THE GOSPEL OF PSEUDO-MATTHEW

HERE beginneth the book of the Birth of the Blessed Mary and the Infancy

of the Saviour. Written in Hebrew by the Blessed Evangelist Matthew, and

translated into Latin by the Blessed Presbyter Jerome.

To their well-beloved brother Jerome the Presbyter, Bishops Cromatius

and Heliodorus in the Lord, greeting.

The birth of the Virgin Mary, and the nativity and infancy of our Lord

Jesus Christ, we find in apocryphal books. But considering that in them

many things contrary to our faith are written, we have believed that

they ought all to be rejected, lest perchance we should transfer the joy

of Christ to Antichrist. (1) While, therefore, we were considering these

things, there came holy men, Parmenius and Varinus, who said that your

Holiness had found a Hebrew volume, written by the hand of the most

blessed Evangelist Matthew, in which also the birth of the virgin mother

herself, and the infancy of our Saviour, were written. And accordingly

we entreat your affection by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, to render it

from the Hebrew into Latin, (2) not so much for the attainment of those

things which are the insignia of Christ, as for the exclusion of the

craft of heretics, who, in order to teach bad doctrine, have mingled

their own lies with the excellent nativity of Christ, that by the

sweetness of life they might hide the bitterness of death. It will

therefore become your purest piety, either to listen to us as your

brethren entreating, or to let us have as bishops exacting, the debt of

affection which you may deem due.

REPLY TO THEIR LETTER BY JEROME.

To my lords the holy and most blessed Bishops Cromatius and Heliodorus,

Jerome, a humble servant of Christ, in the Lord greeting.

He who digs in ground where he knows that there is gold, (3) does not

instantly snatch at whatever the uptorn trench may pour forth; but,

before the stroke of the quivering spade raises aloft the glittering

mass, he meanwhile lingers over the sods to turn them over and lift them

up, and especially he who has not added to his gains. An arduous task is

enjoined upon me, since what your Blessedness has commanded me, the holy

Apostle and Evangelist Matthew himself did not write for the purpose of

publishing. For if he had not done it somewhat secretly, he would have

added it also to his Gospel which he published. But he composed this

book in Hebrew; and so little did he publish it, that at this day the

book written in Hebrew by his own hand is in the possession of very

religious men, to whom in successive periods of time it has been handed

down by those that were before them. And this book they never at any

time gave to any one to translate. And so it came to pass, that when it

was published by a disciple of Manichaeus named Leucius, who also wrote

the falsely styled Acts of the Apostles, this book afforded matter, not

of edification, but of perdition; and the opinion of the Synod in regard

to it was according to its deserts, that the ears of the Church should

not be open to it. Let the snapping of those that bark against us now

cease; for we do not add this little book to the canonical writings, but

we translate what was written by an Apostle and Evangelist, that we may

disclose the falsehood of heresy. In this work, then, we obey the

commands of pious bishops as well as oppose impious heretics. It is the

love of Christ, therefore, which we fulfil, believing that they will

assist us by their prayers, who through our obedience attain to a

knowledge of the holy infancy of our Saviour.

There is extant another letter to the same bishops, attributed to Jerome: --

You ask me to let you know what I think of a book held by some to be

about the nativity of St. Mary. And so I wish you to know that there is

much in it that is false. For one Seleucus, who wrote the Sufferings of

the Apostles, composed this book. But, just as he wrote what was true

about their powers, and the miracles they worked, but said a great deal

that was false about their doctrine; so here too he has invented many

untruths out of his own head. I shall take care to render it word for

word, exactly as it is in the Hebrew, since it is asserted that it was

composed by the holy Evangelist Matthew, and written in Hebrew, and set

at the head of his Gospel. Whether this be true or not, I leave to the

author of the preface and the trustworthiness of the writer: as for

myself, I pronounce them doubtful; I do not affirm that they are clearly

false. But this I say freely-- and I think none of the faithful will

deny it -- that, whether these stories be true or inventions, the sacred

nativity of St. Mary was preceded by great miracles, and succeeded by

the greatest; and so by those who believe that God can do these things,

they can be believed and read without damaging their faith or

imperilling their souls. In short, so far as I can, following the sense

rather than the words of the writer, and sometimes walking in the same

path, though not in the same footsteps, sometimes digressing a little,

but still keeping the same road, I shall in this way keep by the style

of the narrative, and shall say nothing that is not either written

there, or might, following the same train of thought, have been written.

CHAP. 1. (1) -- In those days there was a man in Jerusalem, Joachim by

name, of the tribe of Judah. He was the shepherd of his own sheep,

fearing the Lord in integrity and singleness of heart. He had no other

care than that of his herds, from the produce of which he supplied with

food all that feared God, offering double gifts in the fear of God to

all who laboured in doctrine, and who ministered unto Him. Therefore his

lambs, and his sheep, and his wool, and all things whatsoever he

possessed, he used to divide into three portions: one he gave to the

orphans, the widows, the strangers, and the poor; the second to those

that worshipped God; and the third he kept for himself and all his

house. (2) And as he did so, the Lord multiplied to him his herds, so

that there was no man like him in the people of Israel. This now he

began to do when he was fifteen years old. And at the age of twenty he

took to wife Anna, the daughter of Achar, of his own tribe, that is, of

the tribe of Judah, of the family of David. And though they had lived

together for twenty years, he had by her neither sons nor daughters. (3)

CHAP. 2. -- And it happened that, in the time of the feast, among those

who were offering incense to the Lord, Joachim stood getting ready his

gifts in the sight of the Lord. And the priest, Ruben by name, coming to

him, said: It is not lawful for thee to stand among those who are doing

sacrifice to God, because God has not blessed thee so as to give thee

seed in lsrael. Being therefore put to shame in the sight of the people,

he retired from the temple of the Lord weeping, and did not return to

his house, but went to his flocks, taking with him his shepherds into

the mountains to a far country, so that for five months his wife Anna

could hear no tidings of him. And she prayed with tears, saying: O Lord,

most mighty God of Israel, why hast Thou, seeing that already Thou hast

not given me children, taken from me my husband also? Behold, now five

months that I have not seen my husband; and I know not where he is

tarrying; (4) nor, if I knew him to be dead, could I bury him. And while

she wept excessively, she entered into the court of His house; and she

fell on her face in prayer, and poured out her supplications before the

Lord. After this, rising from her prayer, and lifting her eyes to God,

she saw a sparrow's nest in a laurel tree, (5) and uttered her voice to

the Lord with groaning, and said: Lord God Almighty, who hast given

offspring to every creature, to beasts wild and tame, to serpents, and

birds, and fishes, and they all rejoice over their young ones, Thou hast

shut out me alone from the gift of Thy benignity. For Thou, O God,

knowest my heart, that from the beginning of my married life I have

vowed that, if Thou, O God, shouldst give me son or daughter, I would

offer them to Thee in Thy holy temple. And while she was thus speaking,

suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared before her, saying: Be not

afraid, Anna, for there is seed for thee in the decree of God; and all

generations even to the end shall wonder at that which shall be born of

thee. And when he had thus spoken, he vanished out of her sight. But

she, in fear and dread because she had seen such a sight, and heard such

words, at length went into her bed-chamber, and threw herself on the bed

as if dead. And for a whole day and night she remained in great

trembling and in prayer. And after these things she called to her her

servant, and said to her: Dost thou see me deceived in my widowhood and

in great perplexity, and hast thou been unwilling to come in to me? Then

she, with a slight murmur, thus answered and said: If God hath shut up

thy womb, and hath taken away thy husband from thee, what can I do for

thee? And when Anna heard this, she lifted up her voice, and wept aloud.

CHAP. 3. -- At the same time there appeared a young man on the mountains

to Joachim while he was feeding his flocks, and said to him: Why dost

thou not return to thy wife? And Joachim said: I have had her for twenty

years, and it has not been the will of God to give me children by her. I

have been driven with shame and reproach from the temple of the Lord:

why should I go back to her, when I have been once cast off and utterly

despised? Here then will I remain with my sheep; and so long as in this

life God is willing to grant me light, I shall willingly, by the hands

of my servants, bestow their portions upon the poor, and the orphans,

and those that fear God. And when he had thus spoken, the young man said

to him: I am an angel of the Lord, and I have to-day appeared to thy

wife when she was weeping and praying, and have consoled her; and know

that she has conceived a daughter from thy seed, and thou in thy

ignorance of this hast left her. She will be in the temple of God, and

the Holy Spirit shall abide in her; and her blessedness shall be greater

than that of all the holy women, so that no one can say that any before

her has been like her, or that any after her in this world will be so.

Therefore go down from the mountains, and return to thy wife, whom thou

wilt find with child. For God hath raised up seed in her, and for this

thou wilt give God thanks; and her seed shall be blessed, and she

herself shall be blessed, and shall be made the mother of eternal

blessing. Then Joachim adored the angel, and said to him: If I have

found favour in thy sight, sit for a little in my tent, and bless thy

servant. (1) And the angel said to him: Do not say servant, but

fellow-servant; for we are the servants of one Master. (2) But my food

is invisible, and my drink cannot be seen by a mortal. Therefore thou

oughtest not to ask me to enter thy tent; but if thou wast about to give

me anything, (3) offer it as a burnt-offering to the Lord. Then Joachim

took a lamb without spot, and said to the angel: I should not have dared

to offer a burnt-offering to the Lord, unless thy command had given me

the priest's right of offering. (4) And the angel said to him: I should

not have invited thee to offer unless I had known the will of the Lord.

And when Joachim was offering the sacrifice to God, the angel and the

odour of the sacrifice went together straight up to heaven with the

smoke. (5)

Then Joachim, throwing himself on his face, lay in prayer from the sixth

hour of the day even until evening. And his lads and hired servants who

were with him saw him, and not knowing why he was lying down, thought

that he was dead; and they came to him, and with difficulty raised him

from the ground. And when he recounted to them the vision of the angel,

they were struck with great fear and wonder, and advised him to

accomplish the vision of the angel without delay, and to go back with

all haste to his wife. And when Joachim was turning over in his mind

whether he should go back or not, it happened that he was overpowered by

a deep sleep; and, behold, the angel who had already appeared to him

when awake, appeared to him in his sleep, saying: I am the angel

appointed by God as thy guardian: go down with confidence, and return to

Anna, because the deeds of mercy which thou and thy wife Anna have done

have been told in the presence of the Most High; and to you will God

give such fruit as no prophet or saint has ever had from the beginning,

or ever will have. And when Joachim awoke out of his sleep, he called

all his herdsmen to him, and told them his dream. And they worshipped

the Lord, and said to him: See that thou no further despise the words of

the angel. But rise and let us go hence, and return at a quiet pace,

feeding our flocks.

And when, after thirty days occupied in going back, they were now near

at hand, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Anna, who was

standing and praying, and said: (6) Go to the gate which is called

Golden, (7) and meet thy husband in the way, for to-day he will come to

thee. She therefore went towards him in haste With her maidens, and,

praying to the Lord, she stood a long time in the gate waiting for him.

And when she was wearied with long waiting, she lifted up her eyes and

saw Joachim afar off coming with his flocks; and she ran to him and hung

on his neck, giving thanks to God, and saying: I was a widow, and behold

now I am not so: I was barren, and behold I have now conceived. And so

they worshipped the Lord, and went into their own house. And when this

was heard of, there was great joy among all their neighbours and

acquaintances, so that the whole land of lsrael congratulated them.

CHAP. 4. --After these things, her nine months being fulfilled, Anna

brought forth a daughter, and called her Mary. And having weaned her in

her third year, Joachim, and Anna his wife, went together to the temple

of the Lord to offer sacrifices to God, and placed the infant, Mary by

name, in the community of virgins, in which the virgins remained day and

night praising God. And when she was put down before the doors of the

temple, she went up the fifteen steps (1) so swiftly, that she did not

look back at all; nor did she, as children are wont to do, seek for her

parents. Whereupon her parents, each of them anxiously seeking for the

child, were both alike astonished, until they found her in the temple,

and the priests of the temple themselves wondered.

CHAP. 5. -- Then Anna, filled with the Holy Spirit, said before them

all: The Lord Almighty, the God of Hosts, being mindful of His word,

hath visited His people with a good and holy visitation, to bring down

the hearts of the Gentiles who were rising against us, and turn them to

Himself. He hath opened His ears to our prayers: He hath kept away from

us the exulting of all our enemies. The barren hath become a mother, and

hath brought forth exultation and gladness to lsrael. Behold the gifts

which I have brought to offer to my Lord, and mine enemies have not been

able to hinder me. For God hath turned their hearts to me, and Himself

hath given me everlasting joy.

CHAP. 6. -- And Mary was held in admiration by all the people of Israel;

and when she was three years old, she walked with a step so mature, she

spoke so perfectly, and spent her time so assiduously in the praises of

God, that all were astonished at her, and wondered; and she was not

reckoned a young infant, but as it were a grown-up person of thirty

years old. She was so constant in prayer, and her appearance was so

beautiful and glorious, that scarcely any one could look into her face.

And she occupied herself constantly with her wool-work, so that she in

her tender years could do all that old women were not able to do. And

this was the order that she had set for herself: (2) From the morning to

the third hour she remained in prayer; from the third to the ninth she

was occupied with her weaving; and from the ninth she again applied

herself to prayer. She did not retire from praying until there appeared

to her the angel of the Lord, from whose hand she used to receive food;

and thus she became more and more perfect in the work of God. Then, when

the older virgins rested from the praises of God, she did not rest at

all; so that in the praises and vigils of God none were found before

her, no one more learned in the wisdom of the law of God, more lowly in

humility, more elegant in singing, more perfect in all virtue. She was

indeed stedfast, immoveable, unchangeable, and daily advancing to

perfection. No one saw her angry, nor heard her speaking evil. All her

speech was so full of grace, that her God was acknowledged to be in her

tongue. She was always engaged in prayer and in searching the law, and

she was anxious lest by any word of hers she should sin with regard to

her companions. Then she was afraid lest in her laughter, or the sound

of her beautiful voice, she should commit any fault, or lest, being

elated, she should display any wrong- doing or haughtiness to one of her

equals. (3) She blessed God without intermission; and lest perchance,

even in her salutation, she might cease from praising God; if any one

saluted her, she used to answer by way of salutation: Thanks be to God.

And from her the custom first began of men saying, Thanks be to God,

when they saluted each other. She refreshed herself only with the food

which she daily received from the hand of the angel; but the food which

she obtained from the priests she divided among the poor. The angels of

God were often seen speaking with her, and they most diligently obeyed

her. If any one who was unwell touched her, the same hour he went home

cured.

CHAP. 7. -- Then Abiathar the priest offered gifts without end to the

high priests, in order that he might obtain her as wife to his son. But

Mary forbade them, saying: It cannot be that I should know a man, or

that a man should know me. For all the priests and all her relations

kept saying to her: God is worshipped in children and adored in

posterity, as has always happened among the sons of Israel. But Mary

answered and said unto them: God is worshipped in chastity, as is proved

first of all. (4) For before Abel there was none righteous among men,

and he by his offerings pleased God, and was without mercy slain by him

who displeased Him. Two crowns, therefore, he received -- of oblation

and of virginity, because in his flesh there was no pollution. Elias

also, when he was in the flesh, was taken up in the flesh, because he

kept his flesh unspotted. Now I, from my infancy in the temple of God,

have learned that virginity can be sufficiently dear to God. And so,

because I can offer what is dear to God, I have resolved in my heart

that I should not know a man at all.

CHAP. 8. -- Now it came to pass, when she was fourteen s years old, and

on this account there was occasion for the Pharisees' saying that it was

now a custom that no woman of that age should abide in the temple of

God, they fell upon the plan of sending a herald through all the tribes

of lsrael, that on the third day all should come together into the

temple of the Lord. And when all the people had come together, Abiathar

the high priest rose, and mounted on a higher step, that he might be

seen and heard by all the people; and when great silence had been

obtained, he said: Hear me, O sons of Israel, and receive my words into

your ears. Ever since this temple was built by Solomon, there have been

in it virgins, the daughters of kings and the daughters of prophets, and

of high priests and priests; and they were great, and worthy of

admiration. But when they came to the proper age they were given in

marriage, and followed the course of their mothers before them, and were

pleasing to God. But a new order of life has been found out by Mary

alone, who promises that she will remain a virgin to God. Wherefore it

seems to me, that through our inquiry and the answer of God we should

try to ascertain to whose keeping she ought to be entrusted. Then these

words found favour with all the synagogue. And the lot was east by the

priests upon the twelve tribes, and the lot fell upon the tribe of

Judah. And the priest said: To-morrow let every one who has no wife

come, and bring his rod in his hand. Whence it happened that Joseph (1)

brought his rod along with the young men. And the rods having been

handed over to the high priest, he offered a sacrifice to the Lord God,

and inquired of the Lord. And the Lord said to him: Put all their rods

into the holy of holies of God, and let them remain there, and order

them to come to thee on the morrow to get back their rods; and the man

from the point of whose rod a dove shall come forth, and fly towards

heaven, and in whose hand the rod, when given back, shall exhibit this

sign, to him let Mary be delivered to be kept.

On the following day, then, all having assembled early, and an

incense-offering having been made, the high priest went into the holy of

ho-lies, and brought forth the rods. And when he had distributed the

rods, (2) and the dove came forth out of none of them, the high priest

put on the twelve bells (3) and the sacerdotal robe; and entering into

the holy of holies, he there made a burnt-offering, and poured forth a

prayer. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him, saying: There is here

the shortest rod, of which thou hast made no account: thou didst bring

it in with the rest, but didst not take it out with them. When thou hast

taken it out, and hast given it him whose it is, in it will appear the

sign of which I spoke to thee. Now that was Joseph's rod; and because he

was an old man, he had been cast off, as it were, that he might not

receive her, but neither did he himself wish to ask back his rod. (4)

And when he was humbly standing last of all, the high priest cried out

to him with a loud voice, saying: Come, Joseph, and receive thy rod; for

we are waiting for thee. And Joseph came up trembling, because the high

priest had called him with a very loud voice. But as soon as he

stretched forth his hand, and laid hold of his rod, immediately from the

top of it came forth a dove whiter than snow, beautiful exceedingly,

which, after long flying about the roofs of the temple, at length flew

towards the heavens. Then all the people congratulated the old man,

saying: Thou hast been made blessed in thine old age, O father Joseph,

seeing that God hath shown thee to be fit to receive Mary. And the

priests having said to him, Take her, because of all the tribe of Judah

thou alone hast been chosen by God; Joseph began bashfully to address

them, saying: I am an old man, and have children; why do you hand over

to me this infant, who is younger than my grandsons? Then Abiathar the

high priest said to him: Remember, Joseph, how Dathan and Abiron and

Core perished, because they despised the will of God. So will it happen

to thee, if thou despise this which is commanded thee by God. Joseph

answered him: I indeed do not despise the will of God; but I shall be

her guardian until I can ascertain concerning the will of God, as to

which of my sons can have her as his wife. Let some virgins of her

companions, with whom she may meanwhile spend her time, be given for a

consolation to her. Abiathar the high priest answered and said: Five

virgins indeed shall be given her for consolation, until the appointed

day come in which thou mayst receive her; for to no other can she be

joined in marriage.

Then Joseph received Mary, with the other five virgins who were to be

with her in Joseph's house. These virgins were Rebecca, Sephora,

Susanna, Abigea, and Cael; to whom the high priest gave the silk, and

the blue, (5) and the fine linen, and the scarlet, and the purple, and

the fine flax. For they cast lots among themselves what each virgin

should do, and the purple for the veil of the temple of the Lord fell to

the lot of Mary. And when she had got it, those virgins said to her:

Since thou art the last, and humble, and younger than all, thou hast

deserved to receive and obtain the purple. And thus saying, as it were

in words of annoyance, they began to call her queen of virgins. While,

however, they were so doing, the angel of the Lord appeared in the midst

of them, saying: These words shall not have been uttered by way of

annoyance, but prophesied as a prophecy most true. They trembled,

therefore, at the sight of the angel, and at his words, and asked her to

pardon them, and pray for them.

CHAP. 9.--And on the second day, while Mary was at the fountain to fill

her pitcher, the angel of the Lord appeared to her, saying: Blessed art

thou, Mary; for in thy womb thou hast prepared an habitation for the

Lord. For, lo, the light from heaven shall come and dwell in thee, and

by means of thee will shine over the whole world.

Again, on the third day, while she was working at the purple with her

fingers, there entered a young man of ineffable beauty. And when Mary

saw him, she exceedingly feared and trembled. And he said to her: Hail,

Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among

women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. [1] And when she heard

these words, she trembled, and was exceedingly afraid. Then the angel of

the Lord added: Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God:

Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a King,

who fills not only the earth, but the heaven, and who reigns from

generation to generation.

CHAP. 10.--While these things were doing, Joseph was occupied with his

work, house-building, in the districts by the sea-shore; for he was a

carpenter. And after nine months he came back to his house, and found

Mary pregnant. Wherefore, being in the utmost distress, he trembled and

cried out, saying: O Lord God, receive my spirit; for it is better for

me to die than to live any longer. And the virgins who were with Mary

said to him: Joseph, what art thou saying? We know that no man has

touched her; we can testify that she is still a virgin, and untouched.

We have watched over her; always has she continued with us in prayer;

daily do the angels of God speak with her; daily does she receive food

from the hand of the Lord. We know not how it is possible that there can

be any sin in her. But if thou wishest us to tell thee what we suspect,

nobody but the angel of the Lord [2] has made her pregnant. Then said

Joseph: Why do you mislead me, to believe that an angel of the Lord has

made her pregnant? But it is possible that some one has pretended to be

an angel of the Lord, and has beguiled her. And thus speaking, he wept,

and said:

With what face shall I look at the temple of the Lord, or with what face

shall I see the priests of God? What am I to do? And thus saying, he

thought that he would flee, and send her away.

CHAP. 11.-- And when he was thinking of rising up and hiding himself,

and dwelling in secret, behold, on that very night, the angel of the

Lord appeared to him in sleep, saying: Joseph, thou son of David, fear

not; receive Mary as thy wife: for that which is in her womb is of the

Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and His name shall be

called Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. And Joseph,

rising from his sleep, gave thanks to God, and spoke to Mary and the

virgins who were with her, and told them his vision. And he was

comforted about Mary, saying: I have sinned, in that I suspected thee at

all.

CHAP. 12.--After these things there arose a great report that Mary was

with child. And Joseph was seized by the officers of the temple, and

brought along with Mary to the high priest. And he with the priests

began to reproach him, and to say: Why hast thou beguiled so great and

so glorious a virgin, who was fed like a dove in the temple by the

angels of God, who never wished either to see or to have a man, who had

the most excellent knowledge of the law of God? If thou hadst not done

violence to her, she would still have remained in her virginity. And

Joseph vowed, and swore that he had never touched her at all. And

Abiathar the high priest answered him: As the Lord liveth, I will give

thee to drink of the water of drinking of the Lord, and immediately thy

sin will appear.

Then was assembled a multitude of people which could not be numbered,

and Mary was brought to the temple. And the priests, and her relatives,

and her parents wept, and said to Mary: Confess to the priests thy sin,

thou that wast like a dove in the temple of God, and didst receive food

from the hands of an angel. And again Joseph was summoned to the altar,

and the water of drinking of the Lord was given him to drink. And when

any one that had lied drank this water, and walked seven times round the

altar, God used to show some sign in his face. When, therefore, Joseph

had drunk in safety, and had walked round the altar seven times, no sign

of sin appeared in him. Then all the priests, and the officers, and the

people justified him, saying: Blessed art thou, seeing that no charge

has been found good against thee. And they summoned Mary, and said: And

what excuse canst thou have? or what greater sign can appear in thee

than the conception of thy womb, which betrays thee? This only we

require of thee, that since Joseph is pure regarding thee, thou confess

who it is that has beguiled thee. For it is better that thy confession

should betray thee, than that the wrath of God should set a mark on thy

face, and expose thee in the midst of the people. Then Mary said,

stedfastly and without trembling: O Lord God, King over all, who knowest

all secrets, if there be any pollution in me, or any sin, or any evil

desires, or unchastity, expose me in the sight of all the people, and

make me an example of punishment to all. Thus saying, she went up to the

altar of the Lord boldly, and drank the water of drinking, and walked

round the altar seven times, and no spot was found in her.

And when all the people were in the utmost astonishment, seeing that she

was with child, and that no sign had appeared in her face, they began to

be disturbed among themselves by conflicting statements: some said that

she was holy and unspotted, others that she was wicked and defiled. Then

Mary, seeing that she was still suspected by the people, and that on

that account she did not seem to them to be wholly cleared, said in the

hearing of all, with a loud voice, As the Lord Adonai liveth, the Lord

of Hosts before whom I stand, I have not known man; but I am known by

Him to whom from my earliest years I have devoted myself. And this vow I

made to my God from my infancy, that I should remain unspotted in Him

who created me, and I trust that I shall so live to Him alone, and serve

Him alone; and in Him, as long as I shall live, will I remain

unpolluted. Then they all began to kiss her feet and to embrace her

knees, asking her to pardon them for their wicked suspicions. And she

was led down to her house with exultation and joy by the people, and the

priests, and all the virgins. And they cried out, and said: Blessed be

the name of the Lord for ever, because He hath manifested thy holiness

to all His people Israel.

CHAP. 13.--And it came to pass some little time after, that an enrolment

was made according to the edict of Caesar Augustus, that all the world

was to be enrolled, each man in his native place. This enrolment was

made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria, [1] It was necessary, therefore,

that Joseph should enrol with the blessed Mary in Bethlehem, because to

it they belonged, being of the tribe of Judah, and of the house and

family of David. When, therefore, Joseph and the blessed Mary were going

along the road which leads to Bethlehem, Mary said to Joseph: I see two

peoples before me, the one weeping, and the other rejoicing. And Joseph

answered: Sit still on thy beast, and do not speak superfluous words.

Then there appeared before them a beautiful boy, clothed in white

raiment, who-said to Joseph: Why didst thou say that the words which

Mary spoke about the two peoples were superfluous? For she saw the

people of the Jews weeping, because they have departed from their God;

and the people of the Gentiles rejoicing, because they have now been

added and made near to the Lord, according to that which He promised to

our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for the time is at hand when in

the seed of Abraham all nations shall be blessed. [2]

And when he had thus said, the angel ordered the beast to stand, for the

time when she should bring forth was at hand; and he commanded the

blessed Mary to come down off the animal, and go into a recess under a

cavern, in which there never was light, but always darkness, because the

light of day could not reach it. And when the blessed Mary had gone into

it, it began to shine with as much brightness as if it were the sixth

hour of the day. The light from God so shone in the cave, that neither

by day nor night was light wanting as long as the blessed Mary was

there. And there she brought forth a son, and the angels surrounded Him

when He was being born. And as soon as He was born, He stood upon His

feet, and the angels adored Him, saying: Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men of good pleasure. [3] Now, when the birth of

the Lord was at hand, Joseph had gone away to seek midwives. And when he

had found them, he returned to the cave, and found with Mary the infant

which she had brought forth. And Joseph said to the blessed Mary: I have

brought thee two midwives--Zelomi [4] and Salome; and they are standing

r outside before the entrance to the cave, not daring to come in hither,

because of the exceeding brightness. And when the blessed Mary heard

this, she smiled; and Joseph said to her: Do not smile; but prudently

allow them to visit thee, in case thou shouldst require them for thy

cure. Then she ordered them to enter. And when Zelomi had come in,

Salome having stayed without, Zelomi said to Mary: Allow me to touch

thee. And when she had permitted her to make an examination, the midwife

cried out with a loud voice, and said: Lord, Lord Almighty, mercy on us!

It has never been heard or thought of, that any one should have her

breasts full of milk, and that the birth of a son should show his mother

to be a virgin. But there has been no spilling of blood in his birth, no

pain in bringing him forth. A virgin has conceived, a virgin has brought

forth, and a virgin she remains. And hearing these words, Salome said:

Allow me to handle thee, and prove whether Zelomi have spoken the truth.

And the blessed Mary allowed her to handle her. And when she had

withdrawn her hand from handling her, it dried up, and through excess of

pain she began to weep bitterly, and to be in great distress, crying

out, and saying: O Lord God, Thou knowest that I have always feared

Thee, and that without recompense I have cared for all the poor; I have

taken nothing from the widow and the orphan, and the needy have I not

sent empty away. And, behold, I am made wretched because of mine

unbelief, since without a cause I wished to try Thy virgin.

And while she was thus speaking, there stood by her a young man in

shining garments, saying: Go to the child, and adore Him, and touch Him

with thy hand, and He will heal thee, because He is the Saviour of the

world, and of all that hope in Him. And she went to the child with

haste, and adored Him, and touched the fringe of the cloths in which He

was wrapped, and instantly her hand was cured. And going forth, she

began to cry aloud, and to tell the wonderful things which she had seen,

and which she had suffered, and how she had been cured; so that many

through her statements believed.

And some shepherds also affirmed that they had seen angels singing a

hymn at midnight, praising and blessing the God of heaven, and saying:

There has been born the Saviour of all, who is Christ the Lord, in whom

salvation shall be brought back to Israel. [1]

Moreover, a great star, larger than any that had been seen since the

beginning of the world, shone over the cave from the evening till the

morning. And the prophets who were in Jerusalem said that this star

pointed out the birth of Christ, who should restore the promise not only

to Israel, but to all nations.

CHAP. 14.--And on the third day after the birth of our Lord Jesus

Christ, the most blessed Mary went forth out of the cave, and entering a

stable, placed the child in the stall, and the ox and the ass adored

Him. Then was fulfilled that which was said by Isaiah the prophet,

saying: The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib. [2] The

very animals, therefore, the ox and the ass, having Him in their midst,

incessantly adored Him. Then was fulfilled that which was said by Abacuc

the prophet, saying: [3] Between two animals thou art made manifest. In

the same place Joseph remained with Mary three days.

CHAP. 15.--And on the sixth day they entered Bethlehem, where they spent

the seventh day. And on the eighth day they circumcised the child, and

called His name Jesus; for so He was called by the angel before He was

conceived in the womb. [4] Now, after the days of the purifiation of

Mary were fulfilled according to the law of Moses, then Joseph took the

infant to the temple of the Lord. And when the infant had received

parhithomus, [5]--parhithomus, that is, circumcision--they offered for

Him a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. [6]

Now there was in the temple a man of God, perfect and just, whose name

was Symeon, a hundred and twelve years old. He had received the answer

from the Lord, that he should not taste of death till he had seen

Christ, the Son of God, living in the flesh. And having seen the child,

he cried out with a loud voice, saying: God hath visited His people, and

the Lord hath fulfilled His promise. And he made haste, and adored Him.

And after this he took Him up into his cloak and kissed His feet, and

said: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to

Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast

prepared before the face of all peoples, to be a light to lighten the

Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. [7]

There was also in the temple of the Lord, Anna, a prophetess, the

daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who had lived with her

husband seven years from her virginity; and she had now been a widow

eighty-four years. And she never left the temple of the Lord, but spent

her time in fasting and prayer. She also likewise adored the child,

saying: In Him is the redemption of the world. [8]

CHAP. 16.--And when the second year was past, [9] Magi came from the

east to Jerusalem, bringing great gifts. And they made strict inquiry of

the Jews, saying: Where is the king who has been born to you? for we

have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him. And word

of this came to King Herod, and so alarmed him that he called together

the scribes and the Pharisees, and the teachers of the people, asking of

them where the prophets had foretold that Christ should be born. And

they said: In Bethlehem of Judah. For it is written: And thou

Bethelehem, in the land of Judah, art by no means the least among the

princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come forth a Leader who shall

rule my people Israel. [1] Then King Herod summoned the magi to him, and

strictly inquired of them when the star appeared to them. Then, sending

them to Bethlehem, he said: Go and make strict inquiry about the child;

and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and

worship him also. And while the magi were going on their way, there

appeared to them the star, which was, as it were, a guide to them, going

before them until they came to where the child was. And when the magi

saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy; and going into the house,

they saw the child Jesus sitting in His mother's lap. Then they opened

their treasures, and presented great gifts to the blessed Mary and

Joseph. And to the child Himself they offered each of them a piece of

gold. [2] And likewise one gave gold, another frankincense, and the

third myrrh. [3] And when they were going to return to King Herod, they

were warned by an angel in their sleep not to go back to Herod; and they

returned to their own country by another road. [4]

CHAP. 17--And when Herod [5] saw that he had been made sport of by the

magi, his heart swelled with rage, and he sent through all the roads,

wishing to seize them and put them to death. But when he could not find

them at all; he sent anew to Bethlehem and all its borders, and slew all

the male children whom he found of two years old and under, according to

the time that he had ascertained from the magi. [6]

Now the day before this was done Joseph was warned in his sleep by the

angel of the Lord, who said to him: Take Mary and the child, and go into

Egypt by the way of the desert. And joseph went according to the saying

of the angel. [7]

CHAP. 18.--And having come to a certain cave, and wishing to rest in it,

the blessed [8] Mary dismounted from her beast, and sat down with the

child Jesus in her bosom. And there were with Joseph three boys, and

with Mary a girl, going on the journey along with them. And, lo,

suddenly there came forth from the cave many dragons; and when the

children saw them, they cried out in great terror. Then Jesus went down

from the bosom of His mother, and stood on His feet before the dragons;

and they adored Jesus, and thereafter retired. Then was fulfilled that

which was said by David the prophet, saying: Praise the Lord from the

earth, ye dragons; ye dragons, and all ye deeps [9] And the young child

Jesus, walking before them, commanded them to hurt no man. But Mary and

Joseph were very much afraid lest the child should be hurt by the

dragons. And Jesus said to them: Do not be afraid, and do not consider

me to be a little child; for I am and always have been perfect; and all

the beasts of the forest must needs be tame before me.

CHAP. 19.--Lions and panthers adored Him likewise, and accompanied them

in the desert. Wherever Joseph and the blessed Mary went, they went

before them showing them the way, and bowing their heads; and showing

their submission by wagging their tails, they adored Him with great

reverence. Now at first, when Mary saw the lions and the panthers, and

various kinds of wild beasts, coming about them, she was very much

afraid. But the infant Jesus looked into her face with a joyful

countenance, and said: Be not afraid, mother; for they come not to do

thee harm, but they make haste to serve both thee and me. With these

words He drove all fear from her heart. And the lions kept walking with

them, and with the oxen, and the asses, and the beasts of burden which

carried their baggage, and did not hurt a single one of them, though

they kept beside them; but they were tame among the sheep and the rams

which they had brought with them from Judaea, and which they had with

them. They walked among wolves, and feared nothing; and no one of them

was hurt by another. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the

prophet: Wolves shall feed with lambs; the lion and the ox shall eat

straw together. [10] There were together two oxen drawing a waggon with

provision for the journey, and the lions directed them in their path.

CHAP. 20.-- And it came to pass on the third day of their journey, while

they were walking, that the blessed Mary was fatigued by the excessive

heat of the sun in the desert; and seeing a palm tree, she said to

Joseph: Let me rest a little under the shade of this tree. Joseph

therefore made haste, and led her to the palm, and made her come down

from her beast. And as the blessed Mary was sitting there, she looked up

to the foliage of the palm, and saw it full of fruit, and said to

Joseph: I wish it were possible to get some of the fruit of this palm.

And Joseph said to her: I wonder that thou sayest this, when thou seest

how high the palm tree is; and that thou thinkest of eating of its

fruit. I am thinking more of the want of water, because the skins are

now empty, and we have none wherewith to refresh ourselves and our

cattle. Then the child Jesus, with a joyful countenance, reposing in the

bosom of His mother, said to the palm: O tree, bend thy branches, and

refresh my mother with thy fruit. And immediately at these words the

palm bent its top down to the very feet of the blessed Mary; and they

gathered from it fruit, with which they were all refreshed. And after

they had gathered all its fruit, it remained bent down, waiting the

order to rise from Him who bad commanded it to stoop. Then Jesus said to

it: Raise thyself, O palm tree, and be strong, and be the companion of

my trees, which are in the paradise of my Father; and open from thy

roots a vein of water which has been hid in the earth, and let the

waters flow, so that we may be satisfied from thee. And it rose up

immediately, and at its root there began to come forth a spring of water

exceedingly clear and cool and sparkling. And when they saw the spring

of water, they rejoiced with great joy, and were satisfied, themselves

and all their cattle and their beasts. Wherefore they gave thanks to God.

CHAP. 21. -- And on the day after, when they were setting out thence,

and in the hour in which they began their journey, Jesus turned to the

palm, and said: This privilege I give thee, O palm tree, that one of thy

branches be carried away by my angels, and planted in the paradise of my

Father. And this blessing I will confer upon thee, that it shall be said

of all who conquer in any contest, You have attained the palm of

victory. And while He was thus speaking, behold, an angel of the Lord

appeared, and stood upon the palm tree; and taking off one of its

branches, flew to heaven with the branch in his hand. And when they saw

this, they fell on their faces, and became as it were dead. And Jesus

said to them: Why are your hearts possessed with fear? Do you not know

that this palm, which I have caused to be transferred to paradise, shall

be prepared for all the saints in the place of delights, as it has been

prepared for us in this place of the wilderness? And they were filled

with joy; and being strengthened, they all rose up.

CHAP. 22.--After this, while they were going on their journey, Joseph

said to Jesus: Lord, it is a boiling heat; if it please Thee, let us go

by the sea-shore, that we may be able to rest in the cities on the

coast. Jesus said to him: Fear not, Joseph; I will shorten the way for

you, so that what you would have taken thirty days to go over, you shall

accomplish in this one day. And while they were thus speaking, behold,

they looked forward, and began to see the mountains and cities of Egypt.

And rejoicing and exulting, they came into the regions of Hermopolis,

and entered into a certain city of Egypt which is called Sotinen; [1]

and because they knew no one there from whom they could ask hospitality,

they went into a temple which was called the Capitol of Egypt. And in

this temple there had been set up three hundred and fifty-five idols,

[2] to each of which on its own day divine honours and sacred rites were

paid. For the Egyptians belonging to the same city entered the Capitol,

in which the priests told them how many sacrifices were offered each

day, according to the honour in which the god was held.

CHAP. 23.--And it came to pass, when the most blessed Mary went into the

temple with the little child, that all the idols prostrated themselves

on the ground, so that all of them were lying on their faces shattered

and broken to pieces; [3] and thus they plainly showed that they were

nothing. Then was fulfilled that which was said by the prophet Isaiah:

Behold, the Lord will come upon a swift cloud, and will enter Egypt, and

all the handiwork of the Egyptians shall be moved at His presence. [4]

CHAP. 24.--Then Affrodosius, that governor of the city, when news of

this was brought to him, went to the temple with all his army. And the

priests of the temple, when they saw Affrodosius with all his army

coming into the temple, thought that he was making haste only to see

vengeance taken on those on whose account the gods had fallen down. But

when he came into the temple, and saw all the gods lying prostrate on

their faces, he went up to the blessed Mary, who was carrying the Lord

in her bosom, and adored Him, and said to all his army and all his

friends: Unless this were the God of our gods, our gods would not have

fallen on their faces before Him; nor would they be lying prostrate in

His presence: wherefore they silently confess that He is their Lord.

Unless we, therefore, take care to do what we have seen our gods doing,

we may run the risk of His anger, and all come to destruction, even as

it happened to Pharaoh king of the Egyptians, who, not believing in

powers so mighty, was drowned in the sea, with all his army. [5] Then

all the people of that same city believed in the Lord God through Jesus

Christ.

CHAP. 25.--After no long time the angel said to Joseph: Return to the

land of Judah, for they are dead who sought the child's life. [1]

CHAP. 26.--And it came to pass, after Jesus had returned out of Egypt,

when He was in Galilee, and entering on the fourth year of His age, that

on a Sabbath-day He was playing with some children at the bed of the

Jordan. And as He sat there, Jesus made to Himself seven pools of clay,

and to each of them He made passages, through which at His command He

brought water from the torrent into the pool, and took it back again.

Then one of those children, a son of the devil, moved with envy, shut

the passages which supplied the pools with water, and overthrew what

Jesus had built up. Then said Jesus to him: Woe unto thee, thou son of

death, thou son of Satan! Dost thou destroy the works which I have

wrought? And immediately he who had done this died. Then with great

uproar the parents of the dead boy cried out against Mary and Joseph,

saying to them: Your son has cursed our son, and he is dead. And when

Joseph and Mary heard this, they came forthwith to Jesus, on account of

the outcry of the parents of the boy, and the gathering together of the

Jews. But Joseph said privately to Mary: I dare not speak to Him; but do

thou admonish Him, and say: Why hast Thou raised against us the hatred

of the people; and why must the troublesome hatred of men be borne by

us? And His mother having come to Him, asked Him, saying: My Lord, what

was it that he did to bring about his death? And He said: He deserved

death, because he scattered the works that I had made. Then His mother

asked Him, saying: Do not so, my Lord, because all men rise up against

us. But He, not wishing to grieve His mother, with His right foot kicked

the hinder parts of the dead boy, and said to him: Rise, thou son of

iniquity for thou art not worthy to enter into the rest of my Father,

because thou didst destroy the works which I had made. Then he who had

been dead rose up, and went away. And Jesus, by the word of His power,

brought water into the pools by the aqueduct.

CHAP. 27.--And it came to pass, after these

things, that in the sight of all Jesus took clay froth the pools which

He had made, and of it made twelve sparrows. And it was the Sabbath when

Jesus did this, and there were very many children with Him. When,

therefore, one of the Jews had seen Him doing this, he said to Joseph:

Joseph, dost thou not see the child

Jesus working on the Sabbath at what it is not lawful for him to do? for

he has made twelve sparrows of clay. And when Joseph heard this, he

reproved him, saying: Wherefore doest thou on the Sabbath such things as

are not lawful for us to do? And when Jesus heard Joseph, He struck His

hands together, and said to His sparrows: Fly! And at the voice of His

command they began to fly. And in the sight and hearing of all that

stood by, He said to the birds: Go and fly through the earth, and

through all the world, and live. And when those that were there saw such

miracles, they were filled with great astonishment. And some praised and

admired Him, but others reviled Him. And certain of them went away to

the chief priests and the heads of the Pharisees, and reported to them

that Jesus the son of Joseph had done great signs and miracles in the

sight of all the people of Israel. And this was reported in the twelve

tribes of Israel.

CHAP. 28.--And again the son of Annas, a priest of the temple, who had

come with Joseph, holding his rod in his hand in the sight of all, with

great fury broke down the dams which Jesus had made with His own hands,

and let out the water which He had collected in them from the torrent.

Moreover, he shut the aqueduct by which the water came in, and then

broke it down. And when Jesus saw this, He said to that boy who had

destroyed His dams: O most wicked seed of iniquity! O son of death! O

workshop of Satan! verily the fruit of thy seed shall be without

strength, and thy roots without moisture, and thy branches withered,

bearing no fruit. And immediately, in the sight of all, the boy withered

away, and died.

CHAP. 29.--Then Joseph trembled, and took hold of Jesus, and went with

Him to his own house, and His mother with Him. And, behold, suddenly

from the opposite direction a boy, also a worker of iniquity, ran up and

came against the shoulder of Jesus, wishing to make sport of Him, or to

hurt Him, if he could. And Jesus said to him: Thou shall not go back

safe and sound from the way that thou goest. And immediately he fell

down, and died. And the parents of the dead boy, who had seen what

happened, cried out, saying: Where does this child come from? It is

manifest that every word that he says is true; and it is often

accomplished before he speaks. And the parents of the dead boy came to

Joseph, and said to him: Take away that Jesus from this place, for he

cannot live with us in this town; or at least teach him to bless, and

not to curse. And Joseph came up to Jesus, and admonished Him, saying:

Why doest thou such things? For already many are in grief and against

thee, and hate us on thy account, and we endure the reproaches of men

because of thee. And Jesus answered and said unto Joseph: No one is a

wise son but he whom his father hath taught, according to the knowledge

of this time; and a father's curse can hurt none but evil-doers. Then

they came together against Jesus, and accused him to Joseph. When Joseph

saw this, he was in great terror, fearing the violence and uproar of the

people of Israel. And the same hour Jesus seized the dead boy by the

ear, and lifted him up from the earth in the sight of all: and they saw

Jesus speaking to him like a father to his son. And his spirit came back

to him, and he revived. And all of them wondered.

CHAP. 30.--Now a certain Jewish schoolmaster named Zachyas[1] heard

Jesus thus speaking; and seeing that He could not be overcome, from

knowing the power that was in Him,[2] he became angry, and began rudely

and foolishly, and without fear, to speak against Joseph. And he said:

Dost thou not wish to entrust me with thy son, that he may be instructed

in human learning and in reverence? But I see that Mary and thyself have

more regard for your son than for what the elders of the people of

Israel say against him. You should have given more honour to us, the

elders of the whole church of Israel, both that he might be on terms of

mutual affection with the children, and that among us he might be

instructed in Jewish learning. Joseph, on the other hand, said to him:

And is there any one who can keep this child, and teach him? But if thou

canst keep him and teach him, we by no means hinder him from being

taught by thee those things which are learned by all. And Jesus, having

heard what Zachyas had said, answered and said unto him: The precepts of

the law which thou hast just spoken of, and all the things that thou

hast named, must be kept by those who are instructed in human learning;

but I am a stranger to your law-courts, because I have no father after

the flesh. Thou who readest the law, and art learned in it, abidest in

the law; but I was before the law, But since thou thinkest that no one

is equal to thee in learning, thou shalt be taught by me, that no other

can teach anything but those things which thou hast named. But he alone

can who is worthy.[3] For when I shall be exalted on earth, I will cause

to cease all mention of your genealogy. For thou knowest not when thou

wast born: I alone know when you were born, and how long your life on

earth will be. Then all who heard these words were struck with

astonishment, and cried out: Oh! oh! oh! this marvellously great and

wonderful mystery. Never have we heard the like! Never has it been heard

from any one else, nor has it been said or at any time heard by the

prophets, or the Pharisees, or the scribes. We know whence he is sprung,

and he is scarcely five years old; and whence does he speak these words?

The Pharisees answered: We have never heard such words spoken by any

other child so young. And Jesus answered and said unto them: At this do

ye wonder, that such things are said by a child? Why, then, do ye not

believe me in those things which I have said to you? And you all wonder

because I said to you that I know when you were born. I will tell you

greater things, that you may wonder more. I have seen Abraham, whom you

call your father, and have spoken with him; and he has seen me.[4] And

when they heard this they held their tongues, nor did any of them dare

to speak. And Jesus said to them: I have been among you with children,

and you have not known me; I have spoken to you as to wise men, and you

have not understood my words; because you are younger than I am,[5] and

of little faith.

CHAP. 31--A second time the master Zachyas, doctor of the law, said to

Joseph and Mary: Give me the boy, and I shall hand him over to master

Levi, who shall teach him his letters and instruct him. Then Joseph and

Mary, soothing Jesus, took Him to the schools, that He might be taught

His letters by old Levi. And as soon as He went in He held His tongue.

And the master Levi said one letter to Jesus, and, beginning from the

first letter Aleph, said to Him: Answer. But Jesus was silent, and

answered nothing. Wherefore the preceptor Levi was angry, and seized his

storax-tree rod, and struck Him on the head. And Jesus said to the

teacher Levi: Why dost thou strike me? Thou shall know in truth, that He

who is struck can teach him who strikes Him more than He can be taught

by him. For I can teach you those very things that yon are saying. But

all these are blind who speak and hear, like sounding brass or tinkling

cymbal, in which there is no perception of those things which are meant

by their sound.[6] And Jesus in addition said to Zachyas: Every letter

from Aleph even to Thet[7] is known by its arrangement. Say thou first,

therefore, what Thet is, and I will tell thee what Aleph is. And again

Jesus said to them: Those who do not know Aleph, how can they say Thet,

the hypocrites? Tell me what the first one, Aleph, is; and I shall then

believe you when you have said Beth. And Jesus began to ask the names of

the letters one by one, and said: Let the master of the law tell us what

the first letter is, or why it has many triangles, gradate, subacute,

mediate, obduced, produced, erect, prostrate, curvistrate.[1] And when

Levi heard this, he was thunderstruck at such an arrangement of the

names of the letters. Then he began in the heating of all to cry out,

and say: Ought such a one to live on the earth? Yea, he ought to be hung

on the great cross. For he can put out fire, and make sport of other

modes of punishment. I think that he lived before the flood, and was

born before the deluge. For what womb bore him? or what mother brought

him forth? or what breasts gave him suck? I flee before him; I am not

able to withstand the words from his mouth, but my heart is astounded to

hear such words. I do not think that any man can understand what he

says, except God were with him. Now I, unfortunate wretch, have given

myself up to be a laughing- stock to him. For when I thought I had a

scholar, I, not knowing him, have found my master. What shall I say? I

cannot withstand the words of this child: I shall now flee from this

town, because I cannot understand them. An old man like me has been

beaten by a boy, because I can find neither beginning nor end of what he

says. For it is no easy matter to find a beginning of himself.[2] I tell

you of a certainty, I am not lying, that to my eyes the proceedings of

this boy, the commencement of his conversation, and the upshot of his

intention, seem to have nothing in common with mortal man. Here then I

do not know whether he be a wizard or a god; or at least an angel of God

speaks in him. Whence he is, or where he comes from, or who he will turn

out to be, I know not. Then Jesus, smiling at him with a joyful

countenance, said in a commanding voice to all the sons of Israel

standing by and hearing: Let the unfruitful bring forth fruit, and the

blind see, and the lame walk right, and the poor enjoy the good things

of this life, and the dead live, that each may return to his original

state, and abide in Him who is the root of life and of perpetual

sweetness. And when the child Jesus had said this, forthwith all who had

fallen under malignant diseases were restored. And they did not dare to

say anything more to Him, or to hear anything from Him.

CHAP. 32.--After these things, Joseph and Mary departed thence with

Jesus into the city of Nazareth; and He remained there with His parents.

And on the first of the week, when Jesus was playing with the children

on the roof of a certain house, it happened that one of the children

pushed another down from the roof to the ground, and he was killed. And

the parents of the dead boy, who had not seen this, cried out against

Joseph and Mary, saying: Your son has thrown our son down to the ground,

and he is dead. But Jesus was silent, and answered them nothing. And

Joseph and Mary came in haste to Jesus.; and His mother asked Him,

saying: My lord, tell me if thou didst throw him down. And immediately

Jesus went down from the roof to the ground, and called the boy by his

name, Zeno. And he answered Him: My lord. And Jesus said to him: Was it

I that threw thee down from the roof to the ground? And he said: No, my

lord. And the parents of the boy who had been dead wondered, and

honoured Jesus for the miracle that had been wrought. And Joseph and

Mary departed thence with Jesus to Jericho.

CHAP. 33.--Now Jesus was six years old, and His mother sent Him with a

pitcher to the fountain to draw water with the children. And it came to

pass, after He had drawn the water, that one of the children came

against Him, and struck the pitcher, and broke it. But Jesus stretched

out the cloak which He had on, and took up in His cloak as much water as

there had been in the pitcher, and carried it to His mother. And when

she saw it she wondered, and reflected within herself, and laid up all

these things in her heart.[3]

CHAP. 34.--Again, on a certain day, He went forth into the field, and

took a little wheat from His mother's barn, and sowed it Himself. And it

sprang up, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. And at last it came to

pass that He Himself reaped it, and gathered as the produce of it three

kors,[4] and gave it to His numerous acquaintances.[5]

CHAP. 35.--There is a road going out of Jericho and leading to the river

Jordan, to the place where the children of Israel crossed: and there the

ark of the covenant is said to have rested. And Jesus was eight years

old, and He went out of Jericho, and went towards the Jordan. And there

was beside the road, near the bank of the Jordan, a cave where a lioness

was nursing her cubs; and no one was safe to walk that way. Jesus then,

coming from Jericho, and knowing that in that cave the lioness bad

brought forth her young, went into it in the sight of all. And when the

lions saw Jesus, they ran to meet Him, and adored Him. And Jesus was

sitting in the cavern, and the lion's cubs ran hither and thither round

His feet, fawning upon Him, and sporting. And the older lions, with

their heads bowed down, stood at a distance, and adored Him, and fawned

upon Him with their tails. Then the people who were standing afar off,

not seeing Jesus, said: Unless he or his parents had committed grievous

sins, he would not of his own accord have offered himself up to the

lions. And when the people were thus reflecting within themselves, and

were lying under great sorrow, behold, on a sudden, in the sight of the

people, Jesus came out of the cave, and the lions went before Him, and

the lion's cubs played with each other before His feet. And the parents

of Jesus stood afar off, with their heads bowed down, and watched;

likewise also the people stood at a distance, on account of the lions;

for they did not dare to come close to them. Then Jesus began to say to

the people: How much better are the beasts than you, seeing that they

recognise their Lord, and glorify Him; while you men, who have been made

after the image and likeness of God, do not know Him! Beasts know me,

and are tame; men see me, and do not acknowledge me.

CHAP. 36.--After these things Jesus crossed the Jordan, in the sight of

them all, with the lions; and the water of the Jordan was divided on the

right hand and on the left.[1] Then He said to the lions, in the hearing

of all: Go in peace, and hurt no one; but neither let man injure you,

until you return to the place whence you have come forth. And they,

bidding Him farewell, not only with their gestures but with their

voices, went to their own place. But Jesus returned to His mother.

CHAP. 37.--Now Joseph[2] was a carpenter, and used to make nothing else

of wood but ox-yokes, and ploughs, and implements of husbandry, and

wooden beds. And it came to pass that a certain young man ordered him to

make for him a couch six cubits long. And Joseph commanded his

servant[3] to cut the wood with an iron saw, according to the measure

which he had sent. But he did not keep to the prescribed measure, but

made one piece of wood shorter than the other. And Joseph was in

perplexity, and began to consider what he was to do about this. And when

Jesus saw him in this state of cogitation, seeing that it was a matter

of impossibility to him, He addresses him with words of comfort, saying:

Come, let us take hold of the ends of the pieces of wood, and let us put

them together, end to end, and let us fit them exactly to each other,

and draw to us, for we shall be able to make them equal. Then Joseph did

what he was bid, for he knew that He could do whatever He wished. And

Joseph took hold of the ends of the pieces of wood, and brought them

together against the wall next himself, and Jesus took hold of the other

ends of the pieces of wood, and drew the shorter piece to Him, and made

it of the same length as the longer one. And He said to Joseph: Go and

work, and do what thou hast promised to do. And Joseph did what he had

promised.[4]

CHAP. 38.--And it came to pass a second time, that Joseph and Mary were

asked by the people that Jesus should be taught His letters in school.

They did not refuse to do so; and according to the commandment of the

elders, they took Him to a master to be instructed in human learning.

Then the master began to teach Him in an imperious tone, saying: Say

Alpha.[5] And Jesus said to him: Do thou tell me first what Betha is,

and I will tell thee what Alpha is. And upon this the master got angry

and struck Jesus; and no sooner had he struck Him, than he fell down dead.

And Jesus went home again to His mother. And Joseph, being afraid,

called Mary to him, and said to her: Know of a surety that my soul is

sorrowful even unto death on account of this child. For it is very

likely that at some time or other some one will strike him in malice,

and he will die. But Mary answered and said: O man of God! do not

believe that this is possible. You may believe to a certainty that He

who has sent him to be born among men will Himself guard him from all

mischief, and will in His own name preserve him from evil.

CHAP. 39.--Again the Jews asked Mary and Joseph a third time to coax Him

to go to another master to learn. And Joseph and Mary, fearing the

people, and the overbearing of the princes, and the threats of the

priests, led Him again to school, knowing that He could learn nothing

from man, because He had perfect knowledge from God only. And when Jesus

had entered the school, led by the Holy Spirit, He took the book out of

the hand of the master who was teaching the law, and in the sight and

hearing of all the people began to read, not indeed what was written in

their book; but He spoke in the Spirit of the living God, as if a stream

of water were gushing forth from a living fountain, and the fountain

remained always full. And with such power He taught the people the great

things of the living God, that the master himself fell to the ground and

adored Him. And the heart of the people who sat and heard Him saying

such things was turned into astonishment. And when Joseph heard of this,

he came running to Jesus, fearing that the master himself was dead. And

when the master saw him, he said to him: Thou hast given me not a

scholar, but a master; and who can withstand his words? Then was

fulfilled that which was spoken by the Psalmist: The river of God is

full of water: Thou hast prepared them corn, for so is the provision for

it.[1]

CHAP. 40.--After these things Joseph departed thence with Mary and Jesus

to go into Capernaum by the sea-shore, on account of the malice of his

adversaries. And when Jesus was living in Capernaum, there was in the

city a man named Joseph, exceedingly rich. But he had wasted away under

his infirmity, and died, and was lying dead in his couch. And when Jesus

heard them in the city mourning, and weeping, and lamenting over the

dead man, He said to Joseph: Why dost thou not afford the benefit of thy

favour to this man, seeing that he is called by thy name? And Joseph

answered him: How have I any power or ability to afford him a benefit?

And Jesus said to him: Take the handkerchief which is upon thy head, and

go and put it on the face of the dead man, and say to him: Christ heal

thee; and immediately the dead man will be healed, and will rise from

his couch. And when Joseph heard this, he went away at the command of

Jesus, and ran, and entered the house of the dead man, and put the

handkerchief which he was wearing on his head upon the face of him who

was lying in the couch, and said: Jesus heal thee. And forthwith the

dead man rose from his bed, and asked who Jesus was.[2]

CHAP. 41.--And they went away from Capernaum into the city which is

called Bethlehem; and Joseph lived with Mary in his own house, and Jesus

with them. And on a certain day Joseph called to him his first-born son

James,[3] and sent him into the vegetable garden to gather vegetables

for the purpose of making broth. And Jesus followed His brother James

into the garden; but Joseph and Mary did not know this. And while James

was collecting the vegetables, a viper suddenly came out of a hole and

struck his hand,[4] and he began to cry out from excessive pain. And,

becoming exhausted, he said, with a bitter cry: Alas! alas! an accursed

viper has struck my hand. And Jesus, who was standing opposite to him,

at the bitter cry ran up to James, and took hold of his hand; and all

that He did was to blow on the hand of James, and cool it: and

immediately James was healed, and the serpent died. And Joseph and Mary

did not know what had been done; but at the cry of James, and the

command of Jesus, they ran to the garden, and found the serpent already

dead, and James quite cured.

CHAP. 42.--And Joseph having come to a feast with his sons, James,

Joseph, and Judah, and Simeon and his two daughters, Jesus met them,

with Mary His mother, along with her sister Mary of Cleophas, whom the

Lord God had given to her father Cleophas and her mother Anna, because

they had offered Mary the mother of Jesus to the Lord. And she was

called by the same name, Mary, for the consolation of her parents.[5]

And when they had come together, Jesus sanctified and blessed them, and

He was the first to begin to eat and drink; for none of them dared to

eat or drink, or to sit at table, or to break bread, until He had

sanctified them, and first done so. And if He happened to be absent,

they used to wait until He should do this. And when He did not wish to

come for refreshment, neither Joseph nor Mary, nor the sons of Joseph,

His brothers, came. And, indeed, these brothers, keeping His life as a

lamp before their eyes, observed Him, and feared Him. And when Jesus

slept, whether by day or by night, the brightness of God shone upon Him.

To whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever. Amen, amen.