Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/222

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APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.

CHAPTER VII.

After the lapse of some time, a command went forth, from Augustus Cæsar, the king, that all the habitable globe should be enrolled, every one in his own city. Therefore the just old man Joseph arose, and took with him Mary the virgin, and they came to Bethlehem, because her time to be delivered drew nigh, Now Joseph inscribed his name on the register: for Joseph the son of David, whose spouse was Mary, was of the tribe of Judah. And Mary, my mother, brought me forth at Bethlehem in a cave, very nigh to the sepulchre of Rachel, the wife of Jacob the patriarch, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

CHAPTER VIII.

But Satan went and reported this to Herod the Great, the father of Archelaus. It was this same Herod who commanded John my friend and kinsman to be beheaded.[1] Therefore he diligently sought after me, supposing my kingdom would be of this world.[2] But Joseph, the pious old man, was admonished of this matter by a dream. He therefore arose and took Mary my mother: and I lay in her bosom. Salome also added herself to them as the

  1. John the Baptist was put to death by order of Herod Antipas; there is therefore an error in the text, whether the writer means Herod the Great, or Archelaus.
  2. John xviii. 36.