Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/377

Rh offerings to God. And the great teacher Simeon took him into his arms, and said, Now Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart, according to thy word, in peace; because mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, I tell thee good tidings concerning this child. And Mary said, Good, my lord. And Simeon said to her, Good: behold he is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against; and a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

They say unto Levi the teacher, How knowest thou these things? Levi saith to them, Know ye not that from him I learned the law? The assembly say to him, We would see thy father. And they sent for his father. And when they asked him, he said to them, Why did ye not believe my son? The blessed and righteous Simeon himself taught him the law. The assembly saith to Rabbi Levi, Is the word true which thou hast spoken? And he said, It is true. And the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests, and the Levites, said among themselves, Come, let us send into Galilee, to the three men who came and told us about his teaching, and his ascension, and let them