Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/296

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APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.

left me and fled away. And his father, greatly rejoicing because of this, said, My son, it may be that this child is the Son of the living God who created heaven and earth; for when he came to us, the idol was broken and all the gods fell, and perished through the might of his magnificence.

CHAPTER XII.

Here was fulfilled the prophecy which saith, Out of Egypt have I called my son.[1] But Joseph and Mary, when they heard that the idol had fallen and perished, feared and trembled. Then they said, When we were in the land of Israel, Herod thought to slay Jesus, and therefore he slew all the children of Bethlehem and its borders; and there is no doubt but the Egyptians, as soon as they hear that this idol is broken, will burn us with fire.

CHAPTER XIII.

They departed thence and came to a place where there were robbers, who had plundered many men of their baggage and clothing, and bound them. Then the robbers heard a great noise, like the wonted noise of a magnificent king going forth from his city with an army and horsemen and drums. Being terrified thereby, the robbers abandoned all that they

  1. Hos. xi. 1; Matt. ii. 15.