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APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.

children as ye have said. But when the Jews heard this they were embittered in their heart, and took Joseph and shut him in a house where there was no window, and put keepers at the doors, and sealed up the door where Joseph was shut in.

Now on the Sabbath in the morning they took counsel with the priests and Levites that all should be assembled after the sabbath day. And, rising at daylight, all the multitude took counsel in the synagogue, by what death they should kill him. And while the congregation was sitting, they commanded him to be brought with much insult; and on opening the door they found him not. Therefore all the people were afraid, and they wondered with exceeding astonishment, because they found the seals sealed, and because Caiaphas had the keys. And they dared no more to lay a hand on those who had spoken for Jesus before Pilate.

CHAPTER XIII.

Now while they sat in the synagogue and disputed about Joseph, some of the keepers came whom they had asked from Pilate to guard the sepulchre of Jesus, lest his disciples should come and steal him away. And they made known and told the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests and the Levites, what was done; how there had been a great earth-