The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha
and other writings
Gospel of Matthew
Here beginneth the book of the Birth of the Blessed Mary
and the Infancy of the Saviour. Written in Hebrew by the
Blessed Evangelist Matthew, and translated into Latin by the
Blessed Presbyter Jerome.
To their well-beloved brother Jerome the Presbyter,
Bishops Cromatius and Heliodorus in the Lord, greeting.
The birth of the Virgin Mary, and the nativity and
infancy of our Lord Jesus Christ, we find in apocryphal
books. But considering that in them many things contrary to
our faith are written, we have believed that they ought all
to be rejected, lest perchance we should transfer the joy of
Christ to Antichrist. (1) While, therefore, we were
considering these things, there came holy men, Parmenius and
Varinus, who said that your Holiness had found a Hebrew
volume, written by the hand of the most blessed Evangelist
Matthew, in which also the birth of the virgin mother
herself, and the infancy of our Saviour, were written. And
accordingly we entreat your affection by our Lord Jesus
Christ Himself, to render it from the Hebrew into Latin, (2)
not so much for the attainment of those things which are the
insignia of Christ, as for the exclusion of the craft of
heretics, who, in order to teach bad doctrine, have mingled
their own lies with the excellent nativity of Christ, that by
the sweetness of life they might hide the bitterness of
death. It will therefore become your purest piety, either to
listen to us as your brethren entreating, or to let us have
as bishops exacting, the debt of affection which you may deem
due.
REPLY TO THEIR LETTER BY JEROME.
To my lords the holy and most blessed Bishops Cromatius
and Heliodorus, Jerome, a humble servant of Christ, in the
Lord greeting.
He who digs in ground where he knows that there is gold,
(3) does not instantly snatch at whatever the uptorn trench
may pour forth; but, before the stroke of the quivering spade
raises aloft the glittering mass, he meanwhile lingers over
the sods to turn them over and lift them up, and especially
he who has not added to his gains. An arduous task is
enjoined upon me, since what your Blessedness has commanded
me, the holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew himself did not
write for the purpose of publishing. For if he had not done
it somewhat secretly, he would have added it also to his
Gospel which he published. But he composed this book in
Hebrew; and so little did he publish it, that at this day the
book written in Hebrew by his own hand is in the possession
of very religious men, to whom in successive periods of time
it has been handed down by those that were before them. And
this book they never at any time gave to any one to
translate. And so it came to pass, that when it was published
by a disciple of Manichaeus named Leucius, who also wrote the
falsely styled Acts of the Apostles, this book afforded
matter, not of edification, but of perdition; and the opinion
of the Synod in regard to it was according to its deserts,
that the ears of the Church should not be open to it. Let the
snapping of those that bark against us now cease; for we do
not add this little book to the canonical writings, but we
translate what was written by an Apostle and Evangelist, that
we may disclose the falsehood of heresy. In this work, then,
we obey the commands of pious bishops as well as oppose
impious heretics. It is the love of Christ, therefore, which
we fulfil, believing that they will assist us by their
prayers, who through our obedience attain to a knowledge of
the holy infancy of our Saviour.
There is extant another letter to the same bishops,
attributed to Jerome: --
You ask me to let you know what I think of a book held by
some to be about the nativity of St. Mary. And so I wish you
to know that there is much in it that is false. For one
Seleucus, who wrote the Sufferings of the Apostles, composed
this book. But, just as he wrote what was true about their
powers, and the miracles they worked, but said a great deal
that was false about their doctrine; so here too he has
invented many untruths out of his own head. I shall take care
to render it word for word, exactly as it is in the Hebrew,
since it is asserted that it was composed by the holy
Evangelist Matthew, and written in Hebrew, and set at the
head of his Gospel. Whether this be true or not, I leave to
the author of the preface and the trustworthiness of the
writer: as for myself, I pronounce them doubtful; I do not
affirm that they are clearly false. But this I say freely--
and I think none of the faithful will deny it -- that,
whether these stories be true or inventions, the sacred
nativity of St. Mary was preceded by great miracles, and
succeeded by the greatest; and so by those who believe that
God can do these things, they can be believed and read
without damaging their faith or imperilling their souls. In
short, so far as I can, following the sense rather than the
words of the writer, and sometimes walking in the same path,
though not in the same footsteps, sometimes digressing a
little, but still keeping the same road, I shall in this way
keep by the style of the narrative, and shall say nothing
that is not either written there, or might, following the
same train of thought, have been written.
CHAP. 1. (1) -- In those days there was a man in
Jerusalem, Joachim by name, of the tribe of Judah. He was the
shepherd of his own sheep, fearing the Lord in integrity and
singleness of heart. He had no other care than that of his
herds, from the produce of which he supplied with food all
that feared God, offering double gifts in the fear of God to
all who laboured in doctrine, and who ministered unto Him.
Therefore his lambs, and his sheep, and his wool, and all
things whatsoever he possessed, he used to divide into three
portions: one he gave to the orphans, the widows, the
strangers, and the poor; the second to those that worshipped
God; and the third he kept for himself and all his house. (2)
And as he did so, the Lord multiplied to him his herds, so
that there was no man like him in the people of Israel. This
now he began to do when he was fifteen years old. And at the
age of twenty he took to wife Anna, the daughter of Achar, of
his own tribe, that is, of the tribe of Judah, of the family
of David. And though they had lived together for twenty
years, he had by her neither sons nor daughters. (3)
CHAP. 2. -- And it happened that, in the time of the
feast, among those who were offering incense to the Lord,
Joachim stood getting ready his gifts in the sight of the
Lord. And the priest, Ruben by name, coming to him, said: It
is not lawful for thee to stand among those who are doing
sacrifice to God, because God has not blessed thee so as to
give thee seed in lsrael. Being therefore put to shame in the
sight of the people, he retired from the temple of the Lord
weeping, and did not return to his house, but went to his
flocks, taking with him his shepherds into the mountains to a
far country, so that for five months his wife Anna could hear
no tidings of him. And she prayed with tears, saying: O Lord,
most mighty God of Israel, why hast Thou, seeing that already
Thou hast not given me children, taken from me my husband
also? Behold, now five months that I have not seen my
husband; and I know not where he is tarrying; (4) nor, if I
knew him to be dead, could I bury him. And while she wept
excessively, she entered into the court of His house; and she
fell on her face in prayer, and poured out her supplications
before the Lord. After this, rising from her prayer, and
lifting her eyes to God, she saw a sparrow's nest in a laurel
tree, (5) and uttered her voice to the Lord with groaning,
and said: Lord God Almighty, who hast given offspring to
every creature, to beasts wild and tame, to serpents, and
birds, and fishes, and they all rejoice over their young
ones, Thou hast shut out me alone from the gift of Thy
benignity. For Thou, O God, knowest my heart, that from the
beginning of my married life I have vowed that, if Thou, O
God, shouldst give me son or daughter, I would offer them to
Thee in Thy holy temple. And while she was thus speaking,
suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared before her, saying: Be
not afraid, Anna, for there is seed for thee in the decree of
God; and all generations even to the end shall wonder at that
which shall be born of thee. And when he had thus spoken, he
vanished out of her sight. But she, in fear and dread because
she had seen such a sight, and heard such words, at length
went into her bed-chamber, and threw herself on the bed as if
dead. And for a whole day and night she remained in great
trembling and in prayer. And after these things she called to
her her servant, and said to her: Dost thou see me deceived
in my widowhood and in great perplexity, and hast thou been
unwilling to come in to me? Then she, with a slight murmur,
thus answered and said: If God hath shut up thy womb, and
hath taken away thy husband from thee, what can I do for
thee? And when Anna heard this, she lifted up her voice, and
wept aloud.
CHAP. 3. -- At the same time there appeared a young man
on the mountains to Joachim while he was feeding his flocks,
and said to him: Why dost thou not return to thy wife? And
Joachim said: I have had her for twenty years, and it has not
been the will of God to give me children by her. I have been
driven with shame and reproach from the temple of the Lord:
why should I go back to her, when I have been once cast off
and utterly despised? Here then will I remain with my sheep;
and so long as in this life God is willing to grant me light,
I shall willingly, by the hands of my servants, bestow their
portions upon the poor, and the orphans, and those that fear
God. And when he had thus spoken, the young man said to him:
I am an angel of the Lord, and I have to-day appeared to thy
wife when she was weeping and praying, and have consoled her;
and know that she has conceived a daughter from thy seed, and
thou in thy ignorance of this hast left her. She will be in
the temple of God, and the Holy Spirit shall abide in her;
and her blessedness shall be greater than that of all the
holy women, so that no one can say that any before her has
been like her, or that any after her in this world will be
so. Therefore go down from the mountains, and return to thy
wife, whom thou wilt find with child. For God hath raised up
seed in her, and for this thou wilt give God thanks; and her
seed shall be blessed, and she herself shall be blessed, and
shall be made the mother of eternal blessing. Then Joachim
adored the angel, and said to him: If I have found favour in
thy sight, sit for a little in my tent, and bless thy
servant. (1) And the angel said to him: Do not say servant,
but fellow-servant; for we are the servants of one Master.
(2) But my food is invisible, and my drink cannot be seen by
a mortal. Therefore thou oughtest not to ask me to enter thy
tent; but if thou wast about to give me anything, (3) offer
it as a burnt-offering to the Lord. Then Joachim took a lamb
without spot, and said to the angel: I should not have dared
to offer a burnt-offering to the Lord, unless thy command had
given me the priest's right of offering. (4) And the angel
said to him: I should not have invited thee to offer unless I
had known the will of the Lord. And when Joachim was offering
the sacrifice to God, the angel and the odour of the
sacrifice went together straight up to heaven with the smoke.
(5)
Then Joachim, throwing himself on his face, lay in prayer
from the sixth hour of the day even until evening. And his
lads and hired servants who were with him saw him, and not
knowing why he was lying down, thought that he was dead; and
they came to him, and with difficulty raised him from the
ground. And when he recounted to them the vision of the
angel, they were struck with great fear and wonder, and
advised him to accomplish the vision of the angel without
delay, and to go back with all haste to his wife. And when
Joachim was turning over in his mind whether he should go
back or not, it happened that he was overpowered by a deep
sleep; and, behold, the angel who had already appeared to him
when awake, appeared to him in his sleep, saying: I am the
angel appointed by God as thy guardian: go down with
confidence, and return to Anna, because the deeds of mercy
which thou and thy wife Anna have done have been told in the
presence of the Most High; and to you will God give such
fruit as no prophet or saint has ever had from the beginning,
or ever will have. And when Joachim awoke out of his sleep,
he called all his herdsmen to him, and told them his dream.
And they worshipped the Lord, and said to him: See that thou
no further despise the words of the angel. But rise and let
us go hence, and return at a quiet pace, feeding our flocks.
And when, after thirty days occupied in going back, they
were now near at hand, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared
to Anna, who was standing and praying, and said: (6) Go to
the gate which is called Golden, (7) and meet thy husband in
the way, for to-day he will come to thee. She therefore went
towards him in haste With her maidens, and, praying to the
Lord, she stood a long time in the gate waiting for him. And
when she was wearied with long waiting, she lifted up her
eyes and saw Joachim afar off coming with his flocks; and she
ran to him and hung on his neck, giving thanks to God, and
saying: I was a widow, and behold now I am not so: I was
barren, and behold I have now conceived. And so they
worshipped the Lord, and went into their own house. And when
this was heard of, there was great joy among all their
neighbours and acquaintances, so that the whole land of
lsrael congratulated them.
CHAP. 4. --After these things, her nine months being
fulfilled, Anna brought forth a daughter, and called her
Mary. And having weaned her in her third year, Joachim, and
Anna his wife, went together to the temple of the Lord to
offer sacrifices to God, and placed the infant, Mary by name,
in the community of virgins, in which the virgins remained
day and night praising God. And when she was put down before
the doors of the temple, she went up the fifteen steps (1) so
swiftly, that she did not look back at all; nor did she, as
children are wont to do, seek for her parents. Whereupon her
parents, each of them anxiously seeking for the child, were
both alike astonished, until they found her in the temple,
and the priests of the temple themselves wondered.
CHAP. 5. -- Then Anna, filled with the Holy Spirit, said
before them all: The Lord Almighty, the God of Hosts, being
mindful of His word, hath visited His people with a good and
holy visitation, to bring down the hearts of the Gentiles who
were rising against us, and turn them to Himself. He hath
opened His ears to our prayers: He hath kept away from us the
exulting of all our enemies. The barren hath become a mother,
and hath brought forth exultation and gladness to lsrael.
Behold the gifts which I have brought to offer to my Lord,
and mine enemies have not been able to hinder me. For God
hath turned their hearts to me, and Himself hath given me
everlasting joy.
CHAP. 6. -- And Mary was held in admiration by all the
people of Israel; and when she was three years old, she
walked with a step so mature, she spoke so perfectly, and
spent her time so assiduously in the praises of God, that all
were astonished at her, and wondered; and she was not
reckoned a young infant, but as it were a grown-up person of
thirty years old. She was so constant in prayer, and her
appearance was so beautiful and glorious, that scarcely any
one could look into her face. And she occupied herself
constantly with her wool-work, so that she in her tender
years could do all that old women were not able to do. And
this was the order that she had set for herself: (2) From
the morning to the third hour she remained in prayer; from
the third to the ninth she was occupied with her weaving; and
from the ninth she again applied herself to prayer. She did
not retire from praying until there appeared to her the
angel of the Lord, from whose hand she used to receive food;
and thus she became more and more perfect in the work of God.
Then, when the older virgins rested from the praises of God,
she did not rest at all; so that in the praises and vigils of
God none were found before her, no one more learned in the
wisdom of the law of God, more lowly in humility, more
elegant in singing, more perfect in all virtue. She was
indeed stedfast, immoveable, unchangeable, and daily
advancing to perfection. No one saw her angry, nor heard her
speaking evil. All her speech was so full of grace, that her
God was acknowledged to be in her tongue. She was always
engaged in prayer and in searching the law, and she was
anxious lest by any word of hers she should sin with regard
to her companions. Then she was afraid lest in her laughter,
or the sound of her beautiful voice, she should commit any
fault, or lest, being elated, she should display any wrong-
doing or haughtiness to one of her equals. (3) She blessed
God without intermission; and lest perchance, even in her
salutation, she might cease from praising God; if any one
saluted her, she used to answer by way of salutation: Thanks
be to God. And from her the custom first began of men saying,
Thanks be to God, when they saluted each other. She refreshed
herself only with the food which she daily received from the
hand of the angel; but the food which she obtained from the
priests she divided among the poor. The angels of God were
often seen speaking with her, and they most diligently obeyed
her. If any one who was unwell touched her, the same hour he
went home cured.
CHAP. 7. -- Then Abiathar the priest offered gifts without
end to the high priests, in order that he might obtain her as
wife to his son. But Mary forbade them, saying: It cannot be
that I should know a man, or that a man should know me. For
all the priests and all her relations kept saying to her:
God is worshipped in children and adored in posterity, as has
always happened among the sons of Israel. But Mary answered
and said unto them: God is worshipped in chastity, as is
proved first of all. (4) For before Abel there was none
righteous among men, and he by his offerings pleased God, and
was without mercy slain by him who displeased Him. Two
crowns, therefore, he received -- of oblation and of
virginity, because in his flesh there was no pollution. Elias
also, when he was in the flesh, was taken up in the flesh,
because he kept his flesh unspotted. Now I, from my infancy
in the temple of God, have learned that virginity can be
sufficiently dear to God. And so, because I can offer what is
dear to God, I have resolved in my heart that I should not
know a man at all.
CHAP. 8. -- Now it came to pass, when she was fourteen s
years old, and on this account there was occasion for the
Pharisees' saying that it was now a custom that no woman of
that age should abide in the temple of God, they fell upon
the plan of sending a herald through all the tribes of
lsrael, that on the third day all should come together into
the temple of the Lord. And when all the people had come
together, Abiathar the high priest rose, and mounted on a
higher step, that he might be seen and heard by all the
people; and when great silence had been obtained, he said:
Hear me, O sons of Israel, and receive my words into your
ears. Ever since this temple was built by Solomon, there have
been in it virgins, the daughters of kings and the daughters
of prophets, and of high priests and priests; and they were
great, and worthy of admiration. But when they came to the
proper age they were given in marriage, and followed the
course of their mothers before them, and were pleasing to
God. But a new order of life has been found out by Mary
alone, who promises that she will remain a virgin to God.
Wherefore it seems to me, that through our inquiry and the
answer of God we should try to ascertain to whose keeping she
ought to be entrusted. Then these words found favour with all
the synagogue. And the lot was east by the priests upon the
twelve tribes, and the lot fell upon the tribe of Judah. And
the priest said: To-morrow let every one who has no wife
come, and bring his rod in his hand. Whence it happened that
Joseph (1) brought his rod along with the young men. And the
rods having been handed over to the high priest, he offered a
sacrifice to the Lord God, and inquired of the Lord. And the
Lord said to him: Put all their rods into the holy of holies
of God, and let them remain there, and order them to come to
thee on the morrow to get back their rods; and the man from
the point of whose rod a dove shall come forth, and fly
towards heaven, and in whose hand the rod, when given back,
shall exhibit this sign, to him let Mary be delivered to be
kept.
On the following day, then, all having assembled early,
and an incense-offering having been made, the high priest
went into the holy of ho-lies, and brought forth the rods.
And when he had distributed the rods, (2) and the dove came
forth out of none of them, the high priest put on the twelve
bells (3) and the sacerdotal robe; and entering into the holy
of holies, he there made a burnt-offering, and poured forth a
prayer. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him, saying:
There is here the shortest rod, of which thou hast made no
account: thou didst bring it in with the rest, but didst not
take it out with them. When thou hast taken it out, and hast
given it him whose it is, in it will appear the sign of which
I spoke to thee. Now that was Joseph's rod; and because he
was an old man, he had been cast off, as it were, that he
might not receive her, but neither did he himself wish to ask
back his rod. (4) And when he was humbly standing last of
all, the high priest cried out to him with a loud voice,
saying: Come, Joseph, and receive thy rod; for we are waiting
for thee. And Joseph came up trembling, because the high
priest had called him with a very loud voice. But as soon as
he stretched forth his hand, and laid hold of his rod,
immediately from the top of it came forth a dove whiter than
snow, beautiful exceedingly, which, after long flying about
the roofs of the temple, at length flew towards the heavens.
Then all the people congratulated the old man, saying: Thou
hast been made blessed in thine old age, O father Joseph,
seeing that God hath shown thee to be fit to receive Mary.
And the priests having said to him, Take her, because of all
the tribe of Judah thou alone hast been chosen by God; Joseph
began bashfully to address them, saying: I am an old man, and
have children; why do you hand over to me this infant, who is
younger than my grandsons? Then Abiathar the high priest said
to him: Remember, Joseph, how Dathan and Abiron and Core
perished, because they despised the will of God. So will it
happen to thee, if thou despise this which is commanded thee
by God. Joseph answered him: I indeed do not despise the will
of God; but I shall be her guardian until I can ascertain
concerning the will of God, as to which of my sons can have
her as his wife. Let some virgins of her companions, with
whom she may meanwhile spend her time, be given for a
consolation to her. Abiathar the high priest answered and
said: Five virgins indeed shall be given her for consolation,
until the appointed day come in which thou mayst receive her;
for to no other can she be joined in marriage.
Then Joseph received Mary, with the other five virgins
who were to be with her in Joseph's house. These virgins were
Rebecca, Sephora, Susanna, Abigea, and Cael; to whom the high
priest gave the silk, and the blue, (5) and the fine linen,
and the scarlet, and the purple, and the fine flax. For they
cast lots among themselves what each virgin should do, and
the purple for the veil of the temple of the Lord fell to the
lot of Mary. And when she had got it, those virgins said to
her: Since thou art the last, and humble, and younger than
all, thou hast deserved to receive and obtain the purple. And
thus saying, as it were in words of annoyance, they began to
call her queen of virgins. While, however, they were so
doing, the angel of the Lord appeared in the midst of them,
saying: These words shall not have been uttered by way of
annoyance, but prophesied as a prophecy most true. They
trembled, therefore, at the sight of the angel, and at his
words, and asked her to pardon them, and pray for them.
CHAP. 9.--And on the second day, while Mary was at the
fountain to fill her pitcher, the angel of the Lord appeared
to her, saying: Blessed art thou, Mary; for in thy womb thou
hast prepared an habitation for the Lord. For, lo, the light
from heaven shall come and dwell in thee, and by means of
thee will shine over the whole world.
Again, on the third day, while she was working at the
purple with her fingers, there entered a young man of
ineffable beauty. And when Mary saw him, she exceedingly
feared and trembled. And he said to her: Hail, Mary, full of
grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. [1] And when she heard
these words, she trembled, and was exceedingly afraid. Then
the angel of the Lord added: Fear not, Mary; for thou hast
found favour with God: Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy
womb, and shalt bring forth a King, who fills not only the
earth, but the heaven, and who reigns from generation to
generation.
CHAP. 10.--While these things were doing, Joseph was
occupied with his work, house-building, in the districts by
the sea-shore; for he was a carpenter. And after nine months
he came back to his house, and found Mary pregnant.
Wherefore, being in the utmost distress, he trembled and
cried out, saying: O Lord God, receive my spirit; for it is
better for me to die than to live any longer. And the virgins
who were with Mary said to him: Joseph, what art thou saying?
We know that no man has touched her; we can testify that she
is still a virgin, and untouched. We have watched over her;
always has she continued with us in prayer; daily do the
angels of God speak with her; daily does she receive food
from the hand of the Lord. We know not how it is possible
that there can be any sin in her. But if thou wishest us to
tell thee what we suspect, nobody but the angel of the Lord
[2] has made her pregnant. Then said Joseph: Why do you
mislead me, to believe that an angel of the Lord has made her
pregnant? But it is possible that some one has pretended to
be an angel of the Lord, and has beguiled her. And thus
speaking, he wept, and said:
With what face shall I look at the temple of the Lord, or
with what face shall I see the priests of God? What am I to
do? And thus saying, he thought that he would flee, and send
her away.
CHAP. 11.-- And when he was thinking of rising up and
hiding himself, and dwelling in secret, behold, on that very
night, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in sleep,
saying: Joseph, thou son of David, fear not; receive Mary as
thy wife: for that which is in her womb is of the Holy
Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and His name shall
be called Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
And Joseph, rising from his sleep, gave thanks to God, and
spoke to Mary and the virgins who were with her, and told
them his vision. And he was comforted about Mary, saying: I
have sinned, in that I suspected thee at all.
CHAP. 12.--After these things there arose a great report
that Mary was with child. And Joseph was seized by the
officers of the temple, and brought along with Mary to the
high priest. And he with the priests began to reproach him,
and to say: Why hast thou beguiled so great and so glorious a
virgin, who was fed like a dove in the temple by the angels
of God, who never wished either to see or to have a man, who
had the most excellent knowledge of the law of God? If thou
hadst not done violence to her, she would still have remained
in her virginity. And Joseph vowed, and swore that he had
never touched her at all. And Abiathar the high priest
answered him: As the Lord liveth, I will give thee to drink
of the water of drinking of the Lord, and immediately thy sin
will appear.
Then was assembled a multitude of people which could not
be numbered, and Mary was brought to the temple. And the
priests, and her relatives, and her parents wept, and said to
Mary: Confess to the priests thy sin, thou that wast like a
dove in the temple of God, and didst receive food from the
hands of an angel. And again Joseph was summoned to the
altar, and the water of drinking of the Lord was given him to
drink. And when any one that had lied drank this water, and
walked seven times round the altar, God used to show some
sign in his face. When, therefore, Joseph had drunk in
safety, and had walked round the altar seven times, no sign
of sin appeared in him. Then all the priests, and the
officers, and the people justified him, saying: Blessed art
thou, seeing that no charge has been found good against thee.
And they summoned Mary, and said: And what excuse canst thou
have? or what greater sign can appear in thee than the
conception of thy womb, which betrays thee? This only we
require of thee, that since Joseph is pure
regarding thee, thou confess who it is that has beguiled
thee. For it is better that thy confession should betray
thee, than that the wrath of God should set a mark on thy
face, and expose thee in the midst of the people. Then Mary
said, stedfastly and without trembling: O Lord God, King over
all, who knowest all secrets, if there be any pollution in
me, or any sin, or any evil desires, or unchastity, expose me
in the sight of all the people, and make me an example of
punishment to all. Thus saying, she went up to the altar of
the Lord boldly, and drank the water of drinking, and walked
round the altar seven times, and no spot was found in her.
And when all the people were in the utmost astonishment,
seeing that she was with child, and that no sign had appeared
in her face, they began to be disturbed among themselves by
conflicting statements: some said that she was holy and
unspotted, others that she was wicked and defiled. Then Mary,
seeing that she was still suspected by the people, and that
on that account she did not seem to them to be wholly
cleared, said in the hearing of all, with a loud voice, As
the Lord Adonai liveth, the Lord of Hosts before whom I
stand, I have not known man; but I am known by Him to whom
from my earliest years I have devoted myself. And this vow I
made to my God from my infancy, that I should remain
unspotted in Him who created me, and I trust that I shall so
live to Him alone, and serve Him alone; and in Him, as long
as I shall live, will I remain unpolluted. Then they all
began to kiss her feet and to embrace her knees, asking her
to pardon them for their wicked suspicions. And she was led
down to her house with exultation and joy by the people, and
the priests, and all the virgins. And they cried out, and
said: Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever, because He
hath manifested thy holiness to all His people Israel.
CHAP. 13.--And it came to pass some little time after,
that an enrolment was made according to the edict of Caesar
Augustus, that all the world was to be enrolled, each man in
his native place. This enrolment was made by Cyrinus, the
governor of Syria, [1] It was necessary, therefore, that
Joseph should enrol with the blessed Mary in Bethlehem,
because to it they belonged, being of the tribe of Judah, and
of the house and family of David. When, therefore, Joseph and
the blessed Mary were going along the road which leads to
Bethlehem, Mary said to Joseph: I see two peoples before me,
the one weeping, and the other rejoicing. And Joseph
answered: Sit still on thy beast, and do not speak
superfluous words. Then there appeared before them
a beautiful boy, clothed in white raiment, who-said to
Joseph: Why didst thou say that the words which Mary spoke
about the two peoples were superfluous? For she saw the
people of the Jews weeping, because they have departed from
their God; and the people of the Gentiles rejoicing, because
they have now been added and made near to the Lord, according
to that which He promised to our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob: for the time is at hand when in the seed of Abraham
all nations shall be blessed. [2]
And when he had thus said, the angel ordered the beast to
stand, for the time when she should bring forth was at hand;
and he commanded the blessed Mary to come down off the
animal, and go into a recess under a cavern, in which there
never was light, but always darkness, because the light of
day could not reach it. And when the blessed Mary had gone
into it, it began to shine with as much brightness as if it
were the sixth hour of the day. The light from God so shone
in the cave, that neither by day nor night was light wanting
as long as the blessed Mary was there. And there she brought
forth a son, and the angels surrounded Him when He was being
born. And as soon as He was born, He stood upon His feet, and
the angels adored Him, saying: Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men of good pleasure. [3] Now, when the
birth of the Lord was at hand, Joseph had gone away to seek
midwives. And when he had found them, he returned to the
cave, and found with Mary the infant which she had brought
forth. And Joseph said to the blessed Mary: I have brought
thee two midwives--Zelomi [4] and Salome; and they are
standing
r outside before the entrance to the cave, not daring to come
in hither, because of the exceeding brightness. And when the
blessed Mary heard this, she smiled; and Joseph said to her:
Do not smile; but prudently allow them to visit thee, in case
thou shouldst require them for thy cure. Then she ordered
them to enter. And when Zelomi had come in, Salome having
stayed without, Zelomi said to Mary: Allow me to touch thee.
And when she had permitted her to make an examination, the
midwife cried out with a loud voice, and said: Lord, Lord
Almighty, mercy on us! It has never been heard or thought of,
that any one should have her breasts full of milk, and that
the birth of a son should show his mother to be a virgin. But
there has been no spilling of blood in his birth, no pain in
bringing him forth. A virgin has conceived, a virgin has
brought forth, and a virgin she remains. And hearing these
words, Salome said: Allow me to handle thee, and prove
whether Zelomi have spoken the truth. And the blessed Mary
allowed her to handle her. And when she had withdrawn her
hand from handling her, it dried up, and through excess of
pain she began to weep bitterly, and to be in great distress,
crying out, and saying: O Lord God, Thou knowest that I have
always feared Thee, and that without recompense I have cared
for all the poor; I have taken nothing from the widow and the
orphan, and the needy have I not sent empty away. And,
behold, I am made wretched because of mine unbelief, since
without a cause I wished to try Thy virgin.
And while she was thus speaking, there stood by her a
young man in shining garments, saying: Go to the child, and
adore Him, and touch Him with thy hand, and He will heal
thee, because He is the Saviour of the world, and of all that
hope in Him. And she went to the child with haste, and adored
Him, and touched the fringe of the cloths in which He was
wrapped, and instantly her hand was cured. And going forth,
she began to cry aloud, and to tell the wonderful things
which she had seen, and which she had suffered, and how she
had been cured; so that many through her statements believed.
And some shepherds also affirmed that they had seen
angels singing a hymn at midnight, praising and blessing the
God of heaven, and saying: There has been born the Saviour of
all, who is Christ the Lord, in whom salvation shall be
brought back to Israel. [1]
Moreover, a great star, larger than any that had been
seen since the beginning of the world, shone over the cave
from the evening till the morning. And the prophets who were
in Jerusalem said that this star pointed out the birth of
Christ, who should restore the promise not only to Israel,
but to all nations.
CHAP. 14.--And on the third day after the birth of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the most blessed Mary went forth out of
the cave, and entering a stable, placed the child in the
stall, and the ox and the ass adored Him. Then was fulfilled
that which was said by Isaiah the prophet, saying: The ox
knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib. [2] The
very animals, therefore, the ox and the ass, having Him in
their midst, incessantly adored Him. Then was fulfilled that
which was said by Abacuc the prophet, saying: [3] Between two
animals thou art made manifest. In the same place Joseph
remained with Mary three days.
CHAP. 15.--And on the sixth day they entered Bethlehem,
where they spent the seventh day. And on the eighth day they
circumcised the child, and called His name Jesus; for so He
was called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
[4] Now, after the days of the purifiation of Mary were
fulfilled according to the law of Moses, then Joseph took the
infant to the temple of the Lord. And when the infant had
received parhithomus, [5]--parhithomus, that is,
circumcision--they offered for Him a pair of turtle-doves, or
two young pigeons. [6]
Now there was in the temple a man of God, perfect and
just, whose name was Symeon, a hundred and twelve years old.
He had received the answer from the Lord, that he should not
taste of death till he had seen Christ, the Son of God,
living in the flesh. And having seen the child, he cried out
with a loud voice, saying: God hath visited His people, and
the Lord hath fulfilled His promise. And he made haste, and
adored Him. And after this he took Him up into his cloak and
kissed His feet, and said: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant
depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have
seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face
of all peoples, to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and
the glory of Thy people Israel. [7]
There was also in the temple of the Lord, Anna, a
prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher,
who had lived with her husband seven years from her
virginity; and she had now been a widow eighty-four years.
And she never left the temple of the Lord, but spent her time
in fasting and prayer. She also likewise adored the child,
saying: In Him is the redemption of the world. [8]
CHAP. 16.--And when the second year was past, [9] Magi
came from the east to Jerusalem, bringing great gifts. And
they made strict inquiry of the Jews, saying: Where is the
king who has been born to you? for we have seen his star in
the east, and have come to worship him. And word of this came
to King Herod, and so alarmed him that he called together the
scribes and the Pharisees, and the teachers of the people,
asking of them where the prophets had foretold that Christ
should be born. And they said: In Bethlehem of Judah. For it
is written: And thou Bethelehem, in the land of Judah, art by
no means the least among the princes of Judah; for out of
thee shall come forth a Leader who shall rule my people
Israel. [1] Then King Herod summoned the magi to him, and
strictly inquired of them when the star appeared to them.
Then, sending them to Bethlehem, he said: Go and make strict
inquiry about the child; and when ye have found him, bring me
word again, that I may come and worship him also. And while
the magi were going on their way, there appeared to them the
star, which was, as it were, a guide to them, going before
them until they came to where the child was. And when the
magi saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy; and going
into the house, they saw the child Jesus sitting in His
mother's lap. Then they opened their treasures, and presented
great gifts to the blessed Mary and Joseph. And to the child
Himself they offered each of them a piece of gold. [2] And
likewise one gave gold, another frankincense, and the third
myrrh. [3] And when they were going to return to King Herod,
they were warned by an angel in their sleep not to go back to
Herod; and they returned to their own country by another
road. [4]
CHAP. 17--And when Herod [5] saw that he had been made
sport of by the magi, his heart swelled with rage, and he
sent through all the roads, wishing to seize them and put
them to death. But when he could not find them at all; he
sent anew to Bethlehem and all its borders, and slew all the
male children whom he found of two years old and under,
according to the time that he had ascertained from the magi.
[6]
Now the day before this was done Joseph was warned in his
sleep by the angel of the Lord, who said to him: Take Mary
and the child, and go into Egypt by the way of the desert.
And joseph went according to the saying of the angel. [7]
CHAP. 18.--And having come to a certain cave, and wishing
to rest in it, the blessed [8] Mary dismounted from her
beast, and sat down with the child Jesus in her bosom. And
there were with Joseph three boys, and with Mary a girl,
going on the journey along with them. And, lo, suddenly there
came forth from the cave many dragons; and when the children
saw them, they cried out in great terror. Then Jesus went
down from the bosom of His mother, and stood on His feet
before the dragons; and they adored Jesus, and thereafter
retired. Then was fulfilled that which was said by David the
prophet, saying: Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons;
ye dragons, and all ye deeps [9] And the young child Jesus,
walking before them, commanded them to hurt no man. But Mary
and Joseph were very much afraid lest the child should be
hurt by the dragons. And Jesus said to them: Do not be
afraid, and do not consider me to be a little child; for I am
and always have been perfect; and all the beasts of the
forest must needs be tame before me.
CHAP. 19.--Lions and panthers adored Him likewise, and
accompanied them in the desert. Wherever Joseph and the
blessed Mary went, they went before them showing them the
way, and bowing their heads; and showing their submission by
wagging their tails, they adored Him with great reverence.
Now at first, when Mary saw the lions and the panthers, and
various kinds of wild beasts, coming about them, she was very
much afraid. But the infant Jesus looked into her face with a
joyful countenance, and said: Be not afraid, mother; for they
come not to do thee harm, but they make haste to serve both
thee and me. With these words He drove all fear from her
heart. And the lions kept walking with them, and with the
oxen, and the asses, and the beasts of burden which carried
their baggage, and did not hurt a single one of them, though
they kept beside them; but they were tame among the sheep and
the rams which they had brought with them from Judaea, and
which they had with them. They walked among wolves, and
feared nothing; and no one of them was hurt by another. Then
was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet: Wolves
shall feed with lambs; the lion and the ox shall eat straw
together. [10] There were together two oxen drawing a waggon
with provision for the journey, and the lions directed them
in their path.
CHAP. 20.-- And it came to pass on the third day of their
journey, while they were walking, that the blessed Mary was
fatigued by the excessive heat of the sun in the desert; and
seeing a palm tree, she said to Joseph: Let me rest a little
under the shade of this tree. Joseph therefore made haste,
and led her to the palm, and made her come down from her
beast. And as the blessed Mary was sitting there, she looked
up to the foliage of the palm, and saw it full of fruit, and
said to Joseph: I wish it were possible to get some of the
fruit of this palm. And Joseph said to her: I wonder that
thou sayest this, when thou seest how high the palm tree is;
and that thou thinkest of eating of its fruit. I am thinking
more of the want of water, because the skins are now empty,
and we have none wherewith to refresh ourselves and our
cattle. Then the child Jesus, with a joyful countenance,
reposing in the bosom of His mother, said to the palm: O
tree, bend thy branches, and refresh my mother with thy
fruit. And immediately at these words the palm bent its top
down to the very feet of the blessed Mary; and they gathered
from it fruit, with which they were all refreshed. And after
they had gathered all its fruit, it remained bent down,
waiting the order to rise from Him who bad commanded it to
stoop. Then Jesus said to it: Raise thyself, O palm tree, and
be strong, and be the companion of my trees, which are in the
paradise of my Father; and open from thy roots a vein of
water which has been hid in the earth, and let the waters
flow, so that we may be satisfied from thee. And it rose up
immediately, and at its root there began to come forth a
spring of water exceedingly clear and cool and sparkling.
And when they saw the spring of water, they rejoiced with
great joy, and were satisfied, themselves and all their
cattle and their beasts. Wherefore they gave thanks to God.
CHAP. 21. -- And on the day after, when they were setting
out thence, and in the hour in which they began their
journey, Jesus turned to the palm, and said: This privilege I
give thee, O palm tree, that one of thy branches be carried
away by my angels, and planted in the paradise of my Father.
And this blessing I will confer upon thee, that it shall be
said of all who conquer in any contest, You have attained the
palm of victory. And while He was thus speaking, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeared, and stood upon the palm tree; and
taking off one of its branches, flew to heaven with the
branch in his hand. And when they saw this, they fell on
their faces, and became as it were dead. And Jesus said to
them: Why are your hearts possessed with fear? Do you not
know that this palm, which I have caused to be transferred to
paradise, shall be prepared for all the saints in the place
of delights, as it has been prepared for us in this place of
the wilderness? And they were filled with joy; and being
strengthened, they all rose up.
CHAP. 22.--After this, while they were going
on their journey, Joseph said to Jesus: Lord, it is a boiling
heat; if it please Thee, let us go by the sea-shore, that we
may be able to rest in the cities on the coast. Jesus said to
him: Fear not, Joseph; I will shorten the way for you, so
that what you would have taken thirty days to go over, you
shall accomplish in this one day. And while they were thus
speaking, behold, they looked forward, and began to see the
mountains and cities of Egypt.
And rejoicing and exulting, they came into the regions of
Hermopolis, and entered into a certain city of Egypt which is
called Sotinen; [1] and because they knew no one there from
whom they could ask hospitality, they went into a temple
which was called the Capitol of Egypt. And in this temple
there had been set up three hundred and fifty-five idols, [2]
to each of which on its own day divine honours and sacred
rites were paid. For the Egyptians belonging to the same city
entered the Capitol, in which the priests told them how many
sacrifices were offered each day, according to the honour in
which the god was held.
CHAP. 23.--And it came to pass, when the most blessed
Mary went into the temple with the little child, that all the
idols prostrated themselves on the ground, so that all of
them were
lying on their faces shattered and broken to pieces; [3] and
thus they plainly showed that they were nothing. Then was
fulfilled that which was said by the prophet Isaiah: Behold,
the Lord will come upon a swift cloud, and will enter Egypt,
and all the handiwork of the Egyptians shall be moved at His
presence. [4]
CHAP. 24.--Then Affrodosius, that governor of the city,
when news of this was brought to him, went to the temple with
all his army. And the priests of the temple, when they saw
Affrodosius with all his army coming into the temple, thought
that he was making haste only to see vengeance taken on those
on whose account the gods had fallen down. But when he came
into the temple, and saw all the gods lying prostrate on
their faces, he went up to the blessed Mary, who was carrying
the Lord in her bosom, and adored Him, and said to all his
army and all his friends: Unless this were the God of our
gods, our gods would not have fallen on their faces before
Him; nor would they be lying prostrate in His presence:
wherefore they silently confess that He is their Lord. Unless
we, therefore, take care to do what we have seen our gods
doing, we may run the risk of His anger, and all come to
destruction, even as it happened to Pharaoh king of the
Egyptians, who, not believing in powers so mighty, was
drowned in the sea, with all his army. [5] Then all the
people of that same city believed in the Lord God through
Jesus Christ.
CHAP. 25.--After no long time the angel said to Joseph:
Return to the land of Judah, for they are dead who sought the
child's life. [1]
CHAP. 26.--And it came to pass, after Jesus had returned
out of Egypt, when He was in Galilee, and entering on the
fourth year of His age, that on a Sabbath-day He was playing
with some children at the bed of the Jordan. And as He sat
there, Jesus made to Himself seven pools of clay, and to each
of them He made passages, through which at His command He
brought water from the torrent into the pool, and took it
back again. Then one of those children, a son of the devil,
moved with envy, shut the passages which supplied the pools
with water, and overthrew what Jesus had built up. Then said
Jesus to him: Woe unto thee, thou son of death, thou son of
Satan! Dost thou destroy the works which I have wrought? And
immediately he who had done this died. Then with great uproar
the parents of the dead boy cried out against Mary and
Joseph, saying to them: Your son has cursed our son, and he
is dead. And when Joseph and Mary heard this, they came
forthwith to Jesus, on account of the outcry of the parents
of the boy, and the gathering together of the Jews. But
Joseph said privately to Mary: I dare not speak to Him; but
do thou admonish Him, and say: Why hast Thou raised against
us the hatred of the people; and why must the troublesome
hatred of men be borne by us? And His mother having come to
Him, asked Him, saying: My Lord, what was it that he did to
bring about his death? And He said: He deserved death,
because he scattered the works that I had made. Then His
mother asked Him, saying: Do not so, my Lord, because all men
rise up against us. But He, not wishing to grieve His mother,
with His right foot kicked the hinder parts of the dead boy,
and said to him: Rise, thou son of iniquity for thou art not
worthy to enter into the rest of my Father, because thou
didst destroy the works which I had made. Then he who had
been dead rose up, and went away. And Jesus, by the word of
His power, brought water into the pools by the aqueduct.
CHAP. 27.--And it came to pass, after these things, that in the sight of all Jesus took clay froth the
pools which He had made, and of it made twelve sparrows. And
it was the Sabbath when Jesus did this, and there were very
many children with Him. When, therefore, one of the Jews had
seen Him doing this, he said to Joseph: Joseph, dost thou not
see the child
Jesus working on the Sabbath at what it is not lawful for
him to do? for he has made twelve sparrows of clay. And when
Joseph heard this, he reproved him, saying: Wherefore doest
thou on the Sabbath such things as are not lawful for us to
do? And when Jesus heard Joseph, He struck His hands
together, and said to His sparrows: Fly! And at the voice of
His command they began to fly. And in the sight and hearing
of all that stood by, He said to the birds: Go and fly
through the earth, and through all the world, and live. And
when those that were there saw such miracles, they were
filled with great astonishment. And some praised and admired
Him, but others reviled Him. And certain of them went away to
the chief priests and the heads of the Pharisees, and
reported to them that Jesus the son of Joseph had done great
signs and miracles in the sight of all the people of Israel.
And this was reported in the twelve tribes of Israel.
CHAP. 28.--And again the son of Annas, a priest of the
temple, who had come with Joseph, holding his rod in his hand
in the sight of all, with great fury broke down the dams
which Jesus had made with His own hands, and let out the
water which He had collected in them from the torrent.
Moreover, he shut the aqueduct by which the water came in,
and then broke it down. And when Jesus saw this, He said to
that boy who had destroyed His dams: O most wicked seed of
iniquity! O son of death! O workshop of Satan! verily the
fruit of thy seed shall be without strength, and thy roots
without moisture, and thy branches withered, bearing no
fruit. And immediately, in the sight of all, the boy withered
away, and died.
CHAP. 29.--Then Joseph trembled, and took hold of Jesus,
and went with Him to his own house, and His mother with Him.
And, behold, suddenly from the opposite direction a boy, also
a worker of iniquity, ran up and came against the shoulder of
Jesus, wishing to make sport of Him, or to hurt Him, if he
could. And Jesus said to him: Thou shall not go back safe and
sound from the way that thou goest. And immediately he fell
down, and died. And the parents of the dead boy, who had seen
what happened, cried out, saying: Where does this child come
from? It is manifest that every word that he says is true;
and it is often accomplished before he speaks. And the
parents of the dead boy came to Joseph, and said to him: Take
away that Jesus from this place, for he cannot live with us
in this town; or at least teach him to bless, and not to
curse. And Joseph came up to Jesus, and admonished Him,
saying: Why doest thou such things? For already many are in
grief and against thee, and hate us on thy account, and we
endure the reproaches of men because of thee. And Jesus
answered and said unto Joseph: No one is a wise son but he
whom his father hath taught, according to the knowledge of
this time; and a father's curse can hurt none but evil-doers.
Then they came together against Jesus, and accused him to
Joseph. When Joseph saw this, he was in great terror, fearing
the violence and uproar of the people of Israel. And the same
hour Jesus seized the dead boy by the ear, and lifted him up
from the earth in the sight of all: and they saw Jesus
speaking to him like a father to his son. And his spirit came
back to him, and he revived. And all of them wondered.
CHAP. 30.--Now a certain Jewish schoolmaster named
Zachyas[1] heard Jesus thus speaking; and seeing that He
could not be overcome, from knowing the power that was in
Him,[2] he became angry, and began rudely and foolishly, and
without fear, to speak against Joseph. And he said: Dost thou
not wish to entrust me with thy son, that he may be
instructed in human learning and in reverence? But I see that
Mary and thyself have more regard for your son than for what
the elders of the people of Israel say against him. You
should have given more honour to us, the elders of the whole
church of Israel, both that he might be on terms of mutual
affection with the children, and that among us he might be
instructed in Jewish learning. Joseph, on the other hand,
said to him: And is there any one who can keep this child,
and teach him? But if thou canst keep him and teach him, we
by no means hinder him from being taught by thee those things
which are learned by all. And Jesus, having heard what
Zachyas had said, answered and said unto him: The precepts of
the law which thou hast just spoken of, and all the things
that thou hast named, must be kept by those who are
instructed in human learning; but I am a stranger to your
law-courts, because I have no father after the flesh. Thou
who readest the law, and art learned in it, abidest in the
law; but I was before the law, But since thou thinkest that
no one is equal to thee in learning, thou shalt be taught by
me, that no other can teach anything but those things which
thou hast named. But he alone can who is worthy.[3] For when
I shall be exalted on earth, I will cause to cease all
mention of your genealogy. For thou knowest not when thou
wast born: I alone know when you were born, and how long your
life on earth will be. Then all who heard these words were
struck with astonishment, and cried out: Oh! oh! oh! this
marvellously great and wonderful mystery. Never have we heard
the like! Never has it been heard from any one else, nor has
it been said or at any time heard by the prophets, or the
Pharisees, or the scribes. We know whence he is sprung, and
he is scarcely five years old; and whence does he speak these
words? The Pharisees answered: We have never heard such words
spoken by any other child so young. And Jesus answered and
said unto them: At this do ye wonder, that such things are
said by a child? Why, then, do ye not believe me in those
things which I have said to you? And you all wonder because I
said to you that I know when you were born. I will tell you
greater things, that you may wonder more. I have seen
Abraham, whom you call your father, and have spoken with him;
and he has seen me.[4] And when they heard this they held
their tongues, nor did any of them dare to speak. And Jesus
said to them: I have been among you with children, and you
have not known me; I have spoken to you as to wise men, and
you have not understood my words; because you are younger
than I am,[5] and of little faith.
CHAP. 31--A second time the master Zachyas, doctor of the
law, said to Joseph and Mary: Give me the boy, and I shall
hand him over to master Levi, who shall teach him his letters
and instruct him. Then Joseph and Mary, soothing Jesus, took
Him to the schools, that He might be taught His letters by
old Levi. And as soon as He went in He held His tongue. And
the master Levi said one letter to Jesus, and, beginning from
the first letter Aleph, said to Him: Answer. But Jesus was
silent, and answered nothing. Wherefore the preceptor Levi
was angry, and seized his storax-tree rod, and struck Him on
the head. And Jesus said to the teacher Levi: Why dost thou
strike me? Thou shall know in truth, that He who is struck
can teach him who strikes Him more than He can be taught by
him. For I can teach you those very things that yon are
saying. But all these are blind who speak and hear, like
sounding brass or tinkling cymbal, in which there is no
perception of those things which are meant by their sound.[6]
And Jesus in addition said to Zachyas: Every letter from
Aleph even to Thet[7] is known by its arrangement. Say thou
first, therefore, what Thet is, and I will tell thee what
Aleph is. And again Jesus said to them: Those who do not know
Aleph, how can they say Thet, the hypocrites? Tell me what
the first one, Aleph, is; and I shall then believe you when
you have said Beth. And Jesus began to ask the names of the
letters one by one, and said: Let the master of the law tell
us what the first letter is, or why it has many triangles,
gradate, subacute, mediate, obduced, produced, erect,
prostrate, curvistrate.[1] And when Levi heard this, he was
thunderstruck at such an arrangement of the names of the
letters. Then he began in the heating of all to cry out, and
say: Ought such a one to live on the earth? Yea, he ought to
be hung on the great cross. For he can put out fire, and make
sport of other modes of punishment. I think that he lived
before the flood, and was born before the deluge. For what
womb bore him? or what mother brought him forth? or what
breasts gave him suck? I flee before him; I am not able to
withstand the words from his mouth, but my heart is astounded
to hear such words. I do not think that any man can
understand what he says, except God were with him. Now I,
unfortunate wretch, have given myself up to be a laughing-
stock to him. For when I thought I had a scholar, I, not
knowing him, have found my master. What shall I say? I cannot
withstand the words of this child: I shall now flee from this
town, because I cannot understand them. An old man like me
has been beaten by a boy, because I can find neither
beginning nor end of what he says. For it is no easy matter
to find a beginning of himself.[2] I tell you of a certainty,
I am not lying, that to my eyes the proceedings of this boy,
the commencement of his conversation, and the upshot of his
intention, seem to have nothing in common with mortal man.
Here then I do not know whether he be a wizard or a god; or
at least an angel of God speaks in him. Whence he is, or
where he comes from, or who he will turn out to be, I know
not. Then Jesus, smiling at him with a joyful countenance,
said in a commanding voice to all the sons of Israel standing
by and hearing: Let the unfruitful bring forth fruit, and the
blind see, and the lame walk right, and the poor enjoy the
good things of this life, and the dead live, that each may
return to his original state, and abide in Him who is the
root of life and of perpetual sweetness. And when the child
Jesus had said this, forthwith all who had fallen under
malignant diseases were restored. And they did not dare to
say anything more to Him, or to hear anything from Him.
CHAP. 32.--After these things, Joseph and Mary departed
thence with Jesus into the city of Nazareth; and He remained
there with His parents. And on the first of the week, when
Jesus was playing with the children on the roof of a certain
house, it happened that one of the children pushed another
down from the roof to the ground, and he was killed. And the
parents of the dead boy, who had not seen this, cried out
against Joseph and Mary, saying: Your son has thrown our son
down to the ground, and he is dead. But Jesus was silent, and
answered them nothing. And Joseph and Mary came in haste to
Jesus.; and His mother asked Him, saying: My lord, tell me if
thou didst throw him down. And immediately Jesus went down
from the roof to the ground, and called the boy by his name,
Zeno. And he answered Him: My lord. And Jesus said to him:
Was it I that threw thee down from the roof to the ground?
And he said: No, my lord. And the parents of the boy who had
been dead wondered, and honoured Jesus for the miracle that
had been wrought. And Joseph and Mary departed thence with
Jesus to Jericho.
CHAP. 33.--Now Jesus was six years old, and His mother
sent Him with a pitcher to the fountain to draw water with
the children. And it came to pass, after He had drawn the
water, that one of the children came against Him, and struck
the pitcher, and broke it. But Jesus stretched out the cloak
which He had on, and took up in His cloak as much water as
there had been in the pitcher, and carried it to His mother.
And when she saw it she wondered, and reflected within
herself, and laid up all these things in her heart.[3]
CHAP. 34.--Again, on a certain day, He went forth into
the field, and took a little wheat from His mother's barn,
and sowed it Himself. And it sprang up, and grew, and
multiplied exceedingly. And at last it came to pass that He
Himself reaped it, and gathered as the produce of it three
kors,[4] and gave it to His numerous acquaintances.[5]
CHAP. 35.--There is a road going out of Jericho and
leading to the river Jordan, to the place
where the children of Israel crossed: and there the ark of
the covenant is said to have rested. And Jesus was eight
years old, and He went out of Jericho, and went towards the
Jordan. And there was beside the road, near the bank of the
Jordan, a cave where a lioness was nursing her cubs; and no
one was safe to walk that way. Jesus then, coming from
Jericho, and knowing that in that cave the lioness bad
brought forth her young, went into it in the sight of all.
And when the lions saw Jesus, they ran to meet Him, and
adored Him. And Jesus was sitting in the cavern, and the
lion's cubs ran hither and thither round His feet, fawning
upon Him, and sporting. And the older lions, with their heads
bowed down, stood at a distance, and adored Him, and fawned
upon Him with their tails. Then the people who were standing
afar off, not seeing Jesus, said: Unless he or his parents
had committed grievous sins, he would not of his own accord
have offered himself up to the lions. And when the people
were thus reflecting within themselves, and were lying under
great sorrow, behold, on a sudden, in the sight of the
people, Jesus came out of the cave, and the lions went before
Him, and the lion's cubs played with each other before His
feet. And the parents of Jesus stood afar off, with their
heads bowed down, and watched; likewise also the people stood
at a distance, on account of the lions; for they did not dare
to come close to them. Then Jesus began to say to the people:
How much better are the beasts than you, seeing that they
recognise their Lord, and glorify Him; while you men, who
have been made after the image and likeness of God, do not
know Him! Beasts know me, and are tame; men see me, and do
not acknowledge me.
CHAP. 36.--After these things Jesus crossed the Jordan,
in the sight of them all, with the lions; and the water of
the Jordan was divided on the right hand and on the left.[1]
Then He said to the lions, in the hearing of all: Go in
peace, and hurt no one; but neither let man injure you, until
you return to the place whence you have come forth. And they,
bidding Him farewell, not only with their gestures but with
their voices, went to their own place. But Jesus returned to
His mother.
CHAP. 37.--Now Joseph[2] was a carpenter, and used to
make nothing else of wood but ox-yokes, and ploughs, and
implements of husbandry, and wooden beds. And it came to pass
that a certain young man ordered him to make for him a couch
six cubits long. And Joseph commanded his servant[3] to cut
the wood with an iron saw, according to the measure which he
had sent. But he did not keep to the prescribed measure, but
made one piece of wood shorter than the other. And Joseph was
in perplexity, and began to consider what he was to do about
this. And when Jesus saw him in this state of cogitation,
seeing that it was a matter of impossibility to him, He
addresses him with words of comfort, saying: Come, let us
take hold of the ends of the pieces of wood, and let us put
them together, end to end, and let us fit them exactly to
each other, and draw to us, for we shall be able to make them
equal. Then Joseph did what he was bid, for he knew that He
could do whatever He wished. And Joseph took hold of the ends
of the pieces of wood, and brought them together against the
wall next himself, and Jesus took hold of the other ends of
the pieces of wood, and drew the shorter piece to Him, and
made it of the same length as the longer one. And He said to
Joseph: Go and work, and do what thou hast promised to do.
And Joseph did what he had promised.[4]
CHAP. 38.--And it came to pass a second time, that Joseph
and Mary were asked by the people that Jesus should be taught
His letters in school. They did not refuse to do so; and
according to the commandment of the elders, they took Him to
a master to be instructed in human learning. Then the master
began to teach Him in an imperious tone, saying: Say
Alpha.[5] And Jesus said to him: Do thou tell me first what
Betha is, and I will tell thee what Alpha is. And upon this
the master got angry and struck Jesus; and no sooner had he
struck Him, than he fell down dead.
And Jesus went home again to His mother. And Joseph,
being afraid, called Mary to him, and said to her: Know of a
surety that my soul is sorrowful even unto death on account
of this child. For it is very likely that at some time or
other some one will strike him in malice, and he will die.
But Mary answered and said: O man of God! do not believe that
this is possible. You may believe to a certainty that He who
has sent him to be born among men will Himself guard him from
all mischief, and will in His own name preserve him from
evil.
CHAP. 39.--Again the Jews asked Mary and Joseph a third
time to coax Him to go to another master to learn. And Joseph
and Mary, fearing the people, and the overbearing of the
princes, and the threats of the priests, led Him again to
school, knowing that He could learn nothing from man, because
He had perfect knowledge from God only. And when Jesus had
entered the school, led by the Holy Spirit, He took the book
out of the hand of the master who was teaching the law, and
in the sight and hearing of all the people began to read, not
indeed what was written in their book; but He spoke in the
Spirit of the living God, as if a stream of water were
gushing forth from a living fountain, and the fountain
remained always full. And with such power He taught the
people the great things of the living God, that the master
himself fell to the ground and adored Him. And the heart of
the people who sat and heard Him saying such things was
turned into astonishment. And when Joseph heard of this, he
came running to Jesus, fearing that the master himself was
dead. And when the master saw him, he said to him: Thou hast
given me not a scholar, but a master; and who can withstand
his words? Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the
Psalmist: The river of God is full of water: Thou hast
prepared them corn, for so is the provision for it.[1]
CHAP. 40.--After these things Joseph departed thence with
Mary and Jesus to go into Capernaum by the sea-shore, on
account of the malice of his adversaries. And when Jesus was
living in Capernaum, there was in the city a man named
Joseph, exceedingly rich. But he had wasted away under his
infirmity, and died, and was lying dead in his couch. And
when Jesus heard them in the city mourning, and weeping, and
lamenting over the dead man, He said to Joseph: Why dost thou
not afford the benefit of thy favour to this man, seeing that
he is called by thy name? And Joseph answered him: How have I
any power or ability to afford him a benefit? And Jesus said
to him: Take the handkerchief which is upon thy head, and go
and put it on the face of the dead man, and say to him:
Christ heal thee; and immediately the dead man will be
healed, and will rise from his couch. And when Joseph heard
this, he went away at the command of Jesus, and ran, and
entered the house of the dead man, and put the handkerchief
which he was wearing on his head upon the face of him who was
lying in the couch, and said: Jesus heal thee. And forthwith
the dead man rose from his bed, and asked who Jesus was.[2]
CHAP. 41.--And they went away from Capernaum into the
city which is called Bethlehem; and Joseph lived with Mary in
his own house, and Jesus with them. And on a certain day
Joseph called to him his first-born son James,[3] and sent
him into the vegetable garden to gather vegetables for the
purpose of making broth. And Jesus followed His brother James
into the garden; but Joseph and Mary did not know this. And
while James was collecting the vegetables, a viper suddenly
came out of a hole and struck his hand,[4] and he began to
cry out from excessive pain. And, becoming exhausted, he
said, with a bitter cry: Alas! alas! an accursed viper has
struck my hand. And Jesus, who was standing opposite to him,
at the bitter cry ran up to James, and took hold of his hand;
and all that He did was to blow on the hand of James, and
cool it: and immediately James was healed, and the serpent
died. And Joseph and Mary did not know what had been done;
but at the cry of James, and the command of Jesus, they ran
to the garden, and found the serpent already dead, and James
quite cured.
CHAP. 42.--And Joseph having come to a feast with his
sons, James, Joseph, and Judah, and Simeon and his two
daughters, Jesus met them, with Mary His mother, along with
her sister Mary of Cleophas, whom the Lord God had given to
her father Cleophas and her mother Anna, because they had
offered Mary the mother of Jesus to the Lord. And she was
called by the same name, Mary, for the consolation of her
parents.[5] And when they had come together, Jesus sanctified
and blessed them, and He was the first to begin to eat and
drink; for none of them dared to eat or drink, or to sit at
table, or to break bread, until He had sanctified them, and
first done so. And if He happened to be absent, they used to
wait until He should do this. And when He did not wish to
come for refreshment, neither Joseph nor Mary, nor the sons
of Joseph, His brothers, came. And, indeed, these brothers,
keeping His life as a lamp before their eyes, observed Him,
and feared Him. And when Jesus slept, whether by day or by
night, the brightness of God shone upon Him. To whom be all
praise and glory for ever and ever. Amen, amen.