Namaste
When someone heast of the Thomasine Yeshubhakti's they may wonder why such emphasis should be placed on one apostle over any of the others for this lineage.
The obvious answer would be that India was the mission field of the Apostle Thomas and its unique religious expression is born out of the Narrow Way as taught by Thomas.
Most Christians only know Thomas from the references in the Gospels and think of him as "Doubting Thomas" and used as a symbol of those who will not believe until they physically see, and Sri Yeshu responding that how blessed are they who have believed without having seen.
For many, the story begins and ends there.
But the beauty of the life, ministry and message of Thomas really only revealed in the Acts of Thomas.
What is seen is a picture of servant of God, who was very human and in many ways, represents every single believer when they first seek to serve God. They are uncertain of themselves, nervous, unsure of what will happen next. They may even tell God what they are or are not willing to do in His service initially.
But Yeshu Masih convicts His servants to serve as He wills, not as they are willing to serve. it is not a democracy but a theocracy and when one becomes a servant of the King of Kings, you don't dictate terms. You humbly acquiesce and say "Not mine, but Thine, Beloved Lord. Not mine but thine".
The journey and mission of Thomas really represents the spiritual journey of every sincere person who commits their life to God through Masih. They willingly make themselves His bondservant and listen only His Voice.
Through selfless service to the Lord and others, the individual ceases to be a citizen of this world but an inhabitant of the world to come. The servant of Yeshu ceases to live for themselves but for God.
There is one things Yeshu Masih asks a disciple to change about themselves: "Everything". It is not something you do part time, it is a whole life commitment.
The life and journey of Thomas outlines what every Thomasine Yeshubhakti must go through in their own lives. To bind themselves to the serves of the Lord, to humble themselves, to serve as God instructs not as we prefer, to give up materialism, to serve others selflessly,to bring knowledge of Masih to others struggling in the darkness of this world and finally, to go onto our great reward in Heaven when He calls us home.
When a person understands this message, and willingly alllows for this transformation in their life, they will have fully understood the Apostle Thomas.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Acts of Thoma Chapter 14 (Conclusion)
Chapter 14. The Martyrdom of the Apostle Thoma
14:1. And after these things Yehuda departed their company to return to the prison.
14:2. And Tertia with Mygdonia and Narcia also went to be imprisoned. And the apostle Thoma said to themand also the multitude of those that had believed who were present: Daughters and sisters and fellow-servants which have believed in my Lord and God, ministers of my Yeshu, hearken to me this day: for I do deliver my word to you, and I shall no more speak with you in this flesh nor in this world; for I go up to my Lord and God Yeshu Masih, to him that sold me, to that Lord that humbled himself even to me the little, and brought me up to eternal greatness, that vouchsafed to me to become his servant in truth and steadfastness: to him do I depart, knowing that the time is fulfilled, and the day appointed has drawn near for me to go and receive my recompense from my Lord and God: for my recompenser is righteous, who know me, how I ought to receive my reward; for he is not grudging nor envious, but is rich in his gifts, he is not a lover of craft in that he gives, for he has confidence in his possessions which cannot fail.
14:3. I am not Yeshu, but I am his servant: I am not Masih, but I am his minister; I am not the Son of God, but I pray to become worthy of God. Continue you in the faith of Masih: continue in the hope of the Son of God: faint not at affliction, neither be divided in mind if you see me mocked or that I am shut up in prison ; for I do accomplish his will. For if I had willed not to die, I know in Masih that I am able remain alive: but this which is called death, is not death, but a setting free from the body; This is why I gladly receive this setting free from the body, that I may depart and see the One who is beautiful and full of mercy, the One who is to be loved: for I have endured much toil in His service, and have laboured for His grace that is come upon me, which does not depart from me. Do not let Satan, then, enter you by stealth and catch away your thoughts: let there be in you no place for him: for He is mighty who you have received. Look for the coming of Masih, for He shall come and receive you, and it is He who you shall see when he comes.
14:4. When the apostle had ended these sayings, they went into the house, and the apostle Thoma said: Saviour that did suffer many things for us, let these doors be as they were and let seals be set on them. And he left them and went to be imprisoned: and they wept and were in heaviness, for they knew that Mazdai would slay him.
14:5. And the apostle found the keepers wrangling and saying: Where have we sinned against this wizard? For by his magical arts he has opened the doors and would have had all the prisoners escape: but let us go and report it to the king, and tell him concerning his wife and his son.
14:6. And as they disputed thus, Thoma held his peace. They rose up early, therefore, and went to the king and said to him: Our lord and king, take away that sorcerer and cause him to be shut up elsewhere, for we are not able to keep him; for if it were not for your good fortune, all the condemned prisoners would have escaped the prison. This is now, the second time have we found the doors open: And also your wife, O king, and your son and the rest never depart from the sorcerers presence.
14:7. And the king, hearing this, went, and found the seals that were set on the doors whole; and he took note of the doors also, and said to the keepers: Why have you lied to me? For the seals are whole. Why have you said that Tertia and Mygdonia have come to see him in prison? And the keepers said: We have told you the truth.
14:8. And Mazdai went to the prison and took his seat, and sent for the apostle Thoma and stripped him and girded him with a girdle and set him before him and said to him: Are you bondsman or free? Thoma said: I am the bondsman of One only, over whom you have no authority.
14:9. And Mazdai said to him: How did you run away and come into this country? And Thoma said: I was sold by my master, that I might come here to save many, and by your hands depart out of this world.
14:10. And Mazdai said: Who is your lord? And what is his name? And of what country is he? And Thoma said: My Lord is your master and he is Lord of heaven and earth.
14:11. And Mazdai said: What is his name? Thoma said: You cannot hear His True name at this time: but the name that was given to him is Yeshu Masih.
14:12. And Mazdai said to him: I have not made haste to destroy you, but have had long patience with you: but you have added to your evil deeds, and your sorceries are dispersed abroad and heard of throughout all the country: but this I do that your sorceries may depart with you, and our land may be cleansed from them. Thoma said to him; These sorceries depart with me when I set forth hence, and know you this that I shall never forsake those that are here.
14:13. When the apostle had said these things, Mazdai considered how he should put him to death; for he was afraid because of the much people that were subject to him, for many also of the nobles and of them that were in authority believed in him.
14:14. He took him therefore and went forth out of the city; and armed soldiers also went with him. And the people supposed that the king desired to learn something of him, and they stood still and gave heed.
14:15. And when they had walked one mile, he delivered him to four soldiers and an officer, and commanded them to take him up into the mountain and there pierce him with spears and put an end to him, and return again to the city. And saying thus to the soldiers, he himself also returned to the city.
14:16. But the men ran after Thoma, desiring to deliver him from death. And two soldiers went at the right hand of the apostle and two on his left, holding spears, and the officer held his hand and supported him. And the apostle Thoma said: O the hidden mysteries which even until our departure are accomplished in us! O riches of his glory, who will not suffer us to be swallowed up in this passion of the body! Four are they that cast me down, for of four am I made; and one is he that draws me, for of one I am, and to him I go. And this I now understand, that my Lord and God Yeshu Masih being of one was pierced by one, but I, which am of four, am pierced by four.
14:17. And being come up into the mountain to the place where he was to be slain, he said to them that held him, and to the rest: Brethren, hearken to me now at the last; for I have come to the point of my departure out of the body. Do not let the eyes of your heart be blinded, nor your ears be made deaf. Believe in the God whom I preach, and do not be guides to yourselves in the hardness of your heart, but walk in all your liberty, and in the glory that is toward men, and in the life that is towards God.
14:18. And he said to Vizan: You son king Mazdai and minister of our Lord Yeshu Masih: give to the servants of Mazdai their price that they may suffer me to go and pray. And Vizan persuaded the soldiers to let him pray. And the blessed Thoma went to pray, and kneeled down, and rose up and stretched forth his hands to heaven, and spoke thus:
14:19. My Lord and my God, and hope and redeemer and leader and guide in all countries, be you with all them that serve you, and guide me this day as I come to you. Do not let anyone take my soul as I have committed it only to You: Do not let the publicans see me, and do not let not the exactors accuse me falsely. Do not let the serpent see me, and do not let not the children of the dragon hiss at me. Behold, Lord, I have accomplished Your work and I have perfected your commandment. I have become a bondsman; therefore today do I receive my freedom. Therefore, please give me this and perfect me: and this I say, not because I doubt You, but only so that that those who need to hear this may hear.
14:20. And when he had thus prayed he said to the soldiers: Come here and accomplish the commandments of the one who sent you. And the four came and pierced him with their spears, and he fell down and died.
14:21. And all the brethren wept; and they brought beautiful robes and much and fair linen, and buried him in a royal sepulcher wherein the former kings were laid.
14:22. But Siphor and Vizan would not go down to the city, but continued sitting by him all the day. And the apostle Thoma appeared to them and said: Why do you sit here and continue to keep watch over me? I am not here, but I have gone up and received all that I was promised. Rise up, then, and go down to your brethren who need you; for after a little time you also shall be gathered to me.
14:23. But Mazdai and Charisius took away Mygdonia and Tertia and afflicted them sorely: even thought they would not consent to their will. And the apostle appeared to them and said: Do not be deceived: Yeshu the holy, the living one, shall quickly send help to you. And Mazdai and Charisius, when they perceived that Mygdonia and Tertia did not obey them, suffered them to live according to their own desire.
14:24. And the brethren gathered together and rejoiced in the grace of the Holy Spirit: now the apostle Thoma when he departed out of the world made Siphor a Bishop and Vizan a deacon, when he went up into the mountain to die. And the Lord wrought with them, and many were added to the faith.
14:25.Now it came to pass after a long time that one of the children of King Mazdai was smitten by a devil, and no man could cure him, for the devil was exceeding fierce. And King Mazdai took thought and said: I will go and open the sepulcher, and take a bone of the apostle of God and hang it upon my son and he shall be healed.
14:26. But while Mazdai thought upon this, the apostle Thoma appeared to him and said to him: You did not believe in me as a living man, but now you believe in the dead? Do not fear, Mazda, for my Lord Yeshu Masih has compassion on you and pities you out of his goodness.
14:27. And he went and opened the sepulcher, but he did not find the apostle there, for one of the brethren had stolen him away and taken him to Mesopotamia;
14:28. But from that place where the bones of the apostle had lain Mazdai took dust and put it about his son's neck, saying: I believe in you, Yeshu Masih, now that he has left me which troubles men and opposes them lest they should see you. And when he had hung it upon his son, the boy became whole once again.
14:29. King Mazdai therefore was also gathered among the brethren, and bowed his head under the hands of Siphor the Bishop; and Siphor said to the brethren: Pray for King Mazdai, that he may obtain mercy of Yeshu Masih, and that he may no more remember evil against him. They all therefore, with one accord rejoicing, offered prayers for him; and the Lord that loves men, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, granted Mazdai also to have hope in him; and he was gathered with the multitude of them that had believed in Masih, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, whose is the power and adoration, now and for ever and world without end. Amen.
This concludes the Acts of the Apostle Thoma, where he traveled to India, fufilling the commandment of Him that sent him. To whom be glory, world without end. Amen.
14:1. And after these things Yehuda departed their company to return to the prison.
14:2. And Tertia with Mygdonia and Narcia also went to be imprisoned. And the apostle Thoma said to themand also the multitude of those that had believed who were present: Daughters and sisters and fellow-servants which have believed in my Lord and God, ministers of my Yeshu, hearken to me this day: for I do deliver my word to you, and I shall no more speak with you in this flesh nor in this world; for I go up to my Lord and God Yeshu Masih, to him that sold me, to that Lord that humbled himself even to me the little, and brought me up to eternal greatness, that vouchsafed to me to become his servant in truth and steadfastness: to him do I depart, knowing that the time is fulfilled, and the day appointed has drawn near for me to go and receive my recompense from my Lord and God: for my recompenser is righteous, who know me, how I ought to receive my reward; for he is not grudging nor envious, but is rich in his gifts, he is not a lover of craft in that he gives, for he has confidence in his possessions which cannot fail.
14:3. I am not Yeshu, but I am his servant: I am not Masih, but I am his minister; I am not the Son of God, but I pray to become worthy of God. Continue you in the faith of Masih: continue in the hope of the Son of God: faint not at affliction, neither be divided in mind if you see me mocked or that I am shut up in prison ; for I do accomplish his will. For if I had willed not to die, I know in Masih that I am able remain alive: but this which is called death, is not death, but a setting free from the body; This is why I gladly receive this setting free from the body, that I may depart and see the One who is beautiful and full of mercy, the One who is to be loved: for I have endured much toil in His service, and have laboured for His grace that is come upon me, which does not depart from me. Do not let Satan, then, enter you by stealth and catch away your thoughts: let there be in you no place for him: for He is mighty who you have received. Look for the coming of Masih, for He shall come and receive you, and it is He who you shall see when he comes.
14:4. When the apostle had ended these sayings, they went into the house, and the apostle Thoma said: Saviour that did suffer many things for us, let these doors be as they were and let seals be set on them. And he left them and went to be imprisoned: and they wept and were in heaviness, for they knew that Mazdai would slay him.
14:5. And the apostle found the keepers wrangling and saying: Where have we sinned against this wizard? For by his magical arts he has opened the doors and would have had all the prisoners escape: but let us go and report it to the king, and tell him concerning his wife and his son.
14:6. And as they disputed thus, Thoma held his peace. They rose up early, therefore, and went to the king and said to him: Our lord and king, take away that sorcerer and cause him to be shut up elsewhere, for we are not able to keep him; for if it were not for your good fortune, all the condemned prisoners would have escaped the prison. This is now, the second time have we found the doors open: And also your wife, O king, and your son and the rest never depart from the sorcerers presence.
14:7. And the king, hearing this, went, and found the seals that were set on the doors whole; and he took note of the doors also, and said to the keepers: Why have you lied to me? For the seals are whole. Why have you said that Tertia and Mygdonia have come to see him in prison? And the keepers said: We have told you the truth.
14:8. And Mazdai went to the prison and took his seat, and sent for the apostle Thoma and stripped him and girded him with a girdle and set him before him and said to him: Are you bondsman or free? Thoma said: I am the bondsman of One only, over whom you have no authority.
14:9. And Mazdai said to him: How did you run away and come into this country? And Thoma said: I was sold by my master, that I might come here to save many, and by your hands depart out of this world.
14:10. And Mazdai said: Who is your lord? And what is his name? And of what country is he? And Thoma said: My Lord is your master and he is Lord of heaven and earth.
14:11. And Mazdai said: What is his name? Thoma said: You cannot hear His True name at this time: but the name that was given to him is Yeshu Masih.
14:12. And Mazdai said to him: I have not made haste to destroy you, but have had long patience with you: but you have added to your evil deeds, and your sorceries are dispersed abroad and heard of throughout all the country: but this I do that your sorceries may depart with you, and our land may be cleansed from them. Thoma said to him; These sorceries depart with me when I set forth hence, and know you this that I shall never forsake those that are here.
14:13. When the apostle had said these things, Mazdai considered how he should put him to death; for he was afraid because of the much people that were subject to him, for many also of the nobles and of them that were in authority believed in him.
14:14. He took him therefore and went forth out of the city; and armed soldiers also went with him. And the people supposed that the king desired to learn something of him, and they stood still and gave heed.
14:15. And when they had walked one mile, he delivered him to four soldiers and an officer, and commanded them to take him up into the mountain and there pierce him with spears and put an end to him, and return again to the city. And saying thus to the soldiers, he himself also returned to the city.
14:16. But the men ran after Thoma, desiring to deliver him from death. And two soldiers went at the right hand of the apostle and two on his left, holding spears, and the officer held his hand and supported him. And the apostle Thoma said: O the hidden mysteries which even until our departure are accomplished in us! O riches of his glory, who will not suffer us to be swallowed up in this passion of the body! Four are they that cast me down, for of four am I made; and one is he that draws me, for of one I am, and to him I go. And this I now understand, that my Lord and God Yeshu Masih being of one was pierced by one, but I, which am of four, am pierced by four.
14:17. And being come up into the mountain to the place where he was to be slain, he said to them that held him, and to the rest: Brethren, hearken to me now at the last; for I have come to the point of my departure out of the body. Do not let the eyes of your heart be blinded, nor your ears be made deaf. Believe in the God whom I preach, and do not be guides to yourselves in the hardness of your heart, but walk in all your liberty, and in the glory that is toward men, and in the life that is towards God.
14:18. And he said to Vizan: You son king Mazdai and minister of our Lord Yeshu Masih: give to the servants of Mazdai their price that they may suffer me to go and pray. And Vizan persuaded the soldiers to let him pray. And the blessed Thoma went to pray, and kneeled down, and rose up and stretched forth his hands to heaven, and spoke thus:
14:19. My Lord and my God, and hope and redeemer and leader and guide in all countries, be you with all them that serve you, and guide me this day as I come to you. Do not let anyone take my soul as I have committed it only to You: Do not let the publicans see me, and do not let not the exactors accuse me falsely. Do not let the serpent see me, and do not let not the children of the dragon hiss at me. Behold, Lord, I have accomplished Your work and I have perfected your commandment. I have become a bondsman; therefore today do I receive my freedom. Therefore, please give me this and perfect me: and this I say, not because I doubt You, but only so that that those who need to hear this may hear.
14:20. And when he had thus prayed he said to the soldiers: Come here and accomplish the commandments of the one who sent you. And the four came and pierced him with their spears, and he fell down and died.
14:21. And all the brethren wept; and they brought beautiful robes and much and fair linen, and buried him in a royal sepulcher wherein the former kings were laid.
14:22. But Siphor and Vizan would not go down to the city, but continued sitting by him all the day. And the apostle Thoma appeared to them and said: Why do you sit here and continue to keep watch over me? I am not here, but I have gone up and received all that I was promised. Rise up, then, and go down to your brethren who need you; for after a little time you also shall be gathered to me.
14:23. But Mazdai and Charisius took away Mygdonia and Tertia and afflicted them sorely: even thought they would not consent to their will. And the apostle appeared to them and said: Do not be deceived: Yeshu the holy, the living one, shall quickly send help to you. And Mazdai and Charisius, when they perceived that Mygdonia and Tertia did not obey them, suffered them to live according to their own desire.
14:24. And the brethren gathered together and rejoiced in the grace of the Holy Spirit: now the apostle Thoma when he departed out of the world made Siphor a Bishop and Vizan a deacon, when he went up into the mountain to die. And the Lord wrought with them, and many were added to the faith.
14:25.Now it came to pass after a long time that one of the children of King Mazdai was smitten by a devil, and no man could cure him, for the devil was exceeding fierce. And King Mazdai took thought and said: I will go and open the sepulcher, and take a bone of the apostle of God and hang it upon my son and he shall be healed.
14:26. But while Mazdai thought upon this, the apostle Thoma appeared to him and said to him: You did not believe in me as a living man, but now you believe in the dead? Do not fear, Mazda, for my Lord Yeshu Masih has compassion on you and pities you out of his goodness.
14:27. And he went and opened the sepulcher, but he did not find the apostle there, for one of the brethren had stolen him away and taken him to Mesopotamia;
14:28. But from that place where the bones of the apostle had lain Mazdai took dust and put it about his son's neck, saying: I believe in you, Yeshu Masih, now that he has left me which troubles men and opposes them lest they should see you. And when he had hung it upon his son, the boy became whole once again.
14:29. King Mazdai therefore was also gathered among the brethren, and bowed his head under the hands of Siphor the Bishop; and Siphor said to the brethren: Pray for King Mazdai, that he may obtain mercy of Yeshu Masih, and that he may no more remember evil against him. They all therefore, with one accord rejoicing, offered prayers for him; and the Lord that loves men, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, granted Mazdai also to have hope in him; and he was gathered with the multitude of them that had believed in Masih, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, whose is the power and adoration, now and for ever and world without end. Amen.
This concludes the Acts of the Apostle Thoma, where he traveled to India, fufilling the commandment of Him that sent him. To whom be glory, world without end. Amen.
Acts of Thoma Chapter 13
Chapter 13. Wherein Vizan receives baptism with the rest.
13:1. And Vizan the youth petitioned the apostle, saying: I pray you, O apostle of God, suffer me to go, and I will persuade the jailer to permit you to come home with me, that by you I may receive the seal, and become your minister and a keeper of the commandments of the God whom you preach. For indeed, formerly I walked in those things which you teach, until my father compelled me and joined me to a wife by name Mnesara; for I am in my Twenty first years, and have now been married for seven years, and before I was joined in marriage I knew no other woman, I was also considered as being useless by my father, nor have I ever had son or daughter of this wife and also my wife herself has lived with me in chastity all this time, and today, if she had been in health, and had listened to you, I know well that both of us should have been at rest and she would have received eternal life; but she is in peril and afflicted with much illness; I will therefore persuade the keeper that he promise to come with me, for I live by myself: and you shall also heal that unhappy one. And Yehuda the apostle of the Most High, hearing this, said to Vizan: If you believe, you shall see the marvels of God, and how he saves his servants.
13:2. And as they spoke thus together, Tertia and Mvgdonia and Narcia stood at the door of the prison, and they gave the jailer 363 staters of silver and entered in to see Yehuda; and found Vizan and Siphor and his wife and daughter, and all the prisoners sitting and hearing the word.
13:3. And when they stood by him he said to them: Who has suffered you to come to us? And who opened to you the sealed door that you came forth? Tertia said to him: It was *you who opened the door for us and you who told us to come to the prison so that we might take our brethren who were there, and then at that point, the Lord would show His glory in us!”
13:4. And when we came near the door, I know not how, you were parted from us and hid yourself and must have come here before us where also we heard the noise of the door, when you must have shut us out for some reason. We gave money therefore to the keepers and came in and lo, we are here praying that we may persuade you and help you escape until the king's wrath against you shall cease. To whom Yehuda said: Tell us first of all how you were imprisoned.
13:5. And she said to him: You were with us, and did never leave us for one hour, and yet you ask us how we came to be imprisoned? But if you wish to hear the story, then I will tell it to you. The king Mazdai sent for me and said to me: The sorcerer has not prevailed over you, yet, for, as I hear, he bewitches men with oil and water and bread, but he has not yet bewitched you; Therefore you will obey you me, for if you do not, I will imprison you and wear you out, and then I will destroy him; For I know that if he has not yet given you oil and water and bread, he has not prevailed to get power over you.
13:6. I said to him: Over my body you have authority, and you may do that you wish to it; but my soul I will not let perish with you. And hearing that he shut me up in a chamber beneath his dining-hall and Charisius brought Mygdonia and shut her up with me: and you brough us out and then brought us here; please, quickly give us the seal, that the hope of Mazdai who has forbidden it will be of no consequence.
13:7. And when the apostle heard this, he said: Glory be to you, O Yeshu of many forms, glory to you that appear in the guise of our poor manhood: glory to you that encourages us and makes us strong and give grace and consoles and stands by us in all perils, and strengthen us in our weakness.
13:8. And as he thus spoke, the jailer came and said: Put out the lamps, unless any accuse you to the king. And then they extinguished the lamps, and turned to sleep; but the apostle spoke to the Lord: It is the time now, O Yeshu, for you to make haste; for, lo the children of darkness make us to sit in their own darkness, enlighten us with the light of your nature. And in that moment the whole prison was lit up as if it were daytime: and while all those that were in the prison slept a deep sleep, only those believed in the Lord continued to remain awake.
*13:3, Through the acts of Thoma a recurring miracle that is taking place is that Sri Yeshu Masih is appearing in other locations and those who are experiencing Him, either believe that they are seeing the Apostle Thoma and it is he who is instructing them, or they are seeing the Apostle Thoma and believe they are seeing Sri Yeshu Masih due to having seen Masih previously. This account, of the female believers who thought Thoma was instructing them to come to the jail to set them free, was Sri Yeshu Masih instructing them, and their perceiving this experience as being the Apostle Thoma due to their physical similarity. –Editor’s note.
13:9. Yehuda therefore said to Vizan: Go you before and make ready the things for our need. Vizan therefore said: And who will open the doors of the prison for me? For the jailers shut them and they have fallen asleep. And Yehuda said: Believe in Yeshu, and you shall find the doors open.
13:10. And when he went forth and departed from them, all the rest followed after him. And as Vizan had gone on ahead of the rest, Mnesara his wife met him coming to the prison. And she knew him and said: My brother Vizan, is it you? and he said, Yea, and are you Mnesara? and she said Yea.
13:11. Vizan said to her; Where are you going at this late hour? And how were you able to rise up? And she said: This youth laid his hand on me and raised me up, and in a dream he said that I should go where the stranger sits, and become perfectly whole. Vizan said to her: What youth are your speaking about? And she said: Can’t you see him? He is on my right-hand side, leading me by the hand.
13:12. And while they spoke together, Yehuda, with Siphor and his wife and daughter and Tertia and Mygdonia and Narcia came to Vizan' house. And Mnesara the wife of Vizan seeing him did reverence and said: Are you the one who comes to save us from the sore disease? You are the one I saw in the night delivering to me this youth to bring me to the prison. But your goodness suffered me not to grow weary, but you yourself have come to me.
13:13. And so saying she turned about and saw the youth was no longer there; and not being able to find him, she said to the apostle: I am not able to walk alone: for the youth whom you gave me is not here. And Yehuda said: Yeshu will henceforth lead you. And thereafter she came running to him. And when they entered into the house of Vizan, the son of King Mazdai ,though it was still night time, a great light shined and was shed about them.
13:14. And then Yehuda began to pray and to speak: O companion and defender and hope of the weak and confidence of the poor: refuge and lodging of the weary: voice that came forth of the height: comforter dwelling in the midst: port and harbour of them that pass through the regions of the rulers: physician that heals without payment: who among men was crucified for many: who did go down into hell with great might: the sight of whom the princes of death endured not; and You came up with great glory, and gathering all them that fled to you did prepare a way, and in your footsteps they all journeyed whom you did redeem; and you brought them into your own fold and did join them with your sheep: son of mercy, the son that for love of man was sent to us from the perfect country that is above, the Lord of all possessions: that serves your servants that they may live: that fills creation with your own riches: the poor, that were in need and did hunger forty days: that satisfies thirsty souls with your own good things; be with Vizan the son of Mazdai and with Tertia and Mnesara, and gather them into your fold and mingle them with your number; Be to them a guide in the land of error: be to them a physician in the land of sickness: be to them a rest in the land of the weary: sanctify them in a polluted land: be their physician both of bodies and souls: make them holy temples of you, and let your holy spirit dwell in them.
13:15. Having thus prayed over them, the apostle said to Mygdonia: Unclothe your sisters. And she took off their clothes and girded them with girdles and brought them: but Vizan had first gone before, and they came after him;
13:16. And the apostle took oil in a cup of silver and spoke thus over it: Fruit more beautiful than all other fruits, to which none other whatsoever may be compared: altogether merciful: fervent with the force of the word: power of the tree which men putting upon them overcome their adversaries: crowner of the conquerors: help and joy of the sick: that did announce to men their salvation that shows light to those who are in darkness; whose leaf is bitter, but in your most sweet fruit you are fair, that are rough to the sight but soft to the taste; seeming to be weak, but in the greatness of your strength able to bear the power that beholds all things.
13:17. Having thus said: Yeshu: Let His victorious might come and be established in this oil, like as it was established in the tree that was its kin, even his might at that time, whereof they that crucified you could not endure the word: let the gift also come whereby breathing upon Your enemies You did cause them to go backward and fall headlong and let it rest on this oil, whereupon we invoke Your holy name.
13:18. And having thus said, he poured it first upon the head of Vizan and then upon the women's heads, saying: In your name, O Yeshu Masih, let it be to these souls for remission of sins and for turning back of the adversary and for salvation of their souls. And he commanded Mygdonia to anoint them but he himself anointed Vizan. And having anointed them he led them down into the water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
13:19. And when they were come up, he took bread and a cup, and blessed it and said: Your holy body whlich was crucified for us do we eat, and your blood that was shed for us to salvation do we drink; let therefore your body be to us salvation and your blood for remission of sins. And for the gall which you did drink for our sakes let the gall of the devil be removed from us: and for the vinegar which you have drunk for us, let our weakness be made strong: and for the spitting which you did receive for us, let us receive the dew of your goodness: and by the reed wherewith they smote you for us, let us receive the perfect house: and whereas you received a crown of thorns for our sake, let us that have loved you put on a crown that does not fade away; and for the linen cloth wherein you were Wrapped, let us also be girt about with your power that is not vanquished and for the new tomb and the burial let us receive renewing of soul and body: and for that you did rise up and revive, let us revive and live and stand before you in righteous judgment.
13:20. And he broke the bread ke and gave the qurbana to Vizan and Tertia and Mnesara and the wife and daughter of Siphor and said: Let this qurbana be to you for salvation and joy and health of your souls. And they said: Amen. And a voice was heard, saying: Amen: Do not fear, but only believe.
13:1. And Vizan the youth petitioned the apostle, saying: I pray you, O apostle of God, suffer me to go, and I will persuade the jailer to permit you to come home with me, that by you I may receive the seal, and become your minister and a keeper of the commandments of the God whom you preach. For indeed, formerly I walked in those things which you teach, until my father compelled me and joined me to a wife by name Mnesara; for I am in my Twenty first years, and have now been married for seven years, and before I was joined in marriage I knew no other woman, I was also considered as being useless by my father, nor have I ever had son or daughter of this wife and also my wife herself has lived with me in chastity all this time, and today, if she had been in health, and had listened to you, I know well that both of us should have been at rest and she would have received eternal life; but she is in peril and afflicted with much illness; I will therefore persuade the keeper that he promise to come with me, for I live by myself: and you shall also heal that unhappy one. And Yehuda the apostle of the Most High, hearing this, said to Vizan: If you believe, you shall see the marvels of God, and how he saves his servants.
13:2. And as they spoke thus together, Tertia and Mvgdonia and Narcia stood at the door of the prison, and they gave the jailer 363 staters of silver and entered in to see Yehuda; and found Vizan and Siphor and his wife and daughter, and all the prisoners sitting and hearing the word.
13:3. And when they stood by him he said to them: Who has suffered you to come to us? And who opened to you the sealed door that you came forth? Tertia said to him: It was *you who opened the door for us and you who told us to come to the prison so that we might take our brethren who were there, and then at that point, the Lord would show His glory in us!”
13:4. And when we came near the door, I know not how, you were parted from us and hid yourself and must have come here before us where also we heard the noise of the door, when you must have shut us out for some reason. We gave money therefore to the keepers and came in and lo, we are here praying that we may persuade you and help you escape until the king's wrath against you shall cease. To whom Yehuda said: Tell us first of all how you were imprisoned.
13:5. And she said to him: You were with us, and did never leave us for one hour, and yet you ask us how we came to be imprisoned? But if you wish to hear the story, then I will tell it to you. The king Mazdai sent for me and said to me: The sorcerer has not prevailed over you, yet, for, as I hear, he bewitches men with oil and water and bread, but he has not yet bewitched you; Therefore you will obey you me, for if you do not, I will imprison you and wear you out, and then I will destroy him; For I know that if he has not yet given you oil and water and bread, he has not prevailed to get power over you.
13:6. I said to him: Over my body you have authority, and you may do that you wish to it; but my soul I will not let perish with you. And hearing that he shut me up in a chamber beneath his dining-hall and Charisius brought Mygdonia and shut her up with me: and you brough us out and then brought us here; please, quickly give us the seal, that the hope of Mazdai who has forbidden it will be of no consequence.
13:7. And when the apostle heard this, he said: Glory be to you, O Yeshu of many forms, glory to you that appear in the guise of our poor manhood: glory to you that encourages us and makes us strong and give grace and consoles and stands by us in all perils, and strengthen us in our weakness.
13:8. And as he thus spoke, the jailer came and said: Put out the lamps, unless any accuse you to the king. And then they extinguished the lamps, and turned to sleep; but the apostle spoke to the Lord: It is the time now, O Yeshu, for you to make haste; for, lo the children of darkness make us to sit in their own darkness, enlighten us with the light of your nature. And in that moment the whole prison was lit up as if it were daytime: and while all those that were in the prison slept a deep sleep, only those believed in the Lord continued to remain awake.
*13:3, Through the acts of Thoma a recurring miracle that is taking place is that Sri Yeshu Masih is appearing in other locations and those who are experiencing Him, either believe that they are seeing the Apostle Thoma and it is he who is instructing them, or they are seeing the Apostle Thoma and believe they are seeing Sri Yeshu Masih due to having seen Masih previously. This account, of the female believers who thought Thoma was instructing them to come to the jail to set them free, was Sri Yeshu Masih instructing them, and their perceiving this experience as being the Apostle Thoma due to their physical similarity. –Editor’s note.
13:9. Yehuda therefore said to Vizan: Go you before and make ready the things for our need. Vizan therefore said: And who will open the doors of the prison for me? For the jailers shut them and they have fallen asleep. And Yehuda said: Believe in Yeshu, and you shall find the doors open.
13:10. And when he went forth and departed from them, all the rest followed after him. And as Vizan had gone on ahead of the rest, Mnesara his wife met him coming to the prison. And she knew him and said: My brother Vizan, is it you? and he said, Yea, and are you Mnesara? and she said Yea.
13:11. Vizan said to her; Where are you going at this late hour? And how were you able to rise up? And she said: This youth laid his hand on me and raised me up, and in a dream he said that I should go where the stranger sits, and become perfectly whole. Vizan said to her: What youth are your speaking about? And she said: Can’t you see him? He is on my right-hand side, leading me by the hand.
13:12. And while they spoke together, Yehuda, with Siphor and his wife and daughter and Tertia and Mygdonia and Narcia came to Vizan' house. And Mnesara the wife of Vizan seeing him did reverence and said: Are you the one who comes to save us from the sore disease? You are the one I saw in the night delivering to me this youth to bring me to the prison. But your goodness suffered me not to grow weary, but you yourself have come to me.
13:13. And so saying she turned about and saw the youth was no longer there; and not being able to find him, she said to the apostle: I am not able to walk alone: for the youth whom you gave me is not here. And Yehuda said: Yeshu will henceforth lead you. And thereafter she came running to him. And when they entered into the house of Vizan, the son of King Mazdai ,though it was still night time, a great light shined and was shed about them.
13:14. And then Yehuda began to pray and to speak: O companion and defender and hope of the weak and confidence of the poor: refuge and lodging of the weary: voice that came forth of the height: comforter dwelling in the midst: port and harbour of them that pass through the regions of the rulers: physician that heals without payment: who among men was crucified for many: who did go down into hell with great might: the sight of whom the princes of death endured not; and You came up with great glory, and gathering all them that fled to you did prepare a way, and in your footsteps they all journeyed whom you did redeem; and you brought them into your own fold and did join them with your sheep: son of mercy, the son that for love of man was sent to us from the perfect country that is above, the Lord of all possessions: that serves your servants that they may live: that fills creation with your own riches: the poor, that were in need and did hunger forty days: that satisfies thirsty souls with your own good things; be with Vizan the son of Mazdai and with Tertia and Mnesara, and gather them into your fold and mingle them with your number; Be to them a guide in the land of error: be to them a physician in the land of sickness: be to them a rest in the land of the weary: sanctify them in a polluted land: be their physician both of bodies and souls: make them holy temples of you, and let your holy spirit dwell in them.
13:15. Having thus prayed over them, the apostle said to Mygdonia: Unclothe your sisters. And she took off their clothes and girded them with girdles and brought them: but Vizan had first gone before, and they came after him;
13:16. And the apostle took oil in a cup of silver and spoke thus over it: Fruit more beautiful than all other fruits, to which none other whatsoever may be compared: altogether merciful: fervent with the force of the word: power of the tree which men putting upon them overcome their adversaries: crowner of the conquerors: help and joy of the sick: that did announce to men their salvation that shows light to those who are in darkness; whose leaf is bitter, but in your most sweet fruit you are fair, that are rough to the sight but soft to the taste; seeming to be weak, but in the greatness of your strength able to bear the power that beholds all things.
13:17. Having thus said: Yeshu: Let His victorious might come and be established in this oil, like as it was established in the tree that was its kin, even his might at that time, whereof they that crucified you could not endure the word: let the gift also come whereby breathing upon Your enemies You did cause them to go backward and fall headlong and let it rest on this oil, whereupon we invoke Your holy name.
13:18. And having thus said, he poured it first upon the head of Vizan and then upon the women's heads, saying: In your name, O Yeshu Masih, let it be to these souls for remission of sins and for turning back of the adversary and for salvation of their souls. And he commanded Mygdonia to anoint them but he himself anointed Vizan. And having anointed them he led them down into the water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
13:19. And when they were come up, he took bread and a cup, and blessed it and said: Your holy body whlich was crucified for us do we eat, and your blood that was shed for us to salvation do we drink; let therefore your body be to us salvation and your blood for remission of sins. And for the gall which you did drink for our sakes let the gall of the devil be removed from us: and for the vinegar which you have drunk for us, let our weakness be made strong: and for the spitting which you did receive for us, let us receive the dew of your goodness: and by the reed wherewith they smote you for us, let us receive the perfect house: and whereas you received a crown of thorns for our sake, let us that have loved you put on a crown that does not fade away; and for the linen cloth wherein you were Wrapped, let us also be girt about with your power that is not vanquished and for the new tomb and the burial let us receive renewing of soul and body: and for that you did rise up and revive, let us revive and live and stand before you in righteous judgment.
13:20. And he broke the bread ke and gave the qurbana to Vizan and Tertia and Mnesara and the wife and daughter of Siphor and said: Let this qurbana be to you for salvation and joy and health of your souls. And they said: Amen. And a voice was heard, saying: Amen: Do not fear, but only believe.
Acts of Thoma Chapter 12
Chapter 12. Concerning Vizan the son of Mazdai.
12:1. And Vizan the son of Mazdai came to the soldiers and said: Give me the prisoner to me that I may speak with him until the king comes for him. And they gave him up, and he brought him in where the king gave judgment.
12:2. And Vizan said: Do you not know that I am the son of King Mazdai, and that he will do whatever I say? Do you know that I need only to ask it and the King will allow you to live? Tell me then, who is your God, and what power do you claim and glory in it? For if it is for some power or art of magic, tell it me and teach me, and I will let you go.
12:3. Yehuda said to him: You are the son of Mazdai the king who is king for a time, but I am the servant of Yeshu Masih the eternal king, and you have power to say to your father to save whom you choose in the temporal life where men do not continue, that is all that you and your father have the power to grant, but I beseech my Lord and He intercede for men, and He gives them a new life which is altogether enduring.
12:4. And you think to boast to me of your possessions, servants, robes, luxury and unclean sexual liaisons, but I boast of my poverty, philosophy, humility, fasting, prayer, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and of my brethren that are woryour of God: and I boast myself of eternal life. And you rely on a man like to yourself and he is not able to save even his own soul from judgment and death to say nothing of the souls of others, but I rely upon the living God, upon the saviour of kings and princes, who is the judge of all men.
12:5. And you are definitely here today, but perhaps tomorrow you will be no more, but I have taken refuge with He that abides forever and knows all our seasons and times. And if you would seek to become the servant of this God, you may do this very soon; however, you must show that you will be woryour servant woryour of Him: first by holiness, which is the head of all good things, and then by fellowship with this God whom I preach, and philosophy and simplicity and love and faith and in him, and the simplicity of pure food.
12:6. And the young man was persuaded by the Lord and sought occasion how he might let Yehuda escape: but while he thought thereon, the king came, and the soldiers took Yehuda and led him forth.
12:7. And Vizan went forth with him and stood beside him. And when the king was set he instructed the guards to bring Yehuda to him, with his hands bound behind him; and he was brought into the midst and stood there. And the king said: Tell me who you are and by what power you do these things. And Yehuda said to him: I am a man like you, and by the power of Yeshu Masih I do these things.
12:8. And Mazdai said: Tell me the truth before I destroy you. And Yehuda said: You have no power against me, regardless of what you may think, and you will not hurt me at all.
12:9. And the king was angry at his words, and commanded to heat iron plates and set him upon them barefoot; and as the soldiers took off his shoes he said: The wisdom of God is better than the wisdom of men. My Lord and King, let your goodness resist his wrath. And they brought the plates which were like fire, and set the apostle upon them, and straightway water sprang up abundantly from the earth, so that the plates were swallowed up in it, and they that held him let him go and withdrew themselves.
12:10. And the king seeing the abundance of water said to Yehuda: Ask your God that to deliver me from this death, so that I will not perish in the flood.
12:11. And the apostle prayed and said: You that did bind this element and gather it into one place and send it forth into divers lands; that did bring disorder into order, that grant mighty works and great wonders by the hands of Yehuda your servant; that has mercy on my soul, that I may always receive your brightness; that gived wages to those that have laboured; you who are the saviour of my soul, restoring it to its own nature so that it may have no fellowship with hurtful things; that have always been the occasion of life: restrain this element that it does not lift itself to destroy; for there are some of those that that stand here who shall believe in you and live.
12:12. And when he had prayed, the water was swallowed up by little and little, and the place became dry. And when Mazdai saw it he commanded him to be taken to the prison: allowing him to determine how best to deal with the apostle.
12:13. And as Yehuda was led away to the prison they all followed him, and Vizan the king's son walked at his right hand, and Siphor at the left. And he entered into the prison and sat down, along with Vizan and Siphor, who also persuaded his wife and his daughter to sit down, for they also had come in to hear the word of life. For they knew that Mazdai would slay Thoma because of the excess of his anger.
12:14. And Yehuda began to say: O liberator of my soul from the bondage of the many, because I gave myself to be sold ; behold, I rejoice and exult, knowing that the times are fulfilled for me to enter in and receive . I am to be set free from the cares that are on the earth; I fulfil my hope and receive truth; I am set free from sorrow and put on joy alone; I become careless and griefless and dwell in rest; I am set free from bondage and am called to liberty; I have served times and seasons, and I am lifted up above times and seasons; I receive my wages from my recompenser, who gives without reckoning number because his wealth suffices for the gift; and I shall not put it on again; I sleep and awake, and I shall no more go to sleep; I die and live again, and I shall no more taste of death; they rejoice and expect me, that I may come and be with their kindred and be set as a flower in their crown; I reign in the kingdom whereon I set my hope, even from hence; the rebellious fall before me, for I have escaped them; lthe peace has now come, where we are all gathered.
12:15. And as the apostle spoke, all that were there hearkened, supposing that in that hour he would depart out of life. And again he said: Believe in the physician of all , both seen and unseen, and in the saviour of the souls that need help from him. This is the free-born of kings, this is the physician of his creatures; this is He that was reproached of his own slaves; this is the Father of the height and the Lord of nature and the Judge: he came from the greatest, the only-begotten son of the deep; and He was called the son of Mary the virgin, and was termed the son of Joseph the carpenter: he whose littleness we beheld with the eyes of our body, but his greatness we received by faith, and saw it in his works whose human body we felt also with our hands, and his aspect we saw transfigured with our eyes, but His heavenly semblance on the mount we were not able to see: he that made the rulers stumble and did violence to death: He is the truth that lies not, that at the last paid the tribute for himself and his disciples: whom the prince beholding feared and the powers that were with Him were troubled; and the prince asked him who he was and from where He came, and did not know the truth, because he is alien from truth: he that having authority over the world, and the pleasures therein, and the possessions and the comfort, all these things and turns away his subjects, that they should not use them.
12:16. And having fulfilled these sayings, he arose and prayed thus: Our Father, who art in heaven: hallowed be your name: Your kingdom come: Your will be done, as in heaven so upon earth: and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
12:17. My Lord and God, hope and confidence and teacher, you have taught me to pray thus, behold, I pray this prayer and fulfil your commandment: be with me to the end; you He who from childhood have sown life in me and kept me from corruption; you are He that has brought me to the poverty of this world, and exhorted me to the true riches; you are He that has made me known to myself and showed me that I am yours; and I have kept myself pure from women, that that which you require be not found in defilement.
12:18. My mouth does not suffice to praise you, neither am I able to conceive the care and providence which has been about me from you which you have had for me. For I desired to gain riches, but you through a vision did show me that they are full of loss and injury to them that gain them and I believed your showing, and continued in the poverty of the world until You, the true riches were revealed to me, who did fill both me and the rest that were worthy of you with your own riches and set free your own from care and anxiety. I have therefore fulfilled your commandments, O Lord, and accomplished your will, and become poor and needy and a stranger and a bondman and set at naught and a prisoner and hungry and thirsty and nailed and unshod, and I have toiled for your sake, that my confidence might not perish and my hope that is in you might not be confounded and my much labour might not be in vain and my weariness not be counted for naught: let not my prayers and my continual fasting perish, and my great zeal toward you; let not my seed of wheat be changed for tares out of your land, let not the enemy carry it away and mingle his own tares therewith; for your land verily receives not his tares, neither indeed can they be laid up in your houses.
12:19. I have planted your vine in the earth, it has sent down its roots into the depth and its growth is spread out in the height, and the fruits of it are stretched forth upon the earth, and they that are worthy of you are made glad by them, whom also you have gained. The money which you have from me I laid down upon the table; this, when you require it, restore to me with usury, as you have promised. With your one mind have I traded and have made ten, you have added more to me beside that I had, as you did covenant. I have forgiven my debtor, please do not require it at my hands. I was bidden to the supper and I came: and I refused the land and the yoke of oxen and the wife, that I might not for their sake be rejected; I was bidden to the wedding, and I put on white raiment, that I might be worthy of it and not be bound hand and foot and cast into the outer darkness. My lamp with its bright light expects the master coming from the marriage, that it may receive him, and I may not see it dimmed because the oil is spent. My eyes, O Masih, look upon you, and my heart exults with joy because I have fulfilled your will and perfected your commandments; that I may be likened to that watchful and careful servant who in his eagerness does not neglect to keep vigil All the night have I laboured to keep my house from robbers, lest it be broken through.
12:20. I have girt my loins with truth and bound my shoes on my feet, that I may never see them gaping: I have put my hands to the yoked plough and have not looked back, lest my furrows go crooked. The plough-land has become white and the harvest has come, that I may receive my wages. My garment that grows old I have worn out, and the labour that has brought me to rest have I accomplished. I have kept the first watch and the second and the third, that I may behold your face and adore your holy brightness. I have rooted out the worst and left them desolate upon the earth, that I may be filled full from your treasures. The moist spring that was in me have I dried up, that I may live and rest beside your inexhaustible spring. The captive whom you did commit to me I have slain, that he which is set free in me may not fall from his confidence. He that was inward have I made outward and the outward inward, and all your fullness has been fulfilled in me. I have not returned to the things that are behind, but have gone forward to the things that are before, that I may not become a reproach. The dead man have I quickened, and the living one have I overcome, and that which was lacking have I filled up, that I may receive the crown of victory, and the power of Masih may be accomplished in me. I have received reproach upon earth, but You have given me the return and the recompense in the heavens.
12:21. Do not let not the powers and the officers perceive me, and do not let them have any thought concerning me;do not let the publicans and exactors ply their calling upon me; do not let the weak and the evil cry out against me that am valiant and humble, and when I am borne upward let them not rise up to stand before me, by your power, O Yeshu, which surrounds me as a crown: for they do flee and hide themselves, they cannot look on you: but suddenly do they fall upon them that are subject to them, and the portion of vile sons of the evil one does itself cry out and convict them; and it is not hidden from them, nor their nature is made known: the children of the evil one are separated off. Do you then grant me, Lord, that I may pass by in quietness and joy and peace, and pass over and stand before the judge, and let not the devil look upon me; let his eyes be blinded by your light which you have made to dwell in me, close his mouth: for he has found nothing against me.
12:22. And he said again to them that were about him: Believe in the Saviour of all who have laboured in his service: for my soul already flourished because my time is near to receive him; for He being beautiful draws me on always to speak concerning His beauty, what it is though I be not able and suffice not to speak it worthily: You that are the light of my poverty and the supplier of my defects and nurturer of my need: be You with me until I come and receive You for evermore.
12:1. And Vizan the son of Mazdai came to the soldiers and said: Give me the prisoner to me that I may speak with him until the king comes for him. And they gave him up, and he brought him in where the king gave judgment.
12:2. And Vizan said: Do you not know that I am the son of King Mazdai, and that he will do whatever I say? Do you know that I need only to ask it and the King will allow you to live? Tell me then, who is your God, and what power do you claim and glory in it? For if it is for some power or art of magic, tell it me and teach me, and I will let you go.
12:3. Yehuda said to him: You are the son of Mazdai the king who is king for a time, but I am the servant of Yeshu Masih the eternal king, and you have power to say to your father to save whom you choose in the temporal life where men do not continue, that is all that you and your father have the power to grant, but I beseech my Lord and He intercede for men, and He gives them a new life which is altogether enduring.
12:4. And you think to boast to me of your possessions, servants, robes, luxury and unclean sexual liaisons, but I boast of my poverty, philosophy, humility, fasting, prayer, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and of my brethren that are woryour of God: and I boast myself of eternal life. And you rely on a man like to yourself and he is not able to save even his own soul from judgment and death to say nothing of the souls of others, but I rely upon the living God, upon the saviour of kings and princes, who is the judge of all men.
12:5. And you are definitely here today, but perhaps tomorrow you will be no more, but I have taken refuge with He that abides forever and knows all our seasons and times. And if you would seek to become the servant of this God, you may do this very soon; however, you must show that you will be woryour servant woryour of Him: first by holiness, which is the head of all good things, and then by fellowship with this God whom I preach, and philosophy and simplicity and love and faith and in him, and the simplicity of pure food.
12:6. And the young man was persuaded by the Lord and sought occasion how he might let Yehuda escape: but while he thought thereon, the king came, and the soldiers took Yehuda and led him forth.
12:7. And Vizan went forth with him and stood beside him. And when the king was set he instructed the guards to bring Yehuda to him, with his hands bound behind him; and he was brought into the midst and stood there. And the king said: Tell me who you are and by what power you do these things. And Yehuda said to him: I am a man like you, and by the power of Yeshu Masih I do these things.
12:8. And Mazdai said: Tell me the truth before I destroy you. And Yehuda said: You have no power against me, regardless of what you may think, and you will not hurt me at all.
12:9. And the king was angry at his words, and commanded to heat iron plates and set him upon them barefoot; and as the soldiers took off his shoes he said: The wisdom of God is better than the wisdom of men. My Lord and King, let your goodness resist his wrath. And they brought the plates which were like fire, and set the apostle upon them, and straightway water sprang up abundantly from the earth, so that the plates were swallowed up in it, and they that held him let him go and withdrew themselves.
12:10. And the king seeing the abundance of water said to Yehuda: Ask your God that to deliver me from this death, so that I will not perish in the flood.
12:11. And the apostle prayed and said: You that did bind this element and gather it into one place and send it forth into divers lands; that did bring disorder into order, that grant mighty works and great wonders by the hands of Yehuda your servant; that has mercy on my soul, that I may always receive your brightness; that gived wages to those that have laboured; you who are the saviour of my soul, restoring it to its own nature so that it may have no fellowship with hurtful things; that have always been the occasion of life: restrain this element that it does not lift itself to destroy; for there are some of those that that stand here who shall believe in you and live.
12:12. And when he had prayed, the water was swallowed up by little and little, and the place became dry. And when Mazdai saw it he commanded him to be taken to the prison: allowing him to determine how best to deal with the apostle.
12:13. And as Yehuda was led away to the prison they all followed him, and Vizan the king's son walked at his right hand, and Siphor at the left. And he entered into the prison and sat down, along with Vizan and Siphor, who also persuaded his wife and his daughter to sit down, for they also had come in to hear the word of life. For they knew that Mazdai would slay Thoma because of the excess of his anger.
12:14. And Yehuda began to say: O liberator of my soul from the bondage of the many, because I gave myself to be sold ; behold, I rejoice and exult, knowing that the times are fulfilled for me to enter in and receive . I am to be set free from the cares that are on the earth; I fulfil my hope and receive truth; I am set free from sorrow and put on joy alone; I become careless and griefless and dwell in rest; I am set free from bondage and am called to liberty; I have served times and seasons, and I am lifted up above times and seasons; I receive my wages from my recompenser, who gives without reckoning number because his wealth suffices for the gift; and I shall not put it on again; I sleep and awake, and I shall no more go to sleep; I die and live again, and I shall no more taste of death; they rejoice and expect me, that I may come and be with their kindred and be set as a flower in their crown; I reign in the kingdom whereon I set my hope, even from hence; the rebellious fall before me, for I have escaped them; lthe peace has now come, where we are all gathered.
12:15. And as the apostle spoke, all that were there hearkened, supposing that in that hour he would depart out of life. And again he said: Believe in the physician of all , both seen and unseen, and in the saviour of the souls that need help from him. This is the free-born of kings, this is the physician of his creatures; this is He that was reproached of his own slaves; this is the Father of the height and the Lord of nature and the Judge: he came from the greatest, the only-begotten son of the deep; and He was called the son of Mary the virgin, and was termed the son of Joseph the carpenter: he whose littleness we beheld with the eyes of our body, but his greatness we received by faith, and saw it in his works whose human body we felt also with our hands, and his aspect we saw transfigured with our eyes, but His heavenly semblance on the mount we were not able to see: he that made the rulers stumble and did violence to death: He is the truth that lies not, that at the last paid the tribute for himself and his disciples: whom the prince beholding feared and the powers that were with Him were troubled; and the prince asked him who he was and from where He came, and did not know the truth, because he is alien from truth: he that having authority over the world, and the pleasures therein, and the possessions and the comfort, all these things and turns away his subjects, that they should not use them.
12:16. And having fulfilled these sayings, he arose and prayed thus: Our Father, who art in heaven: hallowed be your name: Your kingdom come: Your will be done, as in heaven so upon earth: and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
12:17. My Lord and God, hope and confidence and teacher, you have taught me to pray thus, behold, I pray this prayer and fulfil your commandment: be with me to the end; you He who from childhood have sown life in me and kept me from corruption; you are He that has brought me to the poverty of this world, and exhorted me to the true riches; you are He that has made me known to myself and showed me that I am yours; and I have kept myself pure from women, that that which you require be not found in defilement.
12:18. My mouth does not suffice to praise you, neither am I able to conceive the care and providence which has been about me from you which you have had for me. For I desired to gain riches, but you through a vision did show me that they are full of loss and injury to them that gain them and I believed your showing, and continued in the poverty of the world until You, the true riches were revealed to me, who did fill both me and the rest that were worthy of you with your own riches and set free your own from care and anxiety. I have therefore fulfilled your commandments, O Lord, and accomplished your will, and become poor and needy and a stranger and a bondman and set at naught and a prisoner and hungry and thirsty and nailed and unshod, and I have toiled for your sake, that my confidence might not perish and my hope that is in you might not be confounded and my much labour might not be in vain and my weariness not be counted for naught: let not my prayers and my continual fasting perish, and my great zeal toward you; let not my seed of wheat be changed for tares out of your land, let not the enemy carry it away and mingle his own tares therewith; for your land verily receives not his tares, neither indeed can they be laid up in your houses.
12:19. I have planted your vine in the earth, it has sent down its roots into the depth and its growth is spread out in the height, and the fruits of it are stretched forth upon the earth, and they that are worthy of you are made glad by them, whom also you have gained. The money which you have from me I laid down upon the table; this, when you require it, restore to me with usury, as you have promised. With your one mind have I traded and have made ten, you have added more to me beside that I had, as you did covenant. I have forgiven my debtor, please do not require it at my hands. I was bidden to the supper and I came: and I refused the land and the yoke of oxen and the wife, that I might not for their sake be rejected; I was bidden to the wedding, and I put on white raiment, that I might be worthy of it and not be bound hand and foot and cast into the outer darkness. My lamp with its bright light expects the master coming from the marriage, that it may receive him, and I may not see it dimmed because the oil is spent. My eyes, O Masih, look upon you, and my heart exults with joy because I have fulfilled your will and perfected your commandments; that I may be likened to that watchful and careful servant who in his eagerness does not neglect to keep vigil All the night have I laboured to keep my house from robbers, lest it be broken through.
12:20. I have girt my loins with truth and bound my shoes on my feet, that I may never see them gaping: I have put my hands to the yoked plough and have not looked back, lest my furrows go crooked. The plough-land has become white and the harvest has come, that I may receive my wages. My garment that grows old I have worn out, and the labour that has brought me to rest have I accomplished. I have kept the first watch and the second and the third, that I may behold your face and adore your holy brightness. I have rooted out the worst and left them desolate upon the earth, that I may be filled full from your treasures. The moist spring that was in me have I dried up, that I may live and rest beside your inexhaustible spring. The captive whom you did commit to me I have slain, that he which is set free in me may not fall from his confidence. He that was inward have I made outward and the outward inward, and all your fullness has been fulfilled in me. I have not returned to the things that are behind, but have gone forward to the things that are before, that I may not become a reproach. The dead man have I quickened, and the living one have I overcome, and that which was lacking have I filled up, that I may receive the crown of victory, and the power of Masih may be accomplished in me. I have received reproach upon earth, but You have given me the return and the recompense in the heavens.
12:21. Do not let not the powers and the officers perceive me, and do not let them have any thought concerning me;do not let the publicans and exactors ply their calling upon me; do not let the weak and the evil cry out against me that am valiant and humble, and when I am borne upward let them not rise up to stand before me, by your power, O Yeshu, which surrounds me as a crown: for they do flee and hide themselves, they cannot look on you: but suddenly do they fall upon them that are subject to them, and the portion of vile sons of the evil one does itself cry out and convict them; and it is not hidden from them, nor their nature is made known: the children of the evil one are separated off. Do you then grant me, Lord, that I may pass by in quietness and joy and peace, and pass over and stand before the judge, and let not the devil look upon me; let his eyes be blinded by your light which you have made to dwell in me, close his mouth: for he has found nothing against me.
12:22. And he said again to them that were about him: Believe in the Saviour of all who have laboured in his service: for my soul already flourished because my time is near to receive him; for He being beautiful draws me on always to speak concerning His beauty, what it is though I be not able and suffice not to speak it worthily: You that are the light of my poverty and the supplier of my defects and nurturer of my need: be You with me until I come and receive You for evermore.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Acts of Thoma Chapter 11
Chapter 11. Concerning the wife of Mazdai.
11:1. Now, after King Mazdai, had let Yehuda go, he dined and went home, and told his wife what had befallen Charisius their kinsman, saying: See what has come to pass to that unhappy man, and as you yourself know, my sister Tertia, that a man has nothing better than his own wife on whom he rests; but it chanced that his wife went to that sorcerer of whom you have heard that he is come to the land of Bharat, and fell into his charms and is parted from her own husband; and he does not knows what he should do. And when I would have destroyed the malefactor, he would not have it. Go and counsel her to incline to her husband, and forsake the vain words of the sorcerer.
11:2. And as soon as she arose Tertia went to the house of Charisius her husband's friend, and found Mygdonia Iying upon the earth in humiliation, and ashes and sackcloth were spread under her, and she was praying that the Lord would forgive her her former sins and she might soon depart out of life.
11:3. And Tertia said to her: Mygdonia, my dear sister and companion what is this folly? what is the disease that has overtaken you? and why do you do the deeds of madmen? Know yourself and come back to your own way, come near to your many kinsfolk, and spare your true husband Charisius, and do not do things unbefitting a free-woman.
11:4. Mygdonia said to her: O Tertia, you have not yet heard the preacher of life: not yet has he touched your ears, not yet have you tasted the medicine of life nor are you freed from corruptible mourning. You stand in the life of time, and the everlasting life and salvation you do not know, and do not perceive the incorruptible fellowship.
11:5. You stand clad in robes that grow old and you do not desire those that are eternal, and you are proud of this beauty which vanishes and you have no thought of the holiness of your soul; and you are rich in a multitude of servants, and pride yourself in the glory that comes of many, but does not redeem you from the condemnation of death.
11:6. And when Tertia heard this of Mygdonia she said: I pray you, sister, bring me to that stranger that teaches these great things, that I also may go and hear him, and be taught to worship the God whom he preaches, and become a partaker of his prayers, and a sharer in all that thou have told me of.
11:7. And Mygdonia said to her: He is in the house of Siphor the captain; for he is become the occasion of life to all them that are being saved in Bharat.
11:8. And hearing that, Tertia went quickly to Siphor's house, that she might see the new apostle that had come to Bharat. And when she entered in, Yehuda said to her: Why have you come to see me? A man that is a stranger and poor and contemptible and needy, having neither riches nor substance; yet one thing I possess which neither kings nor rulers can take away, that neither perishes nor ceases which is Yeshu the Saviour of all mankind, the Son of the living God, who has given life to all that believe in him and take refuge with him and are known to be of the number of his servants. To whom Tertia said: May I become a partaker of this life which you promise to all who come together to the assembly of God.
11:9. And the apostle said: The treasury of the holy king is opened wide, and they which worthily partake of the good things that are therein do rest, and resting do reign: but first, no man comes to him that is unclean and vile: for he knows our inmost hearts and the depths of our thought, and it is not possible for any to escape him. You, then, if you sincerely believe in him, you shall be made worthy of his mysteries; and he will magnify you and enrich you, and make you to be an heir of his kingdom.
11:10. And Tertia having heard this returned home rejoicing, and found her husband awaiting her, not having dined, and when Mazdai saw her he said: How is it that you are returning home more beautiful than when you left? And why have you come *walking, which beseems not a free-born women like you?
11:11. And Tertia said to him: I owe you the greatest of thanks that you sent me to Mygdonia, for I went and heard of a new life, and I saw the new apostle of the God that gives life to them that believe in him and fulfils His commandments; therefore, I should recompense you for this favour and admonition with good advice; for you will be a great king in heaven if you obey me and fear the God that is preached by the stranger, and keep yourself holy to the living God. For this kingdom passes away, andyour comfort will be turned into affliction: but if you go to that man, and believe him, you shall live to the end.
11:12. And when Mazdai heard these things of his wife, he smote his face with his hands and rent his clothes and said: May the soul of Charisius find no rest, for he has hurt me to the soul; and may he have no hope, for he has taken away my hope. And he went out greatly vexed.
*11:10. Tertia left to the House of Charisius riding on a Palanquin, an common mode of travel in India for the extremely wealthy. However, on her return she was not using the Palanquin but simply walking home on her own power as this was more humble. –Editor’s note.
11:13. And he found Charisius his friend in the market-place, and said to him: Why have you cast me into hell to be another companion for you? Why have you emptied and defrauded me to gain nothing? Why have you hurt me and profited yourself not at all? why have you slain the both of us? Why have you wronged me and still you, yourself have not gotten justice? Why did you not suffer me to destroy that sorcerer before he corrupted my house with his wickedness? And he kept berating Charisius.
11:14. And Charisius said: Why, what has befallen you? Mazdai said: He has bewitched Tertia. And the both of them went to the house of Siphor the captain, and found Yehuda sitting and teaching. And all they that were there rose up before the king, but Thoma did not rise.
11:15. And Mazdai perceived that it was the Apostle, and took hold of the seat that Thoma was sitting and overturned it. He then took up the seat with both his hands and hit the apostle in the head so that he wounded it, and delivered him to his soldiers, saying: Take him away, and drag him with violence and not gently, that his shame may be manifest to all men. And they dragged him and took him to the place where Mazdai judged, and he stood there, held by the soldiers of Mazdai.
11:1. Now, after King Mazdai, had let Yehuda go, he dined and went home, and told his wife what had befallen Charisius their kinsman, saying: See what has come to pass to that unhappy man, and as you yourself know, my sister Tertia, that a man has nothing better than his own wife on whom he rests; but it chanced that his wife went to that sorcerer of whom you have heard that he is come to the land of Bharat, and fell into his charms and is parted from her own husband; and he does not knows what he should do. And when I would have destroyed the malefactor, he would not have it. Go and counsel her to incline to her husband, and forsake the vain words of the sorcerer.
11:2. And as soon as she arose Tertia went to the house of Charisius her husband's friend, and found Mygdonia Iying upon the earth in humiliation, and ashes and sackcloth were spread under her, and she was praying that the Lord would forgive her her former sins and she might soon depart out of life.
11:3. And Tertia said to her: Mygdonia, my dear sister and companion what is this folly? what is the disease that has overtaken you? and why do you do the deeds of madmen? Know yourself and come back to your own way, come near to your many kinsfolk, and spare your true husband Charisius, and do not do things unbefitting a free-woman.
11:4. Mygdonia said to her: O Tertia, you have not yet heard the preacher of life: not yet has he touched your ears, not yet have you tasted the medicine of life nor are you freed from corruptible mourning. You stand in the life of time, and the everlasting life and salvation you do not know, and do not perceive the incorruptible fellowship.
11:5. You stand clad in robes that grow old and you do not desire those that are eternal, and you are proud of this beauty which vanishes and you have no thought of the holiness of your soul; and you are rich in a multitude of servants, and pride yourself in the glory that comes of many, but does not redeem you from the condemnation of death.
11:6. And when Tertia heard this of Mygdonia she said: I pray you, sister, bring me to that stranger that teaches these great things, that I also may go and hear him, and be taught to worship the God whom he preaches, and become a partaker of his prayers, and a sharer in all that thou have told me of.
11:7. And Mygdonia said to her: He is in the house of Siphor the captain; for he is become the occasion of life to all them that are being saved in Bharat.
11:8. And hearing that, Tertia went quickly to Siphor's house, that she might see the new apostle that had come to Bharat. And when she entered in, Yehuda said to her: Why have you come to see me? A man that is a stranger and poor and contemptible and needy, having neither riches nor substance; yet one thing I possess which neither kings nor rulers can take away, that neither perishes nor ceases which is Yeshu the Saviour of all mankind, the Son of the living God, who has given life to all that believe in him and take refuge with him and are known to be of the number of his servants. To whom Tertia said: May I become a partaker of this life which you promise to all who come together to the assembly of God.
11:9. And the apostle said: The treasury of the holy king is opened wide, and they which worthily partake of the good things that are therein do rest, and resting do reign: but first, no man comes to him that is unclean and vile: for he knows our inmost hearts and the depths of our thought, and it is not possible for any to escape him. You, then, if you sincerely believe in him, you shall be made worthy of his mysteries; and he will magnify you and enrich you, and make you to be an heir of his kingdom.
11:10. And Tertia having heard this returned home rejoicing, and found her husband awaiting her, not having dined, and when Mazdai saw her he said: How is it that you are returning home more beautiful than when you left? And why have you come *walking, which beseems not a free-born women like you?
11:11. And Tertia said to him: I owe you the greatest of thanks that you sent me to Mygdonia, for I went and heard of a new life, and I saw the new apostle of the God that gives life to them that believe in him and fulfils His commandments; therefore, I should recompense you for this favour and admonition with good advice; for you will be a great king in heaven if you obey me and fear the God that is preached by the stranger, and keep yourself holy to the living God. For this kingdom passes away, andyour comfort will be turned into affliction: but if you go to that man, and believe him, you shall live to the end.
11:12. And when Mazdai heard these things of his wife, he smote his face with his hands and rent his clothes and said: May the soul of Charisius find no rest, for he has hurt me to the soul; and may he have no hope, for he has taken away my hope. And he went out greatly vexed.
*11:10. Tertia left to the House of Charisius riding on a Palanquin, an common mode of travel in India for the extremely wealthy. However, on her return she was not using the Palanquin but simply walking home on her own power as this was more humble. –Editor’s note.
11:13. And he found Charisius his friend in the market-place, and said to him: Why have you cast me into hell to be another companion for you? Why have you emptied and defrauded me to gain nothing? Why have you hurt me and profited yourself not at all? why have you slain the both of us? Why have you wronged me and still you, yourself have not gotten justice? Why did you not suffer me to destroy that sorcerer before he corrupted my house with his wickedness? And he kept berating Charisius.
11:14. And Charisius said: Why, what has befallen you? Mazdai said: He has bewitched Tertia. And the both of them went to the house of Siphor the captain, and found Yehuda sitting and teaching. And all they that were there rose up before the king, but Thoma did not rise.
11:15. And Mazdai perceived that it was the Apostle, and took hold of the seat that Thoma was sitting and overturned it. He then took up the seat with both his hands and hit the apostle in the head so that he wounded it, and delivered him to his soldiers, saying: Take him away, and drag him with violence and not gently, that his shame may be manifest to all men. And they dragged him and took him to the place where Mazdai judged, and he stood there, held by the soldiers of Mazdai.
Acts of Thoma Chapter 10
Chapter 10. Where Mygdonia receives baptism.
10:1. And while Mygdonia thought to herself, Yehuda came and stood over her, and she saw him and was afraid, and fell down and became lifeless with terror. But he stood by her and took her by the hand and said to her: Do not be afraid, Mygdonia: Yeshu will not leave you, neither will the Lord to whom you have committed yourr soul overlook you. His compassionate rest will not forsake you: he that is kind will not forsake you, for his kindness' sake, nor he that is good for his goodness' sake. Rise up then from the earth, if your seek to become wholly above it: look on the light, for the Lord does not leave them that love him to walk in darkness: behold He that travels with his servants, that He is to them a defender in perils.
10:2. And Mygdonia arose and looked on him and said: Where did you go, my lord? and who was it who brought you out of prison to behold the sun? Yehuda Thoma said to her: My Lord Yeshu is mightier than all powers and all kings and rulers.
10:3. And Mygdonia said: Give me the seal of Yeshu Masih and I shall receive the gift at thy hands before you depart out of this life. And she took him with her and entered into the court and awaked her nurse, saying to her: Narcia, my mother and nurse, all your service and refreshment you have done for me from my childhood until my present age are vain, and for them I owe you thanks which are temporal; do for me now also a favour, that you may for ever receive a recompense from He who gives great gifts.
10:4. And Narcia answer her saying: What is to be done for your pleasure? For the honours which you did promise me before, the stranger has not enabled you to accomplish them, and you have made me a reproach among all the nation. And now what is this new thing that you seek from me?
10:5. And Mygdonia said: Become a partaker with me in eternal life, that I may receive of you perfect nurture: take bread and bring it me, and wine mingled with water, and spare my freedom. And the nurse said: I will bring you many loaves, and for water flagons of wine, and fulfill your desire. But she said to the nurse: Flagons I desire not, nor the many loaves: but this only, bring wine mingled with water and one loaf, and oil.
10:6. And when Narcia had brought these things, Mygdonia stood before the apostle with her head bare; and he took the oil and poured it on her head, saying: Holy oil given to us for sanctification, secret mystery whereby the cross was shown to us, you are the straightener of the crooked limbs, you are the softener of hard things, you show the hidden treasures, you are the sprout of goodness; let your power come, let it be established upon your servant Mygdonia, and heal her by this freedom.
10:7. And when the oil was poured upon her he head her nurse unclothed her and gird a linen cloth about her; and there was there a fountain of water upon which the apostle went up, and baptized Mygdonia in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
10:8. And when she was baptized and clad, he brake bread and took a cup of water and made her a partaker in the body of Masih and the cup of the Son of God, and said: You have received your seal, get for yourself eternal life. And immediately there was heard from above a voice saying: Yea, amen.
10:9. And when Narcia heard that voice, she was amazed, and besought the apostle that she also might receive the seal; and the apostle gave it her and said: Let the care of the Lord be about you as about the rest.
10:10. And having done these things the apostle returned to the prison, and found the doors open and the guards still sleeping.
10:11. And Thoma said: Who is like you, O God? who never withholds Your loving affection and care from any one who calls out to you. You are merciful as You deliver Your creatures out of evil. Life that has subdued death, rest that has ended toil. Glory be to the only-begotten of the Father. Glory to the compassionate that was sent forth of his heart. And when he had said thus, the guards awakened and beheld all the doors open, and the prisoners were asleep, and said to themselves: Did we not fasten the doors? how then are they now open, and the prisoners within?
10:12.But at the dawn Charisius went to Mygdonia , and found them praying and saying: O new God that by the stranger has come here to us, hidden God of the dwellers in India; God that has shown your glory by your apostle Thoma, God whose report we have heard and believed in you; God, by whom we have been blessed to be saved; God, who for love of man and for pity did come down to our littleness; God who did seek us out when we knew You not; God that dwells in the heights and from whom the depths are not hidden: turn away from us the madness of Charisius.
10:13. And Charisius hearing that said to Mygdonia: Rightly do you call me evil and mad and foul, for if I had not been tolerant of your disobedience, and given you liberty, you would not have called on God against me and made mention of my name before God.
10:14. But believe me, Mygdonia that in that sorcerer there is no profit, and what he promises to perform he cannot: but I will perform before your sight all that I promise, that you may believe, and bear with my words and be to me as you were before.
10:15. And he came near and besought her again, saying: If you willl be persuaded of me, I shall from this moment on, have no grief; remember that day when you first met me; tell the truth: was I more beautiful to you at that time, or Yeshu at this?
10:16. And Mygdonia said: That time required its own, and this time also; that was the time of the beginning, but this of the end; that was the time of temporal life, this of eternal; that of pleasure that passes away, but this of pleasure that abides for ever; that, of day and night, this of day without night.
10:17. You saw that marriage that was passing, and here, and single but this marriage continue for ever; that was a partnership of corruption, but this of eternal life; those groomsmen and maids were men and women of time, but these abide to the end. That marriage upon earth sets up dropping dew of the love of men; that bride-chamber is taken down again, but this remains, always; that bed was strewn with coverlets that grow old, but this with love and faith.
10:18. You are a bridegroom that passes away and will be dissolved, but Yeshu is a true bridegroom, enduring for ever immortal, that dowry was of money and robes that grow old, but this is of living words which never pass away.
10:19.And when Charisius heard these things he went to the king and told him all: and the king commanded Yehuda to be brought, that he might judge him and destroy him. But Charisius said: Have a little patience , O king, and first threaten the apostle , making him afraid, so that he may persuade Mygdonia to be to me as she was formerly.
10:20. And Mazdai sent and fetched the apostle of Masih, and all the prisoners were grieved because the apostle departed from them, for they yearned after him, saying: Even the comfort which we had have they taken away from us.
10:21. And Mazdai said to Yehuda: Why do you teach this new doctrine, which both gods and men hate, and which provides no profit? And Yehuda said: What evil do I teach? And Mazdai said: You teach, saying that men will be with the God whom you preach.
10:22. Yehuda said: You say true, O king: thus do I teach. For tell me, are you not angry with your soldiers if they wait on you in filthy garments? If even you, being a king of earth and returning to earth, request your subjects to be reverent in their doings, or you would be angry with them, then why is it that you have said that I teach falsely by saying that they who serve my king must be reverent and pure and free from all grief and care of children and unprofitable riches and vain trouble?
10:23. For indeed you would insist that your subjects follow your commandments to your specifications, and you punish them if they despise your commandments: how much more must they that believe in Him if they seek to serve my God with much reverence and cleanness and security, and be removed of all pleasures of the body, adultery and prodigality and theft and drunkenness and belly-service and foul deeds?
10:24. And Mazdai ,hearing these things said: Lo, I shall let you go: go then and persuade Mygdonia, the wife of Charisius, not to desire to depart from him. Yehuda said to him: Do not delay if you have anything to do to her, if she has rightly received what she has learned, neither iron nor fire nor anything else stronger than these will avail to hurt or to root out He that is held in her soul.
10:25. Mazdai said to Yehuda: Some poisons dissolve other poisons, and a theriac cures the bites of the viper; and you if you can give a solvent of those diseases, and make peace and concord between this couple: for by so doing you will spare yourself, for you are not sated with life just yet;; and know that if you do not persuade her, I will catch you away out of this life which is desirable to all men.
10:26. And Yehuda said: This life has been given as a loan, and this time is one that changes, but that life that I speak of is incorruptible; and beauty and youth that are seen shall in a little cease to be. The king said to him: I have counseled you for the best, but you know your own affairs.
10:27 And as the apostle went forth from before the king, Charisius came to him and entreated him and said: I beseech you, O man: I have not sinned against you or any other at any time, nor against the gods; Why have you stirred up this great calamity against me? And for what cause have you brought such disturbance upon my house? What do you stand to gain from this? Whatever it is that you seek, just tell me what it is and I will get it for you without any effort.
10:28. Why do you seek to drive me crazy? Why do you wish to drive me to my own destruction? Because that is what will happen if you are not able to persuade her to return to me. If you do not do this, then I will kill myself, but not before I kill you first.
10:29. But if, as you say, after our departing from this life, that there is also condemnation and victory and a place of judgment, then I will also go into that realm to be judged alongside of you: and if that God whom you preach is just and awards punishment justly, I know that I shall gain my cause against you; for you have injured me, having suffered no wrong at my hands: for indeed even here I am able to avenge myself on you and bring upon you all that you have done to me.
10:30. Therefore be persuaded, and come home with me and persuade Mygdonia to be with me as she was at first, before she beheld you. And Yehuda said to him: Believe me, my child that if men loved God as much as they love one another, they would ask of him all things and receive them, and none would do them violence.
10:31. And as Thoma said this, they came to the house of Charisius and found Mygdonia sitting and Narcia standing by her, and her hand supporting her cheek; and she was saying: Let the remainder of the days of my life, O mother, be cut off from me, and all the hours become as one hour, and let me depart out of life that I may go the sooner and behold that beautiful one, whose report I have heard, even that living one and giver of life to them that believe on him, where is not day and night, nor light and darkness, nor good and evil, nor poor and rich, nor male and female, nor free and bond, nor proud that subjects the humble.
10:32. And as she spoke the apostle stood by her, and immediately she rose up did him *reverence. Then Charisius said to him: Do you see how she both fears and honours you? Everything that you tell her to do, she will do willingly.
10:33. And as he spoke, Yehuda said to Mygdonia: My daughter Mygdonia, obey that which your brother Charisius said.
10:34. And Mygdonia said: If you were not able bring about such a deed in word will you compel me to endure the act? For I have heard you teach that this life is of no profit, and this relief is for a time, and these possessions are transitory.
10:35. And again you said that whoever renounces this life shall receive the life eternal, and whoever hates the light of day and night shall behold a light that is not overtaken, that whoever despised money shall find other and eternal money.
10:36. But now you are afraid! Who then that has done something of virtue, and is then praised for it, then proceeds to overturn his good works? Who seeks to build a sturdy building only to then proceed to overthrow it from its foundations? Who digs a spring for water in a thirsty land, only then to fill it in as soon as he had completed the task? Who goes to great lengths to find treasure but then on finding it, refuses to use it?
10:37. And Charisius heard it and said to Thoma: I will not imitate you, neither will I hasten to destroy you; even though I could do so easily, even though I could bind you I will not. But I will not allow you to speak with wife anymore. If you obey me, all will be well, but if not, I know what I must do.
10:38. And Yehuda went out of Charisius' house and departed to the house of Siphor and lodged there with him. And Siphor said: I will prepare for Yehuda a hall wherein he may teach.
*10:32. In Vedic culture it is customary to bow down and touch the feet of the Guru or religious teacher. This is what Mygdonia is doing when it says she reverenced him.- Editor’s note
10:39. And he did so; and Siphor said : I and my wife and daughter will dwell from this moment forth in holiness, and in chastity, and in one affection. I beseech you that we may receive from you the seal, and become worshippers of the true God and be numbered among his sheep and lambs.
10:40. And Yehuda said: I am afraid to speak that which I think: yet I know somewhat, and what I know it is not possible for me to utter.
10:41. And he began to say concerning baptism: This baptism is remission of sins: this brings forth again light that is shed about us: this brings to new birth the new man: this mingles the spirit with the body, raises up in threefoldwise a new man and partaker of the remission of sins. Glory be to you, hidden one, who are communicated in baptism. Glory to you the unseen power that is in baptism. Glory to you, renewal, whereby are renewed they that are baptized and with affection take hold upon you.
10:42. And having thus said, he poured oil over their heads and said: Glory be to you the love of compassion. Glory to you name of Masih. Glory to you, power established in Masih. And he commanded a vessel to be brought, and baptized them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
10:43. And when they were baptized and clad, he set bread on the table and blessed it, and said: Bread of life, the which who eat abide incorruptible: Bread that fills the hungry souls with the blessing thereof: You are He that vouchsafes to receive a gift, that You may become to us a remission of sins, and that they who eat you may become immortal: we invoke upon you the name of the mother, of the unspeakable mystery of the hidden powers and authorities: we invoke upon you the name of Yeshu. And he said: Let the powers of blessing come, and be established in this bread, that all the souls which partake of it may be washed from their sins. And he brake and gave to Siphor and his wife and daughter.
10:1. And while Mygdonia thought to herself, Yehuda came and stood over her, and she saw him and was afraid, and fell down and became lifeless with terror. But he stood by her and took her by the hand and said to her: Do not be afraid, Mygdonia: Yeshu will not leave you, neither will the Lord to whom you have committed yourr soul overlook you. His compassionate rest will not forsake you: he that is kind will not forsake you, for his kindness' sake, nor he that is good for his goodness' sake. Rise up then from the earth, if your seek to become wholly above it: look on the light, for the Lord does not leave them that love him to walk in darkness: behold He that travels with his servants, that He is to them a defender in perils.
10:2. And Mygdonia arose and looked on him and said: Where did you go, my lord? and who was it who brought you out of prison to behold the sun? Yehuda Thoma said to her: My Lord Yeshu is mightier than all powers and all kings and rulers.
10:3. And Mygdonia said: Give me the seal of Yeshu Masih and I shall receive the gift at thy hands before you depart out of this life. And she took him with her and entered into the court and awaked her nurse, saying to her: Narcia, my mother and nurse, all your service and refreshment you have done for me from my childhood until my present age are vain, and for them I owe you thanks which are temporal; do for me now also a favour, that you may for ever receive a recompense from He who gives great gifts.
10:4. And Narcia answer her saying: What is to be done for your pleasure? For the honours which you did promise me before, the stranger has not enabled you to accomplish them, and you have made me a reproach among all the nation. And now what is this new thing that you seek from me?
10:5. And Mygdonia said: Become a partaker with me in eternal life, that I may receive of you perfect nurture: take bread and bring it me, and wine mingled with water, and spare my freedom. And the nurse said: I will bring you many loaves, and for water flagons of wine, and fulfill your desire. But she said to the nurse: Flagons I desire not, nor the many loaves: but this only, bring wine mingled with water and one loaf, and oil.
10:6. And when Narcia had brought these things, Mygdonia stood before the apostle with her head bare; and he took the oil and poured it on her head, saying: Holy oil given to us for sanctification, secret mystery whereby the cross was shown to us, you are the straightener of the crooked limbs, you are the softener of hard things, you show the hidden treasures, you are the sprout of goodness; let your power come, let it be established upon your servant Mygdonia, and heal her by this freedom.
10:7. And when the oil was poured upon her he head her nurse unclothed her and gird a linen cloth about her; and there was there a fountain of water upon which the apostle went up, and baptized Mygdonia in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
10:8. And when she was baptized and clad, he brake bread and took a cup of water and made her a partaker in the body of Masih and the cup of the Son of God, and said: You have received your seal, get for yourself eternal life. And immediately there was heard from above a voice saying: Yea, amen.
10:9. And when Narcia heard that voice, she was amazed, and besought the apostle that she also might receive the seal; and the apostle gave it her and said: Let the care of the Lord be about you as about the rest.
10:10. And having done these things the apostle returned to the prison, and found the doors open and the guards still sleeping.
10:11. And Thoma said: Who is like you, O God? who never withholds Your loving affection and care from any one who calls out to you. You are merciful as You deliver Your creatures out of evil. Life that has subdued death, rest that has ended toil. Glory be to the only-begotten of the Father. Glory to the compassionate that was sent forth of his heart. And when he had said thus, the guards awakened and beheld all the doors open, and the prisoners were asleep, and said to themselves: Did we not fasten the doors? how then are they now open, and the prisoners within?
10:12.But at the dawn Charisius went to Mygdonia , and found them praying and saying: O new God that by the stranger has come here to us, hidden God of the dwellers in India; God that has shown your glory by your apostle Thoma, God whose report we have heard and believed in you; God, by whom we have been blessed to be saved; God, who for love of man and for pity did come down to our littleness; God who did seek us out when we knew You not; God that dwells in the heights and from whom the depths are not hidden: turn away from us the madness of Charisius.
10:13. And Charisius hearing that said to Mygdonia: Rightly do you call me evil and mad and foul, for if I had not been tolerant of your disobedience, and given you liberty, you would not have called on God against me and made mention of my name before God.
10:14. But believe me, Mygdonia that in that sorcerer there is no profit, and what he promises to perform he cannot: but I will perform before your sight all that I promise, that you may believe, and bear with my words and be to me as you were before.
10:15. And he came near and besought her again, saying: If you willl be persuaded of me, I shall from this moment on, have no grief; remember that day when you first met me; tell the truth: was I more beautiful to you at that time, or Yeshu at this?
10:16. And Mygdonia said: That time required its own, and this time also; that was the time of the beginning, but this of the end; that was the time of temporal life, this of eternal; that of pleasure that passes away, but this of pleasure that abides for ever; that, of day and night, this of day without night.
10:17. You saw that marriage that was passing, and here, and single but this marriage continue for ever; that was a partnership of corruption, but this of eternal life; those groomsmen and maids were men and women of time, but these abide to the end. That marriage upon earth sets up dropping dew of the love of men; that bride-chamber is taken down again, but this remains, always; that bed was strewn with coverlets that grow old, but this with love and faith.
10:18. You are a bridegroom that passes away and will be dissolved, but Yeshu is a true bridegroom, enduring for ever immortal, that dowry was of money and robes that grow old, but this is of living words which never pass away.
10:19.And when Charisius heard these things he went to the king and told him all: and the king commanded Yehuda to be brought, that he might judge him and destroy him. But Charisius said: Have a little patience , O king, and first threaten the apostle , making him afraid, so that he may persuade Mygdonia to be to me as she was formerly.
10:20. And Mazdai sent and fetched the apostle of Masih, and all the prisoners were grieved because the apostle departed from them, for they yearned after him, saying: Even the comfort which we had have they taken away from us.
10:21. And Mazdai said to Yehuda: Why do you teach this new doctrine, which both gods and men hate, and which provides no profit? And Yehuda said: What evil do I teach? And Mazdai said: You teach, saying that men will be with the God whom you preach.
10:22. Yehuda said: You say true, O king: thus do I teach. For tell me, are you not angry with your soldiers if they wait on you in filthy garments? If even you, being a king of earth and returning to earth, request your subjects to be reverent in their doings, or you would be angry with them, then why is it that you have said that I teach falsely by saying that they who serve my king must be reverent and pure and free from all grief and care of children and unprofitable riches and vain trouble?
10:23. For indeed you would insist that your subjects follow your commandments to your specifications, and you punish them if they despise your commandments: how much more must they that believe in Him if they seek to serve my God with much reverence and cleanness and security, and be removed of all pleasures of the body, adultery and prodigality and theft and drunkenness and belly-service and foul deeds?
10:24. And Mazdai ,hearing these things said: Lo, I shall let you go: go then and persuade Mygdonia, the wife of Charisius, not to desire to depart from him. Yehuda said to him: Do not delay if you have anything to do to her, if she has rightly received what she has learned, neither iron nor fire nor anything else stronger than these will avail to hurt or to root out He that is held in her soul.
10:25. Mazdai said to Yehuda: Some poisons dissolve other poisons, and a theriac cures the bites of the viper; and you if you can give a solvent of those diseases, and make peace and concord between this couple: for by so doing you will spare yourself, for you are not sated with life just yet;; and know that if you do not persuade her, I will catch you away out of this life which is desirable to all men.
10:26. And Yehuda said: This life has been given as a loan, and this time is one that changes, but that life that I speak of is incorruptible; and beauty and youth that are seen shall in a little cease to be. The king said to him: I have counseled you for the best, but you know your own affairs.
10:27 And as the apostle went forth from before the king, Charisius came to him and entreated him and said: I beseech you, O man: I have not sinned against you or any other at any time, nor against the gods; Why have you stirred up this great calamity against me? And for what cause have you brought such disturbance upon my house? What do you stand to gain from this? Whatever it is that you seek, just tell me what it is and I will get it for you without any effort.
10:28. Why do you seek to drive me crazy? Why do you wish to drive me to my own destruction? Because that is what will happen if you are not able to persuade her to return to me. If you do not do this, then I will kill myself, but not before I kill you first.
10:29. But if, as you say, after our departing from this life, that there is also condemnation and victory and a place of judgment, then I will also go into that realm to be judged alongside of you: and if that God whom you preach is just and awards punishment justly, I know that I shall gain my cause against you; for you have injured me, having suffered no wrong at my hands: for indeed even here I am able to avenge myself on you and bring upon you all that you have done to me.
10:30. Therefore be persuaded, and come home with me and persuade Mygdonia to be with me as she was at first, before she beheld you. And Yehuda said to him: Believe me, my child that if men loved God as much as they love one another, they would ask of him all things and receive them, and none would do them violence.
10:31. And as Thoma said this, they came to the house of Charisius and found Mygdonia sitting and Narcia standing by her, and her hand supporting her cheek; and she was saying: Let the remainder of the days of my life, O mother, be cut off from me, and all the hours become as one hour, and let me depart out of life that I may go the sooner and behold that beautiful one, whose report I have heard, even that living one and giver of life to them that believe on him, where is not day and night, nor light and darkness, nor good and evil, nor poor and rich, nor male and female, nor free and bond, nor proud that subjects the humble.
10:32. And as she spoke the apostle stood by her, and immediately she rose up did him *reverence. Then Charisius said to him: Do you see how she both fears and honours you? Everything that you tell her to do, she will do willingly.
10:33. And as he spoke, Yehuda said to Mygdonia: My daughter Mygdonia, obey that which your brother Charisius said.
10:34. And Mygdonia said: If you were not able bring about such a deed in word will you compel me to endure the act? For I have heard you teach that this life is of no profit, and this relief is for a time, and these possessions are transitory.
10:35. And again you said that whoever renounces this life shall receive the life eternal, and whoever hates the light of day and night shall behold a light that is not overtaken, that whoever despised money shall find other and eternal money.
10:36. But now you are afraid! Who then that has done something of virtue, and is then praised for it, then proceeds to overturn his good works? Who seeks to build a sturdy building only to then proceed to overthrow it from its foundations? Who digs a spring for water in a thirsty land, only then to fill it in as soon as he had completed the task? Who goes to great lengths to find treasure but then on finding it, refuses to use it?
10:37. And Charisius heard it and said to Thoma: I will not imitate you, neither will I hasten to destroy you; even though I could do so easily, even though I could bind you I will not. But I will not allow you to speak with wife anymore. If you obey me, all will be well, but if not, I know what I must do.
10:38. And Yehuda went out of Charisius' house and departed to the house of Siphor and lodged there with him. And Siphor said: I will prepare for Yehuda a hall wherein he may teach.
*10:32. In Vedic culture it is customary to bow down and touch the feet of the Guru or religious teacher. This is what Mygdonia is doing when it says she reverenced him.- Editor’s note
10:39. And he did so; and Siphor said : I and my wife and daughter will dwell from this moment forth in holiness, and in chastity, and in one affection. I beseech you that we may receive from you the seal, and become worshippers of the true God and be numbered among his sheep and lambs.
10:40. And Yehuda said: I am afraid to speak that which I think: yet I know somewhat, and what I know it is not possible for me to utter.
10:41. And he began to say concerning baptism: This baptism is remission of sins: this brings forth again light that is shed about us: this brings to new birth the new man: this mingles the spirit with the body, raises up in threefoldwise a new man and partaker of the remission of sins. Glory be to you, hidden one, who are communicated in baptism. Glory to you the unseen power that is in baptism. Glory to you, renewal, whereby are renewed they that are baptized and with affection take hold upon you.
10:42. And having thus said, he poured oil over their heads and said: Glory be to you the love of compassion. Glory to you name of Masih. Glory to you, power established in Masih. And he commanded a vessel to be brought, and baptized them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
10:43. And when they were baptized and clad, he set bread on the table and blessed it, and said: Bread of life, the which who eat abide incorruptible: Bread that fills the hungry souls with the blessing thereof: You are He that vouchsafes to receive a gift, that You may become to us a remission of sins, and that they who eat you may become immortal: we invoke upon you the name of the mother, of the unspeakable mystery of the hidden powers and authorities: we invoke upon you the name of Yeshu. And he said: Let the powers of blessing come, and be established in this bread, that all the souls which partake of it may be washed from their sins. And he brake and gave to Siphor and his wife and daughter.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Acts of Thoma Chapter 9
Chapter 9. Of the Wife of Charisius.
9:1. Now it chanced that a certain woman, the wife of Charisius, that was next to the king, whose name was Mygdonia, came to see and behold the new name and the new God who was being proclaimed, and the new apostle who had come to visit their country: and she was carried by her own servants; and because of the great crowd and the narrow way they were not able to bring her near to him.
9:2. And she sent to her husband to send her more to minister to her; and they came and approached her, pressing upon the people and beating them.
9:3. And the apostle saw it and said to them: Why do you beat these people who have come to hear the word, and are eager for it? You do this, and at the same time you wish be near to me? To do such a thing places you far from me.
9:4. As it was said of the multitude that came to the Lord: You have eyes but you do not see, you have ears but you do not hear;
9:5. And he said to the multitudes: He that has ears to hear, let him hear; and: Come to me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
9:6. And then addressing the bearers of her palanquin, he said to them: This blessing and this admonition which was promised to the people of this crowd is also for you as your heavily laden with a great burden, even now. You suffer a tremendous burden and are directed at her command.
9:7. And even though you are men, they lay on you a burden as if you were brute beasts, for they that have authority over you think that you are not men such as themselves, whether bond or free.
9:8. For neither shall possessions profit the rich, nor poverty save the poor from judgment; nor have we received a commandment which we are not able to perform, nor has he laid on us burdens grievous to be borne which we are not able to carry; nor building which men build; nor to hew stones and prepare houses, as your craftsmen do by their own knowledge.
9:10. But this commandment we have received of the Lord, that that which does not please us when it is done by another, we should not do to any other man.
9:11. Abstain therefore first from adultery, for this is the beginning of all evils, and next from theft, which enticed Yehuda Iscariot, and brought him to hanging; for as many who yield to covetousness see not that which they do; and from vainglory and from all foul deeds, especially them of the body, whereby comes eternal condemnation.
9:12. For this is the chief city of all evils; and likewise it brings all those who hold their heads high to tyranny, and it draws them down to the deep, and subdues them under its hands to the extent that they do not even see what they are doing; because of this the things that are done by them are hidden from even from themselves.
9:13. But you should become well-pleasing to God in all good things, in meekness and quietness: for these God will offer mercy, and He will grant eternal life and He will bring an end to death itself.
9:14. And in gentleness which follows on all good things, and overcomes all enemies and alone receives the crown of victory: and stretching out of the hand to the poor, and supplying the want of the needy, especially for those that walk in holiness.
9:15. For this is decreed by God and leads to eternal life: for this is before God the chief city of all good: for they who do not strive in the course of Masih will not obtain holiness.
9:16. And holiness appeared in the world by the Will of God, doing away with fornication, overthrowing the enemy, *She is well-pleasing to God: for She is an invincible champion, having honour from God, glorified of many: She is an ambassador of peace, announcing peace: if any gain Her he abides without care, pleasing the Lord, expecting the time of redemption: for She does nothing amiss, but gives life and rest and joy to all that gain Her.
9:17. But meekness has overcome death and brought him under authority, meekness hath enslaved the enemy. Meekness is the good yoke: meekness neither fears nor opposes the many: meekness is peace and joy and exaltation of rest. Abide, therefore, in holiness and receive freedom from me, and be near to meekness for in these three heads is portrayed the Masih whom I proclaim to you.
9:18. Holiness is the temple of Masih, and he that dwells in her gets her for a habitation , because for forty days and forty nights Yeshu fasted, tasting nothing: and he that keeps her shall dwells in her as on a mountain.
9:19. And meekness is his boast: for he said to Keifa our fellow apostle: Turn back your sword and put it again into its sheath: for if I had so willed it, I could have brought more than twelve legions of angels from my Father.
*9:16. Ruakh haKodesh, the Holy Spirit and Divine Mother. This is not a reference to Miryam, the earthly mother of Yeshu Masih. – Editor’s note
9:20. And when the apostle had said these things with the in the hearing of all the multitude, they were treading each other and pressed upon one another to get closer to the apostle:
9:21. And the wife of Charisius the king's kinsmanleapt out of her chair and cast herself on the earth before the apostle, and caught his feet and said: O disciple of the living God, you have come into a desert country, for we live in the desert; being like brute beasts in our conversation, but now shall we be saved by your hands;
9:22. I beseech you, therefore, take thought of me, and pray for me, that the compassion of the God whom yhou preach may come upon me, and I may become his dwelling place and be joined in prayer and hope and faith in him, and I also may receive the seal and become a holy temple and He may dwell in me.
9:23. And the apostle said: I do pray and entreat for you all, brethren, that believe in the Lord, and for you, sisters, that hope in Masih, that in all of you the word of God may tabernacle and have his tabernacle within your souls: for we have no power over them.
9:24. And he began to say to the woman Mygdonia: Rise up from the earth and compose yourself. For this attire that you wear will not profit you nor the beauty of your body, nor your apparel, neither will the fame of your rank, nor the authority of this world, nor the* polluted intercourse with your husband shall avail you if you be bereaved of the true fellowship: for the appearance of ornamenting comes to nothing, and the body waxes old and changes, and raiment wears out, and authority and lordship passes away and the fellowship of procreation also passes away, and is as it were condemnation. Only Yeshu abides forever, and they that hope in him.
9:25. Thus he spake, and said to the woman: Depart in peace, and the Lord shall make you worthy of his own mysteries. But she said: I fear to go away, lest you forsake me and depart to another nation.
9:26. But the apostle said to her: Even if I go, I shall not leave you alone, but Yeshu of his compassion will be with you. And she fell down and did him reverence and departed to her house.
*9:24. The reason Thoma refers to the sexual intercourse between Mygdonia an her own husband, Charisius as polluted intercourse is that Charisius and Mygdonia are siblings. Later in the text he refers to her as “My sister, Mygdonia” their union is therefore, an incestuous relationship in the eyes of God and therefore, forbidden. Also notice that he is giving her information about her private life that he could not know in any other way unless Sri Yesu had revealed this to him. –Editor’s note.
9:27. Now Charisius, the kinsman of King Mazdai, bathed himself and returned and laid him down to dine. And he inquired concerning his wife, where she was; for she had not come out of her own chamber to meet him as she would normally do.
9:28. And her handmaids said to him: She is not well. And he entered quickly into the chamber and found her lying on the bed and veiled: and he unveiled her and kissed her, saying: Are you not feeling well today? And she said: I am not well.
9:29. And he said to her: If you are feeling ill, why then didn’t you pay proper respect to your position as a fee woman and remain in the house, instead, you went out for what purpose? To listen to vain speeches and look upon works of sorcery? Come with me and we shall go have dinner together. I wish to have your company while dining. But she said to him: Today I decline it, for I am greatly afraid.
9:30. And when Charisius heard this of Mygdonia, he would not go forth to dinner, but commanded his servants to bring food to him that he might dine in her presence: when then they brought it in, he desired her to dine with him, but she excused herself;
9:31. Since then she would not eat , he dined alone, saying to her: On your account I refused to dine with King Mazdai this evening and you are not willing to dine with me? but she said: It is because I am not well. Charisius therefore rose up as he was wont and would sleep with her, but she said: Did I not tell you that for today I refused it?
9:32. When he heard that he went to another bed and slept; and awaking out of sleep he said: My lady Mygdonia, hearken to the dream which I have seen. I saw myself lie at meat near to King Mazdai, and a dish of all sorts was set before us: and I saw an eagle come down from heaven and carry off two partridges from the King and I, which he set against his heart;
9:33. And again he came over us and flew about above us, and the king commanded that a bow be brought to him; and the eagle again caught away from before us a pigeon and a dove, and the king shot an arrow at him, and it passed through him from one side to the other and but did not hurt him; and he being unscathed rose up into his own nest.
9:34. And I awoke, and I am full of fear and very disturbed, because I had tasted of the partridge, and he instructed me not to put it to my mouth again. And Mygdonia said to him: Your dream is good: for every day you eat partridges, but this eagle had not tasted of a partridge until now.
9:35. And when it was morning Charisius went and dressed himself and shod his right foot with his left shoe; and he stopped, and said to Mygdonia: What then is this matter? for look, the dream and this action of mine! But Mygdonia said to him: And this also is not evil, but seems to me very good; for from an unlucky act there will be a change to the better. And he washed his hands and went to salute King Mazdai.
9:36. And likewise Mygdonia rose up early and went to salute Yehuda Thoma the apostle, and she found him discoursing with the captain and all the multitude, and he was advising them and speaking of the woman which had received the Lord in her soul, whose wife she was; and the captain said: She is the wife of Charisius the kinsman of King Mazdai.
9:37. And: Her husband is a hard man, and in every thing that he says to the king he obeys him: and he will not suffer her to continue in this mind which she has promised; for oftentimes has he praised her before the king, saying that there is none other like her in love: All things therefore that you speak to her are strange to her.
9:38. And the apostle said: Truly, if the Lord has risen upon her soul and she has received the seed that was cast on her, she will have no care of this temporal life, nor fear death, neither will Charisius be able to harm her at all: for greater is He who she has received into her soul, if she truly has received him.
9:39. And Mygdonia hearing this said to the apostle: In truth, my lord, I have received the seed of your words, and I will bear fruit like to such seed.
9:40. The apostle said: Our souls give praise and thanks to you, O Lord, for they are Yours: our bodies give thanks to you, which You have accounted worthy to become the dwelling-place of Your heavenly gift.
9:41. And he said also to them that stood by: Blessed are the holy, whose souls have never condemned them, for they have gained them and are not divided against themselves: blessed are the spirits of the pure, and they that have received the heavenly crown whole from the world which has been appointed to them: blessed are the bodies of the holy, for they have been made worthy to become temples of God, that Masih may dwell in them: blessed are you, for you have power to forgive sins: blessed are you if you do not lose that which is committed to you, but rejoicing and departing bear it away with you: blessed are you the holy, for to you it is given to ask and receive: blessed are you who are meek for you are counted by God as being worthy to become heirs of the heavenly kingdom. Blessed are you who are meek, for you shall overcome the enemy: blessed are you who are meek, for you shall see the face of the Lord. Blessed are you who hunger for the Lord's sake for you is a rest laid up, and your souls rejoice will then rejoice from then on. Blessed are you who are quiet, for you have been counted worthy to be set free from sin. And when the apostle had said these things in the hearing of all the multitude, Mygdonia was the more confirmed in the faith and glory and greatness of Masih.
9:42. But Charisius the kinsman and friend of King Mazdai came to his breakfast and did not find, he inquired of all that were in his house as to her whereabouts: Where has your mistress gone? And one of them answered and said: She has gone to see that stranger. And when he heard this from his servant, he was angry with the other servants because they had not straightway told him what was done: and he sat down and waited for her.
9:43. And when it was evening and she was come into the house he said to her: Where were you? And she answered and said: With the physician. And he said: Is that stranger a physician? And she said: Yes, he is a physician of souls: for most physicians heal only bodies that are dissolved, but he cures the soul that is not destroyed. Charisius, hearing this, was very angry in his mind with Mygdonia because of the apostle, but he did not respond to Mygdonia regarding this matter. for he was afraid; for she was *above him both in wealth and birth: instead, he departed to dinner, and she went into her chamber. And he said to the servants: Call her to dinner. But she would not come.
9:44. And when he heard that she would not come out of her chamber, he went to her and said: Why won’t you dine with me? And why will you not sleep with me as I have desire to be with you? I am starting to get concerned because I have heard that this sorcerer and deceiver you have been listening to teaches that a man should not live with his wife, and that which nature requires and the godhead has ordained he seeks to overthrow. When Charisius said these things, Mygdonia kept silence.
9:45. He said to her again: My lady and consort Mygdonia, do not allow yourself to be led astray by deceitful and vain words, nor by the works of sorcery which I have heard that this man performs in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; for it was never yet heard in the world that any raised the dead, and, as I hear, it is reported of this man that he raises dead men.
9:46. And in addition to this he neither eats nor drinks, do not think that for righteousness sake he neither eats nor drinks but he only does this because he possesses nothing to eat or drink, what can he possibly do if he doesn’t even have his daily bread? And he has only one garment because he is poor, and as for he even refuses to *receive anything from anyone.
*9:43. Mygdonia is related to King Mazdai by birth. But she is also married to Charisius who is her sibling. How can she be his sister if she is both above him in wealth and birth? Having the same father but different mothers. The father is a member of the royal court, Mygdonia’s mother is also a member of the royal court, but Charisius’ mother is not a royal or Mygdonia would not be above him in wealth or in birth. She is royal lineage by blood, but presumably Charisius’ mother is either a concubine or bondservant and so her offspring are not considered to be royals. Because Charisius is married to Mygdonia, his wealth and status derive from his relationship with Mygdonia and not from his own doing. –Editor’s note
*9:46. Religious tradition in India, where holy men travel the country and receive food and water from villagers is well known. Here Charisius is saying that even as a wandering sadhu or mendicant, Thoma is not taking what he is being offered by those who seek to give him charity. - Editor’s note
9:47. And when Charisius had said this, Mygdonia was silent as a stone, but she prayed, asking when it should be daylight, if she might go to the apostle of Masih.
9:48. And he withdrew from her and went to dinner heavy in mind, for he had thought to sleep with her according to his desires. And when he was gone out, she bowed her knees and prayed, saying: Lord God and Master, merciful Father, Savior Masih, give me the strength to overcome the shamelessness of Charisius, and grant me to keep the holiness that You delight in, that in keeping pure I also may find eternal life. And when she had prayed she laid herself on her bed and veiled herself.
9:49. But Charisius having dined came upon her, and she cried out, saying: You have no more room by me: for my Lord Yeshu is greater than You, who is with me and rests in me. And he laughed and said: Well do you mock, saying this of that sorcerer, and well do you deride him, who said: You have no life with God unless you purify yourselves.
9:50. And when he had said this attempt to try and sleep with her, but she refused him and cried out bitterly and said: I call upon you, Lord Yeshu, do not forsake me! for with you I have made my refuge; I have learned that You are the One that seeks out all those veiled in ignorance and that You save all that are held in error. And now I entreat you whose report I have heard and believed, come to my help and save me from the shamelessness of Charisius, that his foulness may not get the upper hand of me.
9:51. And she tied his hands together and fled from him naked, and as she went forth she pulled down the curtain of the bed-chamber and wrapped it about her; and went to her nurse, and slept there with her.
9:52. But Charisius was in heaviness all night, and smote his face with his hands, and he was minded to go that very hour and tell the king concerning the violence that was done him, but he considered with himself, saying: If the great heaviness which is upon me compells me to go now to the king, who will bring me in to him? for I know that my abuse had overthrown me from my high looks and my vainglory and majesty, and has cast me down into this vileness and separated my sister Mygdonia from me.
9:53. Even If the king himself stood before the doors at this hour, I could not have gone out and answered him. But I will wait until dawn, and I know that whatever I ask of the king, he will *grant it me: and I will tell him of the madness of this stranger, how that it tyrannously casts down the great and illustrious into the depth. For it is not this that grieves me, that I am deprived of her companionship in bed, but that I am grieved for her, because her greatness of soul is humbled: being an honourable lady in whom none of her house ever found fault, she has fled away naked, running out of her own bedchamber, and I know do not know where she has gone; and it may be that she is gone mad by the means of that sorcerer, and in her madness she has gone forth into the market-place to seek him; for there is nothing that seems worthy of her affections now except him and the things that are spoken by him.
*9:53. The reason that King Mazdai takes Charisius’ counsel over all others in the court and will grant him anything he asks is because Charisius is his son. – Editor’s note
9:54. And so saving he began to lament and say: Woe to me, O my consort, and to you besides! for I am too quickly bereaved of you. Woe is me, my most dear one, for you excel all in my race: neither son nor daughter have I had of you that I might find rest in them; neither have you yet dwelt with me a full year, and an evil eye has caught you from me.
9:55. Would that the violence of death had taken you, and I should yet have reckoned myself among kings and nobles: but that I should suffer this at the hands of a stranger, and to think that his little more than a slave that has run away! To my ill fortune and the sorrow of my unhappy soul!
9:56. Let there be no impediment for me until I destroy him and avenge this night, and may I not be well-pleasing before King Mazdai if he will not avenge me by bringing me the head of this stranger; and I will also tell him of *Siphor the captain who hath been the occasion of this.
9:57. For by his means did the stranger appear here, and lodge at his house: and many there be that go in and come out whom he teaches a new doctrine; saying that none can live if he will not quit all his substance and become a renunciate like himself: and he strives to make many partakers with him.
9:58. And as Charisius thought on these things, the day dawned: and after the night he put on a mean habit, and shod himself, and went downcast and in heaviness to salute the king.
9:59. And when the king saw him he said: Why are you sorrowful, and why do you in such garb? I see that countenance has changed.
9:60. And Charisius said to the king: I have a new thing to tell you and a new desolation which Siphor has brought into India, even a certain Hebrew, a sorcerer, whom he has sitting in his house even now, and he does not depart from him: and many are there that go in to visit him: he teaches them of a new God, and lays on them new laws such as never yet were heard, saying: It is impossible for you to enter into that eternal life which I proclaim to you, unless you*rid yourselves of your wives, and likewise the wives of their husbands. And it chanced that my unlucky wife also went to him and became a hearer of his words, and she believed them, and in the night she forsook me and ran to the stranger. Please send for both Siphor and that sorcerer that is hiding within his home and I ask that you take them into custody, if you do not, I fear that in our nation will perish by means of them.
*9:56. This is the first reference in the text of the name of the Captain that Thoma had been helping. Editor’s note
*9:60. At this point, Charisius is lying to King Mazdai about the Apostle Thoma, exaggerating and distorting his teaching to say something that Thoma has not taught the people. He does not teach the villagers to break apart their marriages or to avoid sexual intercourse. Mygdonia was forbidden to sleep with Charisius because theirs is an incestuous relationship, not because God wishes all husbands and wives to avoid sex. But to incite the King to act on his behalf in the arraignment of Thoma. Charisius is bearing false witness against the apostle Thoma.– Editor’s note
9:61. And when Mazda heard this he said to him: Do not be grieved nor heavy, for I will send for him and avenge you, and you shall have your wife again, and the others that cannot, I will avenge.
9:62. And the king went forth and sat on the judgment seat, and when he was set he commanded Siphor the captain to be called. They went therefore to his house and found him sitting at the right hand of the apostle and Mygdonia at his feet, hearkening to him with all the multitude.
9:63. And they that were sent from the king said to Siphor: Are you just going to sit there, listening to vain words? King Mazdai in his wrath thinks to destroy you because of this sorcerer and deceiver whom you have brought into your own home!
9:64. And Siphor hearing this news was cast down, not because of the king's threat against him, but for the apostle, because the king was disposed negatively toward him. And he said to the apostle: I am grieved concerning you: for I told you at the first that that woman is the wife of Charisius the king's friend and kinsman, and he will not suffer her to perform what she has promised, and all that he asks of the king he grants him.
9:65. But the apostle said to Siphor: Fear nothing, but believe in Yeshu that pleads for us all, for to his refuge are we gathered together. And Siphor, hearing that, put his garment about him and went to King Mazdai,
9:66. And the apostle inquired of Mygdonia: What was the cause that your husband was angry with you and devised this against us? And she said: Because I would not give myself up to his corruption: for he desired last night to subdue me and subject me to his passion which he serves: and he to whom I have committed my soul delivered me out of his hands; and I fled away from him naked, and slept with my nurse: but that which befell him I do not know, I feel that this is his doing.
9:67. The apostle said: These things will not hurt us; but believe in Yeshu, and he shall overthrow the wrath of Charisius and his madness and his impulse; and He shall be a companion to you, and He shall guide you into His kingdom, and shall bring you to eternal life giving you that confidence which does not pass away or change.
9:68. Now Siphor stood before the king, and he inquired of him: Who is that sorcerer and where does he come from? What is this person lurking in your home, teaching to all who visit?
9:69. And Siphor answered the king: You are not ignorant, O king, regarding the trouble and grief I, with my friends had concerning my wife, whom you know and many others remember, and concerning my daughter, whom I value more than all my possessions, what a time and trial I suffered; For I had become a laughing-stock and a curse in all our country.
9:70. And I heard the report of this man and went to him and entreated him, and took him and brought him hither.
9:71. And as I came by the way I saw wonderful and amazing things: and here also many did hear the wild ass and concerning that devil whom he drove out, and healed my wife and daughter, and now they are whole; and he asked no reward but required faith and holiness, that men should become partakers with him in that which he does: and this he teaches: To worship and fear one God, the ruler of all things, and Yeshu Masih his Son, that they may have eternal life.
9:72. And the only thing he eats is bread and salt, and the only thing he drinks is water from evening to evening, and he makes many prayers; and whatever he asks of his God, he gives him.
9:73. And he teaches that this God is holy and mighty, and that Masih is living and makes alive, wherefore also he charges them that are there present to come to him in holiness and purity and love and faith.
9:74. And when King Mazdai heard these things of Siphor he sent many soldiers to the house of Siphor the captain, to bring Thoma the apostle and all that were found there.
9:75. And they that were sent entered in and found him teaching much people; and Mygdonia sat at his feet.
9:76. And when they beheld the great multitude that were about him, they feared, and departed to their king and said: We dared not say anything to him, for there was a great multitude about him, and Mygdonia was sitting at his feet & she was listening to the things that were spoken by him.
9:77. And when King Mazdai and Charisius heard these things, Charisius leaped out from before the king and drew much people with him and said: I will bring him, O king, and Mygdonia whose understanding he has taken away.
9:78. And he came to the house of Siphor the captain, greatly disturbed, and found Thoma teaching: but Mygdonia he did not find, for she had withdrawn herself to her house, having learnt that it had been told to her husband that she was there.
9:79. And Charisius said to the apostle: Up, you wicked one and destroyer and enemy of my house: for your sorcery cannot harm me, for I will visit your sorcery on your head.
9:80. And when he so said, the apostle looked upon him and said to him: Your threats shall return upon you, for you will not harm me in the slightest: for greater than you and your king and all your army is the Lord Yeshu Masih in whom I have my trust.
9:81. And Charisius took a turban from one of his slaves and cast it about the neck of the apostle, saying: Drag him and bring him away; let me see if his God is able to deliver him out of my hands.
9:82. And they dragged by force and led him away to King Mazdai. And the apostle stood before the king, and the king said to him: Tell me who you are and by what power you do these things. But the apostle kept silence.
9:83. And the king commanded his officers that he should be scourged with a hundred and twenty-eight blows, and to be bound, and be cast into the prison; and they bound him and led him away.
9:84. And the king and Charisius considered how they should put him to death, for the multitude worshipped him as God.
9:85. And they had it in mind to say: The stranger hath reviled the king and is a deceiver.
9:86. But the apostle went to the prison rejoicing and exulting, and said: I praise you, Yeshu, for You have not only made me worthy of faith in You, but also to endure much for Your sake. I give you thanks therefore, Lord, that You have taken thought for me and given me patience: I thank you Lord, that for Your sake I am called a sorcerer and a wizard. Receive me therefore with the blessing of the poor, and of the rest of the weary, and of the blessings of those whom men hate and persecute and revile, and speak evil words of them. For lo, for Your sake I am hated: lo for Your sake I am cut off from the many, and for Your sake they call me such a one as I am not.
9:87. And as he prayed, all the prisoners looked on him, and besought him to pray on their behalf.
9:88. And Charisius went home, glad, thinking that his wife would be with him, and that she had become such as she was before, even before she heard the divine word and believed on Yeshu.
9:89. And he went, and found her with her hair dishevelled and her clothes rent, and when he saw it he said to her: My lady Mygdonia, why does this cruel disease keep hold on you? and why have you done this to yourself? I am your husband from your virginity, and both the gods and the law grant me to have rule over you, what is this great madness of yours, that you have become a derision in all our nation? but put away the care that comes of that sorcerer; and I will remove his face from among us, so that you will not see him again.
9:90. But Mygdonia when she heard that she gave herself up to grief, groaning and lamenting and Charisius said again; Have I then so much wronged the gods that they have afflicted me with such a disease? What is my great offence that they have cast me into such humiliation? I beseech you. Mvgdonia disturb my soul no more with the pitiful sight of you and your mean appearance and do not afflict my heart with care for you, I am Charisius thine husband, whom all the nation honours and fears. What must I do? I do not know where to turn. What am I to think? Shall I keep silence and endure? Yet who can be patient when men take his treasure? And who can endure to lose your sweet ways? And what is there for me? The fragrance of you is in my nostrils, and your bright face is fixed in my eyes.
9:91. They are taking away my soul, and the fair body which I rejoiced to see they are destroying, and that sharpness of your eyes they are blinding and cutting off my right hand: my joy is turning to grief and my life to death, and the light of it is being dyed with darkness.
9:92. Let no man of you, my kindred henceforth look on me; from you no help has come to me, nor will I hereafter worship the gods of the east that have enwrapped me in such calamities, nor pray to them any more nor sacrifice to them, for I am bereaved of my spouse.
9:93. And what else should I ask of them? for all my glory is taken away, yet am I a prince and next to the king in power; but Mygdonia has set me at nought, and taken away all these things
9:94. And while Charisius spoke thus with tears in his eyes, Mygdonia sat silent and looking upon the ground; and again he came to her and said: My lady Mygdonia, most desired of me, remember that out of all the women that are in India I chose and took you as the most beautiful, though I might have joined to myself in marriage many more beautiful: but yet I lie, Mygdonia, for by the gods it would not have been possible to find another like you in the land of India; but woe is me always, for you will not even answer me a word: but if you will, revile me, so that I may only be proved a word from you.
9:95. Look at me, for I am more comely than that sorcerer: but you are my wealth and honour: and all men know that there is none like me: and you are my race and kindred; and lo, he takes you away from me.
9:96. And when Charisius had so said, Mygdonia said to him: He whom I love is better than you and your substance: for your substance is of earth and returns to the earth; but he whom I love is of heaven and will take me with him to heaven. Your wealth shall pass away, and your beauty shall vanish, and your robes, and your many works: and you shall be alone, naked, with your transgressions.
9:97. Do not call to my remembrance your deeds, for I pray the Lord that I may forget you, so as to remember no more those former pleasures and the custom of the body; which shall pass away as a shadow, but Yeshu only endures for ever, and the souls which hope in him. Yeshu himself shall quit me of the shameful deeds which I did with you.
9:98. And when Charisius heard this, it vexed him in his soul, he said to her: Consider it by yourself all this night: and if you will be with me such as you were before, and not see that sorcerer, I will do all according to your mind, and if you will remove your affection from him I will take him out of the prison and let him go and remove into another country, and I will not vex you, for I know that you make much of the stranger.
9:99. You are not the first woman to be afflicted in this manner, for many other women have also been deceived just as you have; and they have awakened sober and returned to themselves: do not disregard my words and cause me to be a reproach among the people of Bharat.
9:100. And Charisius having thus spoken went to sleep: but she took 20 zuze, and went secretly to give them to the jailers that she might enter into the prison to see the apostle. But on the way Judas Thoma came and met her, and she saw him and she was afraid, for she thought that he was one of the rulers: for a great light went before him.
9:101. And she said to herself as she fled: I have lost you, O my unhappy soul! for you will see Yehuda the apostle again among the living , and you have still not received the holy seal, yet.
9:102. And she fled and ran into a narrow place and there hid herself, saying: I would rather choose to be killed by the poorer, whom it is possible to persuade, than to fall into the hand of this mighty ruler, who will despise gifts.
9:1. Now it chanced that a certain woman, the wife of Charisius, that was next to the king, whose name was Mygdonia, came to see and behold the new name and the new God who was being proclaimed, and the new apostle who had come to visit their country: and she was carried by her own servants; and because of the great crowd and the narrow way they were not able to bring her near to him.
9:2. And she sent to her husband to send her more to minister to her; and they came and approached her, pressing upon the people and beating them.
9:3. And the apostle saw it and said to them: Why do you beat these people who have come to hear the word, and are eager for it? You do this, and at the same time you wish be near to me? To do such a thing places you far from me.
9:4. As it was said of the multitude that came to the Lord: You have eyes but you do not see, you have ears but you do not hear;
9:5. And he said to the multitudes: He that has ears to hear, let him hear; and: Come to me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
9:6. And then addressing the bearers of her palanquin, he said to them: This blessing and this admonition which was promised to the people of this crowd is also for you as your heavily laden with a great burden, even now. You suffer a tremendous burden and are directed at her command.
9:7. And even though you are men, they lay on you a burden as if you were brute beasts, for they that have authority over you think that you are not men such as themselves, whether bond or free.
9:8. For neither shall possessions profit the rich, nor poverty save the poor from judgment; nor have we received a commandment which we are not able to perform, nor has he laid on us burdens grievous to be borne which we are not able to carry; nor building which men build; nor to hew stones and prepare houses, as your craftsmen do by their own knowledge.
9:10. But this commandment we have received of the Lord, that that which does not please us when it is done by another, we should not do to any other man.
9:11. Abstain therefore first from adultery, for this is the beginning of all evils, and next from theft, which enticed Yehuda Iscariot, and brought him to hanging; for as many who yield to covetousness see not that which they do; and from vainglory and from all foul deeds, especially them of the body, whereby comes eternal condemnation.
9:12. For this is the chief city of all evils; and likewise it brings all those who hold their heads high to tyranny, and it draws them down to the deep, and subdues them under its hands to the extent that they do not even see what they are doing; because of this the things that are done by them are hidden from even from themselves.
9:13. But you should become well-pleasing to God in all good things, in meekness and quietness: for these God will offer mercy, and He will grant eternal life and He will bring an end to death itself.
9:14. And in gentleness which follows on all good things, and overcomes all enemies and alone receives the crown of victory: and stretching out of the hand to the poor, and supplying the want of the needy, especially for those that walk in holiness.
9:15. For this is decreed by God and leads to eternal life: for this is before God the chief city of all good: for they who do not strive in the course of Masih will not obtain holiness.
9:16. And holiness appeared in the world by the Will of God, doing away with fornication, overthrowing the enemy, *She is well-pleasing to God: for She is an invincible champion, having honour from God, glorified of many: She is an ambassador of peace, announcing peace: if any gain Her he abides without care, pleasing the Lord, expecting the time of redemption: for She does nothing amiss, but gives life and rest and joy to all that gain Her.
9:17. But meekness has overcome death and brought him under authority, meekness hath enslaved the enemy. Meekness is the good yoke: meekness neither fears nor opposes the many: meekness is peace and joy and exaltation of rest. Abide, therefore, in holiness and receive freedom from me, and be near to meekness for in these three heads is portrayed the Masih whom I proclaim to you.
9:18. Holiness is the temple of Masih, and he that dwells in her gets her for a habitation , because for forty days and forty nights Yeshu fasted, tasting nothing: and he that keeps her shall dwells in her as on a mountain.
9:19. And meekness is his boast: for he said to Keifa our fellow apostle: Turn back your sword and put it again into its sheath: for if I had so willed it, I could have brought more than twelve legions of angels from my Father.
*9:16. Ruakh haKodesh, the Holy Spirit and Divine Mother. This is not a reference to Miryam, the earthly mother of Yeshu Masih. – Editor’s note
9:20. And when the apostle had said these things with the in the hearing of all the multitude, they were treading each other and pressed upon one another to get closer to the apostle:
9:21. And the wife of Charisius the king's kinsmanleapt out of her chair and cast herself on the earth before the apostle, and caught his feet and said: O disciple of the living God, you have come into a desert country, for we live in the desert; being like brute beasts in our conversation, but now shall we be saved by your hands;
9:22. I beseech you, therefore, take thought of me, and pray for me, that the compassion of the God whom yhou preach may come upon me, and I may become his dwelling place and be joined in prayer and hope and faith in him, and I also may receive the seal and become a holy temple and He may dwell in me.
9:23. And the apostle said: I do pray and entreat for you all, brethren, that believe in the Lord, and for you, sisters, that hope in Masih, that in all of you the word of God may tabernacle and have his tabernacle within your souls: for we have no power over them.
9:24. And he began to say to the woman Mygdonia: Rise up from the earth and compose yourself. For this attire that you wear will not profit you nor the beauty of your body, nor your apparel, neither will the fame of your rank, nor the authority of this world, nor the* polluted intercourse with your husband shall avail you if you be bereaved of the true fellowship: for the appearance of ornamenting comes to nothing, and the body waxes old and changes, and raiment wears out, and authority and lordship passes away and the fellowship of procreation also passes away, and is as it were condemnation. Only Yeshu abides forever, and they that hope in him.
9:25. Thus he spake, and said to the woman: Depart in peace, and the Lord shall make you worthy of his own mysteries. But she said: I fear to go away, lest you forsake me and depart to another nation.
9:26. But the apostle said to her: Even if I go, I shall not leave you alone, but Yeshu of his compassion will be with you. And she fell down and did him reverence and departed to her house.
*9:24. The reason Thoma refers to the sexual intercourse between Mygdonia an her own husband, Charisius as polluted intercourse is that Charisius and Mygdonia are siblings. Later in the text he refers to her as “My sister, Mygdonia” their union is therefore, an incestuous relationship in the eyes of God and therefore, forbidden. Also notice that he is giving her information about her private life that he could not know in any other way unless Sri Yesu had revealed this to him. –Editor’s note.
9:27. Now Charisius, the kinsman of King Mazdai, bathed himself and returned and laid him down to dine. And he inquired concerning his wife, where she was; for she had not come out of her own chamber to meet him as she would normally do.
9:28. And her handmaids said to him: She is not well. And he entered quickly into the chamber and found her lying on the bed and veiled: and he unveiled her and kissed her, saying: Are you not feeling well today? And she said: I am not well.
9:29. And he said to her: If you are feeling ill, why then didn’t you pay proper respect to your position as a fee woman and remain in the house, instead, you went out for what purpose? To listen to vain speeches and look upon works of sorcery? Come with me and we shall go have dinner together. I wish to have your company while dining. But she said to him: Today I decline it, for I am greatly afraid.
9:30. And when Charisius heard this of Mygdonia, he would not go forth to dinner, but commanded his servants to bring food to him that he might dine in her presence: when then they brought it in, he desired her to dine with him, but she excused herself;
9:31. Since then she would not eat , he dined alone, saying to her: On your account I refused to dine with King Mazdai this evening and you are not willing to dine with me? but she said: It is because I am not well. Charisius therefore rose up as he was wont and would sleep with her, but she said: Did I not tell you that for today I refused it?
9:32. When he heard that he went to another bed and slept; and awaking out of sleep he said: My lady Mygdonia, hearken to the dream which I have seen. I saw myself lie at meat near to King Mazdai, and a dish of all sorts was set before us: and I saw an eagle come down from heaven and carry off two partridges from the King and I, which he set against his heart;
9:33. And again he came over us and flew about above us, and the king commanded that a bow be brought to him; and the eagle again caught away from before us a pigeon and a dove, and the king shot an arrow at him, and it passed through him from one side to the other and but did not hurt him; and he being unscathed rose up into his own nest.
9:34. And I awoke, and I am full of fear and very disturbed, because I had tasted of the partridge, and he instructed me not to put it to my mouth again. And Mygdonia said to him: Your dream is good: for every day you eat partridges, but this eagle had not tasted of a partridge until now.
9:35. And when it was morning Charisius went and dressed himself and shod his right foot with his left shoe; and he stopped, and said to Mygdonia: What then is this matter? for look, the dream and this action of mine! But Mygdonia said to him: And this also is not evil, but seems to me very good; for from an unlucky act there will be a change to the better. And he washed his hands and went to salute King Mazdai.
9:36. And likewise Mygdonia rose up early and went to salute Yehuda Thoma the apostle, and she found him discoursing with the captain and all the multitude, and he was advising them and speaking of the woman which had received the Lord in her soul, whose wife she was; and the captain said: She is the wife of Charisius the kinsman of King Mazdai.
9:37. And: Her husband is a hard man, and in every thing that he says to the king he obeys him: and he will not suffer her to continue in this mind which she has promised; for oftentimes has he praised her before the king, saying that there is none other like her in love: All things therefore that you speak to her are strange to her.
9:38. And the apostle said: Truly, if the Lord has risen upon her soul and she has received the seed that was cast on her, she will have no care of this temporal life, nor fear death, neither will Charisius be able to harm her at all: for greater is He who she has received into her soul, if she truly has received him.
9:39. And Mygdonia hearing this said to the apostle: In truth, my lord, I have received the seed of your words, and I will bear fruit like to such seed.
9:40. The apostle said: Our souls give praise and thanks to you, O Lord, for they are Yours: our bodies give thanks to you, which You have accounted worthy to become the dwelling-place of Your heavenly gift.
9:41. And he said also to them that stood by: Blessed are the holy, whose souls have never condemned them, for they have gained them and are not divided against themselves: blessed are the spirits of the pure, and they that have received the heavenly crown whole from the world which has been appointed to them: blessed are the bodies of the holy, for they have been made worthy to become temples of God, that Masih may dwell in them: blessed are you, for you have power to forgive sins: blessed are you if you do not lose that which is committed to you, but rejoicing and departing bear it away with you: blessed are you the holy, for to you it is given to ask and receive: blessed are you who are meek for you are counted by God as being worthy to become heirs of the heavenly kingdom. Blessed are you who are meek, for you shall overcome the enemy: blessed are you who are meek, for you shall see the face of the Lord. Blessed are you who hunger for the Lord's sake for you is a rest laid up, and your souls rejoice will then rejoice from then on. Blessed are you who are quiet, for you have been counted worthy to be set free from sin. And when the apostle had said these things in the hearing of all the multitude, Mygdonia was the more confirmed in the faith and glory and greatness of Masih.
9:42. But Charisius the kinsman and friend of King Mazdai came to his breakfast and did not find, he inquired of all that were in his house as to her whereabouts: Where has your mistress gone? And one of them answered and said: She has gone to see that stranger. And when he heard this from his servant, he was angry with the other servants because they had not straightway told him what was done: and he sat down and waited for her.
9:43. And when it was evening and she was come into the house he said to her: Where were you? And she answered and said: With the physician. And he said: Is that stranger a physician? And she said: Yes, he is a physician of souls: for most physicians heal only bodies that are dissolved, but he cures the soul that is not destroyed. Charisius, hearing this, was very angry in his mind with Mygdonia because of the apostle, but he did not respond to Mygdonia regarding this matter. for he was afraid; for she was *above him both in wealth and birth: instead, he departed to dinner, and she went into her chamber. And he said to the servants: Call her to dinner. But she would not come.
9:44. And when he heard that she would not come out of her chamber, he went to her and said: Why won’t you dine with me? And why will you not sleep with me as I have desire to be with you? I am starting to get concerned because I have heard that this sorcerer and deceiver you have been listening to teaches that a man should not live with his wife, and that which nature requires and the godhead has ordained he seeks to overthrow. When Charisius said these things, Mygdonia kept silence.
9:45. He said to her again: My lady and consort Mygdonia, do not allow yourself to be led astray by deceitful and vain words, nor by the works of sorcery which I have heard that this man performs in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; for it was never yet heard in the world that any raised the dead, and, as I hear, it is reported of this man that he raises dead men.
9:46. And in addition to this he neither eats nor drinks, do not think that for righteousness sake he neither eats nor drinks but he only does this because he possesses nothing to eat or drink, what can he possibly do if he doesn’t even have his daily bread? And he has only one garment because he is poor, and as for he even refuses to *receive anything from anyone.
*9:43. Mygdonia is related to King Mazdai by birth. But she is also married to Charisius who is her sibling. How can she be his sister if she is both above him in wealth and birth? Having the same father but different mothers. The father is a member of the royal court, Mygdonia’s mother is also a member of the royal court, but Charisius’ mother is not a royal or Mygdonia would not be above him in wealth or in birth. She is royal lineage by blood, but presumably Charisius’ mother is either a concubine or bondservant and so her offspring are not considered to be royals. Because Charisius is married to Mygdonia, his wealth and status derive from his relationship with Mygdonia and not from his own doing. –Editor’s note
*9:46. Religious tradition in India, where holy men travel the country and receive food and water from villagers is well known. Here Charisius is saying that even as a wandering sadhu or mendicant, Thoma is not taking what he is being offered by those who seek to give him charity. - Editor’s note
9:47. And when Charisius had said this, Mygdonia was silent as a stone, but she prayed, asking when it should be daylight, if she might go to the apostle of Masih.
9:48. And he withdrew from her and went to dinner heavy in mind, for he had thought to sleep with her according to his desires. And when he was gone out, she bowed her knees and prayed, saying: Lord God and Master, merciful Father, Savior Masih, give me the strength to overcome the shamelessness of Charisius, and grant me to keep the holiness that You delight in, that in keeping pure I also may find eternal life. And when she had prayed she laid herself on her bed and veiled herself.
9:49. But Charisius having dined came upon her, and she cried out, saying: You have no more room by me: for my Lord Yeshu is greater than You, who is with me and rests in me. And he laughed and said: Well do you mock, saying this of that sorcerer, and well do you deride him, who said: You have no life with God unless you purify yourselves.
9:50. And when he had said this attempt to try and sleep with her, but she refused him and cried out bitterly and said: I call upon you, Lord Yeshu, do not forsake me! for with you I have made my refuge; I have learned that You are the One that seeks out all those veiled in ignorance and that You save all that are held in error. And now I entreat you whose report I have heard and believed, come to my help and save me from the shamelessness of Charisius, that his foulness may not get the upper hand of me.
9:51. And she tied his hands together and fled from him naked, and as she went forth she pulled down the curtain of the bed-chamber and wrapped it about her; and went to her nurse, and slept there with her.
9:52. But Charisius was in heaviness all night, and smote his face with his hands, and he was minded to go that very hour and tell the king concerning the violence that was done him, but he considered with himself, saying: If the great heaviness which is upon me compells me to go now to the king, who will bring me in to him? for I know that my abuse had overthrown me from my high looks and my vainglory and majesty, and has cast me down into this vileness and separated my sister Mygdonia from me.
9:53. Even If the king himself stood before the doors at this hour, I could not have gone out and answered him. But I will wait until dawn, and I know that whatever I ask of the king, he will *grant it me: and I will tell him of the madness of this stranger, how that it tyrannously casts down the great and illustrious into the depth. For it is not this that grieves me, that I am deprived of her companionship in bed, but that I am grieved for her, because her greatness of soul is humbled: being an honourable lady in whom none of her house ever found fault, she has fled away naked, running out of her own bedchamber, and I know do not know where she has gone; and it may be that she is gone mad by the means of that sorcerer, and in her madness she has gone forth into the market-place to seek him; for there is nothing that seems worthy of her affections now except him and the things that are spoken by him.
*9:53. The reason that King Mazdai takes Charisius’ counsel over all others in the court and will grant him anything he asks is because Charisius is his son. – Editor’s note
9:54. And so saving he began to lament and say: Woe to me, O my consort, and to you besides! for I am too quickly bereaved of you. Woe is me, my most dear one, for you excel all in my race: neither son nor daughter have I had of you that I might find rest in them; neither have you yet dwelt with me a full year, and an evil eye has caught you from me.
9:55. Would that the violence of death had taken you, and I should yet have reckoned myself among kings and nobles: but that I should suffer this at the hands of a stranger, and to think that his little more than a slave that has run away! To my ill fortune and the sorrow of my unhappy soul!
9:56. Let there be no impediment for me until I destroy him and avenge this night, and may I not be well-pleasing before King Mazdai if he will not avenge me by bringing me the head of this stranger; and I will also tell him of *Siphor the captain who hath been the occasion of this.
9:57. For by his means did the stranger appear here, and lodge at his house: and many there be that go in and come out whom he teaches a new doctrine; saying that none can live if he will not quit all his substance and become a renunciate like himself: and he strives to make many partakers with him.
9:58. And as Charisius thought on these things, the day dawned: and after the night he put on a mean habit, and shod himself, and went downcast and in heaviness to salute the king.
9:59. And when the king saw him he said: Why are you sorrowful, and why do you in such garb? I see that countenance has changed.
9:60. And Charisius said to the king: I have a new thing to tell you and a new desolation which Siphor has brought into India, even a certain Hebrew, a sorcerer, whom he has sitting in his house even now, and he does not depart from him: and many are there that go in to visit him: he teaches them of a new God, and lays on them new laws such as never yet were heard, saying: It is impossible for you to enter into that eternal life which I proclaim to you, unless you*rid yourselves of your wives, and likewise the wives of their husbands. And it chanced that my unlucky wife also went to him and became a hearer of his words, and she believed them, and in the night she forsook me and ran to the stranger. Please send for both Siphor and that sorcerer that is hiding within his home and I ask that you take them into custody, if you do not, I fear that in our nation will perish by means of them.
*9:56. This is the first reference in the text of the name of the Captain that Thoma had been helping. Editor’s note
*9:60. At this point, Charisius is lying to King Mazdai about the Apostle Thoma, exaggerating and distorting his teaching to say something that Thoma has not taught the people. He does not teach the villagers to break apart their marriages or to avoid sexual intercourse. Mygdonia was forbidden to sleep with Charisius because theirs is an incestuous relationship, not because God wishes all husbands and wives to avoid sex. But to incite the King to act on his behalf in the arraignment of Thoma. Charisius is bearing false witness against the apostle Thoma.– Editor’s note
9:61. And when Mazda heard this he said to him: Do not be grieved nor heavy, for I will send for him and avenge you, and you shall have your wife again, and the others that cannot, I will avenge.
9:62. And the king went forth and sat on the judgment seat, and when he was set he commanded Siphor the captain to be called. They went therefore to his house and found him sitting at the right hand of the apostle and Mygdonia at his feet, hearkening to him with all the multitude.
9:63. And they that were sent from the king said to Siphor: Are you just going to sit there, listening to vain words? King Mazdai in his wrath thinks to destroy you because of this sorcerer and deceiver whom you have brought into your own home!
9:64. And Siphor hearing this news was cast down, not because of the king's threat against him, but for the apostle, because the king was disposed negatively toward him. And he said to the apostle: I am grieved concerning you: for I told you at the first that that woman is the wife of Charisius the king's friend and kinsman, and he will not suffer her to perform what she has promised, and all that he asks of the king he grants him.
9:65. But the apostle said to Siphor: Fear nothing, but believe in Yeshu that pleads for us all, for to his refuge are we gathered together. And Siphor, hearing that, put his garment about him and went to King Mazdai,
9:66. And the apostle inquired of Mygdonia: What was the cause that your husband was angry with you and devised this against us? And she said: Because I would not give myself up to his corruption: for he desired last night to subdue me and subject me to his passion which he serves: and he to whom I have committed my soul delivered me out of his hands; and I fled away from him naked, and slept with my nurse: but that which befell him I do not know, I feel that this is his doing.
9:67. The apostle said: These things will not hurt us; but believe in Yeshu, and he shall overthrow the wrath of Charisius and his madness and his impulse; and He shall be a companion to you, and He shall guide you into His kingdom, and shall bring you to eternal life giving you that confidence which does not pass away or change.
9:68. Now Siphor stood before the king, and he inquired of him: Who is that sorcerer and where does he come from? What is this person lurking in your home, teaching to all who visit?
9:69. And Siphor answered the king: You are not ignorant, O king, regarding the trouble and grief I, with my friends had concerning my wife, whom you know and many others remember, and concerning my daughter, whom I value more than all my possessions, what a time and trial I suffered; For I had become a laughing-stock and a curse in all our country.
9:70. And I heard the report of this man and went to him and entreated him, and took him and brought him hither.
9:71. And as I came by the way I saw wonderful and amazing things: and here also many did hear the wild ass and concerning that devil whom he drove out, and healed my wife and daughter, and now they are whole; and he asked no reward but required faith and holiness, that men should become partakers with him in that which he does: and this he teaches: To worship and fear one God, the ruler of all things, and Yeshu Masih his Son, that they may have eternal life.
9:72. And the only thing he eats is bread and salt, and the only thing he drinks is water from evening to evening, and he makes many prayers; and whatever he asks of his God, he gives him.
9:73. And he teaches that this God is holy and mighty, and that Masih is living and makes alive, wherefore also he charges them that are there present to come to him in holiness and purity and love and faith.
9:74. And when King Mazdai heard these things of Siphor he sent many soldiers to the house of Siphor the captain, to bring Thoma the apostle and all that were found there.
9:75. And they that were sent entered in and found him teaching much people; and Mygdonia sat at his feet.
9:76. And when they beheld the great multitude that were about him, they feared, and departed to their king and said: We dared not say anything to him, for there was a great multitude about him, and Mygdonia was sitting at his feet & she was listening to the things that were spoken by him.
9:77. And when King Mazdai and Charisius heard these things, Charisius leaped out from before the king and drew much people with him and said: I will bring him, O king, and Mygdonia whose understanding he has taken away.
9:78. And he came to the house of Siphor the captain, greatly disturbed, and found Thoma teaching: but Mygdonia he did not find, for she had withdrawn herself to her house, having learnt that it had been told to her husband that she was there.
9:79. And Charisius said to the apostle: Up, you wicked one and destroyer and enemy of my house: for your sorcery cannot harm me, for I will visit your sorcery on your head.
9:80. And when he so said, the apostle looked upon him and said to him: Your threats shall return upon you, for you will not harm me in the slightest: for greater than you and your king and all your army is the Lord Yeshu Masih in whom I have my trust.
9:81. And Charisius took a turban from one of his slaves and cast it about the neck of the apostle, saying: Drag him and bring him away; let me see if his God is able to deliver him out of my hands.
9:82. And they dragged by force and led him away to King Mazdai. And the apostle stood before the king, and the king said to him: Tell me who you are and by what power you do these things. But the apostle kept silence.
9:83. And the king commanded his officers that he should be scourged with a hundred and twenty-eight blows, and to be bound, and be cast into the prison; and they bound him and led him away.
9:84. And the king and Charisius considered how they should put him to death, for the multitude worshipped him as God.
9:85. And they had it in mind to say: The stranger hath reviled the king and is a deceiver.
9:86. But the apostle went to the prison rejoicing and exulting, and said: I praise you, Yeshu, for You have not only made me worthy of faith in You, but also to endure much for Your sake. I give you thanks therefore, Lord, that You have taken thought for me and given me patience: I thank you Lord, that for Your sake I am called a sorcerer and a wizard. Receive me therefore with the blessing of the poor, and of the rest of the weary, and of the blessings of those whom men hate and persecute and revile, and speak evil words of them. For lo, for Your sake I am hated: lo for Your sake I am cut off from the many, and for Your sake they call me such a one as I am not.
9:87. And as he prayed, all the prisoners looked on him, and besought him to pray on their behalf.
9:88. And Charisius went home, glad, thinking that his wife would be with him, and that she had become such as she was before, even before she heard the divine word and believed on Yeshu.
9:89. And he went, and found her with her hair dishevelled and her clothes rent, and when he saw it he said to her: My lady Mygdonia, why does this cruel disease keep hold on you? and why have you done this to yourself? I am your husband from your virginity, and both the gods and the law grant me to have rule over you, what is this great madness of yours, that you have become a derision in all our nation? but put away the care that comes of that sorcerer; and I will remove his face from among us, so that you will not see him again.
9:90. But Mygdonia when she heard that she gave herself up to grief, groaning and lamenting and Charisius said again; Have I then so much wronged the gods that they have afflicted me with such a disease? What is my great offence that they have cast me into such humiliation? I beseech you. Mvgdonia disturb my soul no more with the pitiful sight of you and your mean appearance and do not afflict my heart with care for you, I am Charisius thine husband, whom all the nation honours and fears. What must I do? I do not know where to turn. What am I to think? Shall I keep silence and endure? Yet who can be patient when men take his treasure? And who can endure to lose your sweet ways? And what is there for me? The fragrance of you is in my nostrils, and your bright face is fixed in my eyes.
9:91. They are taking away my soul, and the fair body which I rejoiced to see they are destroying, and that sharpness of your eyes they are blinding and cutting off my right hand: my joy is turning to grief and my life to death, and the light of it is being dyed with darkness.
9:92. Let no man of you, my kindred henceforth look on me; from you no help has come to me, nor will I hereafter worship the gods of the east that have enwrapped me in such calamities, nor pray to them any more nor sacrifice to them, for I am bereaved of my spouse.
9:93. And what else should I ask of them? for all my glory is taken away, yet am I a prince and next to the king in power; but Mygdonia has set me at nought, and taken away all these things
9:94. And while Charisius spoke thus with tears in his eyes, Mygdonia sat silent and looking upon the ground; and again he came to her and said: My lady Mygdonia, most desired of me, remember that out of all the women that are in India I chose and took you as the most beautiful, though I might have joined to myself in marriage many more beautiful: but yet I lie, Mygdonia, for by the gods it would not have been possible to find another like you in the land of India; but woe is me always, for you will not even answer me a word: but if you will, revile me, so that I may only be proved a word from you.
9:95. Look at me, for I am more comely than that sorcerer: but you are my wealth and honour: and all men know that there is none like me: and you are my race and kindred; and lo, he takes you away from me.
9:96. And when Charisius had so said, Mygdonia said to him: He whom I love is better than you and your substance: for your substance is of earth and returns to the earth; but he whom I love is of heaven and will take me with him to heaven. Your wealth shall pass away, and your beauty shall vanish, and your robes, and your many works: and you shall be alone, naked, with your transgressions.
9:97. Do not call to my remembrance your deeds, for I pray the Lord that I may forget you, so as to remember no more those former pleasures and the custom of the body; which shall pass away as a shadow, but Yeshu only endures for ever, and the souls which hope in him. Yeshu himself shall quit me of the shameful deeds which I did with you.
9:98. And when Charisius heard this, it vexed him in his soul, he said to her: Consider it by yourself all this night: and if you will be with me such as you were before, and not see that sorcerer, I will do all according to your mind, and if you will remove your affection from him I will take him out of the prison and let him go and remove into another country, and I will not vex you, for I know that you make much of the stranger.
9:99. You are not the first woman to be afflicted in this manner, for many other women have also been deceived just as you have; and they have awakened sober and returned to themselves: do not disregard my words and cause me to be a reproach among the people of Bharat.
9:100. And Charisius having thus spoken went to sleep: but she took 20 zuze, and went secretly to give them to the jailers that she might enter into the prison to see the apostle. But on the way Judas Thoma came and met her, and she saw him and she was afraid, for she thought that he was one of the rulers: for a great light went before him.
9:101. And she said to herself as she fled: I have lost you, O my unhappy soul! for you will see Yehuda the apostle again among the living , and you have still not received the holy seal, yet.
9:102. And she fled and ran into a narrow place and there hid herself, saying: I would rather choose to be killed by the poorer, whom it is possible to persuade, than to fall into the hand of this mighty ruler, who will despise gifts.
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