Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/376

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APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.

linen cloth lay therein, and the napkin which was upon his face; and I knew that it was Jesus. And he took me by the hand, and set me, the doors being shut, inside my house, and he led me to my couch, and said to me, Peace be to thee. And he kissed me, and said to me, Go not out of thine house for forty days; for behold, I go into Galilee, unto my brethren.

CHAPTER XVI.

And when the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests and the Levites heard these words from Joseph, they became as dead men, and fell to the ground, and fasted until the ninth hour. And Nicodemus and Joseph comforted Annas and Caiaphas, the priests and the Levites, saying, Arise and stand upon your feet, and taste bread, and strengthen your souls, for to-morrow is the sabbath of the Lord. And they arose and prayed to God, and ate and drank, and went every man to his house.

And on the sabbath, our teachers, and the priests and Levites, sat and questioned with one another, and said, What is this wrath which has come upon us? for we know his father and his mother. Levi a teacher, saith, I know his parents fear God, and neglect not prayer, and give tithes thrice a year. And when Jesus was born, his parents brought him to this place, and offered sacrifices and whole burnt