The length of this book is given in the Stichometry of Nicephorus as 2,500 lines: the same number as for St. Matthew's Gospel. We have large portions of it in the original, and a Latin version (purged, it is important to note, of all traces of unorthodoxy) of some lost episodes, besides a few scattered fragments. These will be fitted together in what seems the most probable order.
The best edition of the Greek remains is in Bonnet, Acta Apost. Apocr. 11.1, 1898: the Latin is in Book V of the Historia Apostolica of Abdias (Fabricius, Cod. Apoer. N. T.: there is no modern edition).
The beginning of the book is lost. It probably related in some form a trial, and banishment of John to Patmos. A distinctly late Greek text printed by Bonnet (in two forms) as cc. 1-17 of his work tells how Domitian, on his accession, persecuted the Jews. They accused the Christians in a letter to him: he accordingly persecuted the Christians. He heard of John's teaching in Ephesus and sent for him: his ascetic habits on the voyage impressed his captors. He was brought before Domitian, and made to drink poison, which did not hurt him: the dregs of it killed a criminal on whom it was tried: and John revived him; he also raised a girl who was slain by an unclean spirit. Domitian, who was much impressed, banished him to Patmos. Nerva recalled him. The second text tells how he escaped shipwreck on leaving Patmos, swimming on a cork; landed at Miletus, where a chapel was built in his honour, and went to Ephesus. All this is late: but an old story, known to Tertullian and to other Latin writers, but to no Greek, said that either Domitian at Rome or the Proconsul at Ephesus cast John into a caldron of boiling oil which did him no hurt. The scene of this was eventually fixed at the Latin Gate in Rome (hence the St. John Port Latin of our calendar, May 6th). We have no detailed account of this, but it is conjectured to have been told in the early part of the Leucian Acts. If so, it is odd that no Greek writer mentions it.
Leaving for the time certain small fragments which may perhaps have preceded the extant episodes, I proceed to the first long episode (Bonnet, c. 18).
[John is going from Miletus to Ephesus.)
Text
18 Now John was hastening to Ephesus, moved thereto by a vision. Damonicus therefore, and Aristodemus his kinsman, and a certain very rich man Cleobius, and the wife of Marcellus, hardly prevailed to keep him for one day in Miletus, reposing themselves with him. And when very early in the morning they had set forth, and already about four miles of the journey were accomplished, a voice came from heaven in the hearing of all of us, saying: John, thou art about to give glory to thy Lord in Ephesus, whereof thou shalt know, thou and all the brethren that are with thee, and certain of them that are there, which shall believe by thy means. John therefore pondered, rejoicing in himself, what it should be that should befall (meet) him at Ephesus, and said: Lord, behold I go according to thy will: let that be done which thou desirest.
19 And as we drew near to the city, Lycomedes the praetor of the Ephesians, a man of large substance, met us, and falling at John's feet besought him, saying: Is thy name John? the God whom thou preachest hath sent thee to do good unto my wife, who hath been smitten with palsy now these seven days and lieth incurable. But glorify thou thy God by healing her, and have compassion on us. For as I was considering with myself what resolve to take in this matter, one stood by me and said: Lycomedes, cease from this thought which warreth against thee, for it is evil (hard): submit not thyself unto it. For I have compassion upon mine handmaid Cleopatra, and have sent from Miletus a man named John who shall raise her up and restore her to thee whole. Tarry not, therefore, thou servant of the God who hath manifested himself unto me, but hasten unto my wife who hath no more than breath. And straightway John went from the gate, with the brethren that were with him and Lycomedes, unto his house. But Cleobius said to his young men: Go ye to my kinsman Callippus and receive of him comfortable entertainment -for I am come hither with his son- that we may find all things decent.
20 Now when Lycomedes came with John into the house wherein his wife lay, he caught
hold again of his feet and said: See, lord, the withering of the beauty, see the youth, see the
renowned flower of my poor wife, whereat all Ephesus was wont to marvel: wretched me, I have
suffered envy, I have been humbled, the eye of mine enemies hath smitten me: I have never
wronged any, though I might have injured many, for I looked before to this very thing, and took
care, lest I should see any evil or any such ill fortune as this. What profit, then, hath Cleopatra
from my anxiety? what have I gained by being known for a pious man until this day? nay, I suffer
more than the impious, in that I see thee, Cleopatra, lying in such plight. The sun in his course
shall no more see me conversing with thee: I will go before thee, Cleopatra, and rid myself of life:
I will not spare mine own safety though it be yet young. I will defend myself before Justice, that I
have rightly deserted, for I may indict her as judging unrighteously. I will be avenged on her
when I come before her as a ghost
21 And with yet more words Lycomedes addressing Cleopatra came near to the bed and
cried aloud and lamented: but John pulled him away, and said: Cease from these lamentations
and from thine unfitting words: thou must not disobey him that (?) appeared unto thee: for know
that thou shalt receive thy consort again. Stand, therefore, with us that have come hither on her
account and pray to the God whom thou sawest manifesting himself unto thee in dreams. What,
then, is it, Lycomedes? Awake, thou also, and open thy soul. Cast off the heavy sleep from thee:
beseech the Lord, entreat him for thy wife, and he will raise her up. But he fell upon the floor and
lamented, fainting. [It is evident from what follows that Lycomedes died: but the text does not
say so; some words may have fallen out.]
John therefore said with tears: Alas for the fresh (new) betraying of my vision! for the
new temptation that is prepared for me! for the new device of him that contriveth against me!
the voice from heaven that was borne unto me in the way, hath it devised this for me? was it this
that it foreshowed me should come to pass here, betraying me to this great multitude of the
citizens because of Lycomedes? the man lieth without breath, and I know well that they will not
suffer me to go out of the house alive. Why tarriest thou, Lord (or, what wilt thou do)? why hast
thou shut off from us thy good promise? Do not, I beseech thee, Lord, do not give him cause to
exult who rejoiceth in the suffering of others; give him not cause to dance who alway derideth us;
but let thy holy name and thy mercy make haste. Raise up these two dead whose death is against
me.
22 And even as John thus cried out, the city of the Ephesians ran together to the house of
Lycomedes, hearing that he was dead. And John, beholding the great multitude that was come,
said unto the Lord: Now is the time of refreshment and of confidence toward thee, O Christ; now
is the time for us who are sick to have the help that is of thee, O physician who healest freely;
keep thou mine entering in hither safe from derision. I beseech thee, Jesu, succour this great
multitude that it may come to thee who art Lord of all things: behold the affliction, behold them
that lie here. Do thou prepare, even from them that are assembled for that end, holy vessels for
thy service, when they behold thy gift. For thyself hast said, O Christ, 'Ask, and it shall be given
you'. We ask therefore of thee, O king, not gold, not silver, not substance, not possessions, nor
aught of what is on earth and perisheth, but two souls, by whom thou shalt convert them that are
here unto thy way, unto thy teaching, unto thy liberty (confidence), unto thy most excellent (or
unfailing) promise: for when they perceive thy power in that those that have died are raised, they
will be saved, some of them. Do thou thyself, therefore, give them hope in thee: and so go I unto
Cleopatra and say: Arise in the name of Jesus Christ.
23 And he came to her and touched her face and said: Cleopatra, He saith, whom every
ruler feareth, and every creature and every power, the abyss and all darkness, and unsmiling death,
and the height of heaven, and the circles of hell [and the resurrection of the dead, and the sight of
the blind], and the whole power of the prince of this world, and the pride of the ruler: Arise, and
be not an occasion unto many that desire not to believe, or an affliction unto souls that are able to
hope and to be saved. And Cleopatra straightway cried with a loud voice: I arise, master: save
thou thine handmaid.
Now when she had arisen
24 And Cleopatra going with John into her bedchamber, and seeing Lycomedes dead for
her sake, had no power to speak (suffered in her voice), and ground her teeth and bit her tongue,
and closed her eyes, raining down tears: and with calmness gave heed to the apostle. But John
had compassion on Cleopatra when he saw that she neither raged nor was beside herself, and
called upon the perfect and condescending mercy, saying: Lord Jesus Christ, thou seest the
pressure of sorrow, thou seest the need; thou seest Cleopatra shrieking her soul out in silence, for
she constraineth within her the frenzy that cannot be borne; and I know that for Lycomedes' sake
she also will die upon his body. And she said quietly to John: That have I in mind, master, and
nought else.
And the apostle went to the couch whereon Lycomedes lay, and taking Cleopatra's hand
he said: Cleopatra, because of the multitude that is present, and thy kinsfolk that have come in,
with strong crying, say thou to thine husband: Arise and glorify the name of God, for he giveth
back the dead to the dead. And she went to her husband and said to him according as she was
taught, and forthwith raised him up. And he, when he arose, fell on the floor and kissed John's
feet, but he raised him, saying: O man, kiss not my feet but the feet of God by whose power ye
are both arisen.
25 But Lycomedes said to John: I entreat and adjure thee by the God in whose name thou
hast raised us, to abide with us, together with all them that are with thee. Likewise Cleopatra also
caught his feet and said the same. And John said to them: For tomorrow I will be with you. And
they said to him again: We shall have no hope in thy God, but shall have been raised to no
purpose, if thou abide not with us. And Cleobius with Aristodemus and Damonicus were touched
in the soul and said to John: Let us abide with them, that they continue without offence towards
the Lord. So he continued there with the brethren.
26 There came together therefore a gathering of a great multitude on John's account; and
as he discoursed to them that were there, Lycomedes, who had a friend who was a skilful painter,
went hastily to him and said to him: You see me in a great hurry to come to you: come quickly
to my house and paint the man whom I show you without his knowing it. And the painter, giving
some one the necessary implements and colours, said to Lycomedes: Show him to me, and for
the rest have no anxiety. And Lycomedes pointed out John to the painter, and brought him near
him, and shut him up in a room from which the apostle of Christ could be seen. And Lycomedes
was with the blessed man, feasting on the faith and the knowledge of our God, and rejoiced yet
more in the thought that he should possess him in a portrait.
27 The painter, then, on the first day made an outline of him and went away. And on the
next he painted him in with his colours, and so delivered the portrait to Lycomedes to his great
joy. And lie took it and set it up in his own bedehamber and hung it with garlands: so that later
John, when he perceived it, said to him: My beloved child, what is it that thou always doest when
thou comest in from the bath into thy bedchamber alone? do not I pray with thee and the rest of
the brethren? or is there something thou art hiding from us? And as he said this and talked
jestingly with him, he went into the bedchamber, and saw the portrait of an old man crowned with
garlands, and lamps and altars set before it. And he called him and said: Lycomedes, what
meanest thou by this matter of the portrait? can it be one of thy gods that is painted here? for I see
that thou art still living in heathen fashion. And Lycomedes answered him: My only God is he
who raised me up from death with my wife: but if, next to that God, it be right that the men who
have benefited us should be called gods -it is thou, father, whom I have had painted in that
portrait, whom I crown and love and reverence as having become my good guide.
28 And John who had never at any time seen his own face said to him: Thou mockest me,
child: am I like that in form,
29 But do thou become for me a good painter, Lycomedes. Thou hast colours which he
giveth thee through me, who painteth all of us for himself, even Jesus, who knoweth the shapes
and appearances and postures and dispositions and types of our souls. And the colours wherewith
I bid thee paint are these: faith in God, knowledge, godly fear, friendship, communion, meekness,
kindness, brotherly love, purity, simplicity, tranquillity, fearlessness, griefiessness, sobriety, and
the whole band of colours that painteth the likeness of thy soul, and even now raiseth up thy
members that were cast down, and levelleth them that were lifted up, and tendeth thy bruises, and
healeth thy wounds, and ordereth thine hair that was disarranged, and washeth thy face, and
chasteneth thine eyes, and purgeth thy bowels, and emptieth thy belly, and cutteth off that which
is beneath it; and in a word, when the whole company and mingling of such colours is come
together, into thy soul, it shall present it to our Lord Jesus Christ undaunted, whole
(unsmoothed), and firm of shape. But this that thou hast now done is childish and imperfect:
thou hast drawn a dead likeness of the dead.
There need be no portion of text lost at this point: but possibly some few sentences have
been omitted. The transition is abrupt and the new episode has not, as elsewhere, a title of its
own.
30 And he commanded Verus (Berus), the brother that ministered to him, to gather the
aged women that were in all Ephesus, and made ready, he and Cleopatra and Lycomedes, all
things for the care of them. Verus, then, came to John, saying: Of the aged women that are here
over threescore years old I have found four only sound in body, and of the rest some . . . . (a word
gone) and some palsied and others sick. And when he heard that, John kept silence for a long
time, and rubbed his face and said: O the slackness (weakness) of them that dwell in Ephesus! O
the state of dissolution, and the weakness toward God! O devil, that hast so long mocked the
faithful in Ephesus! Jesus, who giveth me grace and the gift to have my confidence in him, saith
to me in silence: Send after the old women that are sick and come (be) with them into the theatre,
and through me heal them: for there are some of them that will come unto this spectacle whom
by these healings I will convert and make them useful for some end.
31 Now when all the multitude was come together to Lycomedes, he dismissed them on
John's behalf, saying: Tomorrow come ye to the theatre, as many as desire to see the power of
God. And the multitude, on the morrow, while it was yet night, came to the theatre: so that the
proconsul also heard of it and hasted and took his sent with all the people. And a certain praetor,
Andromeus, who was the first of the Ephesians at that time, put it about that John had promised
things impossible and incredible: But if, said he, he is able to do any such thing as I hear, let him
come into the public theatre, when it is open, naked, and holding nothing in his hands, neither let
him name that magical name which I have heard him utter.
32 John therefore, having heard this and being moved by. these words, commanded the
aged women to be brought into the theatre: and when they were all brought into the midst, some
of them upon beds and others lying in a deep sleep, and all the city had run together, and a great
silence was made, John opened his mouth and began to say:
33 Ye men of Ephesus, learn first of all wherefore I am visiting in your city, or what is this
great confidence which I have towards you, so that it may become manifest to this general
assembly and to all of you (or, so that I manifest myself to). I have been sent, then, upon a
mission which is not of man's ordering, and not upon any vain journey; neither am I a merchant
that make bargains or exchanges; but Jesus Christ whom I preach, being compassionate and kind,
desireth by my means to convert all of you who are held in unbelief and sold unto evil lusts, and to
deliver you from error; and by his power will I confound even the unbelief of your praetor, by
raising up them that lie before you, whom ye all behold, in what plight and in what sicknesses they
are. And to do this (to confound Andronicus) is not possible for me if they perish: therefore shall
they be healed.
34 But this first I have desired to sow in your ears, even that ye should take care for your
souls -on which account I am come unto you- and not expect that this time will be for ever, for it
is but a moment, and not lay up treasures upon the earth where all things do fade. Neither think
that when ye have gotten children ye can rest upon them (?), and try not for their sakes to defraud
and overreach. Neither, ye poor, be vexed if ye have not wherewith to minister unto pleasures;
for men of substance when they are diseased call you happy. Neither, ye rich, rejoice that ye have
much money, for by possessing these things ye provide for yourselves grief that ye cannot be rid
of when ye lose them; and besides, while it is with you, ye are afraid lest some one attack you on
account of it.
35 Thou also that art puffed up because of the shapeliness of thy body, and art of an high
look, shalt see the end of the promise thereof in the grave; and thou that rejoicest in adultery,
know that both law and nature avenge it upon thee, and before these, conscience; and thou,
adulteress, that art an adversary of the law, knowest not whither thou shalt come in the end. And
thou that sharest not with the needy, but hast monies laid up, when thou departest out of this
body and hast need of some mercy when thou burnest in fire, shalt have none to pity thee; and
thou the wrathful and passionate, know that thy conversation is like the brute beasts; and thou,
drunkard and quarreller, learn that thou losest thy senses by being enslaved to a shameful and
dirty desire.
36 Thou that rejoicest in gold and delightest thyself with ivory and jewels, when night
falleth, canst thou behold what thou lovest? thou that art vanquished by soft raiment, and then
leavest life, will those things profit thee in the place whither thou goest? And let the murderer
know that the condign punishment is laid up for him twofold after his departure hence. Likewise
also thou poisoner, sorcerer, robber, defrauder, sodomite, thief, and as many as are of that band,
ye shall come at last, as your works do lead you, unto unquenchable fire, and utter darkness, and
the pit of punishment, and eternal threatenings. Wherefore, ye men of Ephesus, turn yourselves,
knowing this also, that kings, rulers, tyrants, boasters, and they that have conquered in wars,
stripped of all things when they depart hence, do suffer pain, lodged in eternal misery.
37 And having thus said, John by the power of God healed all the diseases.
This sentence must be an abridgement of a much longer narration. The manuscript
indicates no break at this point: but we must suppose a not inconsiderable loss of text. For one
thing, Andronicus, who is here an unbeliever, appears as a convert in the next few lines. Now he
is, as we shall see later, the husband of an eminent believer, Drusiana; and his and her conversion
will have been told at some length; and I do not doubt that among other things there was a
discourse of John persuading them to live in continence.
37 (continued.) Now the brethren from Miletus said unto John: We have continued a
long time at Ephesus; if it seem good to thee, let us go also to Smyrna; for we hear already that
the mighty works of God have reached it also. And Andronicus said to them: Whensoever the
teacher willeth, then let us go. But John said: Let us first go unto the temple of Artemis, for
perchance there also, if we show ourselves, the servants of the Lord will be found.
38 After two days, then, was the birthday of the idol temple. John therefore, when all
were clad in white, alone put on black raiment and went up into the temple. And they took him
and essayed to kill him. But John said: Ye are mad to set upon me, a man that is the servant of
the only God. And he gat him up upon an high pedestal and said unto them:
39 Ye run hazard, men of Ephesus, of being like in character to the sea: every river that
floweth in and every spring that runneth down, and the rains, and waves that press upon each
other, and torrents full of rocks are made salt together by the bitter telementt (MS. promise!) that
is therein. So ye also remaining unchanged unto this day toward true godliness are become
corrupted by your ancient rites of worship. How many wonders and healings of diseases have ye
seen wrought through me? And yet are ye blinded in your hearts and cannot recover sight. What
is it, then, O men of Ephesus? I have adventured now and come up even into this your idol
temple. I will convict you of being most godless, and dead from the understanding of mankind.
Behold, I stand here: ye all say that ye have a goddess, even Artemis: pray then unto her that I
alone may die; or else I only, if ye are not able to do this, will call upon mine own god, and for
your unbelief I will cause every one of you to die.
40 But they who had beforetime made trial of him and had seen dead men raised up, cried
out: Slay us not so, we beseech thee, John. We know that thou canst do it. And John said to
them: If then ye desire not to die, let that which ye worship be confounded, and wherefore it is
confounded, that ye also may depart from your ancient error. For now is it time that either ye be
converted by my God, or I myself die by your goddess; for I will pray in your presence and
entreat my God that mercy be shown unto you.
41 And having so said he prayed thus: O God that art God above all that are called gods,
that until this day hast been set at nought in the city of the Ephesians; that didst put into my mind
to come into this place, whereof I never thought; that dost convict every manner of worship by
turning men unto thee; at whose name every idol fleeth and every evil spirit and every unclean
power; now also by the flight of the evil spirit here at thy name, even of him that deceiveth this
great multitude, show thou thy mercy in this place, for they have been made to err.
42 And as John spake these things, immediately the altar of Artemis was parted into many
pieces, and all the things that were dedicated in the temple fell, and [MS. that which seemed good
to him] was rent asunder, and likewise of the images of the gods more than seven. And the half of
the temple fell down, so that the priest was slain at one blow by the falling of the (?roof, ? beam).
The multitude of the Ephesians therefore cried out: One is the God of John, one is the God that
hath pity on us, for thou only art God: now are we turned to thee, beholding thy marvellous
works! have mercy on us, O God, according to thy will, and save us from our great error! And
some of them, lying on their faces, made supplication, and some kneeled and besought, and some
rent their clothes and wept, and others tried to escape.
43 But John spread forth his hands, and being uplifted in soul, said unto the Lord: Glory
be to thee, my Jesus, the only God of truth, for that thou dost gain (receive) thy servants by divers
devices. And having so said, he said to the people: Rise up from the floor, ye men of Ephesus,
and pray to my God, and recognize the invisible power that cometh to manifestation, and the
wonderful works which are wrought before your eyes. Artemis ought to have succoured herself:
her servant ought to have been helped of her and not to have died. Where is the power of the evil
spirit? where are her sacrifices? where her birthdays? where her festivals? where are the garlands?
where is all that sorcery and the poisoning (witchcraft) that is sister thereto?
44 But the people rising up from off the floor went hastily and cast down the rest of the
idol temple, crying: The God of John only do we know, and him hereafter do we worship, since
he hath had mercy upon us! And as John came down from thence, much people took hold of him,
saying: Help us, O John! Assist us that do perish in vain! Thou seest our purpose: thou seest
the multitude following thee and hanging upon thee in hope toward thy God. We have seen the
way wherein we went astray when we lost him: we have seen our gods that were set up in vain:
we have seen the great and shameful derision that is come to them: but suffer us, we pray thee, to
come unto thine house and to be succoured without hindrance. Receive us that are in
bewilderment.
45 And John said to them: Men (of Ephesus), believe that for your sakes I have continued
in Ephesus, and have put off my journey unto Smyrna and to the rest of the cities, that there also
the servants of Christ may turn to him. But since I am not yet perfectly assured concerning you, I
have continued praying to my God and beseeching him that I should then depart from Ephesus
when I have confirmed you in the faith: and whereas I see that this is come to pass and yet more
is being fulfilled, I will not leave you until I have weaned you like children from the nurse's milk,
and have set you upon a firm rock.
46 John therefore continued with them, receiving them in the house of Andromeus. And
one of them that were gathered laid down the dead body of the priest of Artemis before the door
[of the temple], for he was his kinsman, and came in quickly with the rest, saying nothing of it.
John, therefore, after the discourse to the brethren, and the prayer and the thanksgiving
(eucharist) and the laying of hands upon every one of the congregation, said by the spirit: There
is one here who moved by faith in God hath laid down the priest of Artemis before the gate and is
come in, and in the yearning of his soul, taking care first for himself, hath thought thus in himself:
It is better for me to take thought for the living than for my kinsman that is dead: for I know that
if I turn to the Lord and save mine own soul, John will not deny to raise up the dead also. And
John arising from his place went to that into which that kinsman of the priest who had so thought
was entered, and took him by the hand and said: Hadst thou this thought when thou camest unto
me, my child? And he, taken with trembling and affright, said: Yes, lord, and cast himself at his
feet. And John said: Our Lord is Jesus Christ, who will show his power in thy dead kinsman by
raising him up.
47 And he made the young man rise, and took his hand and said: It is no great matter for
a man that is master of great mysteries to continue wearying himself over small things: or what
great thing is it to rid men of diseases of the body? And yet holding the young man by the hand he
said: I say unto thee, child, go and raise the dead thyself, saying nothing but this only: John the
servant of God saith to thee, Arise. And the young man went to his kinsman and said this only
-and much people was with him- and entered in unto John, bringing him alive. And John, when he
saw him that was raised, said: Now that thou art raised, thou dost not truly live, neither art
partaker or heir of the true life: wilt thou belong unto him by whose name and power thou wast
raised? And now believe, and thou shall live unto all ages. And he forthwith believed upon the
Lord Jesus and thereafter clave unto John.
[Another manuscript (Q. Paris Gr. 1468, of the eleventh century) has another form of
this story. John destroys the temple of Artemis, and then 'we' go to Smyrna and all the idols are
broken: Bucolus, Polycarp, and Andronicus are left to preside over the district. There were there
two priests of Artemis, brothers, and one died. The raising is told much as in the older text, but
more shortly.
'We' remained four years in the region, which was wholly converted, and then returned to
Ephesus.]
48 Now on the next day John, having seen in a dream that he must walk three miles
outside the gates, neglected it not, but rose up early and set out upon the way, together with the
brethren.
And a certain countryman who was admonished by his father not to take to himself the
wife of a fellow labourer of his who threatened to kill him -this young man would not endure the
admonition of his father, but kicked him and left him without speech (sc. dead). And John,
seeing what had befallen, said unto the Lord: Lord, was it on this account that thou didst bid me
come out hither to-day?
49 But the young man, beholding the violence (sharpness) of death, and looking to be
taken, drew out the sickle that was in his girdle and started to run to his own abode; and John met
him and said: Stand still, thou most shameless devil, and tell me whither thou runnest bearing a
sickle that thirsteth for blood. And the young man was troubled and cast the iron on the ground,
and said to him: I have done a wretched and barbarous deed and I know it, and so I determined
to do an evil yet worse and more cruel, even to die myself at once. For because my father was
alway curbing me to sobriety, that I should live without adultery, and chastely, I could not endure
him to reprove me, and I kicked him and slew him, and when I saw what was done, I was hasting
to the woman for whose sake I became my father's murderer, with intent to kill her and her
husband, and myself last of all: for I could not bear to be seen of the husband of the woman, and
undergo the judgement of death.
50 And John said to him: That I may not by going away and leaving you in danger give
place to him that desireth to laugh and sport with thee, come thou with me and show me thy
father, where he lieth. And if I raise him up for thee, wilt thou hereafter abstain from the woman
that is become a snare to thee. And the young man said: If thou raisest up my father himself for
me alive, and if I see him whole and continuing in life, I will hereafter abstain from her.
51 And while he was speaking, they came to the place where the old man lay dead, and
many passers-by were standing near thereto. And John said to the youth: Thou wretched man,
didst thou not spare even the old age of thy father? And he, weeping and tearing his hair, said that
he repented thereof; and John the servant of the Lord said: Thou didst show me I was to set forth
for this place, thou knewest that this would come to pass, from whom nothing can be hid of things
done in life, that givest me power to work every cure and healing by thy will: now also give me
this old man alive, for thou seest that his murderer is become his own judge: and spare him, thou
only Lord, that spared not his father (because he) counselled him for the best.
52 And with these words he came near to the old man and said: My Lord will not be
weak to spread out his kind pity and his condescending mercy even unto thee: rise up therefore
and give glory to God for the work that is come to pass at this moment. And the old man said: I
arise, Lord. And he rose and sat up and said: I was released from a terrible life and had to bear
the insults of my son, dreadful and many, and his want of natural affection, and to what end hast
thou called me back, O man of the living God? (And John answered him: If) thou art raised only
for the same end, it were better for thee to die; but raise thyself unto better things. And he took
him and led him into the city, preaching unto him the grace of God, so that before he entered the
gate the old man believed.
53 But the young man, when he beheld the unlooked-for raising of his father, and the
saving of himself, took a sickle and mutilated himself, and ran to the house wherein he had his
adulteress, and reproached her, saying: For thy sake I became the murderer of my father and of
you two and of myself: there thou hast that which is alike guilty of all. For on me God hath had
mercy, that I should know his power.
54 And he came back and told John in presence of the brethren what he had done. But
John said to him: He that put it into thine heart, young man, to kill thy father and become the
adulterer of another man's wife, the same made thee think it a right deed to take away also the
unruly members. But thou shouldest have done away, not with the place of sin, but the thought
which through those members showed itself harmful: for it is not the instruments that are
injurious, but the unseen springs by which every shameful emotion is stirred and cometh to light.
Repent therefore, my child, of this fault, and having learnt the wiles of Satan thou shalt have God
to help thee in all the necessities of thy soul. And the young man kept silence and attended,
having repented of his former sins, that he should obtain pardon from the goodness of God: and
he did not separate from John.
55 When, then, these things had been done by him in the city of the Ephesians, they of
Smyrna sent unto him saying: We hear that the God whom thou preachest is not envious, and
hath charged thee not to show partiality by abiding in one place. Since, then, thou art a preacher
of such a God, come unto Smyrna and unto the other cities, that we may come to know thy God,
and having known him may have our hope in him.
[Q has the above story also, and continues with an incident which is also quoted in a
different form (and not as from these Acts) by John Cassian. Q has it thus:
Now one day as John was seated, a partridge flew by and came and played in the dust
before him; and John looked on it and wondered. And a certain priest came, who was one of his
hearers, and came to John and saw the partridge playing in the dust before him, and was offended
in himself and said: Can such and so great a man take pleasure in a partridge playing in the dust?
But John perceiving in the spirit the thought of him, said to him: It were better for thee also, my
child, to look at a partridge playing in the dust and not to defile thyself with shameful and profane
practices: for he who awaiteth the conversion and repentance of all men hath brought thee here
on this account: for I have no need of a partridge playing in the dust. For the partridge is thine
own soul.
Then the elder, hearing this and seeing that he was not bidden, but that the apostle of
Christ had told him all that was in his heart, fell on his face on the earth and cried aloud, saying:
Now know I that God dwelleth in thee, O blessed John! for he that tempteth thee tempteth him
that cannot be tempted. And he entreated him to pray for him. And he instructed him and
delivered him the rules (canons) and let him go to his house, glorifying God that is over all.
Cassian, Collation XXIV. 21, has it thus:
It is told that the most blessed Evangelist John, when he was gently stroking a partridge
with his hands, suddenly saw one in the habit of a hunter coming to him. He wondered that a man
of such repute and fame should demean himself to such small and humble amusements, and said:
Art thou that John whose eminent and widespread fame hath enticed me also with great desire to
know thee? Why then art thou taken up with such mean amusements? The blessed John said to
him: What is that which thou carriest in thy hands? A bow, said he. And why, said he, dost thou
not bear it about always stretched? He answered him: I must not, lest by constant bending the
strength of its vigour be wrung and grow soft and perish, and when there is need that the arrows
be shot with much strength at some beast, the strength being lost by excess of continual tension, a
forcible blow cannot be dealt. Just so, said the blessed John, let not this little and brief relaxation
of my mind offend thee, young man, for unless it doth sometimes ease and relax by some
remission the force of its tension, it will grow slack through unbroken rigour and will not be able
to obey the power of the Spirit.
The only common point of the two stories is that St. John amuses himself with a partridge,
and a spectator thinks it unworthy of him. The two morals differ wholly. The amount of text lost
here is of quite uncertain length. It must have told of the doings at Smyrna, and also, it appears,
at Laodicca (see the title of the next section). One of the episodes must have been the conversion
of a woman of evil life (see below, 'the harlot that was chaste ')-]
Our best manuscript prefixes a title to the next section:
From Laodicca to Ephesus the second time.
58 Now when some long time had passed, and none of the brethren had been at any time
grieved by John, they were then grieved because he had said: Brethren, it is now time for me to
go to Ephesus (for so have I agreed with them that dwell there) lest they become slack, now for a
long time having no man to confirm them. But all of you must have your minds steadfast towards
God, who never forsaketh us.
But when they heard this from him, the brethren lamented because they were to be parted
from him. And John said: Even if I be parted from you, yet Christ is always with you: whom if
ye love purely ye will have his fellowship without reproach, for if he be loved, he preventeth
(anticipateth) them that love him.
59 And having so said, and bidden farewell to them, and left much money with the
brethren for distribution, he went forth unto Ephesus, while all the brethren lamented and
groaned. And there accompanied him, of Ephesus, both Andronicus and Drusiana and
Lycomedes and Cleobius and their families. And there followed him Aristobula also, who had
heard that her husband Tertullus had died on the way, and Aristippus with Xenophon, and the
harlot that was chaste, and many others, whom he exhorted at all times to cleave to the Lord, and
they would no more be parted from him.
60 Now on the first day we arrived at a deserted inn, and when we were at a loss for a bed
for John, we saw a droll matter. There was one bedstead lying somewhere there without
coverings, whereon we spread the cloaks which we were wearing, and we prayed him to lie down
upon it and rest, while the rest of us all slept upon the floor. But he when he lay down was
troubled by the bugs, and as they continued to become yet more troublesome to him, when it was
now about the middle of the night, in the hearing of us all he said to them: I say unto you, O
bugs, behave yourselves, one and all, and leave your abode for this night and remain quiet in one
place, and keep your distance from the servants of God. And as we laughed, and went on talking
for some time, John addressed himself to sleep; and we, talking low, gave him no disturbance (or,
thanks to him we were not disturbed).
61 But when the day was now dawning I arose first, and with me Verus and Andronicus,
and we saw at the door of the house which we had taken a great number of bugs standing, and
while we wondered at the great sight of them, and all the brethren were roused up because of
them, John continued sleeping. And when he was awaked we declared to him what we had seen.
And he sat up on the bed and looked at them and said: Since ye have well behaved yourselves in
hearkening to my rebuke, come unto your place. And when he had said this, and risen from the
bed, the bugs running from the door hasted to the bed and climbed up by the legs thereof and
disappeared into the joints. And John said again: This creature hearkened unto the voice of a
man, and abode by itself and was quiet and trespassed not; but we which hear the voice and
commandments of God disobey and are light-minded: and for how long?
62 After these things we came to Ephesus: and the brethren there, who had for a long
time known that John was coming, ran together to the house of Andronicus (where also he came
to lodge), handling his feet and laying his hands upon their own faces and kissing them (and many
rejoiced even to touch his vesture, and were healed by touching the clothes of the holy apostle.
[So the Latin, which has this section; the Greek has: so that they even touched his garments).]
63 And whereas there was great love and joy unsurpassed among the brethren, a certain
one, a messenger of Satan, became enamoured of Drusiana, though he saw and knew that she was
the wife of Andronicus. To whom many said: It is not possible for thee to obtain that woman,
seeing that for a long time she has even separated herself from her husband for godliness' sake.
Art thou only ignorant that Andronicus, not being aforetime that which now he is, a God-fearing
man, shut her up in a tomb, saying: Either I must have thee as the wife whom I had before, or
thou shalt die. And she chose rather to die than to do that foulness. If, then, she would not
consent, for godliness' sake, to cohabit with her lord and husband, but even persuaded him to be
of the same mind as herself, will she consent to thee desiring to be her seducer? depart from this
madness which hath no rest in thee: give up this deed which thou canst not bring to
accomplishment.
64 But his familiar friends saying these things to him did not convince him, but with
shamelessness he courted her with messages; and when he learnt the insults and disgraces which
she returned, he spent his life in melancholy (or better, she, when she learnt of this disgrace and
insult at his hand, spent her life in heaviness). And after two days Drusiana took to her bed from
heaviness, and was in a fever and said: Would that I had not now come home to my native place,
I that have become an offence to a man ignorant of godliness! for if it were one who was filled
with the word of God, he would not have gone to such a pitch of madness. But now (therefore)
Lord, since I am become the occasion of a blow unto a soul devoid of knowledge, set me free
from this chain and remove me unto thee quickly. And in the presence of John, who knew
nothing at all of such a matter, Drusiana departed out of life not wholly happy, yea, even troubled
because of the spiritual hurt of the man.
65 But Andronicus, grieved with a secret grief, mourned in his soul, and wept openly, so
that John checked him often and said to him: Upon a better hope hath Drusiana removed out of
this unrighteous life. And Andronicus answered him: Yea, I am persuaded of it, O John, and I
doubt not at all in regard of trust in my God: but this very thing do I hold fast, that she departed
out of life pure.
66 And when she was carried forth, John took hold on Andronicus, and now that he knew
the cause, he mourned more than Andronicus. And he kept silence, considering the provocation
of the adversary, and for a space sat still. Then, the brethren being gathered there to hear what
word he would speak of her that was departed, he began to say:
67 When the pilot that voyageth, together with them that sail with him, and the ship
herself, arriveth in a calm and stormless harbour, then let him say that he is safe. And the
husbandman that hath committed the seed to the earth, and toiled much in the care and protection
of it, let him then take rest from his labours, when he layeth up the seed with manifold increase in
his barns. Let him that enterpriseth to run in the course, then exult when he beareth home the
prize. Let him that inscribeth his name for the boxing, then boast himself when he receiveth the
crowns: and so in succession is it with all contests and crafts, when they do not fail in the end,
but show themselves to be like that which they promised (corrupt).
68 And thus also I think is it with the faith which each one of us practiseth, that it is then
discerned whether it be indeed true, when it continueth like itself even until the end of life. For
many obstacles fall into the way, and prepare disturbance for the minds of men: care, children,
parents, glory, poverty, flattery, prime of life, beauty, conceit, lust, wealth, anger, uplifting,
slackness, envy, jealousy, neglect, fear, insolence, love, deceit, money, pretence, and other such
obstacles, as many as there are in this life: as also the pilot sailing a prosperous course is opposed
by the onset of contrary winds and a great storm and mighty waves out of calm, and the
husbandman by untimely winter and blight and creeping things rising out of the earth, and they
that strive in the games 'just do not win', and they that exercise crafts are hindered by the divers
difficulties of them.
69 But before all things it is needful that the believer should look before at his ending and
understand it in what manner it will come upon him, whether it will be vigorous and sober and
without any obstacle, or disturbed and clinging to the things that are here, and bound down by
desires. So is it right that a body should be praised as comely when it is wholly stripped, and a
general as great when he hath accomplished every promise of the war, and a physician as excellent
when he hath succeeded in every cure, and a soul as full of faith and worthy (or receptive) of God
when it hath paid its promise in full: not that soul which began well and was dissolved into all the
things of this life and fell away, nor that which is numb, having made an effort to attain to better
things, and then is borne down to temporal things, nor that which hath longed after the things of
time more than those of eternity, nor that which exchangeth
70 And as John was discoursing yet further unto the brethren that they should despise
temporal things in respect of the eternal, he that was enamoured of Drusiana, being inflamed with
an horrible lust and possession of the many-shaped Satan, bribed the steward of Andronicus who
was a lover of money with a great sum: and he opened the tomb and gave him opportunity to
wreak the forbidden thing upon the dead body. Not having succeeded with her when alive, he
was still importunate after her death to her body, and said: If thou wouldst not have to do with
me while thou livedst, I will outrage thy corpse now thou art dead. With this design, and having
managed for himself the wicked act by means of the abominable steward, he rushed with him to
the sepulchre; they opened the door and began to strip the grave-clothes from the corpse, saying:
What art thou profited, poor Drusiana? couldest thou not have done this in life, which perchance
would not have grieved thee, hadst thou done it willingly?
71 And as these men were speaking thus, and only the accustomed shift now remained on
her body, a strange spectacle was seen, such as they deserve to suffer who do such deeds. A
serpent appeared from some quarter and dealt the steward a single bite and slew him: but the
young man it did not strike; but coiled about his feet, hissing terribly, and when he fell mounted
on his body and sat upon him.
72 Now on the next day John came, accompanied by Andronicus and the brethren, to the
sepulchre at dawn, it being now the third day from Drusiana's death, that we might break bread
there. And first, when they set out, the keys were sought for and could not be found; but John
said to Andronicus: It is quite right that they should be lost, for Drusiana is not in the sepulchre;
nevertheless, let us go, that thou mayest not be neglectful, and the doors shall be opened of
themselves, even as the Lord hath done for us many such things.
73 And when we were at the place, at the commandment of the master, the doors were
opened, and we saw by the tomb of Drusiana a beautiful youth, smiling: and John, when he saw
him, cried out and said: Art thou come before us hither too, beautiful one? and for what cause?
And we heard a voice saying to him: For Drusiana's sake, whom thou art to raise up-for I was
within a little of finding her
74 And Andronicus seeing those corpses, leapt up and went to Drusiana's tomb, and
seeing her lying in her shift only, said to John: I understand what has happened, thou blessed
servant of God, John. This Callimachus was enamoured of my sister; and because he never won
her, though he often assayed it, he hath bribed this mine accursed steward with a great sum,
perchance designing, as now we may see, to fulfil by his means the tragedy of his conspiracy, for
indeed Callimachus avowed this to many, saying: If she will not consent to me when living, she
shall be outraged when dead. And it may be, master, that the beautiful one knew it and suffered
not her body to be insulted, and therefore have these died who made that attempt. And can it be
that the voice that said unto thee, 'Raise up Drusiana', foreshowed this? because she departed out
of this life in sorrow of mind. But I believe him that said that this is one of the men that have
gone astray; for thou wast bidden to raise him up: for as to the other, I know that he is unworthy
of salvation. But this one thing I beg of thee: raise up Callimachus first, and he will confess to us
what is come about.
75 And John, looking upon the body, said to the venomous beast: Get thee away from
him that is to be a servant of Jesus Christ; and stood up and prayed over him thus: O God whose
name is glorified by us, as of right: O God who subduest every injurious force: O God whose
will is accomplished, who alway hearest us: now also let thy gift be accomplished in this young
man; and if there be any dispensation to be wrought through him, manifest it unto us when he is
raised up. And straightway the young man rose up, and for a whole hour kept silence.
76 But when he came to his right senses, John asked of him about his entry into the
sepulchre, what it meant, and learning from him that which Andronicus had told him, namely, that
he was enamoured of Drusiana, John inquired of him again if he had fulfilled his foul intent, to
insult a body full of holiness. And he answered him: How could I accomplish it when this fearful
beast struck down Fortunatus at a blow in my sight: and rightly, since he encouraged my frenzy,
when I was already cured of that unreasonable and horrible madness: but me it stopped with
affright, and brought me to that plight in which ye saw me before I arose. And another thing yet
more wondrous I will tell thee, which yet went nigh to slay and was within a little of making me a
corpse. When my soul was stirred up with folly and the uncontrollable malady was troubling me,
and I had now torn away the grave-clothes in which she was clad, and I had then come out of the
grave and laid them as thou seest, I went again to my unholy work: and I saw a beautiful youth
covering her with his mantle, and from his eyes sparks of light came forth unto her eyes; and he
uttered words to me, saying: Callimachus, die that thou mayest live. Now who he was I knew
not, O servant of God; but that now thou hast appeared here, I recognize that he was an angel of
God, that I know well; and this I know of a truth that it is a true God that is proclaimed by thee,
and of it I am persuaded. But I beseech thee, be not slack to deliver me from this calamity and
this fearful crime, and to present me unto thy God as a man deceived with a shameful and foul
deceit. Beseeching help therefore of thee, I take hold on thy feet. I would become one of them
that hope in Christ, that the voice may prove true which said to me, 'Die that thou mayest live':
and that voice hath also fulfilled its effect, for he is dead, that faithless, disorderly, godless one,
and I have been raised by thee, I who will be faithful, God-fearing, knowing the truth, which I
entreat thee may be shown me by thee.
77 And John, filled with great gladness and perceiving the whole spectacle of the salvation
of man, said: What thy power is, Lord Jesu Christ, I know not, bewildered as I am at thy much
compassion and boundless long-suffering. O what a greatness that came down into bondage! O
unspeakable liberty brought into slavery by us! O incomprehensible glory that is come unto us!
thou that hast kept the dead tabernacle safe from insult; that hast redeemed the man that stained
himself with blood and chastened the soul of him that would defile the corruptible body; Father
that hast had pity and compassion on the man that cared not for thee; We glorify thee, and praise
and bless and thank thy great goodness and long-suffering, O holy Jesu, for thou only art God,
and none else: whose is the might that cannot be conspired against, now and world without end.
Amen.
78 And when he had said this John took Callimachus and saluted (kissed) him, saying:
Glory be to our God, my child, who hath had mercy on thee, and made me worthy to glorify his
power, and thee also by a good course to depart from that thine abominable madness and
drunkenness, and hath called thee unto his own rest and unto renewing of life.
79 But Andronicus, beholding the dead Callimachus raised, besought John, with the
brethren, to raise up Drusiana also, saying: O John, let Drusiana arise and spend happily that
short space (of life) which she gave up through grief about Callimachus, when she thought she
had become a stumbling block to him: and when the Lord will, he shall take her again to himself.
And John without delay went unto her tomb and took her hand and said: Upon thee that art the
only God do I call, the more than great, the unutterable, the incomprehensible: unto whom every
power of principalities is subjected: unto whom all authority boweth: before whom all pride
falleth down and keepeth silence: whom devils hearing of tremble: whom all creation perceiving
keepeth its bounds. Let thy name be glorified by us, and raise up Drusiana, that Callimachus may
yet more be confirmed unto thee who dispensest that which unto men is without a way and
impossible, but to thee only possible, even salvation and resurrection: and that Drusiana may now
come forth in peace, having about her not any the least hindrance -now that the young man is
turned unto thee- in her course toward thee.
80 And after these words John said unto Drusiana: Drusiana, arise. And she arose and
came out of the tomb; and when she saw herself in her shift only, she was perplexed at the thing,
and learned the whole accurately from Andronicus, the while John lay upon his face, and
Callimachus with voice and tears glorified God, and she also rejoiced, glorifying him in like
manner.
81 And when she had clothed herself, she turned and saw Fortunatus lying, and said unto
John: Father, let this man also rise, even if he did assay to become my betrayer. But Callimachus,
when he heard her say that, said: Do not, I beseech thee, Drusiana, for the voice which I heard
took no thought of him, but declared concerning thee only, and I saw and believed: for if he had
been good, perchance God would have had mercy on him also and would have raised him by
means of the blessed John: he knew therefore that the man was come to a bad end [Lat. he
judged him worthy to die whom he did not declare worthy to rise again]. And John said to him:
We have not learned, my child, to render evil for evil: for God, though we have done much ill and
no good toward him, hath not given retribution unto us, but repentance, and though we were
ignorant of his name he did not neglect us but had mercy on us, and when we blasphemed him, he
did not punish but pitied us, and when we disbelieved him he bore us no grudge, and when we
persecuted his brethren he did not recompense us evil but put into our minds repentance and
abstinence from evil, and exhorted us to come unto him, as he hath thee also, my son Callimachus,
and not remembering thy former evil hath made thee his servant, waiting upon his mercy.
Wherefore if thou allowest not me to raise up Fortunatus, it is for Drusiana so to do.
82 And she, delaying not, went with rejoicing of spirit and soul unto the body of
Fortunatus and said: Jesu Christ, God of the ages, God of truth, that hast granted me to see
wonders and signs, and given to me to become partaker of thy name; that didst breathe thyself
into me with thy many-shaped countenance, and hadst mercy on me in many ways; that didst
protect me by thy great goodness when I was oppressed by Andronicus that was of old my
husband; that didst give me thy servant Andronicus to be my brother; that hast kept me thine
handmaid pure unto this day; that didst raise me up by thy servant John, and when I was raised
didst show me him that was made to stumble free from stumbling; that hast given me perfect rest
in thee, and lightened me of the secret madness; whom I have loved and affectioned: I pray thee,
O Christ, refuse not thy Drusiana that asketh thee to raise up Fortunatus, even though he assayed
to become my betrayer.
83 And taking the hand of the dead man she said: Rise up, Fortunatus, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ. And Fortunatus arose, and when he saw John in the sepulchre, and
Andronicus, and Drusiana raised from the dead, and Callimachus a believer, and the rest of the
brethren glorifying God, he said: O, to what have the powers of these clever men attained! I did
not want to be raised, but would rather die, so as not to see them. And with these words he fled
and went out of the sepulchre.
84 And John, when he saw the unchanged mind (soul) of Fortunatus, said: O nature that
is not changed for the better! O fountain of the soul that abideth in foulness! O essence of
corruption full of darkness! O death exulting in them that are thine! O fruitless tree full of fire!
O tree that bearest coals for fruit! O matter that dwellest with the madness of matter (al. O wood
of trees full of unwholesome shoots) and neighbour of unbelief! Thou hast proved who thou art,
and thou art always convicted, with thy children. And thou knowest not how to praise the better
things: for thou hast them not. Therefore, such as is thy way (?fruit), such also is thy root and
thy nature. Be thou destroyed from among them that trust in the Lord: from their thoughts, from
their mind, from their souls, from their bodies, from their acts) their life, their conversation, from
their business, their occupations, their counsel, from the resurrection unto (or rest in) God, from
their sweet savour wherein thou wilt