The Teaching of Addæus the Apostle.
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Addæus said to him: Because thou hast thus believed, I lay my hand upon thee in the name of Him in whom thou hast thus believed. And at the very moment that he laid his hand upon him he was healed of the plague of the disease which he had for a long time. And Abgar was astonished and marvelled, because, like as he had heard about Jesus, how He wrought and healed, so Addæus also, without any medicine whatever, was healing in the name of Jesus. And Abdu also, son of Abdu, had the gout in his feet; and he also presented his feet to him, and he laid his hand upon them, and healed him, and he had the gout no more. And in all the city also he wrought great cures, and showed forth wonderful mighty-works in it.
Abgar said to him: Now that every man knoweth that by the power of Jesus Christ thou doest these miracles, and lo! we are astonished at thy deeds, I therefore entreat of thee to relate to us the story about the coming of Christ, in what manner it was, and about His glorious power, and about the miracles which we have heard that He did, which thou hast thyself seen, together with thy fellow-disciples.
Addæus said: I will not hold my peace from declaring this; since for this very purpose was I sent hither, that I might speak to and teach every one who is willing to believe, even as thou. Assemble me tomorrow all the city, and I will sow in it the word of life by the preaching which I will address to you—about the coming of Christ, in what manner it was; and about Him that sent Him, why and how He sent Him; and about His power and His wonderful works; and about the glorious mysteries of His coming, which He spake of in the world; and about the unerring truth2963 of His preaching; and how and for what cause He abused Himself, and humbled His exalted Godhead by the manhood which He took, and was crucified, and descended to the place of the dead, and broke through the enclosure2964 which had never been broken through before, and gave life to the dead by being slain Himself, and descended alone, and ascended with many to His glorious Father, with whom He had been from eternity in one exalted Godhead.
And Abgar commanded them to give to Addæus silver and gold. Addæus said to him: How can we receive that which is not ours. For, lo! that which was ours have we forsaken, as we were commanded by our Lord; because without purses and without scrips, bearing the cross upon our shoulders, were we commanded to preach His Gospel in the whole creation, of whose crucifixion, which was for our sakes, for the redemption of all men, the whole creation was sensible and suffered pain.
And he related before Abgar the king, and before his princes and his nobles, and before Augustin, Abgar’s mother, and before Shalmath,2965 the daughter of Meherdath,2966 Abgar’s wife,2967 the signs of our Lord, and His wonders, and the glorious mighty-works which He did, and His divine exploits, and His ascension to His Father; and how they had received power and authority at the same time that He was received up—by which same power it was that he had healed Abgar, and Abdu son of Abdu, the second person2968 of his kingdom; and how He informed them that He would reveal Himself at the end of the ages2969 and at the consummation of all created things; also of the resuscitation and resurrection which is to come for all men, and 658the separation which will be made between the sheep and the goats, and between the faithful and those who believe not.
And he said to them: Because the gate of life is strait and the way of truth narrow, therefore are the believers of the truth few, and through unbelief is Satan’s gratification. Therefore are the liars many who lead astray those that see. For, were it not that there is a good end awaiting believing men, our Lord would not have descended from heaven, and come to be born, and to endure the suffering of death. Yet He did come, and us did He send2970…of the faith which we preach, that God was crucified for2971 all men.
And, if there be those who are not willing2972 to agree with these our words, let them draw near to us and disclose to us what is in their mind, that, like as in the case of a disease, we may apply to their thoughts healing medicine for the cure of their ailments. For, though ye were not present at the time of Christ’s suffering, yet from the sun which was darkened, and which ye saw, learn ye and understand concerning the great convulsion2973 which took place at that time, when He was crucified whose Gospel has winged its way through all the earth by the signs which His disciples my fellows do in all the earth: yea, those who were Hebrews, and knew only the language of the Hebrews, in which they were born, lo! at this day are speaking in all languages, in order that those who are afar off may hear and believe, even as those who are near. For He it is that confounded the tongues of the presumptuous in this region who were before us; and He it is that teaches at this day the faith of truth and verity by us, humble and despicable2974 men from Galilee of Palestine. For I also whom ye see am from Paneas,2975 from the place where the river Jordan issues forth, and I was chosen, together with my fellows, to be a preacher.
For, according as my Lord commanded me, lo! I preach and publish the Gospel, and lo! His money do I cast upon the table before you, and the seed of His word do I sow in the ears of all men; and such as are willing to receive it, theirs is the good recompense of the confession of Christ; but those who are not persuaded, the dust of my feet do I shake off against them, as He commanded me.
Repent therefore, my beloved, of evil ways and of abominable deeds, and turn yourselves towards Him with a good and honest will, as He hath turned Himself towards you with the favour of His rich mercies; and be ye not as the generations of former times that have passed away, which, because they hardened their heart against the fear of God, received punishment openly, that they themselves might be chastised, and that those who come after them may tremble and be afraid. For the purpose of our Lord’s coming into the world assuredly was,2976 that He might teach us and show us that at the consummation of the creation there will be a resuscitation of all men, and that at that time their course of conduct will be portrayed in their persons, and their bodies will be volumes for the writings of justice; nor will any one be there who is unacquainted with books, because every one will read that which is written in His own book.2977
Ye that have eyes, forasmuch as ye do not perceive, are yourselves also become like those who see not and hear not; and in vain do your ineffectual voices strain themselves to deaf2978
ears. Whilst they are not to be blamed for not hearing, because they are by2979 nature deaf and dumb, yet the blame which is justly incurred falls upon you,2980 because ye are not willing to perceive—not even that which ye see. For the dark cloud of error which overspreads your minds suffers you not to obtain the heavenly light, which is the understanding of knowledge.2981
Flee, then, from things made and created, as I said to you, which are only called gods in name, whilst they are not gods in their nature; and draw near to this Being, who in His nature is God from everlasting and from eternity, and is not something made, like your idols, nor is He a creature and a work of art, like those images in which ye glory. Because, although this2982Being put on a body, yet is He God with His Father. For the works of creation, which trembled when He was slain and were dismayed at His suffering of death,—these bear witness that He is Himself God the Creator. For it was not on account of a man that the earth trembled,2983 but on ac659count of Him who established the earth upon the waters; nor was it on account of a man that the sun grew dark in the heavens, but on account of Him who made the great lights; nor was it for a man that the just and righteous were restored to life again, but for Him who had granted power over death from the beginning; nor was it for a man that the veil of the temple of the Jews was rent from the top to the bottom, but for Him who said to them, “Lo, your house is left desolate.” For, lo! unless those who crucified Him had known that He was the Son of God, they would not have had to proclaim2984 the desolation2985 of their city, nor would they have brought down Woe! upon themselves.2986 For, even if they had wished to make light of this confession,2987 the fearful convulsions which took place at that time would not have suffered them to do so. For lo! some even of the children of the crucifiers are become at this day preachers and evangelists, along with my fellow-apostles, in all the land of Palestine, and among the Samaritans, and in all the country of the Philistines. The idols also of paganism are despised, and the cross of Christ is honoured, and all nations and creatures confess God who became man.
If, therefore, while Jesus our Lord was on earth ye would have believed in Him that He is the Son of God, and before ye had heard the word of His preaching would have confessed Him that He is God; now that He is ascended to His Father, and ye have seen the signs and the wonders which are done in His name, and have heard with your own ears the word of His Gospel, let no one of you doubt in his mind—so that the promise of His blessing which He sent to you may be fulfilled2988 towards you: Blessed are ye that have believed in me, not having seen me; and, because ye have so believed in me, the town2989 in which ye dwell shall be blessed, and the enemy shall not prevail against it for ever.2990
Turn not away, therefore, from his faith: for, lo! ye have heard and seen what things bear witness to His faith—showing that He is the adorable Son, and is the glorious God, and is the victorious King, and is the mighty Power; and through faith in Him a man is able to acquire the eyes of a true mind,2991 and to understand that, whosoever worshippeth creatures, the wrath of justice will overtake him.
For in everything which we speak before you, according as we have received of the gift of our Lord, so speak we and teach and declare it, that ye may secure2992 your salvation and not destroy2993 your spirits through the error of paganism: because the heavenly light has arisen on the creation, and He it is who chose the fathers of former times, and the righteous men, and the prophets, and spoke with them in the revelation of the Holy Spirit.2994 For He is Himself the God of the Jews who crucified Him; and to Him it is that the erring pagans offer worship, even while they know it not: because there is no other God in heaven and on earth; and lo! confession ascendeth up to Him from the four quarters of the creation. Lo! therefore, your ears have heard that which was not heard by you; and lo! further, your eyes have seen that which was never seen by you.2995
Be not, therefore, gainsayers of that which ye have seen and heard. Put away from you the rebellious mind of your fathers, and free yourselves from the yoke of sin, which hath dominion over you in libations and in sacrifices offered before carved images; and be ye concerned for your endangered2996 salvation, and for the unavailing support on which ye lean;2997
and get you a new mind, that worships the Maker and not the 660things which are made—a mind in which is portrayed the image of verity and of truth, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; believing and being baptized in the triple and glorious names. For this is our teaching and our preaching. For the belief of the truth of Christ does not consist of many things.2998 And those of you as are willing to be obedient to Christ are aware that I have many times repeated my words before you, in order that ye might learn and understand what ye hear.
And we ourselves shall rejoice in this, like the husbandman who rejoices in the field which is blessed; God also will be glorified by your repentance towards Him. While ye are saved hereby, we also, who give you this counsel, shall not be despoiled of the blessed reward of this work. And, because I am assured that ye are a land blessed according to the will of the Lord Christ, therefore, instead of the dust of our feet which we were commanded to shake off against the town that would not receive our words, I have shaken off to-day at the door of your ears the sayings of my lips, in which are portrayed the coming of Christ which has already been, and also that which is yet to be; and the resurrection, and the resuscitation of all men, and the separation which is to be made between the faithful and the unbelieving; and the sore punishment which is reserved for those who know not God, and the blessed promise of future joy which they shall receive who have believed in Christ and worshipped Him and His exalted Father, and have confessed Him and His divine Spirit.2999
And now it is meet for us that I conclude my present discourse; and let those who have accepted the word of Christ remain with us, and those also who are willing to join with us in prayer; and afterwards let them go to their homes.
And Addæus the apostle was rejoiced to see that a great number of the population of the city stayed with him; and they were but few who did not remain at that time, while even those few not many days after accepted his words and believed in the Gospel set forth in3000 the preaching of Christ.
And when Addæus the apostle had spoken these things before all the town of Edessa, and King Abgar saw that all the city rejoiced in his teaching, men and women alike, and heard them saying to him, “True and faithful is Christ who sent thee to us”—he himself also rejoiced greatly at this, giving praise to God; because, like as he had heard from Hanan,3001 his Tabularius, about Christ, so had he seen the wonderful mighty-works which Addæus the apostle did in the name of Christ.
And Abgar the king also said to him: According as I sent to Christ in my letter to Him, and according as He also sent to me, so have I also received from thine own self this day; so will I believe all the days of my life, and in the selfsame things will I continue and make my boast, because I know also that there is no other power in whose name these signs and wonders are done but the power of Christ whom thou preachest in verity and in truth. And henceforth Him will I worship—I and my son Maanu,3002 and Augustin,3003 and Shalmath the queen. And now, wherever thou desirest, build a church, a place of meeting for those who have believed and shall believe in thy words; and, according to the command given thee by thy Lord, minister thou at the seasons with confidence; to those also who shall be with thee as teachers of this Gospel I am prepared to give large donations, in order that they may not have any other work beside the ministry; and whatsoever is required by thee for the expenses of the building I myself will give thee without any restriction,3004 whilst thy word shall be authoritative and sovereign in this town; moreover, without the intervention of any other person do thou come into my presence as one in authority, into the palace of my royal majesty.
And when Abgar was gone down to his royal palace he rejoiced, he and his princes with him, Abdu son of Abdu, and Garmai, and Shemashgram,3005 and Abubai, and Meherdath,3006 together with the others their companions, at all that their eyes had seen and their ears also had heard; and in the gladness of their heart they too began to praise God for having turned their mind towards Him, renouncing the paganism in which they had lived,3007 and confessing the Gospel of Christ. And when Addæus had built a church they proceeded to offer in it vows and oblations, they and the people of the city; and there they continued to present their praises all the days of their life.
And Avida and Barcalba,3008 who were chief men and rulers, and wore the royal headband,3009 drew 661near to Addæus, and asked him about the matter of Christ, requesting that he would tell them how He, though He was God, appeared to them as a man: And how, said they, were ye able to look upon Him? And he proceeded to satisfy them all about this, about all that their eyes had seen and about whatsoever their ears had heard from him. Moreover, everything that the prophets had spoken concerning Him he repeated before them, and they received his words gladly and with faith, and there was not a man that withstood him; for the glorious deeds which he did suffered not any man to withstand him.
Shavida, moreover, and Ebednebu, chiefs of the priests of this town, together with Piroz3010 and Dilsu their companions, when they had seen the signs which he did, ran and threw down the altars on which they were accustomed to sacrifice before Nebu and Bel,3011 their gods, except the great altar which was in the middle of the town; and they cried out and said: Verily this is the disciple of that eminent and glorious Master, concerning whom we have heard all that He did in the country of Palestine. And all those who believed in Christ did Addæus receive, and baptized them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And those who used to worship stones and stocks sat at his feet, recovered from the madness3012 of paganism wherewith they had been afflicted. Jews also, traders in fine raiment,3013 who were familiar with the law and the prophets—they too were persuaded, and became disciples, and confessed Christ that He is the Son of the living God.
But neither did King Abgar nor yet the Apostle Addæus compel any man by force to believe in Christ, because without the force of man the force of the signs compelled many to believe in Him. And with affection did they receive His doctrine—all this country of Mesopotamia, and all the regions round about it.
Aggæus, moreover, who3014 made the silks3015 and headbands of the king, and Palut, and Barshelama, and Barsamya, together with the others their companions, clave to Addæus the apostle; and he received them, and associated them with him in the ministry, their business being to read in the Old Testament and the New,3016 and in the prophets, and in the Acts of the Apostles, and to meditate upon them daily; strictly charging them to let their bodies be pure and their persons holy, as is becoming in men who stand before the altar of God. “And be ye,” said he, “far removed from false swearing and from wicked homicide, and from dishonest testimony, which is connected with adultery; and from magic arts, for which there is no mercy, and from sooth-saying, and divination, and fortune-tellers; and from fate and nativities, of which the deluded Chaldeans make their boast; and from the stars, and the signs of the Zodiac, in which the foolish put their trust. And put far from you unjust partiality, and bribes, and presents, through which the innocent are pronounced guilty. And along with this ministry, to which ye have been called, see that ye have no other work besides: for the Lord is the work of your ministry all the days of your life. And be ye diligent to give the seal of baptism. And be not fond of the gains of this world. And hear ye a cause with justice and with truth. And be ye not a stumbling-block to the blind, lest through you should be blasphemed the name of Him who opened the eyes of the blind, according as we have seen. Let all, therefore, who see you perceive that ye yourselves are in harmony with whatsoever ye preach and teach.”
And they ministered with him in the church which Addæus had built at the word and command of Abgar the king, being furnished with supplies by the king and his nobles, partly for the house of God, and partly for the supply of the poor. Moreover, much people day by day assembled and came to the prayers of the service, and to the reading of the Old Testament, 662and the New of the Diatessaron.3017 They also believed in the restoration of the dead, and buried their departed in the hope of resuscitation. The festivals of the Church they also observed in their seasons, and were assiduous every day in the vigils of the Church. And they made visits of almsgiving, to the sick and to those that were whole, according to the instruction of Addæus to them. In the environs, too, of the city churches were built, and many received from him ordination to the priesthood.3018 So that even people of the East, in the guise of merchants, passed over into the territory of the Romans, that they might see the signs which Addæus did. And such as became disciples received from him ordination to the priesthood, and in their own country of the Assyrians they instructed the people of their nation, and erected houses of prayer there in secret, by reason of the danger from those who worshipped fire and paid reverence to water.3019
Moreover, Narses, the king of the Assyrians, when he heard of those same things which Addæus the apostle had done, sent a message to Abgar the king: Either despatch to me the man who doeth these signs before thee, that I may see him and hear his word, or send me an account of all that thou hast seen him do in thy own town. And Abgar wrote to Narses,3020 and related to him the whole story of the deeds of Addæus from the beginning to the end; and he left nothing which he did not write to him. And, when Narses heard those things which were written to him, he was astonished and amazed.
Abgar the king, moreover, because he was not able to pass over into the territory of the Romans,3021 and go to Palestine and slay the Jews for having crucified Christ, wrote a letter and sent it to Tiberius Cæsar,3022 writing in it thus:—
King Abgar to our Lord Tiberius Cæsar: Although I know that nothing is hidden from thy Majesty, I write to inform thy dread and mighty Sovereignty that the Jews who are under thy dominion and dwell in the country of Palestine have assembled themselves together and crucified Christ, without any fault worthy of death, after He had done before them signs and wonders, and had shown them powerful mighty-works, so that He even raised the dead to life for them; and at the time that they crucified Him the sun became darkened and the earth also quaked, and all created things trembled and quaked, and, as if of themselves, at this deed the whole creation and the inhabitants of the creation shrank away. And now thy Majesty knoweth what it is meet for thee to command concerning the people of the Jews who have done these things.
And Tiberius Cæsar wrote and sent to King Abgar; and thus did he write to him:—
The letter of thy Fidelity towards me I have received, and it hath been read before me. Concerning what the Jews have dared to do in the matter of the cross, Pilate3023 the governor also has written and informed Aulbinus3024 my proconsul concerning these selfsame things of which thou hast written to me. But, because a war with the people of Spain,3025 who have rebelled against me, is on foot at this time, on this account I have not been able to avenge this matter; but I am prepared, when I shall have leisure, to issue a command according to law against the Jews, who act not according to law. And on this account, as regards Pilate also, who was appointed by me governor there—I have sent another in his stead, and dismissed him in disgrace, because he departed from the law,3026 and did the will of the Jews, and for the gratification of the Jews crucified Christ, who, according to what I hear concerning Him, instead of suffering the cross of death, deserved to be honoured and worshipped3027 by them: and more especially because with their own eyes they saw everything that He did. Yet thou, in accordance with thy fidelity towards me, and the faithful covenant entered into by thyself and by thy fathers, hast done well in writing to me thus.
And Abgar the king received Aristides, who had been sent by Tiberius Cæsar to him; and in reply he sent him back with presents of honour suitable for him who had sent him to him. 663And from Edessa he went to Thicuntha,3028 where Claudius, the second from the emperor, was; and from thence, again, he went to Artica,3029 where Tiberius Cæsar was: Caius, moreover, was guarding the regions round about Cæsar. And Aristides himself also related before Tiberius concerning the mighty-works which Addæus had done before Abgar the king. And when he had leisure from the war he sent and put to death some of the chief men of the Jews who were in Palestine. And, when Abgar the king heard of this, he rejoiced greatly that the Jews had received punishment, as it was right.
And some years after Addæus the apostle had built the church in Edessa, and had furnished it with everything that was suitable for it, and had made disciples of a great number of the population of the city, he further built churches in the villages3030 also—both those which were at a distance and those which were near, and finished and adorned them, and appointed in them deacons and elders, and instructed in them those who should read the Scriptures, and taught the ordinances and3031 the ministry without and within.
After all these things he fell ill of the sickness of which he departed from this world. And he called for Aggæus before the whole assembly of the church, and bade him draw near, and made him Guide and Ruler3032 in his stead. And Palut,3033 who was a deacon, he made elder; and Abshelama, who was a scribe, he made deacon. And, the nobles and chief men being assembled, and standing near him—Barcalba son of Zati,3034 and Maryhab3035 son of Barshemash, and Senac3036 son of Avida, and Piroz son of Patric,3037 together with the rest of their companions—Addæus the apostle said to them:—
“Ye know and are witness, all of you who hear me, that, according to all that I have preached to you and taught you and ye have heard from me, even so have I behaved myself in the midst of you, and ye have seen it in deeds also: because our Lord thus charged us, that, whatsoever we preach in words before the people, we should practise it in deeds before all men. And, according to the ordinances and laws which were appointed by the disciples in Jerusalem,3038 and by which my fellow-apostles also guided their conduct, so also do ye—turn not aside from them, nor diminish aught from them: even as I also am guided by them amongst you, and have not turned aside from them to the right hand or to the left, lest I should become estranged from the promised salvation which is reserved for such as are guided by them.
“Give3039 heed, therefore, to this ministry which ye hold, and with fear and trembling continue in it, and minister every day. Minister not in it with neglectful habits, but with the discreetness of faith; and let not the praises of Christ cease out of your mouth, nor let weariness of prayer at the stated times come upon you. Give heed to the verity which ye hold, and to the teaching of the truth which ye have received, and to the inheritance of salvation which I commit to you: because before the tribunal of Christ will ye have to give an account of it, when He maketh reckoning with the shepherds and overseers, and when He taketh His money from the traders with the addition of the gains. For He is the Son of a King, and goeth to receive a kingdom and return; and He will come and make a resuscitation to life for all men, and then will He sit upon the throne of His righteousness, and judge the dead and the living, as He said to us.
“Let not the secret eye of your minds be closed by pride, lest your stumbling-blocks be many in the way in which there are no stumbling-blocks, but a hateful3040 wandering in its paths. Seek ye those that are lost, and direct those that go astray, and rejoice in those that are found; bind up the bruised, and watch over the fatlings: because at your hands will the sheep of Christ be required. Look ye not for the honour that passeth away: for the shepherd that looketh to receive honour from his flock—sadly, sadly stands his flock with respect to him. Let your concern be great for the young lambs, whose angels behold the face of the Father who is unseen. And be ye not stones of stumbling before the blind, but clearers of the way and the paths 664in a rugged country, among the Jews the crucifiers, and the deluded pagans: for with these two parties have ye to fight, in order that ye may show the truth of the faith which ye hold; and, though ye be silent, your modest and decorous appearance will fight for you against those who hate truth and love falsehood.
“Buffet not the poor in the presence of the rich: for scourge grievous enough for them is their poverty.
“Be not beguiled by the hateful devices of Satan, lest ye be stripped naked of the faith which ye have put on.”3041…“And with the Jews, the crucifiers, we will have no fellowship. And this inheritance which we have received from thee we will not let go, but in that will we depart out of this world; and on the day of our Lord, before the judgment-seat of His righteousness, there will He restore to us this inheritance, even as thou hast told us.”
And, when these things had been spoken, Abgar the king rose up, he and his chief men and his nobles, and he went to his palace, all of them being distressed for him because he was dying. And he sent to him noble and excellent apparel, that he might be buried in it. And, when Addæus saw it, he sent to him, saying: In my lifetime I have not taken anything from thee, nor will I now at my death take anything from thee, nor will I frustrate the word of Christ which He spake to us: Accept not anything from any man, and possess not anything in this world.3042
And three days more after these things had been spoken by Addæus the apostle, and he had heard and received the testimony concerning the teaching set forth in their preaching from those engaged with him in the ministry, in the presence of all the nobles he departed out of this world. And that day was the fifth of the week, and the fourteenth of the month Iyar,3043nearly answering to May. And the whole city was in great mourning and bitter anguish for him. Nor was it the Christians only that were distressed for him, but the Jews also, and the pagans, who were in this same town. But Abgar the king was distressed for him more than any one, he and the princes of his kingdom. And in the sadness of his soul he despised and laid aside the magnificence of his kingly state on that day, and with tears mingled with moans he bewailed him with all men. And all the people of the city that saw him were amazed to see how greatly he suffered on his account. And with great and surpassing pomp he bore him, and buried him like one of the princes when he dies; and he laid him in a grand sepulchre adorned with sculpture wrought by the fingers—that in which were laid those of the house of Ariu, the ancestors of Abgar the king: there he laid him sorrowfully, with sadness and great distress. And all the people of the church went there from time to time and prayed fervently; and they kept up the remembrance of his departure from year to year, according to the command and direction which had been received by them from Addæus the apostle,3044 and according to the word of Aggæus, who himself became Guide and Ruler, and the successor of his seat after him, by the ordination to the priesthood which he had received from him in the presence of all men.
He too, with the same ordination which he had received from him, made Priests and Guides in the whole of this country of Mesopotamia. For they also, in like manner as Addæus the apostle, held fast his word, and listened to and received it, as good and faithful successors of the apostle of the adorable Christ. But silver and gold he took not from any man, nor did the gifts of the princes come near him: for, instead of receiving gold and silver, he himself enriched the Church of Christ with the souls of believers.
Moreover, as regards the entire state3045
of the men and the women, they were chaste and circumspect, and holy and pure: for they lived like anchorites3046 and chastely, without spot—in circumspect watchfulness touching the ministry, in their sympathy3047 toward the poor, in their visitations to the sick: for their footsteps were fraught with praise from those who saw them, and their conduct was arrayed in commendation from strangers—so that even the priests of the house of3048 Nebu and Bel divided the honour with them at all times, by reason of their dignified aspect, their truthful words, their frankness of speech arising from their noble nature, which was neither subservient through covetousness nor in bondage under the fear of blame. For there was no one who saw them that did not run to meet them, that he might salute them respectfully, because the very sight of them shed peace upon the beholden: for just like a net3049 were their words of gentleness spread over the contumacious, and they entered within the fold of truth and verity. For there was no man who saw them that was 665ashamed of them, because they did nothing that was not accordant with rectitude and propriety. And in consequence of these things their bearing was fearless as they published their teaching to all men. For, whatsoever they said to others and enjoined on them, they themselves exhibited in practice in their own persons; and the hearers, who saw that their actions went along with their words, without much persuasion became their disciples, and confessed the King Christ, praising God for having turned them towards Him.
And some years after the death of Abgar the king, there arose one of his contumacious3050 sons, who was not favourable to peace; and he sent word to Aggæus, as he was sitting in the church: Make me a headband of gold, such as thou usedst to make for my fathers in former times. Aggæus sent to him: I will not give up the ministry of Christ, which was committed to me by the disciple of Christ, and make a headband of wickedness. And, when he saw that he did not comply, he sent and brake his legs3051 as he was sitting in the church expounding. And as he was dying he adjured Palut and Abshelama: In this house, for whose truth’s sake, lo! I am dying, lay me and bury me. And, even as he had adjured them, so did they lay him—inside the middle door of the church, between the men and the women. And there was great and bitter mourning in all the church, and in all the city—over and above the anguish and the mourning which there had been within the church, such as had been the mourning when Addæus the apostle himself died.
And,3052 in consequence of his dying suddenly and quickly at the breaking of his legs, he was not able to lay his hand upon Palut. Palut went to Antioch, and received ordination to the priesthood from Serapion bishop of Antioch; by which Serapion himself also ordination had been received from Zephyrinus bishop of the city of Rome, in the succession of the ordination to the priesthood from Simon Cephas, who had received it from our Lord, and was bishop there in Rome twenty-five years in the days of the Cæsar who reigned there thirteen years.
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And, according to the custom which exists in the kingdom of Abgar the king, and in all kingdoms, that whatsoever the king commands and whatsoever is spoken in his presence is committed to writing and deposited among the records, so also did Labubna,3053 son of Senac, son of Ebedshaddai, the king’s scribe, write these things also relating to Addæus the apostle from the beginning to the end, whilst Hanan also the Tabularius, a sharir of the kings, set-to his hand in witness, and deposited the writing among the records of the kings, where the ordinances and laws are deposited, and where the contracts of the buyers and sellers are kept with care, without any negligence whatever.
Here endeth the teaching of Addæus the apostle, which he proclaimed in Edessa, the faithful city of Abgar, the faithful king.
• • • • • • • • • • • •
Addæus said to him: Because thou hast thus believed, I lay my hand upon thee in the name of Him in whom thou hast thus believed. And at the very moment that he laid his hand upon him he was healed of the plague of the disease which he had for a long time. And Abgar was astonished and marvelled, because, like as he had heard about Jesus, how He wrought and healed, so Addæus also, without any medicine whatever, was healing in the name of Jesus. And Abdu also, son of Abdu, had the gout in his feet; and he also presented his feet to him, and he laid his hand upon them, and healed him, and he had the gout no more. And in all the city also he wrought great cures, and showed forth wonderful mighty-works in it.
Abgar said to him: Now that every man knoweth that by the power of Jesus Christ thou doest these miracles, and lo! we are astonished at thy deeds, I therefore entreat of thee to relate to us the story about the coming of Christ, in what manner it was, and about His glorious power, and about the miracles which we have heard that He did, which thou hast thyself seen, together with thy fellow-disciples.
Addæus said: I will not hold my peace from declaring this; since for this very purpose was I sent hither, that I might speak to and teach every one who is willing to believe, even as thou. Assemble me tomorrow all the city, and I will sow in it the word of life by the preaching which I will address to you—about the coming of Christ, in what manner it was; and about Him that sent Him, why and how He sent Him; and about His power and His wonderful works; and about the glorious mysteries of His coming, which He spake of in the world; and about the unerring truth2963 of His preaching; and how and for what cause He abused Himself, and humbled His exalted Godhead by the manhood which He took, and was crucified, and descended to the place of the dead, and broke through the enclosure2964 which had never been broken through before, and gave life to the dead by being slain Himself, and descended alone, and ascended with many to His glorious Father, with whom He had been from eternity in one exalted Godhead.
And Abgar commanded them to give to Addæus silver and gold. Addæus said to him: How can we receive that which is not ours. For, lo! that which was ours have we forsaken, as we were commanded by our Lord; because without purses and without scrips, bearing the cross upon our shoulders, were we commanded to preach His Gospel in the whole creation, of whose crucifixion, which was for our sakes, for the redemption of all men, the whole creation was sensible and suffered pain.
And he related before Abgar the king, and before his princes and his nobles, and before Augustin, Abgar’s mother, and before Shalmath,2965 the daughter of Meherdath,2966 Abgar’s wife,2967 the signs of our Lord, and His wonders, and the glorious mighty-works which He did, and His divine exploits, and His ascension to His Father; and how they had received power and authority at the same time that He was received up—by which same power it was that he had healed Abgar, and Abdu son of Abdu, the second person2968 of his kingdom; and how He informed them that He would reveal Himself at the end of the ages2969 and at the consummation of all created things; also of the resuscitation and resurrection which is to come for all men, and 658the separation which will be made between the sheep and the goats, and between the faithful and those who believe not.
And he said to them: Because the gate of life is strait and the way of truth narrow, therefore are the believers of the truth few, and through unbelief is Satan’s gratification. Therefore are the liars many who lead astray those that see. For, were it not that there is a good end awaiting believing men, our Lord would not have descended from heaven, and come to be born, and to endure the suffering of death. Yet He did come, and us did He send2970…of the faith which we preach, that God was crucified for2971 all men.
And, if there be those who are not willing2972 to agree with these our words, let them draw near to us and disclose to us what is in their mind, that, like as in the case of a disease, we may apply to their thoughts healing medicine for the cure of their ailments. For, though ye were not present at the time of Christ’s suffering, yet from the sun which was darkened, and which ye saw, learn ye and understand concerning the great convulsion2973 which took place at that time, when He was crucified whose Gospel has winged its way through all the earth by the signs which His disciples my fellows do in all the earth: yea, those who were Hebrews, and knew only the language of the Hebrews, in which they were born, lo! at this day are speaking in all languages, in order that those who are afar off may hear and believe, even as those who are near. For He it is that confounded the tongues of the presumptuous in this region who were before us; and He it is that teaches at this day the faith of truth and verity by us, humble and despicable2974 men from Galilee of Palestine. For I also whom ye see am from Paneas,2975 from the place where the river Jordan issues forth, and I was chosen, together with my fellows, to be a preacher.
For, according as my Lord commanded me, lo! I preach and publish the Gospel, and lo! His money do I cast upon the table before you, and the seed of His word do I sow in the ears of all men; and such as are willing to receive it, theirs is the good recompense of the confession of Christ; but those who are not persuaded, the dust of my feet do I shake off against them, as He commanded me.
Repent therefore, my beloved, of evil ways and of abominable deeds, and turn yourselves towards Him with a good and honest will, as He hath turned Himself towards you with the favour of His rich mercies; and be ye not as the generations of former times that have passed away, which, because they hardened their heart against the fear of God, received punishment openly, that they themselves might be chastised, and that those who come after them may tremble and be afraid. For the purpose of our Lord’s coming into the world assuredly was,2976 that He might teach us and show us that at the consummation of the creation there will be a resuscitation of all men, and that at that time their course of conduct will be portrayed in their persons, and their bodies will be volumes for the writings of justice; nor will any one be there who is unacquainted with books, because every one will read that which is written in His own book.2977
Ye that have eyes, forasmuch as ye do not perceive, are yourselves also become like those who see not and hear not; and in vain do your ineffectual voices strain themselves to deaf2978
ears. Whilst they are not to be blamed for not hearing, because they are by2979 nature deaf and dumb, yet the blame which is justly incurred falls upon you,2980 because ye are not willing to perceive—not even that which ye see. For the dark cloud of error which overspreads your minds suffers you not to obtain the heavenly light, which is the understanding of knowledge.2981
Flee, then, from things made and created, as I said to you, which are only called gods in name, whilst they are not gods in their nature; and draw near to this Being, who in His nature is God from everlasting and from eternity, and is not something made, like your idols, nor is He a creature and a work of art, like those images in which ye glory. Because, although this2982Being put on a body, yet is He God with His Father. For the works of creation, which trembled when He was slain and were dismayed at His suffering of death,—these bear witness that He is Himself God the Creator. For it was not on account of a man that the earth trembled,2983 but on ac659count of Him who established the earth upon the waters; nor was it on account of a man that the sun grew dark in the heavens, but on account of Him who made the great lights; nor was it for a man that the just and righteous were restored to life again, but for Him who had granted power over death from the beginning; nor was it for a man that the veil of the temple of the Jews was rent from the top to the bottom, but for Him who said to them, “Lo, your house is left desolate.” For, lo! unless those who crucified Him had known that He was the Son of God, they would not have had to proclaim2984 the desolation2985 of their city, nor would they have brought down Woe! upon themselves.2986 For, even if they had wished to make light of this confession,2987 the fearful convulsions which took place at that time would not have suffered them to do so. For lo! some even of the children of the crucifiers are become at this day preachers and evangelists, along with my fellow-apostles, in all the land of Palestine, and among the Samaritans, and in all the country of the Philistines. The idols also of paganism are despised, and the cross of Christ is honoured, and all nations and creatures confess God who became man.
If, therefore, while Jesus our Lord was on earth ye would have believed in Him that He is the Son of God, and before ye had heard the word of His preaching would have confessed Him that He is God; now that He is ascended to His Father, and ye have seen the signs and the wonders which are done in His name, and have heard with your own ears the word of His Gospel, let no one of you doubt in his mind—so that the promise of His blessing which He sent to you may be fulfilled2988 towards you: Blessed are ye that have believed in me, not having seen me; and, because ye have so believed in me, the town2989 in which ye dwell shall be blessed, and the enemy shall not prevail against it for ever.2990
Turn not away, therefore, from his faith: for, lo! ye have heard and seen what things bear witness to His faith—showing that He is the adorable Son, and is the glorious God, and is the victorious King, and is the mighty Power; and through faith in Him a man is able to acquire the eyes of a true mind,2991 and to understand that, whosoever worshippeth creatures, the wrath of justice will overtake him.
For in everything which we speak before you, according as we have received of the gift of our Lord, so speak we and teach and declare it, that ye may secure2992 your salvation and not destroy2993 your spirits through the error of paganism: because the heavenly light has arisen on the creation, and He it is who chose the fathers of former times, and the righteous men, and the prophets, and spoke with them in the revelation of the Holy Spirit.2994 For He is Himself the God of the Jews who crucified Him; and to Him it is that the erring pagans offer worship, even while they know it not: because there is no other God in heaven and on earth; and lo! confession ascendeth up to Him from the four quarters of the creation. Lo! therefore, your ears have heard that which was not heard by you; and lo! further, your eyes have seen that which was never seen by you.2995
Be not, therefore, gainsayers of that which ye have seen and heard. Put away from you the rebellious mind of your fathers, and free yourselves from the yoke of sin, which hath dominion over you in libations and in sacrifices offered before carved images; and be ye concerned for your endangered2996 salvation, and for the unavailing support on which ye lean;2997
and get you a new mind, that worships the Maker and not the 660things which are made—a mind in which is portrayed the image of verity and of truth, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; believing and being baptized in the triple and glorious names. For this is our teaching and our preaching. For the belief of the truth of Christ does not consist of many things.2998 And those of you as are willing to be obedient to Christ are aware that I have many times repeated my words before you, in order that ye might learn and understand what ye hear.
And we ourselves shall rejoice in this, like the husbandman who rejoices in the field which is blessed; God also will be glorified by your repentance towards Him. While ye are saved hereby, we also, who give you this counsel, shall not be despoiled of the blessed reward of this work. And, because I am assured that ye are a land blessed according to the will of the Lord Christ, therefore, instead of the dust of our feet which we were commanded to shake off against the town that would not receive our words, I have shaken off to-day at the door of your ears the sayings of my lips, in which are portrayed the coming of Christ which has already been, and also that which is yet to be; and the resurrection, and the resuscitation of all men, and the separation which is to be made between the faithful and the unbelieving; and the sore punishment which is reserved for those who know not God, and the blessed promise of future joy which they shall receive who have believed in Christ and worshipped Him and His exalted Father, and have confessed Him and His divine Spirit.2999
And now it is meet for us that I conclude my present discourse; and let those who have accepted the word of Christ remain with us, and those also who are willing to join with us in prayer; and afterwards let them go to their homes.
And Addæus the apostle was rejoiced to see that a great number of the population of the city stayed with him; and they were but few who did not remain at that time, while even those few not many days after accepted his words and believed in the Gospel set forth in3000 the preaching of Christ.
And when Addæus the apostle had spoken these things before all the town of Edessa, and King Abgar saw that all the city rejoiced in his teaching, men and women alike, and heard them saying to him, “True and faithful is Christ who sent thee to us”—he himself also rejoiced greatly at this, giving praise to God; because, like as he had heard from Hanan,3001 his Tabularius, about Christ, so had he seen the wonderful mighty-works which Addæus the apostle did in the name of Christ.
And Abgar the king also said to him: According as I sent to Christ in my letter to Him, and according as He also sent to me, so have I also received from thine own self this day; so will I believe all the days of my life, and in the selfsame things will I continue and make my boast, because I know also that there is no other power in whose name these signs and wonders are done but the power of Christ whom thou preachest in verity and in truth. And henceforth Him will I worship—I and my son Maanu,3002 and Augustin,3003 and Shalmath the queen. And now, wherever thou desirest, build a church, a place of meeting for those who have believed and shall believe in thy words; and, according to the command given thee by thy Lord, minister thou at the seasons with confidence; to those also who shall be with thee as teachers of this Gospel I am prepared to give large donations, in order that they may not have any other work beside the ministry; and whatsoever is required by thee for the expenses of the building I myself will give thee without any restriction,3004 whilst thy word shall be authoritative and sovereign in this town; moreover, without the intervention of any other person do thou come into my presence as one in authority, into the palace of my royal majesty.
And when Abgar was gone down to his royal palace he rejoiced, he and his princes with him, Abdu son of Abdu, and Garmai, and Shemashgram,3005 and Abubai, and Meherdath,3006 together with the others their companions, at all that their eyes had seen and their ears also had heard; and in the gladness of their heart they too began to praise God for having turned their mind towards Him, renouncing the paganism in which they had lived,3007 and confessing the Gospel of Christ. And when Addæus had built a church they proceeded to offer in it vows and oblations, they and the people of the city; and there they continued to present their praises all the days of their life.
And Avida and Barcalba,3008 who were chief men and rulers, and wore the royal headband,3009 drew 661near to Addæus, and asked him about the matter of Christ, requesting that he would tell them how He, though He was God, appeared to them as a man: And how, said they, were ye able to look upon Him? And he proceeded to satisfy them all about this, about all that their eyes had seen and about whatsoever their ears had heard from him. Moreover, everything that the prophets had spoken concerning Him he repeated before them, and they received his words gladly and with faith, and there was not a man that withstood him; for the glorious deeds which he did suffered not any man to withstand him.
Shavida, moreover, and Ebednebu, chiefs of the priests of this town, together with Piroz3010 and Dilsu their companions, when they had seen the signs which he did, ran and threw down the altars on which they were accustomed to sacrifice before Nebu and Bel,3011 their gods, except the great altar which was in the middle of the town; and they cried out and said: Verily this is the disciple of that eminent and glorious Master, concerning whom we have heard all that He did in the country of Palestine. And all those who believed in Christ did Addæus receive, and baptized them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And those who used to worship stones and stocks sat at his feet, recovered from the madness3012 of paganism wherewith they had been afflicted. Jews also, traders in fine raiment,3013 who were familiar with the law and the prophets—they too were persuaded, and became disciples, and confessed Christ that He is the Son of the living God.
But neither did King Abgar nor yet the Apostle Addæus compel any man by force to believe in Christ, because without the force of man the force of the signs compelled many to believe in Him. And with affection did they receive His doctrine—all this country of Mesopotamia, and all the regions round about it.
Aggæus, moreover, who3014 made the silks3015 and headbands of the king, and Palut, and Barshelama, and Barsamya, together with the others their companions, clave to Addæus the apostle; and he received them, and associated them with him in the ministry, their business being to read in the Old Testament and the New,3016 and in the prophets, and in the Acts of the Apostles, and to meditate upon them daily; strictly charging them to let their bodies be pure and their persons holy, as is becoming in men who stand before the altar of God. “And be ye,” said he, “far removed from false swearing and from wicked homicide, and from dishonest testimony, which is connected with adultery; and from magic arts, for which there is no mercy, and from sooth-saying, and divination, and fortune-tellers; and from fate and nativities, of which the deluded Chaldeans make their boast; and from the stars, and the signs of the Zodiac, in which the foolish put their trust. And put far from you unjust partiality, and bribes, and presents, through which the innocent are pronounced guilty. And along with this ministry, to which ye have been called, see that ye have no other work besides: for the Lord is the work of your ministry all the days of your life. And be ye diligent to give the seal of baptism. And be not fond of the gains of this world. And hear ye a cause with justice and with truth. And be ye not a stumbling-block to the blind, lest through you should be blasphemed the name of Him who opened the eyes of the blind, according as we have seen. Let all, therefore, who see you perceive that ye yourselves are in harmony with whatsoever ye preach and teach.”
And they ministered with him in the church which Addæus had built at the word and command of Abgar the king, being furnished with supplies by the king and his nobles, partly for the house of God, and partly for the supply of the poor. Moreover, much people day by day assembled and came to the prayers of the service, and to the reading of the Old Testament, 662and the New of the Diatessaron.3017 They also believed in the restoration of the dead, and buried their departed in the hope of resuscitation. The festivals of the Church they also observed in their seasons, and were assiduous every day in the vigils of the Church. And they made visits of almsgiving, to the sick and to those that were whole, according to the instruction of Addæus to them. In the environs, too, of the city churches were built, and many received from him ordination to the priesthood.3018 So that even people of the East, in the guise of merchants, passed over into the territory of the Romans, that they might see the signs which Addæus did. And such as became disciples received from him ordination to the priesthood, and in their own country of the Assyrians they instructed the people of their nation, and erected houses of prayer there in secret, by reason of the danger from those who worshipped fire and paid reverence to water.3019
Moreover, Narses, the king of the Assyrians, when he heard of those same things which Addæus the apostle had done, sent a message to Abgar the king: Either despatch to me the man who doeth these signs before thee, that I may see him and hear his word, or send me an account of all that thou hast seen him do in thy own town. And Abgar wrote to Narses,3020 and related to him the whole story of the deeds of Addæus from the beginning to the end; and he left nothing which he did not write to him. And, when Narses heard those things which were written to him, he was astonished and amazed.
Abgar the king, moreover, because he was not able to pass over into the territory of the Romans,3021 and go to Palestine and slay the Jews for having crucified Christ, wrote a letter and sent it to Tiberius Cæsar,3022 writing in it thus:—
King Abgar to our Lord Tiberius Cæsar: Although I know that nothing is hidden from thy Majesty, I write to inform thy dread and mighty Sovereignty that the Jews who are under thy dominion and dwell in the country of Palestine have assembled themselves together and crucified Christ, without any fault worthy of death, after He had done before them signs and wonders, and had shown them powerful mighty-works, so that He even raised the dead to life for them; and at the time that they crucified Him the sun became darkened and the earth also quaked, and all created things trembled and quaked, and, as if of themselves, at this deed the whole creation and the inhabitants of the creation shrank away. And now thy Majesty knoweth what it is meet for thee to command concerning the people of the Jews who have done these things.
And Tiberius Cæsar wrote and sent to King Abgar; and thus did he write to him:—
The letter of thy Fidelity towards me I have received, and it hath been read before me. Concerning what the Jews have dared to do in the matter of the cross, Pilate3023 the governor also has written and informed Aulbinus3024 my proconsul concerning these selfsame things of which thou hast written to me. But, because a war with the people of Spain,3025 who have rebelled against me, is on foot at this time, on this account I have not been able to avenge this matter; but I am prepared, when I shall have leisure, to issue a command according to law against the Jews, who act not according to law. And on this account, as regards Pilate also, who was appointed by me governor there—I have sent another in his stead, and dismissed him in disgrace, because he departed from the law,3026 and did the will of the Jews, and for the gratification of the Jews crucified Christ, who, according to what I hear concerning Him, instead of suffering the cross of death, deserved to be honoured and worshipped3027 by them: and more especially because with their own eyes they saw everything that He did. Yet thou, in accordance with thy fidelity towards me, and the faithful covenant entered into by thyself and by thy fathers, hast done well in writing to me thus.
And Abgar the king received Aristides, who had been sent by Tiberius Cæsar to him; and in reply he sent him back with presents of honour suitable for him who had sent him to him. 663And from Edessa he went to Thicuntha,3028 where Claudius, the second from the emperor, was; and from thence, again, he went to Artica,3029 where Tiberius Cæsar was: Caius, moreover, was guarding the regions round about Cæsar. And Aristides himself also related before Tiberius concerning the mighty-works which Addæus had done before Abgar the king. And when he had leisure from the war he sent and put to death some of the chief men of the Jews who were in Palestine. And, when Abgar the king heard of this, he rejoiced greatly that the Jews had received punishment, as it was right.
And some years after Addæus the apostle had built the church in Edessa, and had furnished it with everything that was suitable for it, and had made disciples of a great number of the population of the city, he further built churches in the villages3030 also—both those which were at a distance and those which were near, and finished and adorned them, and appointed in them deacons and elders, and instructed in them those who should read the Scriptures, and taught the ordinances and3031 the ministry without and within.
After all these things he fell ill of the sickness of which he departed from this world. And he called for Aggæus before the whole assembly of the church, and bade him draw near, and made him Guide and Ruler3032 in his stead. And Palut,3033 who was a deacon, he made elder; and Abshelama, who was a scribe, he made deacon. And, the nobles and chief men being assembled, and standing near him—Barcalba son of Zati,3034 and Maryhab3035 son of Barshemash, and Senac3036 son of Avida, and Piroz son of Patric,3037 together with the rest of their companions—Addæus the apostle said to them:—
“Ye know and are witness, all of you who hear me, that, according to all that I have preached to you and taught you and ye have heard from me, even so have I behaved myself in the midst of you, and ye have seen it in deeds also: because our Lord thus charged us, that, whatsoever we preach in words before the people, we should practise it in deeds before all men. And, according to the ordinances and laws which were appointed by the disciples in Jerusalem,3038 and by which my fellow-apostles also guided their conduct, so also do ye—turn not aside from them, nor diminish aught from them: even as I also am guided by them amongst you, and have not turned aside from them to the right hand or to the left, lest I should become estranged from the promised salvation which is reserved for such as are guided by them.
“Give3039 heed, therefore, to this ministry which ye hold, and with fear and trembling continue in it, and minister every day. Minister not in it with neglectful habits, but with the discreetness of faith; and let not the praises of Christ cease out of your mouth, nor let weariness of prayer at the stated times come upon you. Give heed to the verity which ye hold, and to the teaching of the truth which ye have received, and to the inheritance of salvation which I commit to you: because before the tribunal of Christ will ye have to give an account of it, when He maketh reckoning with the shepherds and overseers, and when He taketh His money from the traders with the addition of the gains. For He is the Son of a King, and goeth to receive a kingdom and return; and He will come and make a resuscitation to life for all men, and then will He sit upon the throne of His righteousness, and judge the dead and the living, as He said to us.
“Let not the secret eye of your minds be closed by pride, lest your stumbling-blocks be many in the way in which there are no stumbling-blocks, but a hateful3040 wandering in its paths. Seek ye those that are lost, and direct those that go astray, and rejoice in those that are found; bind up the bruised, and watch over the fatlings: because at your hands will the sheep of Christ be required. Look ye not for the honour that passeth away: for the shepherd that looketh to receive honour from his flock—sadly, sadly stands his flock with respect to him. Let your concern be great for the young lambs, whose angels behold the face of the Father who is unseen. And be ye not stones of stumbling before the blind, but clearers of the way and the paths 664in a rugged country, among the Jews the crucifiers, and the deluded pagans: for with these two parties have ye to fight, in order that ye may show the truth of the faith which ye hold; and, though ye be silent, your modest and decorous appearance will fight for you against those who hate truth and love falsehood.
“Buffet not the poor in the presence of the rich: for scourge grievous enough for them is their poverty.
“Be not beguiled by the hateful devices of Satan, lest ye be stripped naked of the faith which ye have put on.”3041…“And with the Jews, the crucifiers, we will have no fellowship. And this inheritance which we have received from thee we will not let go, but in that will we depart out of this world; and on the day of our Lord, before the judgment-seat of His righteousness, there will He restore to us this inheritance, even as thou hast told us.”
And, when these things had been spoken, Abgar the king rose up, he and his chief men and his nobles, and he went to his palace, all of them being distressed for him because he was dying. And he sent to him noble and excellent apparel, that he might be buried in it. And, when Addæus saw it, he sent to him, saying: In my lifetime I have not taken anything from thee, nor will I now at my death take anything from thee, nor will I frustrate the word of Christ which He spake to us: Accept not anything from any man, and possess not anything in this world.3042
And three days more after these things had been spoken by Addæus the apostle, and he had heard and received the testimony concerning the teaching set forth in their preaching from those engaged with him in the ministry, in the presence of all the nobles he departed out of this world. And that day was the fifth of the week, and the fourteenth of the month Iyar,3043nearly answering to May. And the whole city was in great mourning and bitter anguish for him. Nor was it the Christians only that were distressed for him, but the Jews also, and the pagans, who were in this same town. But Abgar the king was distressed for him more than any one, he and the princes of his kingdom. And in the sadness of his soul he despised and laid aside the magnificence of his kingly state on that day, and with tears mingled with moans he bewailed him with all men. And all the people of the city that saw him were amazed to see how greatly he suffered on his account. And with great and surpassing pomp he bore him, and buried him like one of the princes when he dies; and he laid him in a grand sepulchre adorned with sculpture wrought by the fingers—that in which were laid those of the house of Ariu, the ancestors of Abgar the king: there he laid him sorrowfully, with sadness and great distress. And all the people of the church went there from time to time and prayed fervently; and they kept up the remembrance of his departure from year to year, according to the command and direction which had been received by them from Addæus the apostle,3044 and according to the word of Aggæus, who himself became Guide and Ruler, and the successor of his seat after him, by the ordination to the priesthood which he had received from him in the presence of all men.
He too, with the same ordination which he had received from him, made Priests and Guides in the whole of this country of Mesopotamia. For they also, in like manner as Addæus the apostle, held fast his word, and listened to and received it, as good and faithful successors of the apostle of the adorable Christ. But silver and gold he took not from any man, nor did the gifts of the princes come near him: for, instead of receiving gold and silver, he himself enriched the Church of Christ with the souls of believers.
Moreover, as regards the entire state3045
of the men and the women, they were chaste and circumspect, and holy and pure: for they lived like anchorites3046 and chastely, without spot—in circumspect watchfulness touching the ministry, in their sympathy3047 toward the poor, in their visitations to the sick: for their footsteps were fraught with praise from those who saw them, and their conduct was arrayed in commendation from strangers—so that even the priests of the house of3048 Nebu and Bel divided the honour with them at all times, by reason of their dignified aspect, their truthful words, their frankness of speech arising from their noble nature, which was neither subservient through covetousness nor in bondage under the fear of blame. For there was no one who saw them that did not run to meet them, that he might salute them respectfully, because the very sight of them shed peace upon the beholden: for just like a net3049 were their words of gentleness spread over the contumacious, and they entered within the fold of truth and verity. For there was no man who saw them that was 665ashamed of them, because they did nothing that was not accordant with rectitude and propriety. And in consequence of these things their bearing was fearless as they published their teaching to all men. For, whatsoever they said to others and enjoined on them, they themselves exhibited in practice in their own persons; and the hearers, who saw that their actions went along with their words, without much persuasion became their disciples, and confessed the King Christ, praising God for having turned them towards Him.
And some years after the death of Abgar the king, there arose one of his contumacious3050 sons, who was not favourable to peace; and he sent word to Aggæus, as he was sitting in the church: Make me a headband of gold, such as thou usedst to make for my fathers in former times. Aggæus sent to him: I will not give up the ministry of Christ, which was committed to me by the disciple of Christ, and make a headband of wickedness. And, when he saw that he did not comply, he sent and brake his legs3051 as he was sitting in the church expounding. And as he was dying he adjured Palut and Abshelama: In this house, for whose truth’s sake, lo! I am dying, lay me and bury me. And, even as he had adjured them, so did they lay him—inside the middle door of the church, between the men and the women. And there was great and bitter mourning in all the church, and in all the city—over and above the anguish and the mourning which there had been within the church, such as had been the mourning when Addæus the apostle himself died.
And,3052 in consequence of his dying suddenly and quickly at the breaking of his legs, he was not able to lay his hand upon Palut. Palut went to Antioch, and received ordination to the priesthood from Serapion bishop of Antioch; by which Serapion himself also ordination had been received from Zephyrinus bishop of the city of Rome, in the succession of the ordination to the priesthood from Simon Cephas, who had received it from our Lord, and was bishop there in Rome twenty-five years in the days of the Cæsar who reigned there thirteen years.
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And, according to the custom which exists in the kingdom of Abgar the king, and in all kingdoms, that whatsoever the king commands and whatsoever is spoken in his presence is committed to writing and deposited among the records, so also did Labubna,3053 son of Senac, son of Ebedshaddai, the king’s scribe, write these things also relating to Addæus the apostle from the beginning to the end, whilst Hanan also the Tabularius, a sharir of the kings, set-to his hand in witness, and deposited the writing among the records of the kings, where the ordinances and laws are deposited, and where the contracts of the buyers and sellers are kept with care, without any negligence whatever.
Here endeth the teaching of Addæus the apostle, which he proclaimed in Edessa, the faithful city of Abgar, the faithful king.
GOSPEL OF PETER (incorporated in Gospel of Mark)
[1] And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. And the Lord added and said: Let us go unto the mountain (and) pray. 5 And going with him, we the twelve disciples besought him that he would show us one of our righteous brethren that had departed out of the world, that we might see what manner of men they are in their form, and take courage, and encourage also the men that should hear us.
[2] And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
[3] And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And my Lord Jesus Christ our King said unto me: Let us go unto the holy mountain. And his disciples went with him, praying. And behold there were two men there, and we could not look upon their faces, for a light came from them, shining more than the sun, and their rairment also was shining, and cannot be described, and nothing is sufficient to be compared unto them in this world. And the sweetness of them . . . that no mouth is able to utter the beauty of their appearance (or, the mouth hath not sweetness to express, &c.), for their aspect was astonishing and wonderful. And the other, great, I say (probably: and, in a word, I cannot describe it), shineth in his (sic) aspect above crystal. Like the flower of roses is the appearance of the colour of his aspect and of his body . . . his head (al. their head was a marvel). And upon his (their) shoulders (evidently something about their hair has dropped out) and on their foreheads was a crown of nard woven of fair flowers. As the rainbow in the water, [Probably: in the time of rain. From the LXX of Ezek.i.28.] so was their hair. And such was the comeliness of their countenance, adorned with all manner of ornament. And when we saw them on a sudden, we marvelled. And I drew near unto the Lord (God) Jesus Christ and said unto him: O my Lord, who are these? And he said unto me: They are Moses and Elias. And I said unto him: Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and the rest of the righteous fathers? And he showed us a great garden, open, full of fair trees and blessed fruits, and of the odour of perfumes. The fragrance thereof was pleasant and came even unto us. And thereof (al. of that tree) . . . saw I much fruit. And my Lord and God Jesus Christ said unto me: Hast thou seen the companies of the fathers? [4] And as we prayed, there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. upon whom we were not able to look. 7 For there issued from their countenance a ray as of the sun, and their raiment was shining so as the eye of man never saw the like: for no mouth is able to declare nor heart to conceive the glory wherewith they were clad and the beauty of their countenance. 8 Whom when we saw we were astonied, for their bodies were whiter than any snow and redder than any rose. 9 And the redness of them was mingled with the whiteness, and, in a word, I am not able to declare their beauty. 10 For their hair was curling and flourishing (flowery), and fell comely about their countenance and their shoulders like a garland woven of nard and various flowers, or like a rainbow in the air: such was their comeliness.We, then, seeing the beauty of them were astonied at them, for they appeared suddenly. 12 And I drew near to the Lord and said: Who are these? 13 He saith to me: These are your (our) righteous brethren whose appearance ye did desire to see. 14 And I said unto him: And where are all the righteous? or of what sort is the world wherein they are, and possess this glory? 15 And the Lord showed me a very great region outside this world exceeding bright with light, and the air of that place illuminated with the beams of the sun, and the earth of itself flowering with blossoms that fade not, and full of spices and plants, fair-flowering and incorruptible, and bearing blessed fruit. 16 And so great was the blossom that the odour thereof was borne thence even unto us. As is their rest, such also is the honour and the glory of them that are persecuted for my righteousness' sake. And I rejoiced and believed [and believed] and understood that which is written in the book of my Lord Jesus Christ.
[5] And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
[6] For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And he said unto me in wrath: Satan maketh war against thee, and hath veiled thine understanding; and the good things of this world prevail against thee. Thine eyes therefore must be opened and thine ears unstopped that a tabernacle, not made with men's hands, which my heavenly Father hath made for me and for the elect. And we beheld it and were full of gladness.
[7] And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And then came a great and exceeding white cloud over our heads and bare away our Lord and Moses and Elias. And I trembled and was afraid: and we looked up and the heaven opened and we beheld men in the flesh, and they came and greeted our Lord and Moses and Elias and went into another heaven. And the word of the scripture was fulfilled: This is the generation that seeketh him and seeketh the face of the God of Jacob. And great fear and commotion was there in heaven and the angels pressed one upon another that the word of the scripture might be fulfilled which saith: Open the gates, ye princes. Thereafter was the heaven shut, that had been open. And we prayed and went down from the mountain, glorifying God, which hath written the names of the righteous in heaven in the book of life. 'The Son at his coming will raise the dead . . . and will make my righteous ones shine seven times more than the sun, and will make their crowns shine like crystal and like the rainbow in the time of rain (crowns) which are perfumed with nard and cannot be contemplated (adorned) with rubies, with the colour of emeralds shining brightly, with topazes, gems, and yellow pearls that shine like the stars of heaven, and like the rays of the sun, sparkling which cannot be gazed upon.' Again, of the angels: ' Their faces shine more than the sun; their crowns are as the rainbow in the time of rain. (They are perfumed) with nard. Their eyes shine like the morning star. The beauty of their appearance cannot be expressed.... Their raiment is not woven, but white as that of the fuller, according as I saw on the mountain where Moses and Elias were. Our Lord showed at the transfiguration the apparel of the last days, of the day of resurrection, unto Peter, James and John the sons of Zebedee, and a bright cloud overshadowed us, and we heard the voice of the Father saying unto us: This is my Son whom I love and in whom I am well pleased: hear him. And being afraid we forgat all the things of this life and of the flesh, and knew not what we said because of the greatness of the wonder of that day, and of the mountain whereon he showed us the second coming in the kingdom that passeth not away.'
[2] And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
[3] And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And my Lord Jesus Christ our King said unto me: Let us go unto the holy mountain. And his disciples went with him, praying. And behold there were two men there, and we could not look upon their faces, for a light came from them, shining more than the sun, and their rairment also was shining, and cannot be described, and nothing is sufficient to be compared unto them in this world. And the sweetness of them . . . that no mouth is able to utter the beauty of their appearance (or, the mouth hath not sweetness to express, &c.), for their aspect was astonishing and wonderful. And the other, great, I say (probably: and, in a word, I cannot describe it), shineth in his (sic) aspect above crystal. Like the flower of roses is the appearance of the colour of his aspect and of his body . . . his head (al. their head was a marvel). And upon his (their) shoulders (evidently something about their hair has dropped out) and on their foreheads was a crown of nard woven of fair flowers. As the rainbow in the water, [Probably: in the time of rain. From the LXX of Ezek.i.28.] so was their hair. And such was the comeliness of their countenance, adorned with all manner of ornament. And when we saw them on a sudden, we marvelled. And I drew near unto the Lord (God) Jesus Christ and said unto him: O my Lord, who are these? And he said unto me: They are Moses and Elias. And I said unto him: Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and the rest of the righteous fathers? And he showed us a great garden, open, full of fair trees and blessed fruits, and of the odour of perfumes. The fragrance thereof was pleasant and came even unto us. And thereof (al. of that tree) . . . saw I much fruit. And my Lord and God Jesus Christ said unto me: Hast thou seen the companies of the fathers? [4] And as we prayed, there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. upon whom we were not able to look. 7 For there issued from their countenance a ray as of the sun, and their raiment was shining so as the eye of man never saw the like: for no mouth is able to declare nor heart to conceive the glory wherewith they were clad and the beauty of their countenance. 8 Whom when we saw we were astonied, for their bodies were whiter than any snow and redder than any rose. 9 And the redness of them was mingled with the whiteness, and, in a word, I am not able to declare their beauty. 10 For their hair was curling and flourishing (flowery), and fell comely about their countenance and their shoulders like a garland woven of nard and various flowers, or like a rainbow in the air: such was their comeliness.We, then, seeing the beauty of them were astonied at them, for they appeared suddenly. 12 And I drew near to the Lord and said: Who are these? 13 He saith to me: These are your (our) righteous brethren whose appearance ye did desire to see. 14 And I said unto him: And where are all the righteous? or of what sort is the world wherein they are, and possess this glory? 15 And the Lord showed me a very great region outside this world exceeding bright with light, and the air of that place illuminated with the beams of the sun, and the earth of itself flowering with blossoms that fade not, and full of spices and plants, fair-flowering and incorruptible, and bearing blessed fruit. 16 And so great was the blossom that the odour thereof was borne thence even unto us. As is their rest, such also is the honour and the glory of them that are persecuted for my righteousness' sake. And I rejoiced and believed [and believed] and understood that which is written in the book of my Lord Jesus Christ.
[5] And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
[6] For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And he said unto me in wrath: Satan maketh war against thee, and hath veiled thine understanding; and the good things of this world prevail against thee. Thine eyes therefore must be opened and thine ears unstopped that a tabernacle, not made with men's hands, which my heavenly Father hath made for me and for the elect. And we beheld it and were full of gladness.
[7] And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And then came a great and exceeding white cloud over our heads and bare away our Lord and Moses and Elias. And I trembled and was afraid: and we looked up and the heaven opened and we beheld men in the flesh, and they came and greeted our Lord and Moses and Elias and went into another heaven. And the word of the scripture was fulfilled: This is the generation that seeketh him and seeketh the face of the God of Jacob. And great fear and commotion was there in heaven and the angels pressed one upon another that the word of the scripture might be fulfilled which saith: Open the gates, ye princes. Thereafter was the heaven shut, that had been open. And we prayed and went down from the mountain, glorifying God, which hath written the names of the righteous in heaven in the book of life. 'The Son at his coming will raise the dead . . . and will make my righteous ones shine seven times more than the sun, and will make their crowns shine like crystal and like the rainbow in the time of rain (crowns) which are perfumed with nard and cannot be contemplated (adorned) with rubies, with the colour of emeralds shining brightly, with topazes, gems, and yellow pearls that shine like the stars of heaven, and like the rays of the sun, sparkling which cannot be gazed upon.' Again, of the angels: ' Their faces shine more than the sun; their crowns are as the rainbow in the time of rain. (They are perfumed) with nard. Their eyes shine like the morning star. The beauty of their appearance cannot be expressed.... Their raiment is not woven, but white as that of the fuller, according as I saw on the mountain where Moses and Elias were. Our Lord showed at the transfiguration the apparel of the last days, of the day of resurrection, unto Peter, James and John the sons of Zebedee, and a bright cloud overshadowed us, and we heard the voice of the Father saying unto us: This is my Son whom I love and in whom I am well pleased: hear him. And being afraid we forgat all the things of this life and of the flesh, and knew not what we said because of the greatness of the wonder of that day, and of the mountain whereon he showed us the second coming in the kingdom that passeth not away.'
[33] Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
[34] For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
[35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
[36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
[37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. And when the Lord was seated upon the Mount of Olives, his disciples came unto him. And we besought and entreated him severally and prayed him, saying unto him: Declare unto us what are the signs of thy coming and of the end of the world, that we may perceive and mark the time of thy coming and instruct them that come after us, unto whom we preach the word of thy gospel, and whom we set over (in) thy church, that they when they hear it may take heed to themselves and mark the time of thy coming. And our Lord answered us, saying: Take heed that no man deceive you, and that ye be not doubters and serve other gods. Many shall come in my name, saying: I am the Christ. Believe them not, neither draw near unto them. For the coming of the Son of God shall not be plain (i.e. foreseen); but as the lightning that shineth from the east unto the west, so will I come upon the clouds of heaven with a great host in my majesty; with my cross going before my face will I come in my majesty, shining sevenfold more than the sun will I come in my majesty with all my saints, mine angels (mine holy angels). And my Father shall set a crown upon mine head, that I may judge the quick and the dead and recompense every man according to his works. And ye, take ye the likeness thereof (learn a parable) from the fig-tree: so soon as the shoot thereof is come forth and the twigs grown, the end of the world shall come. And I, Peter, answered and said unto him: Interpret unto me concerning the fig-tree, whereby we shall perceive it; for throughout all its days doth the fig-tree send forth shoots, and every year it bringeth forth its fruit for its master. What then meaneth the parable of the fig-tree? We know it not. And the Master (Lord) answered and said unto me: Understandest thou not that the fig-tree is the house of Israel? Even as a man that planted a fig-tree in his garden, and it brought forth no fruit. And he sought the fruit thereof many years and when he found it not, he said to the keeper of his garden: Root up this fig-tree that it make not our ground to be unfruitful. And the gardener said unto God: (Suffer us) to rid it of weeds and dig the ground round about it and water it. If then it bear not fruit, we will straightway remove its roots out of the garden and plant another in place of it. Hast thou not undErstood that the fig-tree is the house of Israel? Verily I say unto thee, when the twigs thereof have sprouted forth in the last days, then shall feigned Christs come and awake expectation saying: I am the Christ, that am now come into the world. And when they (Israel) shall perceive the wickedness of their deeds they shall turn away after them and deny him [whom our fathers did praise], even the first Christ whom they crucified and therein sinned a great sin. But this deceiver is not the Christ. [something is wrong here: the sense required is that Israel perceives the wickedness of antichrist and does not follow him.] And when they reject him he shall slay with the sword, and there shall be many martyrs. Then shall the twigs of the fig-tree, that is, the house of Israel, shoot forth: many shall become martyrs at his hand. Enoch and Elias shall be sent to teach them that this is the deceiver which must come into the world and do signs and wonders to deceive. And therefore shall they that die by his hand be martyrs, and shall be reckoned among the good and righteous martyrs who have pleased God in their life. [Hermas, Vision III.i.9, speaks of 'those that have already been well-pleasing unto God and have suffered for the Name's sake'.] And he showed me in his right hand the souls of all men, And on the palm of his right hand the image of that which shall be accomplished at the last day: and how the righteous and the sinners shall be separated, and how they do that are upright in heart, and how the evil-doers shall be rooted out unto all eternity. We beheld how the sinners wept (weep) in great affliction and sorrow, until all that saw it with their eyes wept, whether righteous or angels, and he himself also. And I asked him and said unto him: Lord, suffer me to speak thy word concerning the sinners: It were better for them if they had not been created. And the Saviour answered and said unto me: Peter, wherefore speakest thou thus, that not to have been created were better for them? Thou resistest God. Thou wouldest not have more compassion than he for his image: for he hath created them and brought them forth out of not being. Now because thou hast seen the lamentation which shall come upon the sinners in the last days, therefore is thine heart troubled; but I will show thee their works, whereby they have sinned against the Most High. Behold now what shall come upon them in the last days, when the day of God and the day of the decision of the judgement of God cometh. From the east unto the west shall all the children of men be gathered together before my Father that liveth for ever. And he shall command hell to open its bars of adamant and give up all that is therein. And the wild beasts and the fowls shall he command to restore all the flesh that they have devoured, because he willeth that men should appear; for nothing perisheth before God, and nothing is impossible with him, because all things are his. For all things come to pass on the day of decision, on the day of judgement, at the word of God: and as all things were done when he created the world and commanded all that is therein and it was done -even so shall it be in the last days; for all things are possible with God. And therefore saith he in the scripture: [Ezek. xxxvii.] Son of man, prophesy upon the several bones and say unto the bones: bone unto bone in joints, sinew. nerves, flesh and skin and hair thereon [and soul and spirit]. And soul and spirit shall the great Uriel give them at the commandment of God; for him hath God set over the rising again of the dead at the day of judgement. Behold and consider the corns of wheat that are sown in the earth. As things dry and without soul do men sow them in the earth: and they live again and bear fruit, and the earth restoreth them as a pledge entrusted unto it. [And this that dieth, that is sown as seed in the earth, and shall become alive and be restored unto life, is man. Probably a gloss.] How much more shall God raise up on the day of decision them that believe in him and are chosen of him, for whose sake he made the world? And all things shall the earth restore on the day of decision, for it also shall be judged with them, and the heaven with it. And this shall come at the day of judgement upon them that have fallen away from faith in God and that have committed sin: Floods (cataracts) of fire shall be let loose; and darkness and obscurity shall come up and clothe and veil the whole world and the waters shall be changed and turned into coals of fire and all that is in them shall burn, and the sea shall become fire. Under the heaven shall be a sharp fire that cannot be quenched and floweth to fulfil the judgement of wrath. And the stars shall fly in pieces by flames of fire, as if they had not been created and the powers (firmaments) of the heaven shall pass away for lack of water and shall be as though they had not been. And the lightnings of heaven shall be no more, and by their enchantment they shall affright the world (probably: The heaven shall turn to lightning and the lightnings thereof shall affright the world. The spirits also of the dead bodies shall be like unto them (the lightnings?) and shall become fire at the commandment of God. And so soon as the whole creation dissolveth, the men that are in the east shall flee unto the west, unto the east; they that are in the south shall flee to the north, and they that are in the south. And in all places shall the wrath of a fearful fire overtake them and an unquenchable flame driving them shall bring them unto the judgement of wrath, unto the stream of unquenchable fire that floweth, flaming with fire, and when the waves thereof part themselves one from another, burning, there shall be a great gnashing of teeth among the children of men. Then shall they all behold me coming upon an eternal cloud of brightness: and the angels of God that are with me shall sit (prob. And I shall sit) upon the throne of my glory at the right hand of my Heavenly Father; and he shall set a crown upon mine head. And when the nations behold it, they shall weep, every nation apart. Then shall he command them to enter into the river of fire while the works of every one of them shall stand before them (something is wanting) to every man according to his deeds. As for the elect that have done good, they shall come unto me and not see death by the devouring fire. But the unrighteous the sinners, and the hypocrites shall stand in the depths of darkness that shall not pass away, and their chastisement is the fire, and angels bring forward their sins and prepare for them a place wherein they shall be punished for ever (every one according to his transgression). Uriel (Urael) the angel of God shall bring forth the souls of those sinners (every one according to his transgression: perhaps this clause should end the preceding paragraph: so Grebaut takes it) who perished in the flood, and of all that dwelt in all idols, in every molten image, in every (object of) love, and in pictures, and of those that dwelt on all hills and in stones and by the wayside, whom men called gods: they shall burn them with them (the objects in which they dwelt, or their worshippers?) in everlasting fire; and after that all of them with their dwelling places are destroyed, they shall be punished eternally.
“Then shall the wicked go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous shall go into life eternal, to inherit those things which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, such things as God hath prepared for them that love Him. Be strong in the battle and fight with the ancient serpent, and you will receive the eternal kingdom, says the Lord.”Our Lord Jesus Christ, the son of God, said: The good things must come, and blessed is the one, he says, through whom they come. “The days will come in which vines shall grow, having each ten thousand branches, and in each branch ten thousand twigs, and in each true twig ten thousand shoots, and in every one of the shoots ten thousand clusters, and on every one of the clusters ten thousand grapes, and every grape when pressed will give five and twenty metretes of wine. And when any one of the saints shall lay hold of a cluster, another shall cry out, “I am a better cluster, take me; bless the Lord through me.”. In like manner, a grain of wheat shall produce ten thousand ears, and every ear shall have ten thousand grains, and every grain shall yield ten pounds of clear, pure, fine flour; and apples, and seeds, and grass shall produce in similar proportions; and all animals, feeding then only on the productions of the earth, shall be come peaceable and harmonious, and be in perfect subjection to man. Judas the traitor, not believing, and asking, “How shall such growths be accomplished by the Lord?” the Lord said: They shall see who shall come to them. These, then, are the times mentioned by the prophet Isaiah, “And the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” Finally, the Lord said to them: Why do you wonder at signs? I am giving you a great inheritance which the whole world does not have.
[34] For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
[35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
[36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
[37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. And when the Lord was seated upon the Mount of Olives, his disciples came unto him. And we besought and entreated him severally and prayed him, saying unto him: Declare unto us what are the signs of thy coming and of the end of the world, that we may perceive and mark the time of thy coming and instruct them that come after us, unto whom we preach the word of thy gospel, and whom we set over (in) thy church, that they when they hear it may take heed to themselves and mark the time of thy coming. And our Lord answered us, saying: Take heed that no man deceive you, and that ye be not doubters and serve other gods. Many shall come in my name, saying: I am the Christ. Believe them not, neither draw near unto them. For the coming of the Son of God shall not be plain (i.e. foreseen); but as the lightning that shineth from the east unto the west, so will I come upon the clouds of heaven with a great host in my majesty; with my cross going before my face will I come in my majesty, shining sevenfold more than the sun will I come in my majesty with all my saints, mine angels (mine holy angels). And my Father shall set a crown upon mine head, that I may judge the quick and the dead and recompense every man according to his works. And ye, take ye the likeness thereof (learn a parable) from the fig-tree: so soon as the shoot thereof is come forth and the twigs grown, the end of the world shall come. And I, Peter, answered and said unto him: Interpret unto me concerning the fig-tree, whereby we shall perceive it; for throughout all its days doth the fig-tree send forth shoots, and every year it bringeth forth its fruit for its master. What then meaneth the parable of the fig-tree? We know it not. And the Master (Lord) answered and said unto me: Understandest thou not that the fig-tree is the house of Israel? Even as a man that planted a fig-tree in his garden, and it brought forth no fruit. And he sought the fruit thereof many years and when he found it not, he said to the keeper of his garden: Root up this fig-tree that it make not our ground to be unfruitful. And the gardener said unto God: (Suffer us) to rid it of weeds and dig the ground round about it and water it. If then it bear not fruit, we will straightway remove its roots out of the garden and plant another in place of it. Hast thou not undErstood that the fig-tree is the house of Israel? Verily I say unto thee, when the twigs thereof have sprouted forth in the last days, then shall feigned Christs come and awake expectation saying: I am the Christ, that am now come into the world. And when they (Israel) shall perceive the wickedness of their deeds they shall turn away after them and deny him [whom our fathers did praise], even the first Christ whom they crucified and therein sinned a great sin. But this deceiver is not the Christ. [something is wrong here: the sense required is that Israel perceives the wickedness of antichrist and does not follow him.] And when they reject him he shall slay with the sword, and there shall be many martyrs. Then shall the twigs of the fig-tree, that is, the house of Israel, shoot forth: many shall become martyrs at his hand. Enoch and Elias shall be sent to teach them that this is the deceiver which must come into the world and do signs and wonders to deceive. And therefore shall they that die by his hand be martyrs, and shall be reckoned among the good and righteous martyrs who have pleased God in their life. [Hermas, Vision III.i.9, speaks of 'those that have already been well-pleasing unto God and have suffered for the Name's sake'.] And he showed me in his right hand the souls of all men, And on the palm of his right hand the image of that which shall be accomplished at the last day: and how the righteous and the sinners shall be separated, and how they do that are upright in heart, and how the evil-doers shall be rooted out unto all eternity. We beheld how the sinners wept (weep) in great affliction and sorrow, until all that saw it with their eyes wept, whether righteous or angels, and he himself also. And I asked him and said unto him: Lord, suffer me to speak thy word concerning the sinners: It were better for them if they had not been created. And the Saviour answered and said unto me: Peter, wherefore speakest thou thus, that not to have been created were better for them? Thou resistest God. Thou wouldest not have more compassion than he for his image: for he hath created them and brought them forth out of not being. Now because thou hast seen the lamentation which shall come upon the sinners in the last days, therefore is thine heart troubled; but I will show thee their works, whereby they have sinned against the Most High. Behold now what shall come upon them in the last days, when the day of God and the day of the decision of the judgement of God cometh. From the east unto the west shall all the children of men be gathered together before my Father that liveth for ever. And he shall command hell to open its bars of adamant and give up all that is therein. And the wild beasts and the fowls shall he command to restore all the flesh that they have devoured, because he willeth that men should appear; for nothing perisheth before God, and nothing is impossible with him, because all things are his. For all things come to pass on the day of decision, on the day of judgement, at the word of God: and as all things were done when he created the world and commanded all that is therein and it was done -even so shall it be in the last days; for all things are possible with God. And therefore saith he in the scripture: [Ezek. xxxvii.] Son of man, prophesy upon the several bones and say unto the bones: bone unto bone in joints, sinew. nerves, flesh and skin and hair thereon [and soul and spirit]. And soul and spirit shall the great Uriel give them at the commandment of God; for him hath God set over the rising again of the dead at the day of judgement. Behold and consider the corns of wheat that are sown in the earth. As things dry and without soul do men sow them in the earth: and they live again and bear fruit, and the earth restoreth them as a pledge entrusted unto it. [And this that dieth, that is sown as seed in the earth, and shall become alive and be restored unto life, is man. Probably a gloss.] How much more shall God raise up on the day of decision them that believe in him and are chosen of him, for whose sake he made the world? And all things shall the earth restore on the day of decision, for it also shall be judged with them, and the heaven with it. And this shall come at the day of judgement upon them that have fallen away from faith in God and that have committed sin: Floods (cataracts) of fire shall be let loose; and darkness and obscurity shall come up and clothe and veil the whole world and the waters shall be changed and turned into coals of fire and all that is in them shall burn, and the sea shall become fire. Under the heaven shall be a sharp fire that cannot be quenched and floweth to fulfil the judgement of wrath. And the stars shall fly in pieces by flames of fire, as if they had not been created and the powers (firmaments) of the heaven shall pass away for lack of water and shall be as though they had not been. And the lightnings of heaven shall be no more, and by their enchantment they shall affright the world (probably: The heaven shall turn to lightning and the lightnings thereof shall affright the world. The spirits also of the dead bodies shall be like unto them (the lightnings?) and shall become fire at the commandment of God. And so soon as the whole creation dissolveth, the men that are in the east shall flee unto the west, unto the east; they that are in the south shall flee to the north, and they that are in the south. And in all places shall the wrath of a fearful fire overtake them and an unquenchable flame driving them shall bring them unto the judgement of wrath, unto the stream of unquenchable fire that floweth, flaming with fire, and when the waves thereof part themselves one from another, burning, there shall be a great gnashing of teeth among the children of men. Then shall they all behold me coming upon an eternal cloud of brightness: and the angels of God that are with me shall sit (prob. And I shall sit) upon the throne of my glory at the right hand of my Heavenly Father; and he shall set a crown upon mine head. And when the nations behold it, they shall weep, every nation apart. Then shall he command them to enter into the river of fire while the works of every one of them shall stand before them (something is wanting) to every man according to his deeds. As for the elect that have done good, they shall come unto me and not see death by the devouring fire. But the unrighteous the sinners, and the hypocrites shall stand in the depths of darkness that shall not pass away, and their chastisement is the fire, and angels bring forward their sins and prepare for them a place wherein they shall be punished for ever (every one according to his transgression). Uriel (Urael) the angel of God shall bring forth the souls of those sinners (every one according to his transgression: perhaps this clause should end the preceding paragraph: so Grebaut takes it) who perished in the flood, and of all that dwelt in all idols, in every molten image, in every (object of) love, and in pictures, and of those that dwelt on all hills and in stones and by the wayside, whom men called gods: they shall burn them with them (the objects in which they dwelt, or their worshippers?) in everlasting fire; and after that all of them with their dwelling places are destroyed, they shall be punished eternally.
“Then shall the wicked go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous shall go into life eternal, to inherit those things which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, such things as God hath prepared for them that love Him. Be strong in the battle and fight with the ancient serpent, and you will receive the eternal kingdom, says the Lord.”Our Lord Jesus Christ, the son of God, said: The good things must come, and blessed is the one, he says, through whom they come. “The days will come in which vines shall grow, having each ten thousand branches, and in each branch ten thousand twigs, and in each true twig ten thousand shoots, and in every one of the shoots ten thousand clusters, and on every one of the clusters ten thousand grapes, and every grape when pressed will give five and twenty metretes of wine. And when any one of the saints shall lay hold of a cluster, another shall cry out, “I am a better cluster, take me; bless the Lord through me.”. In like manner, a grain of wheat shall produce ten thousand ears, and every ear shall have ten thousand grains, and every grain shall yield ten pounds of clear, pure, fine flour; and apples, and seeds, and grass shall produce in similar proportions; and all animals, feeding then only on the productions of the earth, shall be come peaceable and harmonious, and be in perfect subjection to man. Judas the traitor, not believing, and asking, “How shall such growths be accomplished by the Lord?” the Lord said: They shall see who shall come to them. These, then, are the times mentioned by the prophet Isaiah, “And the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” Finally, the Lord said to them: Why do you wonder at signs? I am giving you a great inheritance which the whole world does not have.
[1] And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
[2] And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.
[3] And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
[4] And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
[5] But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
[6] Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
[7] And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
[8] And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
[9] But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
[10] For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
[11] But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
[12] And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
[13] And they cried out again, Crucify him.
[14] Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
[15] And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. But of the Jews none washed his hands, neither Herod nor any one of his judges. And when they had refused to wash them, Pilate rose up. And then Herod the king commandeth that the Lord be taken, saying to them, What things soever I commanded you to do unto him, do. And there was come there Joseph the friend of Pilate and of the Lord; and, knowing that they were about to crucify him, he came to Pilate and asked the body of the Lord for burial. And Pilate sent to Herod and asked his body. And Herod said, Brother Pilate, even if no one had asked for him, we purposed to bury him, especially as the sabbath draweth on: for it is written in the law, that the sun set not upon one that hath been put to death. And he delivered him to the people on the day before the unleavened bread, their feast. And they took the Lord and pushed him as they ran, and said, Let us drag away the Son of God, having obtained power over him.
[16] And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
[17] And they clothed him with purple, and set him on the seat of judgement, saying, Judge righteously, O King of Israel. And one of them brought a crown of thorns and put it on the head of the Lord.
[18] And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
[19] And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And others stood and spat in his eyes, and others smote his cheeks: others pricked him with a reed; and some scourged him, saying, With this honour let us honour the Son of God.
[20] And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
[21] And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
[22] And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
[23] And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
[24] And when they had crucified him, and having set his garments before him, they parted them among them, and cast lots for them.
[25] And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
[26] And when they had raised the cross, they wrote upon it, This is the King of Israel.
[27] And they brought two malefactors, and they crucified the Lord between them. But he held his peace, as though having no pain.
[28] And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
[29] And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
[30] Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
[31] Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
[32] Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. And one of those malefactors reproached them, saying, We for the evils that we have done have suffered thus, but this man, who hath become the Saviour of men, what wrong hath he done to you? 14 And they, being angered at him, commanded that his legs should not be broken, that he might die in torment.
[33] And it was noon, and darkness came over all Judaea: and they were troubled and distressed, lest the sun had set, whilst he was yet alive: [for] it is written for them, that the sun set not on him that hath been put to death.
[34] And many went about with lamps, supposing that it was night, and fell down. 19 And the Lord cried out, saying, My power, my power, thou hast forsaken me.
[35] And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
[36] And one of them said, Give him to drink gall with vinegar. And they mixed and gave him to drink, and fulfilled all things, and accomplished their sins against their own head, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. Then said Yeshua, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." As the Lord spoke the words of Isaiah from the cross, At this word many thousands of the Jews who were standing around the gallows became believers.
[37] And when he had said it he was taken up.
[38] And in that hour the vail of the temple of Jerusalem was rent in twain from the top to the bottom and the lintel of the temple of wondrous size fell.
[39] And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
[40] There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
[41] (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
[42] And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, And then they drew out the nails from the hands of the Lord, and laid him upon the earth, and the whole earth quaked, and great fear arose. Then the sun shone, and it was found the ninth hour:
[43] Joseph of Arimathaea, and honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus and the Jews rejoiced, and gave his body to Joseph that he might bury it, since he had seen what good things he had done. And he took the Lord, and washed him, and wrapped him in a linen cloth, and brought him into his own tomb, which was called the Garden of Joseph.
[44] And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
[45] And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
[46] And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
[47] And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. Then the Jews and the elders and the priests, perceiving what evil they had done to themselves, began to lament and to say, Woe for our sins: the judgement hath drawn nigh, and the end of Jerusalem. And I with my companions was grieved; and being wounded in mind we hid ourselves: for we were being sought for by them as malefactors, and as wishing to set fire to the temple. And upon all these things we fasted 1 and sat mourning 2 and weeping 2 night and day until the sabbath. But the scribes and Pharisees and elders being gathered together one with another, when they heard that all the people murmured and beat their breasts, saying, If by his death these most mighty signs have come to pass, see how just he is,--the elders were afraid and came to Pilate, beseeching him and saying, Give us soldiers, that we may guard his sepulchre for three days, lest his disciples come and steal him away, and the people suppose that he is risen from the dead and do us evil. And Pilate gave them Petronius the centurion with soldiers to guard the tomb. And with them came the elders and scribes to the sepulchre, And having rolled a great stone together with the centurion and the soldiers, they all together who were there set it at the door of the sepulchre; And they affixed seven seals, and they pitched a tent there and guarded it. And early in the morning as the sabbath was drawing on, there came a multitude from Jerusalem and the region round about, that they might see the sepulchre that was sealed. And in the night in which the Lord's day was drawing on, as the soldiers kept guard two by two in a watch, there was a great voice in the heaven; and they saw the heavens opened, and two men descend from thence with great light and approach the tomb. And that stone which was put at the door rolled of itself and made way in part; and the tomb was opened, and both the young men entered in. When therefore those soldiers saw it, they awakened the centurion and the elders,--for they too were hard by keeping guard; and, as they declared what things they had seen, again they see three men coming forth from the tomb, and two of them supporting one, and a cross following them. And of the two the head reached unto the heaven, but the head of him that was led by them overpassed the heavens. And they heard a voice from the heavens, saying, Hast thou preached to them that sleep? And a response was heard from the cross, Yea. They therefore considered one with another whether to go away and shew these things to Pilate. And while they yet thought thereon, the heavens again are seen to open, and a certain man to descend and enter into the sepulchre. When the centurion and they that were with him saw these things, they hastened in the night to Pilate, leaving the tomb which they were watching, and declared all things which they had seen, being greatly distressed and saying, Truly he was the Son of God. Pilate answered and said, I am pure from the blood of the Son of God: but ye determined this. Then they all drew near and besought him and entreated him to command the centurion and the soldiers to say nothing of the things which they had seen: For it is better, say they, for us to incur the greatest sin before God, and not to fall into the bands of the people of the Jews and to be stoned. Pilate therefore commanded the centurion and the soldiers to say nothing. And at dawn upon the Lord's day, Mary Magdalen, a disciple of the Lord, fearing because of the Jews, since they were burning with wrath, had not done at the Lord's sepulchre the things which the women are wont to do for those that die and for those that are beloved by them--51 she took her friends with her and came to the sepulchre where he was laid. And they feared lest the Jews should see them, and they said, Although on the day on which he was crucified we could not weep and lament, yet now let us do these things at his sepulchre.
[2] And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.
[3] And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
[4] And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
[5] But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
[6] Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
[7] And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
[8] And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
[9] But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
[10] For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
[11] But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
[12] And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
[13] And they cried out again, Crucify him.
[14] Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
[15] And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. But of the Jews none washed his hands, neither Herod nor any one of his judges. And when they had refused to wash them, Pilate rose up. And then Herod the king commandeth that the Lord be taken, saying to them, What things soever I commanded you to do unto him, do. And there was come there Joseph the friend of Pilate and of the Lord; and, knowing that they were about to crucify him, he came to Pilate and asked the body of the Lord for burial. And Pilate sent to Herod and asked his body. And Herod said, Brother Pilate, even if no one had asked for him, we purposed to bury him, especially as the sabbath draweth on: for it is written in the law, that the sun set not upon one that hath been put to death. And he delivered him to the people on the day before the unleavened bread, their feast. And they took the Lord and pushed him as they ran, and said, Let us drag away the Son of God, having obtained power over him.
[16] And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
[17] And they clothed him with purple, and set him on the seat of judgement, saying, Judge righteously, O King of Israel. And one of them brought a crown of thorns and put it on the head of the Lord.
[18] And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
[19] And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And others stood and spat in his eyes, and others smote his cheeks: others pricked him with a reed; and some scourged him, saying, With this honour let us honour the Son of God.
[20] And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
[21] And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
[22] And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
[23] And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
[24] And when they had crucified him, and having set his garments before him, they parted them among them, and cast lots for them.
[25] And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
[26] And when they had raised the cross, they wrote upon it, This is the King of Israel.
[27] And they brought two malefactors, and they crucified the Lord between them. But he held his peace, as though having no pain.
[28] And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
[29] And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
[30] Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
[31] Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
[32] Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. And one of those malefactors reproached them, saying, We for the evils that we have done have suffered thus, but this man, who hath become the Saviour of men, what wrong hath he done to you? 14 And they, being angered at him, commanded that his legs should not be broken, that he might die in torment.
[33] And it was noon, and darkness came over all Judaea: and they were troubled and distressed, lest the sun had set, whilst he was yet alive: [for] it is written for them, that the sun set not on him that hath been put to death.
[34] And many went about with lamps, supposing that it was night, and fell down. 19 And the Lord cried out, saying, My power, my power, thou hast forsaken me.
[35] And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
[36] And one of them said, Give him to drink gall with vinegar. And they mixed and gave him to drink, and fulfilled all things, and accomplished their sins against their own head, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. Then said Yeshua, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." As the Lord spoke the words of Isaiah from the cross, At this word many thousands of the Jews who were standing around the gallows became believers.
[37] And when he had said it he was taken up.
[38] And in that hour the vail of the temple of Jerusalem was rent in twain from the top to the bottom and the lintel of the temple of wondrous size fell.
[39] And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
[40] There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
[41] (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
[42] And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, And then they drew out the nails from the hands of the Lord, and laid him upon the earth, and the whole earth quaked, and great fear arose. Then the sun shone, and it was found the ninth hour:
[43] Joseph of Arimathaea, and honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus and the Jews rejoiced, and gave his body to Joseph that he might bury it, since he had seen what good things he had done. And he took the Lord, and washed him, and wrapped him in a linen cloth, and brought him into his own tomb, which was called the Garden of Joseph.
[44] And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
[45] And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
[46] And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
[47] And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. Then the Jews and the elders and the priests, perceiving what evil they had done to themselves, began to lament and to say, Woe for our sins: the judgement hath drawn nigh, and the end of Jerusalem. And I with my companions was grieved; and being wounded in mind we hid ourselves: for we were being sought for by them as malefactors, and as wishing to set fire to the temple. And upon all these things we fasted 1 and sat mourning 2 and weeping 2 night and day until the sabbath. But the scribes and Pharisees and elders being gathered together one with another, when they heard that all the people murmured and beat their breasts, saying, If by his death these most mighty signs have come to pass, see how just he is,--the elders were afraid and came to Pilate, beseeching him and saying, Give us soldiers, that we may guard his sepulchre for three days, lest his disciples come and steal him away, and the people suppose that he is risen from the dead and do us evil. And Pilate gave them Petronius the centurion with soldiers to guard the tomb. And with them came the elders and scribes to the sepulchre, And having rolled a great stone together with the centurion and the soldiers, they all together who were there set it at the door of the sepulchre; And they affixed seven seals, and they pitched a tent there and guarded it. And early in the morning as the sabbath was drawing on, there came a multitude from Jerusalem and the region round about, that they might see the sepulchre that was sealed. And in the night in which the Lord's day was drawing on, as the soldiers kept guard two by two in a watch, there was a great voice in the heaven; and they saw the heavens opened, and two men descend from thence with great light and approach the tomb. And that stone which was put at the door rolled of itself and made way in part; and the tomb was opened, and both the young men entered in. When therefore those soldiers saw it, they awakened the centurion and the elders,--for they too were hard by keeping guard; and, as they declared what things they had seen, again they see three men coming forth from the tomb, and two of them supporting one, and a cross following them. And of the two the head reached unto the heaven, but the head of him that was led by them overpassed the heavens. And they heard a voice from the heavens, saying, Hast thou preached to them that sleep? And a response was heard from the cross, Yea. They therefore considered one with another whether to go away and shew these things to Pilate. And while they yet thought thereon, the heavens again are seen to open, and a certain man to descend and enter into the sepulchre. When the centurion and they that were with him saw these things, they hastened in the night to Pilate, leaving the tomb which they were watching, and declared all things which they had seen, being greatly distressed and saying, Truly he was the Son of God. Pilate answered and said, I am pure from the blood of the Son of God: but ye determined this. Then they all drew near and besought him and entreated him to command the centurion and the soldiers to say nothing of the things which they had seen: For it is better, say they, for us to incur the greatest sin before God, and not to fall into the bands of the people of the Jews and to be stoned. Pilate therefore commanded the centurion and the soldiers to say nothing. And at dawn upon the Lord's day, Mary Magdalen, a disciple of the Lord, fearing because of the Jews, since they were burning with wrath, had not done at the Lord's sepulchre the things which the women are wont to do for those that die and for those that are beloved by them--51 she took her friends with her and came to the sepulchre where he was laid. And they feared lest the Jews should see them, and they said, Although on the day on which he was crucified we could not weep and lament, yet now let us do these things at his sepulchre.
[1] And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
[2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
[3] And they said among themselves, But who shall roll away for us the stone that was laid at the door of the sepulchre, that we may enter in and sit by him and do the things that are due?
[4] For the stone was great, and we fear lest some one see us. And if we cannot, yet if we but set at the door the things which we bring for a memorial of him, we will weep and lament, until we come unto our home.
[5] And they went away and found the tomb opened, and coming near they looked in there; and they see there a certain young man sitting in the midst of the tomb, beautiful and clothed in a robe exceeding bright; and they were affrighted.
[6] And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Wherefore are ye come? Whom seek ye? Him that was crucified? He is risen and gone. But if ye believe not, look in and see the place where he lay, that he is not [here]; for he is risen and gone away thither, whence he was sent.
[7] But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
[8] Then the women feared and fled. for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. The women reported all they had heard from the risen Lord to Peter and those with him. Later, Jesus himself, through his disciples, sent out the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation to the east and the west. Now it was the last day of the unleavened bread, and many were going forth, returning to their homes, as the feast was ended. 59 But we, the twelve disciples of the Lord, mourned and were grieved: and each one, being grieved for that which was come to pass, departed to his home. 60 But I, Simon Peter and Andrew my brother, took our nets and went to the sea; and there was with us Levi the son of Alphaeus;
[9] Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
[10] And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
[11] And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
[12] After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
[13] And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 'Now the Lord, when he had given the linen cloth unto the servant of the priest, went unto James and appeared to him (for James had sworn that he would not eat bread from that hour wherein he had drunk the Lord's cup until he should see him risen again from among them that sleep)', and again after a little, 'Bring ye, saith the Lord, a table and bread', and immediately it is added, 'He took bread and blessed and brake and gave it unto James the Just and said unto him: My brother, eat thy bread, for the Son of Man is risen from among them that sleep'. and when he came to Peter and those who were with Peter, he said to them: Lo, feel me and see that I am not a bodiless spirit (demon). And forthwith they touched him and believed.
[14] Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. The eleven made an excuse: "This age of lawlessness and unbelief is controlled by Satan, who, by means of unclean spirits, doesn't allow the truth to be known. So," they said to Christ, "reveal your righteousness now!" Christ replied to them, "The measure of Satan's years of power is filled up, although other fearful things draw nigh to those for whom I, because of their sin, was delivered to death, that they might turn back and not sin anymore so that they might inherit the imperishable, spiritual glory of righteousness in heaven.
[15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
[16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
[17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
[18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
[19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
[20] And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
[2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
[3] And they said among themselves, But who shall roll away for us the stone that was laid at the door of the sepulchre, that we may enter in and sit by him and do the things that are due?
[4] For the stone was great, and we fear lest some one see us. And if we cannot, yet if we but set at the door the things which we bring for a memorial of him, we will weep and lament, until we come unto our home.
[5] And they went away and found the tomb opened, and coming near they looked in there; and they see there a certain young man sitting in the midst of the tomb, beautiful and clothed in a robe exceeding bright; and they were affrighted.
[6] And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Wherefore are ye come? Whom seek ye? Him that was crucified? He is risen and gone. But if ye believe not, look in and see the place where he lay, that he is not [here]; for he is risen and gone away thither, whence he was sent.
[7] But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
[8] Then the women feared and fled. for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. The women reported all they had heard from the risen Lord to Peter and those with him. Later, Jesus himself, through his disciples, sent out the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation to the east and the west. Now it was the last day of the unleavened bread, and many were going forth, returning to their homes, as the feast was ended. 59 But we, the twelve disciples of the Lord, mourned and were grieved: and each one, being grieved for that which was come to pass, departed to his home. 60 But I, Simon Peter and Andrew my brother, took our nets and went to the sea; and there was with us Levi the son of Alphaeus;
[9] Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
[10] And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
[11] And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
[12] After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
[13] And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 'Now the Lord, when he had given the linen cloth unto the servant of the priest, went unto James and appeared to him (for James had sworn that he would not eat bread from that hour wherein he had drunk the Lord's cup until he should see him risen again from among them that sleep)', and again after a little, 'Bring ye, saith the Lord, a table and bread', and immediately it is added, 'He took bread and blessed and brake and gave it unto James the Just and said unto him: My brother, eat thy bread, for the Son of Man is risen from among them that sleep'. and when he came to Peter and those who were with Peter, he said to them: Lo, feel me and see that I am not a bodiless spirit (demon). And forthwith they touched him and believed.
[14] Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. The eleven made an excuse: "This age of lawlessness and unbelief is controlled by Satan, who, by means of unclean spirits, doesn't allow the truth to be known. So," they said to Christ, "reveal your righteousness now!" Christ replied to them, "The measure of Satan's years of power is filled up, although other fearful things draw nigh to those for whom I, because of their sin, was delivered to death, that they might turn back and not sin anymore so that they might inherit the imperishable, spiritual glory of righteousness in heaven.
[15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
[16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
[17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
[18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
[19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
[20] And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
NARRATIVE OF JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA, THAT BEGGED THE LORD'S BODY;
IN WHICH ALSO HE BRINGS IN THE CASES OF THE TWO ROBBERS.
CHAP. I.--I am Joseph of Arimathaea, who begged from Pilate the body of the Lord Jesus for burial, and who for this cause was kept close in prison by the murderous and God-fighting Jews, who also, keeping to the law, have by Moses himself become partakers in tribulation
and having provoked their Lawgiver to anger, and not knowing that He was God, crucified Him and made Him manifest to those that knew God. in those days in which they condemned the Son of God to be crucified, seven days before Christ suffered, two condemned robbers were sent from Jericho to the procurator Pilate; and their case was as follows:--
The first, his name Gestas, put travellers to death, murdering them with the sword, and others he exposed naked. And he hung up women by the heels, head down, and cut off their breasts, and drank the blood of infants limbs, never having known God, not obeying the laws, being violent from the beginning, and doing such deeds.
And the case of the other was as follows: He was called Demas, and was by birth a Galilaean, and kept an inn. He made attacks upon the rich, but was good to the poor--a thief like Tobit, for he buried the bodies of the poor. (2) And he set his hand to robbing the multitude of the Jews, and stole the law (3) itself in Jerusalem, and stripped naked the daughter of Caiaphas, who was priestess of the sanctuary, and took away from its place the mysterious deposit itself placed there by Solomon. Such were his doings.
And Jesus also was taken on the third day before the passover, in the evening. And to Caiaphas and the multitude of the Jews it was not a passover, but it was a great mourning to them, on account of the plundering of the sanctuary by the robber. And they summoned Judas Iscariot, and spoke to him, for he was son of the brother (4) of Caiaphas the priest. He was not a disciple before the face of Jesus; but all the multitude of the Jews craftily supported him, that he might follow Jesus, not that he might be obedient to the miracles done by Him, nor that he might confess Him, but that he might betray Him to them, wishing to catch up some lying word of Him, giving him gifts for such brave, honest conduct to the amount of a half shekel, of gold each day. And he did this for two years with Jesus, as says one of His disciples called John.
And on the third day, before Jesus was laid hold of, Judas says to the Jews: Come, let us hold a council; for perhaps it was not the robber that stole the law, but Jesus himself, and I accuse him. And when these words had been spoken, Nicodemus, who kept the keys of the sanctuary, came in to us, and said to all: Do not do such a deed. For Nicodemus was true, more than all the
multitude of the Jews. And the daughter of Caiaphas, Sarah by name, cried out,
and said: He himself said before all against this holy place, I am able to
destroy this temple, and in three days to raise it. The Jews say to her: Thou
hast credit with all of us. For they regarded her as a prophetess. And
assuredly, after the council had been held, Jesus was laid hold of.
CHAP. 2.--And on the following day, the fourth day of the week, they brought Him at the ninth hour into the hall of Caiaphas. And Annas and Caiaphas say to Him: Tell us, why hast thou stolen our law, and renounced (5) the ordinances of Moses and the prophets? And Jesus answered nothing. And again a second time, the multitude also being present, they say to Him: The sanctuary which Solomon built in forty and six years, why dost thou wish to destroy in one moment? And to these things Jesus answered nothing. For the sanctuary of the synagogue had been plundered by the robber.
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And the evening of the fourth day being ended, all the multitude sought to burn the daughter of Caiaphas, on account of the loss of the law; for they did not know how they were to keep the passover. And she said to them: Wait, my children, and let us destroy this Jesus, and the law will be found, and the holy feast will be fully accomplished. And secretly Annas and Caiaphas gave considerable money to Judas Iscariot, saying: Say as thou saidst to us before, I know that the law has been stolen by Jesus, that the accusation may be turned against him, and not against this maiden, who is free from blame. And Judas having received this command, said to them: Let not all the multitude know that I have been instructed by you to do this against Jesus; but release Jesus, and I persuade the multitude that it is so. And craftily they released Jesus.
And Judas, going into the sanctuary at the dawn of the fifth day, says to all the people: What will you give me, and I will give up to you the overthrower [1] of the law, and the plunderer of the prophets? The Jews say to him: If thou wilt give him up to us, we will give thee thirty pieces of gold. And the people did not know that Judas was speaking about Jesus, for many of them confessed that he was the Son of God. And Judas received the thirty pieces of gold.
And going out at the fourth hour, and at the fifth, he finds Jesus walking in the street. And as evening was coming on, Judas says to the Jews: Give me the aid of soldiers with swords and staves, and I will give him up to you. They therefore gave him officers for the purpose of seizing Him. And as they were going along, Judas says to them: Lay hold of the man whom I shall kiss, for he has stolen the law and the prophets. Going up to Jesus, therefore, he kissed Him, saying: Hail, Rabbi! it being the evening of the fifth day. And having laid hold of Him, they gave Him up to Caiaphas and the chief priests, Judas saying: This is he who stole the law and the prophets. And the Jews gave Jesus an unjust trial, saying: Why hast thou done these things? And be answered nothing.
And Nicodemus and I Joseph, seeing the seat of the plagues, [2] stood off from them, not wishing to perish along with the counsel of the ungodly.
CHAP. 3.--Having therefore done many and dreadful things against Jesus that night, they gave Him up to Pilate the procurator at the dawn of the preparation, that he might crucify Him; and for this purpose they all came together. After a trial, therefore, Pilate the procurator ordered Him to be nailed to the cross, along with the two robbers. And they were nailed up along with Jesus, Gestas on the left. and Demas on the right.
And he that was on the left began to cry out, saying to Jesus: See how many evil deeds I have done in the earth; and if I had known that thou wast the king, I should have cut off thee also. And why dost thou call thyself Son of God, and canst not help thyself in necessity? how canst thou afford it to another one praying for help? If thou art the Christ, come down from the cross, that I may believe in thee. But now I see thee perishing along with me, not like a man, but like a wild beast. And many other things he began to say against Jesus, blaspheming and gnashing his teeth upon Him. For the robber was taken alive in the snare of the devil. [3]
But the robber on the right hand, whose name was Demas, seeing the Godlike grace of Jesus, thus cried out: I know Thee, Jesus Christ, that Thou art the Son of God. I see Thee, Christ, adored by myriads of myriads of angels. Pardon me my sins which I have done. Do not in my trial make the stars come against me, or the moon, when Thou shall judge all the world; because in the night I have accomplished my wicked purposes. Do not urge the sun, which is now darkened on account of Thee, to tell the evils of my heart, for no gift can I give Thee for the remission of my sins. Already death is coming upon me because of my sins; but Thine is the propitiation. Deliver me, O Lord of all, from Thy fearful judgment. Do not give the enemy power to swallow me up, and to become heir of my soul, as of that of him who is hanging on the left; for I see how the devil joyfully takes his soul, and his body disappears. Do not even order me to go away into the portion of the Jews; for I see Moses and the patriarchs in great weeping, and the devil rejoicing over them. Before, then, O Lord, my spirit departs, order my sins to be washed away, and remember me the sinner in Thy kingdom, when upon the great most lofty throne [4] thou shalt judge the twelve tribes of Israel. [5] For Thou hast prepared great punishment for Thy world on account of Thyself.
And the robber having thus spoken, Jesus says to him: Amen, amen; I say to thee, Demas, that to-day thou shalt be with me in paradise. [6] And the sons of the kingdom, the children of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses, shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [7] And thou alone shalt dwell in paradise until my second appearing, when I am to judge those who do not
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confess my name. And He said to the robber: Go away, and tell the cherubim and the powers, that turn the flaming sword, that guard paradise from the time that Adam, the first created, was in paradise, and sinned, and kept not my commandments, and I cast him out thence. And none of the first shall see paradise until I am to come the second time to judge living and dead. And He wrote thus: Jesus Christ the Son of God, who have come down from the heights of the heavens, who have come forth out of the bosom of the invisible Father without being separated from Him, [1] and who have come down into the world to be made flesh, and to be nailed to a cross, in order that I might save Adam, whom I fashioned,--to my archangelic powers, the gatekeepers of paradise, to the officers of my Father: I will and order that he who has been crucified along with me should go in, should receive remission of sins through me; and that he, having put on an incorruptible body, should go in to paradise, and dwell where no one has ever been able to dwell.
And, behold, after He had said this, Jesus gave up the ghost, on the day of the preparation, at the ninth hour. And there was darkness over all the earth; and from a great earthquake that happened, the sanctuary fell down, and the wing of the temple.
CHAP. 4.--And I Joseph begged the body of Jesus, and put it in a new tomb, where no one had been put. And of the robber on the right the body was not found; but of him on the left, as the form of a dragon, so was his body.
And after I had begged the body of Jesus to bury, the Jews, carried away by hatred and rage, shut me up in prison, where evil-doers were kept under restraint. And this happened to me on the evening of the Sabbath, whereby our nation transgressed the law. And, behold, that same nation of ours endured fearful tribulations on the Sabbath.
And now, on the evening of the first of the week, at the fifth hour of the night, Jesus comes to me in the prison, along with the robber who had been crucified with Him on the right, whom He sent into paradise. And there was a great light in the building. And the house was hung up by the four corners, and the place was opened, and I came out. Then I first recognised Jesus, and again the robber, bringing a letter to Jesus. And as we were going into Galilee, there shone a great light, which the creation did not produce. And there was also with the robber a great fragrance out of paradise.
And Jesus, having sat down in a certain place, thus read: We, the cherubim and the six-winged, who have been ordered by Thy Godhead to watch the garden of paradise, make the following statement through the robber who was crucified along with Thee, by Thy arrangement: When we saw the print of the nails of the robber crucified along with Thee, and the shining light of the letter of Thy Godhead, [2] the fire indeed was extinguished, not being able to bear the splendour of the print; [3] and we crouched down, being in great fear. For we heard that the Maker of heaven and earth, and of the whole creation, had come down from on high to dwell in the lower parts of the earth, on account of Adam, the first created. And when we beheld the undefiled cross shining like lightning from the robber, gleaming with sevenfold the light of the sun, trembling fell upon us. We felt a violent shaking of the world below; [4] and with a loud voice, the ministers of Hades said, along with us: Holy, holy, holy is He who in the beginning was in the highest. And the powers sent up a cry: O Lord, Thou hast been made manifest in heaven and in earth, bringing joy to the world; and, a greater gift than this, Thou hast freed Thine own image from death by the invisible purpose of the ages.
CHAP. 5.--After I had beheld these things, as I was going into Galilee with Jesus and the robber, Jesus was transfigured, and was not as formerly, before He was crucified, but was altogether light; and angels always ministered to Him, and Jesus spoke with them. And I remained with Him three days. And no one of His disciples was with Him, except the robber alone.
And in the middle of the feast of unleavened bread, His disciple John comes, and we no longer beheld the robber as to what took place. And John asked Jesus: Who is this, that Thou hast not made me to be seen by him? But Jesus answered him nothing. And falling down before Him, he said: Lord, I know that Thou hast loved me from the beginning, and why dost Thou not reveal to me that man? Jesus says to him: Why dost thou seek what is hidden? Art thou still without understanding? Dost thou not perceive the fragrance of paradise filling the place? Dost thou not know who it is? The robber on the cross has become heir of paradise. Amen, amen; I say to thee, that it shall belong to him alone until that the great day shall come. And John said: Make me worthy to behold him.
And while John was yet speaking, the robber suddenly appeared; and John, struck with astonishment, fell to the earth. And the robber
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was not in his first form, as before John came; but he was like a king in great power, having on him the cross. And the voice of a great multitude was sent forth: Thou hast come to the place prepared for thee in paradise. We have been commanded by Him that has sent thee, to serve thee until the great day. And after this voice, both the robber and I Joseph vanished, and I was found in my own house; and I no longer saw Jesus.
And I, having seen these things, have written them down, in order that all may believe in the crucified Jesus Christ our Lord, and may no longer obey the law of Moses, but may believe in the signs and wonders that have happened through Him, and in order that we who have believed may inherit eternal life, and be found in the kingdom of the heavens. For to Him are due glory, strength, praise, and majesty for ever and ever. Amen.
IN WHICH ALSO HE BRINGS IN THE CASES OF THE TWO ROBBERS.
CHAP. I.--I am Joseph of Arimathaea, who begged from Pilate the body of the Lord Jesus for burial, and who for this cause was kept close in prison by the murderous and God-fighting Jews, who also, keeping to the law, have by Moses himself become partakers in tribulation
and having provoked their Lawgiver to anger, and not knowing that He was God, crucified Him and made Him manifest to those that knew God. in those days in which they condemned the Son of God to be crucified, seven days before Christ suffered, two condemned robbers were sent from Jericho to the procurator Pilate; and their case was as follows:--
The first, his name Gestas, put travellers to death, murdering them with the sword, and others he exposed naked. And he hung up women by the heels, head down, and cut off their breasts, and drank the blood of infants limbs, never having known God, not obeying the laws, being violent from the beginning, and doing such deeds.
And the case of the other was as follows: He was called Demas, and was by birth a Galilaean, and kept an inn. He made attacks upon the rich, but was good to the poor--a thief like Tobit, for he buried the bodies of the poor. (2) And he set his hand to robbing the multitude of the Jews, and stole the law (3) itself in Jerusalem, and stripped naked the daughter of Caiaphas, who was priestess of the sanctuary, and took away from its place the mysterious deposit itself placed there by Solomon. Such were his doings.
And Jesus also was taken on the third day before the passover, in the evening. And to Caiaphas and the multitude of the Jews it was not a passover, but it was a great mourning to them, on account of the plundering of the sanctuary by the robber. And they summoned Judas Iscariot, and spoke to him, for he was son of the brother (4) of Caiaphas the priest. He was not a disciple before the face of Jesus; but all the multitude of the Jews craftily supported him, that he might follow Jesus, not that he might be obedient to the miracles done by Him, nor that he might confess Him, but that he might betray Him to them, wishing to catch up some lying word of Him, giving him gifts for such brave, honest conduct to the amount of a half shekel, of gold each day. And he did this for two years with Jesus, as says one of His disciples called John.
And on the third day, before Jesus was laid hold of, Judas says to the Jews: Come, let us hold a council; for perhaps it was not the robber that stole the law, but Jesus himself, and I accuse him. And when these words had been spoken, Nicodemus, who kept the keys of the sanctuary, came in to us, and said to all: Do not do such a deed. For Nicodemus was true, more than all the
multitude of the Jews. And the daughter of Caiaphas, Sarah by name, cried out,
and said: He himself said before all against this holy place, I am able to
destroy this temple, and in three days to raise it. The Jews say to her: Thou
hast credit with all of us. For they regarded her as a prophetess. And
assuredly, after the council had been held, Jesus was laid hold of.
CHAP. 2.--And on the following day, the fourth day of the week, they brought Him at the ninth hour into the hall of Caiaphas. And Annas and Caiaphas say to Him: Tell us, why hast thou stolen our law, and renounced (5) the ordinances of Moses and the prophets? And Jesus answered nothing. And again a second time, the multitude also being present, they say to Him: The sanctuary which Solomon built in forty and six years, why dost thou wish to destroy in one moment? And to these things Jesus answered nothing. For the sanctuary of the synagogue had been plundered by the robber.
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And the evening of the fourth day being ended, all the multitude sought to burn the daughter of Caiaphas, on account of the loss of the law; for they did not know how they were to keep the passover. And she said to them: Wait, my children, and let us destroy this Jesus, and the law will be found, and the holy feast will be fully accomplished. And secretly Annas and Caiaphas gave considerable money to Judas Iscariot, saying: Say as thou saidst to us before, I know that the law has been stolen by Jesus, that the accusation may be turned against him, and not against this maiden, who is free from blame. And Judas having received this command, said to them: Let not all the multitude know that I have been instructed by you to do this against Jesus; but release Jesus, and I persuade the multitude that it is so. And craftily they released Jesus.
And Judas, going into the sanctuary at the dawn of the fifth day, says to all the people: What will you give me, and I will give up to you the overthrower [1] of the law, and the plunderer of the prophets? The Jews say to him: If thou wilt give him up to us, we will give thee thirty pieces of gold. And the people did not know that Judas was speaking about Jesus, for many of them confessed that he was the Son of God. And Judas received the thirty pieces of gold.
And going out at the fourth hour, and at the fifth, he finds Jesus walking in the street. And as evening was coming on, Judas says to the Jews: Give me the aid of soldiers with swords and staves, and I will give him up to you. They therefore gave him officers for the purpose of seizing Him. And as they were going along, Judas says to them: Lay hold of the man whom I shall kiss, for he has stolen the law and the prophets. Going up to Jesus, therefore, he kissed Him, saying: Hail, Rabbi! it being the evening of the fifth day. And having laid hold of Him, they gave Him up to Caiaphas and the chief priests, Judas saying: This is he who stole the law and the prophets. And the Jews gave Jesus an unjust trial, saying: Why hast thou done these things? And be answered nothing.
And Nicodemus and I Joseph, seeing the seat of the plagues, [2] stood off from them, not wishing to perish along with the counsel of the ungodly.
CHAP. 3.--Having therefore done many and dreadful things against Jesus that night, they gave Him up to Pilate the procurator at the dawn of the preparation, that he might crucify Him; and for this purpose they all came together. After a trial, therefore, Pilate the procurator ordered Him to be nailed to the cross, along with the two robbers. And they were nailed up along with Jesus, Gestas on the left. and Demas on the right.
And he that was on the left began to cry out, saying to Jesus: See how many evil deeds I have done in the earth; and if I had known that thou wast the king, I should have cut off thee also. And why dost thou call thyself Son of God, and canst not help thyself in necessity? how canst thou afford it to another one praying for help? If thou art the Christ, come down from the cross, that I may believe in thee. But now I see thee perishing along with me, not like a man, but like a wild beast. And many other things he began to say against Jesus, blaspheming and gnashing his teeth upon Him. For the robber was taken alive in the snare of the devil. [3]
But the robber on the right hand, whose name was Demas, seeing the Godlike grace of Jesus, thus cried out: I know Thee, Jesus Christ, that Thou art the Son of God. I see Thee, Christ, adored by myriads of myriads of angels. Pardon me my sins which I have done. Do not in my trial make the stars come against me, or the moon, when Thou shall judge all the world; because in the night I have accomplished my wicked purposes. Do not urge the sun, which is now darkened on account of Thee, to tell the evils of my heart, for no gift can I give Thee for the remission of my sins. Already death is coming upon me because of my sins; but Thine is the propitiation. Deliver me, O Lord of all, from Thy fearful judgment. Do not give the enemy power to swallow me up, and to become heir of my soul, as of that of him who is hanging on the left; for I see how the devil joyfully takes his soul, and his body disappears. Do not even order me to go away into the portion of the Jews; for I see Moses and the patriarchs in great weeping, and the devil rejoicing over them. Before, then, O Lord, my spirit departs, order my sins to be washed away, and remember me the sinner in Thy kingdom, when upon the great most lofty throne [4] thou shalt judge the twelve tribes of Israel. [5] For Thou hast prepared great punishment for Thy world on account of Thyself.
And the robber having thus spoken, Jesus says to him: Amen, amen; I say to thee, Demas, that to-day thou shalt be with me in paradise. [6] And the sons of the kingdom, the children of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses, shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [7] And thou alone shalt dwell in paradise until my second appearing, when I am to judge those who do not
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confess my name. And He said to the robber: Go away, and tell the cherubim and the powers, that turn the flaming sword, that guard paradise from the time that Adam, the first created, was in paradise, and sinned, and kept not my commandments, and I cast him out thence. And none of the first shall see paradise until I am to come the second time to judge living and dead. And He wrote thus: Jesus Christ the Son of God, who have come down from the heights of the heavens, who have come forth out of the bosom of the invisible Father without being separated from Him, [1] and who have come down into the world to be made flesh, and to be nailed to a cross, in order that I might save Adam, whom I fashioned,--to my archangelic powers, the gatekeepers of paradise, to the officers of my Father: I will and order that he who has been crucified along with me should go in, should receive remission of sins through me; and that he, having put on an incorruptible body, should go in to paradise, and dwell where no one has ever been able to dwell.
And, behold, after He had said this, Jesus gave up the ghost, on the day of the preparation, at the ninth hour. And there was darkness over all the earth; and from a great earthquake that happened, the sanctuary fell down, and the wing of the temple.
CHAP. 4.--And I Joseph begged the body of Jesus, and put it in a new tomb, where no one had been put. And of the robber on the right the body was not found; but of him on the left, as the form of a dragon, so was his body.
And after I had begged the body of Jesus to bury, the Jews, carried away by hatred and rage, shut me up in prison, where evil-doers were kept under restraint. And this happened to me on the evening of the Sabbath, whereby our nation transgressed the law. And, behold, that same nation of ours endured fearful tribulations on the Sabbath.
And now, on the evening of the first of the week, at the fifth hour of the night, Jesus comes to me in the prison, along with the robber who had been crucified with Him on the right, whom He sent into paradise. And there was a great light in the building. And the house was hung up by the four corners, and the place was opened, and I came out. Then I first recognised Jesus, and again the robber, bringing a letter to Jesus. And as we were going into Galilee, there shone a great light, which the creation did not produce. And there was also with the robber a great fragrance out of paradise.
And Jesus, having sat down in a certain place, thus read: We, the cherubim and the six-winged, who have been ordered by Thy Godhead to watch the garden of paradise, make the following statement through the robber who was crucified along with Thee, by Thy arrangement: When we saw the print of the nails of the robber crucified along with Thee, and the shining light of the letter of Thy Godhead, [2] the fire indeed was extinguished, not being able to bear the splendour of the print; [3] and we crouched down, being in great fear. For we heard that the Maker of heaven and earth, and of the whole creation, had come down from on high to dwell in the lower parts of the earth, on account of Adam, the first created. And when we beheld the undefiled cross shining like lightning from the robber, gleaming with sevenfold the light of the sun, trembling fell upon us. We felt a violent shaking of the world below; [4] and with a loud voice, the ministers of Hades said, along with us: Holy, holy, holy is He who in the beginning was in the highest. And the powers sent up a cry: O Lord, Thou hast been made manifest in heaven and in earth, bringing joy to the world; and, a greater gift than this, Thou hast freed Thine own image from death by the invisible purpose of the ages.
CHAP. 5.--After I had beheld these things, as I was going into Galilee with Jesus and the robber, Jesus was transfigured, and was not as formerly, before He was crucified, but was altogether light; and angels always ministered to Him, and Jesus spoke with them. And I remained with Him three days. And no one of His disciples was with Him, except the robber alone.
And in the middle of the feast of unleavened bread, His disciple John comes, and we no longer beheld the robber as to what took place. And John asked Jesus: Who is this, that Thou hast not made me to be seen by him? But Jesus answered him nothing. And falling down before Him, he said: Lord, I know that Thou hast loved me from the beginning, and why dost Thou not reveal to me that man? Jesus says to him: Why dost thou seek what is hidden? Art thou still without understanding? Dost thou not perceive the fragrance of paradise filling the place? Dost thou not know who it is? The robber on the cross has become heir of paradise. Amen, amen; I say to thee, that it shall belong to him alone until that the great day shall come. And John said: Make me worthy to behold him.
And while John was yet speaking, the robber suddenly appeared; and John, struck with astonishment, fell to the earth. And the robber
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was not in his first form, as before John came; but he was like a king in great power, having on him the cross. And the voice of a great multitude was sent forth: Thou hast come to the place prepared for thee in paradise. We have been commanded by Him that has sent thee, to serve thee until the great day. And after this voice, both the robber and I Joseph vanished, and I was found in my own house; and I no longer saw Jesus.
And I, having seen these things, have written them down, in order that all may believe in the crucified Jesus Christ our Lord, and may no longer obey the law of Moses, but may believe in the signs and wonders that have happened through Him, and in order that we who have believed may inherit eternal life, and be found in the kingdom of the heavens. For to Him are due glory, strength, praise, and majesty for ever and ever. Amen.
The Goodnews according to the Hebrews
1 These are the generations of Yeshua13, the son of David, the son of
Avraham.
2. Avraham begat Yitzchak, Yitzchak begat Ya’akov, Ya’akov begat
Y’hudah and his brothers.
3 Y'hudah begat Peretz and Zerach by Tamar, Peretz begat Chetzron,
Chetzron begat Ram,
4 And Ram begat Amminadav, Amminadav begat Nachshon, Nachshon
begat Salmon,
5 Salmon begat Bo'az by Rachav, Bo'az begat Oved by Rut, And Oved begat
Yishai,
6 Yishai begat David the king. David begat Shlomo by the wife of Uriyah,
7 And Shlomo begat Rechav'am, Rechav'am begat Aviyah, And Aviyah
begat Asa,
8 And Asa begat Y'hoshafat, Y'hoshafat begat Y'horam, Y'horam begat
Uziyahu,
9 Uziyahu begat Yotam, Yotam begat Achaz, Achaz begat Chizkiyahu,
10 Chizkiyahu begat M'nasheh, M'nasheh begat Ammon, Ammon begat
Yoshiyahu,
11 Yoshiyahu begat Y'khanyah and his brothers in the Babylonian exile.
12 Y'khanyah begat Sh'altiel, Sh'altiel begat Z'rubavel,
13 Z'rubavel begat Av'ichud, Av'ichud begat Av'ner, Av'ner begat Elyakim,
13 “These are the generations of Yeshua” Hebrew: Eleh Toldot Yeshua”. Schonfield has shown that the
hostile Rabbinic Gospel known as the “Toldot Yeshu” was a parody on GH (see According to the
Hebrews; Hugh J. Schonfield; 1937; p. 23-24). Ancient Semitic books were often named after the first
major opening word(s) of the book. For example the Hebrew names of the books of the Torah are each
taken from the opening words of that book and the Arabic names for each of the surahs of the Quran are
taken from the opening words of that surah. Thus the document of which the Toldot Yeshu was a parody
(which was almost certainly GH) must have opened with these words, just as Matthew opens. Thus also
GH must have contained the genealogy found in Matthew 1:1-17. One may infer from statements by
Epiphanius that the Nazarene version included an opening genealogy. Also one Greek manuscript of
Matthew (Codex 1424) has a marginal note to Matt. 1:6 giving an alternate reading from the Judaikon, but
unfortunately the note was later erased.
Elyakim begat Azur,
14 Azur begat Tzadok, Tzadok begat Ammon, Ammon begat El'ichud,
15 El'ichud begat El'azar, El'azar begat Mattan, Mattan begat Ya'akov,
16. Ya'akov begat Yosef, Yosef who was betrothed to Miriam the virgin,
who begat Yeshua, who is called Messiah.
17 And all the generations from Avraham to David are fourteen generations,
and from David to the Babylonian exile are fourteen generations, and from
the Babylonian exile to the Messiah are fourteen generations.
18 And the birth of Yeshua the Messiah was this way: after his mother
Miriam was betrothed to Yosef, before he came unto her, the Ruach
HaKodesh found her pregnant.
19 And Yosef her husband was a righteous man, and not willing to deliver
her up to death, and not to disclose her; only it was in his heart to send her
away in secret.
20 And while he thought on this, the angel appeared to him in a dream,
saying, "Yosef son of David, fear not to take Miriam your wife, for that
which will be born of her is from the Ruach HaKodesh; for from the Ruach
HaKodesh she has conceived.
21 And behold, she will bear a son, and you will call his name Yeshua; for
he will save his people from all their sins.
22 And all this was to fulfill what was spoken from YHWH by prophet
Yesha'yahu, saying,
23 "Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and will call his
name Immanu'el "14
24 And Yosef awoke from his sleep, and did as the angel of YHWH had
commanded him, and took her as his wife.
25 and he had no intercourse with her until she had born her son, and he
called his name Yeshua.
CHAPTER 2
1 And after Yeshua was born in Beit Lechem, a city of Y'hudah, in the days
of Herod the king, behold, there came believers from the east to
Yerushalayim,
2 saying, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his
star in the east, and have come to pay homage to him."
3 And when Herod heard, he was filled with anger, he, and all Yerushalayim
with him.
14 Is. 7:14
4 And he gathered all the Chief Cohenim and scribes of the people, and
inquired from them in what place the Messiah should be born.
5 And they said to him, "In Beit Lechem, Y'hudah; for thus it was spoken by
the mouth of the prophet.
6 "But you Beit Lechem, Ef'ratah, are not to be lightly esteemed among
the thousands of Y'hudah15, for from you shall he come forth to me
which is to be ruler among my people Yisrael."16
7 Then Herod called the believers in secret, and questioned them diligently
as to the time of the star, which had appeared to them.
8 And he sent them to Beit Lechem, and said, "Go and inquire diligently
concerning the boy; and when you have found him, tell me, in order that I
may come and pay homage to him also."
9 And when they had heard the king, they went; and behold, the star, which
they saw in the east, went before their eyes, until it came and stood still
above, over against where the boy was.
10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 When Yosef looked out with his eyes, he saw a crowd of pilgrims who
were coming in company to the cave, and he said: I will arise and go out to
meet them.
12 And when Yosef went out, he said to Shim'on, “It seems to me as if those
coming were soothsayers, for lo, every moment they look up to heaven and
confer with one another.
13 But they seem to be strangers, for their appearance differs from ours; for
their dress is very rich and their complexion quite dark; they have caps on
their heads and their garments seem to be silky, and they have breeches on
their legs.
14 And they have halted and are looking at me, and lo, they have halted and
are looking at me, and lo, they have again set themselves in motion and are
coming here17.
15 And they came into the house, and they found the boy, and his mother,
Miriam, with him, and they fell on the ground and paid homage to him: and
opened their stores, and they presented to him gifts; gold, and frankincense,
and myrrh.
15 “Bethlehem of Judaea. This is a mistake of the scribes: for I think it was originally expressed by the
Evangelist as we read in the Hebrew: ‘of ‘of Judah’ not ‘of Judaea’”. – Jerome on Mat. 2:6
16 Mic. 5:1(5:2)
17 2:11-14 “For the Gospel which is entitled According to the Hebrews reports: … From these words it is
clear that not merely three men, but a crowd of pilgrims came to the Lord, even if according to the foremost
leaders of this crowd were named with the definite names Melchus, Casper and Phadizarda.” (Sedulius
Scotus, Comm. On Mt.; MSS: Berlin, Phill. 1660, saec. IX fol. 17v; Vienna 740, saec IX, fol. 15r.v.: cited
by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 203f.)
16 And it came to pass, they were fast asleep, and behold, the angel
appeared to them, saying, "Beware of returning to Yerushalayim to Herod,"
and they went and returned to their own land by another way.
17 And after they had departed, and behold, the angel of YHWH appeared to
Yosef in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the boy and his mother, and flee you
away into Egypt and be there; and there you will stay until I return to you;
for Herod is seeking to put the boy to death."
18 And he arose, and took up the boy and his mother by night, and departed
into Egypt:
19 and was there until the death of Herod: to fulfill what was spoken from
YHWH by the prophet, who said,
"From out of Egypt I have called my son."18
20 Then Herod, seeing that he was deceived by the magi, was exceedingly
furious, and sent forth, and put to death all the boys that were in Beit
Lechem,
and in all the border thereof, from two years old and under, as he had heard
the set time from the magi.
21 Then was established that which was spoken by Yirmeyahu the prophet,
who said,
22 "A voice was heard in Ramah,
lamentation, and bitter weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children,
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more."19
23 And after Herod the King was dead, behold, the angel of YHWH
appeared in a dream to Yosef in Egypt,
24 saying, "Arise, and take up the boy and his mother and go into the Eretz-
Yisrael: for they are dead which sought the child's nefesh."
25 And he arose, and took the child and his mother, and came to Eretz-
Yisrael.
26 And when he heard that Archelaus reigned in Y'hudah in the place of
Herod his father, he was afraid to go to there: and being warned in sleep, he
went to the land of Galil:
18 Hos. 11:1; “To these [citations where Matt. Follows the Hebrew rather than the LXX] belong two: ‘Out
of Egypt I called my son.’And ‘For he shall be called a Nazarene.’” – Jerome; of Illustrious Men 3
19 Jer 31:14 (15)
27 and came and dwelt in the city of Natzeret: to fulfill what was spoken by
the mouth of the prophet, for he will be called Natzeret820.
28 And his people, during every year, went to Yerushalayim for the
celebration of the feast of Unleavened Bread, of Pesach.
29 And when he was twelve years old, they went up, as they were
accustomed for the feast.
30 And after the feast days were completed, they returned. But the child
Yeshua remained in Yerushalayim, though his kinsfolk did not know.
31 For they thought he was with people in their company. And after they had
gone a one-day journey, they searched for him among their company and
among their kinsfolk and among those who knew them.
32 And they did not find him. So they returned again to Yerushalayim and
searched for him.
33 And after three days, they found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of
the teachers. And he was listening to them and questioning them.
34 Now on a certain day the rabbis were debating matters of civil damages.
Then began he to utter halachot before them.
35 Then said one of them to him, "Have you not heard that everyone that
speaks a halacha in the presence of his master is worthy of death?"
36 He said to that wise man, "Who is the master and who is the talmid? And
which of the two is wiser, Moshe or Yitro? Was it not Moshe, the father of
the prophets and chief of the wise men?
37 Moreover the Torah witnesses concerning him: And there arose not
since in Yisra’el a prophet like unto Moshe.21
Withal Yitro was an alien,
yet
he dictated to Moshe right conduct, according to the saying: And set over
them rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds.22
38 But if you therefore say that Yitro was greater than Moshe then would
there be an end to his greatness?"23
39 And all those who heard him were amazed at his wisdom and his
answers.
40 And when his kinsfolk saw him they were amazed, and his mother said to
him, My son, why have you acted toward us in this manner? For behold, we
have been searching for you with much worry.
20 “To these [citations where Hebrew Matt. follows the Hebrew rather than the LXX] belong two: ‘Out of
Egypt I called my son.’And ‘For he shall be called a Nazarene.’” – Jerome; of Illustrious Men 3
21 Deut. 34:10
22 Ex. 18:21
23 2:34-38 This material is extracted from Toldot Yeshu 1:26-30 but since it is in no way antagonistic
toward Yeshua, it must have been part of the original source of that document: The Goodnews according to
the Hebrews.
41 (And) he said to them, Why were you searching for me? Do you not
know that it is necessary for me to be in the House of my Father?
42 And they did not understand the saying that he had told them.
43 And he went down with them and came to Natzaret and was subject to
them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.
44 And Yeshua grew in his stature and in his wisdom and in favor with
Elohim and men.
CHAPTER 3
1 It came to pass in the days of Herod the king of Y’hudah, when Kayafa
was Cohen HaGadol24, that there came one, Yochanan by name, and
immersed with the immersion of repentance in the river Yardan.
2 It was said of him that he was of the lineage of Aharon the cohen, a son of
Z'kharyah and Elisheva25
: and all went out to him.26
3 and he cried in the wilderness of Y'hudah
4 saying, "Make you teshuva in your lives, for the Kingdom of Heaven is
offered to come."
5 And this is he, of whom Yesha'yahu spoke, saying,
“A voice crying, ‘in the wilderness
Prepare you the way of YHWH,
make straight in the desert, a path for our Elohim.’”27
6 It came to pass that Yochanan was immersing; and there went out to him
P’rushim and were immersed, and all of Yerushalyim.
7 And the garment of Yochanan was of camel's hair, and a leather belt about
his waist; and his food was the locust28
and wild honey.29
8 and they were immersed of him in the Yarden, and confessing their sins.
9 And when he saw many from the P'rushim and from the Tz'dukim, which
24 Luke 3:2
25 Luke 1:5 & 3:2
26 3:1-2 “And the beginning of their [the Ebionites] Gospel runs…” – Epiphanius; Panarion 30:13:6
27 Is. 40:3
28 The Ebionite version had been revised to read “his food was wild honey, the taste of which was that of
manna, as a cake dipped in oil.” But the Nazarene version certainly agreed with Matthew 3:4 as I have it
here.
29 3:6-7 “In the Gospel that is in general use among them [Ebionites] which is called ‘according to
Matthew’, which however is not whole and complete but forged and mutilated- they call it the Hebrew
Gospel- it is reported: …Thus they were resolved to pervert the truth into a lie and put a cake in place of
locusts.” – Epiphanius; Panarion 30:13:2-5
came to his immersion, he said to them, "Generation of vipers, who has
informed you to flee from the wrath to come?
10 Bring forth therefore the fruit in keeping with repentance:
11 and say not among yourselves, 'Because Avraham is our father...' for I
say to you, that Elohim has the power to raise up sons of Avraham from
these stones.”
12 And already the axe is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree which
yields not good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire.
13 Behold I am only immersing you in water to repentance, and he that
comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry, and he
will immerse you with the fire of the Ruach HaKodesh,
14 whose winnowing fork is in his hand, that he may clean his threshing
floor, and gather his wheat into the granary, and he will burn up the chaff in
unquenchable fire."
15 It came to pass there was a certain man named Yeshua of about thirty
years of age30
who chose us.31
16 [And] behold, the mother of our Adon and His brothers said to him,
Yochanan the immerser immerses for the remission of sins; let us go and be
immersed by him.
17 But He said to them, what sin have I committed that I should go and be
immersed by him? Unless perchance, the very words which I have said
are [a sin of] ignorance32.33
18 When the people were immersed Yeshua also came and was immersed by
Yochanan.
19 And when the Adon ascended from the water, the heavens were opened
and he saw the whole fount of the Ruach HaKodesh in the form of a dove34
30 Luke 3:23
31 3:15 The quote given by Epiphanius in Panarion 30:13:2-3 appears to come from three different parts of
the document. The opening phrase of this quote “It came to pass there was a certain man named Yeshua of
about thirty years of age, who chose us” seems to go best here, but the rest of the quote corresponds to a
time much later on Yeshua’s third visit to Kefa’s home. Here the emissaries are revealed as the narrators of
the document which may be part of the reason it was also known as the Goodnews according to the
Emissaries (According to Jerome, Against Pelagius III, 2) see note to 18:1-4.
32 Heb. 9:7; Lev. 4:2, 22, 27; 5:15-18; 22:14
33 3:16-17 “In the Gospel according to the Hebrews, which is written in the Chaldee and Syrian language,
but in Hebrew characters, and is used by the Nazarenes to this day (I mean the Gospel according to the
Emissaries, or, as generally maintained, the Gospel according to Matthew, a copy of which is in the library
at Caesarea), we find. …” – Jerome; Against Pelagius III, 2)
34 “in the form of a dove” compare Luke 3:22- agrees with DuTillet Heb. Matthew and the Old Syriac
Aramaic Matthew (OS(s)) against Greek Matthew.
that descended and rested35
upon him,36
20 And said to him, “My son, in all the prophets I was waiting for you, that
you might come, and that I might rest in you. For you are my rest; and you
are my firstborn son, who reigns forever.
21 You are my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased.” And Again, “I have
this day begotten you37.”
22 And immediately a great light shone round about the place38. When
Yochanan saw this, he said to him “Who are you Adon?”
23 And again a voice from Heaven rang out to him, “This is my beloved Son
in whom I am well pleased.”
24 And Yochanan fell down before him and said, “I beseech you Adon,
immerse me.”
25 But he prevented him and said, “Permit it; for thus it is fitting that
everything should be fulfilled.39
CHAPTER 4
1. Then Yeshua was led up by the Ruach HaKodesh into the wilderness in
order that he might be tempted by HaSatan. As He said unto us "Even so did
my mother the Ruach HaKodesh take me by one of my hairs, and carried me
away unto the great mountain40
Tabor"41,
2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was
hungry.
3. And the tempter came, he said to him, "If you are the Son of Elohim, say
35 “rested upon him” (Nazarene version) the Ebionite version read “entered into him”.
36 Is. 11:2; 42:1; 61:1; Testament of Levi 18:6-7 “rested” agrees with the Old Syriac Aramaic of Matthew
and similar to the Hebrew Shem Tob Matthew (which has “dwelt”) against Greek Matthew.
37 Ps. 2:7; this reading appears also in the Greek Western text of Codex D in Luke 3:22. This Psalm is never
quoted in any of our four Gospels but is cited as a Messianic proof text in the Toldot Yeshu. See Acts
13:33; Heb. 1:5; 5:5
38 Some Old Latin manuscripts of Matthew contain a similar phrase “And when Yeshua was being
immersed, a great light shone from the water, so that all that gathered together feared.” (Codex
Sangermanensis); “And when he was being immersed, a very great light shone round about from the water,
so that all that had come there feared.” (Codex Vercellensis); Also in the “Church Fathers” “a fire was
kindled in Jordan.” – Justin Martyr; Dialog with Trypho 88; “a light rising over the water” – Ephraim
Syrus
39 3:18-25 see appendix
40 “wilderness… mountain” In Judean Aramaic dialects the word )rw+ can mean “wilderness” or can
mean “hill” or “mountain” although this is not the word used in the Old Syriac or Peshitta in this passage of
Matthew, Mark or Luke.
41 4:1b “Even so…Tabor.” – “And if any accept the Gospel according to the Hebrews, where the savior
himself says: …he will be perplexed.” (Origen on John 2:12) (also quoted in Origen’s Jer. Homily xv 4;
Jerome on Micah 7:6; Is. 40:9ff and Ezek. 16:13).
that these stones be made bread."
4. And Yeshua answered and said, "It is written,
'For not by bread alone will man live, but by everything that
proceeds from the mouth of YHWH will man live.'"42
5. Then HaSatan took him up to Yerushalayim43, and set him on a turret of
the Temple,
6. and said to him, "If you are the Son of Elohim, drop yourself down, for
surely it is written,
'For he will give his angels charge concerning you, to keep you in
all your ways, upon the palms of their hands they will bear you
up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"44
7 And Yeshua answered him and said, "It is also written,
'You shall not tempt YHWH your Elohim.'"45
8 And again HaSatan took him up into an exceedingly high mountain, and
showed him all from the kingdoms of the world, and their glory;
9 and said to him, "All these will I give you, if you will fall down and
worship me."
10 Then said Yeshua to him, "Get yourself gone, adversary, for it is written,
'YHWH your Elohim you shall worship, and him alone you shall
serve.'"46
11 Then HaSatan left him, and behold, angels drew near and attended him.
12 And after Yeshua had heard that Yochanan was imprisoned, he went to
Galil;
13 and leaving Natzeret, he left and dwelt in K'far Nachum (which is a city
by the sea, on the border of Z'vulun and Naftali.)
14 to establish what was spoken by the mouth of Yesha'yahu the prophet,
who said,
15 "Land of Z'vulun, and land of Naftali, the way of the sea, beyond
42 Deut. 8:3
43 Some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to Mt. 4:5 which reads “The Judaikon
[Jewish] has not ‘into the holy city’ but ‘in Jerusalem’”. (agrees with Luke 4:9).
44 Ps. 91:11-12
45 Deut. 6:16
46 Deut. 6:13
Yarden, Galil of the Goyim;
16 the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; the
inhabitants of the land of the shadow of death, a light has shined upon
them."47
17 And then began Yeshua to cry, saying, “Turn you, turn you, in
repentance: for the Kingdom of Heaven is offered.”
18 And when Yeshua was walking by the sea shore of Galil, he saw two
brothers, Shim'on who was called Kefa, and Andrew his brother, casting a
net into the sea, for they were fishers.
19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
20 And they immediately left the nets, and followed him.
21 And when he departed from there, he saw two other brothers, Ya'akov
Ben Zavdai, and Yochanan his brother, in a boat with Zavdai their father,
mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23 And Yeshua went about all Galil, teaching in their synagogues, and
announcing the good news of the Kingdom and healing all manner of
sickness and pain among the people.
24 And the report of him went out to all the people, and they brought to him
all that had any physical illness, or that had fallen into various ailments, and
diseases, both epileptics and paralytics; and he healed them.
25 And there followed him great crowds from Galil, and from the ten towns,
and from Yerushalyim, and from Y'hudah, and from beyond Yarden.
CHAPTER 5
1 And when Yeshua saw the crowds, he went up to a mountain: and after he
had sat down, and his talmidim approached him:
2 and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3 "Happy are the poor of spirit48,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4 Happy are the mourners,
for they will be comforted49.
5 Happy are the meek,
for they will inherit the Land50.
47 Isa. 8:23-9:1 (9:1-2)
48 Is. 66:2; 57:15
49 Is. 61:2; 66:10, 13
6 Happy are they, which hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied51.
7 Happy are the merciful,
for they will obtain mercy.
8 Happy are the pure in heart52,
for they will see Elohim.
9 Happy are the peacemakers,
for they will be called the sons of Elohim.
10 Happy are they which are persecuted for the sake of
righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11 Happy are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall
say all evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice and be glad53, for great is your reward in heaven, for persecuted
they the prophets.
13 You are the salt of the earth, and if the salt has lost its savor, how will it
be salted? it is afterwards good for nothing, but to be cast outside, and
trampled by men.
14 You are the light of the world54. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden.
15 Neither do they obtain a lamp, to put it under a measure, but on a lamp
stand; to give light to all that are in the house.
16 So let your light shine before the sons of men, in order that they may see
your good works, to honor your Father, which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets, I have
not come to abolish, but to fulfill.
18 Truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one yud or one
hook will pass away from the Torah, until they all be fulfilled.
19 And whoever shall abolish one of these least commandments, and shall
teach the sons of men so, the same will be called least in the Kingdom of
Heaven. And whoever shall keep one of these least commandments, and
shall teach the sons of men so, the same will be called greatest in the
Kingdom of Heaven.
20 And I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the
P’rushim and scribes, you will not come into the Kingdom of Heaven.
50 Ps. 37:11
51 Is. 66:11-12
52 Ps. 24:4; 51:10; 73:11
53 Is. 66:10
54 Is. 49:6
21 You have heard what was said to them of old time, 'You shall not
murder55, and whoever commits murder, the same will be condemned to the
judgment,'
22 but I tell you that whoever shall be enraged against his brother56, he will
be condemned to the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'you are
nothing!,” he will be condemned to the council of the synagogue. And
whoever says to him, 'You impious one', he will be condemned to the fire of
Gey Hinnom.
23 And whoever grieves the spirit of his brother is guilty of one of the
greatest sins57.
24 And if you present your offering at the altar, and there remember that
your brother has something against you,
25 leave your offering there before the altar, and go you first to atone to your
brother, and then come and give your offering.
26 And never be joyful except when you look on your brother with love58.
27 Come to terms with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on
the way; lest HaSatan deliver you up to the judge, and the judge deliver you
up to the officer, and you be cast into the jail.
28 Amen, I tell you, you will not go out from there until you have paid the
last penny.
29 You have heard that it was said to them of old time, ' You shall not
commit adultery,'59
30 but I tell you, that whoever sees a woman and covets her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.
31 And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out, and cast it from you, for it
is better for you that one of your members should perish, than that thy whole
body should be cast into Gey Hinnom.
32 And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you, for it is
better for you that one of your members should perish, than that your whole
body should be cast into Gey Hinnom.
33 It was also said concerning him that would put away his wife, that he
should write her a bill of divorcement, and give it to her, and send her
away from his house,60
55 Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17
56 Aramaic and Greek Matthew add the phrase “without cause” here, some manuscripts of Greek Matthew
have a marginal note to this phase that reads “The word [for] ‘without cause’ is not written in some copies,
nor in the Judaikon.’”. The phase is also lacking from Hebrew Matthew.
57 “And in the Gospel according to the Hebrews, which the Nazarenes are accustomed to read, one of the
greatest sins is to grieve the spirit of one’s brother.” – Jerome; Comm. On Ezek. 18:7
58 “As also we read in the Hebrew Gospel that the Lord spoke to his talmidim: …”- Jerome; On Eph. 5:4
59 Ex. 20:13 (20:14); Deut. 5:18
34 but I tell you, that whoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause
of fornication, commits adultery with her, and whoever takes her that is cast
off commits adultery.
35 Again, you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall
not forswear yourself, but shall pay to YHWH your vow’,61
36 but I tell you, you shall not swear by a confirming word; not by heaven,
for it is Elohim's throne,
37 and not by the earth, for it is the footstool62 of his feet; and not by
Yerushalayim, for it is the city of the great king63.
38 and you shall not swear by your head, in that you have no power to
whiten one hair or turn it black again.
39 But let your words be, 'Yes, yes'; 'No, no'; for whatever is more than
these words is of evil.
40 You have heard what was said, 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth'64
41 but I tell you, that you not withstand evil; but if one would smite you on
the right cheek, turn unto him the other.
42 And whoever wishes to contend you in judgment, and wishes to take
from
you your coat, leave him the cloak also.
43 And he that impresses you for one mile, go with him even two.
44 And whoever asks of you gives to him, and from him that would borrow
of you turn not you away.
45 You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor65, and
hate your enemy',
46 but I tell you, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, and
pray
for them which persecute you and despitefully use you;
47 in order that you may become the sons of your Father which is in heaven,
who makes his sun to rise on the good and on the evil, and sends rain on the
righteous and on the wicked.
48 For if you love only them which love you, what reward have you? do not
even the transgressors do this?
49 And if you ask after the shalom of your brothers only, what do you
exceed? do not even the Goyim do this?
50 You therefore be whole-hearted, like your Father which is in heaven, who
60 Deut. 5:21
61 Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:3 (30:2); Deut. 23:22 (23:21)
62 Is. 66:1
63 Ps. 48:2
64 Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
65 Lev. 19:18
is whole-hearted.
CHAPTER 6
1 See that you not bestow your tzadakim before men, so that they may see
you, for then you have no reward on the part of your Father, which is in
heaven.
2 Therefore when you give tzedakah, do not blow a shofar before you, like
the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, in order that men may
honor them.
3 Amen, I tell you that they have already received their reward. But you,
when you give tzedakah, your left hand shall not know what your right hand
does,
4 that your tzedakah may be in secret, and your Father which sees in secret
will himself recompense you publicly.
5 And be not like the hypocrites when you pray, for they delight to stand in
the assemblies and at the corners of the streets to pray, that men may see
them. Truly I tell you that they already have received their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, enter into your chamber, and shut the door, and
pray to your Father, which is in secret; and your Father, which sees in secret,
will recompense you publicly.
7 And you, when you pray, multiply not words like the Goyim do, who think
that in an abundance of words they will be heard.
8 But you do not be like them: for your Father knows what is needed for
you, before you ask him.
9 And you: this way will you pray:
Our Father, which is in heaven,
Your name be set-apart.
10 Your Kingdom come.
Your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
11 Give us today our bread of tomorrow66.
12 And forgive us our debts,
like we release our debtors.
13 And let us not come into temptation,
66 “In the so-called Gospel according to the Hebrews instead of ‘essential to existence’ I found rxm
‘mahar’, which means ‘of tomorrow’, so that the sense is: ….” –Jerome; On Mat. 6:11; “In the Hebrew
Gospel according to Matthew it is thus: …That is, ‘The bread which you will give us in the Kingdom, give
us this day.” –Jerome; On. Ps. 135; see Prov. 30:8
but deliver us from all evil:
for yours is the Kingdom, and the might and the honor,67
forever and forever and ever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their sins, your Father which is in heaven will also
forgive you your sins:
15 but if you forgive not men, neither will He forgive you your sins.
16 And you, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites: for they begrime
and disfigure their faces that they may appear in the sight of men to fast.
Amen, I tell you that they already have their reward.
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;
18 that you appear not to men to fast, but to your Father which is in secret,
who will recompense you publicly.
19 Lay not up for yourselves stores upon earth, and moth devour, and where
thieves break through and steal,
20 but lay up for yourselves stores in heaven, where caterpillar and moth
waste not, and where thieves do not steal,
21 for just where your store is, there your heart will be also.
22 The lamp of your body is your eye, if therefore your eye is sound, your
whole body will be in great light.
23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body shall be gloomy. If therefore the
light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love
the other; or else he will love the one, and hate the other. You cannot serve
Elohim and Mammon.
25 And therefore I tell you, be not anxious for your nefeshot, in what you
will eat, or in what you will drink, or for your bodies, with what you will be
clothed. Is not the nefesh more than food, and the body more than garment?
26 See the birds of the heavens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor
gather into their granaries; yet your Father which is in heaven feeds them.
Are you not much better than they?
27 And which of you by taking thought can add even a single cubit unto his
stature?
28 Why, then, are you anxious about garment? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow, yet they toil not, neither do they spin.
29 Of a truth I tell you, that not even Shlomo in all his glory was so arrayed
like one of them.
30 Therefore, if Elohim so clothes the herb of the field, which today is, and
67 1Chron. 29:11-13
tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more so you, of little faith?
31 Therefore be not anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we
drink?' or, 'What will we wear?'
32 (For after all these things do Goyim seek) for your Father, which is in
heaven, knows that you have need of all things.
33 Therefore, you seek at the first the dominion of Elohim, and all his
righteousness; and all things will be added unto you.
34 And be not anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient to today is the evil thereof.
CHAPTER 7
1 Judge not, and you will not be judged, condemn not, and you will not be
condemned.
2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what
measure you mete, it will be measured to you again.
3 And how [do] you see the splinter in your brother's eye, but see not the
beam that is in your own eye?
4 And how [do] you say to your brother, 'Suffer it now brother, so that I may
pull out the splinter out of your eye,' and behold, a beam is in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, pull out at the first the beam from your own eye, and then
you will be able to see to pull out the splinter out of your brother's eye.
6 Do not hang earrings on dogs, neither cast you pearls before swine, lest
they trample them with their feet, turn again and rend them.
7 Ask, and it will be given to you,
seek and you will find,
knock and it will be opened to you
8 or everyone that asks, receives;
and he that seeks, finds;
and to him that knocks it will be opened.
9 He who seeks will not cease until he finds,
and having found he will be amazed,
and having been amazed he will resign,
and having reigned he will rest.68
68 “Also in the Gospel according to the Hebrews is written: …” – Clement of Alexandria; Stromateis i, 9,
45; “For those words (from Plato, Timaeus 90) have the same force as these:…” –Stromateis v, 14, 96.
10 And which of you, whose son will ask of him bread, his father will
deliver to him a stone?
11 Or whose son will ask him for a fish, his father will put in his hand a
serpent?
12 If you then, being evil, know how to seek to give good gifts to your
children, how much more so your Father which is in heaven, which gives
good gifts to them that seek of him and ask him?
13 Therefore whatever you would that men should do to you, do you even so
to them: for this is the Torah and the Prophets.
14 Enter you in by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate, and wide the way,
that leads to destruction, and many there be that go there.
15 How narrow is the gate, and narrow the way, which leads to life, and few
there be that find it.
16 Be warned of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's garment, but
beneath their garment they are <as full of deceit> as ravening wolves.
17 But by their fruits you will recognize them. Are grape clusters gathered
from thorns, or figs from thistles?
18 Even so every good tree yields good fruit, but every bad tree yields bad
fruit.
19 A good tree cannot yield bad fruit; neither can a bad tree yield good fruit.
20 But indeed, every tree that yields not good fruit is cut down, and cast into
the fire.
21 And you, by their fruit you will know them.
22 Not everyone that says to me, 'Adonai, Adonai,' will enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the will of my Father, which is in
heaven, the same will enter with me into the Kingdom of Heaven.
23 Many will say to me in that day, 'Adonai, Adonai', did we not eat and
drink in your name and have we not prophesied in your name? And in your
name have cast out shadim? And in your name done many powerful works?
24 And then will I profess to them, that I know them not. If you are in my
bosom and do not the will of my Father which is in heaven, out of my
bosom will I cast you away69. Depart from me, all you workers of Torahlessness70.”
69 Some Greek manuscripts of Matthew have the following marginal note to 7:5 (obviously belonging
instead to 7:21-23) which reads “The Judaikon [Jewish] has here, “If you are in my bosom and do not the
will of my Father which is in heaven, out of my bosom will I cast you away.” ; This is also referred to by
Clement in his second letter to the Corinthians “Also let us not fear men, but rather God. Wherefore, if we
should do such wicked things, the Lord has said, ‘Though you should be joined to me, even in my very
bosom and keep not my commandments, I would cast you off, and say to you, ‘Depart from me; I know not
who you are, you workers of iniquity.’” (2Clement 4:5 (2:15 some editions))
70 Ps. 6:9 (6:8)
25 Whoever hears these my words, and does them, is comparable to a wise
man, which built his house upon a rock:
26 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat
upon that house, it fell not, for it was based upon the rock.
27 And whoever hears these, my words, and does them not, is comparable to
a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand,
28 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew upon it,
and beat upon the house, it fell, and great was the fall of it."
29 And it came to pass, that when Yeshua had ended these words, the
crowds were amazed at his teaching,
30 for he was teaching as one having ability of his own, and not from the
mouth of the scribes and P'rushim.
CHAPTER 8
1 Then Yeshua had come down from the mountain; many people followed
him.
2 And behold, there came one man, a leper and paid homage to him, saying,
"If you desire, you can make me clean."
3 Then Yeshua put out his hand, and touched him, and said "I do desire, be
you clean." And immediately he was cleansed from his leprosy.
4 And Yeshua said to him, "See [that] you tell no man, but go your way, and
show yourself to the Cohen, and bring to him your offering, as Moshe
commanded them for a testimony.
5 And when Yeshua had entered K'far Nachum, there drew near to him a
centurion, and beseeched him, saying,
6 "My master, my son lies in the house, and he is paralytic, and greatly
afflicted."
7 And Yeshua said to him, "I will come and heal him."
8 But the centurion answered and said, "My master, I am not ready that you
should come under my roof, but only speak a word, and my son will be
healed.
9 For even I am placed under the authority of another man, and I have
authority, and under me are valiant men, and if I say to this one, 'go', then he
goes; and to another, 'come' then he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this', then
he does it."
10 Now when Yeshua heard, he was amazed, and told them that followed
him, "Amen, I tell you, I have not found such faith as this in Yisrael.
11 And I tell you that many will come from the east, and from the west, and
will recline with Avraham, Yizchack and Ya'akov in the Kingdom of
Heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom will be cast into the darkness outside,
and there will be crying and gnashing of teeth."
13 And Yeshua said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have
believed, be it to you." And the boy was healed the same hour.
14 And when Yeshua had come into Kefa's house, he saw his mother-in-law
lying in a continual burning fever.
15 And he touched her hand, and the burning fever left her, and she arose
and served them.
16 And when it was evening, they brought to him many that were possessed
by shadim, and he, by his word alone, cast out for them the spirits, and
healed them that were in evil state,
17 to establish what was spoken by Yesha'yahu the prophet, who said,
"He took our diseases,
and our pains he carried."71
18 Now when Yeshua saw great crowds surrounding him, he commanded
his talmidim to go to the other side of the sea.
19 Then one of the scribes approached, and said to him, "Rabbi, I will
follow you wherever you go."
20 And Yeshua said to him,
"Foxes have holes, and the birds of the heavens nests,
but the Son of Man has no floor where he may lay his head."
21 And one of his talmidim said to him, "Give me leave until I bury my
father."
22 But Yeshua answered him, "Come after me, and leave the dead to bury
their dead."
23 And he went up into the ship, and his talmidim came after him.
24 And, behold, there was a great storm at sea, and the ship was covered
with
the waves, but he himself was asleep.
25 And his talmidim drew near to him, and awoke him, saying,
26 "My master, save us lest we perish." Then Yeshua said to them, "Why are
you afraid, O little of faith?" Then he arose, and commanded the winds and
the sea, and there was a great calm.
71 Is. 53:4
27 But the men were amazed, and said, “Who is this, that the winds and the
sea hearken to him?”
28 After this, Yeshua came to the other side of the sea, into the country of
the Girgashites, and there came to meet him two possessed of shadim
coming out of the tombs, and they were exceedingly fierce, so that because
of them no man could pass that way.
29 And behold, they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with you,
Yeshua, you Son of Elohim? Why have you come here, to afflict us before
the set time?"
30 Now near by was a herd of many pigs feeding.
31 And the shadim beseeched him saying, "If you cast us out from here,
send us away into the herd of pigs."
32 And, behold, the whole herd went with a rush and with great commotion,
and precipitated themselves into the sea, and perished.
33 Then the herdsmen fled, and came into the city, and told all these things,
and also concerning those in whom were the shadim.
34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Yeshua, and when they saw
him, they beseeched him that he would pass out of their coasts.
CHAPTER 9
1 And Yeshua went up into the ship, and departed from the other side of the
sea, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man stricken with paralysis, lying on a
bed, and when Yeshua saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Have faith,
my son, for your sins are forgiven you."
3 And, behold, the scribes said among themselves, "Behold, he is a
blasphemer."
4 And when Yeshua perceived their thoughts, he said, "Why think you evil
in your hearts?
5 For which is easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven you'; or to say 'Arise and
walk?'
6 But that you may know that a son of man has authority on earth to forgive
sins," (then said he to the paralytic), "Arise, and take up your bed, and walk
into your house."
7 And he arose, and walked into his house.
8 But when the crowds saw it thus, they were afraid, and gave honor to
Elohim, which had given such power to the Son of Man.
9 And as Yeshua departed there, he saw one man, sitting in the
customhouse, whose name was Mattityahu, and he said to him, "Follow me."
10 And it came to pass, as they sat down to eat in the house, behold, many
transgressors and sinners came in and ate with Yeshua and his talmidim.
11 And the P'rushim, seeing, they said to his talmidim, why does your
teacher eat with transgressors and sinners?
12 But when Yeshua heard, he answered, saying, "There is no need of a
physician to heal the healthy, but to heal them that are sick."
13 Therefore, go you and learn what is written:
'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,'72
for I have not come to call the righteous,
but the sinners.
14 Then approached him the talmidim of Yochanan, saying, "Why [do we]
and the P'rushim fast often, but your talmidim fast not?"
15 And Yeshua said unto them,
"Can the sons of the bridegroom cry,
as long as they have the bridegroom with them?
But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken from
them, and then will they fast.
16 There is no one who would put a patch of worthless cloth upon
an old robe, for he takes away its completeness from the robe,
and his tear is made worse than before.
17 Neither do they put new wine into worn out wine-skins,
for the wine-skins would be split, and the wine spilled,
but new wine they put into new wine-skins, and both are preserved."
18 And while he was speaking these words to them, behold one ruler of their
synagogue drew near and paid homage, saying "My master, my daughter
Miriam73 is but recently dead, but you come and lay your hand upon her, and
she will live."
19 And Yeshua arose, and followed him with his talmidim.
72 Hosea 6:6
73 “’the daughter’, that is the synagogue, whose name is Mariossa.” (Historical Commentary on Luke 8:42;
MS: Clem. 6235 fol. 55v, cited by Bischoff op. cit., 262)
20 And, behold, Miriam74, a woman, which had an issue of blood twelve
years, approached behind him, and touched the tzitzit of his garment,
21 for she said within herself, "If I touch his garment only, I will be
delivered."
22 But Yeshua turned, and when he saw her, he said, "Have faith, my
daughter, for your faith has delivered you." And the woman was delivered
the same hour.
23 And when Yeshua had obtained entry to the ruler's house, and saw the
pipers and dirge makers of the people,
24 he said, "Withdraw, for the girl is not dead, but sleeps." And they
ridiculed him.
25 But when the multitude was put out, he obtained entry, and took her by
the hand, <and said, "Arise, arise, e "> and the girl arose.
26 And this report went out to all that land.
27 And when Yeshua passed over from there, there followed him two blind
men, crying, and saying, "Take pity on us, O Son of David."
28 And when he had come into the house, the blind men drew near to him,
and Yeshua said to them, “Believe you that I am able to do this for you?"
and they said to him "Yes, I believe my master.”
29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, “according to your faith be it done to
you.”
30 And their eyes were opened, and Yeshua straightly charged them, saying,
"See that no man knows this."
31 But they, when they went away, publicized the report of him in all that
land.
32 And as they went out, behold, they brought to him a man mute, and
possessed by a shad.
33 But when the shad was cast out of him, he spoke, <and was no more
mute, > and the crowds were amazed, saying "It was never so seen in
Yisrael."
34 But the P'rushim said, "By the chief of the shadim he casts out the
shadim."
35 And Yeshua went about all the cities, teaching in their synagogues, and
declaring the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and
every disease among the people.
36 But when he saw the crowds, he took pity on them because they were
tired and powerless, as sheep, which have no shepherd.
74 “[a woman with an issue of blood] named Mariosa.” (Comm. On Mat. 9:20; MS:Wurzburg, M. p. th. Fol.
61, 8th-9th Century; cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 252)
37 Then said he to his talmidim, "There is a plentiful harvest, but the
workers are few,
38 beseech you therefore the master of the harvest that he will send out the
laborers to reap his harvest."
CHAPTER 10
1 And when he had called out his twelve < talmidim, > he gave the authority
over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every sickness and disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve emissaries are these:
The first, Shim'on, who is called Kefa,
and Andrew his brother;
3 Philip, and Bar Talmai;
Ya'akov Ben Zavdai,
and Yochanan his brother;
Toma, and Mattityahu, who was a transgressor;
4 and Ya'akov [Bar] Chalfai,
and Taddai,
Shim'on the Zealot,
and Y'hudah from the shore of Sk'riot, who delivered him up to
death.
5 And Yeshua sent out these twelve, and commanded them, saying,
"Go you not in the way of the Goyim,
and into the cities of the Samaritans enter you not;
6 but go you to the lost sheep of the house of Yisrael.
7 Go, and cry, saying
‘Turn you, turn you, for the Kingdom of Heaven is offered,’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out
shadim, for nothing you have received, for nothing you will
give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor lesser coin in your belts.
10 Pack not for the journey, either two coats, or sandals, or a staff,
for the laborer is worthy of his food.
11 And into whatever city or town you will enter,
enquire who in it is honorable,
and there abide until you go out from there.
12 And when you obtain entry into a house,
ask after its shalom, <saying, 'Shalom be with this house.'>
13 And if this house be honorable, it will return to you your
'Shalom'.
14 But any man who will not receive you,
nor listen to the sound of your words,
go away, outside of the house or city,
and shake off even the dust from your feet.
15 Amen, I tell you, It will be easier for the land of S'dom and
'Amora in the day of doom, than for that city.
16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves,
be you therefore wise more than serpents75, and simple as doves.
17 Take care to yourselves of men,
lest they deliver you up to the courts,
and scourge you with whips in the assemblies,
18 and you will be led unto officers and kings for my sake,
or a testimony to them and the Goyim.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you
will say, for it will be put into your mouths in that hour what you
will answer.
20 For it is not you that will speak,
but the Spirit of your Father will speak in you.
21 And the brother will deliver up the brother to death,
and the father the son, and the sons will rise up against their
parents, to cause them to be put to death.
22 And all men will hate you on account of my name,
but he that endures to the end, the same will be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in one city, flee you to another,
Truly, I say to you, you will not have finished the House of
Yisrael, until the Son of Man has come.
24 There is no talmid above the teacher,
nor servant above his master.
25 But enough for the talmid that he be as his rabbi,
and the servant as his master.
If they have called the master of the house Ba'al Z'vuv,
how much more the sons of the house?
26 Fear them not therefore,
for there is nothing covered, that will not be revealed,
and hid, that will not be known.
75 Some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to this phase which reads “The Judaikon
[Jewish] has ‘[wise] more than serpents’”
27 What I tell you in the darkness, that speak you in the light,
and what you hear in the ear, that cry you from the roofs.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but cannot kill the nefesh,
but fear you him which can destroy both nefesh and body in
Gey Hinnom.
29 Now the young boys of Galil were making birds of clay.
30 And Yeshua fashioned there of twelve sparrows.
31 And Yeshua clapped his hands together and cried out to the
sparrows and said to them, “Go!”
32 and the sparrows took their flight and went away chirping.
33 Then he spoke saying:76
Are not two sparrows sold for the smallest coin?
and one of them will not fall on the ground without your Father.
34 But the very locks of your hair are all numbered.
35 Fear you not therefore, for you are better than many sparrows.
36 Whoever therefore will confess me before men,
him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
37 But whoever will deny me before men,
him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
38 Think not that I have come to send shalom on earth,
I have not come to send shalom, but the sword.
39 For I have come to separate a man from his father,
and the daughter from her mother,
and the daughter-in-law from her mother-in-law.
40 And a man's enemies will be the men of his own house.77
41 And whoever loves his father and mother more than me is not
worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me
is not worthy to be with me in the Kingdom of Heaven.
42 And whoever takes not his gallows, and follows me, the same is
not worthy of me.
43 I choose for myself the most worthy;
the most worthy are those whom my Father in heaven has given
me.78
44 Whoever finds his nefesh will lose it,
76 64 10:29-33a See appendix 3
77 Micah 7:6
78 “He (Messiah) himself taught the reason for the separation of souls that take place in houses, as we have
found somewhere in the Gospel that is spread among the Jews in the Hebrew tongue, in which it is said:…”
– Eusebius; Theophania (preserved in Syriac) 4:12 on Matt. 10:34-36
and he that loses his nefesh for my sake will find it.
45 Whoever receives you, the same receives me,
and he that receives me the same receives him that sent me.
46 Whoever receives the prophet in the name of a prophet,
the same receives a prophet's reward;
and whoever receives the righteous man in the name of a
righteous man, the same receives a righteous man's reward.
47 And he that gives to drink to one of these little ones,
even a single cup of cold water, in the name of a talmid,
amen, I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
CHAPTER 11
1. And it came to pass, when Yeshua had finished commanding his twelve
talmidim, he passed over from there to teach and to proclaim in their cities.
2 Now Yochanan when he heard, in the prison, the deeds of the Messiah,
sent two of his talmidim, and said to him,
3 "Are you he that is destined to come, or do we await another?"
4 And Yeshua answered and said to them, "Go you and tell Yochanan what
you have heard and seen;
5 the blind see, the lame walk,
the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear79,
and the dead are raised, the poor are made happy80:
6 and happy is he that is not offended in me."
7 And after these were departed, Yeshua began to speak to the crowds
concerning Yochanan. "What went you out into the wilderness to see?Was it
a reed shaken in the wind?
8 But what went you out to see?Was it a man clothed in soft garment?
Behold, they that are clothed in soft garment are in king's houses.
9 Only what went you out to see? The prophet? Yes, I say to you, he was
more than a prophet.
10 For he it is, concerning whom it was written:
'Behold, I send my messenger,
79 Is. 35:5-6
80 Is. 61:1
and he will clear the way before me.'81
11 Amen I say, among them that are born of women there has not arisen a
[one] greater that Yochanan the immerser, nevertheless he that is least in the
Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
12 Only from the days of Yochanan the immerser until now the Kingdom of
Heaven is constricted, and the forceful plunder82
it.
13 For all the Prophets and the Torah prophesied concerning Yochanan.
14 And if you will receive it, this is Eliyahu, which comes.
15 Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 To what shall I compare this generation? It is compared to boys, which sit
in the market, who call to their companions, and say,
17 'We have played happily to you, and you have not danced, We have
played sadly, and you have not lamented.'
18 For Yochanan came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'he is
possessed by a shad.'
19 The Son of Man came both eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold the
man is a glutton and a drunk, and a friend of transgressors and sinners.' But
wisdom is justified by her children."
20 Then began he to rebuke the cities in which he showed many of his
mighty works, because they turned not from their evil deeds.
21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Beit Tzaidah! for if the fifty three83
mighty works were done in Tzor and Tzidon, which were done in you, they
would have turned from evil long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 Surely I say to you, that it shall be easier for Tzor and Tzidon in the Day
of Judgment, than for you.
23 And you, K'phar Nachum, are you not exalted to the heavens? to She’ol
will you be brought down84, for if the mighty works were done in S'dom,
which were done in you, perhaps it would have remained until this day.
24 Of a truth, I tell you, that it will be easier for the land of S'dom in the day
of doom, than for you."
81 Micah 3:1
82 Greek Matthew has “take it by force” but some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to
this phrase which says “The Judaikon [Jewish] has ‘is ravished/plundered’” in agreement with DuTillet
Hebrew Matthew which reads here Nylzwg “plundered”.
83 “In these cities (namely Chorazin and Bethsaida) many wonders have been wrought, as their number the
Gospel according to the Hebrews gives fifty three.” (Historical Commentary on Luke 10:13; MS: Clem.
6235 fol. 56r, cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954. p. 262)
84 Is. 14:13, 15
25 At that time Yeshua answered and said, "I give thanks85
to you, O Father,
Adon of heaven and earth, which has concealed these things from the wise
and prudent, and has revealed them to the lightly esteemed.
26 Yes, O Father, for so was your will before you.
27 All has been given me by the Father, and no man knows the son but the
father; neither knows anyone the Father except the son, and to whomever the
son wills to reveal him.
28 Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will satisfy you.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and downcast in
spirit, and you will find rest for your nefeshot.86
30 For my yoke is gentle, and my burden easy.
CHAPTER 12
1 At that time Yeshua went through the grain on the Sabbath, and his
talmidim were hungry, and began to pluck the ears from the stalks, and to
eat.
2 But the P’rushim seeing, said, "Behold, your talmidim do that which is not
right to do on the Sabbath."
3 But he said to them, "Have you not read what David did, when he was
hungry, both he and they that were with him,
4 for he entered into the House of Elohim, and did eat the show-bread,
which was not lawful for him to eat them, neither for them which were with
him, but only for the cohenim?87
5 Have you not read in the Torah, that the cohenim profane the Sabbath in
the Temple, and are blameless?
6 But I tell you, that here is greater than the Temple.
7 But if you had known what it means, 'For I desire mercy, and not
sacrifice'88, you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of Man is Adonai even of the Sabbath."
9 And when he had passed over from there, he entered into their synagogue.
85 The Greek of Matt. 11:25 has literally “I confess” (although many translations translate “I give thanks”)
some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to this word which says “The Judaikon [Jewish]
has ‘I give thanks/praise to you’” this agrees with Hebrew and Aramaic Matthew.
86 Jer. 6:16; Ps. 23:3
87 1Sam. 21:6
88 Hosea 6:6
10 And behold, Melek89, a man which had his hand withered praying "I was
a mason seeking a livelihood with my hands: I pray you Yeshua, to restore
me my health, that I may not beg meanly for food."
11 And they asked him, saying, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to heal the
sick?" And all this was that they might accuse him <before the beit din. >
12 And he said to them, "What man among you, having one sheep that shall
fall into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
13 And is not a man better than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on
the Sabbath."
14 Then said he to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out,
and it was restored to health, like as the other.
15 Then the P'rushim went out, and took counsel against him, how they
might destroy him.
16 But when Yeshua knew, he withdrew from there, and many multitudes
followed him, and he healed them all,
17 and commanded them that they should not make him known,
18 in order that it might be established which was spoken by Yesha'yahu the
prophet, who said;
19 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold;
my chosen, in whom my nefesh delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him,
he will make righteousness to go out to the Goyim.
20 He will not cry, nor lift up,
nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
21 A bruised reed will he not break,
and the dimly burning wick will he not quench;
he will make the right go out according to the truth.
22 He will not fail nor be discouraged,
until he has set right in the earth;
and the isles shall wait for his Torah."90
23 Then was brought to him one possessed by a shad, blind and mute, and he
healed him, so that he was both to speak and to see.
24 And all the crowds were amazed, and said, "Is he not the Son of David?"
25 But when the P'rushim heard, they said, "He does not cast out the shadim,
but by Ba'al Z'vuv the chief of the shadim."
89 “’Aman’ by name Malchus and he was a mason.” (Comm. On Mt. 12:10; MS:Wurzburg, M. p. th. Fol.
61, 8th-9th Century; cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 252)
90 Is. 42:1-4
26 And when Yeshua knew their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house
divided against itself will not stand,
27 and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself, and how then
will his kingdom stand?
28 And if I by Ba'al Z'vuv cast out the shadim, by whom do your sons cast
out? Therefore they will be your judges.
29 But because I am casting out the shadim by the Spirit of Elohim, then the
Kingdom of Elohim has come to you.
30 And how can a man enter into the strong man's house to plunder his
goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will plunder his
house.
31 Whoever is not with me, the same is against me, and whoever gathers not
with me, the same scatters.
32 And therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven the
sons of men, but the blasphemy which is against the Spirit will not be
forgiven.
33 And every man that says a word against a son of man, it will be forgiven
him, but he that says a word against the Ruach HaKodesh, it will not be
forgiven him, neither in this world, or in the world to come.
34 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree bad, and its
fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
35 Generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, being yourselves
evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
36 The good man brings forth good things out of his good store, but the evil
man brings forth evil things out of his evil store.
37 And I tell you, that every idle word that men shall speak,
they will render an account thereof in the day of judgment.
38 For by your words you will be justified,
and by your words you will be condemned."
39 Then certain of the scribes and of the P'rushim answered him, saying,
"Rabbenu, we wish to see a sign from you."
40 But he answered and said to them,
"An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign,
but no sign will be given it except the sign of Yonah the prophet.
41 For as Yonah was three days and three nights in the fish's belly91, so
will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth92.
42 And the men of Nineveh will arise in the judgment with this generation,
and will condemn it93, because they repented at the proclaiming of Yonah94,
and behold, a [one] greater than Yonah is here.
43 Meroe of Ethiopia95, the queen of the south will arise in the judgment
with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the farthest
parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Shlomo96, and behold, a [one]
greater than Shlomo is here.
44 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, it goes through dry places,
seeking rest, but finds none.
45 Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came out,' and it
comes, and finds it empty, and cleaned out with shovels, and adorned.
46 Then it goes, and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and
they enter in and dwell there, so that the latter end of that man is worse than
the beginning97. Even so will it be to this wicked generation."
47 And as he continued to speak to the crowds, behold, his mother and his
brothers stood outside, and sought to speak with him.
48 Then one said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand
outside."
49 But he answered him that told him [this], and said, "Which is my mother?
and who are my brothers?"
50 And he stretched out his hand toward his talmidim, and said, "Behold, my
brothers and mother and sisters,
51 who do the will of my Father."98
91 Jonah 1:17
92 Matthew also says that the Son of Man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to this phrase which says “The Judaikon
[Jewish] has not ‘three [days and three nights]’ there [in the heart of the earth]”
93 Ex. 22:9(8)
94 Jonah 3:4-10
95 “’the queen’ namely Meroe, ‘of the South’ that is Ethiopia (Comm. On Mat. 12:42; MS:Wurzburg, M. p.
th. Fol. 61, 8th-9th Century; cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 252); “’the queen of the south’
whose name is Meruae.” (Historical Commentary on Luke 11:31; MS: Clem. 6235 fol. 57v, cited by
Bischoff op. cit., 262)
96 1Kn. 10:1; 2Chron. 9:1
97 Num. 24:20; Job 42:12
98 12:48-51 “Moreover they [Ebionites] deny that he was a man, evidently on the ground of the word
which the Savior spoke when it was reported to him…” –Epiphanius, Panarion 30:14:5
CHAPTER 13
1 The same day Yeshua went out of the house, and sat by the seaside.
2 And great crowds crowded him, so that he went up into the ship, and sat,
and all the people stood on the seashore.
3 And he spoke much to them in parables, and said, "Behold the sower went
out to sow his seed,
4 and as he sowed, some of them fell by the wayside, and the birds of the
heavens came and ate them up.
5 And others fell upon the rock, where there was not much earth, and outside
they sprouted, because they had no depth in the earth,
6 and when the sun was risen, they were withered, and because they had no
root, they withered away.
7 And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked
them.
8 But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, one a hundred
times, and another sixty, and another thirty times.
9 Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."
10 And his talmidim came near to him, and said to him, "My Master, why
speak you with us in parables?"
11 And he answered and said to them, "Because it is given to you to
understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to these it is not
given.
12 Now whoever has, to him shall be given, and he will abound, but
whoever
has not, even what he has will be taken from him.
13 And therefore I am speaking to you in parables, who seeing will not see,
and hearing will not hear, neither will they understand.
14 To establish in them the prophecy of Yesha'yahu, he who said,
'Hear you indeed, but understand not,
and see you indeed, but perceive not.
15 Make the heart of this people fat,
and make their ears heavy,
and shut their eyes,
lest they, seeing with their eyes,
and hearing with their ears,
and understanding with their heart,
return, and be healed.'99
16 But happy are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17 Truly, I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to
see what you are seeing, but have not seen, and to hear what you are hearing,
but have not heard.
18 Hear you therefore the parable of the seed.
19 Whoever hears the word of the kingdom, and understands not, the evil
one comes and plucks out that which was sown in his heart. And this is that
which was sown by the way side.
20 But as for that which was sown on the rock, this is he that hears the word,
and immediately with joy receives it,
21 but is comparable to the seed which has no root, for he endures but for an
hour, and when tribulation or persecution arises, he is immediately offended.
22 And as for that which was sown among the thorns, the same is he that
hears the word of Elohim, but the care of this world, and the lust for the false
Mammon, choke the word, and becomes unfruitful.
23 But as for that which was sown on good ground, the same is he that hears
the word, and understands, and brings forth fruit, and one produces a
hundred
times and another sixty, and another thirty times."
24 Yet another parable put he forth to them, saying, "The Kingdom of
Heaven is comparable to a man which sowed good seed in his field,
25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat,
and went his way.
26 But when the blade grew up, and produced the fruit, then appeared there
the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came near and said to him, 'My
master, did not you sow good seed in your field? From where then came the
tares into it?'
28 And he said to them, 'A man that is an enemy has done this. Then the
servants said to him, will you that we go and gather them up?'
29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the
wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will say to
the reapers, gather first the tares, and bind them in bundles for burning, but
gather the wheat into the floor.'"
31 Still another parable put he forth to them, saying, "The Kingdom of
Heaven is comparable to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and
99 Is. 6:9-10
sowed it in his field,
32 which indeed is least of all seeds, for when it is grown, becomes the
greatest of herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the heavens come
and nest in the branches thereof."
33 And he spoke to them another parable, "The Kingdom of Heaven is
comparable to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of
meal, until the whole should be leavened."
34 All these are sayings of Yeshua in parables to the crowds, and without
parables spoke he not to them,
35 to fulfill the utterance of the prophet who said, "I will open my mouth
with a parable. I will utter dark sayings concerning days of old."100
36 Then he sent the crowds away, and entered into the house, and his
talmidim approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of
the field."
37 Then he answered and said, "He that sowed the good seed is the Son of
Man,
38 and the field is the world, and the good seed they are the sons of the
kingdom, but the tares, they are the sons of B'liya'al,
39 and the enemy that sowed them is HaSatan, and the harvest is the end of
the world, and the reapers, they are the angels.
40 And just as the tares were gathered up and burned in the fire, so will it be
in the end of the world.
41 For the Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of
his kingdom all offences, and them which do Torah-less-ness,
42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire, [where] there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then will the righteous shine out as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
44 The Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to treasure hid in a field, which if
a man finds, he hides, and out of his joy he goes and sells all that he has, and
buys that field.
45 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to a man that is a
merchant, seeking good pearls,
46 who, when he had found one precious pearl, went and sold all that he
had, and bought it.
47 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to a drag net, that was cast
into the sea, and gathered of every kind of fish,
48 which they, drawing forth when it was full, and sitting down on the sea
100 Ps. 78:2
shore, chose the good fish as being good, but the bad they cast away.
49 So will it be in the end of the world, for the angels will go out, and
separate the wicked from among the righteous,
50 and will cast them into the furnace of fire, [where] there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
51 Have you understood these things?" And they said to him, "Yes".
52 They said to them, "Therefore every scribe taught in the Kingdom of
Heaven is comparable to a man that is a householder, which brings forth out
of his store new and old."
53 And it came to pass, when Yeshua had finished speaking these parables,
he passed over from there.
54 And when he had come into his native land, he taught them in their
synagogues, and they were amazed, saying, "Where has he this wisdom, and
might?
55 Is he not the smith's son? Is not his mother called Miriam, and his
brothers Ya'akov, and Yosef, and Shim'on, and Y'hudah?
56 And are not his sisters all with us? Where then has he all these things?"
57 And they were offended in him. But Yeshua said to them, "There is no
prophet without honor, except in his native place, and in his own house."
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their lack of faith.
CHAPTER 14
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Yeshua,
2 and said to his servants, “This is Yochanan the immerser; he is risen from
the dead, and therefore the powers are worked by him.”
3 For Herod had laid hold on Yochanan, and bound him, and put him in
prison from before Herodias, his brother's wife.
4 For she said to him, "Yochanan is not worthy to be with you."
5 And he wished to kill him, but he feared the people, for he was as a
prophet in their eyes.
6 Now on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst,
and she won approval in the eyes of Herod.
7 And he swore to her with an oath to give her whatever she would ask of
him.
8 And she, being instructed by her mother, said, "Give me here, in a dish, the
head of Yochanan the immerser."
9 And it grieved the king, but on account of the oath, and on account of
them, which sat together with him at the table, he commanded it to be given her.
10 And he sent, and cut off the head of Yochanan which was in the prison,
11 that his head might be brought in a dish, and that they might give it to the
girl. And they did so. And it was given to the girl, and she brought it to her
mother.
12 Then his talmidim approached, and removed his body, and buried it, and
his talmidim came and told Yeshua.
13 And when he heard it, he escaped from there into a wilderness place
alone. Now when the crowds heard, they followed him on foot out of their
cities.
14 And he went forth, and saw many people, and took pity on them, and
healed their sick.
15 And when evening had come, his talmidim came near to him, saying,
"This place is desolate, and the hour has already passed; take leave of the
crowds, therefore, that they may go into villages, and buy themselves food."
16 But Yeshua said to them, "There is no need for them to go; give you them
to eat."
17 And they answered him, "We have here but five loaves, and two fishes."
18 And he said to them, "Bring them here to me."
19 And he commanded the people to sit down to eat on the grass in the field,
and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and lifting up his eyes to
heaven, he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to his talmidim, and his
talmidim gave to the crowds.
20 And they did all eat, and were satisfied, and there were left over to them
twelve baskets full of the crumbs.
21 And the number of them that did eat was five thousand men, besides the
women and infants.
22 And immediately Yeshua urged his talmidim to go up into a ship, and go
before him across the sea, while he took leave of the crowds.
23 And when he had taken leave of the people, he went up alone into the
mountain to pray, and it was evening, and he was there alone.
24 Now the ship was tossed in the midst of the sea by the waves, for the
wind was against them.
25 And it came to pass in the fourth watch of the night that he came to them
and walked upon the sea.
26 And when they saw him walking upon the sea, they were terrified, and
said, "It is a vicious spirit," and they cried out for fear.
27 But right away Yeshua spoke to them, saying, "Have faith, for it is I; be
not afraid."
28 Then Kefa answered and said, "My Master, if it is you, bid me come to you over the water."
29 And he said, "Come." So Kefa descended from the ship, and went over
the water, to come to Yeshua.
30 But when he saw the boisterous wind, he was exceedingly afraid, lest he
should sink, and cried out, saying, "My master, save me!"
31 And immediately Yeshua stretched out his hand, and caught him, and
said
to him, "O you little in faith, why did you doubt?"
32 And when they had gone up into the ship, immediately the wind
subsided.
33 And when they were in the ship, they came and paid homage to him,
saying, "In truth you are the Son of Elohim."
34 And they departed from over the sea, and came to the land of Gey N'sar.
35 And the men of that place, when they knew it, sent into all that land, and
brought to him all that were in an evil state,
36 and beseeched him that they might touch the corner101 of his garment,
and as many as touched were healed.
CHAPTER 15
1 Then came near to him scribes and P'rushim from Yerushalayim, saying,
2 "Why do your talmidim transgress the decrees of the elders? For they
clean not their hands when they eat bread."
3 But he answered them and said, "And why do you transgress the
commandments of Elohim by means of your decrees?
4 Is it not written in your Torah from the mouth of Elohim, 'Honor your
father and your mother?'102
And more-over written, 'And he that curses
his father and his mother will surely die?'103
5 But you say, "Whoever says to father and mother, It is all an offering104,
whatever of mine might profit you,'105
6 and he honors not his father and his mother. Thus have you made void the
commandments of Elohim on account of your judgments?
7 You hypocrites, Yesha'yahu did well indeed to prophesy concerning you,
101 Num. 15:37-41
102 Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16
103 Ex. 21:17; Lev. 20:9
104 Nbrq
105 Some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to this verse which says “The Judaikon
“corban [an offering] is what you should obtain from us.’” This agrees with Aramaic Matthew and Greek
Mark 7:11.
saying,
8 'This people honors me with their mouth and with their lips, but have
removed their heart far from me,
9 And their fear of me is a commandment learned of men.'"106
10 Then he called the crowds to himself, and said, "Hear, and know;
11 What enters into the mouth defiles not the man, but what proceeds out of
the mouth, that defiles the man."
12 Then his talmidim approached him, and said, "Know you that the
P'rushim which heard this saying were annoyed."
13 But Yeshua answered and said, "Every plant, which my Father which is
in heaven has not planted, will be uprooted.
14 Leave them alone, for they are blind. And if the blind lead another blind,
both of them will fall into the ditch."
15 Then answered Kefa and said to him, "Explain to us this parable."
16 And Yeshua said, "Are you also still without understanding?
17 Do you not understand, that whatever enters into the mouth enters into
the belly, and is cast out in the latrine?
18 But those things, which come out of the mouth, they come from the heart,
and they are those things, which defile the man.
19 For from the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, lies, and blasphemies,
20 these are those things which defile the man, but that a man should eat
without washing his hands that defiles not the man."
21 Then Yeshua went out from there, and entered into the parts of Tzor and
Tzidon.
22 And behold, a merchant woman came out of those coasts, and cried out,
and said to him, "Take pity on me, O My master, you Son of David, for my
daughter is very afflicted by a shad."
23 But Yeshua answered her not at all. And his talmidim came near and
beseeched him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries after us."
24 But he answered and said, "I was not sent but to the lost sheep of the
house of Yisrael."
25 Then came she and prostrated herself to the ground to him, and said, "My
master, deliver me."
26 But Yeshua answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread
and to give it to the dogs."
27 Then answered she and said, "Truth certainly, My master, but the dogs,
even they eat of the crumbs which fall under their masters' table."
106 Is. 29:13
28 Then Yeshua answered and said to her, "O woman, how great is your
faith, be it to you even as it is in your heart." And her daughter was healed
the same hour.
29 And Yeshua passed over from there, and came by the Sea of Galil, and
went up to a mountain, and sat down there.
30 And there came near to him great crowds, having with them mute, blind,
lame, maimed, and many others, and laid them down at his feet, and he
healed them.
31 And the people were amazed, when they saw the mute speaking, and the
lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they glorified the Elohi of Yisrael.
32 Then Yeshua called his talmidim and said to them, "I have compassion
for the people, because it is now three days that they dwell with me in the
wilderness, and they have nothing that they may eat, and I will not let them
go fasting, lest they faint by the way.
33 And his talmidim said to him, "Where should we have bread enough in
the wilderness, to satisfy these people?"
34 And Yeshua said to them, "How many cakes of bread have you?" And
they answered and said, "Seven, and a few fishes.”
35 Then he commanded the people to sit down on the ground.
36 And he took the seven cakes of bread and the fishes, and gave thanks, and
broke, and gave to his talmidim, and they gave to the people.
37 And they did all eat, and were satisfied, and what was left over by the
crowds they took up seven baskets full.
38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, besides the infants and
women.
39 And he took leave of the crowds, and went up into the ship, and came to
the coast of Magdala.
CHAPTER 16
1 And there approached him P'rushim and Tz'dukim tempting and asking
that he would show a single sign from heaven.
2 But he answered them, and said to them107,
3 An evil and lewd stock seek a sign, and no sign will be given it, but the
107 Some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note here which reads “What is marked by an
asterisk [‘When it is evening you say ‘fair weather, for the heaven is red’And in the morning ‘foul weather
today, for the heaven is red and lowering.’You know how to discern the face of heaven; but you cannot
{discern) the signs of the times’] is not found in other manuscripts, also it is not found in the Judaikon.”;
The phrase is also lacking in the Aramaic of the Old Syriac text of Matthew.
sign of Yonah the prophet." And he left them, and went his way.
4 And when his talmidim had come to the other side of the sea, they had
forgotten to take bread.
5 And he said to them, "See and beware of the leaven of the P'rushim and
Tz'dukim."
6 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "Is it because we have
carried no bread?"
7 And when Yeshua knew, he said, "What are you thinking, O little faith,
that
it is because you have taken no bread?
8 Do you not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves to the five
thousand men, and how many baskets you took up?
9 Neither the seven loaves to the four thousand men, and how many baskets
you took up?
10 And why then do you not understand that it was not concerning loaves
that I spoke to you. Beware of the leaven of the P'rushim and Tzadukim?"
11 Then they heard and understood that he said not to beware of the leaven
of bread, but of the teaching of the P'rushim and Tz'dukim.
12 And Yeshua came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi. And he asked one
and all of his talmidim, saying, "Who do the sons of men say that the Son of
Man is?"
13 And they said, "Some, that he is Yochanan the immerser; and some,
Eliyahu; and others; Yirmeyahu, or another of the prophets."
14 And Yeshua said to them, "And you, who say you that I am?"
15 Then answered Shim'on Kefa, saying, "You are Messiah, the Son of the
living Elohim."
16 And Yeshua said to him,
"Happy are you Shim'on Ben Yochanan108,
for this was not revealed to flesh and blood
but to you, when it was revealed to you
by my Father which is in heaven.
17 And I tell you, that you are Kefa,
and upon this rock I will build my assembly,
and the gates of takh'ti will not prevail against you.
18 And to you will I give the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,
and whatever you will prohibit on earth
108 Matthew has here “son of Yonah” but some Greek manuscripts of Matthew have a marginal note which
reads “The Judaikon has ‘son of Yochanan.”
prohibited in heaven; and
whatever you will permit on earth
is permitted in heaven."
19 Then commanded he his talmidim that they should tell no man that he,
Yeshua, was the Messiah.
20 And then began Yeshua to make known to his talmidim, that he must go
to Yerushalayim, and to suffer there many scourgings, and many mockings,
of the elders and scribes, and of the Chief Cohenim, and to be killed, and to
rise again the third day.
21 Then Kefa took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from
you, My master, all this will not be unto you."
22 But he turned, and said to Kefa, "Follow me. Satan, you are an offence to
me, for you savor not the things that are of Elohim, but those that are of
men."
23 Then said Yeshua to his talmidim, "who ever wishes to follow me, let
him reject himself, and take up his gallows, and follow me.
24 For whoever will desire to save his nefesh will lose it, and whoever will
lose his nefesh for my sake, the same will find it.
25 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and in his own
nefesh receive injury? Or what exchange will a man give for his nefesh?
26 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels,
and then will he pay every man, each according to his deeds.
27 Truly I tell you, there are those standing here which will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.
CHAPTER 17
1 And after six days Yeshua took Kefa, and Ya'akov, and Yochanan his
brother, and brought them up to a high mountain apart,
2 and the fashion of his face was altered before them, and his face did shine
as the sun, and his raiment became white as the snow.
3 And, behold, there appeared to them Moshe and Eliyahu talking with him.
4 Then answered Kefa, and said to Yeshua, "My master, it is good for us to
be here, if you will let us make here three tabernacles; for you one, for
Moshe one, and for Eliyahu one."
5 While still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And,
behold, a [bat] kol out of the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with
whom I am well pleased, hear you him."
6 And when the talmidim heard, they fell on their faces, and were very
afraid.
7 But Yeshua approached and touched them, and said to them, "Arise, and
be not afraid."
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one, save Yeshua
only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Yeshua commanded them,
saying, "Tell no man the vision which you have seen, until the Son of Man is
raised from the dead."
10 And the talmidim asked him, saying, "Why then say the scribes that
Eliyahu must come first?"
11 And he answered and said to them, "Eliyahu will surely come, and
restore all things.
12 And I tell you, that Eliyahu has come already, and they knew him not, but
have done to him whatever they chose. Likewise will the Son of Man
receive from them."
13 Then the talmidim heard and understood that he was speaking of the
immerser Yochanan, when he spoke to them.
14 And when they had come to the crowd, there came near to him one man,
and fell on his knees before him, saying,
15 "My master, have compassion on my son, for he is epileptic, and with
this sickness he is very afflicted, for often he falls into the fire, and often he
falls into the water.
16 And I brought him to your talmidim, but they could not cure him.
17 Then Yeshua answered and said, "O stubborn and perverse generation,
how long will I be with you? How long will I suffer you? Bring him to me."
18 And Yeshua rebuked him, and the shad went out of him, and the boy was
cured the same hour.
19 Then came near to him the talmidim privately, and asked him, "Why
could not we cast him out?"
20 And he answered them and said, "On account of your lack of faith. Truly
I say to you, "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, and shall tell this
mountain, 'Pass away from here,' it will immediately pass away, and the
thing will not be withheld from you.
21 But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting."
22 And as they were going into Galil, Yeshua spoke to them and said, "The
Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.
23 and they will kill him, and the third day he will rise again." And they
were very grieved.
24 And when they had come into K'far Nachum109, they that received the
drachma came near to Kefa, and said to him, "Does your rabbi pay the
drachma?"
25 And he said, "Certainly." And as he came to the house, Yeshua prevented
him, saying, "How seems it to you, Shim'on? The kings of the earth, of
whom do they receive tribute and custom? Of their own children, or of
strangers?"
26 And he said, "Of strangers." Then Yeshua said to him, "If so, the children
are free.
27 But in order that we may not provoke them, go you to the sea, and cast
the baited net, and take the fish that first comes up, and when you have
opened its mouth, you will find a litra, that take, and give to them for me and
you.”
CHAPTER 18
1 And he entered into the house of Shim’on whose surname is Kefa, and
opened his mouth and said:
2 “As I passed the Lake of Tiberias, I chose Yochanan and Ya’akov the sons
of Zavdai, and Shim’on and Andrew and Taddai and Shim’on the Zealot and
Y’hudah Iscariot,
3 and you Mattiyahu, I called as you sat at the receipt of custom, and you
followed me.
4 You therefore, I will to be twelve emissaries for a testimony to Yisrael.110
5 And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.
6 And Yeshua called one boy, and stood him in the midst of them,
7 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you repent, and become as children,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
8 And whoever therefore will humble himself as this boy, the same will be
greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
9 And whoever receives one such boy as this in my name receives me.
10 And whoever offends one of these little ones, which believe in me, it is
better for him that an upper millstone be hanged around his neck, and that he
109 See note to 18:1-4
110 verses 1-4 “In the Gospel that is in general use among them which is called ‘according to Matthew’,
which however is not whole and complete but forged and mutilated – they call it the Hebrew Gospel- it is
reported: ‘It came to pass there was a certain man named Yeshua of about thirty years of age, who chose
us. And when he came to Capernaum, he entered into the house of Simon…(etc.)”-Epiphanius; Panarion
30:13:2-3
be cast into the depth of the sea.
11 Woe to the world because of offences. It must be that offences come, but
woe to that man by whom the offence comes.
12 And if your hand or your foot offends you, cut it off, and cast it from you,
for it is better for you to enter into life maimed or lame, rather than having
both hands and both feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
13 And if your eye offends you, pluck it out, and cast it from you, for it is
better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having both eyes to
be cast into the fire of Gey Hinnom.
14 See that you despise not one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their
angels in heaven do continually see the face of my Father, which is in
heaven.
15 For the Son of Man has [come] to save that which is lost.
16 How seems it to you? If a man has a hundred [sheep], and one of them is
lost, does not a man leave the ninety-nine sheep on the mountain, and goes
to find that which was lost?
17 And if so be that he finds it, truly I tell you, that he rejoices over it more
18 Even so it is not the will of your Father, which is in heaven, that one of
these little ones should be lost.
19 And if your brother sins against you, go and reprove him between you
and him alone, and if he will hear you, you have won your brother.
20 But if he will not hear you, take to yourself one witness or two, that at
the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.111
21 And if he will not hear them, speak to him in the assembly, but if he
neglects to hear in the assembly, let him be to you as a Goy or a
transgressor.
22 Truly I tell you, all that you will prohibit on earth is prohibited in
heaven also, and all that you will permit on earth is permitted in
heaven also.
23 Again I tell you, If two of you might be worthy on earth as touching a
thing that they will ask, it will be for them of my Father which is in heaven.
24 For in every place where two or three will assemble in my name, there
am I in the midst of them."
And if your brother sins against you in a word and makes amends with you,
receive him seven times in a day"
25 Shim'on, His talmid, said to Him, "Seven times in a day?"
26 The Adon answered and said to him, "I say to you, until seventy times
seven. For the prophets, after they were anointed with the Ruach HaKodesh,
111 Deut. 19:15
were guilty of a word of sin."112
27 And therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to a man that is a
king, who wished to make a reckoning with his servants.
28 And when he had begun to make the reckoning, one was brought to him,
which was due to render him ten thousand talents.
29 And as he had not with which to pay, his master commanded that he be
sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, until full payment
should be made of what was due to him.
30 Then that servant fell down and beseeched him, saying, 'Give me time,
and I will pay you all.'
31 And the master had pity on his servant, and let him go, and forgave him
his debt.
32 But this servant went out, and found one of those who were servants like
himself, and this one was due to render him a hundred meahs, and he seized
him, and held him fast, saying, 'Pay what you are due to render me.'
33 Then that servant fell down, and beseeched him, saying, 'Give me time,
and I will pay you all.'
34 But he would not, and went and cast him into prison, until he should pay
all his debt.
35 So when the other servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly
grieved, and came and related to their master all that had happened.
36 Then his master called to him, and said to him, 'Servant of B'liya'al, I
forgave you all the debt, because you did beseech me,
37 and should not you also have had pity on your fellow servant, even as I
had pity on you?'
38 And his master's anger was kindled, and he delivered him to the prison,
until he should pay all his debt.
39 So likewise will my Father, which is in heaven, do to you, if you from
your hearts forgive not every man his brother their trespasses.
CHAPTER 19
1 And it came to pass, that after Yeshua had finished speaking these sayings,
112 Verses 21-22 “In the Gospel according to the Hebrews, which is written in the Chaldee and Syrian
language, but in Hebrew characters, and is used by the Nazarenes to this day (I mean the Gospel according
to the Emissaries, or, as generally maintained, the Gospel according to Matthew, a copy of which is in the
library at Caesarea), we find [a quote in chapter 3] and in the same volume…” – Jerome; Against Pelagius
III, 2) also some Greek manuscripts of Matthew have a marginal note reading “The Judaikon [Jewish] has,
immediately after the ‘seven times seven’, ‘for in the prophets, after they were anointed with the Ruach
HaKodesh, there was found in them the word of sin.”
he departed from Galil, and came into the borders of Y'hudah at the crossing
of the Yarden.
2 And great crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3 And the P'rushim approached him, and tempted him, saying, "Is it right for
a man to put away his wife for every cause?"
4 And he answered and said to them, "Have you not read, that he who made
man at the beginning, made them male and female.113
5 and said, 'Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and
shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh?'114
6 And now they are no more two, but one flesh only. What therefore Elohim
has joined together, man cannot separate."
7 But they said, "And why did Moshe then command to give a bill of
divorcement, and to put her away if she was not pleasing in his
sight?"115
8 And he answered them and said, "Because Moshe on account of the
hardness of your hearts allowed you to put away your wives, but from the
beginning it was not so.
9 And I tell you, that every man that has put away, or shall put away his
wife,
except it be for fornication, and takes another, commits adultery, and
whoever
takes the divorced also commits adultery."
10 And his talmidim said to him, "If the case of the man be so with his wife,
it is not good to marry."
11 But he said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but they to whom it is
given.
12 For there are faithful ones, which were so born from their mother's
womb,
and there are faithful ones which were made of man, and there are faithful
ones which are self-made faithful ones for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake.
Whoever can accept, let him accept."
13 Then were brought to him children, that he should lay hands on them and
pray, but his talmidim rebuked them.
14 And Yeshua said, "Allow the children, and hinder them not from coming
to me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
113 Gen. 1:27; 5:2
114 Gen. 2:24
115 Deut. 24:1, 3
15 And when he had laid hands on them, he departed there. And as he sat
out on his journey he came upon two rich men.116
16 And, behold, one came near, and said to him, “Good Rabbi, and what
good thing shall I do that I may acquire the life of the world to come?”
17 And he said to him, "Why ask you me concerning what is good? There is
none good but one, there is a good, and that is El. And if you desire to enter
into the life of the world to come, keep the commandments of El."
18 And he said to him, "And which?" And Yeshua answered and said, "you
shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you
shall not bear false witness against your neighbor,117
19 honor your father and your mother118, and you shall love your
neighbor as yourself."119
20 But the young man said to him, "All these things have I kept from my
youth, and what lack I still?"
21 And Yeshua said to him, "If you will be whole-hearted, go sell all that
you have, and give to the poor, and you will have great store in heaven, and
come follow me."
22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away troubled, for he
had great possessions.
23 The second of the rich men said unto him: Adon, what good thing can I
do and live? He said unto him: O man, fulfil the Torah and the Prophets.
24 He answered him: I have kept them. He said unto him: Go, sell all that
you own, and distribute it unto the poor, and come, follow me. But the rich
man began to scratch his head, and it pleased him not.
25 And the Adon said unto him: How say you: I have kept the Torah and the
Prophets? For it is written in the Torah: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself120, and lo, many of your brothers, sons of Avraham, are clad in
filth, dying for hunger, and your house is full of many good things, and
nothing at all goes out of it unto them.
26 And he turned and said unto Shim'on his talmid who was sitting by him:
Shim'on, son of Yonah, it is easier for a rope121
to enter the eye of a needle
116 verse 15b is borrowed in part from Mark 10:17 slightly modified to facilitate the two rich men in the
account found in GH.
117 Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17-20
118 Ex. 20:12
119 Lev. 19:18
120 Lev. 19:18
121 The Latin as Origen preserves it has “camel” agreeing with the Greek but I have corrected this to agree
with the Aramaic of Matthew, Mark and Luke have GAMLA )lmg which can mean “camel” or “rope”.
than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven122.
27 And when the talmidim heard these sayings, they marveled exceedingly,
saying, "Who then can be saved?"
28 And Yeshua regarded them, and said, "On men's part this is impossible,
but to Elohim all such things are possible."
29 Then answered Kefa and said to him, "Here are we, we have left
everything, and followed you, and what will we have?"
30 And Yeshua said to them, "Truly I tell you, that you which have followed
me, in the second birth when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you
also will sit on twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Yisrael.
31 And whoever leaves house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or
wife, or children, or lands, on account of my name, will receive a hundred
times, and will inherit the sublime life.
32 But many of the first will be last, and the last will be first.
CHAPTER 20
1 The Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to a man that is a householder,
who went out early in the morning to hire laborers to tend his vineyard.
2 And when he had contracted with them at the rate of a coin for the whole
day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out at the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the
market place,
4 and said to them "Go you also into my vineyard, and whatever is right I
will give you." And they went their way.
5 Again he went out at the sixth hour and the ninth, and did likewise.
6 And at the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing, and said
to them, 'Why stand you here all the day idle?'
7 And they said to him, 'No man has hired us.' And he said to them, 'Go you
also into my vineyard.'
8 And when it was evening, the master of the vineyard said to his overseer,
"Call the laborers, and give them their wage, beginning from the first to the
last."
9 And when those came which came at the eleventh hour, they received each
man a coin.
122 19:23-24 “It is written in a certain Gospel which is called according to the Hebrews (if at least anyone
care to accept it, not as authoritative, but to throw light on the question before us):… “ – Origen; On Mat.
15:14 on 19:16ff in Latin version (some regard this as a pseudo-Origen). See appendix.
10 And when the first came, they thought that they should have received
more than these, and they likewise received each man a coin.
11 And when they had seen it, they murmured against the householder,
saying,
12 'These last have labored but one hour, and you have put them on a level
with us, which have borne the burden of the day and the heat.'
13 But he answered them, and said, 'Brother, I do you no injury. Did you not
contract with me for a coin?
14 Take what is yours, and go your way, and as to my will to give to this
last, the same as to you,
15 have I no right to do what I will in my own sight? Or, is your eye bad,
because I am good?'
16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many were called, but few
were chosen."
17 And as Yeshua went up to Yerushalayim, he took his twelve talmidim
privately, and said to them,
18 "Behold, we are going to Yerushalayim, and the Son of Man will be
delivered up to the Chief Cohenim and the scribes, and they will condemn
him to death,
19 and will deliver him over to the Goyim to be mocked, and scourged, and
crucified, and the third day he will rise again."
20 Then came near to him the mother of Zavdai's children, with her sons,
and worshiped him, and would ask of him.
21 And he said to her. "What wish you?" And she said to him, "Grant that
these, my two sons, may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on
your left, in your kingdom."
22 But Yeshua answered and said, “You know not what you ask. Can you
drink the cup that I will drink of, and be immersed in the immersion that I
will be immersed in?”123
They said to him, “We can.”
23 Then he said to them, "You will drink indeed of my cup, and will be
immersed in the immersion that I will be immersed in, but to sit on my right
hand, or on my left, is not mine to give you, but for whom it is prepared of
my Father."
24 And when the ten heard, they were displeased with the two brothers,
25 but Yeshua called them to himself, saying, and "You know that the chiefs
of the Goyim rule over them, and the great ones exercise authority among
them
26 It shall not be so among you, but whoever among you wishes to be great,
123 Ps. 42:7
let him be your servant,
27 and he among you that wishes to be first, let him be your servant,
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served to, but to serve, and to give
his nefesh a ransom for many."
29 And as they went out from Yericho, a great crowd followed him.
30 And, behold, two blind men went out and sat by the wayside, and when
they heard that Yeshua passed by, they cried out saying, "My master, take
pity on us, O Son of David."
31 And the crowd rebuked them, and told them to keep silence, but they
cried out the more, saying, "My master, take pity on us, O Son of David."
32 And Yeshua stopped, and called to them, saying, "What wish you that I
do for you?"
33 And they said to him, "My master, that our eyes may be restored to
sight."
34 And Yeshua had pity on them, and touched their eyes, and immediately
they saw, and followed him.
CHAPTER 21
1 And when they came near to Yerushalayim, and had come to Beit Pagey,
to the mount of Olives, then sent Yeshua two talmidim,
2 and said to them, "Go to the enclosure which is before you, and right away
you will find there an ass tied, and a foal by her side; loose and bring [them]
to me.
3 And if any man say anything to you, you will say that, My master has need
of them, and immediately he will let them go."
4 And this was to establish what was spoken by the prophet, who said,
5 "say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold your king comes to you... poor,
and riding upon an ass, even upon a foal, the offspring of an ass.'"124
6 And the talmidim went, and did as Yeshua commanded them,
7 and brought the ass, and the foal, and they put upon them their garments,
and mounted him thereon.
8 And a great crowd spread their garments in the way, and others cut down
leafy branches of trees, and carpeted the way.
9 And the multitude that went before him, and behind him, cried, saying,
"Hoshianna to the Son of David,
124 Zech. 9:9
Blessed is he that comes in the name of YHWH,
Hoshianna125
barrama126."
10 And when he had come into Yerushalayim, the whole city was seething,
saying,
11 "Who is this?" And the people said, "It is Yeshua the prophet, from
Natzeret of Galil."
12 And Yeshua entered into the Temple of Elohim, and cast outside all the
vendors and buyers in the Temple, and overturned the tables of the
moneychangers,
and the stalls of them that sold the doves,
13 and said to them, "It is written, 'For my house will be called a house of
prayer,'127
but you have made it a robber's den.128"
14 rays went forth from his eyes, by which they were frightened and fled117.
15 And the blind and the lame drew near to him in the Temple, and he
healed
them.
16 And when the Chief Cohenim and the scribes saw the wonders that he
did,
and the children cried in the Temple, saying, "Hoshianna129
to the Son of
David"
17 They were displeased, and they said to him, "Hear you not what these
say?" And Yeshua said to them, "Have you not read that,
"Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
you have found strength?"130
18 And he left them, and went out of the city to Beit Anyah, and lodged
there.
19 And as he returned in the morning to the city, he was hungry.
20 And when he saw a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found
125 Psalm 118:25-26
126 “Matthew, who wrote his Gospel in Hebrew speech, put it thus: ‘Osanna barrama, i.e. Onanna in the
highest.” –Jerome; Letter to Damasus 20
127 Isa. 56:7
128 Jer. 7:11
129 “In the Gospel books which the Nazarenes use we read: …” (Marginal note in Aurora of Peter Riga
manuscript). This is probably the source for Jerome’s statement “For a certain fiery and starry light radiated
from his eyes and the majesty of the Godhead gleamed in his face.” -Jerome; on Mat. 21:12
118 Psalm 118:25
130 Ps. 8:3 (8:2)
nothing thereon, but leaves only. And he said to it, "Let there not come forth
of you fruit forever," and immediately the fig tree withered away.
21 And when the talmidim saw, they marveled, saying, "How did it
immediately wither away?"
22 And Yeshua answered and said to them, "Truly I tell you, if you will
have faith, and doubt not, you will not do such things to a fig tree only, but if
you will say to this mountain, 'Be you lifted up, and cast into the sea', it will
come to pass.
23 And whatever you will ask in prayer and faith, you will receive.
24 And when he had come to the Temple, the Chief Cohenim and the elders
of the people approached him as he was teaching, saying, "By what authority
do you these things? And who gave you this authority?"
25 And Yeshua answered and said to them, "I also will ask you this thing,
which if you tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what means I do what I
am doing.
26 The immersion of Yochanan, of where was it? of Heaven, or of men?"
And they reasoned with themselves, and said, "If we shall say, 'Of Heaven',
he will say to us, 'Why did you not believe him?'
27 But if we shall say, 'Of men', we fear the crowd, for Yochanan was in the
eyes of all as a prophet.
28 And they answered and said to Yeshua, "We know not.” And he also said
to them, “And neither tell I you by what means I do these things.”
29 But how seems it to you? There was one man which had two sons, and he
approached the first, and said, 'My son, go work today in my vineyard.'
30 But he answered and said, 'I will not do so,' but after that he repented, and
went.
31 And he approached the second, and said likewise. And he answered and
said, 'I will go, my master,' but he went not.
32 Which of these two did the father's will?" They answered him, "The
first."
And Yeshua said to them, "Truly I tell you, that the transgressors and harlots
go before you in the Kingdom of Elohim.
33 For Yochanan came to you in the way of righteousness, and you believed
him not, but the transgressors and harlots believed him, and you, when you
had seen, repented not after that, to believe him.
34 Hear you another parable: There was a man that was a householder,
which planted a vineyard, and surrounded it with a hedge, and dug a
winepress in it, and built a tower, and delivered it to vinedressers to cultivate
it, and went abroad.
35 And when the time of the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, to receive the fruit.
36 But the vinedressers seized his servants, and beat one, and slew another,
and another they stoned.
37 Again he sent other servants more than the first, and they did to them
likewise.
38 But at last he sent to them his son, saying, 'Perhaps they will honor my
son.'
39 But the vinedressers, when they saw the son, said among themselves,
‘This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.’ i
40 And they seized him, and brought him outside the vineyard, and slew
him.
41 Think for yourselves, when the master of the vineyard has come, what
will he do to these vinedressers?"
42 And they answered him and said; "He will destroy the wicked
vinedressers in their wickedness, and will hire out his vineyard to another,
which will render him the fruit in its seasons."
43 And Yeshua said to them, "Have you not read in the scripture,
'The stone which the builders rejected
has become the head of the corner.
This is from YHWH,
It is wonderful in our eyes?'131
44 And therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of Elohim will be taken away from
you, and given to people, who will bring forth the fruits thereof.
45 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken, but on whomever it falls,
it will break him."
46 And when the Chief Cohenim and P'rushim heard his parables, they knew
that he spoke concerning them.
47 But when they sought to seize him, they feared the crowds, for he was in
their eyes a prophet.
CHAPTER 22
1 And Yeshua answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying,
2 "The Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to a man that is a king, who made
a marriage for his son,
131 Ps. 118:22-23
3 and sent his servants to call them that were invited to the marriage, but
they would not come.
4 Again, he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell you them which are invited,
'Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my oxen and my geese are cooked,
and all things are ready, come you to the marriage.''
5 But these remained unresponsive, and went their ways, one to his village,
another to his merchandise,
6 and the rest seized his servants, whom with violence they slew.
7 But when the king heard, his anger was kindled, and he sent his hosts, and
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city with fire.
8 Then said he to his servants, 'The marriage indeed is ready, but they which
were invited were not worthy.
9 Go you therefore to the outgoing of the ways, and whomever you will find,
call to the marriage.'
10 So his servants went out by the ways, and gathered together all whom
they found, both bad and good, and the marriage was filled with them that
sat at the table.
11 And when the king came in to see them that were seated, he saw there a
man not clothed with the marriage garment, and said to him,
12 'Friend, how came you in here not having a marriage garment?' And he
was silent.
13 Then said the king to his servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and cast him
into the darkness outside; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14 For many were called,
but few were chosen."
15 Then went the P'rushim, and took counsel together concerning this
saying.
16 And they sent to him their talmidim with the servants of Herod, saying,
"Rabbi, we know that you are a sincere man, and teach the way of Elohim in
truth, and are not influenced by any man, for you regard not the face of man.
17 Tell us therefore, how seems it to you? Is it right to give tribute to Caesar
or not?"
18 But Yeshua knew the evil in their hearts, and said to them, "You
hypocrites, why tempt you me?
19 Show me a coin of the tribute." And they brought to him a coin.
20 And he said to them, "Whose is the likeness and this inscription?"
21 And they answered him and said, "Caesar's." Then said he to them,
"Give therefore to Caesar what is Caesar's,
and to Elohim the things that are Elohim's."
22 And when they heard it, they were amazed, and left him, and withdrew.
23 The same day the Tz'dukim, which are those that say that there will not
be
a resurrection, came near to him, and asked him, saying,
24 "Rabbi, Moshe said, 'If a man dies, and has no son, his brother shall
take to himself to wife, the wife of the dead, that he may raise up seed to
his brother.'132
25 And he left his wife to his brother.
26 Likewise the second, and the third, until the seventh.
27 And after that the woman died also.
28 In the resurrection whose will she be? Because all the seven were her
husbands."
29 And Yeshua answered and said to them,
"You do err, not knowing the Scriptures,
nor the power of Elohim.
30 For in the resurrection they marry not,
neither are they betrothed,
but are as the angels of Elohim in heaven.
31 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was
spoken by Elohim, who said to you,
32 'I am the Elohi of Avraham,
I am the Elohi of Yitzchak,
I am the Elohi of Ya'akov'?133
and he is not the Elohi of the dead
but Elohi of the living."
33 And when the crowds heard, they were amazed concerning his teaching.
34 But when the P'rushim heard that he had silenced the Tz'dukim, they took
counsel together.
35 And one of them, which was a doctor of the Torah, asked him, and tested
him, and said to him,
36 "Rabbi, which is the greatest commandment in the Torah?"
132 Deut. 25:5-6
133 Ex. 3:6
37 And Yeshua answered him, and said, "You shall love YHWH your
Elohim with all your heart, and with all your nefesh, and with all your
might.134
38 This is the greatest commandment in the whole Torah.
39 And this is the first, but the second is like it, ‘And you shall love your
neighbor as yourself.’135
40 On these two commandments hang all the Torah and the Prophets."
41 Now while the P'rushim were assembled, Yeshua asked them, saying,
42 "How seems it to you concerning the Messiah? Whose son is he?" And
they said to him, "He is the Son of David."
43 But he said to them, "And how then spoke David, by the Ruach
HaKodesh calling him "My Adon,” saying,
44 'YHWH said to my Adon, Sit you on my right hand, until I make
your enemies the footstool of your feet'?136
45 If David then calls him 'My Adon', how is he his son?"
46 And they could not return him a word; neither did any man wish again to
question him further from that day.
CHAPTER 23
1 Then spoke Yeshua to the crowds, and to his talmidim, saying,
2 "On Moshe’s seat sit the scribes and P'rushim.
3 And all that he says to you observe and do. But do not you according to
their works, for they say, but do not.
4 For they bind up heavy burdens, and put them on men's shoulders, but they
will not stagger around with them themselves.
5 And so all their works they do that they may be seen by the sons of men,
for they make broad the straps of their t’ffila137, and enlarge the corners of
their mantles138,
6 and love the principal couches at the suppers,
7 and the principal seats in the synagogues, and benedictions in the market,
and to be called by men, 'Rabbi'.
8 But you shall not be called 'rabbi' for one is your rabbi, and that is the
Messiah. And all of you are brothers.
134 Deut. 6:5
135 Lev. 19:18
136 Psalm 110:1
137 Ex. 13:1-16; Deut. 6:4-9; 11:13-21
138 Num. 15:37-41
9 Also be not you called 'father' upon the earth, for one is your Father, which
is in heaven.
10 Neither be you called 'teachers', for one is your teacher, and that is
Messiah.
11 Whoever will be greatest among you let him be your servant.
12 For whoever exalts himself will be abased, and whoever is abased will be
exalted.
13 Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites! Who close the Kingdom of
Heaven against the sons of men, for you enter not yourselves, neither do you
allow them that are eager to enter.
14 Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites, who devour widows'
houses
in order to pray lengthy prayers, and therefore will receive a lengthy
judgment.
15 Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites, who compass the sea and
land in order to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him
two
times more a son of Gey Hinnom than yourselves.
16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘whoever swears by the Temple, is
not
obligated, but he that swears by the gold of the Temple, is obligated.’
17 Fools and blind, which is greater, the gold, or the Temple that sanctifies
the gold?
18 And ‘Whoever swears by the altar, is not obligated, but he that swears by
the gift that is upon it, is obligated.’
19 O blind, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
20 He that swears by the altar swears by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And he that swears by the Temple swears by it, and by that which abides
therein.
22 And he that has sworn by heaven swears by the throne of Elohim, and by
him that sits thereon.
23 Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites! Who tithe mint, and rue,
and cumin, and have neglected those things which are weightiest in the
Torah: judgment, loving-kindness and faith. Those things ought you to have
done, neither to have rejected these.
24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel.
25 Woe to you scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites, which clean the outside of
the cup and the dish, but within, they are full of extortion and uncleanness.
26 Blind Parush, clean first that which is within the cup and dish that the
outside may be clean also.
27 Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites, for you are like whitened
sepulchers, which appear outwardly fair to the sons of men, but within are
full of the bones of the dead, and all uncleanness.
28. And so you also seem outwardly righteous to the sons of men, but within
you, you are full of depravity and violence.
29. Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites, which build the sepulchers
of the prophets, and adorn the sepulchers of the righteous, and say,
30. 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their
accomplices in the blood of the prophets?
31. Therefore you are witnesses to yourselves, that you have come by them,
which slew the prophets, and their children you are.
32. Fill you up then the measure of your fathers.
33. Serpents, and generations of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of
Gey Hinnom?
34. Therefore I tell you, Behold, I send to you prophets, and the wise men,
and the scribes, and some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of
them will you scourge with whips in your synagogues, and persecute from
city to city,
35. that upon you may come all the righteous blood which has been shed
upon the earth, from Hevel the righteous, to Z'kharyah Ben Y'hoyada139,
whom you slew between the Temple and the alter.
36. Truly I tell you, that all these things will come upon this generation.
37. Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim, which kills the prophets, and stones them
which are sent to you, how many times would I have gathered your children
together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would
not!
38. Behold, your house is forsaken to you desolate.140
39. And I tell you, that you will not see me here after, until you say, 'Blessed
is he that comes in the name of YHWH141.
CHAPTER 24
1. And Yeshua went out, and as he was departing from the Temple, his
talmidim came near in order to show him the buildings of the Temple.
2. But he answered them, saying, "Regard you all these things? Truly I tell
you, there will not be left here a stone upon a stone that will not be
139 “In the Gospel which the Nazarenes use, instead of ‘son of Barachias’we have found written ‘son of
Joiada.’” –Jerome; on Matt. 23:35
140 Jer. 22:5
141 Psalm 118:26
overthrown.
3 And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, his talmidim approached him
privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what sign will
there be at your coming, and the end of the world?"
4 Then Yeshua answered and said to them, "Let no man deceive you.
5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am Messiah’, and will deceive
many.
6 For you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that you are not foolish.
It must be that such things be done, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and
there will be pestilence, and famine, and earthquake in every place.
8 And these are but the beginning of plagues.
9 Then will they give you over to tribulation, and will slay you, and all
Goyim will hate you on account of my name.
10 And then will many be offended, and a man will betray his neighbor, yes,
a man will hate his brother.
11 And many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.
12 And because apostasy will abound, the love of many will wax cold.
13 But whoever endures to the end, the same will be saved.
14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the
world for a witness to all the Goyim, and then will the end come.
15 When you therefore will see the abomination of desolation, spoken of
by Dani'el the prophet, he who said that it would stand in the set-apart
place142, (whoever reads, let him understand).
16 Then let them which are in Y'hudah flee to the mountains,
17 and he that is upon the roof, let him not descend to take anything out of
his house,
18 and he that is in the field, let him not return to take his clothes.
19 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that are about to bear,
and to them that give suck in those days.
20 And pray you that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath,
21 for then will be great tribulation, such as there has never been from
the beginning of the world until now, neither will be after it143.
22 And if those days had not been shortened, there should no flesh be saved;
only on account of the chosen those days will be shortened.
23 Then if any man says to you, 'Behold, here is the Messiah,' or 'there',
believe it not.
142 Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11
143 Joel 2:2; Dan. 12:1
24 Because there will arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and will give
great signs and wonders, that so they may bring about, if that were possible,
the going astray of the very chosen.
25 Behold, I have told you.
26 Therefore, if they will say to you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness', go not
out, 'Behold he is in the apartments', believe it not.
27 For as the lightning goes out from the east, and appears even to the west,
so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
28 Wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together144.
29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days will the sun be
darkened, and the moon will not give her light, and the stars145
will fall
from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken,
30 and then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then will
all the tribes of the land mourn146, when they will see the Son of Man
coming in the clouds of heaven147
with great power and glory.
31 And he will send his angels with a shofar148, and a great voice, that they
may gather together his chosen from the four winds, from the heights of
heaven to its extremities149.
32 Learn you the parable from the fig tree, when its branch is tender, and the
leaves sprout, you know that the summer fruit is near,
33 so likewise you, when you will see all these things, know that it is near,
even at the doors.
34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away, until the whole is
accomplished.
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36 Until that day, and concerning that hour there will be no man that knows,
not even the angels in heaven, but my Father only.
37 And as it was in the days of Noach, so will it be at the coming of the Son
of Man.
38 For as they were in the days that were before the flood eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noach entered
into the ark,
39 and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the
coming of the Son of Man.
40 Then will two be in the field, one will be taken, and one left.
144 Ezek. 39:17; Is. 34:3, 15
145 Is. 13:10; 24:32; Ezek. 32:7; Joel 2:10; 3:4(2:31); 4:1(3:15)
146 Zech. 12:10, 14
147 Dan. 7:13-14
148 Is. 27:13
149 Is. 11:12; Deut. 30:4; Zech. 2:6
41 Two will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken, and one will be left.
42 Be you alert therefore, for you know not at what hour your Adon comes.
43 But know this, if the householder had known at what hour the thief would
come, in truth, he would have been alert, and not allowed his house to be
broken into.
44 Therefore be you also ready, for you know not at what hour the Son of
Man comes.
45 Who then is a faithful and prudent servant, whom the master had set over
his household, that he may give them bread in due season?
46 Happy is that servant who, at his master's coming to his house, he will
find so doing.
47 Truly I tell you, that in truth, he will set him over all his substance.
48 But if such a servant will say evilly in his heart, that his master delays to
come,
49 and begins to hit the servants which are with him, and eats and drinks
with the drunken,
50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he expects not, and in
an hour when he knows not, and will surprise him suddenly,
51 and appoint his portion with the hypocrites; there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
CHAPTER 25
1 Then will the Kingdom of Heaven be comparable to ten virgins, which
took their torches, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five of them were prudent.
3 The five foolish, when they took the torches, took no oil with them,
4 but the prudent took the oil in their vessels with the torches.
5 And while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom has come, go out
now to meet him.'
7 Then all those virgins arose, and made ready their torches.
8 And the foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us now of your oil, for our
torches are extinguished.'
9 But the prudent answered and said to them, 'We may not give you, lest
there suffice not for us and you, but go now therefore to them that sell, and
buy for yourselves.'
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were
ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
11 And after that came the rest of the virgins, saying, 'My master, my
master, open to us.'
12 But he answered, saying, 'Amen, I say to you, I know you not.'
13 Be you alert therefore, for you know not the day and the hour when the
Son of Man comes.
14 For it is like the man who went abroad, seafaring, and which called his
servants, and delivered to them his substance.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every
man gave he according to his power, and right away took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and squandered his
master's substance with harlots and flute-girls.
17 And likewise, he that had received the two traded with the same, and
gained another two.
18 But he that had received the one, went and dug in the earth, and hid it in
the earth.
19 And it came to pass that after a long time that master returned, and made
an accounting with them.
20 He also that had received the five talents came near, and said, 'master,
you delivered to me the five talents, and, behold, I have gained these five
more.'
21 And his master said to him, 'Aha! In that you have been a good servant
and faithful over the few, come now, and I will give you charge over the
many; go enter into the joy of your master.'
22 So he that had received the two talents came near, saying, 'My master,
you delivered to me two talents and, behold, I have squanderd them.'
23 And his master said to him, 'Aha! You have been an idle servant.
24 He also that had received the one talent came near and said, 'master, I
knew that you are a hard man, and reap where you have not sown, and
gather where you have not scattered,
25 and I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth, behold, you
have what is yours.'
26 And this master answered and said to him, 'You evil and slothful servant,
you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not
scattered,
27 you ought to have delivered my money to the money-changers, then
surely, at my coming I should have received my own with increase.
28 Take now therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten
talents.'
29 For to whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance,
but who has not, from him even what he seems to have shall be taken away.
30 And the idle servant, cast you him into the darkness outside, where there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 And when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all his angels with
him, then will he sit upon his glorious throne,
32 and he will bring before himself all nations150, and will separate them,
these from those, as the shepherd separates the lambs from the kids,
33 and he will set the lambs on the right hand, and the kids on the left hand.
34 And then will the king say to them that are on his right hand, 'Come, you
blessed by my Father, and possess the kingdom prepared for you from the
beginning of the world.
35 I was hungry, and you gave me to eat,
I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink.
36 I was a stranger, and you entertained me.
I was naked, and you clothed me,
I was sick, and you visited me,
I was in prison, and you came to me.
37 Then will the righteous answer him saying,
'Adonai, when saw we you hungry, and fed you?
or thirsty, and gave you drink?
38 And when saw we you a stranger, and entertained you?
or naked, and clothed you?
39. Or when saw we you sick,
or in prison, and came to you?'
40 And the king will answer and say to them,
'Amen I say to you,
Inasmuch as you have done it to one of these which are to me as
younger brothers, it is as if you had done it to me.'
41 And then will the king say to them that are on his left hand, 'Withdraw
from me, you cursed. Go you into the eternal fire, prepared for Satan and his
angels.'
42 For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat.
150 Jer. 3:17
I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink.
43 I was a stranger, and you entertained me not.
I was naked, and you clothed me not.
I was sick, and in prison, and you visited me not.'
44 Then will they answer him, saying,
'Adonai, how saw we you hungry,
or thirsty,
or a stranger,
or naked,
or sick,
or in prison, and did not service to you?'
45 Then will he answer them, saying,
'Amen I say to you,
Inasmuch as you did it not to one of these little ones,
you did it not to me.'
46 And these will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal
life.151
CHAPTER 26
1 And it came to pass, when Yeshua had finished all these sayings, he said to
his talmidim.
2 "You know that after two days is the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is
called the Pesach, and the Son of Man will be betrayed, and shall be bound,
that he be crucified.
3Which signify eight days after the recurrence of the Pesach at which the
seed of Adam will be judged."
4 Then were assembled the cohenim, and elders of the people, to the court of
the Chief Cohen, who was called Kayafa,
151 Verses 14-46 “But since the Gospel written in Hebrew characters which has reached our hands turns the
threat not against the man who hid the talent, but against him who had lived riotously (for it told of three
servants, one who desereved his master's substance with harlots and flute-girls, another who multiplied it
by trading, and another who hid the talent; and made the one to be accepted, another only rebuked, and
another to be shut up in prison), the question occurs to me whether in Matthew, after the conclusion of the
speech against the man who did nothing, the threat that follows may refer, not to him, but by epanalepsis
(i.e. taking up a former subject again) be said of the first, who ate and drank with the drunken.” –Eusebius;
Theophania on Mat. 25:14f
6 But they said, “Let us not do this on the feast day, lest there be a great
commotion among the people.”
7 And in the morning he came again to the Temple and all the people came
to him. And while he was sitting, he was teaching them.
8 And the scribes and P’rushim brought a woman who was caught in
adultery. And placing her in the midst,
9 They said to him, Teacher, this woman was caught in the open in the act of
adultery.
10 Now in the Torah of Moshe, he commanded that we stone those who are
like these. Now, what do you say?
11 They said this testing him so that they would have a reason to accuse
him. But Yeshua, after he had stooped down, wrote on the ground152.
12 And when they continued asking him, he straightened himself and said to
them, Whichever one of you is without sin may cast the first stone at her153.
13 And again after he had stooped down, he was writing on the ground.
14 And when they heard [it], they went out one by one having begun with
the elders. And the woman was left by herself being in the midst.
15 And after Yeshua straightened himself he said to the woman, Where are
they? Does no man condemn you?
16 And she said, No man, Adon. And Yeshua said, Neither do I condemn
you. Go, and from now on do not sin again154.
17 And as Yeshua was in one Beit Anyah, in the house of Shim'on the jar
merchant,
18 there approached him a woman having in her hand a flask of precious oil,
which she poured upon his head, as he was sitting.
19 And when the talmidim saw it, they were vexed, and said, "To what
purpose is this waste?
20 For this oil could have been sold for much, and given to the poor."
21 When Yeshua knew, he said to them, “Why pester you this woman? For
she has wrought a good and wonderful work upon me.
22 And the poor will be continually with you, but I will not be continually
152 Jer. 17:3 & Num. 5:12-31
153 Deut. 17:7
154 Verses 7-16 “He [Papias] has set forth (or expounded) another story, about a woman accused of many
sins before the Lord, which the Gospel according to the Hebrews also contains.” –Eusebius; Eccl. Hist.
3:39:17. This seems to refer to the story of the adulteress as found in John 7:53-8:11. This story does not
appear in the Aramaic Old Syriac or Peshitta versions. It is also not found in the oldest Greek manuscripts.
Those Greek manuscripts that do contain the story sometimes place it in John 7:53-8:11 some after John
7:36 or 7:52 or 21:24. Some manuscripts instead place the story in Luke after 21:24. The story appears not
to have originated as an original part of either Luke of John but as part of GH. I have placed it in GH in a
position corresponding to the placement after Luke 21:24.
with you.
23 For in that she has cast away this oil upon my body, she has done it for
my burial.
24 Truly I tell you, in every place where this good news will be proclaimed
throughout the world, there will be told of all that she has done, <for her
name> and her memorial.”
25 Then went one of his twelve talmidim, and it was he which was called
Y'hudah from K'riot, and went to the Chief Cohenim,
26 and said to them, "What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you?"
And they allotted him thirty pieces of silver155.
27 Thereafter he sought a convenient time to betray him.
28 And on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the talmidim came
near to Yeshua, saying, "Where will you have us prepare the Pesach?"
29 And Yeshua said, "Go you into the city to such a one, and say to him,
'The teacher said, my time is at hand, and with you will I celebrate the
Pesach with my talmidim.'"
30 And the talmidim did as Yeshua commanded them, and prepared the
Pesach.
31 And when it was evening, he sat down at the table with his twelve
talmidim.
32 And he said to them, I have a great desire that I eat this Pesach with you
before I suffer.156
33 And he arose from Dinner and laid aside his garments and took a cloth
and girded his loins.
34 And he put water into a bowl and began to wash the feet of his talmidim,
and he was wiping with the cloth by which he had girded his loins
35 and he kissed the feet of each one of them.157
36 And when he came to Shim’on Kefa, Shim’on said to him, Are you, my
Adon, going to wash my feet for me?
37 Yeshua answered and said to him,What I do you do not know now, but
afterwards you will know.
38 Shim’on Kefa said to him, You will never wash my feet for me. Yeshua
155 Zech. 11:2
156 “But they [Ebionites] abandon the proper sequence of the words and pervert the saying. As plain to all in
the readings attached, and have led the disciples to say: ‘Where will you have us prepare the Passover?’
And him to answer to that: ‘Do I desire with desire at this Passover to eat flesh with you?’” –Epiphanius,
Panarion 30:22:4. In restoring the orignal Nazarene text I have restored the text to read as it does in Luke
22:45. The alteration may have originated because some Hebrew and Aramaic statements can also be
understood as questions and because Ebionites were doctrinal vegetarians.
157 “[And he wiped their feet] And as it is said in the Gospel of the Nazarenes:…” (Historia passionis
Domini; MS: Theolg. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 25v) From this it is clear that the
footwashing story found in John 13 also appeared in GH.
to him, If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.
39 Shim’on Kefa said to him, Then my Adon, wash not only my feet for me
but also my hands and my head.
40 Yeshua said to him, He who is washed does not need but to wash his feet
alone, for all of him is clean. Also you are all clean but not all of you.
41 For Yeshua knew him who would betray him; because of this he said ,
Not all of you are clean.
42 And after he had washed their feet, he took up his garments and seated
himself and said to them, Do you know what I did to you?
43 You call me, Rabbi, and our Adon, and you speak well, for I am.
44 If therefore I your Adon and your Rabbi wash your feet for you, how
much more ought you to wash the feet of another?
45 For I have given you this example, that you might also do as I have done
for you.
46 Truly, Truly, I say to you that there is no servant who is greater than his
master, and there is no emissary who is greater than him who sent him.
47 If you know these things you are happy if you do them.
48 And as they did eat, he said, "Amen I tell you, that one of you will betray
me."
49 And their anger was kindled exceedingly, and each one began saying,
"Am I he, my master?”
50 But he answered and said; "He that dips the hand with me in the dish, the
same will betray me.
51 And surely the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that
man by whose hand the Son of Man will be betrayed. It [would] have been
good for that man if he had not been born."
52 Then Y'hudah, who betrayed him answered and said, "Am I he, rabbi?"
And he said to him, "You have said."
53 And it came to pass, as they sat down to eat, Yeshua took the bread, and
blessed, and broke, and gave to his talmidim, saying, "Take you, and eat
this, which is my body."
54 And afterwards he took the cup, and blessed, and gave to them, saying,
"Drink you all of it,
55 for this is my blood of the New Covenant158, which is shed for many to
atone for sinners.
56 And I tell you, hereafter I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until that
day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father which is in
heaven."
158 Jer. 31:31
57 Then Ya'akov said "I swear that I shall not eat bread from this hour until I
see you risen from among those that sleep."159
58 And when they had recited the Psalm, they went out to the Mount of
Olives.
59 Then said Yeshua to them, "All you will be offended in me this night." It
is written, 'Smite the shepherd, and the flock will be scattered.'160
60 But after I have risen, I will go into Galil before you.
61 Then answered Kefa and said to him, "If they all will be offended, I will
not be offended in you."
62 And Yeshua said to him, "Amen I tell you that this night, before the
rooster crows, three times will you deny me."
63 Then Kefa said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you."
And so likewise said all the talmidim.
64 Then comes Yeshua with them to a village whose name was Gey
Sh'manim161, and said to his talmidim, "Sit you here, while I go yonder and
pray."
65 And he took with him Kefa and the two sons of Zavdai, and began to be
grieved and downcast.
66 And then said he to them, "My nefesh is grieved to death, await you me
here, and watch with me."
67 And he passed on a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "O
Father, if it is possible that this cup pass away from me, let it be done, but let
it not be done as I will, but as you will."
68 And he came to his talmidim, and found them sleeping, and said to Kefa,
"Could you not watch with me a single hour?
69 Awake and pray, that you enter not [into temptation,]
the spirit indeed is watchful,
but the flesh is frail."
70 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, "O Father, if
this cup cannot pass away from me, but I must drink it, be it as you will."
71 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven strengthening him
saying "Be constant, Adon, for now comes the time in which through your
passion mankind sold in Adam will be ransomed."162
159 See note to 28:27-30
160 Zech. 13:7
161 Is. 28:1
162 “And how the angel strengthened Messiah in his struggle in prayer, as is told in the Gospel of the
72 And he came again, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
73 And he went away again, and prayed the third time, and said the same
prayer as he had said already.
74 Then came he to his talmidim, and said to them, "You have slept now,
and taken your rest, behold, the hour is at hand wherein the Son of Man will
be given into the hands of sinners.
75 Arise, and let us go, behold, he draws near that betrays me."
76 While he was still speaking, behold, Y'hudah, one of his twelve talmidim,
came, and with him a great force with swords and spears, that were sent
from the Chief Cohenim and elders of the people.
77 Now Y'hudah, who betrayed him, had given a sign to those people which
came with him, saying, "Whomever I will kiss, that same is he, secure you
him."
78 And forthwith he approached Yeshua, and said, "Shalom rabbi," and
kissed him.
79 And Yeshua said to him, "Beloved, why have you come?" Then they
came near, and laid hands on Yeshua, and seized him.
80 And, behold, one of them, which was with Yeshua, put out his hand, and
drew his sword, and struck the servant of the Chief Cohen, and cut off his
ear.
81 Then said Yeshua to him, “Return your sword to its place,
for all they that take the sword
will perish with the sword.”
82 Think you that I cannot ask of my Father that he should send now on my
behalf more than twelve legions of angels?
83 But how then will the Scriptures be established, which have written that
in this way it must be done?"
84 In that same hour said Yeshua to the crowds, "Have you come out to
meet me as against a robber, with swords and spears to secure me? Every
day I sat beside you and taught you in the Temple, and you seized me not.
85 But all this has come to pass to establish the Scriptures of the Prophets."
Then all the talmidim forsook him and fled.
86 So they seized Yeshua, and led him to Kayafah the Chief Cohen, where
the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
87 And Kefa followed him afar off to the court of the Chief Cohen, and
Nazarenes. And the same is also adduced by Anselm in his lamentation: …” (Historia passionis Domini;
MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 32r) see Luke 22:43
entered into the beit [din], And Shim'on Kefa and one of the other talmidim
were following Yeshua. And the Chief Cohen knew that talmid
88 as he was the son of the poor fisherman Zavdai, he had often brought fish
to the palace of the high cohenim Hananyah and Kayafah.
89 And Yochanan went out to the damsel that kept the door and secured
from her permission for his companion Kefa, who stood weeping loudly
before the door, to come in.163
90 and he entered the beit-din with Yeshua and sat with the menials, to see
what would be the end.
91 Now the Chief Cohenim, and the whole council, sought false witness
against Yeshua, to deliver him up to death.
92 But they found none, though there came forward many false witnesses.
But at the last there came two false witnesses, and said,
93 "He said, 'I can pull down the Temple of El, and before three days I can
build it.'"
94 Then the Chief Cohen arose, and said to him, "Answer you nothing at all
concerning these things which they witness against you?"
95 But Yeshua answered nothing, but was silent. Then the Chief Cohen said
to him, "I adjure you by the living Elohim, that you tell us whether you are
Messiah, the Son of Elohim."
96 And Yeshua answered and said to him, "You have said. Therefore I say
to you,
hereafter you will see the Son of Man, that sits here on the right hand of
the Power of Elohim, coming in the clouds of heaven."164
97 Then the Chief Cohen tore his garments, saying, "He has blasphemed.
What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, you have heard now that
he has blasphemed.
98 How seems it to you?" And they answered, saying, "He is condemned to
death."
99 Then they spat in his face, and struck him with the fist, and others put
their hands upon his face,
100 saying, "Prophecy to us, O Messiah, who it is that assaulted you?"
101 Now Kefa sat out in the court, and there approached him a maidservant
saying, "You too were with Yeshua the Galilean."
102 But he denied in the sight of all, saying, "I know not what you say."
103 And when he was going out to the door, another saw him, and said to
them that were there, "He also was with Yeshua the Natzrati.
163 vss. 58-60 “In the Gospel of the Nazarenes the reason is given why John was known to the high priest.
…” (Historia passionis Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 35r)
164 Dan. 7:13; Ps. 110:1
104 And again he denied with an oath, and said, "I do not know him!"
105 And after a while they that stood there came near, and said to Kefa, "In
truth you are of them, for your tongue reveals you."
106 Then he denied and swore and cursed165
that he knew not that man. And
immediately the rooster crowed.
107 And Kefa remembered the words of Yeshua, who had said, "Before the
rooster crows, three times will you deny me." And then he went outside, and
wept bitterly.
CHAPTER 27
1 And it came to pass in the morning, that all the Chief Cohenim and elders
of the people were in a conclave together concerning Yeshua in order to
condemn him to death.
2 And they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him to Pontius
Pilate the governor.
3 Then Y'hudah, who had betrayed him, saw that he was condemned to
death, and repented, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver which had
been given him, and gave them to the Chief Cohenim and elders,
4 saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the blood of the righteous."
But they said, "What is that to us? See you to it."
5 And he cast the thirty pieces of silver into the Temple, and hanged himself
with a halter.
6 And the Chief Cohenim took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not right to
cast them into the treasury, for they are the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and brought with them the portion of the potter's
field, for the burial of strangers.
8 Therefore the portion was called Chakel Damah to this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet, who said, "And
they took the thirty pieces of silver, a good price of him that was valued,
whom they valued of the children of Yisrael,
10 and gave them for the potter's portion, as YHWH appointed me."166
11 Now Yeshua stood before the governor, and the governor asked him,
saying, "Are you king of the Jews?" And Yeshua answered him, and said,
"You say."
165 Greek Matthew has “then began he to curse and to swear” but some Greek manuscripts of Matthew have
a marginal note which reads “The Judaikon: ‘and he denied and swore and cursed.’” Shem Tob Hebrew
Matthew has “Then he began to deny and to swear…”
166 Zech. 11:12-13
12 But when the Chief Cohenim and elders slandered him, he answered
them nothing.
13 Then said Pilate to him, "Hear you not the testimony which they witness
against you?"
14 But he answered him nothing, not even a single word, so that the
governor marveled exceedingly.
15 Now on the feast day it was the custom for the governor to bring out to
the people one prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then in custody one prisoner, a bandit, whose name was
called Bar Rabbah167.
17 Therefore when they were assembled, Pilate said to them, "Who wish you
that I release to you? Bar Rabbah, or Yeshua which is called Messiah?"
18 For he knew that for hatred they had delivered him up.
19 And when he had set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him,
saying, "Have you nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered
many things this day because of him."
20 But the Chief Cohenim and elders persuaded the people to ask Bar
Rabbah, and destroy Yeshua.
21 And the governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two wish
you
that I release to you?" And they said, "Bar Rabbah."
22 And Pilate said to them, "What will I do then with Yeshua who is called
Messiah?" And they all answered and said, "Let him be crucified."
23 Then the governor said to them, "But what evil has he done?" And they
repeated and cried, "Let him be crucified."
24 Then Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, for a great commotion
arose. Therefore he took water, and washed his hands before the people,
saying, "I am innocent of the blood <of this righteous man, > this see you."
25 Then answered all the people, and said, "His blood be on us, and our
children."
26 Then released he Bar Rabbah to them, but delivered Yeshua to them to be
scourged with whips, and crucified.
27 For certain Judeans had bribed four of the soldiers to scourge him so
severely that the blood might flow from every part of his body.168
167 “Barabbas… is interpreted in the so-called Gospel according to the Hebrews as ‘son of their teacher’” –
Jerome; on Matt. 27:16. This agrees with the reading of the Hebrew DuTillet version of Matthew which has
“Bar Rabbah” meaning “Son of a Master”.
168 “We read in the Gospel of the Nazarenes that… They had also bribed the same soldiers to the end that
they crucified him as it is said in John 19.” (Historia passionis Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift
14th-15th Century, foll. 44r)
28 And then the soldiers of the governor took Yeshua, and delivered him to
them in the judgment hall, and gathered to him the whole crowd.
29 And they stripped him, and robed him in a scarlet tunic,
30 and encircled his head with thorns for a crown, and placed a reed in his
right hand, and bowed their knees before him, and mocked him, saying,
"Shalom to you, king of the Jews!"
31 And they spit upon him, and they took the reed, and smote him on the
head.
32 And after that they had ridiculed him, they stripped him of his tunic, and
clothed him in his own garments, and led him away to be crucified.
33 And as they were going out, they found a man of Cyrene, whose name
was Shim'on, and he they brought to carry his gallows.
34 And when they had come to the place which is termed Gulgolta,
35 they gave him wine mingled with gall169, and when he had tasted, he
would not drink.
36 Then said Yeshua, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they
do."
37 At this word many thousands of the Jews who were standing around the
gallows became believers.170
38 And after they had crucified him, they parted his garments, and cast lots,
to fulfill that which was spoken by the mouth of the prophet, who said,
"They part my garments among them,
and upon my garment they cast lots.’171
39 And they sat down and guarded him.
40 And they set his sentence above his head, and thus it was written:
THIS IS YESHUA, KING OF THE JEWS.
41 Then were crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand, and one
on the left hand.
42 And all they that passed by were reviling him, and nodding their
heads172,
43 saying, "Aha! You that destroy the Temple of Elohim, and in three days
169 Ps. 69:22(21)
170 “As it is said in the Gospel of the Nazarenes:…” (Haimo of Auxerre; Comm. On Is. 53:2); “[Father
forgive them, for they know not what they do.] Note that in the Gospel of the Nazarenes we have to read
that at this virtuous discourse of Messiah eight thousand were later converted to the faith; namely three
thousand on the day of Pentecost as stated in the Acts of the Apostles 2 [2:41], and subsequently five
thousand about whom we are informed in the Acts of the Apostles 10 [this likely refers to Acts 4:4 rather
than 10].” (Historia passionis Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 55r)
171 Psalm 22:19(18)
172 Psalm 22:8(7)
build it, save yourself. If you be the Son of Elohim, come down from the
gallows."
44 And likewise the Chief Cohenim reviled him, with the scribes and elders,
45 saying, "He saved others, but himself he cannot save. If he is the king of
Yisrael, let him now come down from this gallows, and we will believe in
him.
46 He believed in Elohim, let him deliver him now, if he delight [in
him]173, for he said, 'I am the Son of Elohim.'"
47 And so likewise the robbers, which were crucified with him, reproached
him.
48 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the
ninth hour.
49 And at the ninth hour Yeshua cried with a loud voice, and said, "My El,
my El, why have you forsaken me?"174
50 And some of the men that stood by, when they heard, and said, "He calls
for Eliyahu."
51 And one of them ran right away, and took the sponge, and filled it with
vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.175
52 But the others said, "Let be, and let us see if Eliyahu will come to deliver
him.
53 Then Yeshua cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
54 And, behold, the earth did quake, the lintel of the Temple of wondrous
size was broken and even forced asunder176, the veil of the Temple was torn
in two from the top to the bottom, and, and the rocks were torn,
55 and the sepulchers were opened, and many bodies of the set-apart ones,
which were laid, arose,
56 and went out from the sepulchers after his resurrection, and entered into
the set-apart city, and were seen by many.
57 And the centurions which were with Yeshua, to guard him, when they
saw the earthquake, and those things that had come to pass, were
exceedingly afraid, and said, "In truth, he was the Son of Elohim."
58 Now many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Yeshua
173 Psalm 22:9(8)
174 Psalm 22:2(1)
175 Psalm 69:22(21)
176 “But in the Gospel which is written in Hebrew characters we read not that the veil of the Temple was
rent, but that the lintel of the Temple of wondrous size was broken and even forced asunder.” –Jerome;
Letter 120 to Hedibia; Jerome on Mat. 27:51; “Also in the Gospel of the Nazarenes we read that at the time
of Messiah’s death the lintel of the Temple, of immense size, had split (Josephus says the same and adds
that overhead awful voices were heard which said: ‘Let us depart from this abode). (Historia passionis
Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 65r)
from Galil, serving him,
59 among who was Miriam the From Magdala, and Miriam Bat Ya'akov,
and the mother of Yosef, and the mother of Zavdai.
60 And when it was evening, there came one rich man from HaRamatayim,
whose name was Yosef, and he also was a talmid of Yeshua.
61 And he approached Pilate, and asked the body of Yeshua. Then Pilate
commanded the body of Yeshua to be given.
62 And Yosef took the body of Yeshua, and wrapped it in pure linen,
63 and placed it in his new sepulcher, which was cut out of the rock. Then
he rolled the great stone over the door of the sepulcher, and went his way.
64 And there were there, Miriam from Magdala, and the other Miriam's,
sitting over against the sepulcher.
65 Now on the next day, which was following the search for leaven, the
Chief Cohenim and P'rushim came together to Pilate,
66 Saying, "My master, we remember that this deceiver said before three
days I will rise again.
67 Therefore give command to guard the sepulcher until the third day, lest
his talmidim enter, and steal him away, and say to the people, that he has
risen from the dead, so the last error will be worse than the first."
68 And Pilate said to them, "Behold, you have a guard, go, and keep guard
as you know." And he delivered to them armed men, that they might sit over
against the cave and keep it day and night177.
69 So they went, and made the sepulcher inaccessible with guards, and
sealed the stone.
CHAPTER 28
1 And when the Sabbath had passed, as it dawned toward the first day of the
week178, came Miriam from the Magdala and the other Miriam to see the
sepulcher.
2 And, behold, there had been a great earthquake, for the angel of YHWH
had descended from heaven, <and approached> and rolled away the stone
from the door, and sat on it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his garments like snow,
4 and for fear of him the guards trembled, and became as dead.
5 And the angel answered and said to the woman, "Fear you not, I know that
177 Some Greek manuscripts of Matthew have a marginal note which reads “The Judaikon has ‘And he
delivered to them armed men, that they might sit over against the cave and keep it day and night.”
178 Toldot Yeshu 5:1 ia s parody on this verse.
you are seeking Yeshua.
6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said179. Come now, and see the place
wherein HaAdon was laid.
7 And go now right away, and tell his talmidim that he has risen from the
dead, and behold, he goes before to Galil, and there will you see him, and
behold, I have told you."
8 And Shim’on went out and Yochanan, and they came to the sepulcher.
9 And both of them were running together, but Yochanan ran before
Shim’on and came first to the sepulcher.
10 And he looked in and saw the linen clothes put off, but he in no way
11 And Shim’on came after him and entered the sepulcher and saw the linen
cloths put off.
12 And the head cloth that had been wrapped around his head, not with the
linen cloths, but folded and put aside in one place.
13 Then entered also that talmid that had come to the sepulcher first, and he
saw and believed.
14 For they did not yet know from the scriptures that he was to arise from
among the dead.
15 And the talmidim went again to their place.180
16 And Miriam was standing by the grave and was crying. And as she cried,
she looked into the grave.
17 And she saw two angels in white who were sitting, one at the place of his
head and one at his feet, where the body of Yeshua had been laid.
18 And they said to her,Woman, why are you crying? She said to them,
Because they have taken my Adon, and I do not know where they have laid
him.
19 She said this and turned around and saw Yeshua standing. And she did
not know it was Yeshua.
20 Yeshua said to her,Woman, why are you crying, and whom do you seek?
And she thought that he was the gardener and said to him, My master, if you
have taken him, tell me where you have placed him, I will go and take him.
21 Yeshua said to her, Miriam. And she answered and said to him, Rabbuli,
which means teacher.
22 Yeshua said to her, Do not come near to me, for I have not yet ascended
to my father. But go to my brothers and tell them I ascend to my father and
your father, and my Elohim and your Elohim.
179 Toldot Yeshu 5:5 is a parody on this verse.
180 Verses 8-15 – This material would have served as the basis for Jn. 20:3-10 and Luke 24:12. Its presence
is also implied by the reference to the linen cloth which is referred to in verses 27-30 and because it sets up
the context for verses 16-23. It has been restored from Jn. 20:3-10.
23 Then Miriam from Magdala came and declared to the talmidim that she
had seen our Adon, and that he had told her these things181.
24 And they having went out quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great
joy, and ran to tell his talmidim.
25 And as they were going to tell his talmidim, behold, Yeshua came to
meet them, saying, "Shalom be with you." And, behold, they approached
and held him by the feet, and worshiped him.
26 Then said Yeshua to them, "Fear you not, go now and tell my brothers
that they go to Galil, for there will they see me."
27 Now the Adon, when he had given the linen cloth to the servant of the
cohen, went to Ya'akov and appeared to him.
28 And the Adon said "Bring a table and bread."
29 He took the bread and blessed and broke and gave it to Ya'akov
HaTzadik and said to him,
30 My brother, eat your bread, for the Son of Man is risen from among them
that sleep182.
31 And behold, some of the guards came to the city, and told the Chief
Cohenim all that had come to pass.
32 And when they had assembled the elders, and had taken counsel, they
gave much money to the soldiers,
33 Saying, "Say you, that his talmidim came by night, and stole him away
while we lay down.
34 And if this should be heard by the governor, we will persuade him, and
secure you."
35 So they took the money, and did as they were taught, and the saying is
common among the Jews until this day.
36 And when he came to Kefa, and those who were with Kefa, he said to
them,
37 “Take, handle me, and see that I am not a bodiless spirit”. And forthwith
181 Verses 16-23 are restored from Jn. 20:11-17 on the basis that Toldot Yeshu 5:16-20 is a parody on these
verses.
182 verses 27-30 “Also the Gospel called according to the Hebrews, recently translated by me into Greek
and Latin, which Origin often uses, says after the resurrection of the Savior: ‘Now the Lord, when he had
given the linen cloth to the servant of the priest, went to James and appeared to him (for James had sworn
that he would not eat bread from that hour in which he had drunk the Lord’s cup until he should see him
risen from among them that sleep). And a little further on the Lord says, ‘Bring a table and bread.’ And
immediately it is added, ‘He took bread…” –Jerome, On Illustrious Men, 2; This event is referred to in
1Cor. 15:7 but is not recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. “The appearance to Ya'akov (James), ...is
not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament but is reported in one of the apocryphal books, the Gospel
according to the Hebrews...” (Jewish New Testament Commentary by David Stern on 1Cor. 15:7)
they touched and believed, being convinced both by his flesh and spirit.;183
38 Then his eleven talmidim went away to Galil, to a mountain were Yeshua
had appointed them.
39 And they saw him, and worshiped him, but some doubted.
40 And Yeshua approached and spoke to them, saying,
"All authority is given me in heaven and earth.
41 Go you therefore, and teach all the Goyim,
and immerse them in the name of the Father, and the Son,
and the Ruach HaKodesh,
42 and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you,
and here am I with you all the days, to the end of the world.
Avraham.
2. Avraham begat Yitzchak, Yitzchak begat Ya’akov, Ya’akov begat
Y’hudah and his brothers.
3 Y'hudah begat Peretz and Zerach by Tamar, Peretz begat Chetzron,
Chetzron begat Ram,
4 And Ram begat Amminadav, Amminadav begat Nachshon, Nachshon
begat Salmon,
5 Salmon begat Bo'az by Rachav, Bo'az begat Oved by Rut, And Oved begat
Yishai,
6 Yishai begat David the king. David begat Shlomo by the wife of Uriyah,
7 And Shlomo begat Rechav'am, Rechav'am begat Aviyah, And Aviyah
begat Asa,
8 And Asa begat Y'hoshafat, Y'hoshafat begat Y'horam, Y'horam begat
Uziyahu,
9 Uziyahu begat Yotam, Yotam begat Achaz, Achaz begat Chizkiyahu,
10 Chizkiyahu begat M'nasheh, M'nasheh begat Ammon, Ammon begat
Yoshiyahu,
11 Yoshiyahu begat Y'khanyah and his brothers in the Babylonian exile.
12 Y'khanyah begat Sh'altiel, Sh'altiel begat Z'rubavel,
13 Z'rubavel begat Av'ichud, Av'ichud begat Av'ner, Av'ner begat Elyakim,
13 “These are the generations of Yeshua” Hebrew: Eleh Toldot Yeshua”. Schonfield has shown that the
hostile Rabbinic Gospel known as the “Toldot Yeshu” was a parody on GH (see According to the
Hebrews; Hugh J. Schonfield; 1937; p. 23-24). Ancient Semitic books were often named after the first
major opening word(s) of the book. For example the Hebrew names of the books of the Torah are each
taken from the opening words of that book and the Arabic names for each of the surahs of the Quran are
taken from the opening words of that surah. Thus the document of which the Toldot Yeshu was a parody
(which was almost certainly GH) must have opened with these words, just as Matthew opens. Thus also
GH must have contained the genealogy found in Matthew 1:1-17. One may infer from statements by
Epiphanius that the Nazarene version included an opening genealogy. Also one Greek manuscript of
Matthew (Codex 1424) has a marginal note to Matt. 1:6 giving an alternate reading from the Judaikon, but
unfortunately the note was later erased.
Elyakim begat Azur,
14 Azur begat Tzadok, Tzadok begat Ammon, Ammon begat El'ichud,
15 El'ichud begat El'azar, El'azar begat Mattan, Mattan begat Ya'akov,
16. Ya'akov begat Yosef, Yosef who was betrothed to Miriam the virgin,
who begat Yeshua, who is called Messiah.
17 And all the generations from Avraham to David are fourteen generations,
and from David to the Babylonian exile are fourteen generations, and from
the Babylonian exile to the Messiah are fourteen generations.
18 And the birth of Yeshua the Messiah was this way: after his mother
Miriam was betrothed to Yosef, before he came unto her, the Ruach
HaKodesh found her pregnant.
19 And Yosef her husband was a righteous man, and not willing to deliver
her up to death, and not to disclose her; only it was in his heart to send her
away in secret.
20 And while he thought on this, the angel appeared to him in a dream,
saying, "Yosef son of David, fear not to take Miriam your wife, for that
which will be born of her is from the Ruach HaKodesh; for from the Ruach
HaKodesh she has conceived.
21 And behold, she will bear a son, and you will call his name Yeshua; for
he will save his people from all their sins.
22 And all this was to fulfill what was spoken from YHWH by prophet
Yesha'yahu, saying,
23 "Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and will call his
name Immanu'el "14
24 And Yosef awoke from his sleep, and did as the angel of YHWH had
commanded him, and took her as his wife.
25 and he had no intercourse with her until she had born her son, and he
called his name Yeshua.
CHAPTER 2
1 And after Yeshua was born in Beit Lechem, a city of Y'hudah, in the days
of Herod the king, behold, there came believers from the east to
Yerushalayim,
2 saying, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his
star in the east, and have come to pay homage to him."
3 And when Herod heard, he was filled with anger, he, and all Yerushalayim
with him.
14 Is. 7:14
4 And he gathered all the Chief Cohenim and scribes of the people, and
inquired from them in what place the Messiah should be born.
5 And they said to him, "In Beit Lechem, Y'hudah; for thus it was spoken by
the mouth of the prophet.
6 "But you Beit Lechem, Ef'ratah, are not to be lightly esteemed among
the thousands of Y'hudah15, for from you shall he come forth to me
which is to be ruler among my people Yisrael."16
7 Then Herod called the believers in secret, and questioned them diligently
as to the time of the star, which had appeared to them.
8 And he sent them to Beit Lechem, and said, "Go and inquire diligently
concerning the boy; and when you have found him, tell me, in order that I
may come and pay homage to him also."
9 And when they had heard the king, they went; and behold, the star, which
they saw in the east, went before their eyes, until it came and stood still
above, over against where the boy was.
10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 When Yosef looked out with his eyes, he saw a crowd of pilgrims who
were coming in company to the cave, and he said: I will arise and go out to
meet them.
12 And when Yosef went out, he said to Shim'on, “It seems to me as if those
coming were soothsayers, for lo, every moment they look up to heaven and
confer with one another.
13 But they seem to be strangers, for their appearance differs from ours; for
their dress is very rich and their complexion quite dark; they have caps on
their heads and their garments seem to be silky, and they have breeches on
their legs.
14 And they have halted and are looking at me, and lo, they have halted and
are looking at me, and lo, they have again set themselves in motion and are
coming here17.
15 And they came into the house, and they found the boy, and his mother,
Miriam, with him, and they fell on the ground and paid homage to him: and
opened their stores, and they presented to him gifts; gold, and frankincense,
and myrrh.
15 “Bethlehem of Judaea. This is a mistake of the scribes: for I think it was originally expressed by the
Evangelist as we read in the Hebrew: ‘of ‘of Judah’ not ‘of Judaea’”. – Jerome on Mat. 2:6
16 Mic. 5:1(5:2)
17 2:11-14 “For the Gospel which is entitled According to the Hebrews reports: … From these words it is
clear that not merely three men, but a crowd of pilgrims came to the Lord, even if according to the foremost
leaders of this crowd were named with the definite names Melchus, Casper and Phadizarda.” (Sedulius
Scotus, Comm. On Mt.; MSS: Berlin, Phill. 1660, saec. IX fol. 17v; Vienna 740, saec IX, fol. 15r.v.: cited
by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 203f.)
16 And it came to pass, they were fast asleep, and behold, the angel
appeared to them, saying, "Beware of returning to Yerushalayim to Herod,"
and they went and returned to their own land by another way.
17 And after they had departed, and behold, the angel of YHWH appeared to
Yosef in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the boy and his mother, and flee you
away into Egypt and be there; and there you will stay until I return to you;
for Herod is seeking to put the boy to death."
18 And he arose, and took up the boy and his mother by night, and departed
into Egypt:
19 and was there until the death of Herod: to fulfill what was spoken from
YHWH by the prophet, who said,
"From out of Egypt I have called my son."18
20 Then Herod, seeing that he was deceived by the magi, was exceedingly
furious, and sent forth, and put to death all the boys that were in Beit
Lechem,
and in all the border thereof, from two years old and under, as he had heard
the set time from the magi.
21 Then was established that which was spoken by Yirmeyahu the prophet,
who said,
22 "A voice was heard in Ramah,
lamentation, and bitter weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children,
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more."19
23 And after Herod the King was dead, behold, the angel of YHWH
appeared in a dream to Yosef in Egypt,
24 saying, "Arise, and take up the boy and his mother and go into the Eretz-
Yisrael: for they are dead which sought the child's nefesh."
25 And he arose, and took the child and his mother, and came to Eretz-
Yisrael.
26 And when he heard that Archelaus reigned in Y'hudah in the place of
Herod his father, he was afraid to go to there: and being warned in sleep, he
went to the land of Galil:
18 Hos. 11:1; “To these [citations where Matt. Follows the Hebrew rather than the LXX] belong two: ‘Out
of Egypt I called my son.’And ‘For he shall be called a Nazarene.’” – Jerome; of Illustrious Men 3
19 Jer 31:14 (15)
27 and came and dwelt in the city of Natzeret: to fulfill what was spoken by
the mouth of the prophet, for he will be called Natzeret820.
28 And his people, during every year, went to Yerushalayim for the
celebration of the feast of Unleavened Bread, of Pesach.
29 And when he was twelve years old, they went up, as they were
accustomed for the feast.
30 And after the feast days were completed, they returned. But the child
Yeshua remained in Yerushalayim, though his kinsfolk did not know.
31 For they thought he was with people in their company. And after they had
gone a one-day journey, they searched for him among their company and
among their kinsfolk and among those who knew them.
32 And they did not find him. So they returned again to Yerushalayim and
searched for him.
33 And after three days, they found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of
the teachers. And he was listening to them and questioning them.
34 Now on a certain day the rabbis were debating matters of civil damages.
Then began he to utter halachot before them.
35 Then said one of them to him, "Have you not heard that everyone that
speaks a halacha in the presence of his master is worthy of death?"
36 He said to that wise man, "Who is the master and who is the talmid? And
which of the two is wiser, Moshe or Yitro? Was it not Moshe, the father of
the prophets and chief of the wise men?
37 Moreover the Torah witnesses concerning him: And there arose not
since in Yisra’el a prophet like unto Moshe.21
Withal Yitro was an alien,
yet
he dictated to Moshe right conduct, according to the saying: And set over
them rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds.22
38 But if you therefore say that Yitro was greater than Moshe then would
there be an end to his greatness?"23
39 And all those who heard him were amazed at his wisdom and his
answers.
40 And when his kinsfolk saw him they were amazed, and his mother said to
him, My son, why have you acted toward us in this manner? For behold, we
have been searching for you with much worry.
20 “To these [citations where Hebrew Matt. follows the Hebrew rather than the LXX] belong two: ‘Out of
Egypt I called my son.’And ‘For he shall be called a Nazarene.’” – Jerome; of Illustrious Men 3
21 Deut. 34:10
22 Ex. 18:21
23 2:34-38 This material is extracted from Toldot Yeshu 1:26-30 but since it is in no way antagonistic
toward Yeshua, it must have been part of the original source of that document: The Goodnews according to
the Hebrews.
41 (And) he said to them, Why were you searching for me? Do you not
know that it is necessary for me to be in the House of my Father?
42 And they did not understand the saying that he had told them.
43 And he went down with them and came to Natzaret and was subject to
them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.
44 And Yeshua grew in his stature and in his wisdom and in favor with
Elohim and men.
CHAPTER 3
1 It came to pass in the days of Herod the king of Y’hudah, when Kayafa
was Cohen HaGadol24, that there came one, Yochanan by name, and
immersed with the immersion of repentance in the river Yardan.
2 It was said of him that he was of the lineage of Aharon the cohen, a son of
Z'kharyah and Elisheva25
: and all went out to him.26
3 and he cried in the wilderness of Y'hudah
4 saying, "Make you teshuva in your lives, for the Kingdom of Heaven is
offered to come."
5 And this is he, of whom Yesha'yahu spoke, saying,
“A voice crying, ‘in the wilderness
Prepare you the way of YHWH,
make straight in the desert, a path for our Elohim.’”27
6 It came to pass that Yochanan was immersing; and there went out to him
P’rushim and were immersed, and all of Yerushalyim.
7 And the garment of Yochanan was of camel's hair, and a leather belt about
his waist; and his food was the locust28
and wild honey.29
8 and they were immersed of him in the Yarden, and confessing their sins.
9 And when he saw many from the P'rushim and from the Tz'dukim, which
24 Luke 3:2
25 Luke 1:5 & 3:2
26 3:1-2 “And the beginning of their [the Ebionites] Gospel runs…” – Epiphanius; Panarion 30:13:6
27 Is. 40:3
28 The Ebionite version had been revised to read “his food was wild honey, the taste of which was that of
manna, as a cake dipped in oil.” But the Nazarene version certainly agreed with Matthew 3:4 as I have it
here.
29 3:6-7 “In the Gospel that is in general use among them [Ebionites] which is called ‘according to
Matthew’, which however is not whole and complete but forged and mutilated- they call it the Hebrew
Gospel- it is reported: …Thus they were resolved to pervert the truth into a lie and put a cake in place of
locusts.” – Epiphanius; Panarion 30:13:2-5
came to his immersion, he said to them, "Generation of vipers, who has
informed you to flee from the wrath to come?
10 Bring forth therefore the fruit in keeping with repentance:
11 and say not among yourselves, 'Because Avraham is our father...' for I
say to you, that Elohim has the power to raise up sons of Avraham from
these stones.”
12 And already the axe is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree which
yields not good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire.
13 Behold I am only immersing you in water to repentance, and he that
comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry, and he
will immerse you with the fire of the Ruach HaKodesh,
14 whose winnowing fork is in his hand, that he may clean his threshing
floor, and gather his wheat into the granary, and he will burn up the chaff in
unquenchable fire."
15 It came to pass there was a certain man named Yeshua of about thirty
years of age30
who chose us.31
16 [And] behold, the mother of our Adon and His brothers said to him,
Yochanan the immerser immerses for the remission of sins; let us go and be
immersed by him.
17 But He said to them, what sin have I committed that I should go and be
immersed by him? Unless perchance, the very words which I have said
are [a sin of] ignorance32.33
18 When the people were immersed Yeshua also came and was immersed by
Yochanan.
19 And when the Adon ascended from the water, the heavens were opened
and he saw the whole fount of the Ruach HaKodesh in the form of a dove34
30 Luke 3:23
31 3:15 The quote given by Epiphanius in Panarion 30:13:2-3 appears to come from three different parts of
the document. The opening phrase of this quote “It came to pass there was a certain man named Yeshua of
about thirty years of age, who chose us” seems to go best here, but the rest of the quote corresponds to a
time much later on Yeshua’s third visit to Kefa’s home. Here the emissaries are revealed as the narrators of
the document which may be part of the reason it was also known as the Goodnews according to the
Emissaries (According to Jerome, Against Pelagius III, 2) see note to 18:1-4.
32 Heb. 9:7; Lev. 4:2, 22, 27; 5:15-18; 22:14
33 3:16-17 “In the Gospel according to the Hebrews, which is written in the Chaldee and Syrian language,
but in Hebrew characters, and is used by the Nazarenes to this day (I mean the Gospel according to the
Emissaries, or, as generally maintained, the Gospel according to Matthew, a copy of which is in the library
at Caesarea), we find. …” – Jerome; Against Pelagius III, 2)
34 “in the form of a dove” compare Luke 3:22- agrees with DuTillet Heb. Matthew and the Old Syriac
Aramaic Matthew (OS(s)) against Greek Matthew.
that descended and rested35
upon him,36
20 And said to him, “My son, in all the prophets I was waiting for you, that
you might come, and that I might rest in you. For you are my rest; and you
are my firstborn son, who reigns forever.
21 You are my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased.” And Again, “I have
this day begotten you37.”
22 And immediately a great light shone round about the place38. When
Yochanan saw this, he said to him “Who are you Adon?”
23 And again a voice from Heaven rang out to him, “This is my beloved Son
in whom I am well pleased.”
24 And Yochanan fell down before him and said, “I beseech you Adon,
immerse me.”
25 But he prevented him and said, “Permit it; for thus it is fitting that
everything should be fulfilled.39
CHAPTER 4
1. Then Yeshua was led up by the Ruach HaKodesh into the wilderness in
order that he might be tempted by HaSatan. As He said unto us "Even so did
my mother the Ruach HaKodesh take me by one of my hairs, and carried me
away unto the great mountain40
Tabor"41,
2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was
hungry.
3. And the tempter came, he said to him, "If you are the Son of Elohim, say
35 “rested upon him” (Nazarene version) the Ebionite version read “entered into him”.
36 Is. 11:2; 42:1; 61:1; Testament of Levi 18:6-7 “rested” agrees with the Old Syriac Aramaic of Matthew
and similar to the Hebrew Shem Tob Matthew (which has “dwelt”) against Greek Matthew.
37 Ps. 2:7; this reading appears also in the Greek Western text of Codex D in Luke 3:22. This Psalm is never
quoted in any of our four Gospels but is cited as a Messianic proof text in the Toldot Yeshu. See Acts
13:33; Heb. 1:5; 5:5
38 Some Old Latin manuscripts of Matthew contain a similar phrase “And when Yeshua was being
immersed, a great light shone from the water, so that all that gathered together feared.” (Codex
Sangermanensis); “And when he was being immersed, a very great light shone round about from the water,
so that all that had come there feared.” (Codex Vercellensis); Also in the “Church Fathers” “a fire was
kindled in Jordan.” – Justin Martyr; Dialog with Trypho 88; “a light rising over the water” – Ephraim
Syrus
39 3:18-25 see appendix
40 “wilderness… mountain” In Judean Aramaic dialects the word )rw+ can mean “wilderness” or can
mean “hill” or “mountain” although this is not the word used in the Old Syriac or Peshitta in this passage of
Matthew, Mark or Luke.
41 4:1b “Even so…Tabor.” – “And if any accept the Gospel according to the Hebrews, where the savior
himself says: …he will be perplexed.” (Origen on John 2:12) (also quoted in Origen’s Jer. Homily xv 4;
Jerome on Micah 7:6; Is. 40:9ff and Ezek. 16:13).
that these stones be made bread."
4. And Yeshua answered and said, "It is written,
'For not by bread alone will man live, but by everything that
proceeds from the mouth of YHWH will man live.'"42
5. Then HaSatan took him up to Yerushalayim43, and set him on a turret of
the Temple,
6. and said to him, "If you are the Son of Elohim, drop yourself down, for
surely it is written,
'For he will give his angels charge concerning you, to keep you in
all your ways, upon the palms of their hands they will bear you
up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"44
7 And Yeshua answered him and said, "It is also written,
'You shall not tempt YHWH your Elohim.'"45
8 And again HaSatan took him up into an exceedingly high mountain, and
showed him all from the kingdoms of the world, and their glory;
9 and said to him, "All these will I give you, if you will fall down and
worship me."
10 Then said Yeshua to him, "Get yourself gone, adversary, for it is written,
'YHWH your Elohim you shall worship, and him alone you shall
serve.'"46
11 Then HaSatan left him, and behold, angels drew near and attended him.
12 And after Yeshua had heard that Yochanan was imprisoned, he went to
Galil;
13 and leaving Natzeret, he left and dwelt in K'far Nachum (which is a city
by the sea, on the border of Z'vulun and Naftali.)
14 to establish what was spoken by the mouth of Yesha'yahu the prophet,
who said,
15 "Land of Z'vulun, and land of Naftali, the way of the sea, beyond
42 Deut. 8:3
43 Some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to Mt. 4:5 which reads “The Judaikon
[Jewish] has not ‘into the holy city’ but ‘in Jerusalem’”. (agrees with Luke 4:9).
44 Ps. 91:11-12
45 Deut. 6:16
46 Deut. 6:13
Yarden, Galil of the Goyim;
16 the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; the
inhabitants of the land of the shadow of death, a light has shined upon
them."47
17 And then began Yeshua to cry, saying, “Turn you, turn you, in
repentance: for the Kingdom of Heaven is offered.”
18 And when Yeshua was walking by the sea shore of Galil, he saw two
brothers, Shim'on who was called Kefa, and Andrew his brother, casting a
net into the sea, for they were fishers.
19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
20 And they immediately left the nets, and followed him.
21 And when he departed from there, he saw two other brothers, Ya'akov
Ben Zavdai, and Yochanan his brother, in a boat with Zavdai their father,
mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23 And Yeshua went about all Galil, teaching in their synagogues, and
announcing the good news of the Kingdom and healing all manner of
sickness and pain among the people.
24 And the report of him went out to all the people, and they brought to him
all that had any physical illness, or that had fallen into various ailments, and
diseases, both epileptics and paralytics; and he healed them.
25 And there followed him great crowds from Galil, and from the ten towns,
and from Yerushalyim, and from Y'hudah, and from beyond Yarden.
CHAPTER 5
1 And when Yeshua saw the crowds, he went up to a mountain: and after he
had sat down, and his talmidim approached him:
2 and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3 "Happy are the poor of spirit48,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4 Happy are the mourners,
for they will be comforted49.
5 Happy are the meek,
for they will inherit the Land50.
47 Isa. 8:23-9:1 (9:1-2)
48 Is. 66:2; 57:15
49 Is. 61:2; 66:10, 13
6 Happy are they, which hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied51.
7 Happy are the merciful,
for they will obtain mercy.
8 Happy are the pure in heart52,
for they will see Elohim.
9 Happy are the peacemakers,
for they will be called the sons of Elohim.
10 Happy are they which are persecuted for the sake of
righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11 Happy are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall
say all evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice and be glad53, for great is your reward in heaven, for persecuted
they the prophets.
13 You are the salt of the earth, and if the salt has lost its savor, how will it
be salted? it is afterwards good for nothing, but to be cast outside, and
trampled by men.
14 You are the light of the world54. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden.
15 Neither do they obtain a lamp, to put it under a measure, but on a lamp
stand; to give light to all that are in the house.
16 So let your light shine before the sons of men, in order that they may see
your good works, to honor your Father, which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets, I have
not come to abolish, but to fulfill.
18 Truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one yud or one
hook will pass away from the Torah, until they all be fulfilled.
19 And whoever shall abolish one of these least commandments, and shall
teach the sons of men so, the same will be called least in the Kingdom of
Heaven. And whoever shall keep one of these least commandments, and
shall teach the sons of men so, the same will be called greatest in the
Kingdom of Heaven.
20 And I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the
P’rushim and scribes, you will not come into the Kingdom of Heaven.
50 Ps. 37:11
51 Is. 66:11-12
52 Ps. 24:4; 51:10; 73:11
53 Is. 66:10
54 Is. 49:6
21 You have heard what was said to them of old time, 'You shall not
murder55, and whoever commits murder, the same will be condemned to the
judgment,'
22 but I tell you that whoever shall be enraged against his brother56, he will
be condemned to the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'you are
nothing!,” he will be condemned to the council of the synagogue. And
whoever says to him, 'You impious one', he will be condemned to the fire of
Gey Hinnom.
23 And whoever grieves the spirit of his brother is guilty of one of the
greatest sins57.
24 And if you present your offering at the altar, and there remember that
your brother has something against you,
25 leave your offering there before the altar, and go you first to atone to your
brother, and then come and give your offering.
26 And never be joyful except when you look on your brother with love58.
27 Come to terms with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on
the way; lest HaSatan deliver you up to the judge, and the judge deliver you
up to the officer, and you be cast into the jail.
28 Amen, I tell you, you will not go out from there until you have paid the
last penny.
29 You have heard that it was said to them of old time, ' You shall not
commit adultery,'59
30 but I tell you, that whoever sees a woman and covets her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.
31 And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out, and cast it from you, for it
is better for you that one of your members should perish, than that thy whole
body should be cast into Gey Hinnom.
32 And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you, for it is
better for you that one of your members should perish, than that your whole
body should be cast into Gey Hinnom.
33 It was also said concerning him that would put away his wife, that he
should write her a bill of divorcement, and give it to her, and send her
away from his house,60
55 Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17
56 Aramaic and Greek Matthew add the phrase “without cause” here, some manuscripts of Greek Matthew
have a marginal note to this phase that reads “The word [for] ‘without cause’ is not written in some copies,
nor in the Judaikon.’”. The phase is also lacking from Hebrew Matthew.
57 “And in the Gospel according to the Hebrews, which the Nazarenes are accustomed to read, one of the
greatest sins is to grieve the spirit of one’s brother.” – Jerome; Comm. On Ezek. 18:7
58 “As also we read in the Hebrew Gospel that the Lord spoke to his talmidim: …”- Jerome; On Eph. 5:4
59 Ex. 20:13 (20:14); Deut. 5:18
34 but I tell you, that whoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause
of fornication, commits adultery with her, and whoever takes her that is cast
off commits adultery.
35 Again, you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall
not forswear yourself, but shall pay to YHWH your vow’,61
36 but I tell you, you shall not swear by a confirming word; not by heaven,
for it is Elohim's throne,
37 and not by the earth, for it is the footstool62 of his feet; and not by
Yerushalayim, for it is the city of the great king63.
38 and you shall not swear by your head, in that you have no power to
whiten one hair or turn it black again.
39 But let your words be, 'Yes, yes'; 'No, no'; for whatever is more than
these words is of evil.
40 You have heard what was said, 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth'64
41 but I tell you, that you not withstand evil; but if one would smite you on
the right cheek, turn unto him the other.
42 And whoever wishes to contend you in judgment, and wishes to take
from
you your coat, leave him the cloak also.
43 And he that impresses you for one mile, go with him even two.
44 And whoever asks of you gives to him, and from him that would borrow
of you turn not you away.
45 You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor65, and
hate your enemy',
46 but I tell you, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, and
pray
for them which persecute you and despitefully use you;
47 in order that you may become the sons of your Father which is in heaven,
who makes his sun to rise on the good and on the evil, and sends rain on the
righteous and on the wicked.
48 For if you love only them which love you, what reward have you? do not
even the transgressors do this?
49 And if you ask after the shalom of your brothers only, what do you
exceed? do not even the Goyim do this?
50 You therefore be whole-hearted, like your Father which is in heaven, who
60 Deut. 5:21
61 Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:3 (30:2); Deut. 23:22 (23:21)
62 Is. 66:1
63 Ps. 48:2
64 Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
65 Lev. 19:18
is whole-hearted.
CHAPTER 6
1 See that you not bestow your tzadakim before men, so that they may see
you, for then you have no reward on the part of your Father, which is in
heaven.
2 Therefore when you give tzedakah, do not blow a shofar before you, like
the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, in order that men may
honor them.
3 Amen, I tell you that they have already received their reward. But you,
when you give tzedakah, your left hand shall not know what your right hand
does,
4 that your tzedakah may be in secret, and your Father which sees in secret
will himself recompense you publicly.
5 And be not like the hypocrites when you pray, for they delight to stand in
the assemblies and at the corners of the streets to pray, that men may see
them. Truly I tell you that they already have received their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, enter into your chamber, and shut the door, and
pray to your Father, which is in secret; and your Father, which sees in secret,
will recompense you publicly.
7 And you, when you pray, multiply not words like the Goyim do, who think
that in an abundance of words they will be heard.
8 But you do not be like them: for your Father knows what is needed for
you, before you ask him.
9 And you: this way will you pray:
Our Father, which is in heaven,
Your name be set-apart.
10 Your Kingdom come.
Your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
11 Give us today our bread of tomorrow66.
12 And forgive us our debts,
like we release our debtors.
13 And let us not come into temptation,
66 “In the so-called Gospel according to the Hebrews instead of ‘essential to existence’ I found rxm
‘mahar’, which means ‘of tomorrow’, so that the sense is: ….” –Jerome; On Mat. 6:11; “In the Hebrew
Gospel according to Matthew it is thus: …That is, ‘The bread which you will give us in the Kingdom, give
us this day.” –Jerome; On. Ps. 135; see Prov. 30:8
but deliver us from all evil:
for yours is the Kingdom, and the might and the honor,67
forever and forever and ever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their sins, your Father which is in heaven will also
forgive you your sins:
15 but if you forgive not men, neither will He forgive you your sins.
16 And you, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites: for they begrime
and disfigure their faces that they may appear in the sight of men to fast.
Amen, I tell you that they already have their reward.
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;
18 that you appear not to men to fast, but to your Father which is in secret,
who will recompense you publicly.
19 Lay not up for yourselves stores upon earth, and moth devour, and where
thieves break through and steal,
20 but lay up for yourselves stores in heaven, where caterpillar and moth
waste not, and where thieves do not steal,
21 for just where your store is, there your heart will be also.
22 The lamp of your body is your eye, if therefore your eye is sound, your
whole body will be in great light.
23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body shall be gloomy. If therefore the
light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love
the other; or else he will love the one, and hate the other. You cannot serve
Elohim and Mammon.
25 And therefore I tell you, be not anxious for your nefeshot, in what you
will eat, or in what you will drink, or for your bodies, with what you will be
clothed. Is not the nefesh more than food, and the body more than garment?
26 See the birds of the heavens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor
gather into their granaries; yet your Father which is in heaven feeds them.
Are you not much better than they?
27 And which of you by taking thought can add even a single cubit unto his
stature?
28 Why, then, are you anxious about garment? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow, yet they toil not, neither do they spin.
29 Of a truth I tell you, that not even Shlomo in all his glory was so arrayed
like one of them.
30 Therefore, if Elohim so clothes the herb of the field, which today is, and
67 1Chron. 29:11-13
tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more so you, of little faith?
31 Therefore be not anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we
drink?' or, 'What will we wear?'
32 (For after all these things do Goyim seek) for your Father, which is in
heaven, knows that you have need of all things.
33 Therefore, you seek at the first the dominion of Elohim, and all his
righteousness; and all things will be added unto you.
34 And be not anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient to today is the evil thereof.
CHAPTER 7
1 Judge not, and you will not be judged, condemn not, and you will not be
condemned.
2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what
measure you mete, it will be measured to you again.
3 And how [do] you see the splinter in your brother's eye, but see not the
beam that is in your own eye?
4 And how [do] you say to your brother, 'Suffer it now brother, so that I may
pull out the splinter out of your eye,' and behold, a beam is in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, pull out at the first the beam from your own eye, and then
you will be able to see to pull out the splinter out of your brother's eye.
6 Do not hang earrings on dogs, neither cast you pearls before swine, lest
they trample them with their feet, turn again and rend them.
7 Ask, and it will be given to you,
seek and you will find,
knock and it will be opened to you
8 or everyone that asks, receives;
and he that seeks, finds;
and to him that knocks it will be opened.
9 He who seeks will not cease until he finds,
and having found he will be amazed,
and having been amazed he will resign,
and having reigned he will rest.68
68 “Also in the Gospel according to the Hebrews is written: …” – Clement of Alexandria; Stromateis i, 9,
45; “For those words (from Plato, Timaeus 90) have the same force as these:…” –Stromateis v, 14, 96.
10 And which of you, whose son will ask of him bread, his father will
deliver to him a stone?
11 Or whose son will ask him for a fish, his father will put in his hand a
serpent?
12 If you then, being evil, know how to seek to give good gifts to your
children, how much more so your Father which is in heaven, which gives
good gifts to them that seek of him and ask him?
13 Therefore whatever you would that men should do to you, do you even so
to them: for this is the Torah and the Prophets.
14 Enter you in by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate, and wide the way,
that leads to destruction, and many there be that go there.
15 How narrow is the gate, and narrow the way, which leads to life, and few
there be that find it.
16 Be warned of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's garment, but
beneath their garment they are <as full of deceit> as ravening wolves.
17 But by their fruits you will recognize them. Are grape clusters gathered
from thorns, or figs from thistles?
18 Even so every good tree yields good fruit, but every bad tree yields bad
fruit.
19 A good tree cannot yield bad fruit; neither can a bad tree yield good fruit.
20 But indeed, every tree that yields not good fruit is cut down, and cast into
the fire.
21 And you, by their fruit you will know them.
22 Not everyone that says to me, 'Adonai, Adonai,' will enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the will of my Father, which is in
heaven, the same will enter with me into the Kingdom of Heaven.
23 Many will say to me in that day, 'Adonai, Adonai', did we not eat and
drink in your name and have we not prophesied in your name? And in your
name have cast out shadim? And in your name done many powerful works?
24 And then will I profess to them, that I know them not. If you are in my
bosom and do not the will of my Father which is in heaven, out of my
bosom will I cast you away69. Depart from me, all you workers of Torahlessness70.”
69 Some Greek manuscripts of Matthew have the following marginal note to 7:5 (obviously belonging
instead to 7:21-23) which reads “The Judaikon [Jewish] has here, “If you are in my bosom and do not the
will of my Father which is in heaven, out of my bosom will I cast you away.” ; This is also referred to by
Clement in his second letter to the Corinthians “Also let us not fear men, but rather God. Wherefore, if we
should do such wicked things, the Lord has said, ‘Though you should be joined to me, even in my very
bosom and keep not my commandments, I would cast you off, and say to you, ‘Depart from me; I know not
who you are, you workers of iniquity.’” (2Clement 4:5 (2:15 some editions))
70 Ps. 6:9 (6:8)
25 Whoever hears these my words, and does them, is comparable to a wise
man, which built his house upon a rock:
26 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat
upon that house, it fell not, for it was based upon the rock.
27 And whoever hears these, my words, and does them not, is comparable to
a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand,
28 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew upon it,
and beat upon the house, it fell, and great was the fall of it."
29 And it came to pass, that when Yeshua had ended these words, the
crowds were amazed at his teaching,
30 for he was teaching as one having ability of his own, and not from the
mouth of the scribes and P'rushim.
CHAPTER 8
1 Then Yeshua had come down from the mountain; many people followed
him.
2 And behold, there came one man, a leper and paid homage to him, saying,
"If you desire, you can make me clean."
3 Then Yeshua put out his hand, and touched him, and said "I do desire, be
you clean." And immediately he was cleansed from his leprosy.
4 And Yeshua said to him, "See [that] you tell no man, but go your way, and
show yourself to the Cohen, and bring to him your offering, as Moshe
commanded them for a testimony.
5 And when Yeshua had entered K'far Nachum, there drew near to him a
centurion, and beseeched him, saying,
6 "My master, my son lies in the house, and he is paralytic, and greatly
afflicted."
7 And Yeshua said to him, "I will come and heal him."
8 But the centurion answered and said, "My master, I am not ready that you
should come under my roof, but only speak a word, and my son will be
healed.
9 For even I am placed under the authority of another man, and I have
authority, and under me are valiant men, and if I say to this one, 'go', then he
goes; and to another, 'come' then he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this', then
he does it."
10 Now when Yeshua heard, he was amazed, and told them that followed
him, "Amen, I tell you, I have not found such faith as this in Yisrael.
11 And I tell you that many will come from the east, and from the west, and
will recline with Avraham, Yizchack and Ya'akov in the Kingdom of
Heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom will be cast into the darkness outside,
and there will be crying and gnashing of teeth."
13 And Yeshua said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have
believed, be it to you." And the boy was healed the same hour.
14 And when Yeshua had come into Kefa's house, he saw his mother-in-law
lying in a continual burning fever.
15 And he touched her hand, and the burning fever left her, and she arose
and served them.
16 And when it was evening, they brought to him many that were possessed
by shadim, and he, by his word alone, cast out for them the spirits, and
healed them that were in evil state,
17 to establish what was spoken by Yesha'yahu the prophet, who said,
"He took our diseases,
and our pains he carried."71
18 Now when Yeshua saw great crowds surrounding him, he commanded
his talmidim to go to the other side of the sea.
19 Then one of the scribes approached, and said to him, "Rabbi, I will
follow you wherever you go."
20 And Yeshua said to him,
"Foxes have holes, and the birds of the heavens nests,
but the Son of Man has no floor where he may lay his head."
21 And one of his talmidim said to him, "Give me leave until I bury my
father."
22 But Yeshua answered him, "Come after me, and leave the dead to bury
their dead."
23 And he went up into the ship, and his talmidim came after him.
24 And, behold, there was a great storm at sea, and the ship was covered
with
the waves, but he himself was asleep.
25 And his talmidim drew near to him, and awoke him, saying,
26 "My master, save us lest we perish." Then Yeshua said to them, "Why are
you afraid, O little of faith?" Then he arose, and commanded the winds and
the sea, and there was a great calm.
71 Is. 53:4
27 But the men were amazed, and said, “Who is this, that the winds and the
sea hearken to him?”
28 After this, Yeshua came to the other side of the sea, into the country of
the Girgashites, and there came to meet him two possessed of shadim
coming out of the tombs, and they were exceedingly fierce, so that because
of them no man could pass that way.
29 And behold, they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with you,
Yeshua, you Son of Elohim? Why have you come here, to afflict us before
the set time?"
30 Now near by was a herd of many pigs feeding.
31 And the shadim beseeched him saying, "If you cast us out from here,
send us away into the herd of pigs."
32 And, behold, the whole herd went with a rush and with great commotion,
and precipitated themselves into the sea, and perished.
33 Then the herdsmen fled, and came into the city, and told all these things,
and also concerning those in whom were the shadim.
34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Yeshua, and when they saw
him, they beseeched him that he would pass out of their coasts.
CHAPTER 9
1 And Yeshua went up into the ship, and departed from the other side of the
sea, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man stricken with paralysis, lying on a
bed, and when Yeshua saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Have faith,
my son, for your sins are forgiven you."
3 And, behold, the scribes said among themselves, "Behold, he is a
blasphemer."
4 And when Yeshua perceived their thoughts, he said, "Why think you evil
in your hearts?
5 For which is easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven you'; or to say 'Arise and
walk?'
6 But that you may know that a son of man has authority on earth to forgive
sins," (then said he to the paralytic), "Arise, and take up your bed, and walk
into your house."
7 And he arose, and walked into his house.
8 But when the crowds saw it thus, they were afraid, and gave honor to
Elohim, which had given such power to the Son of Man.
9 And as Yeshua departed there, he saw one man, sitting in the
customhouse, whose name was Mattityahu, and he said to him, "Follow me."
10 And it came to pass, as they sat down to eat in the house, behold, many
transgressors and sinners came in and ate with Yeshua and his talmidim.
11 And the P'rushim, seeing, they said to his talmidim, why does your
teacher eat with transgressors and sinners?
12 But when Yeshua heard, he answered, saying, "There is no need of a
physician to heal the healthy, but to heal them that are sick."
13 Therefore, go you and learn what is written:
'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,'72
for I have not come to call the righteous,
but the sinners.
14 Then approached him the talmidim of Yochanan, saying, "Why [do we]
and the P'rushim fast often, but your talmidim fast not?"
15 And Yeshua said unto them,
"Can the sons of the bridegroom cry,
as long as they have the bridegroom with them?
But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken from
them, and then will they fast.
16 There is no one who would put a patch of worthless cloth upon
an old robe, for he takes away its completeness from the robe,
and his tear is made worse than before.
17 Neither do they put new wine into worn out wine-skins,
for the wine-skins would be split, and the wine spilled,
but new wine they put into new wine-skins, and both are preserved."
18 And while he was speaking these words to them, behold one ruler of their
synagogue drew near and paid homage, saying "My master, my daughter
Miriam73 is but recently dead, but you come and lay your hand upon her, and
she will live."
19 And Yeshua arose, and followed him with his talmidim.
72 Hosea 6:6
73 “’the daughter’, that is the synagogue, whose name is Mariossa.” (Historical Commentary on Luke 8:42;
MS: Clem. 6235 fol. 55v, cited by Bischoff op. cit., 262)
20 And, behold, Miriam74, a woman, which had an issue of blood twelve
years, approached behind him, and touched the tzitzit of his garment,
21 for she said within herself, "If I touch his garment only, I will be
delivered."
22 But Yeshua turned, and when he saw her, he said, "Have faith, my
daughter, for your faith has delivered you." And the woman was delivered
the same hour.
23 And when Yeshua had obtained entry to the ruler's house, and saw the
pipers and dirge makers of the people,
24 he said, "Withdraw, for the girl is not dead, but sleeps." And they
ridiculed him.
25 But when the multitude was put out, he obtained entry, and took her by
the hand, <and said, "Arise, arise, e "> and the girl arose.
26 And this report went out to all that land.
27 And when Yeshua passed over from there, there followed him two blind
men, crying, and saying, "Take pity on us, O Son of David."
28 And when he had come into the house, the blind men drew near to him,
and Yeshua said to them, “Believe you that I am able to do this for you?"
and they said to him "Yes, I believe my master.”
29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, “according to your faith be it done to
you.”
30 And their eyes were opened, and Yeshua straightly charged them, saying,
"See that no man knows this."
31 But they, when they went away, publicized the report of him in all that
land.
32 And as they went out, behold, they brought to him a man mute, and
possessed by a shad.
33 But when the shad was cast out of him, he spoke, <and was no more
mute, > and the crowds were amazed, saying "It was never so seen in
Yisrael."
34 But the P'rushim said, "By the chief of the shadim he casts out the
shadim."
35 And Yeshua went about all the cities, teaching in their synagogues, and
declaring the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and
every disease among the people.
36 But when he saw the crowds, he took pity on them because they were
tired and powerless, as sheep, which have no shepherd.
74 “[a woman with an issue of blood] named Mariosa.” (Comm. On Mat. 9:20; MS:Wurzburg, M. p. th. Fol.
61, 8th-9th Century; cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 252)
37 Then said he to his talmidim, "There is a plentiful harvest, but the
workers are few,
38 beseech you therefore the master of the harvest that he will send out the
laborers to reap his harvest."
CHAPTER 10
1 And when he had called out his twelve < talmidim, > he gave the authority
over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every sickness and disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve emissaries are these:
The first, Shim'on, who is called Kefa,
and Andrew his brother;
3 Philip, and Bar Talmai;
Ya'akov Ben Zavdai,
and Yochanan his brother;
Toma, and Mattityahu, who was a transgressor;
4 and Ya'akov [Bar] Chalfai,
and Taddai,
Shim'on the Zealot,
and Y'hudah from the shore of Sk'riot, who delivered him up to
death.
5 And Yeshua sent out these twelve, and commanded them, saying,
"Go you not in the way of the Goyim,
and into the cities of the Samaritans enter you not;
6 but go you to the lost sheep of the house of Yisrael.
7 Go, and cry, saying
‘Turn you, turn you, for the Kingdom of Heaven is offered,’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out
shadim, for nothing you have received, for nothing you will
give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor lesser coin in your belts.
10 Pack not for the journey, either two coats, or sandals, or a staff,
for the laborer is worthy of his food.
11 And into whatever city or town you will enter,
enquire who in it is honorable,
and there abide until you go out from there.
12 And when you obtain entry into a house,
ask after its shalom, <saying, 'Shalom be with this house.'>
13 And if this house be honorable, it will return to you your
'Shalom'.
14 But any man who will not receive you,
nor listen to the sound of your words,
go away, outside of the house or city,
and shake off even the dust from your feet.
15 Amen, I tell you, It will be easier for the land of S'dom and
'Amora in the day of doom, than for that city.
16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves,
be you therefore wise more than serpents75, and simple as doves.
17 Take care to yourselves of men,
lest they deliver you up to the courts,
and scourge you with whips in the assemblies,
18 and you will be led unto officers and kings for my sake,
or a testimony to them and the Goyim.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you
will say, for it will be put into your mouths in that hour what you
will answer.
20 For it is not you that will speak,
but the Spirit of your Father will speak in you.
21 And the brother will deliver up the brother to death,
and the father the son, and the sons will rise up against their
parents, to cause them to be put to death.
22 And all men will hate you on account of my name,
but he that endures to the end, the same will be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in one city, flee you to another,
Truly, I say to you, you will not have finished the House of
Yisrael, until the Son of Man has come.
24 There is no talmid above the teacher,
nor servant above his master.
25 But enough for the talmid that he be as his rabbi,
and the servant as his master.
If they have called the master of the house Ba'al Z'vuv,
how much more the sons of the house?
26 Fear them not therefore,
for there is nothing covered, that will not be revealed,
and hid, that will not be known.
75 Some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to this phase which reads “The Judaikon
[Jewish] has ‘[wise] more than serpents’”
27 What I tell you in the darkness, that speak you in the light,
and what you hear in the ear, that cry you from the roofs.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but cannot kill the nefesh,
but fear you him which can destroy both nefesh and body in
Gey Hinnom.
29 Now the young boys of Galil were making birds of clay.
30 And Yeshua fashioned there of twelve sparrows.
31 And Yeshua clapped his hands together and cried out to the
sparrows and said to them, “Go!”
32 and the sparrows took their flight and went away chirping.
33 Then he spoke saying:76
Are not two sparrows sold for the smallest coin?
and one of them will not fall on the ground without your Father.
34 But the very locks of your hair are all numbered.
35 Fear you not therefore, for you are better than many sparrows.
36 Whoever therefore will confess me before men,
him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
37 But whoever will deny me before men,
him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
38 Think not that I have come to send shalom on earth,
I have not come to send shalom, but the sword.
39 For I have come to separate a man from his father,
and the daughter from her mother,
and the daughter-in-law from her mother-in-law.
40 And a man's enemies will be the men of his own house.77
41 And whoever loves his father and mother more than me is not
worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me
is not worthy to be with me in the Kingdom of Heaven.
42 And whoever takes not his gallows, and follows me, the same is
not worthy of me.
43 I choose for myself the most worthy;
the most worthy are those whom my Father in heaven has given
me.78
44 Whoever finds his nefesh will lose it,
76 64 10:29-33a See appendix 3
77 Micah 7:6
78 “He (Messiah) himself taught the reason for the separation of souls that take place in houses, as we have
found somewhere in the Gospel that is spread among the Jews in the Hebrew tongue, in which it is said:…”
– Eusebius; Theophania (preserved in Syriac) 4:12 on Matt. 10:34-36
and he that loses his nefesh for my sake will find it.
45 Whoever receives you, the same receives me,
and he that receives me the same receives him that sent me.
46 Whoever receives the prophet in the name of a prophet,
the same receives a prophet's reward;
and whoever receives the righteous man in the name of a
righteous man, the same receives a righteous man's reward.
47 And he that gives to drink to one of these little ones,
even a single cup of cold water, in the name of a talmid,
amen, I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
CHAPTER 11
1. And it came to pass, when Yeshua had finished commanding his twelve
talmidim, he passed over from there to teach and to proclaim in their cities.
2 Now Yochanan when he heard, in the prison, the deeds of the Messiah,
sent two of his talmidim, and said to him,
3 "Are you he that is destined to come, or do we await another?"
4 And Yeshua answered and said to them, "Go you and tell Yochanan what
you have heard and seen;
5 the blind see, the lame walk,
the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear79,
and the dead are raised, the poor are made happy80:
6 and happy is he that is not offended in me."
7 And after these were departed, Yeshua began to speak to the crowds
concerning Yochanan. "What went you out into the wilderness to see?Was it
a reed shaken in the wind?
8 But what went you out to see?Was it a man clothed in soft garment?
Behold, they that are clothed in soft garment are in king's houses.
9 Only what went you out to see? The prophet? Yes, I say to you, he was
more than a prophet.
10 For he it is, concerning whom it was written:
'Behold, I send my messenger,
79 Is. 35:5-6
80 Is. 61:1
and he will clear the way before me.'81
11 Amen I say, among them that are born of women there has not arisen a
[one] greater that Yochanan the immerser, nevertheless he that is least in the
Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
12 Only from the days of Yochanan the immerser until now the Kingdom of
Heaven is constricted, and the forceful plunder82
it.
13 For all the Prophets and the Torah prophesied concerning Yochanan.
14 And if you will receive it, this is Eliyahu, which comes.
15 Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 To what shall I compare this generation? It is compared to boys, which sit
in the market, who call to their companions, and say,
17 'We have played happily to you, and you have not danced, We have
played sadly, and you have not lamented.'
18 For Yochanan came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'he is
possessed by a shad.'
19 The Son of Man came both eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold the
man is a glutton and a drunk, and a friend of transgressors and sinners.' But
wisdom is justified by her children."
20 Then began he to rebuke the cities in which he showed many of his
mighty works, because they turned not from their evil deeds.
21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Beit Tzaidah! for if the fifty three83
mighty works were done in Tzor and Tzidon, which were done in you, they
would have turned from evil long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 Surely I say to you, that it shall be easier for Tzor and Tzidon in the Day
of Judgment, than for you.
23 And you, K'phar Nachum, are you not exalted to the heavens? to She’ol
will you be brought down84, for if the mighty works were done in S'dom,
which were done in you, perhaps it would have remained until this day.
24 Of a truth, I tell you, that it will be easier for the land of S'dom in the day
of doom, than for you."
81 Micah 3:1
82 Greek Matthew has “take it by force” but some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to
this phrase which says “The Judaikon [Jewish] has ‘is ravished/plundered’” in agreement with DuTillet
Hebrew Matthew which reads here Nylzwg “plundered”.
83 “In these cities (namely Chorazin and Bethsaida) many wonders have been wrought, as their number the
Gospel according to the Hebrews gives fifty three.” (Historical Commentary on Luke 10:13; MS: Clem.
6235 fol. 56r, cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954. p. 262)
84 Is. 14:13, 15
25 At that time Yeshua answered and said, "I give thanks85
to you, O Father,
Adon of heaven and earth, which has concealed these things from the wise
and prudent, and has revealed them to the lightly esteemed.
26 Yes, O Father, for so was your will before you.
27 All has been given me by the Father, and no man knows the son but the
father; neither knows anyone the Father except the son, and to whomever the
son wills to reveal him.
28 Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will satisfy you.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and downcast in
spirit, and you will find rest for your nefeshot.86
30 For my yoke is gentle, and my burden easy.
CHAPTER 12
1 At that time Yeshua went through the grain on the Sabbath, and his
talmidim were hungry, and began to pluck the ears from the stalks, and to
eat.
2 But the P’rushim seeing, said, "Behold, your talmidim do that which is not
right to do on the Sabbath."
3 But he said to them, "Have you not read what David did, when he was
hungry, both he and they that were with him,
4 for he entered into the House of Elohim, and did eat the show-bread,
which was not lawful for him to eat them, neither for them which were with
him, but only for the cohenim?87
5 Have you not read in the Torah, that the cohenim profane the Sabbath in
the Temple, and are blameless?
6 But I tell you, that here is greater than the Temple.
7 But if you had known what it means, 'For I desire mercy, and not
sacrifice'88, you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of Man is Adonai even of the Sabbath."
9 And when he had passed over from there, he entered into their synagogue.
85 The Greek of Matt. 11:25 has literally “I confess” (although many translations translate “I give thanks”)
some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to this word which says “The Judaikon [Jewish]
has ‘I give thanks/praise to you’” this agrees with Hebrew and Aramaic Matthew.
86 Jer. 6:16; Ps. 23:3
87 1Sam. 21:6
88 Hosea 6:6
10 And behold, Melek89, a man which had his hand withered praying "I was
a mason seeking a livelihood with my hands: I pray you Yeshua, to restore
me my health, that I may not beg meanly for food."
11 And they asked him, saying, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to heal the
sick?" And all this was that they might accuse him <before the beit din. >
12 And he said to them, "What man among you, having one sheep that shall
fall into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
13 And is not a man better than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on
the Sabbath."
14 Then said he to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out,
and it was restored to health, like as the other.
15 Then the P'rushim went out, and took counsel against him, how they
might destroy him.
16 But when Yeshua knew, he withdrew from there, and many multitudes
followed him, and he healed them all,
17 and commanded them that they should not make him known,
18 in order that it might be established which was spoken by Yesha'yahu the
prophet, who said;
19 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold;
my chosen, in whom my nefesh delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him,
he will make righteousness to go out to the Goyim.
20 He will not cry, nor lift up,
nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
21 A bruised reed will he not break,
and the dimly burning wick will he not quench;
he will make the right go out according to the truth.
22 He will not fail nor be discouraged,
until he has set right in the earth;
and the isles shall wait for his Torah."90
23 Then was brought to him one possessed by a shad, blind and mute, and he
healed him, so that he was both to speak and to see.
24 And all the crowds were amazed, and said, "Is he not the Son of David?"
25 But when the P'rushim heard, they said, "He does not cast out the shadim,
but by Ba'al Z'vuv the chief of the shadim."
89 “’Aman’ by name Malchus and he was a mason.” (Comm. On Mt. 12:10; MS:Wurzburg, M. p. th. Fol.
61, 8th-9th Century; cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 252)
90 Is. 42:1-4
26 And when Yeshua knew their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house
divided against itself will not stand,
27 and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself, and how then
will his kingdom stand?
28 And if I by Ba'al Z'vuv cast out the shadim, by whom do your sons cast
out? Therefore they will be your judges.
29 But because I am casting out the shadim by the Spirit of Elohim, then the
Kingdom of Elohim has come to you.
30 And how can a man enter into the strong man's house to plunder his
goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will plunder his
house.
31 Whoever is not with me, the same is against me, and whoever gathers not
with me, the same scatters.
32 And therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven the
sons of men, but the blasphemy which is against the Spirit will not be
forgiven.
33 And every man that says a word against a son of man, it will be forgiven
him, but he that says a word against the Ruach HaKodesh, it will not be
forgiven him, neither in this world, or in the world to come.
34 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree bad, and its
fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
35 Generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, being yourselves
evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
36 The good man brings forth good things out of his good store, but the evil
man brings forth evil things out of his evil store.
37 And I tell you, that every idle word that men shall speak,
they will render an account thereof in the day of judgment.
38 For by your words you will be justified,
and by your words you will be condemned."
39 Then certain of the scribes and of the P'rushim answered him, saying,
"Rabbenu, we wish to see a sign from you."
40 But he answered and said to them,
"An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign,
but no sign will be given it except the sign of Yonah the prophet.
41 For as Yonah was three days and three nights in the fish's belly91, so
will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth92.
42 And the men of Nineveh will arise in the judgment with this generation,
and will condemn it93, because they repented at the proclaiming of Yonah94,
and behold, a [one] greater than Yonah is here.
43 Meroe of Ethiopia95, the queen of the south will arise in the judgment
with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the farthest
parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Shlomo96, and behold, a [one]
greater than Shlomo is here.
44 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, it goes through dry places,
seeking rest, but finds none.
45 Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came out,' and it
comes, and finds it empty, and cleaned out with shovels, and adorned.
46 Then it goes, and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and
they enter in and dwell there, so that the latter end of that man is worse than
the beginning97. Even so will it be to this wicked generation."
47 And as he continued to speak to the crowds, behold, his mother and his
brothers stood outside, and sought to speak with him.
48 Then one said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand
outside."
49 But he answered him that told him [this], and said, "Which is my mother?
and who are my brothers?"
50 And he stretched out his hand toward his talmidim, and said, "Behold, my
brothers and mother and sisters,
51 who do the will of my Father."98
91 Jonah 1:17
92 Matthew also says that the Son of Man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to this phrase which says “The Judaikon
[Jewish] has not ‘three [days and three nights]’ there [in the heart of the earth]”
93 Ex. 22:9(8)
94 Jonah 3:4-10
95 “’the queen’ namely Meroe, ‘of the South’ that is Ethiopia (Comm. On Mat. 12:42; MS:Wurzburg, M. p.
th. Fol. 61, 8th-9th Century; cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 252); “’the queen of the south’
whose name is Meruae.” (Historical Commentary on Luke 11:31; MS: Clem. 6235 fol. 57v, cited by
Bischoff op. cit., 262)
96 1Kn. 10:1; 2Chron. 9:1
97 Num. 24:20; Job 42:12
98 12:48-51 “Moreover they [Ebionites] deny that he was a man, evidently on the ground of the word
which the Savior spoke when it was reported to him…” –Epiphanius, Panarion 30:14:5
CHAPTER 13
1 The same day Yeshua went out of the house, and sat by the seaside.
2 And great crowds crowded him, so that he went up into the ship, and sat,
and all the people stood on the seashore.
3 And he spoke much to them in parables, and said, "Behold the sower went
out to sow his seed,
4 and as he sowed, some of them fell by the wayside, and the birds of the
heavens came and ate them up.
5 And others fell upon the rock, where there was not much earth, and outside
they sprouted, because they had no depth in the earth,
6 and when the sun was risen, they were withered, and because they had no
root, they withered away.
7 And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked
them.
8 But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, one a hundred
times, and another sixty, and another thirty times.
9 Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."
10 And his talmidim came near to him, and said to him, "My Master, why
speak you with us in parables?"
11 And he answered and said to them, "Because it is given to you to
understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to these it is not
given.
12 Now whoever has, to him shall be given, and he will abound, but
whoever
has not, even what he has will be taken from him.
13 And therefore I am speaking to you in parables, who seeing will not see,
and hearing will not hear, neither will they understand.
14 To establish in them the prophecy of Yesha'yahu, he who said,
'Hear you indeed, but understand not,
and see you indeed, but perceive not.
15 Make the heart of this people fat,
and make their ears heavy,
and shut their eyes,
lest they, seeing with their eyes,
and hearing with their ears,
and understanding with their heart,
return, and be healed.'99
16 But happy are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17 Truly, I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to
see what you are seeing, but have not seen, and to hear what you are hearing,
but have not heard.
18 Hear you therefore the parable of the seed.
19 Whoever hears the word of the kingdom, and understands not, the evil
one comes and plucks out that which was sown in his heart. And this is that
which was sown by the way side.
20 But as for that which was sown on the rock, this is he that hears the word,
and immediately with joy receives it,
21 but is comparable to the seed which has no root, for he endures but for an
hour, and when tribulation or persecution arises, he is immediately offended.
22 And as for that which was sown among the thorns, the same is he that
hears the word of Elohim, but the care of this world, and the lust for the false
Mammon, choke the word, and becomes unfruitful.
23 But as for that which was sown on good ground, the same is he that hears
the word, and understands, and brings forth fruit, and one produces a
hundred
times and another sixty, and another thirty times."
24 Yet another parable put he forth to them, saying, "The Kingdom of
Heaven is comparable to a man which sowed good seed in his field,
25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat,
and went his way.
26 But when the blade grew up, and produced the fruit, then appeared there
the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came near and said to him, 'My
master, did not you sow good seed in your field? From where then came the
tares into it?'
28 And he said to them, 'A man that is an enemy has done this. Then the
servants said to him, will you that we go and gather them up?'
29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the
wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will say to
the reapers, gather first the tares, and bind them in bundles for burning, but
gather the wheat into the floor.'"
31 Still another parable put he forth to them, saying, "The Kingdom of
Heaven is comparable to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and
99 Is. 6:9-10
sowed it in his field,
32 which indeed is least of all seeds, for when it is grown, becomes the
greatest of herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the heavens come
and nest in the branches thereof."
33 And he spoke to them another parable, "The Kingdom of Heaven is
comparable to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of
meal, until the whole should be leavened."
34 All these are sayings of Yeshua in parables to the crowds, and without
parables spoke he not to them,
35 to fulfill the utterance of the prophet who said, "I will open my mouth
with a parable. I will utter dark sayings concerning days of old."100
36 Then he sent the crowds away, and entered into the house, and his
talmidim approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of
the field."
37 Then he answered and said, "He that sowed the good seed is the Son of
Man,
38 and the field is the world, and the good seed they are the sons of the
kingdom, but the tares, they are the sons of B'liya'al,
39 and the enemy that sowed them is HaSatan, and the harvest is the end of
the world, and the reapers, they are the angels.
40 And just as the tares were gathered up and burned in the fire, so will it be
in the end of the world.
41 For the Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of
his kingdom all offences, and them which do Torah-less-ness,
42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire, [where] there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then will the righteous shine out as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
44 The Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to treasure hid in a field, which if
a man finds, he hides, and out of his joy he goes and sells all that he has, and
buys that field.
45 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to a man that is a
merchant, seeking good pearls,
46 who, when he had found one precious pearl, went and sold all that he
had, and bought it.
47 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to a drag net, that was cast
into the sea, and gathered of every kind of fish,
48 which they, drawing forth when it was full, and sitting down on the sea
100 Ps. 78:2
shore, chose the good fish as being good, but the bad they cast away.
49 So will it be in the end of the world, for the angels will go out, and
separate the wicked from among the righteous,
50 and will cast them into the furnace of fire, [where] there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
51 Have you understood these things?" And they said to him, "Yes".
52 They said to them, "Therefore every scribe taught in the Kingdom of
Heaven is comparable to a man that is a householder, which brings forth out
of his store new and old."
53 And it came to pass, when Yeshua had finished speaking these parables,
he passed over from there.
54 And when he had come into his native land, he taught them in their
synagogues, and they were amazed, saying, "Where has he this wisdom, and
might?
55 Is he not the smith's son? Is not his mother called Miriam, and his
brothers Ya'akov, and Yosef, and Shim'on, and Y'hudah?
56 And are not his sisters all with us? Where then has he all these things?"
57 And they were offended in him. But Yeshua said to them, "There is no
prophet without honor, except in his native place, and in his own house."
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their lack of faith.
CHAPTER 14
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Yeshua,
2 and said to his servants, “This is Yochanan the immerser; he is risen from
the dead, and therefore the powers are worked by him.”
3 For Herod had laid hold on Yochanan, and bound him, and put him in
prison from before Herodias, his brother's wife.
4 For she said to him, "Yochanan is not worthy to be with you."
5 And he wished to kill him, but he feared the people, for he was as a
prophet in their eyes.
6 Now on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst,
and she won approval in the eyes of Herod.
7 And he swore to her with an oath to give her whatever she would ask of
him.
8 And she, being instructed by her mother, said, "Give me here, in a dish, the
head of Yochanan the immerser."
9 And it grieved the king, but on account of the oath, and on account of
them, which sat together with him at the table, he commanded it to be given her.
10 And he sent, and cut off the head of Yochanan which was in the prison,
11 that his head might be brought in a dish, and that they might give it to the
girl. And they did so. And it was given to the girl, and she brought it to her
mother.
12 Then his talmidim approached, and removed his body, and buried it, and
his talmidim came and told Yeshua.
13 And when he heard it, he escaped from there into a wilderness place
alone. Now when the crowds heard, they followed him on foot out of their
cities.
14 And he went forth, and saw many people, and took pity on them, and
healed their sick.
15 And when evening had come, his talmidim came near to him, saying,
"This place is desolate, and the hour has already passed; take leave of the
crowds, therefore, that they may go into villages, and buy themselves food."
16 But Yeshua said to them, "There is no need for them to go; give you them
to eat."
17 And they answered him, "We have here but five loaves, and two fishes."
18 And he said to them, "Bring them here to me."
19 And he commanded the people to sit down to eat on the grass in the field,
and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and lifting up his eyes to
heaven, he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to his talmidim, and his
talmidim gave to the crowds.
20 And they did all eat, and were satisfied, and there were left over to them
twelve baskets full of the crumbs.
21 And the number of them that did eat was five thousand men, besides the
women and infants.
22 And immediately Yeshua urged his talmidim to go up into a ship, and go
before him across the sea, while he took leave of the crowds.
23 And when he had taken leave of the people, he went up alone into the
mountain to pray, and it was evening, and he was there alone.
24 Now the ship was tossed in the midst of the sea by the waves, for the
wind was against them.
25 And it came to pass in the fourth watch of the night that he came to them
and walked upon the sea.
26 And when they saw him walking upon the sea, they were terrified, and
said, "It is a vicious spirit," and they cried out for fear.
27 But right away Yeshua spoke to them, saying, "Have faith, for it is I; be
not afraid."
28 Then Kefa answered and said, "My Master, if it is you, bid me come to you over the water."
29 And he said, "Come." So Kefa descended from the ship, and went over
the water, to come to Yeshua.
30 But when he saw the boisterous wind, he was exceedingly afraid, lest he
should sink, and cried out, saying, "My master, save me!"
31 And immediately Yeshua stretched out his hand, and caught him, and
said
to him, "O you little in faith, why did you doubt?"
32 And when they had gone up into the ship, immediately the wind
subsided.
33 And when they were in the ship, they came and paid homage to him,
saying, "In truth you are the Son of Elohim."
34 And they departed from over the sea, and came to the land of Gey N'sar.
35 And the men of that place, when they knew it, sent into all that land, and
brought to him all that were in an evil state,
36 and beseeched him that they might touch the corner101 of his garment,
and as many as touched were healed.
CHAPTER 15
1 Then came near to him scribes and P'rushim from Yerushalayim, saying,
2 "Why do your talmidim transgress the decrees of the elders? For they
clean not their hands when they eat bread."
3 But he answered them and said, "And why do you transgress the
commandments of Elohim by means of your decrees?
4 Is it not written in your Torah from the mouth of Elohim, 'Honor your
father and your mother?'102
And more-over written, 'And he that curses
his father and his mother will surely die?'103
5 But you say, "Whoever says to father and mother, It is all an offering104,
whatever of mine might profit you,'105
6 and he honors not his father and his mother. Thus have you made void the
commandments of Elohim on account of your judgments?
7 You hypocrites, Yesha'yahu did well indeed to prophesy concerning you,
101 Num. 15:37-41
102 Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16
103 Ex. 21:17; Lev. 20:9
104 Nbrq
105 Some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note to this verse which says “The Judaikon
“corban [an offering] is what you should obtain from us.’” This agrees with Aramaic Matthew and Greek
Mark 7:11.
saying,
8 'This people honors me with their mouth and with their lips, but have
removed their heart far from me,
9 And their fear of me is a commandment learned of men.'"106
10 Then he called the crowds to himself, and said, "Hear, and know;
11 What enters into the mouth defiles not the man, but what proceeds out of
the mouth, that defiles the man."
12 Then his talmidim approached him, and said, "Know you that the
P'rushim which heard this saying were annoyed."
13 But Yeshua answered and said, "Every plant, which my Father which is
in heaven has not planted, will be uprooted.
14 Leave them alone, for they are blind. And if the blind lead another blind,
both of them will fall into the ditch."
15 Then answered Kefa and said to him, "Explain to us this parable."
16 And Yeshua said, "Are you also still without understanding?
17 Do you not understand, that whatever enters into the mouth enters into
the belly, and is cast out in the latrine?
18 But those things, which come out of the mouth, they come from the heart,
and they are those things, which defile the man.
19 For from the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, lies, and blasphemies,
20 these are those things which defile the man, but that a man should eat
without washing his hands that defiles not the man."
21 Then Yeshua went out from there, and entered into the parts of Tzor and
Tzidon.
22 And behold, a merchant woman came out of those coasts, and cried out,
and said to him, "Take pity on me, O My master, you Son of David, for my
daughter is very afflicted by a shad."
23 But Yeshua answered her not at all. And his talmidim came near and
beseeched him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries after us."
24 But he answered and said, "I was not sent but to the lost sheep of the
house of Yisrael."
25 Then came she and prostrated herself to the ground to him, and said, "My
master, deliver me."
26 But Yeshua answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread
and to give it to the dogs."
27 Then answered she and said, "Truth certainly, My master, but the dogs,
even they eat of the crumbs which fall under their masters' table."
106 Is. 29:13
28 Then Yeshua answered and said to her, "O woman, how great is your
faith, be it to you even as it is in your heart." And her daughter was healed
the same hour.
29 And Yeshua passed over from there, and came by the Sea of Galil, and
went up to a mountain, and sat down there.
30 And there came near to him great crowds, having with them mute, blind,
lame, maimed, and many others, and laid them down at his feet, and he
healed them.
31 And the people were amazed, when they saw the mute speaking, and the
lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they glorified the Elohi of Yisrael.
32 Then Yeshua called his talmidim and said to them, "I have compassion
for the people, because it is now three days that they dwell with me in the
wilderness, and they have nothing that they may eat, and I will not let them
go fasting, lest they faint by the way.
33 And his talmidim said to him, "Where should we have bread enough in
the wilderness, to satisfy these people?"
34 And Yeshua said to them, "How many cakes of bread have you?" And
they answered and said, "Seven, and a few fishes.”
35 Then he commanded the people to sit down on the ground.
36 And he took the seven cakes of bread and the fishes, and gave thanks, and
broke, and gave to his talmidim, and they gave to the people.
37 And they did all eat, and were satisfied, and what was left over by the
crowds they took up seven baskets full.
38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, besides the infants and
women.
39 And he took leave of the crowds, and went up into the ship, and came to
the coast of Magdala.
CHAPTER 16
1 And there approached him P'rushim and Tz'dukim tempting and asking
that he would show a single sign from heaven.
2 But he answered them, and said to them107,
3 An evil and lewd stock seek a sign, and no sign will be given it, but the
107 Some manuscripts of Greek Matthew have a marginal note here which reads “What is marked by an
asterisk [‘When it is evening you say ‘fair weather, for the heaven is red’And in the morning ‘foul weather
today, for the heaven is red and lowering.’You know how to discern the face of heaven; but you cannot
{discern) the signs of the times’] is not found in other manuscripts, also it is not found in the Judaikon.”;
The phrase is also lacking in the Aramaic of the Old Syriac text of Matthew.
sign of Yonah the prophet." And he left them, and went his way.
4 And when his talmidim had come to the other side of the sea, they had
forgotten to take bread.
5 And he said to them, "See and beware of the leaven of the P'rushim and
Tz'dukim."
6 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "Is it because we have
carried no bread?"
7 And when Yeshua knew, he said, "What are you thinking, O little faith,
that
it is because you have taken no bread?
8 Do you not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves to the five
thousand men, and how many baskets you took up?
9 Neither the seven loaves to the four thousand men, and how many baskets
you took up?
10 And why then do you not understand that it was not concerning loaves
that I spoke to you. Beware of the leaven of the P'rushim and Tzadukim?"
11 Then they heard and understood that he said not to beware of the leaven
of bread, but of the teaching of the P'rushim and Tz'dukim.
12 And Yeshua came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi. And he asked one
and all of his talmidim, saying, "Who do the sons of men say that the Son of
Man is?"
13 And they said, "Some, that he is Yochanan the immerser; and some,
Eliyahu; and others; Yirmeyahu, or another of the prophets."
14 And Yeshua said to them, "And you, who say you that I am?"
15 Then answered Shim'on Kefa, saying, "You are Messiah, the Son of the
living Elohim."
16 And Yeshua said to him,
"Happy are you Shim'on Ben Yochanan108,
for this was not revealed to flesh and blood
but to you, when it was revealed to you
by my Father which is in heaven.
17 And I tell you, that you are Kefa,
and upon this rock I will build my assembly,
and the gates of takh'ti will not prevail against you.
18 And to you will I give the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,
and whatever you will prohibit on earth
108 Matthew has here “son of Yonah” but some Greek manuscripts of Matthew have a marginal note which
reads “The Judaikon has ‘son of Yochanan.”
prohibited in heaven; and
whatever you will permit on earth
is permitted in heaven."
19 Then commanded he his talmidim that they should tell no man that he,
Yeshua, was the Messiah.
20 And then began Yeshua to make known to his talmidim, that he must go
to Yerushalayim, and to suffer there many scourgings, and many mockings,
of the elders and scribes, and of the Chief Cohenim, and to be killed, and to
rise again the third day.
21 Then Kefa took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from
you, My master, all this will not be unto you."
22 But he turned, and said to Kefa, "Follow me. Satan, you are an offence to
me, for you savor not the things that are of Elohim, but those that are of
men."
23 Then said Yeshua to his talmidim, "who ever wishes to follow me, let
him reject himself, and take up his gallows, and follow me.
24 For whoever will desire to save his nefesh will lose it, and whoever will
lose his nefesh for my sake, the same will find it.
25 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and in his own
nefesh receive injury? Or what exchange will a man give for his nefesh?
26 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels,
and then will he pay every man, each according to his deeds.
27 Truly I tell you, there are those standing here which will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.
CHAPTER 17
1 And after six days Yeshua took Kefa, and Ya'akov, and Yochanan his
brother, and brought them up to a high mountain apart,
2 and the fashion of his face was altered before them, and his face did shine
as the sun, and his raiment became white as the snow.
3 And, behold, there appeared to them Moshe and Eliyahu talking with him.
4 Then answered Kefa, and said to Yeshua, "My master, it is good for us to
be here, if you will let us make here three tabernacles; for you one, for
Moshe one, and for Eliyahu one."
5 While still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And,
behold, a [bat] kol out of the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with
whom I am well pleased, hear you him."
6 And when the talmidim heard, they fell on their faces, and were very
afraid.
7 But Yeshua approached and touched them, and said to them, "Arise, and
be not afraid."
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one, save Yeshua
only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Yeshua commanded them,
saying, "Tell no man the vision which you have seen, until the Son of Man is
raised from the dead."
10 And the talmidim asked him, saying, "Why then say the scribes that
Eliyahu must come first?"
11 And he answered and said to them, "Eliyahu will surely come, and
restore all things.
12 And I tell you, that Eliyahu has come already, and they knew him not, but
have done to him whatever they chose. Likewise will the Son of Man
receive from them."
13 Then the talmidim heard and understood that he was speaking of the
immerser Yochanan, when he spoke to them.
14 And when they had come to the crowd, there came near to him one man,
and fell on his knees before him, saying,
15 "My master, have compassion on my son, for he is epileptic, and with
this sickness he is very afflicted, for often he falls into the fire, and often he
falls into the water.
16 And I brought him to your talmidim, but they could not cure him.
17 Then Yeshua answered and said, "O stubborn and perverse generation,
how long will I be with you? How long will I suffer you? Bring him to me."
18 And Yeshua rebuked him, and the shad went out of him, and the boy was
cured the same hour.
19 Then came near to him the talmidim privately, and asked him, "Why
could not we cast him out?"
20 And he answered them and said, "On account of your lack of faith. Truly
I say to you, "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, and shall tell this
mountain, 'Pass away from here,' it will immediately pass away, and the
thing will not be withheld from you.
21 But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting."
22 And as they were going into Galil, Yeshua spoke to them and said, "The
Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.
23 and they will kill him, and the third day he will rise again." And they
were very grieved.
24 And when they had come into K'far Nachum109, they that received the
drachma came near to Kefa, and said to him, "Does your rabbi pay the
drachma?"
25 And he said, "Certainly." And as he came to the house, Yeshua prevented
him, saying, "How seems it to you, Shim'on? The kings of the earth, of
whom do they receive tribute and custom? Of their own children, or of
strangers?"
26 And he said, "Of strangers." Then Yeshua said to him, "If so, the children
are free.
27 But in order that we may not provoke them, go you to the sea, and cast
the baited net, and take the fish that first comes up, and when you have
opened its mouth, you will find a litra, that take, and give to them for me and
you.”
CHAPTER 18
1 And he entered into the house of Shim’on whose surname is Kefa, and
opened his mouth and said:
2 “As I passed the Lake of Tiberias, I chose Yochanan and Ya’akov the sons
of Zavdai, and Shim’on and Andrew and Taddai and Shim’on the Zealot and
Y’hudah Iscariot,
3 and you Mattiyahu, I called as you sat at the receipt of custom, and you
followed me.
4 You therefore, I will to be twelve emissaries for a testimony to Yisrael.110
5 And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.
6 And Yeshua called one boy, and stood him in the midst of them,
7 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you repent, and become as children,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
8 And whoever therefore will humble himself as this boy, the same will be
greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
9 And whoever receives one such boy as this in my name receives me.
10 And whoever offends one of these little ones, which believe in me, it is
better for him that an upper millstone be hanged around his neck, and that he
109 See note to 18:1-4
110 verses 1-4 “In the Gospel that is in general use among them which is called ‘according to Matthew’,
which however is not whole and complete but forged and mutilated – they call it the Hebrew Gospel- it is
reported: ‘It came to pass there was a certain man named Yeshua of about thirty years of age, who chose
us. And when he came to Capernaum, he entered into the house of Simon…(etc.)”-Epiphanius; Panarion
30:13:2-3
be cast into the depth of the sea.
11 Woe to the world because of offences. It must be that offences come, but
woe to that man by whom the offence comes.
12 And if your hand or your foot offends you, cut it off, and cast it from you,
for it is better for you to enter into life maimed or lame, rather than having
both hands and both feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
13 And if your eye offends you, pluck it out, and cast it from you, for it is
better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having both eyes to
be cast into the fire of Gey Hinnom.
14 See that you despise not one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their
angels in heaven do continually see the face of my Father, which is in
heaven.
15 For the Son of Man has [come] to save that which is lost.
16 How seems it to you? If a man has a hundred [sheep], and one of them is
lost, does not a man leave the ninety-nine sheep on the mountain, and goes
to find that which was lost?
17 And if so be that he finds it, truly I tell you, that he rejoices over it more
18 Even so it is not the will of your Father, which is in heaven, that one of
these little ones should be lost.
19 And if your brother sins against you, go and reprove him between you
and him alone, and if he will hear you, you have won your brother.
20 But if he will not hear you, take to yourself one witness or two, that at
the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.111
21 And if he will not hear them, speak to him in the assembly, but if he
neglects to hear in the assembly, let him be to you as a Goy or a
transgressor.
22 Truly I tell you, all that you will prohibit on earth is prohibited in
heaven also, and all that you will permit on earth is permitted in
heaven also.
23 Again I tell you, If two of you might be worthy on earth as touching a
thing that they will ask, it will be for them of my Father which is in heaven.
24 For in every place where two or three will assemble in my name, there
am I in the midst of them."
And if your brother sins against you in a word and makes amends with you,
receive him seven times in a day"
25 Shim'on, His talmid, said to Him, "Seven times in a day?"
26 The Adon answered and said to him, "I say to you, until seventy times
seven. For the prophets, after they were anointed with the Ruach HaKodesh,
111 Deut. 19:15
were guilty of a word of sin."112
27 And therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to a man that is a
king, who wished to make a reckoning with his servants.
28 And when he had begun to make the reckoning, one was brought to him,
which was due to render him ten thousand talents.
29 And as he had not with which to pay, his master commanded that he be
sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, until full payment
should be made of what was due to him.
30 Then that servant fell down and beseeched him, saying, 'Give me time,
and I will pay you all.'
31 And the master had pity on his servant, and let him go, and forgave him
his debt.
32 But this servant went out, and found one of those who were servants like
himself, and this one was due to render him a hundred meahs, and he seized
him, and held him fast, saying, 'Pay what you are due to render me.'
33 Then that servant fell down, and beseeched him, saying, 'Give me time,
and I will pay you all.'
34 But he would not, and went and cast him into prison, until he should pay
all his debt.
35 So when the other servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly
grieved, and came and related to their master all that had happened.
36 Then his master called to him, and said to him, 'Servant of B'liya'al, I
forgave you all the debt, because you did beseech me,
37 and should not you also have had pity on your fellow servant, even as I
had pity on you?'
38 And his master's anger was kindled, and he delivered him to the prison,
until he should pay all his debt.
39 So likewise will my Father, which is in heaven, do to you, if you from
your hearts forgive not every man his brother their trespasses.
CHAPTER 19
1 And it came to pass, that after Yeshua had finished speaking these sayings,
112 Verses 21-22 “In the Gospel according to the Hebrews, which is written in the Chaldee and Syrian
language, but in Hebrew characters, and is used by the Nazarenes to this day (I mean the Gospel according
to the Emissaries, or, as generally maintained, the Gospel according to Matthew, a copy of which is in the
library at Caesarea), we find [a quote in chapter 3] and in the same volume…” – Jerome; Against Pelagius
III, 2) also some Greek manuscripts of Matthew have a marginal note reading “The Judaikon [Jewish] has,
immediately after the ‘seven times seven’, ‘for in the prophets, after they were anointed with the Ruach
HaKodesh, there was found in them the word of sin.”
he departed from Galil, and came into the borders of Y'hudah at the crossing
of the Yarden.
2 And great crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3 And the P'rushim approached him, and tempted him, saying, "Is it right for
a man to put away his wife for every cause?"
4 And he answered and said to them, "Have you not read, that he who made
man at the beginning, made them male and female.113
5 and said, 'Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and
shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh?'114
6 And now they are no more two, but one flesh only. What therefore Elohim
has joined together, man cannot separate."
7 But they said, "And why did Moshe then command to give a bill of
divorcement, and to put her away if she was not pleasing in his
sight?"115
8 And he answered them and said, "Because Moshe on account of the
hardness of your hearts allowed you to put away your wives, but from the
beginning it was not so.
9 And I tell you, that every man that has put away, or shall put away his
wife,
except it be for fornication, and takes another, commits adultery, and
whoever
takes the divorced also commits adultery."
10 And his talmidim said to him, "If the case of the man be so with his wife,
it is not good to marry."
11 But he said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but they to whom it is
given.
12 For there are faithful ones, which were so born from their mother's
womb,
and there are faithful ones which were made of man, and there are faithful
ones which are self-made faithful ones for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake.
Whoever can accept, let him accept."
13 Then were brought to him children, that he should lay hands on them and
pray, but his talmidim rebuked them.
14 And Yeshua said, "Allow the children, and hinder them not from coming
to me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
113 Gen. 1:27; 5:2
114 Gen. 2:24
115 Deut. 24:1, 3
15 And when he had laid hands on them, he departed there. And as he sat
out on his journey he came upon two rich men.116
16 And, behold, one came near, and said to him, “Good Rabbi, and what
good thing shall I do that I may acquire the life of the world to come?”
17 And he said to him, "Why ask you me concerning what is good? There is
none good but one, there is a good, and that is El. And if you desire to enter
into the life of the world to come, keep the commandments of El."
18 And he said to him, "And which?" And Yeshua answered and said, "you
shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you
shall not bear false witness against your neighbor,117
19 honor your father and your mother118, and you shall love your
neighbor as yourself."119
20 But the young man said to him, "All these things have I kept from my
youth, and what lack I still?"
21 And Yeshua said to him, "If you will be whole-hearted, go sell all that
you have, and give to the poor, and you will have great store in heaven, and
come follow me."
22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away troubled, for he
had great possessions.
23 The second of the rich men said unto him: Adon, what good thing can I
do and live? He said unto him: O man, fulfil the Torah and the Prophets.
24 He answered him: I have kept them. He said unto him: Go, sell all that
you own, and distribute it unto the poor, and come, follow me. But the rich
man began to scratch his head, and it pleased him not.
25 And the Adon said unto him: How say you: I have kept the Torah and the
Prophets? For it is written in the Torah: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself120, and lo, many of your brothers, sons of Avraham, are clad in
filth, dying for hunger, and your house is full of many good things, and
nothing at all goes out of it unto them.
26 And he turned and said unto Shim'on his talmid who was sitting by him:
Shim'on, son of Yonah, it is easier for a rope121
to enter the eye of a needle
116 verse 15b is borrowed in part from Mark 10:17 slightly modified to facilitate the two rich men in the
account found in GH.
117 Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17-20
118 Ex. 20:12
119 Lev. 19:18
120 Lev. 19:18
121 The Latin as Origen preserves it has “camel” agreeing with the Greek but I have corrected this to agree
with the Aramaic of Matthew, Mark and Luke have GAMLA )lmg which can mean “camel” or “rope”.
than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven122.
27 And when the talmidim heard these sayings, they marveled exceedingly,
saying, "Who then can be saved?"
28 And Yeshua regarded them, and said, "On men's part this is impossible,
but to Elohim all such things are possible."
29 Then answered Kefa and said to him, "Here are we, we have left
everything, and followed you, and what will we have?"
30 And Yeshua said to them, "Truly I tell you, that you which have followed
me, in the second birth when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you
also will sit on twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Yisrael.
31 And whoever leaves house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or
wife, or children, or lands, on account of my name, will receive a hundred
times, and will inherit the sublime life.
32 But many of the first will be last, and the last will be first.
CHAPTER 20
1 The Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to a man that is a householder,
who went out early in the morning to hire laborers to tend his vineyard.
2 And when he had contracted with them at the rate of a coin for the whole
day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out at the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the
market place,
4 and said to them "Go you also into my vineyard, and whatever is right I
will give you." And they went their way.
5 Again he went out at the sixth hour and the ninth, and did likewise.
6 And at the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing, and said
to them, 'Why stand you here all the day idle?'
7 And they said to him, 'No man has hired us.' And he said to them, 'Go you
also into my vineyard.'
8 And when it was evening, the master of the vineyard said to his overseer,
"Call the laborers, and give them their wage, beginning from the first to the
last."
9 And when those came which came at the eleventh hour, they received each
man a coin.
122 19:23-24 “It is written in a certain Gospel which is called according to the Hebrews (if at least anyone
care to accept it, not as authoritative, but to throw light on the question before us):… “ – Origen; On Mat.
15:14 on 19:16ff in Latin version (some regard this as a pseudo-Origen). See appendix.
10 And when the first came, they thought that they should have received
more than these, and they likewise received each man a coin.
11 And when they had seen it, they murmured against the householder,
saying,
12 'These last have labored but one hour, and you have put them on a level
with us, which have borne the burden of the day and the heat.'
13 But he answered them, and said, 'Brother, I do you no injury. Did you not
contract with me for a coin?
14 Take what is yours, and go your way, and as to my will to give to this
last, the same as to you,
15 have I no right to do what I will in my own sight? Or, is your eye bad,
because I am good?'
16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many were called, but few
were chosen."
17 And as Yeshua went up to Yerushalayim, he took his twelve talmidim
privately, and said to them,
18 "Behold, we are going to Yerushalayim, and the Son of Man will be
delivered up to the Chief Cohenim and the scribes, and they will condemn
him to death,
19 and will deliver him over to the Goyim to be mocked, and scourged, and
crucified, and the third day he will rise again."
20 Then came near to him the mother of Zavdai's children, with her sons,
and worshiped him, and would ask of him.
21 And he said to her. "What wish you?" And she said to him, "Grant that
these, my two sons, may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on
your left, in your kingdom."
22 But Yeshua answered and said, “You know not what you ask. Can you
drink the cup that I will drink of, and be immersed in the immersion that I
will be immersed in?”123
They said to him, “We can.”
23 Then he said to them, "You will drink indeed of my cup, and will be
immersed in the immersion that I will be immersed in, but to sit on my right
hand, or on my left, is not mine to give you, but for whom it is prepared of
my Father."
24 And when the ten heard, they were displeased with the two brothers,
25 but Yeshua called them to himself, saying, and "You know that the chiefs
of the Goyim rule over them, and the great ones exercise authority among
them
26 It shall not be so among you, but whoever among you wishes to be great,
123 Ps. 42:7
let him be your servant,
27 and he among you that wishes to be first, let him be your servant,
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served to, but to serve, and to give
his nefesh a ransom for many."
29 And as they went out from Yericho, a great crowd followed him.
30 And, behold, two blind men went out and sat by the wayside, and when
they heard that Yeshua passed by, they cried out saying, "My master, take
pity on us, O Son of David."
31 And the crowd rebuked them, and told them to keep silence, but they
cried out the more, saying, "My master, take pity on us, O Son of David."
32 And Yeshua stopped, and called to them, saying, "What wish you that I
do for you?"
33 And they said to him, "My master, that our eyes may be restored to
sight."
34 And Yeshua had pity on them, and touched their eyes, and immediately
they saw, and followed him.
CHAPTER 21
1 And when they came near to Yerushalayim, and had come to Beit Pagey,
to the mount of Olives, then sent Yeshua two talmidim,
2 and said to them, "Go to the enclosure which is before you, and right away
you will find there an ass tied, and a foal by her side; loose and bring [them]
to me.
3 And if any man say anything to you, you will say that, My master has need
of them, and immediately he will let them go."
4 And this was to establish what was spoken by the prophet, who said,
5 "say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold your king comes to you... poor,
and riding upon an ass, even upon a foal, the offspring of an ass.'"124
6 And the talmidim went, and did as Yeshua commanded them,
7 and brought the ass, and the foal, and they put upon them their garments,
and mounted him thereon.
8 And a great crowd spread their garments in the way, and others cut down
leafy branches of trees, and carpeted the way.
9 And the multitude that went before him, and behind him, cried, saying,
"Hoshianna to the Son of David,
124 Zech. 9:9
Blessed is he that comes in the name of YHWH,
Hoshianna125
barrama126."
10 And when he had come into Yerushalayim, the whole city was seething,
saying,
11 "Who is this?" And the people said, "It is Yeshua the prophet, from
Natzeret of Galil."
12 And Yeshua entered into the Temple of Elohim, and cast outside all the
vendors and buyers in the Temple, and overturned the tables of the
moneychangers,
and the stalls of them that sold the doves,
13 and said to them, "It is written, 'For my house will be called a house of
prayer,'127
but you have made it a robber's den.128"
14 rays went forth from his eyes, by which they were frightened and fled117.
15 And the blind and the lame drew near to him in the Temple, and he
healed
them.
16 And when the Chief Cohenim and the scribes saw the wonders that he
did,
and the children cried in the Temple, saying, "Hoshianna129
to the Son of
David"
17 They were displeased, and they said to him, "Hear you not what these
say?" And Yeshua said to them, "Have you not read that,
"Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
you have found strength?"130
18 And he left them, and went out of the city to Beit Anyah, and lodged
there.
19 And as he returned in the morning to the city, he was hungry.
20 And when he saw a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found
125 Psalm 118:25-26
126 “Matthew, who wrote his Gospel in Hebrew speech, put it thus: ‘Osanna barrama, i.e. Onanna in the
highest.” –Jerome; Letter to Damasus 20
127 Isa. 56:7
128 Jer. 7:11
129 “In the Gospel books which the Nazarenes use we read: …” (Marginal note in Aurora of Peter Riga
manuscript). This is probably the source for Jerome’s statement “For a certain fiery and starry light radiated
from his eyes and the majesty of the Godhead gleamed in his face.” -Jerome; on Mat. 21:12
118 Psalm 118:25
130 Ps. 8:3 (8:2)
nothing thereon, but leaves only. And he said to it, "Let there not come forth
of you fruit forever," and immediately the fig tree withered away.
21 And when the talmidim saw, they marveled, saying, "How did it
immediately wither away?"
22 And Yeshua answered and said to them, "Truly I tell you, if you will
have faith, and doubt not, you will not do such things to a fig tree only, but if
you will say to this mountain, 'Be you lifted up, and cast into the sea', it will
come to pass.
23 And whatever you will ask in prayer and faith, you will receive.
24 And when he had come to the Temple, the Chief Cohenim and the elders
of the people approached him as he was teaching, saying, "By what authority
do you these things? And who gave you this authority?"
25 And Yeshua answered and said to them, "I also will ask you this thing,
which if you tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what means I do what I
am doing.
26 The immersion of Yochanan, of where was it? of Heaven, or of men?"
And they reasoned with themselves, and said, "If we shall say, 'Of Heaven',
he will say to us, 'Why did you not believe him?'
27 But if we shall say, 'Of men', we fear the crowd, for Yochanan was in the
eyes of all as a prophet.
28 And they answered and said to Yeshua, "We know not.” And he also said
to them, “And neither tell I you by what means I do these things.”
29 But how seems it to you? There was one man which had two sons, and he
approached the first, and said, 'My son, go work today in my vineyard.'
30 But he answered and said, 'I will not do so,' but after that he repented, and
went.
31 And he approached the second, and said likewise. And he answered and
said, 'I will go, my master,' but he went not.
32 Which of these two did the father's will?" They answered him, "The
first."
And Yeshua said to them, "Truly I tell you, that the transgressors and harlots
go before you in the Kingdom of Elohim.
33 For Yochanan came to you in the way of righteousness, and you believed
him not, but the transgressors and harlots believed him, and you, when you
had seen, repented not after that, to believe him.
34 Hear you another parable: There was a man that was a householder,
which planted a vineyard, and surrounded it with a hedge, and dug a
winepress in it, and built a tower, and delivered it to vinedressers to cultivate
it, and went abroad.
35 And when the time of the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, to receive the fruit.
36 But the vinedressers seized his servants, and beat one, and slew another,
and another they stoned.
37 Again he sent other servants more than the first, and they did to them
likewise.
38 But at last he sent to them his son, saying, 'Perhaps they will honor my
son.'
39 But the vinedressers, when they saw the son, said among themselves,
‘This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.’ i
40 And they seized him, and brought him outside the vineyard, and slew
him.
41 Think for yourselves, when the master of the vineyard has come, what
will he do to these vinedressers?"
42 And they answered him and said; "He will destroy the wicked
vinedressers in their wickedness, and will hire out his vineyard to another,
which will render him the fruit in its seasons."
43 And Yeshua said to them, "Have you not read in the scripture,
'The stone which the builders rejected
has become the head of the corner.
This is from YHWH,
It is wonderful in our eyes?'131
44 And therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of Elohim will be taken away from
you, and given to people, who will bring forth the fruits thereof.
45 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken, but on whomever it falls,
it will break him."
46 And when the Chief Cohenim and P'rushim heard his parables, they knew
that he spoke concerning them.
47 But when they sought to seize him, they feared the crowds, for he was in
their eyes a prophet.
CHAPTER 22
1 And Yeshua answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying,
2 "The Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to a man that is a king, who made
a marriage for his son,
131 Ps. 118:22-23
3 and sent his servants to call them that were invited to the marriage, but
they would not come.
4 Again, he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell you them which are invited,
'Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my oxen and my geese are cooked,
and all things are ready, come you to the marriage.''
5 But these remained unresponsive, and went their ways, one to his village,
another to his merchandise,
6 and the rest seized his servants, whom with violence they slew.
7 But when the king heard, his anger was kindled, and he sent his hosts, and
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city with fire.
8 Then said he to his servants, 'The marriage indeed is ready, but they which
were invited were not worthy.
9 Go you therefore to the outgoing of the ways, and whomever you will find,
call to the marriage.'
10 So his servants went out by the ways, and gathered together all whom
they found, both bad and good, and the marriage was filled with them that
sat at the table.
11 And when the king came in to see them that were seated, he saw there a
man not clothed with the marriage garment, and said to him,
12 'Friend, how came you in here not having a marriage garment?' And he
was silent.
13 Then said the king to his servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and cast him
into the darkness outside; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14 For many were called,
but few were chosen."
15 Then went the P'rushim, and took counsel together concerning this
saying.
16 And they sent to him their talmidim with the servants of Herod, saying,
"Rabbi, we know that you are a sincere man, and teach the way of Elohim in
truth, and are not influenced by any man, for you regard not the face of man.
17 Tell us therefore, how seems it to you? Is it right to give tribute to Caesar
or not?"
18 But Yeshua knew the evil in their hearts, and said to them, "You
hypocrites, why tempt you me?
19 Show me a coin of the tribute." And they brought to him a coin.
20 And he said to them, "Whose is the likeness and this inscription?"
21 And they answered him and said, "Caesar's." Then said he to them,
"Give therefore to Caesar what is Caesar's,
and to Elohim the things that are Elohim's."
22 And when they heard it, they were amazed, and left him, and withdrew.
23 The same day the Tz'dukim, which are those that say that there will not
be
a resurrection, came near to him, and asked him, saying,
24 "Rabbi, Moshe said, 'If a man dies, and has no son, his brother shall
take to himself to wife, the wife of the dead, that he may raise up seed to
his brother.'132
25 And he left his wife to his brother.
26 Likewise the second, and the third, until the seventh.
27 And after that the woman died also.
28 In the resurrection whose will she be? Because all the seven were her
husbands."
29 And Yeshua answered and said to them,
"You do err, not knowing the Scriptures,
nor the power of Elohim.
30 For in the resurrection they marry not,
neither are they betrothed,
but are as the angels of Elohim in heaven.
31 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was
spoken by Elohim, who said to you,
32 'I am the Elohi of Avraham,
I am the Elohi of Yitzchak,
I am the Elohi of Ya'akov'?133
and he is not the Elohi of the dead
but Elohi of the living."
33 And when the crowds heard, they were amazed concerning his teaching.
34 But when the P'rushim heard that he had silenced the Tz'dukim, they took
counsel together.
35 And one of them, which was a doctor of the Torah, asked him, and tested
him, and said to him,
36 "Rabbi, which is the greatest commandment in the Torah?"
132 Deut. 25:5-6
133 Ex. 3:6
37 And Yeshua answered him, and said, "You shall love YHWH your
Elohim with all your heart, and with all your nefesh, and with all your
might.134
38 This is the greatest commandment in the whole Torah.
39 And this is the first, but the second is like it, ‘And you shall love your
neighbor as yourself.’135
40 On these two commandments hang all the Torah and the Prophets."
41 Now while the P'rushim were assembled, Yeshua asked them, saying,
42 "How seems it to you concerning the Messiah? Whose son is he?" And
they said to him, "He is the Son of David."
43 But he said to them, "And how then spoke David, by the Ruach
HaKodesh calling him "My Adon,” saying,
44 'YHWH said to my Adon, Sit you on my right hand, until I make
your enemies the footstool of your feet'?136
45 If David then calls him 'My Adon', how is he his son?"
46 And they could not return him a word; neither did any man wish again to
question him further from that day.
CHAPTER 23
1 Then spoke Yeshua to the crowds, and to his talmidim, saying,
2 "On Moshe’s seat sit the scribes and P'rushim.
3 And all that he says to you observe and do. But do not you according to
their works, for they say, but do not.
4 For they bind up heavy burdens, and put them on men's shoulders, but they
will not stagger around with them themselves.
5 And so all their works they do that they may be seen by the sons of men,
for they make broad the straps of their t’ffila137, and enlarge the corners of
their mantles138,
6 and love the principal couches at the suppers,
7 and the principal seats in the synagogues, and benedictions in the market,
and to be called by men, 'Rabbi'.
8 But you shall not be called 'rabbi' for one is your rabbi, and that is the
Messiah. And all of you are brothers.
134 Deut. 6:5
135 Lev. 19:18
136 Psalm 110:1
137 Ex. 13:1-16; Deut. 6:4-9; 11:13-21
138 Num. 15:37-41
9 Also be not you called 'father' upon the earth, for one is your Father, which
is in heaven.
10 Neither be you called 'teachers', for one is your teacher, and that is
Messiah.
11 Whoever will be greatest among you let him be your servant.
12 For whoever exalts himself will be abased, and whoever is abased will be
exalted.
13 Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites! Who close the Kingdom of
Heaven against the sons of men, for you enter not yourselves, neither do you
allow them that are eager to enter.
14 Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites, who devour widows'
houses
in order to pray lengthy prayers, and therefore will receive a lengthy
judgment.
15 Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites, who compass the sea and
land in order to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him
two
times more a son of Gey Hinnom than yourselves.
16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘whoever swears by the Temple, is
not
obligated, but he that swears by the gold of the Temple, is obligated.’
17 Fools and blind, which is greater, the gold, or the Temple that sanctifies
the gold?
18 And ‘Whoever swears by the altar, is not obligated, but he that swears by
the gift that is upon it, is obligated.’
19 O blind, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
20 He that swears by the altar swears by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And he that swears by the Temple swears by it, and by that which abides
therein.
22 And he that has sworn by heaven swears by the throne of Elohim, and by
him that sits thereon.
23 Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites! Who tithe mint, and rue,
and cumin, and have neglected those things which are weightiest in the
Torah: judgment, loving-kindness and faith. Those things ought you to have
done, neither to have rejected these.
24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel.
25 Woe to you scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites, which clean the outside of
the cup and the dish, but within, they are full of extortion and uncleanness.
26 Blind Parush, clean first that which is within the cup and dish that the
outside may be clean also.
27 Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites, for you are like whitened
sepulchers, which appear outwardly fair to the sons of men, but within are
full of the bones of the dead, and all uncleanness.
28. And so you also seem outwardly righteous to the sons of men, but within
you, you are full of depravity and violence.
29. Woe to you, scribes and P'rushim, hypocrites, which build the sepulchers
of the prophets, and adorn the sepulchers of the righteous, and say,
30. 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their
accomplices in the blood of the prophets?
31. Therefore you are witnesses to yourselves, that you have come by them,
which slew the prophets, and their children you are.
32. Fill you up then the measure of your fathers.
33. Serpents, and generations of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of
Gey Hinnom?
34. Therefore I tell you, Behold, I send to you prophets, and the wise men,
and the scribes, and some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of
them will you scourge with whips in your synagogues, and persecute from
city to city,
35. that upon you may come all the righteous blood which has been shed
upon the earth, from Hevel the righteous, to Z'kharyah Ben Y'hoyada139,
whom you slew between the Temple and the alter.
36. Truly I tell you, that all these things will come upon this generation.
37. Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim, which kills the prophets, and stones them
which are sent to you, how many times would I have gathered your children
together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would
not!
38. Behold, your house is forsaken to you desolate.140
39. And I tell you, that you will not see me here after, until you say, 'Blessed
is he that comes in the name of YHWH141.
CHAPTER 24
1. And Yeshua went out, and as he was departing from the Temple, his
talmidim came near in order to show him the buildings of the Temple.
2. But he answered them, saying, "Regard you all these things? Truly I tell
you, there will not be left here a stone upon a stone that will not be
139 “In the Gospel which the Nazarenes use, instead of ‘son of Barachias’we have found written ‘son of
Joiada.’” –Jerome; on Matt. 23:35
140 Jer. 22:5
141 Psalm 118:26
overthrown.
3 And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, his talmidim approached him
privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what sign will
there be at your coming, and the end of the world?"
4 Then Yeshua answered and said to them, "Let no man deceive you.
5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am Messiah’, and will deceive
many.
6 For you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that you are not foolish.
It must be that such things be done, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and
there will be pestilence, and famine, and earthquake in every place.
8 And these are but the beginning of plagues.
9 Then will they give you over to tribulation, and will slay you, and all
Goyim will hate you on account of my name.
10 And then will many be offended, and a man will betray his neighbor, yes,
a man will hate his brother.
11 And many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.
12 And because apostasy will abound, the love of many will wax cold.
13 But whoever endures to the end, the same will be saved.
14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the
world for a witness to all the Goyim, and then will the end come.
15 When you therefore will see the abomination of desolation, spoken of
by Dani'el the prophet, he who said that it would stand in the set-apart
place142, (whoever reads, let him understand).
16 Then let them which are in Y'hudah flee to the mountains,
17 and he that is upon the roof, let him not descend to take anything out of
his house,
18 and he that is in the field, let him not return to take his clothes.
19 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that are about to bear,
and to them that give suck in those days.
20 And pray you that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath,
21 for then will be great tribulation, such as there has never been from
the beginning of the world until now, neither will be after it143.
22 And if those days had not been shortened, there should no flesh be saved;
only on account of the chosen those days will be shortened.
23 Then if any man says to you, 'Behold, here is the Messiah,' or 'there',
believe it not.
142 Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11
143 Joel 2:2; Dan. 12:1
24 Because there will arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and will give
great signs and wonders, that so they may bring about, if that were possible,
the going astray of the very chosen.
25 Behold, I have told you.
26 Therefore, if they will say to you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness', go not
out, 'Behold he is in the apartments', believe it not.
27 For as the lightning goes out from the east, and appears even to the west,
so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
28 Wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together144.
29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days will the sun be
darkened, and the moon will not give her light, and the stars145
will fall
from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken,
30 and then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then will
all the tribes of the land mourn146, when they will see the Son of Man
coming in the clouds of heaven147
with great power and glory.
31 And he will send his angels with a shofar148, and a great voice, that they
may gather together his chosen from the four winds, from the heights of
heaven to its extremities149.
32 Learn you the parable from the fig tree, when its branch is tender, and the
leaves sprout, you know that the summer fruit is near,
33 so likewise you, when you will see all these things, know that it is near,
even at the doors.
34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away, until the whole is
accomplished.
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36 Until that day, and concerning that hour there will be no man that knows,
not even the angels in heaven, but my Father only.
37 And as it was in the days of Noach, so will it be at the coming of the Son
of Man.
38 For as they were in the days that were before the flood eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noach entered
into the ark,
39 and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the
coming of the Son of Man.
40 Then will two be in the field, one will be taken, and one left.
144 Ezek. 39:17; Is. 34:3, 15
145 Is. 13:10; 24:32; Ezek. 32:7; Joel 2:10; 3:4(2:31); 4:1(3:15)
146 Zech. 12:10, 14
147 Dan. 7:13-14
148 Is. 27:13
149 Is. 11:12; Deut. 30:4; Zech. 2:6
41 Two will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken, and one will be left.
42 Be you alert therefore, for you know not at what hour your Adon comes.
43 But know this, if the householder had known at what hour the thief would
come, in truth, he would have been alert, and not allowed his house to be
broken into.
44 Therefore be you also ready, for you know not at what hour the Son of
Man comes.
45 Who then is a faithful and prudent servant, whom the master had set over
his household, that he may give them bread in due season?
46 Happy is that servant who, at his master's coming to his house, he will
find so doing.
47 Truly I tell you, that in truth, he will set him over all his substance.
48 But if such a servant will say evilly in his heart, that his master delays to
come,
49 and begins to hit the servants which are with him, and eats and drinks
with the drunken,
50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he expects not, and in
an hour when he knows not, and will surprise him suddenly,
51 and appoint his portion with the hypocrites; there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
CHAPTER 25
1 Then will the Kingdom of Heaven be comparable to ten virgins, which
took their torches, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five of them were prudent.
3 The five foolish, when they took the torches, took no oil with them,
4 but the prudent took the oil in their vessels with the torches.
5 And while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom has come, go out
now to meet him.'
7 Then all those virgins arose, and made ready their torches.
8 And the foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us now of your oil, for our
torches are extinguished.'
9 But the prudent answered and said to them, 'We may not give you, lest
there suffice not for us and you, but go now therefore to them that sell, and
buy for yourselves.'
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were
ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
11 And after that came the rest of the virgins, saying, 'My master, my
master, open to us.'
12 But he answered, saying, 'Amen, I say to you, I know you not.'
13 Be you alert therefore, for you know not the day and the hour when the
Son of Man comes.
14 For it is like the man who went abroad, seafaring, and which called his
servants, and delivered to them his substance.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every
man gave he according to his power, and right away took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and squandered his
master's substance with harlots and flute-girls.
17 And likewise, he that had received the two traded with the same, and
gained another two.
18 But he that had received the one, went and dug in the earth, and hid it in
the earth.
19 And it came to pass that after a long time that master returned, and made
an accounting with them.
20 He also that had received the five talents came near, and said, 'master,
you delivered to me the five talents, and, behold, I have gained these five
more.'
21 And his master said to him, 'Aha! In that you have been a good servant
and faithful over the few, come now, and I will give you charge over the
many; go enter into the joy of your master.'
22 So he that had received the two talents came near, saying, 'My master,
you delivered to me two talents and, behold, I have squanderd them.'
23 And his master said to him, 'Aha! You have been an idle servant.
24 He also that had received the one talent came near and said, 'master, I
knew that you are a hard man, and reap where you have not sown, and
gather where you have not scattered,
25 and I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth, behold, you
have what is yours.'
26 And this master answered and said to him, 'You evil and slothful servant,
you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not
scattered,
27 you ought to have delivered my money to the money-changers, then
surely, at my coming I should have received my own with increase.
28 Take now therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten
talents.'
29 For to whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance,
but who has not, from him even what he seems to have shall be taken away.
30 And the idle servant, cast you him into the darkness outside, where there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 And when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all his angels with
him, then will he sit upon his glorious throne,
32 and he will bring before himself all nations150, and will separate them,
these from those, as the shepherd separates the lambs from the kids,
33 and he will set the lambs on the right hand, and the kids on the left hand.
34 And then will the king say to them that are on his right hand, 'Come, you
blessed by my Father, and possess the kingdom prepared for you from the
beginning of the world.
35 I was hungry, and you gave me to eat,
I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink.
36 I was a stranger, and you entertained me.
I was naked, and you clothed me,
I was sick, and you visited me,
I was in prison, and you came to me.
37 Then will the righteous answer him saying,
'Adonai, when saw we you hungry, and fed you?
or thirsty, and gave you drink?
38 And when saw we you a stranger, and entertained you?
or naked, and clothed you?
39. Or when saw we you sick,
or in prison, and came to you?'
40 And the king will answer and say to them,
'Amen I say to you,
Inasmuch as you have done it to one of these which are to me as
younger brothers, it is as if you had done it to me.'
41 And then will the king say to them that are on his left hand, 'Withdraw
from me, you cursed. Go you into the eternal fire, prepared for Satan and his
angels.'
42 For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat.
150 Jer. 3:17
I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink.
43 I was a stranger, and you entertained me not.
I was naked, and you clothed me not.
I was sick, and in prison, and you visited me not.'
44 Then will they answer him, saying,
'Adonai, how saw we you hungry,
or thirsty,
or a stranger,
or naked,
or sick,
or in prison, and did not service to you?'
45 Then will he answer them, saying,
'Amen I say to you,
Inasmuch as you did it not to one of these little ones,
you did it not to me.'
46 And these will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal
life.151
CHAPTER 26
1 And it came to pass, when Yeshua had finished all these sayings, he said to
his talmidim.
2 "You know that after two days is the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is
called the Pesach, and the Son of Man will be betrayed, and shall be bound,
that he be crucified.
3Which signify eight days after the recurrence of the Pesach at which the
seed of Adam will be judged."
4 Then were assembled the cohenim, and elders of the people, to the court of
the Chief Cohen, who was called Kayafa,
151 Verses 14-46 “But since the Gospel written in Hebrew characters which has reached our hands turns the
threat not against the man who hid the talent, but against him who had lived riotously (for it told of three
servants, one who desereved his master's substance with harlots and flute-girls, another who multiplied it
by trading, and another who hid the talent; and made the one to be accepted, another only rebuked, and
another to be shut up in prison), the question occurs to me whether in Matthew, after the conclusion of the
speech against the man who did nothing, the threat that follows may refer, not to him, but by epanalepsis
(i.e. taking up a former subject again) be said of the first, who ate and drank with the drunken.” –Eusebius;
Theophania on Mat. 25:14f
6 But they said, “Let us not do this on the feast day, lest there be a great
commotion among the people.”
7 And in the morning he came again to the Temple and all the people came
to him. And while he was sitting, he was teaching them.
8 And the scribes and P’rushim brought a woman who was caught in
adultery. And placing her in the midst,
9 They said to him, Teacher, this woman was caught in the open in the act of
adultery.
10 Now in the Torah of Moshe, he commanded that we stone those who are
like these. Now, what do you say?
11 They said this testing him so that they would have a reason to accuse
him. But Yeshua, after he had stooped down, wrote on the ground152.
12 And when they continued asking him, he straightened himself and said to
them, Whichever one of you is without sin may cast the first stone at her153.
13 And again after he had stooped down, he was writing on the ground.
14 And when they heard [it], they went out one by one having begun with
the elders. And the woman was left by herself being in the midst.
15 And after Yeshua straightened himself he said to the woman, Where are
they? Does no man condemn you?
16 And she said, No man, Adon. And Yeshua said, Neither do I condemn
you. Go, and from now on do not sin again154.
17 And as Yeshua was in one Beit Anyah, in the house of Shim'on the jar
merchant,
18 there approached him a woman having in her hand a flask of precious oil,
which she poured upon his head, as he was sitting.
19 And when the talmidim saw it, they were vexed, and said, "To what
purpose is this waste?
20 For this oil could have been sold for much, and given to the poor."
21 When Yeshua knew, he said to them, “Why pester you this woman? For
she has wrought a good and wonderful work upon me.
22 And the poor will be continually with you, but I will not be continually
152 Jer. 17:3 & Num. 5:12-31
153 Deut. 17:7
154 Verses 7-16 “He [Papias] has set forth (or expounded) another story, about a woman accused of many
sins before the Lord, which the Gospel according to the Hebrews also contains.” –Eusebius; Eccl. Hist.
3:39:17. This seems to refer to the story of the adulteress as found in John 7:53-8:11. This story does not
appear in the Aramaic Old Syriac or Peshitta versions. It is also not found in the oldest Greek manuscripts.
Those Greek manuscripts that do contain the story sometimes place it in John 7:53-8:11 some after John
7:36 or 7:52 or 21:24. Some manuscripts instead place the story in Luke after 21:24. The story appears not
to have originated as an original part of either Luke of John but as part of GH. I have placed it in GH in a
position corresponding to the placement after Luke 21:24.
with you.
23 For in that she has cast away this oil upon my body, she has done it for
my burial.
24 Truly I tell you, in every place where this good news will be proclaimed
throughout the world, there will be told of all that she has done, <for her
name> and her memorial.”
25 Then went one of his twelve talmidim, and it was he which was called
Y'hudah from K'riot, and went to the Chief Cohenim,
26 and said to them, "What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you?"
And they allotted him thirty pieces of silver155.
27 Thereafter he sought a convenient time to betray him.
28 And on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the talmidim came
near to Yeshua, saying, "Where will you have us prepare the Pesach?"
29 And Yeshua said, "Go you into the city to such a one, and say to him,
'The teacher said, my time is at hand, and with you will I celebrate the
Pesach with my talmidim.'"
30 And the talmidim did as Yeshua commanded them, and prepared the
Pesach.
31 And when it was evening, he sat down at the table with his twelve
talmidim.
32 And he said to them, I have a great desire that I eat this Pesach with you
before I suffer.156
33 And he arose from Dinner and laid aside his garments and took a cloth
and girded his loins.
34 And he put water into a bowl and began to wash the feet of his talmidim,
and he was wiping with the cloth by which he had girded his loins
35 and he kissed the feet of each one of them.157
36 And when he came to Shim’on Kefa, Shim’on said to him, Are you, my
Adon, going to wash my feet for me?
37 Yeshua answered and said to him,What I do you do not know now, but
afterwards you will know.
38 Shim’on Kefa said to him, You will never wash my feet for me. Yeshua
155 Zech. 11:2
156 “But they [Ebionites] abandon the proper sequence of the words and pervert the saying. As plain to all in
the readings attached, and have led the disciples to say: ‘Where will you have us prepare the Passover?’
And him to answer to that: ‘Do I desire with desire at this Passover to eat flesh with you?’” –Epiphanius,
Panarion 30:22:4. In restoring the orignal Nazarene text I have restored the text to read as it does in Luke
22:45. The alteration may have originated because some Hebrew and Aramaic statements can also be
understood as questions and because Ebionites were doctrinal vegetarians.
157 “[And he wiped their feet] And as it is said in the Gospel of the Nazarenes:…” (Historia passionis
Domini; MS: Theolg. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 25v) From this it is clear that the
footwashing story found in John 13 also appeared in GH.
to him, If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.
39 Shim’on Kefa said to him, Then my Adon, wash not only my feet for me
but also my hands and my head.
40 Yeshua said to him, He who is washed does not need but to wash his feet
alone, for all of him is clean. Also you are all clean but not all of you.
41 For Yeshua knew him who would betray him; because of this he said ,
Not all of you are clean.
42 And after he had washed their feet, he took up his garments and seated
himself and said to them, Do you know what I did to you?
43 You call me, Rabbi, and our Adon, and you speak well, for I am.
44 If therefore I your Adon and your Rabbi wash your feet for you, how
much more ought you to wash the feet of another?
45 For I have given you this example, that you might also do as I have done
for you.
46 Truly, Truly, I say to you that there is no servant who is greater than his
master, and there is no emissary who is greater than him who sent him.
47 If you know these things you are happy if you do them.
48 And as they did eat, he said, "Amen I tell you, that one of you will betray
me."
49 And their anger was kindled exceedingly, and each one began saying,
"Am I he, my master?”
50 But he answered and said; "He that dips the hand with me in the dish, the
same will betray me.
51 And surely the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that
man by whose hand the Son of Man will be betrayed. It [would] have been
good for that man if he had not been born."
52 Then Y'hudah, who betrayed him answered and said, "Am I he, rabbi?"
And he said to him, "You have said."
53 And it came to pass, as they sat down to eat, Yeshua took the bread, and
blessed, and broke, and gave to his talmidim, saying, "Take you, and eat
this, which is my body."
54 And afterwards he took the cup, and blessed, and gave to them, saying,
"Drink you all of it,
55 for this is my blood of the New Covenant158, which is shed for many to
atone for sinners.
56 And I tell you, hereafter I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until that
day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father which is in
heaven."
158 Jer. 31:31
57 Then Ya'akov said "I swear that I shall not eat bread from this hour until I
see you risen from among those that sleep."159
58 And when they had recited the Psalm, they went out to the Mount of
Olives.
59 Then said Yeshua to them, "All you will be offended in me this night." It
is written, 'Smite the shepherd, and the flock will be scattered.'160
60 But after I have risen, I will go into Galil before you.
61 Then answered Kefa and said to him, "If they all will be offended, I will
not be offended in you."
62 And Yeshua said to him, "Amen I tell you that this night, before the
rooster crows, three times will you deny me."
63 Then Kefa said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you."
And so likewise said all the talmidim.
64 Then comes Yeshua with them to a village whose name was Gey
Sh'manim161, and said to his talmidim, "Sit you here, while I go yonder and
pray."
65 And he took with him Kefa and the two sons of Zavdai, and began to be
grieved and downcast.
66 And then said he to them, "My nefesh is grieved to death, await you me
here, and watch with me."
67 And he passed on a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "O
Father, if it is possible that this cup pass away from me, let it be done, but let
it not be done as I will, but as you will."
68 And he came to his talmidim, and found them sleeping, and said to Kefa,
"Could you not watch with me a single hour?
69 Awake and pray, that you enter not [into temptation,]
the spirit indeed is watchful,
but the flesh is frail."
70 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, "O Father, if
this cup cannot pass away from me, but I must drink it, be it as you will."
71 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven strengthening him
saying "Be constant, Adon, for now comes the time in which through your
passion mankind sold in Adam will be ransomed."162
159 See note to 28:27-30
160 Zech. 13:7
161 Is. 28:1
162 “And how the angel strengthened Messiah in his struggle in prayer, as is told in the Gospel of the
72 And he came again, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
73 And he went away again, and prayed the third time, and said the same
prayer as he had said already.
74 Then came he to his talmidim, and said to them, "You have slept now,
and taken your rest, behold, the hour is at hand wherein the Son of Man will
be given into the hands of sinners.
75 Arise, and let us go, behold, he draws near that betrays me."
76 While he was still speaking, behold, Y'hudah, one of his twelve talmidim,
came, and with him a great force with swords and spears, that were sent
from the Chief Cohenim and elders of the people.
77 Now Y'hudah, who betrayed him, had given a sign to those people which
came with him, saying, "Whomever I will kiss, that same is he, secure you
him."
78 And forthwith he approached Yeshua, and said, "Shalom rabbi," and
kissed him.
79 And Yeshua said to him, "Beloved, why have you come?" Then they
came near, and laid hands on Yeshua, and seized him.
80 And, behold, one of them, which was with Yeshua, put out his hand, and
drew his sword, and struck the servant of the Chief Cohen, and cut off his
ear.
81 Then said Yeshua to him, “Return your sword to its place,
for all they that take the sword
will perish with the sword.”
82 Think you that I cannot ask of my Father that he should send now on my
behalf more than twelve legions of angels?
83 But how then will the Scriptures be established, which have written that
in this way it must be done?"
84 In that same hour said Yeshua to the crowds, "Have you come out to
meet me as against a robber, with swords and spears to secure me? Every
day I sat beside you and taught you in the Temple, and you seized me not.
85 But all this has come to pass to establish the Scriptures of the Prophets."
Then all the talmidim forsook him and fled.
86 So they seized Yeshua, and led him to Kayafah the Chief Cohen, where
the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
87 And Kefa followed him afar off to the court of the Chief Cohen, and
Nazarenes. And the same is also adduced by Anselm in his lamentation: …” (Historia passionis Domini;
MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 32r) see Luke 22:43
entered into the beit [din], And Shim'on Kefa and one of the other talmidim
were following Yeshua. And the Chief Cohen knew that talmid
88 as he was the son of the poor fisherman Zavdai, he had often brought fish
to the palace of the high cohenim Hananyah and Kayafah.
89 And Yochanan went out to the damsel that kept the door and secured
from her permission for his companion Kefa, who stood weeping loudly
before the door, to come in.163
90 and he entered the beit-din with Yeshua and sat with the menials, to see
what would be the end.
91 Now the Chief Cohenim, and the whole council, sought false witness
against Yeshua, to deliver him up to death.
92 But they found none, though there came forward many false witnesses.
But at the last there came two false witnesses, and said,
93 "He said, 'I can pull down the Temple of El, and before three days I can
build it.'"
94 Then the Chief Cohen arose, and said to him, "Answer you nothing at all
concerning these things which they witness against you?"
95 But Yeshua answered nothing, but was silent. Then the Chief Cohen said
to him, "I adjure you by the living Elohim, that you tell us whether you are
Messiah, the Son of Elohim."
96 And Yeshua answered and said to him, "You have said. Therefore I say
to you,
hereafter you will see the Son of Man, that sits here on the right hand of
the Power of Elohim, coming in the clouds of heaven."164
97 Then the Chief Cohen tore his garments, saying, "He has blasphemed.
What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, you have heard now that
he has blasphemed.
98 How seems it to you?" And they answered, saying, "He is condemned to
death."
99 Then they spat in his face, and struck him with the fist, and others put
their hands upon his face,
100 saying, "Prophecy to us, O Messiah, who it is that assaulted you?"
101 Now Kefa sat out in the court, and there approached him a maidservant
saying, "You too were with Yeshua the Galilean."
102 But he denied in the sight of all, saying, "I know not what you say."
103 And when he was going out to the door, another saw him, and said to
them that were there, "He also was with Yeshua the Natzrati.
163 vss. 58-60 “In the Gospel of the Nazarenes the reason is given why John was known to the high priest.
…” (Historia passionis Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 35r)
164 Dan. 7:13; Ps. 110:1
104 And again he denied with an oath, and said, "I do not know him!"
105 And after a while they that stood there came near, and said to Kefa, "In
truth you are of them, for your tongue reveals you."
106 Then he denied and swore and cursed165
that he knew not that man. And
immediately the rooster crowed.
107 And Kefa remembered the words of Yeshua, who had said, "Before the
rooster crows, three times will you deny me." And then he went outside, and
wept bitterly.
CHAPTER 27
1 And it came to pass in the morning, that all the Chief Cohenim and elders
of the people were in a conclave together concerning Yeshua in order to
condemn him to death.
2 And they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him to Pontius
Pilate the governor.
3 Then Y'hudah, who had betrayed him, saw that he was condemned to
death, and repented, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver which had
been given him, and gave them to the Chief Cohenim and elders,
4 saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the blood of the righteous."
But they said, "What is that to us? See you to it."
5 And he cast the thirty pieces of silver into the Temple, and hanged himself
with a halter.
6 And the Chief Cohenim took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not right to
cast them into the treasury, for they are the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and brought with them the portion of the potter's
field, for the burial of strangers.
8 Therefore the portion was called Chakel Damah to this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet, who said, "And
they took the thirty pieces of silver, a good price of him that was valued,
whom they valued of the children of Yisrael,
10 and gave them for the potter's portion, as YHWH appointed me."166
11 Now Yeshua stood before the governor, and the governor asked him,
saying, "Are you king of the Jews?" And Yeshua answered him, and said,
"You say."
165 Greek Matthew has “then began he to curse and to swear” but some Greek manuscripts of Matthew have
a marginal note which reads “The Judaikon: ‘and he denied and swore and cursed.’” Shem Tob Hebrew
Matthew has “Then he began to deny and to swear…”
166 Zech. 11:12-13
12 But when the Chief Cohenim and elders slandered him, he answered
them nothing.
13 Then said Pilate to him, "Hear you not the testimony which they witness
against you?"
14 But he answered him nothing, not even a single word, so that the
governor marveled exceedingly.
15 Now on the feast day it was the custom for the governor to bring out to
the people one prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then in custody one prisoner, a bandit, whose name was
called Bar Rabbah167.
17 Therefore when they were assembled, Pilate said to them, "Who wish you
that I release to you? Bar Rabbah, or Yeshua which is called Messiah?"
18 For he knew that for hatred they had delivered him up.
19 And when he had set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him,
saying, "Have you nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered
many things this day because of him."
20 But the Chief Cohenim and elders persuaded the people to ask Bar
Rabbah, and destroy Yeshua.
21 And the governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two wish
you
that I release to you?" And they said, "Bar Rabbah."
22 And Pilate said to them, "What will I do then with Yeshua who is called
Messiah?" And they all answered and said, "Let him be crucified."
23 Then the governor said to them, "But what evil has he done?" And they
repeated and cried, "Let him be crucified."
24 Then Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, for a great commotion
arose. Therefore he took water, and washed his hands before the people,
saying, "I am innocent of the blood <of this righteous man, > this see you."
25 Then answered all the people, and said, "His blood be on us, and our
children."
26 Then released he Bar Rabbah to them, but delivered Yeshua to them to be
scourged with whips, and crucified.
27 For certain Judeans had bribed four of the soldiers to scourge him so
severely that the blood might flow from every part of his body.168
167 “Barabbas… is interpreted in the so-called Gospel according to the Hebrews as ‘son of their teacher’” –
Jerome; on Matt. 27:16. This agrees with the reading of the Hebrew DuTillet version of Matthew which has
“Bar Rabbah” meaning “Son of a Master”.
168 “We read in the Gospel of the Nazarenes that… They had also bribed the same soldiers to the end that
they crucified him as it is said in John 19.” (Historia passionis Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift
14th-15th Century, foll. 44r)
28 And then the soldiers of the governor took Yeshua, and delivered him to
them in the judgment hall, and gathered to him the whole crowd.
29 And they stripped him, and robed him in a scarlet tunic,
30 and encircled his head with thorns for a crown, and placed a reed in his
right hand, and bowed their knees before him, and mocked him, saying,
"Shalom to you, king of the Jews!"
31 And they spit upon him, and they took the reed, and smote him on the
head.
32 And after that they had ridiculed him, they stripped him of his tunic, and
clothed him in his own garments, and led him away to be crucified.
33 And as they were going out, they found a man of Cyrene, whose name
was Shim'on, and he they brought to carry his gallows.
34 And when they had come to the place which is termed Gulgolta,
35 they gave him wine mingled with gall169, and when he had tasted, he
would not drink.
36 Then said Yeshua, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they
do."
37 At this word many thousands of the Jews who were standing around the
gallows became believers.170
38 And after they had crucified him, they parted his garments, and cast lots,
to fulfill that which was spoken by the mouth of the prophet, who said,
"They part my garments among them,
and upon my garment they cast lots.’171
39 And they sat down and guarded him.
40 And they set his sentence above his head, and thus it was written:
THIS IS YESHUA, KING OF THE JEWS.
41 Then were crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand, and one
on the left hand.
42 And all they that passed by were reviling him, and nodding their
heads172,
43 saying, "Aha! You that destroy the Temple of Elohim, and in three days
169 Ps. 69:22(21)
170 “As it is said in the Gospel of the Nazarenes:…” (Haimo of Auxerre; Comm. On Is. 53:2); “[Father
forgive them, for they know not what they do.] Note that in the Gospel of the Nazarenes we have to read
that at this virtuous discourse of Messiah eight thousand were later converted to the faith; namely three
thousand on the day of Pentecost as stated in the Acts of the Apostles 2 [2:41], and subsequently five
thousand about whom we are informed in the Acts of the Apostles 10 [this likely refers to Acts 4:4 rather
than 10].” (Historia passionis Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 55r)
171 Psalm 22:19(18)
172 Psalm 22:8(7)
build it, save yourself. If you be the Son of Elohim, come down from the
gallows."
44 And likewise the Chief Cohenim reviled him, with the scribes and elders,
45 saying, "He saved others, but himself he cannot save. If he is the king of
Yisrael, let him now come down from this gallows, and we will believe in
him.
46 He believed in Elohim, let him deliver him now, if he delight [in
him]173, for he said, 'I am the Son of Elohim.'"
47 And so likewise the robbers, which were crucified with him, reproached
him.
48 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the
ninth hour.
49 And at the ninth hour Yeshua cried with a loud voice, and said, "My El,
my El, why have you forsaken me?"174
50 And some of the men that stood by, when they heard, and said, "He calls
for Eliyahu."
51 And one of them ran right away, and took the sponge, and filled it with
vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.175
52 But the others said, "Let be, and let us see if Eliyahu will come to deliver
him.
53 Then Yeshua cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
54 And, behold, the earth did quake, the lintel of the Temple of wondrous
size was broken and even forced asunder176, the veil of the Temple was torn
in two from the top to the bottom, and, and the rocks were torn,
55 and the sepulchers were opened, and many bodies of the set-apart ones,
which were laid, arose,
56 and went out from the sepulchers after his resurrection, and entered into
the set-apart city, and were seen by many.
57 And the centurions which were with Yeshua, to guard him, when they
saw the earthquake, and those things that had come to pass, were
exceedingly afraid, and said, "In truth, he was the Son of Elohim."
58 Now many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Yeshua
173 Psalm 22:9(8)
174 Psalm 22:2(1)
175 Psalm 69:22(21)
176 “But in the Gospel which is written in Hebrew characters we read not that the veil of the Temple was
rent, but that the lintel of the Temple of wondrous size was broken and even forced asunder.” –Jerome;
Letter 120 to Hedibia; Jerome on Mat. 27:51; “Also in the Gospel of the Nazarenes we read that at the time
of Messiah’s death the lintel of the Temple, of immense size, had split (Josephus says the same and adds
that overhead awful voices were heard which said: ‘Let us depart from this abode). (Historia passionis
Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 65r)
from Galil, serving him,
59 among who was Miriam the From Magdala, and Miriam Bat Ya'akov,
and the mother of Yosef, and the mother of Zavdai.
60 And when it was evening, there came one rich man from HaRamatayim,
whose name was Yosef, and he also was a talmid of Yeshua.
61 And he approached Pilate, and asked the body of Yeshua. Then Pilate
commanded the body of Yeshua to be given.
62 And Yosef took the body of Yeshua, and wrapped it in pure linen,
63 and placed it in his new sepulcher, which was cut out of the rock. Then
he rolled the great stone over the door of the sepulcher, and went his way.
64 And there were there, Miriam from Magdala, and the other Miriam's,
sitting over against the sepulcher.
65 Now on the next day, which was following the search for leaven, the
Chief Cohenim and P'rushim came together to Pilate,
66 Saying, "My master, we remember that this deceiver said before three
days I will rise again.
67 Therefore give command to guard the sepulcher until the third day, lest
his talmidim enter, and steal him away, and say to the people, that he has
risen from the dead, so the last error will be worse than the first."
68 And Pilate said to them, "Behold, you have a guard, go, and keep guard
as you know." And he delivered to them armed men, that they might sit over
against the cave and keep it day and night177.
69 So they went, and made the sepulcher inaccessible with guards, and
sealed the stone.
CHAPTER 28
1 And when the Sabbath had passed, as it dawned toward the first day of the
week178, came Miriam from the Magdala and the other Miriam to see the
sepulcher.
2 And, behold, there had been a great earthquake, for the angel of YHWH
had descended from heaven, <and approached> and rolled away the stone
from the door, and sat on it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his garments like snow,
4 and for fear of him the guards trembled, and became as dead.
5 And the angel answered and said to the woman, "Fear you not, I know that
177 Some Greek manuscripts of Matthew have a marginal note which reads “The Judaikon has ‘And he
delivered to them armed men, that they might sit over against the cave and keep it day and night.”
178 Toldot Yeshu 5:1 ia s parody on this verse.
you are seeking Yeshua.
6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said179. Come now, and see the place
wherein HaAdon was laid.
7 And go now right away, and tell his talmidim that he has risen from the
dead, and behold, he goes before to Galil, and there will you see him, and
behold, I have told you."
8 And Shim’on went out and Yochanan, and they came to the sepulcher.
9 And both of them were running together, but Yochanan ran before
Shim’on and came first to the sepulcher.
10 And he looked in and saw the linen clothes put off, but he in no way
11 And Shim’on came after him and entered the sepulcher and saw the linen
cloths put off.
12 And the head cloth that had been wrapped around his head, not with the
linen cloths, but folded and put aside in one place.
13 Then entered also that talmid that had come to the sepulcher first, and he
saw and believed.
14 For they did not yet know from the scriptures that he was to arise from
among the dead.
15 And the talmidim went again to their place.180
16 And Miriam was standing by the grave and was crying. And as she cried,
she looked into the grave.
17 And she saw two angels in white who were sitting, one at the place of his
head and one at his feet, where the body of Yeshua had been laid.
18 And they said to her,Woman, why are you crying? She said to them,
Because they have taken my Adon, and I do not know where they have laid
him.
19 She said this and turned around and saw Yeshua standing. And she did
not know it was Yeshua.
20 Yeshua said to her,Woman, why are you crying, and whom do you seek?
And she thought that he was the gardener and said to him, My master, if you
have taken him, tell me where you have placed him, I will go and take him.
21 Yeshua said to her, Miriam. And she answered and said to him, Rabbuli,
which means teacher.
22 Yeshua said to her, Do not come near to me, for I have not yet ascended
to my father. But go to my brothers and tell them I ascend to my father and
your father, and my Elohim and your Elohim.
179 Toldot Yeshu 5:5 is a parody on this verse.
180 Verses 8-15 – This material would have served as the basis for Jn. 20:3-10 and Luke 24:12. Its presence
is also implied by the reference to the linen cloth which is referred to in verses 27-30 and because it sets up
the context for verses 16-23. It has been restored from Jn. 20:3-10.
23 Then Miriam from Magdala came and declared to the talmidim that she
had seen our Adon, and that he had told her these things181.
24 And they having went out quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great
joy, and ran to tell his talmidim.
25 And as they were going to tell his talmidim, behold, Yeshua came to
meet them, saying, "Shalom be with you." And, behold, they approached
and held him by the feet, and worshiped him.
26 Then said Yeshua to them, "Fear you not, go now and tell my brothers
that they go to Galil, for there will they see me."
27 Now the Adon, when he had given the linen cloth to the servant of the
cohen, went to Ya'akov and appeared to him.
28 And the Adon said "Bring a table and bread."
29 He took the bread and blessed and broke and gave it to Ya'akov
HaTzadik and said to him,
30 My brother, eat your bread, for the Son of Man is risen from among them
that sleep182.
31 And behold, some of the guards came to the city, and told the Chief
Cohenim all that had come to pass.
32 And when they had assembled the elders, and had taken counsel, they
gave much money to the soldiers,
33 Saying, "Say you, that his talmidim came by night, and stole him away
while we lay down.
34 And if this should be heard by the governor, we will persuade him, and
secure you."
35 So they took the money, and did as they were taught, and the saying is
common among the Jews until this day.
36 And when he came to Kefa, and those who were with Kefa, he said to
them,
37 “Take, handle me, and see that I am not a bodiless spirit”. And forthwith
181 Verses 16-23 are restored from Jn. 20:11-17 on the basis that Toldot Yeshu 5:16-20 is a parody on these
verses.
182 verses 27-30 “Also the Gospel called according to the Hebrews, recently translated by me into Greek
and Latin, which Origin often uses, says after the resurrection of the Savior: ‘Now the Lord, when he had
given the linen cloth to the servant of the priest, went to James and appeared to him (for James had sworn
that he would not eat bread from that hour in which he had drunk the Lord’s cup until he should see him
risen from among them that sleep). And a little further on the Lord says, ‘Bring a table and bread.’ And
immediately it is added, ‘He took bread…” –Jerome, On Illustrious Men, 2; This event is referred to in
1Cor. 15:7 but is not recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. “The appearance to Ya'akov (James), ...is
not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament but is reported in one of the apocryphal books, the Gospel
according to the Hebrews...” (Jewish New Testament Commentary by David Stern on 1Cor. 15:7)
they touched and believed, being convinced both by his flesh and spirit.;183
38 Then his eleven talmidim went away to Galil, to a mountain were Yeshua
had appointed them.
39 And they saw him, and worshiped him, but some doubted.
40 And Yeshua approached and spoke to them, saying,
"All authority is given me in heaven and earth.
41 Go you therefore, and teach all the Goyim,
and immerse them in the name of the Father, and the Son,
and the Ruach HaKodesh,
42 and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you,
and here am I with you all the days, to the end of the world.
CHAPTER 29
1 And while he ate bread with them, he commanded them that they should
not depart from Yerushalayim, but that they should wait for the promise of
the Father, which you have heard from me.
2 For Yochanan immersed in water, but you will be immersed in Ruach
HaKodesh after not many days.
3 And while they were assembled, they asked him and said to him, Our
Adon, will you at this time restore the Kingdom to Yisra'el?
4 He said to them, This is not yours to know the time of times that the Father
has placed in his own authority.
5 But when the Ruach HaKodesh comes upon you, you will receive power,
and you will be witnesses for me in Yerushalayim and in all Y'hudah and
also among the Samaritans, even unto the ends of the earth.
6 And while he had said these things, while they watched him, he was taken
up, and a cloud received him and he was hidden from their eyes.
7 And while they were gazing into heaven, while he was departing, two men
were found standing near them in white garment.
8 And they said to them, men of Galil, why do you stand and gaze into
183 Verses 36-37 “Of the Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp. In it he also inserts a testimony about the person
of Messiah, from the Gospel which was recently translated by me; his words are “But I both saw him in the
flesh after the resurrection, and believe that he is in the flesh: and when he came to Peter,…” –Jerome; of
Illustrious Men 16 and Comm. On Isa. Preface to book 18. Actually the quote is from Ignatious to the
Smyraneans 3:1-2 (1:9-12 in some editions) (Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna); Eccl. Hist. 3:36 indicates
this also appeared in a now lost work called the Doctrine of Peter.; see Lk. 24:36-39
heaven? This Yeshua who was taken up from you into heaven will come in
the same manner like you have seen him who ascended into heaven.
9 And afterward, they returned to Yerushalayim from the mountain that is
Beit Zayta, which was near Yerushalayim and distant from it about a
Sabbath day’s journey.
10 And after they entered, they went up into an upper room in which lived
Peter and Yochanan and Ya'akov and Andrew and Philip and T'oma and
Matti and Bar Talmai and Ya'akov Bar Chalfai, and Shim’on, the zealot, and
Y'hudah Bar Ya'akov.
11 All of these as one were steadfast in prayer with one nefesh with the
women and with Miriam, the mother of Yeshua, and with his brothers.
12 And in those same days, Shim’on Kefa stood up in the midst of the
talmidim (now there was there a gathering of about one hundred and twenty
men) and said,
13 Men, our brothers, it was right that the scripture be fulfilled which the
Ruach HaKodesh foretold by the mouth of David about Y'hudah, who was a
guide to those who seized Yeshua,
14 Because he was numbered with us and had a portion in this service.
15 For it is written in the Book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate
and let no one be a dweller in it184, and let another take his service185.
16 And it is right therefore for one of these men who were with us during
this whole time in which our Adon Yeshua entered and went out among us,
17 Who began from the immersion of Yochanan until the day that he was
taken up from being with us, to be a witness of his resurrection with us.
18 And they caused two to stand, Yosef, who was called Bar Sabba, who
was named Justus, and Mattityahu who was called Levi186.
19 And when they prayed they said, You, YHWH, know that which is in the
hearts of all; show the one that you have chosen of these two,
20 That he might receive a portion of the service and emissariship from
which Y'hudah departed to go to his place.
21 And they cast lots, and it fell upon Mattityahu. And he was numbered
with the eleven emissaries.
184 Psalm 69:26(25)
185 Psalm 109:8
186 “It seems that Matthew is named Levi in the Gospel according to Luke. But they are not the same, but
Matthias who replaced Judas and Levi are the same with a double name, this appears from the Gospel according to the Hebrews.” (Didymus the Blind; Comm. On Psalms K-R, 198);
1 And while he ate bread with them, he commanded them that they should
not depart from Yerushalayim, but that they should wait for the promise of
the Father, which you have heard from me.
2 For Yochanan immersed in water, but you will be immersed in Ruach
HaKodesh after not many days.
3 And while they were assembled, they asked him and said to him, Our
Adon, will you at this time restore the Kingdom to Yisra'el?
4 He said to them, This is not yours to know the time of times that the Father
has placed in his own authority.
5 But when the Ruach HaKodesh comes upon you, you will receive power,
and you will be witnesses for me in Yerushalayim and in all Y'hudah and
also among the Samaritans, even unto the ends of the earth.
6 And while he had said these things, while they watched him, he was taken
up, and a cloud received him and he was hidden from their eyes.
7 And while they were gazing into heaven, while he was departing, two men
were found standing near them in white garment.
8 And they said to them, men of Galil, why do you stand and gaze into
183 Verses 36-37 “Of the Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp. In it he also inserts a testimony about the person
of Messiah, from the Gospel which was recently translated by me; his words are “But I both saw him in the
flesh after the resurrection, and believe that he is in the flesh: and when he came to Peter,…” –Jerome; of
Illustrious Men 16 and Comm. On Isa. Preface to book 18. Actually the quote is from Ignatious to the
Smyraneans 3:1-2 (1:9-12 in some editions) (Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna); Eccl. Hist. 3:36 indicates
this also appeared in a now lost work called the Doctrine of Peter.; see Lk. 24:36-39
heaven? This Yeshua who was taken up from you into heaven will come in
the same manner like you have seen him who ascended into heaven.
9 And afterward, they returned to Yerushalayim from the mountain that is
Beit Zayta, which was near Yerushalayim and distant from it about a
Sabbath day’s journey.
10 And after they entered, they went up into an upper room in which lived
Peter and Yochanan and Ya'akov and Andrew and Philip and T'oma and
Matti and Bar Talmai and Ya'akov Bar Chalfai, and Shim’on, the zealot, and
Y'hudah Bar Ya'akov.
11 All of these as one were steadfast in prayer with one nefesh with the
women and with Miriam, the mother of Yeshua, and with his brothers.
12 And in those same days, Shim’on Kefa stood up in the midst of the
talmidim (now there was there a gathering of about one hundred and twenty
men) and said,
13 Men, our brothers, it was right that the scripture be fulfilled which the
Ruach HaKodesh foretold by the mouth of David about Y'hudah, who was a
guide to those who seized Yeshua,
14 Because he was numbered with us and had a portion in this service.
15 For it is written in the Book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate
and let no one be a dweller in it184, and let another take his service185.
16 And it is right therefore for one of these men who were with us during
this whole time in which our Adon Yeshua entered and went out among us,
17 Who began from the immersion of Yochanan until the day that he was
taken up from being with us, to be a witness of his resurrection with us.
18 And they caused two to stand, Yosef, who was called Bar Sabba, who
was named Justus, and Mattityahu who was called Levi186.
19 And when they prayed they said, You, YHWH, know that which is in the
hearts of all; show the one that you have chosen of these two,
20 That he might receive a portion of the service and emissariship from
which Y'hudah departed to go to his place.
21 And they cast lots, and it fell upon Mattityahu. And he was numbered
with the eleven emissaries.
184 Psalm 69:26(25)
185 Psalm 109:8
186 “It seems that Matthew is named Levi in the Gospel according to Luke. But they are not the same, but
Matthias who replaced Judas and Levi are the same with a double name, this appears from the Gospel according to the Hebrews.” (Didymus the Blind; Comm. On Psalms K-R, 198);
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