And now let this man go, for he is not deserving of death. The Jews say to Nicodemus, Thou hast become his disciple and take us to his part. Nicodemus says to them, Has the governor also become his disciple? Does he take his part? Has not Caesar set him over that dignity? And the Jews were raging and gnashing with their teeth against Nicodemus. Pilate says to them, Why do you gnash with your teeth against him when you are hearing the truth? The Jews say to Nicodemus, Mayst thou receive his truth and a portion with him? Nicodemus says, Amen, amen, amen. May I receive it, as you have said. Chapter 6 And of the Jews a certain other one starting up asked the governor that he might say a word. The governor says, What thou wishes to say, say? And he said, For 38 years I lay in infirmity in my bed in very grievous pain. And at the coming of Jesus many demoniacs and persons held down by divers infirmities were healed by him. And some young men had pity on me. And carrying me in my bed laid me before him. And Jesus seeing had pity on me and said the word to me, Take up thy bed and walk. And immediately I was made whole. I took up my bed and walked. The Jews say to Pilate, Ask him what was the day on which he was healed? He said the Sabbath. The Jews say, Have we not so informed thee that on the Sabbath he heals and drives out demons? And a certain other Jew standing up said, I was born blind. I heard a voice and saw no man. And as Jesus was passing by I cried out with a loud voice, Have pity upon me thou, son of David. And he had pity on me and laid his hands upon my eyes. And I saw immediately. And another Jew starting up said, I was hunchbacked. And he straightened me with a word. And another said, I was leprous. And he healed me with a word. Chapter 7 And also a certain woman, Veronica by name, From afar off cried out to the governor, I was flowing with blood for twelve years. And I touched the fringe of his garment. And immediately the flow of my blood stopped. The Jews say we have a law that a woman does not come to bear witness. Chapter 8 And certain others a multitude of men and women cried out saying that man is a prophet, and the demons are subject to him. Pilate says to those who said the demons are subject to him. And your masters, why are they not subject to them? They say to Pilate we do not know. And others said to Pilate, he raised up dead Lazarus from a tomb after four days. The governor, hearing this, said trembling to all the multitude of the Jews, why do you wish to shed innocent blood? Chapter 9 In Pilate calling Nicodemus and the twelve men who said that he was not born of fornication, says to them, What am I to do seeing that there is a sedition among the people? They say to him, We do not know. Let them see to it. Again Pilate calling all the multitude of the Jews said, You know that you have accustomed during the day of unloving bread that I should release to you one that is bound. I have a notable one bound in the prison, a murderer who is called Barabbas, and Jesus who is called Christ, and whom I find no cause for death. Whom do you wish that I should release unto you? Release unto us Barabbas. Pilate says to them, What then am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified. Again the Jews said, Thou art no friend of Caesar's if Thou release this man, for he called himself the Son of God and a king. And lest perhaps Thou wishes this man to be king and not Caesar. Then filled with fury, Pilate said to them, Always has your nation been seditious, and always have you been opposed to those who were for you. The Jews answered, Who were for us? Pilate said to them, Your God, who rescued you from the hard slavery of the Egyptians and led you forth out of Egypt, through the sea as if through dry land, and fed you in the desert with manna and quail, and brought water to you out of the rock, and gave you to drink, and gave you a law, and all these things you provoked your God, and sought for yourselves a God, a molten calf, and you exasperated your God, and he wished to slay you. And Moses made supplication for you that he should not die. And now you say that I hate the king. In rising up from the tribunal, he wished to go outside. And the Jews cried out and said to him, We know that Caesar is king and not Jesus. For the Magi also presented gifts to him as to a king. And Herod, hearing from the Magi that a king was born, wished to slay him. But when this was known, his father Joseph took him and his mother and fled into Egypt. And Herod hearing destroyed the influence of the Jews which were born in Bethlehem. Pilate, hearing those words, was afraid. In silence, being made among the people who were crying out, Pilate said, This then is he whom Herod sought. They say to him, It is he. In taking water, Pilate washed his hands in presence of the people, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just man. See ye to it. Again the Jews cried out, Sang, His blood be upon us and upon our children. Then Pilate ordered the veil to be loosened, and said to Jesus, Thine own nation have brought charges against thee as a king. And therefore I have sentenced thee first to be scorched on account of the statutes of the emperors, and then to be crucified on a cross. Chapter 10. And when Jesus was scourged, he delivered him to the Jews to be crucified. And two robbers with him, one by name Dismas and the other by name Justice. When they came to the place they stripped him of his garments, and gird him about with a linen cloth, and put a crown of thorns upon his head. Likewise also they hanged the two robbers with him, Dismas on the right and Justice on the left. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. And the soldiers parted his garments among them. And the people stood waiting, and their chief priests and judges mocked him, saying among themselves, He saved others, now let him save himself. He is the Son of God, let him come down from the cross. And the soldiers mocked him, falling prostrate before him, and offering vinegar with gall, and saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, set thyself free. And Pilate, after sentence ordered a title to be written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin letters, according to what the Jews said, This is the King of the Jews. And one of the robbers, who were hanged by name Justice, said to him, If thou art the Christ, free thyself and us. And Dismas answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not even thou fear God, who art in this condemnation? For we justly and deservedly have received those things which we endure, but he has done no evil. And he kept saying to Jesus, Remember me, Lord, in thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him, Verily I say unto thee, That today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Chapter 11. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole earth, and the sun was obscured, and the veil of the temple was rent in the mist. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And thus sang he gave up the ghost. And the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying, This was a just man. And all the people who were present at that spectacle, seeing what was done, beating their breasts, returned. And the centurion reported to the governor what was done, and the governor and his wife hearing were very sorrowful, neither ate nor drank that day. And Pilate calling together the Jews said to them, Have you seen what has been done? And they said to the governor, There has been an eclipse of the sun as is usual. And his acquaintances also stood afar off, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, seeing these things. And lo, a certain man, by name Joseph, holding office, the man good and just, who did not consent to their counsels nor their deeds, from Arimathea, city of the Jews, waiting he also for the kingdom of God, went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. And taking him down from the cross, he wrapped him in clean linen and laid him in his own new tomb, in which no one had been laid. Chapter 12 And the Jews hearing that Joseph had begged the body of Jesus sought for him, and those twelve men who had said that he was not born of fornication, and Nicodemus and many others who had stood before Pilate and declared his good works, and all of them being hid. Nicodemus alone appeared to them, because he was a chief man of the Jews, and he says to them, How have you come into the synagogue, the Jews say to him? And thou hast thou come into the synagogue, seeing that thou consentest with him? May his portion be with thee in the world to come. Nicodemus said, Amen, amen, amen. Likewise also Joseph, coming forth, said to them, Why are you enraged against me, because I begged the body of Jesus? Lo, I have laid him in my own new tomb, wrapping him in clean linen, and I have rolled the stone to the door of the cave. And he have not acted well against a just man, since you have not borne in mind how you crucified him, and pierced him with a lance. The Jews, therefore, laying hold of Joseph, ordered him to be in prison, because of the Sabbath day, and they say to him, Know that the hour compels us not to do anything against thee, because the Sabbath is dawning, but understand that thou art worthy not even of burial, but we will give thy flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth. Joseph says to them, That is the speech of proud Goliath, who reviled the living God against holy David. And God hath said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, sayeth the Lord. And Pilate, intercepted in his heart, took water and washed his hands before the Son, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just man, see ye to it. And thou answered and said to Pilate, His blood be upon us, and upon our children. And now I fear that some time or other, some wrath of God will come upon you and your children, as you have said. And the Jews hearing this were embittered in heart, and taking Joseph shut him up in a house where there was no window, and set guards at the gates, and sealed the gate where Joseph had been shut up. And on the Sabbath morning they took counsel with the priests in the Levites, that they should all be assembled after the Sabbath day. And awakening at dawn, all the multitude and the synagogue took counsel by what death they should slay him. And when the assembly was sitting, they ordered him to be brought with much indignity. In opening the gate they found him not. All the people therefore were in terror, and wondered with exceeding astonishment, because they found the seals sealed, and because Kyphus had the keys. And no longer did they dare to lay hand upon those who spoke before Pilate in Jesus's defense. Chapter 13 While they were sitting in the synagogue, and recriminating about Joseph, there came certain of the guards whom they had asked from Pilate to guard the sepulchre of Jesus, lest his disciples coming should steal him. And they reported, saying to the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites what had happened, how there had happened a great earthquake. And we saw how an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb, and sat upon it. And his countenance was like lightning, and his raiment like snow. And for fear we became as dead. And we heard the voice of the angels, speaking to the women who had come to the sepulchre, and saying, Be not ye afraid, for I know that ye seek Jesus who is crucified. He is not here, he is arisen, as he said. Come and see the place where the Lord was laid, and go immediately and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, who will go before you into Galilee, as he said to you. The Jews say, To what women was he speaking? The soldiers say, We do not know who the women were. The Jews say at what hour was it? The guards say at midnight. The Jews say, Why did you not detain them? The guards say, We became as dead from fear of the angel, not hoping now to see the light of day. And how could we detain them? The Jews say, As the Lord God liveth, we do not believe you. And the guards said to the Jews, You have seen so great signs in that man, and have not believed. And how can you believe us that the Lord lives? For well have ye sworn that the Lord Jesus Christ lives. Again the guards say to the Jews, We have heard that you have shut up Joseph, who begged the body of Jesus in the prison, and have sealed it with your rings, and an opening that you have not found him. Give us Joseph, then, and we shall give you Jesus Christ. The Jews said, Joseph has gone to Arimathea, his own city. The guards say to the Jews, And Jesus, as we have heard from the angel, is in Galilee. And the Jews hearing these sayings, feared exceedingly, sang, Lest at some time or other this saying be heard, and all believe in Jesus. And the Jews, taking counsel among themselves, brought forth a sufficient number of silver pieces, and gave to the soldiers, saying, Say that while we slept, his disciples came and stole him. And if this be heard by the governor, we shall persuade him and make you secure. And the soldiers, taking the money, said as they were revised by the Jews. And their saying was spread abroad among all. Chapter 14. In Fines a certain priest, an Attis, a teacher, an Aegean, a Levite, coming down from Galilee to Jerusalem, reported to the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests and the Levites, how they had seen Jesus sitting and his disciples with him on the Mount of Olive, which is called Mambre or Malik. And he said to his disciples, Go into all the world, and declare to every creature the gospel of the kingdom of God. He who believeth in his baptize shall be saved, but he who believeth not shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow them who believe. In my name shall they cast out demons, they shall speak in new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they have drunk any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands upon the sick, and they shall be well. And as Jesus who was thus speaking to his disciples, we saw him taken up into heaven. The priests and the Levites and the elders say to them, Give glory to the God of Israel, and give confession to him, whether you have both heard and seen these things which you have related. Those who had made the report say, As the Lord God of our fathers liveth, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, we have heard and seen. The Jews say to them, Have you come for this, to tell us? Or have you come to give prayer to God? They said, We have come to give prayer to God. The elders and chief priests and Levites say to them, And if you have come to give prayers to God, Why have you murmured before all the people about that foolish tale? Finies, the priests and Addis, the teacher, and Aegeus the Levite say to the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites, If those words which we have spoken, which we have seen and heard, be sin, Behold, we are in your presence. Do unto us, according to that, which is good in your eyes. And they, taking the law, adjured them to report the words to no one thereafter. And they gave them to eat and drink, and put them outside of the city, giving them silver pieces, and all three with them, who should conduct them as far as Galilee. And the Jews took counsel among themselves when those men had gone into Galilee, and the rulers of the synagogue shut themselves in, and were cut up with great fury, saying, What sign is this which hath come to pass in Israel? And Addis and Caiphus say, Why are your souls sorrowful? Are we to believe the soldiers that an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb? No, but that his disciples have given much gold to those who were guarding the sepulchre, and have taken Jesus away, and have taught them thus to say, Say he that an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb. Do you not know that it is unlawful for Jews to believe foreigners in a single word, knowing these same who receive sufficient gold from us, have said as we taught them? Chapter 15 In Nicodemus, rising up, stood in the midst of the council, and said, You have said rightly, and are not the men who have come down from Galilee, God-fearing men of peace, hating a lie, and they recount it with an oath, How? We saw Jesus sitting on Mount Mambre with his disciples, and he taught them in our hearing, and that they saw him taken up into heaven, and no one asked them this. How was he taken up into heaven? And as the writing of the holy book teaches us, Holy Elias too was taken up into heaven, and Elyseus cried out with a loud voice, and Elyseus threw his sheepskin over Elyseus, and again Elyseus threw that sheepskin over the Jordan, and went over and came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets met him, and said to Elyseus, Where is thy master, Elyseus? And he said, He has been taken up into heaven. And they said to Elyseus, As a spirit snatched him away, and thrown him upon one of the mountains. But rather let us take our boys with us, and seek him. And they persuaded Elyseus, and he went with them. And they sought him for three days and three nights, and found him not, because he was taken up. And now man, hear me, and let us send into all Israel, and see lest Jesus can have been taken up somewhere or other, and thrown upon one of the mountains. And that same pleased all. And they sent all the mountains of Israel to seek Jesus, and they found him not. But they found Joseph of Arimathea, and no one dared to lay hold of him. And they reported to the elders and priests in Levites, We have gone round all the mountains of Israel, and not found Jesus. But we have found Joseph in Arimathea. In hearing of Joseph they rejoiced, and gave glory to the God of Israel. And the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests in the Levites, taken counsel in what manner they should send to Joseph, took paper, and wrote to Joseph. Peace to thee, and all that is thine. We know that we have sinned against God, and against thee. And thou hast prayed to the God of Israel, and he has delivered thee out of our hands, and now dain to come to thy fathers and thy children, because we have been vehemently grieved. We have all sought for thee. We who open the door and found thee not. We know that we counseled evil counsel against thee, but the Lord hath supplanted our counsel against thee. Thou art worthy to be honored, Father Joseph, by all the people. And they chose out of all Israel seven men friendly to Joseph, whom also Joseph knew to be friendly. And the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests in the Levites, say to them, See if he take the letter and read it, for certainly he will come with you to us. But if he do not read it, you may know that he is ill-disposed towards us, and saluting him in peace returned to us. And blessing them they sent them away. And they came to Arimathea, to Joseph, and adored him on their face upon the ground, and said, Peace to thee, and all thine. And Joseph said, Peace to you, and to all the people of Israel. And they gave him the role of the letter. And Joseph took it, and read it, and rolled up the letter, and blessed God, and said, Blessed be the Lord God, who hath delivered Israel from shedding innocent blood, and blessed be God, who sent his angel, and covered me under his wings. And he kissed them, and set a table for them, and they ate, and drank, and slept there. And they rose in the morning, and Joseph saddled his ass, and traveled with them. And they came into the holy city of Jerusalem. And there met them all the people, crying out, and saying, Peace be in thy coming in, Father Joseph. To whom he answered, and said, The peace of the Lord be upon all the people, and they all kissed him. And they prayed with Joseph, and were terrified at the side of him. And Nicodemus took him into his house, and made a great feast, and called Anas, and Kyphus, and the elders, and chief priests, and Levites to his house. And making merry, and eating, and drinking with Joseph, they blessed God, and went everyone to his own house. And Joseph remained in the house of Nicodemus. And on the next day, which is the preparation, the priests and the rulers of the synagogue, and the Levites rose early, and came to the house of Nicodemus. And Nicodemus met them, and said to them, Peace to you. And they said to him, Peace to thee, and Joseph, and to thy house, and Joseph's house. And Nicodemus brought them into his house, and the council sat. And Joseph sat between Anas and Kyphus, and no one dared to say a word. And Joseph said to them, Why have you called me? And they made signs with their eyes to Nicodemus, that he should speak with Joseph. And Nicodemus, opening his mouth, said, Father Joseph, thou knowest that the reverent teachers, priests, and Levites, seek to hear a word from thee. And Joseph said, Ask. In Anas and Kyphus, taking up the law, a juror Joseph sang, Give glory to the God of Israel, and give confession to him, that thou wilt not hide any word from us. And they said to him, With grief where we grieve, that thou dost beg the body of Jesus, and wrap it in clean linen, and lay it in the tomb. Therefore we shut the up in a house where there was no window, and put a lock and a seal on the gate. And on the first day of the week, we opened the gates, and found the knot. We were therefore exceedingly grieved, and astonishment came over all the people of God. And therefore hast thou been sent for. And now tell us what has happened. Then said Joseph, On the day of the preparation, about the tenth hour, you shut me in. And I remained there the whole Sabbath in full. And when midnight came, as I was standing and praying, the house where you shut me in was hung up by the four corners, and there was a flashing of light in my eyes. And I fell to the ground trembling. Then someone lifted me up from the place where I had fallen, and poured over me an abundance of water from the head even to the feet, and put round my nostrils the odor of a wonderful ointment, and rubbed my face with the water itself as if washing me, and kissed me, and said to me, Joseph, fear not, but open thine eyes, and see who it is that speaks to thee. And looking I saw Jesus. And being terrified, I thought it was a phantom. And with prayer and the commandments I spoke to him, and he spoke to me. And I said to him, Art thou Rabbi Elias? And he said to me, I am not Elias. And I said, Who art thou, my Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus, whose body thou dispeg from Pilate, and wrapping clean linen, and thou display a napkin on my face, and dislay me in thy new tomb, and roll a stone to the door of the tomb. Then I said to him that was speaking to me. Show me, Lord, where I laid thee, and he led me, and showed me the place where I laid him, and the linen which I had put on him, and the napkin which I had wrapped upon his face. And I knew that it was Jesus. And he took hold of me with his hand, and put me in the mist of my house, though the gates were shut, and put me in my bed, and said to me, Peace to thee. And he kissed me, and said to me, For forty days go not out of thy house, for lo, I go to my brethren into Galilee. Chapter 16. And the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests and the Levites, hearing these words from Joseph, became as it were dead, and fell to the ground, and fasted until the ninth hour. And Joseph and Nicodemus entreated them, saying, Arise and stand upon your feet, and taste bread, and comfort your souls, seeing that tomorrow is the Sabbath of the Lord. And they arose, and entreated the Lord, and ate, and drank, and went every man to his own house. And on the Sabbath the teachers and doctors sat questioning each other, and saying, What is this wrath that has come upon us, because we know his father and mother? Levi the teacher said, I know that his parents fear God, and never depart from prayer, and give tithes thrice a year. And when Jesus was born, his parents brought him to this place, and gave to God sacrifices, and burnt offerings. And assuredly the great teacher Simeon took him into his arms, saying, Now thou sendest away thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light for the revealing of the nations, and the glory of thy people, Israel. And he blessed Mary his mother, and said, I make an announcement to thee concerning this child. And Mary said, Well, my Lord, and Simeon said, Well. And he said again, Lo, he has been sent for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against. And a sword shall pierce thine own soul, and the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And the Jews said to Levi, And how knowest thou these things? Levi says, Do you not know that from him I learned the law? They of the council say, We wish to see thy father. And they searched out his father and got information, for he said, Why did you not believe my son? The blessed and just Simeon taught him the law. The council says to Rabbi Levi, The saying which thou hast spoken is true. The chief priests and rulers of the synagogue and Levi say to each other, Come, let us send in the Galilee to the three men who came hither, and gave an account of his teaching and his being taken up, and let them tell us how they saw him taken up into heaven. And that saying pleased all. Then they sent three men into Galilee, and go, said they, Say to Rabbi Attis, and Rabbi Fines, and Rabbi Egius, Peace to you and yours. Many investigations have been made in the council concerning Jesus. Therefore have we been instructed to call you to the holy place to Israel. The men went to Galilee and found them sitting and meditating on the law. And they saluted them in peace. And they said, Why have you come? The messengers said, The council summoned you to the holy city Jerusalem. And the men hearing that they were sought for by the council, prayed to God and reclined with the men and ate and drank with them. And rising in the morning they went to Jerusalem in peace. And on the morrow the council sat, and they questioned them, saying, Did you plainly see Jesus sitting on Mamre teaching his disciples and taken up into heaven? First Attis the teacher says, I really saw him sitting on Mamre teaching his disciples, and a shining cloud overshadowed him and his disciples, and he went up into heaven. And his disciples prayed upon their faces on the ground. And calling finies, the priests, they questioned him also, saying, How dost thou see Jesus taken up? And he said the same as the other. And again they called the third Rabbi Egius and questioned him, and he said the same as the first and second. Those who were in the council said, The law of Moses holds that by the mouth of two or three every word should stand. A buddham, a teacher, one of the doctors says it is written in the law. Enoch walked with God and was translated, for God took him. Jairus the teacher said, And we have heard of the death of Holy Moses, and have not seen it. For it is written in the law of the Lord. And Moses died according to the word of the Lord. And no man noeth of his bearing, even to the present day. Rabbi Levi said, What is it that Rabbi Simeon said, Lo he lies for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, And for a sign which shall be spoken against. Rabbi Isaac said, It is written in the law, Lo I send my angel, Who shall go before thy face, To keep thee in every good way, Because I have brought his new name. Then Anas and Caiaphas said, Rightly have ye said that these things are written in the law of Moses, That no one saw the death of Enoch, And no one has named the bearing of Holy Moses. And Jesus gave account to Pilate, And we saw him scourged. And receiving spitting on his face, And the soldiers put a crown of thorns on him, And he received sentence from Pilate, And then he was crucified, And they gave him gall and vinegar to drink, And two robbers were crucified with him. And the soldier, Lungeness, pierced his side with a lance, And our honorable Father Joseph begged his body, And he has risen again, and as they say, The three teachers have seen him taken up into heaven. And Rabbi Levi has borne witness to what was said by Simeon, the elder, that he has been set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, And for a sign which shall be spoken against. Venditas, a teacher, said to all the assembly, If all the things which these have borne witness to have come to pass in Jesus, They are from God, and let it not be wonderful in our eyes. The chiefs of the synagogue, and the priests and the Levites, Said to each other how our law holds, Saying, his name shall be blessed forever, His place endureth before the sun, And his seat before the moon, And all the tribes of earth shall be blessed in him, And all nations shall serve him, And the king shall come from afar, adoring in magnifying him.