Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/536

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
420
APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.



THE STORY OF JOSEPH.

The Story of Joseph of Arimathea, who begged the body of the Lord: in which he also introduces the Case of the two Robbers.


CHAPTER I.

I Joseph of Arimathea begged from Pilate the body of the Lord Jesus for burial, and for the same cause was bound with fetters by the murderous and God-opposing Jews, who also, by setting aside the law, became to Moses himself ministers of tribulation, and after provoking the lawgiver, and not acknowledging God, crucified Him, and made Him manifest to them that knew God.

In those days in which they condemned the Son of God to be crucified, seven days before the passion of Christ, two robbers, who had been condemned, were sent from Jericho[1] to Pilate, the governor, and their case was this: —

The first, whose name was Gestas, slew wayfarers

  1. Luke x. 30.