Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/357

Rh priests and Levites and all the multitude of the Jews in the synagogue, What seek ye with this man? This man doth many signs and wonders, such as no other did or will do. Release him, and wish no evil against him. If the miracles which he doth are of God, they will stand; but if of men, they will come to nought. For Moses also, when sent from God into Egypt wrought many signs which God commanded him to do before Pharaoh, King of Egypt. And there were men there, Jannes and Jambres, physicians of Pharaoh, and they also did not a few signs such as Moses did, and the Egyptians esteemed them as gods, that is Jannes and Jambres. And since the signs which they did were not of God, they perished, both they and those who believed in them. Now, therefore, release this man, for he is not deserving of death.

The Jews said to Nicodemus, Thou art his disciple, and makest a defence for him. Nicodemus saith to them, Is the governor also his disciple, and is he making a defence for him? Hath not Cæsar appointed him to this dignity? And the Jews were very angry, and gnashed their teeth against Nicodemus. Pilate saith to them, Why do ye gnash your teeth against him, when ye hear the truth? The Jews say to Nicodemus, Mayest thou receive his truth