Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/489

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LATIN GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS.
373

They answered and said, We arose with Christ from the underworld, and He raised us from the dead. And hereby ye may know that the gates of death and darkness are destroyed, and the souls of the saints are taken thence and have ascended into heaven with Christ the Lord. For it hath been commanded us by the Lord himself that for a certain time we should walk about the banks of the Jordan and the mountains; yet not appearing unto all, nor speaking with all, but only those whom it hath pleased him. And now we could neither have appeared nor spoken unto you unless it had been permitted us by the Holy Spirit.

Now when all the multitude that was present in the council heard this, being filled with fear and trembling, they wondered if those things had been really done which the Galileans declared. Then Caiaphas and Annas said to the council, All that these have declared, both before and after, must now be cleared up. If it is found true that Karinus and Leucius continue alive in the body, and if we can behold them with our eyes, then all is true which they have declared; and they who find them will certify us concerning everything. But if not, ye may know that all is false.

Then the council forthwith arose, and it seemed good to them to choose fit men who feared God and who knew when they died, and where they were