Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/179

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THE GOSPEL OF PSEUDO-MATTHEW.
63

CHAPTER XXIII.

Now it came to pass that when the most blessed Mary, with her little Infant, had entered the temple, all the idols were prostrate on the earth, so that they all lay upon their faces wholly shattered and broken, and so they showed evidently that they were nothing. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: Behold the Lord shall come upon a light cloud, and shall enter Egypt, and all the handiworks of the Egyptians shall be moved at his presence.[1]

CHAPTER XXIV.

Then when it had been told to Aphrodosius the ruler of that city, he came with all his army to the temple. But when the priests of the temple saw that Aphrodosius, with all his army, came to the temple, they thought that he hastened only to see his revenge on those because of whom the gods had fallen. But he, having entered the temple, when he saw all the idols lie prostrate on their faces, drew nigh to the blessed Mary, who bore the Lord in her lap, and adoring him, said to all his army, and to all his friends, If this were not the God of our gods, our gods would by no means have fallen on their faces before him, neither would they lie prostrate in his sight: wherefore, they silently avow him to be

  1. Is. xix. 1.