parted from you.' And having arisen, he took a towel and girded his loins,
and having put water in a basin, he set himself to wash his disciples' feet.
Beginning from Judas, Jesus came to Peter. Said Peter: 'Lord, wouldst thou
wash my feet?'
217
Jesus answered: 'That which I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt
know hereafter.'
Peter answered: 'Thou shalt never wash my feet.'
Then Jesus rose up, and said: 'Neither shalt thou come in my company on
the day of judgment.'
Peter answered: 'Wash not only my feet, Lord, but my hands and my head.'
When the disciples were washed and were seated at table to eat, Jesus said:
'I have washed you, yet are ye not all clean, forasmuch as all the water of
the sea will not wash him that believeth me not.' This said Jesus, because he
knew who was betraying him. The disciples were sad at these words, when
Jesus said again: 'Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me,
insomuch that I shall be sold like a sheep; but woe unto him, for he shall
fulfil all that our father David said of such an one, that "he shall fall into the
pit which he had prepared for others."'
Whereupon the disciples looked one upon another, saying with sorrow:
'Who shall be the traitor?'
Judas then said: 'Shall it be I, O Master?'
Jesus answered: 'Thou hast told me who it shall be that shall betray me.'
And the eleven apostles heard it not.
When the lamb was eaten, the devil came upon the back of Judas, and he
went forth from the house, Jesus saying to him again: 'Do quickly that which
thou must do.'
214.
Having gone forth from the house, Jesus retired into the garden to pray,
according as his custom was to pray, bowing his knees an hundred times
and prostrating himself upon his face. Judas, accordingly, knowing the place
where Jesus was with his disciples, went to the high priest, and said: 'If ye
will give me what was promised, this night will I give into your hand Jesus
whom ye seek: for he is alone with eleven companions.'
The high priest answered: 'How much seekest thou?'
218
Said Judas, 'Thirty pieces of gold.'
Then straightway the high priest counted unto him the money, and sent a
Pharisee to the governor to fetch soldiers, and to Herod, and they gave a
legion of them, because they feared the people; wherefore they took their
arms, and with torches and lanterns upon staves went out of Jerusalem.
215.
When the soldiers with Judas drew near to the place where Jesus was, Jesus
heard the approach of many people, wherefore in fear he withdrew into the
house. And the eleven were sleeping.
Then God, seeing the danger of his servant, commanded Gabriel, Michael,
Rafael, and Uriel, his ministers, to take Jesus out of the world.
The holy angels came and took Jesus out by the window that looketh
toward the South. They bare him and placed him in the third heaven in the
company of angels blessing God for evermore.
216.
Judas entered impetuously before all into the chamber whence Jesus had
been taken up. And the disciples were sleeping. Whereupon the wonderful
God acted wonderfully, insomuch that Judas was so changed in speech and
in face to be like Jesus that we believed him to be Jesus. And he, having
awakened us, was seeking where the Master was. Whereupon we
marvelled, and answered: 'Thou, Lord, art our master; hast thou now
forgotten us?'
And he, smiling, said: 'Now are ye foolish, that know not me to be Judas
Iscariot!'
And as he was saying this the soldiery entered, and laid their hands upon
Judas, because he was in every way like to Jesus.
We having heard Judas' saying, and seeing the multitude of soldiers, fled as
beside ourselves.
219
And John, who was wrapped in a linen cloth, awoke and fled, and when a
soldier seized him by the linen cloth he left the linen cloth and fled naked.
For God heard the prayer of Jesus, and saved the eleven from evil.
217.
The soldiers took Judas and bound him, not without derision. For he
truthfully denied that he was Jesus; and the soldiers, mocking him, said: 'Sir,
fear not, for we are come to make thee king of Israel, and we have bound
thee because we know that thou dost refuse the kingdom.'
Judas answered: 'Now have ye lost your senses! Ye are come to take Jesus
of Nazareth, with arms and lanterns as [against] a robber; and ye have
bound me that have guided you, to make me king!'
Then the soldiers lost their patience, and with blows and kicks they began to
flout Judas, and they led him with fury into Jerusalem.
John and Peter followed the soldiers afar off; and they affirmed to him who
writeth that they saw all the examination that was made of Judas by the
high priest, and by the council of the Pharisees, who were assembled to put
Jesus to death. Whereupon Judas spake many words of madness, insomuch
that every one was filled with laughter, believing that he was really Jesus,
and that for fear of death he was feigning madness. Whereupon the scribes
bound his eyes with a bandage, and mocking him said: 'Jesus, prophet of the
Nazarenes,' (for so they called them who believed in Jesus), 'tell us, who
was it that smote thee?' And they buffeted him and spat in his face.
When it was morning there assembled the great council of scribes and
elders of the people; and the high priest with the Pharisees sought false
witness against Judas, believing him to be Jesus: and they found not that
which they sought. And why say I that the chief priests believed Judas to be
Jesus? Nay, all the disciples, with him who writeth, believed it; and more, the
poor virgin mother of Jesus, with his kinsfolk and friends, believed it,
insomuch that the sorrow of every one was incredible. As God liveth, he
who writeth forgot all that Jesus had said: how that he should be taken up
from the world, and that he should suffer in a third person, and bthat he
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should not die until near the end of the world. Wherefore he went with the
mother of Jesus and with John to the cross.
The high priest caused Judas to be brought before him bound, and asked
him of his disciples and his doctrine.
Whereupon Judas, as though beside himself, answered nothing to the point.
The high priest then adjured him by the living God of Israel that he would tell
him the truth.
Judas answered: 'I have told you that I am Judas Iscariot, who promised to
give into your hands Jesus the Nazarene; and ye, by what art I know not, are
beside yourselves, for ye will have it by every means that I am Jesus.'
The high priest answered: 'O perverse seducer, thou hast deceived all Israel,
beginning from Galilee even unto Jerusalem here, with thy doctrine and
false miracles: and now thinkest thou to flee the merited punishment that
befitteth thee by feigning to be mad? As God liveth, thou shalt not escape
it!' And having said this he commanded his servants to smite him with
buffetings and kicks, so that his understanding might come back into his
head. The derision which he then suffered at the hands of the high priest's
servants is past belief. For they zealously devised new inventions to give
pleasure to the council. So they attired him as a juggler, and so treated him
with hands and feet that it would have moved the very Canaanites to
compassion if they had beheld that sight.
But the chief priests and Pharisees and elders of the people had their hearts
so exasperated against Jesus that, believing Judas to be really Jesus, they
took delight in seeing him so treated.
Afterwards they led him bound to the governor, who secretly loved Jesus.
Whereupon he, thinking that Judas was Jesus, made him enter into his
chamber, and spake to him, asking him for what cause the chief priests and
the people had given him into his hands.
Judas answered: 'If I tell thee the truth, thou wilt not believe me; for
perchance thou art deceived as the (chief) priests and the Pharisees are
deceived.'
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The governor answered (thinking that he wished to speak concerning the
Law): 'Now knowest thou not that I am not a Jew? But the (chief) priests
and the elders of thy people have given thee into my hand; wherefore tell us
the truth, that I may do what is just. For I have power to set thee free and to
put thee to death.'
Judas answered: 'Sir, believe me, if thou put me to death, thou shalt do a
great wrong, for thou shalt slay an innocent person; seeing that I am Judas
Iscariot, and not Jesus, who is a magician, and by his art hath so transformed
me.'
When he heard this the governor marvelled greatly, so that he sought to set
him at liberty. The governor therefore went out, and smiling said: 'In the one
case, at least, this man is not worthy of death, but rather of compassion.'
'This man saith,' said the governor, 'that he is not Jesus, but a certain Judas
who guided the soldiery to take Jesus, and he saith that Jesus the Galilean
hath by his art magic so transformed him. Wherefore, if this be true, it were
a great wrong to kill him, seeing that he were innocent. But if he is Jesus and
denieth that he is, assuredly he hath lost his understanding, and it were
impious to slay a madman.'
Then the chief priests and elders of the people, with the scribes and
Pharisees, cried out with shouts, saying: 'He is Jesus of Nazareth, for we
know him; for if he were not the malefactor we would not have given him
into thy hands. Nor is he mad; but rather malignant, for with this device he
seeketh to escape from our hands, and the sedition that he would stir up if
he should escape would be worse than the former.'
Pilate (for such was the governor's name), in order to rid himself of such a
case, said: 'He is a Galilean, and Herod is King of Galilee: wherefore it
pertaineth not to me to judge such a case, so take ye him to Herod.'
Accordingly they led Judas to Herod, who of a long time had desired that
Jesus should go to his house. But Jesus had never been willing to go to his
house, because Herod was a Gentile, and adored the false and lying gods,
living after the manner of unclean Gentiles. Now when Judas had been led
thither, Herod asked him of many things, to which Judas gave answers not
to the purpose, denying that he was Jesus.
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Then Herod mocked him, with all his court, and caused him to be clad in
white as the fools are clad, and sent him back to Pilate, saying to him, 'Do
not fail in justice to the people of Israel!'
And this Herod wrote, because the chief priests and scribes and the
Pharisees had given him a good quantity of money. The governor having
heard that this was so from a servant of Herod, in order that he also might
gain some money, feigned that he desired to set Judas at liberty.
Whereupon he caused him to be scourged by his slaves, who were paid by
the scribes to slay him under the scourges. But God, who had decreed the
issue, reserved Judas for the cross, in order that he might suffer that
horrible death to which he had sold another. He did not suffer Judas to die
under the scourges, notwithstanding that the soldiers scourged him so
grievously that his body rained blood. Thereupon, in mockery they clad him
in an old purple garment, saying: 'It is fitting to our new king to clothe him
and crown him': so they gathered thorns and made a crown, like those of
gold and precious stones which kings wear on their heads. And this crown of
thorns they placed upon Judas' head, putting in his hand a reed for scepter,
and they made him sit in a high place. And the soldiers came before him,
bowing down in mockery, saluting him as King of the Jews. And they held
out their hands to receive gifts, such as new kings are accustomed to give;
and receiving nothing they smote Judas, saying: 'Now, how art thou
crowned, foolish king, if thou wilt not pay thy soldiers and servants?'
The chief priests with the scribes and Pharisees, seeing that Judas died not
by the scourges, and fearing lest Pilate should set him at liberty, made a gift
of money to the governor, who having received it gave Judas to the scribes
and Pharisees as guilty unto death. Whereupon they condemned two
robbers with him to the death of the cross.
So they led him to Mount Calvary, where they used to hang malefactors, and
there they crucified him naked, for the greater ignominy.
Judas truly did nothing else but cry out: 'God, why hast thou forsaken me,
seeing the malefactor hath escaped and I die unjustly?'
Verily I say that the voice, the face, and the person of Judas were so like to
Jesus, that his disciples and believers entirely believed that he was Jesus;
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wherefore some departed from the doctrine of Jesus, believing that Jesus
had been a false prophet, and that by art magic he had done the miracles
which he did: for Jesus had said that he should not die till near the end of
the world; for that at that time he should be taken away from the world.
But they that stood firm in the doctrine of Jesus were so encompassed with
sorrow, seeing him die who was entirely like to Jesus, that they
remembered not what Jesus had said. And so in company with the mother
of Jesus they went to Mount Calvary, and were not only present at the
death of Judas, weeping continually, but by means of Nicodemus and
Joseph of Abarimathia they obtained from the governor the body of Judas
to bury it. Whereupon, they took him down from the cross with such
weeping as assuredly no one would believe, and buried him in the new
sepulchre of Joseph; having wrapped him up in an hundred pounds of
precious ointments.
218.
Then returned each man to his house. He who writeth, with John and James
his brother, went with the mother of Jesus to Nazareth.
Those disciples who did not fear God went by night [and] stole the body of
Judas and hid it, spreading a report that Jesus was risen again; whence great
confusion arose. The high priest then commanded, under pain of Anathema,
that no one should talk of Jesus of Nazareth. And so there arose a great
persecution, and many were stoned and many beaten, and many banished
from the land, because they could not hold their peace on such a matter.
The news reached Nazareth how that Jesus, their fellow-citizen, having died
on the cross was risen again. Whereupon, he that writeth prayed the mother
of Jesus that she would be pleased to leave off weeping, because her son
was risen again. Hearing this, the Virgin Mary, weeping, said: 'Let us go to
Jerusalem to find my son. I shall die content when I have seen him.'
219.
The Virgin returned to Jerusalem with him who writeth, and James and
John, on that day on which the decree of the high priest went forth.
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Whereupon, the Virgin, who feared God, albeit she knew the decree of the
high priest to be unjust, commanded those who dwelt with her to forget her
son. Then how each one was affected!—God who discerneth the heart of
men knoweth that between grief at the death of Judas whom we believed
to be Jesus our master, and the desire to see him risen again, we, with the
mother of Jesus, were consumed.
So the angels that were guardians of Mary ascended to the third heaven,
where Jesus was in the company of angels and recounted all to him.
Wherefore Jesus prayed God that he would give him power to see his
mother and his disciples. Then the merciful God commanded his four
favorite angels, who are Gabriel, Michael, Rafael, and Uriel, to bear Jesus
into his mother's house, and there keep watch over him for three days
continually, suffering him only to be seen by them that believed in his
doctrine.
Jesus came, surrounded with splendour, to the room where abode Mary the
Virgin with her two sisters, and Martha and Mary Magdalen and Lazarus,
and him who writeth, and John and James and Peter. Whereupon, through
fear they fell as dead. And Jesus lifted up his mother and the others from
the ground, saying: 'Fear not, for I am Jesus; and weep not for I am alive and
not dead.' They remained every one for a long time beside himself at the
presence of Jesus, for they altogether believed that Jesus was dead. Then
the Virgin, weeping, said: 'Tell me, my son, wherefore God, having given
thee power to raise the dead, suffered thee to die, to the shame of thy
kinsfolk and friends, and to the shame of thy doctrine? For every one that
loveth thee hath been as dead.'
220.
Jesus replied, embracing his mother: 'Believe me, mother, for verily I say to
thee that I have not been dead at all; for God hath reserved me till near the
end of the world.' And having said this he prayed the four angels that they
would manifest themselves, and give testimony how the matter had passed.
Thereupon the angels manifested themselves like four shining suns,
insomuch that through fear every one again fell down as dead.
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Then Jesus gave four linen cloths to the angels that they might cover
themselves, in order that they might be seen and heard to speak by his
mother and her companions. And having lifted up each one, he comforted
them, saying: 'These are the ministers of God: Gabriel, who announceth
God's secrets; Michael, who fighteth against God's enemies; Rafael, who
receiveth the souls of them that die; and Uriel, who will call every one to the
judgment of God at the last day.'
Then the four angels narrated to the Virgin how God had sent for Jesus, and
had transformed Judas, that he might suffer the punishment to which he
had sold another.
Then said he who writeth: 'O Master, is it lawful for me to question thee
now, as it was lawful for me when thou dwelledst with us?'
Jesus answered: 'Ask what thou pleasest, Barnabas, and I will answer thee.'
Then said he who writeth: 'O Master, seeing that God is merciful, wherefore
hath he so tormented us, making us to believe that thou wert dead? And thy
mother hath so wept for thee that she hath been nigh to death; and thou,
who art an holy one of God, on thee hath God suffered to fall the calumny
that thou wert slain amongst robbers on the Mount Calvary?'
Jesus answered: 'Believe me, Barnabas, that every sin, however small it be,
God punisheth with great punishment, seeing that God is offended at sin.
Wherefore, since my mother and my faithful disciples that were with me
loved me a little with earthly love, the righteous God hath willed to punish
this love with the present grief, in order that it may not be punished in the
flames of Hell. And though I have been innocent in the world, since men
have called me "God," and "Son of God," God, in order that I be not mocked
of the demons on the day of judgment, hath willed that I be mocked of men
in this world by the death of Judas, making all men to believe that I died
upon the cross. And this mocking shall continue until the advent of
Mohammed, the messenger of God, who, when he shall come, shall reveal
this deception to those who believe in God's law.'
Having thus spoken, Jesus said: 'Thou art just, O Lord our God, because to
thee only belongeth honour and glory without end.'
226
221.
And Jesus turned himself to him who writeth, and said: 'See, Barnabas, that
by all means thou write my gospel concerning all that hath happened
through my dwelling in the world. And write in like manner that which hath
befallen Judas, in order that the faithful may be undeceived, and every one
may believe the truth.'
Then answered he who writeth: 'All will I do, if God will, O Master; but how it
happened unto Judas, I know not, for I saw not all.'
Jesus answered: 'Here are John and Peter who have seen all, and they will
tell you all that has passed.'
And then Jesus commanded us to call his faithful disciples that they might
see him. Then did James and John call together the seven disciples with
Nicodemus and Joseph, and many other of the seventy-two, and they ate
with Jesus.
The third day Jesus said: 'Go to the Mount of Olives with my mother, for
there will I ascend again unto heaven, and ye will see who shall bear me up.'
So there went all, saving twenty-five of the seventy-two disciples, who for
fear had fled to Damascus. And as they all stood in prayer, at mid-day came
Jesus with a great multitude of angels who were praising God: and the
splendour of his face made them sore afraid, and they fell with their faces to
the ground. But Jesus lifted them up, comforting them, and saying: 'Be not
afraid, I am your master.'
And he reproved many who believed him to have died and risen again,
saying: 'Do ye then hold me and God for liars? For God hath granted to me to
live almost unto the end of the world, even as I said unto you. Verily I say
unto you, I died not, but Judas the traitor. Beware, for Satan will make every
effort to deceive you, but be ye my witnesses in all Israel, and throughout
the world, of all things that ye have heard and seen.'
And having thus spoken, he prayed God for the salvation of the faithful, and
the conversion of sinners. And, his prayer ended, he embraced his mother,
saying: 'Peace be unto thee, my mother, rest thou in God who created thee
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and me.' And having thus spoken, he turned to his disciples, saying: 'May
God's grace and mercy be with you.'
Then before their eyes the four angels carried him up into heaven.
222.
After Jesus had departed, the disciples scattered through the different parts
of Israel and of the world, and the truth, hated of Satan, was persecuted, as
it always is, by falsehood. For certain evil men, pretending to be disciples,
preached that Jesus died and rose not again. Others preached that he really
died, but rose again. Others preached, and yet preach, that Jesus is the Son
of God, among whom is Paul deceived. But we, as much as I have written,
that preach we to those who fear God, that they may be saved in the last
day of God's Judgment. Amen.
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