Mystical, Apocryphal & Philosophical

Friday night, I was in my living room, reflecting on the essential things … Suddenly I became benumbed and taken by a deep drowsiness … I fall a little bit asleep, a couple of times for only some seconds … And each time I woke up and opened my eyes, between the sleep and the awakening, I saw outside, by my living room door, a kind of big form in the sky, black with luminous outlines hiding itself behind a tree each time I looked in its direction …

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Hermes Trismegist - Pymander

- One day that I reflected to the essential things and that my courtship elevated in the heights, all my corporal sensations benumbed completely like the one who, after an exaggerated nourishment or for the sake of a great physical fatigue, is surprised by a deep drowsiness.

- It seemed to me then to see a immense being, of an undetermined amplitude, who called me by my name and told me :

- '' What do you want to see and hear and what do you desire to learn and know belonging to your courtship ? ''.

- '' Who are you '' to him said I.

- '' I am Pymander, '' responded he, '' the Noùs, the being who suffices to himself. I know that which you desire and I am everywhere with you. ''.

- I said him : '' I desire to be instructed of the essential things, to seize their nature and to know God. Oh ! How I desire to understand ! ''.

- He replied : '' Keep well in your consciousness that which you want to learn and I will instruct you. ''.

- To these words, he changed of aspect and, to the instant, everything was to me discovered ; I had a infinite vision ; All became one single light, serene and joyful, for which the contemplation gave me an extreme felicity.

- Little times after, in a part of this light, frightful and lugubrious darkness descended and turned round and round in sinuous spirals similar to a serpent, seemed it to me. Then these darkness transformed in a damp and inexpressibly trouble nature, from where elevated a smoke like a fire, whilst it made hear a noise such to an indescribable groan.

- At last a scream made echo, coming out from the damp nature, an inarticulate call, that I compared to the voice of the fire, when from the light a holy saying sheded itself on the damp nature and that belonged to make spout a pure fire, subtle, vehement and powerful.

- The air, by its lightness, followed the puff of the fire ; from the soil and the water, it elevated to the fire so that it seemed to it suspended.

- The soil and the water remained where these were, so narrowly mixed that we were not able these to perceive separately, and continually moved by the puff of the saying that hovered above these.

- Pymander to me said : '' have you understood that which signifies this vision ? ''.

- '' I will impart , '' replied I.

- Then he said to me : '' This light, it is me, Noùs, your God, the one who existed before the damp nature issued from the darkness. The luminous Saying that emanates from the Noùs, it is the Son of God. ''.

- '' what signifies this ? '' asked I.

- '' Understand it. That which in you sees and hears, it is the saying of the Lord, and your Noùs is God the Father ; They are not separated one from the other, for their unity is life. ''.

- '' I thank you, '' said I.

- '' Elevate your heart towards the light, and know it. ''.

- At these words, he regarded me a few times in face in a so penetrant way that I trembled to his aspect.

- Then, when he relieved the head, I saw in my Noùs the light, composed of innumerable forces, became  a world really unlimited, whilst the fire, invested and subjugated by an almighty force, was then arrived to the equilibrium.

- I distinguished all this in my vision, thank to the Saying of Pymander. As I was all entire out of me, he said to me also :

- '' You have seen in the Noùs the beautiful original form of the man, the archetype, the original principle anterior to the beginning without end. '' Thus to me spoke Pymander.

- '' From where are so came the elements of the nature ? '' asked I.

- He replied to me : '' From the will of God who, having received in itself the saying and contemplated the archetype of the world in its beauty, fashioned on this model an ordered world from these elements proper to this world and the souls born from God.

- God, the Spirit, in himself masculine and feminine, source of the light and the life, engendered from a saying a second spiritual being, the Demiurge who, for a God of the fire and the puff, created seven rectors for enduring from their circles the sensible world and direct it by that which we name the Destiny.

- Coming out forthwith from the elements operating downward, the saying of God rushed towards this pure domain of the nature freshly formed and itself unified to the Demiurge to which it is identical.

- Thus the inferior elements of the nature were they abandoned to itself and deprived of reason, being not anymore by this just simple material.

- But the Demiurge, united to the saying, enclosing the circles and imprinting to these a fast rotation, setting in movement the cyclical courtship of the creatures, since an undetermined beginning until an end without end, since the end reach the beginning.

- According to the will of the Spirit, this rotation of the circles engendered, from the decayed elements, the animals devoid of reason – for the saying was not anymore among these - ; the air produced the winged animals ; the water, the aquatic animals.

- According to the will of the Spirit, the soil and the water were separated and the soil made coming out from its bosom the animals it confined : quadruped, reptiles, wild animals and domestic.

- The Spirit, Father of all beings, who is life and light, engendered a man similar to him, of which he was smitten with as with our own child for, to the image of his Father, he was of a great beauty. God was smitten so in reality with his own form and delivered to him all his works.

- But when the man had observed the creation formed in the fire of the Demiurge, he wanted to create at his turn and the Father to him permitted. Then, entering in the field of creation of the Demiurge, where he must have all liberty of creation, he observed the works of his brother, when the Rectors were smitten with him and that each of them associated him to his own rank in the hierarchy of the spheres.

- Now since that he knew their essence and took part of their nature, he wanted to leap the limit of the circles and to know the power of that which who reigns over the fire.

- Then, sovereign of the world of the mortals and the animals devoid of reason, the man leaned, crossed the force of cohesion of the spheres, of which he had teared the veils and himself showed to the inferior nature in the beautiful form of God.

- Since that the nature saw the man, who united in him the inexhaustible beauty and all the energies of the seven rectors under the aspect of God, it smiled of Love when seeing reflected itself in the water the features of this wonderfully beautiful form and perceiving its shadow on the soil.

- And him, perceiving in the water of the nature the reflection of this form so similar to him, smitted of love with it and wanted to inhabit there. That which he wanted, he did it at the instant and came to inhabit the form deprived of reason. The nature, receiving in it its lover, bound him all entire and they made nothing but one for the fire of their desire was great.

- Here is why, alone from all the creatures of the nature, the man is double, to know mortal according to the body, and immortal, according to the fundamental man.

- Indeed, so that immortal and sovereign of all things, the man undergone nevertheless the condition of the mortals, for he is submitted to the destiny. So, while proceeded from a superior domain to the cohesion force of the spheres, this force keeps him in slavery ; and while being masculine/feminine because issued from a masculine/feminine Father, and exempted of sleep because issued from a being exempted of sleep, he is nevertheless vanquished by the covetousness of the senses and of the sleep. ''.

- I said to him : '' Ô spirit who is in me, I am me too, smitten with the Saying ! ''

- Pymander said : That which I will say to you is the mystery stayed hidden until that day. The nature, uniting to the man, procreated an astonishing wonder. The man had within him, I said it to you, the essence of the seven Rectors, at the same time masculine and feminine, with vertical stature. ''.

- Then I cried out : '' Ô Pymander, I burn now of an extraordinary desire to hear you. Continue, I pray to you ! ''.

- '' Make so silence, '' said Pymander, '' for I have not achieved my first discourse ! ''.

- '' I silence, ''. replied I.

- '' So ! The generation of these seven first men took place, I said to you, of this following manner : the soil was the matrix, the water, the generating element, the fire carried to maturity the formation process, and from the ether the nature received the puff of life and engendered the bodies according to the form of the man.

- And the man issued from the life and from the light, became soul and spirit ; the life became soul, the light became Noùs. And all the beings of the sensible world stayed then until the end of the cycles and until the beginning of the species.

- Listen now that which you desire to hear. This cycle having took end, the link that united all things was broke by the will of God. For all the animals that were until then at the time masculine and feminine were, as the man, divided according to two genders, some becoming males and some other females. Forthwith God expressed the holy Saying : '' Increase while increasing and multiply in multitude, all of you that have been created and made. And that which who possess the Noùs knows that he is immortal and that the cause of the death is the love for the body and for that which is terrestrial.

- God having then spoke, the providence united the couples by the medium of the destiny and of the cohesion force of the spheres, and established the reproduction ; and all the beings selves multiplied each according to its species ; and that which who recognizes himself immortal is chosen among all, when that which who love the body issued from the error of the desire, continues to wander in the darkness and must suffer the experiment of the death. ''.

- '' What is so, '' cried out I, '' the so grave fault of those that are in the ignorance for them to be deprived of the immortality ? ''.

- '' I believe that you have not reflected to what you have heard. Have I not said to be attentive ? ''.

- '' I reflect, '' said I, '' now I remember and I thank you. ''.

- '' I you have reflected, say to me why those that are in the death deserve to die. ''.

- Because the source from which proceed their bodies is lugubrous obscurity that has produced the damp nature, which has constituted the body in the sensible world, where the death quenches its thirst. ''.

- '' You have understood well. But why that which who recognized himself walks he towards God ? As says it the divine saying. ''.

- '' Because '' replied I, '' the Father of all things, from who proceeds the man, is light and life. ''.

- '' Yes, light and life, such is God the Father, from who proceeds the man. If so you know that you come from the life and from the light and that you are constituted of these elements, you will return to the life. ''. Such were the sayings of Pymander.

- '' But tell me besides Ô my Noùs, how will I go to the life ? For God has said : '' That the man who possesses the Noùs recognizes himself. ''. The men have they not all so the Noùs ? ''.

- '' Watch to that which you say ! Me, Pymander, Noùs, I do not go towards those that are saint, good, pure and merciful, towards those that are pious ; my presence is for they a relief in order that they know all things at the instant. They render agreeable to the Father by their love, and thank him by filial affection and by the singing of praises that are to him owed. Before that they abandon their bodies to the death, that is to them inherent, they despise their senses because they know too well of these the activities.  

- Yes, me, Noùs, I will not permit that the activities of the body, that harass them, exercise on them their influences ; as guardian of the doors, indeed, I will introduce the enter to the bad and ashamed actions and I will extirpate the impious. ''.

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Tabula smaragdina Hermetis Trismegisti

« Verum, sine mendacio, certum et verissimum : quod est inferius est sicut quod est superius; et quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius, ad perpetranda miracula rei unius. Et sicut omnes res fuerunt ab uno, meditatione unius, sic omnes res natae fuerunt ab hac una re, adaptatione. Pater ejus est Sol, mater ejus Luna; portavit illud Ventus in ventre suo; nutrix ejus Terra est. Pater omnis telesmi totius mundi est hic. Vis ejus integra est si versa fuerit in terram. Separabis terram ab igne, subtile a spisso, suaviter, cum magno ingenio. Ascendit a terra in coelum, iterumque descendit in terram, et recipit vim superiorum et inferiorum. Sic habebis gloriam totius mundi. Ideo fugiet a te omnis obscuritas. Hic est totius fortitudine fortitudo fortis; quia vincet omnem rem subtilem, omnemque solidam penetrabit. Sic mundus creatus est. Hinc erunt adaptationes mirabiles, quarum modus est hic. Itaque vocatus sum Hermes Trismegistus, habens tres partes philosophiæ totius mundi. Completum est quod dixi de operatione Solis. »

The Table of Emerald … The Table from Emerald

« Is true, without lie, certain & very genuine : That which is downward, is like that which is upward ; and that which is upward is like that which is downward, for making the miracles from (of) one only thing. And like all the things have been, & have came from (of) one, by the meditation of (from) one : thus all the things have been born from (of) this unique thing, by adaptation. The sun does belong to be the father, the moon is its mother, the wind has carried it in its bowels ; the Earth is its foster. The father from (of) the whole telesm of (from) everyone is here. His strength or his power is entire, if it is converted in soil. You will separate the soil of (from) the fire, the subtle of (from) the thick softly, with great industry. He rises from (of) the earth to the sky, and anew he descends in ground, & he receives the strength from (of) the superior and inferior things. You will have by this medium the glory of (from)  the whole world ; and for (from) that all obscurity will flee from (of) you. It is the strong strength of (from) all strength : for (from) it will vanquish all subtle thing, and will penetrate all solid thing. Thus the world has been created. From (Of) this will be & will come out admirable adaptations, from (of)  which the medium does belong to be here. It is why I have been named Hermes Trismegistus, having the three parts from (of) the philosophy of (from) the whole world. That which I have said of (from) the operation from (of) the sun is accomplished, and completed. »

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Upward/Downward … in the pudding

I saw an Indian running after me … I saw myself climbing a rocky mountain among rocks … Then, I saw myself climbing again this rocky mountain among rocks … My vision is Inverted … (Upward-Downward). Once I have had a vision … I am in the basement of my house … I am seated on a chair fixed to the ceiling with all the furniture … I am afraid to stay like that because I do not feel the physical effect to be the head by downward … (Superior and inferior things …) … It looks so like if I was just on the ground, that I am afraid to start to believe that it is the right sense and so to go downward while believing that I go upward … (That which is downward is like that which is upward … and that which is upward is like that which is downward … The Inverted vision is a Miracle … The Earth is my foster … The vision is converted in soil … To separate the soil of the fire … the subtle of the thick softly … I elevated from the earth to the sky, and anew I descended in ground ...) …

So I climbed a second time the rocky mountain to go downward … or … the first time I was already upward the rocky mountain and I descended it and so I climbed the rocky mountain another time to go upward again … among the rocks … and so among the chips of wood ...

I saw a huge ice storm coming from the space … (The wind carries it in its bowels …) ...

… (… , the subtle of the thick softly … with great industry ...) … I saw myself passing my hands through the wall of a room in my ancient house … without breaking the wall … I run my hands in the wall like in a thick pudding … Then I see myself making the same thing through a wooden table in a new kind of church where I am with people I know … It is a little bit painful in the table because I feel the chips of wood while running my hands through the table … I cannot talk with them of what I see … it becomes a little bit painful because of their incapacity to understand … It is easier facing a void, an illusory wall, an illusion to speak alone … (All obscurity flees from me …) The message passes … (I vanquish all subtle thing, and I penetrate all solid thing … It is an admirable adaptation … Is true, without lie, certain and very genuine … by the meditation … accomplished, and completed ...) ...

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Tabula Smaragdina Hermetis Trismegisti Vision

Hermes Trismegistus succeeded to pass his message talking about something else … He played with the interpretation of '' From '' and '' of '' … He let place for different meanings of the text, some parts of his text necessitating a '' from '' or a '' of '', these '' from '' or '' of '' can be replaced by the other word and changing then the meaning of this text … It gives a multitude of possible interpretations of the Table of Emerald … ; - The direct meaning of the text – The hidden meaning which is the message meant by Hermes Trismegistus – The meaning built by translating the text from the original french version but with the own interpretation of the '' of '' by the translator … (In french, '' of '' and '' from '' have the same word ; '' de '' …) – The meaning that this translation gives when we replace every '' from '' by '' of '' and so on … – And finally the multitude of meanings that the text gives when we just replace some '' of '' by only some '' from '' … and so on … for a multitude of possibilities about all meanings of the text ... A text on a text … on a text … and so on … from just a single one ...

So, I am climbing on a mountain and running among the rocks …

Then I am in front of a wall passing my hands through it like in a thick pudding … Opposing to the scratching table in which my hands run at the end of the vision, seeming to talk with a wall in the goal to pass a message is often better than to talk directly to people with the illusion that they listen … It is the same thing for the past errors … When I realize that something debatable has been done to me, but that it was yesterday or two weeks ago, it is past … There is strong chances that the individual has already realized his error … And it is then more painful for both of us to come back on that error instead of passing over it and to take the chance that the consciousness has done the work … To talk with our interior wall … To receive reproach for something done in the past, when I am somewhere else in my life, is chocking … It makes then useless the consciousness … So I prefer to pass over for the past errors of someone … I prefer to talk about it in my mind … in front of a wall … It is an illusion …

The wall makes pass the message in a better way than being at a scratching table and reproaching to someone what he has done to me yesterday … I can pass over … I preach by the example … today … Some could argue to me that I have already made it … to reproach someone something past … It is true … But I am somewhere else now … so they will have to pass over ...

And finally I am at a table passing my hands through it and running my hands then … My vision is a loop … The first vision, because I climb the mountain two times, shows me immediately that the end is the beginning … Upward is downward and downward is upward …

– I climb the mountain

– I pass the wall

– I pass my hands through the table

The wall is the centre … It is a mirror of the two visions ;  

– I am in front of a wall … while trying to escape the 

Indian who is running after me …

– I am in front of a wall passing my hands through it …

– I pass my hands through a wooden table as I have done through the wall …

The vision of the wall is too the vision of myself seated on a chair on the ceiling of my bedroom where upward is downward and downward is upward … where I am afraid not to remember which direction is which direction … Because at this moment, upward is downward and downward is upward ... I am in the wall … in the mirror where any direction leads to the same conclusion … Upward is downward and downward is upward because in any direction it is the same situation illustrated in two different manners with two different images ; I am in the macro passing my hands in a table smaller than me … and I am in the micro running on a mountain bigger than me … for the same situation which is … After I meditated on the whole vision I realized that to pass my hands through the table was not really painful … It was scratching a little bit but I could not swear that it was painful … The table is not in wood … 

I run my hands through it as I run among the rocks … And the rocks, even if they are ordinary grey, are not simply rocks … but crystals … The crystals of the table in which I pass my hands through … It is sharp … I can feel the sharp little pieces of crystal … The first vision, succeeding to escape the Indian and running easily among the rocks shows me that the pain is an illusion and that I am not hurt at all … So my hands run through the table, scratching my hands by the crystals from which it is made … ; I am in the macro passing my hands in a table smaller than me … I am in the micro running on a mountain bigger than me … for the same situation which is fingers running among crystals ...

The illusion of the pain comes from this ; We have an energy metaphysical matrix from where we see our dreams … And that matrix, when we make something usually hurtful in the reality, imitates the contact without being able to reproduce the pain … So the substitute is an energy shock … a little energy hit … without pain … It is like to pass our hands on a very rude surface at the limit to be painful … But it is not …

So I ran my hands through the table, feeling the scratching of the crystals of the table … What makes me realize that at the beginning of the vision, running among the rocks, I am the hand running among the crystals of the table … The table of emerald is the mountain of emerald … 

The Mountain of Emerald is the Table of Emerald ... or from ...

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Acts of Pilate

Memories Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Written under Pontius Pilate

Prologue

I am Ananias, bodyguard, of Praetorian rank, and jurisconsult. I knew our Lord Jesus Christ by the divine scriptures and I converted. And I received the honour of holy baptism. I went in search of the memories that were made, at the time, about our Lord Jesus Christ. Jews had instructed them under Pontius Pilate. So I found these documents in the Hebrew language, and according to the will of God I translated them into Greek, to spread them among all those who invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Under our emperor Flavius Theodosius, year 17 of his reign and year 5 of that of Flavius Valentin, in the ninth indiction You who read this book or make copies, do not forget me and pray that God will have mercy on me and that he forgives the sins I have committed before his face. Peace to those who read, to those who listen and to their families, amen!

The fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, emperor of the Romans, Herod being king of Galilee for eighteen years; and the eighth day of the calends of April, the twenty-fifth of March, under the consulship of Rufus and Rubellion; in the fourth year of the second hundred and two Olympiad, Joseph Caiaphas being high priest of the Jews, Nicodemus reported all the events which occurred after the crucifixion and the passion of the Lord, and he made them known to the high priests and other Jews. The same man left a text, written in Hebrew.

1.

1. After meeting in council, the high priests and scribes, Anne, Caiaphas, Sime, Datha, Gamaliel, Judah, Levi, Naphtali, Alexander, Jairus, and all the other Jews appeared before Pilate, charging Jesus with many accusations: "We know," said they, "that he is the son of Joseph the carpenter and that he was born of Mary. But he claims to be son of God and king! Moreover, he breaks the Sabbath and wants to destroy the law of our fathers. "

Pilate said to them, "What is he doing, and what does he want to destroy? The Jews replied, "Our law forbids us to give any care during the Sabbath. But he, by shady manipulations, healed that day, lame, hunchbacks, people with dry hands, blind, helpless, deaf and possessed! Pilate asked them, "What do you mean, with your" shady manipulations "? They said to him, "He's a magician. He drives out demons by Beelzebub their leader, and all obey him. "

Pilate replied, "An unclean spirit can not cast out demons! There is a need for the God Aesculapius! "

2. The Jews said to Pilate, "We ask your Highness to summon him to your court and hear him. Pilate called to them: "Tell me, how can I, simple procurator, submit a king to interrogation? They replied, "We did not give him this title! It is he who proclaims himself king! "

Pilate called a courier and said to him, "Bring me Jesus, but treat him respectfully. The mail went out and when he saw Jesus, he prostrated himself before him. Then he took the piece of cloth that he was holding on his arm, spread it on the ground, and said, "Lord, walk on it and come in, for the governor calls you. Seeing what the mail had done, the Jews invaded Pilate: "Why," said they, "did you not have Jesus sent for by a herald rather than by this courier? As soon as he saw it he threw himself at his feet, he spread the envelope on the ground containing the bundles and he made Jesus walk on it, as if he were king! "

3. Pilate brought the courier to him and said, "What have you done here? Why did you spread that envelope on the ground and did you tell Jesus to walk on it? The messenger answered, "Lord governor, when you sent me to Jerusalem to Alexander, I saw this man sitting on a colt, and the sons of the Hebrews held branches in their hands and they cheered him, while others spread their clothes on the ground saying, "Save us, you who are in the heights! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! "

4. The Jews then went to the courier: "The sons of the Hebrews cry in Hebrew! Where does it come from that you repeat their clamour in Greek? The courier told them, "I questioned one of the Jews and asked him what they were screaming there. And he translated me. And what were they shouting in Hebrew? Pilate asked. The Jews answered, "Hosannah, membronê, baruchama, adonai"

What does Hosannah mean and the other words? Pilate asked. The Jews said to him, "Save us, O you who are so high! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Pilate said to them, "If you confirm the words spoken by the sons of the Hebrews, what did the courier do wrong? They kept silent.

The governor then said to the courier, "Go out, and bring us Jesus, treating him as you please. The courier went out and was as respectful as the first time; and he said to Jesus, "Lord, come in, the governor asks you. "

5. Jesus entered. And the eagles that the sign holders held, flexed the collar and worshiped Jesus. Seeing that the eagles had moved and that they bowed in a sign of respect before Jesus, the Jews insulted the sign-holders. But Pilate said to the Jews, "Do you not rather admire that these eagles leaned over Jesus and worshiped him? The Jews replied to Pilate: "We have seen the sign holders twist their necks. That's how they worship Jesus! "

The governor brought the sign-holders nearer. "Why did you do that? He told them. They said to Pilate, "We are Greek, and we worship only our gods. What would we love this one? We held our eagles, when spontaneously, they bent their neck and loved it! "

6. Pilate spoke to the synagogue leaders and the elders of the people: "Choose strong, muscular boys yourself. It is they who will carry our eagles: we will see if they always bow alone. The Elders of the Jews took twelve strong and well-built men and brought them the eagles in two groups of six. And they were standing in front of the governor's platform.

And Pilate said to the messenger, "Bring Jesus out of the Praetorium and bring him back, treating him as you understand him. Jesus and the courier left the room. Pilate called the first sign-holders and warned them: "I swear to you by the life of Caesar, if the eagles do not bow at the entrance of Jesus, I will cut off your head. And for the second time, the governor ordered Jesus to come in. The courier kept the same attitude, and he prayed Jesus to walk on the stuff. Jesus complied and entered. As soon as the threshold was crossed, the eagles again bowed to Jesus and saluted him.

2.

1. This show fills Pilate with fear. He wanted to come down from his platform. No sooner had he sketched the movement than a message came to him from his wife, saying, "Let there be nothing between you and this righteous man. Because I suffered a lot this night because of him. Pilate then spoke to all the Jews and said to them, "You know the piety of my wife and know that she is not far from sharing your religion."

They said to him, "Yes, we know it. Pilate went on: "Well, my wife sends me a message: Let there be nothing between you and this righteous man. Because tonight, I suffered a lot because of him. The Jews answered Pilate, "Have we not warned you? He is a magician, he sent a dream to your wife! "

2. Pilate turned to Jesus and said, "Why do these people testify against you? You say nothing...? Jesus answered, "If they had no power, they would not speak. But everyone has the power of his mouth, free he is to say good or bad. It's up to them to see! "

3. The elders of the Jews replied to Jesus, "And what shall we see? First, that you were born of guilty relationships. Then, that your birth in Bethlehem caused a massacre of children. Finally, that your father Joseph and Mary your mother had to flee to Egypt, so embarrassed were they before the people. "

4. Some of these more delicate Jews protested: "In our opinion, his birth is not irregular! We know that Joseph married Mary. Jesus is born right! To those who said otherwise, Pilate says, "You do not tell the truth! Her parents were married. Your compatriots are proof of it. "

Anne and Caiaphas said to Pilate, "We may all declare at the same time that he is not of an honest birth, we are not believed. These people are proselytes or his disciples. Pilate turned to Anne and Caiaphas "What are proselytes? He asked. "They are," answered they, "people of Greek origin, now converted to Judaism. "

The partisans of legitimate birth, Lazarus, Astenius, Antonius, James, Amnes, Zenas, Samuel, Isaac, Phenes, Crispos, Agrippa, and Judah exclaimed: "We have nothing proselytes! We are sons of Jews and we simply declare the truth, having witnessed the marriage of Joseph and Mary! "

5. Pilate spoke to the twelve who affirmed the honesty of birth. "Swear to me on Caesar's head," said he, "that you have told me the truth, that Jesus was not born out of wedlock? They replied to Pilate: "Our law forbids us to swear. Because it's a sin. But they, they swear on the head of Caesar that we have not told the truth and we will have deserved death. "

Pilate said to Anne and Caiaphas, "Do not you answer that? Anne and Caiaphas said to Pilate: "These twelve men who maintain that he was not born of adultery, they are believed! But we are unanimous: Jesus is the child of debauchery, he is a magician and boasts of being the Son of God! "

Pilate evacuated the hall, keeping only the twelve men who professed the regularity of this birth, and he sent Jesus away from them. Then he asked them, "Why do they want to kill him? They answered Pilate: "It enrages them that he heals in the middle of the Sabbath! Pilate says: "So it is his charity that gives them ideas of murder? "

3.

1. Indignant, Pilate went out of the courtroom and said to them, "The sun is my witness, I can find nothing of which this man can be accused. The Jews replied to the governor: "If he were not a scoundrel, we would not have delivered him. Pilate said to them, "Take it then, and judge it according to your law. The Jews replied, "We have no right to put anyone to death. "

- To you, God forbid to kill? But to me? replied Pilate. 2. Then he returned to the courtroom. He called Jesus aside "Is it you, the King of the Jews? He asked. Jesus answered Pilate, "Do you say that from yourself or have others told you about me? Pilate answered Jesus: "Am I a Jew? Your nation and the high priests put you in my hands. What did you do ? Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my people would have fought so that I would not be delivered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from here. "

- Are you king? Pilate asked. Jesus answered him: - You say it. I am king. And I was born and I only came into the world to make my voice heard by anyone who is of the truth.

- What is the truth? Pilate told him. "The truth is from heaven," answered Jesus. Pilate continued, "And on earth, there is no truth? Jesus said to Pilate, "You see how the masters of power on earth judge those who speak the truth! "

4.

1. Leaving Jesus inside the Praetorium, Pilate went to join the Jews and said to them: "For my part, I find no reason for condemnation. The Jews say to him, "This man said, I can destroy this temple and rebuild it in three days. - What temple? Pilate asked. The Jews answer: "He whom Solomon took forty-six years to build, he claims to demolish and rebuild in three days. Pilate tells them, "I am pure from the blood of this righteous man. Up to you ! The Jews say, "May his blood fall on us and on our children! "

2. And Pilate brought the elders, the priests, and the Levites, and said to them in a low voice, "Do not do this. None of your grievances justify death. You only accuse him of healings and transgressing the Sabbath! Elders, priests and Levites said to Pilate, "If anyone blasphemes against Caesar, is he liable to the death penalty? "

"Yes," replied Pilate, "he is". The Jews said, "Whoever blasphemes against Caesar deserves to die, but blasphemed him against God! "

3. And the governor brought forth the Jews out of the office, and having called Jesus, said, What shall I do with you? Jesus said to Pilate, "Do according to what you have received. Pilate asked, "And what did I receive? Jesus said, "Moses and the prophets announced my death and resurrection. "

The Jews and those who listened asked Pilate, "What can you hear stronger than this blasphemy? Pilate said to the Jews, "If his answer is a blasphemy, take it, you, for that blasphemy, take him to your synagogue, and judge him according to your law. The Jews say to Pilate, "Our law prescribes this: if a man offends a man, he will receive forty lashes minus one. If he blasphemes against God, he will be stoned. "

4. Pilate says to them, "Take it then, and chastise it at your thought. The Jews answered Pilate, "We want him to be crucified! Pilate replied, "He does not deserve crucifixion. 5. The governor, having looked upon the crowd of the Jews, saw many in tears, and said, "They do not all want him to perish? The Elders of the Jews said to him, "Yes, we came together to demand his death. Pilate answered them, "Why must he die? And the Jews: "Because he claims to be son of God and king! "

5.

1. Nicodemus, a Jew, stood before the governor, and said, "Please, man of piety, allow me to say a few words. "Speak," said Pilate. And Nicodemus: - I said to the elders, to the priests, to the Levites, and to all the people of the Jews in the synagogue, "Why do you want this man? He performs many amazing signs, which no one else has done or will ever do. Let him go, and give up hurting him. If the wonders that he accomplishes come from God, they will remain. If they come from men, they will be destroyed! For Moses sent by God to Egypt made before Pharaoh, the king of this land, the many miracles that God showed him. Now there were two of Pharaoh's servants, Jamnes and Jambres, and they too performed wonders in great numbers, like Moses, and the Egyptians worshiped Jamas and Jambres like the gods! But their signs were not of God, and they perished, they and their faithful. Come on! Release this man, he does not deserve death! "

2. The Jews said to Nicodemus: "You have become his disciple and you are biased! Nicodemus replied: "And is the governor his disciple, to defend him thus? Does he not hold Caesar's office? The Jews shuddered and gritted their teeth against Nicodemus. Pilate said to them, "Why are you grinding teeth against him? Is it to hear the truth? The Jews said to Nicodemus, "Take her, her truth, and share her lot! "Amen, amen," replied Nicodemus, "take them, as you have said! "

6.

1. One of the Jews rushed forward and asked the governor to speak: "If you want to speak, speak," replied the latter. And the Jew: "Me," he says, "I remained in bed for thirty-eight years, suffering from pain. Jesus came. Many demoniacs and others with various ailments were healed by him. Some young people took pity on me, they carried me with my bed and put me in front of him. Seeing me,

Jesus was moved with compassion and he said to me, "Take your pallet and walk! And I took my bed and walked! The Jews say to Pilate, "Ask him which day he was healed. The miraculate replied, "It was the Sabbath. The Jews exclaimed, "Did not you warn us that he is healing and casting out demons on a full Sabbath? "

2. Another Jew jumped up: "Me," said he, "I was blind from birth; I heard the voices but I did not see the faces. When Jesus passed by me, I cried with a throat: "Have mercy on me, son of David! And he had compassion, and he laid his hands on my eyes. At the moment, I regained my sight. "

Another Jew came running up and said, "I was hunchbacked, and in a word, he straightened me up! Another exclaimed: "I was a leper and in one word he purified me. "

7.

A woman named Berenice shouted from afar: "I had a blood loss, and I touched the fringe of her coat and my flow dried up, which lasted for twelve years! The Jews said, "Our law does not admit the testimony of a woman. "

8.

And a crowd of other people, men or women, exclaimed: "This man is a prophet, and the demons are subject to him! To those who said that the demons were subject to him, Pilate said: "Why do not your teachers obey him too? They said to Pilate, "We do not know. Others told him that he had taken Lazarus from the tomb, who had been dead for four days. The governor shivered and said to the multitude of the Jews, "Why do you want to shed innocent blood? "

9.

1. He sent for him Nicodemus and the twelve men who had affirmed the honesty of his birth, "What shall I do? he tells them, the people are beginning to stir. They said to him, "We do not know, it's up to them to see. Again Pilate called out to all the people of the Jews: "You know," said he, "that it is customary for you at the feast of unleavened bread that I release you a prisoner." I have locked up a convict named Barabbas, and I have also the one who has just appeared before you, this Jesus in whom I find no reason for condemnation. Which do you want me to release?

"Barabbas," they yelled. Pilate said unto them; ‘’ What shall I do of Jesus, which is called Christ? ‘’ – ‘’ Crucify him! ‘’ They replied. Some of the Jews added, "You are not Caesar's friend if you release him. He said to himself son of God and king. Is that the king you want, and not Caesar? "

2. Exceeded, Pilate says to the Jews: "People always rebellious, you even stand against your benefactors! The Jews retorted, "And who are our benefactors? Pilate says, "Your God has brought you out of Egypt and your cruel servitude, and he has protected you on the sea, dried up under your feet, and in the desert he fed you with manna and quail, and from the water of a rock he has quenched you, and he has given you the law! And after all these blessings, you turned on his anger and you fell in love with a calf poured into the metal and you have so exasperated your God that he has resolved to kill you! Moses interceded for you and you are not dead. And now you come to reproach me for hating my Emperor! "

3. He got up from his seat and headed for the exit. The Jews cried, "We recognize for king Caesar, not Jesus! Now the Magi brought him presents from the East as to a sovereign. And when Herod had learned from these magi that a king was born, he wanted to destroy him. When Joseph, his father, knew it, he took the child and his mother, and they fled to Egypt. At this news, Herod ordered the slaughter of the Hebrew children born in Bethlehem. "

4. These speeches alarmed Pilate. He silenced the noisy crowds and said to them, "Is this the man that Herod sought? "Yes," replied the Jews, "it is he! Then Pilate took water and washed his hands, facing the sun, saying, "I am pure of the blood of this righteous man! Up to you ! Again the clamour flared up among the Jews: "May his blood fall on us and on our children! "

5. Pilate drew the curtain from the platform where he sat, and said to Jesus, "Your nation has denied that you were king. Here is my sentence: you will be flogged first according to the custom of our pious emperors, then nailed to the cross, in the garden where you were arrested. Two evildoers, Dysmas and Gestas, will be crucified with you. "

10.

1. Jesus left the courtroom accompanied by the two thieves. When they were there, he was stripped of his clothes, tied with a cloth, and laid a crown of thorns on his head. And we crucified with him the two thieves. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. Then the soldiers shared his clothes and the people stood there, watching. The high priests and with them the chiefs taunted him, saying, "He saved others. May he escape himself! If he is the son of God, let him come down from the cross! And the soldiers also scoffed at him; They approached him, presented him with sour wine mixed with gall, and said: "You are the king of the Jews, save yourself. "

After the sentence, it was ordered to bear on a sign in Greek, Roman, and Hebrew letters the motive of his condemnation, as the Jews had stated: "This is the King of the Jews. "

2. One of the evildoers hanging on the cross said to him, "If you are Christ, save yourself, and so do we. But Dysmas spoke and reprimanded him: "Are you not afraid of God, you who suffer the same pain? For us, it's justice. We pay our acts; but he did not do anything wrong. And he said, "Lord, remember me in your kingdom. And Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, from today you will be with me in paradise. "

11.

1. It was about the sixth hour and the darkness was on the earth until the ninth hour, the sun having vanished. And the veil of the temple was torn in the middle. With a loud voice, Jesus cried, "Father, Baddoch efkid ruel," which means, "In your hands I put my spirit back. He said, and he expired. At the sight of what had happened, the centurion glorified God, saying, "This man was a righteous man! And the crowds who had come running to watch the show, were returning, beating their chests.

2. The centurion reported the events to the governor. Then Pilate and his wife went into deep sorrow, and that day they did not touch food or drink. Pilate, having summoned the Jews, said to them, "Have you seen what has happened? They replied, "There was an eclipse of the sun. We are used to it.

3. His friends were standing at a distance, as were the women who had accompanied him from Galilee and saw this. A man called Joseph, a member of the Council, came from Arimathea and had faith in the Kingdom of God. He approached Pilate and asked him for the body of Jesus. Then he took him down from the cross, rolled him in a white shroud, and placed him in a rock-cut grave, where no one had yet been put.

12.

1. When they knew that Joseph had asked for the body of Jesus, the Jews sought Him and the twelve men who had maintained that Jesus was born regularly; they also sought Nicodemus and many others who had come to Pilate to show him the benefits of Jesus.

All had hidden. Only Nicodemus appeared before the Jews, because he was one of the principal among them. And he asked them, "How did you come into the synagogue? And the Jews answered, "And how did you come in? You are his accomplice, so share the same fate as him in the future century! Nicodemus answered, "Amen, amen!"

Joseph, in his turn, went out and said to them, "Why are you angry with me that I ask the body of Jesus? Behold, I have placed it in my new tomb, after having wrapped it in a white shroud, and rolled the stone in front of the door of the vault. But you have done wrong to this righteous man, whom you have crucified without remorse and have pierced with a spear. "

The Jews seized Joseph and decided to keep him until the day after the Sabbath. "Know well," said they, "that only time prevents us from chastising you, since the Sabbath begins. But know it too, you do not deserve even a burial. We will throw your flesh to the birds of the sky. Joseph retorted, "You speak with the arrogance of Goliath, who insulted the living God and Saint David! But God answered by the prophet: To me is vengeance! It is I who will pay, says the Lord. And today the uncircumcised according to the flesh, but circumcised by the heart, took water and washed his hands, in the face of the sun, saying: I am pure of the blood of this just! Up to you !

And you said to Pilate: May his blood fall on us and on our children! Verily, I fear that the wrath of the Lord is already upon you and your children, as you have said. These words exasperated the Jews. They seized Joseph and locked him in a windowless house, posted guards at the entrance, and sealed the door behind which Joseph was captive.

2. On the Sabbath, synagogue leaders, priests, and Levites agreed to meet at the synagogue the next day. The deliberations began early: what death would be inflicted on Joseph? They decided to make him appear forthwith. But when they opened his door, they did not find him inside. The whole people were stupefied and even seized with terror when they realized that the seals were intact and that Caiaphas had kept the key. And they did not dare to raise their hands on those who stood before Pilate in defense of Jesus.

13.

1. They were still sitting in the synagogue, poorly recovered from their astonishment, when some members of the guard arrived whom the Jews had asked of Pilate, and whom they had charged to watch the tomb of Jesus and to prevent his disciples from coming to take it. They told the events to the synagogue leaders, the priests and the Levites: "There was a great tremor, and we saw an angel come down from heaven, and he rolled the stone that closed the vault and sitting on it. It sparkled like snow and like lightning.

Frightened, we fell half dead. And when we heard the voice of the angel, he spoke to the women standing by the Tomb; I know that you are looking for Jesus, the crucified one. He's not here. He rose again according to what he said! Come and see where the Lord had been laid. And quickly tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead and is in Galilee. "

2. The Jews said, "Who were these women to whom he spoke? "We do not know who they were," answered the guards. The Jews: "What time was it? The guards: "Midnight. The Jews: "And why did not you stop them? The guards: "We were dead with fear, and despaired of ever seeing the light of day again. How could we stop them? The Jews: "As true as the Lord lives, we do not believe you. "

The guards said to the Jews, "You have encountered in this man such great signs and did not believe him. Why would you believe people like us? But you did well to swear by the life of the Lord, because he is alive! The guards continued: "It seems that you have shut up the man who had claimed the body of Jesus; that you sealed his door, but when you opened it, you did not find it. Give us Joseph, and we will give you Jesus! The Jews replied, "Joseph has gone home. The guards replied, "And Jesus is risen, the angel who told us. He is in Galilee. "

3. These words worried the Jews. They said, "This news must not be eroded and all may be converted to Jesus. And after deliberation, they contributed and gave the soldiers a good nest egg with this instruction: "Say that at night, while you slept, his disciples came and stole him. If the case reaches the governor's ears, we will take care of it and we will save you the trouble. The soldiers pocketed the money and did as they were told.

14.

1. Phinehas, a priest, Adas, a doctor, and Haggai, a Levite, having gone from Galilee to Jerusalem, told this story to the synagogue leaders, the priests, and the Levites: "We have seen Jesus and his disciples sitting on the mountain called Milkom, and he said to his disciples Go through the whole world, proclaim to all creation: he who will believe and be baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

And here are the signs that will accompany those who believe; by my name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues; they will take snakes, and if they drink some deadly poison, they will not feel any harm; they will lay hands on the sick and they will be healed. Jesus was still speaking to his disciples when we saw him taken to heaven. "

2. Elders, priests, and Levites said, "Give glory to the God of Israel, and confess his name, if you really heard and saw what you are saying there! The narrators cried out: "As true as the Lord and the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, see, we have heard his speech and we have seen it rise in the sky. Elders, priests and Levites said, "Why did you come? To announce this news or to fulfil a wish made to God? "To fulfil a wish," they replied.

Elders, priests and Levites then declared: "If you have come to pay a vow, what is the good of having slain your foolishness before all the people? Phinehas the priest, Adas the doctor, and Haggai the Levite, said to the synagogue chiefs, to the priests, and to the Levites, "If the words which we have said, and which we bear witness, are a sin, we are here before you. Make us what you want. They took the law and made them swear never to tell anyone what they had said. Then they gave them food and drink and drove them out of the city, giving them money and three men to take them back to Galilee. And they returned without incident.

3. While these men were returning to Galilee, the high priests, the synagogue leaders, and the elders met in the synagogue. They closed the door and gave vent to their lamentations. What is this sign that arises in Jerusalem? They moaned. Anne and Caiapha said to them, "What do you have to stomp and cry? Do you not know that the disciples gave them gold with a mission to say that an angel of the Lord had come down and rolled the stone at the entrance of the tomb? But the priests and the ancients retorted, "Let's go on again, that the disciples have stolen his body." But how did her soul join this body and find herself in Galilee? No one could explain this mystery. They ended up stammering: "We must not trust the uncircumcised. "

15.

1. Nicodemus rose, and standing before the Council, he said: "You speak very well! But do you not know it, Lord's people? The people who came down from Galilee fear God; they have good enough and are perfectly disinterested. They are not fanatics. They told you under oath that they had seen Jesus on Mount Milkom with his disciples, to whom he taught everything you heard there, and then they saw him taken to heaven. But we failed to ask them how he was removed.

The Holy Scriptures have taught us that Elijah was also taken to heaven. Elisha called in a loud voice and Elijah threw his coat. Elisha threw this cloak in the Jordan, and he went through it and went to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets came to meet him and said to him, "Elisha, where is your lord Elijah?" He says he was taken to heaven. And they said to Elisha, "Did not the Spirit rather bring him up to one of the mountains, take our servants and go after him?" Elisha agreed and accompanied them. They searched him in vain for three days and admired the idea of his removal.

"And now, listen to me, let us send men through all the land of Israel, and see if by chance Christ was not taken away by a spirit and laid on one of the mountains. This idea suited everyone. They sent out scouts all over Israel and searched for Jesus, but without success. At Arimathea they found Joseph; no one dared to stop him.

2. They warned the elders, the priests, and the Levites, "We have travelled Israel in all directions, no Jesus! But we found Joseph at Arimathea. The synagogue leaders, the priests, and the Levites were glad to hear from Joseph. They gave thanks to the God of Israel and took counsel to find out how they would meet him. Then they took a sheet of paper and wrote these words to Joseph: "Peace to you! We are aware of having sinned against God and against you.

But we ask God to bring you back to your fathers and your children. Because we are scared not to find you by opening your door. We confess it, we were full of nasty thoughts about you. But the Lord took you under his guard and he foiled the plot we were setting against you, revered Father Joseph! "

3. And they chose from among all Israel seven men, friends of Joseph, and well known to him. The leaders of the synagogue, the priests and the Levites said to them, "Take care! If he takes and reads our letter, it indicates that he will come home with you. But if he refuses to read it, hear that he is ill disposed towards us. Give him the kiss of peace and come back. They blessed the travellers and let them go. They went to find Joseph. They bowed down to him and said, "Peace to you! - Peace to you and to all the people of Israel! He replied.

They handed him the letter. Joseph took it, read it, kissed it, and thanked God in these terms: "Blessed be the Lord God, who spared Israel from shedding innocent blood! Blessed be the Lord who sent his angel to cover me with his wings! Then he set them a table. They ate, drank, and slept at his place.

4. At dawn they got up and prayed. Then Joseph saddled his donkey and departed with these men. They came to the holy city of Jerusalem, and all the people ran to meet Joseph, crying, "Peace to you! Welcome ! And he answered all the people, "Peace to you! All kissed him and prayed beside him. His sight filled them with joy.

Nicodemus received him at his house and gave a great feast where he invited Anne, Caiaphas, the Elders, the priests and the Levites, all happy to eat and drink in his company. Then we sang hymns and everyone went home Joseph stayed with Nicodemus.

5. The next day, which was a Friday, heads of the synagogue, priests and Levites hastened to Nicodemus. He went out to meet them and said, "Peace to you! They echoed: "Peace to you and to Joseph, to all your house and to his! He brought them in.

The whole Council took place and Joseph came and sat between Anne and Caiaphas. But no one dared to speak to him. Then Joseph said, "Why did you call me? They made a sign to Nicodemus to answer him. He opened his mouth and said to Joseph, "Well, the venerable doctors, the priests and the Levites would like to hear from you a word. - Tell me which one, "says

Joseph. Anne and Caiaphas took the book of the law and adjured Joseph in these terms: "Glorify the God of Israel and confess his name! Adjutant by the prophet Joshua, Achar did not fail in his oaths, but he revealed to him the whole truth, without omitting a word. You do not hide anything from us either. "

Joseph replied, "I will not hide anything from you. They said to him, "We were very sorry that you asked for the body of Jesus, that you rolled it in a white shroud and laid in the tomb. That's why we locked you in a windowless house, which we provided with keys and seals, while guards watched over your captivity. But the next day, when we opened the door, you had disappeared. This plunged us into cruel alarms, and until yesterday the people of the Lord were utterly helpless. Now, tell us what happened. "

6. Joseph spoke: "You shut me up on Friday, around the tenth hour, and I stayed there all the Sabbath. But at midnight, while I was standing up to pray, the house where you had locked me up raised by the four corners and a sort of lightning dazzled my eyes.

Terrified, I fell to the ground. Then someone took my hand and lifted me from the place where I lay, and fresh water poured over me from head to toe, while myrrh scent filled my nostrils. He wiped my face, kissed me and said, "Do not be afraid, Joseph. Open your eyes and see who is speaking to you. Looking up, I saw Jesus. My fears redoubled. I thought it was a ghost and I began to recite the commandments. But he recited them with me.

But you do not know it, when a ghost hears reciting the commandments near him, he fled. Seeing that he said them with me, I exclaimed: "Rabbi Elijah! He said to me, "I am not Elijah. "Who are you, Lord," I said to him. And he said to me: - I am Jesus. You asked Pilate for my body, then you wrapped me in a pure shroud and you covered my face with a shroud, then you put me in your new vault and you rolled a big stone at the entrance from the grave. "

And I said to him who spoke to me, "Come and show me the place where I placed you. He led me to this place and showed it to me. The shroud was still dragging there, and the shroud that had covered his face. So I had proof that he was Jesus. He took me by the hand and all closed doors, carried me in the middle of my house. He led me to my bed and said, "Peace to you! He kissed me again and added, "You will not leave your house for forty days. For behold, I will join my brethren in Galilee. "

16.

1. In listening to Joseph's story, the synagogue leaders, priests and Levites fainted and lay prostrate on the ground. They did not touch the food until the ninth hour. It was then that Nicodemus, who was at Joseph's side, questioned Anne and Caiaphas, the priests and the Levites: "Stand up! Return to your feet, and take courage: tomorrow is the Sabbath of the Lord. They got up and after invoking God, they ate and drank, then everyone went home.

2. On the Sabbath, our teachers sat, as well as priests and Levites. They were arguing among themselves, saying, "What is this anger that has fallen on us? We do know his father and mother. "

Levi, a doctor, said, "I knew his parents: they feared God and did not neglect prayer. Three times a year they paid tithing. When Jesus was born, they took him to this place and offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to God. And the great doctor Symeon took him in his arms and said, "Now you can let your servant, your master, go in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation, prepared in the sight of all peoples, light to enlighten the nations and glory of your people Israel. "

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: "I have to tell you a great news about this child. Mary asked, "Is this good news, my Lord? Simeon replied, "This is good news. Behold, this child is there for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign against the contradiction. And you yourself, a sword will pierce your soul, so that many hearts will reveal the thoughts! "

3.They said to Levi, the doctor, "How do you know that? Levi replied, "Do you not know that it was with Simeon that I studied the law? The Council told him, "We want to see your father. And they sent for him. Then they asked him, and he said to them, "Why did you not believe my son? Blessed and just Simeon taught him the Fa well. The Council asked, "Rabbi Levi, is this the truth you said? He replied, "It's the truth. "

The chiefs of the synagogue, the priests and Levites, said among themselves, "Well, let us send to Galilee for the three men who came to inform us of his teaching and his assumption. They must explain to us what they saw of this removal. "

This suggestion suited everyone. They took back the three men who had already escorted them to Galilee and gave them these instructions: "Tell Rabbi Adas, Rabbi Phineses and Rabbi Haggai: Peace to you and to all who live with you! Serious debate has taken place in our Council. And we have charged these messengers to bring you into the holy city of Jerusalem. "

4. And the messengers went to Galilee, and found their men sitting, studying the law. They gave them the kiss of peace. The Galilaeans said to the travellers, "Peace to all Israel! The others replied, "Peace to you! The first ones went on: "What is the purpose of your visit? And the messengers answered, "The Council is sending you to the holy city of Jerusalem. "

5.When they knew that they were called to the council, the men called on God, and sat down with their hosts, ate and drank, and rose up and went to Jerusalem without incident. The next day, the council, meeting in the synagogue, asked them: "Did you really see Jesus sitting on the mountain of Milkom, teaching his eleven disciples, and then did you see him taken to heaven? His interlocutors gave them this answer: "What we have seen of this removal, we have said. "

6. Anne persisted: "Take them one by one," he said, "and see if their testimonies agree. They separated them. Adas was called first: "Rabbi," said they, "what did you see of this removal? Adas answered, "He was still sitting on Mount Milkom and teaching his disciples, when we saw a cloud covering him with his shadow, he and his disciples, and the cloud carried him into heaven, while his disciples were lying , front against the ground. "

They called Phinees the priest and asked him, "What have you seen of the rapture of Jesus? The answer was the same. They also questioned Haggai, who gave them a similar deposition. Then the Council said, "It is said in the Law of Moses: It is said by two or three witnesses that the cause will be established." Buthem the doctor said, "It is written in the Law: Enoch walked with God, then he disappeared, for God prevailed. Jairus the doctor says: "We have heard of the death of holy Moses, but we have not seen it; For it is written in the law of the Lord, And Moses died by the commandment of the Lord, and none to this day knows his grave.

And Rabbi Levi said, "Why did the rabbi Simeon say when he saw Jesus, Behold, he is there, for the fall and rise of the many in Israel, and to be a sign against the contradiction? And Rabbi Isaac said, "It is written in the law, Behold, I send my messenger before your face; he will walk before you to keep you to the end in this good way. Because in him my name is invoked. "

7. Then Hannah and Caiaphas said, "You have rightly quoted the Law of Moses, where it is said that no one saw the death of Enoch, and no one related that of Moses. But Jesus spoke to Pilate. We saw him wipe in the face slapping and spitting. And the soldiers crowned him with thorns. He was scourged and he received the sentence of Pilate, and he was crucified instead of the Skull and two thieves, and he was made to drink sour wine mixed with gall, and the soldier Longin pierced the side of his spear, and Joseph our revered father asked for his body, and he rose again, as he had said, and as these three doctors have just recalled, saying, "We have seen him carried to the heavens," and Rabbi Levi confirmed the words held by the rabbi Simeon, "Behold, he said, behold, he is there for the fall and lift up of many in Israel, and he will be a sign against the contradiction".

All the teachers said to all the people of the Lord, "If by the Lord this amazing thing has happened before our eyes, know it well, house of Jacob, that it is written: All hanging on the tree is a curse! Another text teaches: "The gods who have not made heaven and earth will perish. Priests and Levites said to each other: "If his memory lasts until Sommos also says Jobel, know that his reign is eternal and that a new people will rise up. "

Then the rulers of the synagogue, the priests, and the Levites exhorted all Israel, saying, "Cursed the man who will worship works of man's hand, and curses the man who will worship the creature instead of the Creator! And all the people answered, "Amen! Amen! "

8. The crowd sang hymns to the Lord and said, "Blessed be the Lord who granted rest to the people of Israel as He had promised.

He did not lose a single word of all that he had said to Moses his servant. May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. Let him not lead us to our ruin, that we may be able to convert our heart to him, and walk in all his ways, keeping his commandments and the judgments he bequeathed to our fathers. And the Lord will reign over all the earth in those days. And he will be the only Lord, and the only name, the Lord our King!

"He himself will save us. He is no one who looks like you, Lord, you are great, Lord and great is your name! In your power, heal us, Lord, and we will be healed! Save us, Lord, and we will be saved! Because we are your part and your inheritance. And the Lord will not forsake his people because of his beautiful name. Because the Lord began to make us his people. When they had thus sung, everyone went home, praising God, whose glory is for ever and ever, amen!

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