Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/455

Rh them and sent them away. And they came to Arimathea to Joseph, and worshipped him with their face to the ground, and said, Peace be to thee, and to all thine. And Joseph said, Peace be to you, and to all the people of Israel. And they gave him the letter; and Joseph took it and read it, and he embraced the letter, and blessed God, and said, Blessed be the Lord God who hath delivered Israel, that it might not shed innocent blood: and blessed be God who hath sent his angel and sheltered me under his wings. And he kissed them, and set a table for them, and they ate and drank, and slept there.

And when they arose in the morning, Joseph saddled his ass and went with them, and they entered the holy city of Jerusalem. And all the people met him, crying out, and saying, Peace be on thy coming in, father Joseph. In answer to them, he said, The Lord's peace be on all the people. And they all kissed him; and they prayed with Joseph, and were afraid when they saw him. And Nicodemus received him into his house, and made a great feast, and invited Annas and Caiaphas and the elders and chief priests and Levites to his house; and making merry and eating and drinking with Joseph they blessed God, and went away every one to his own home. But Joseph abode in the house of Nicodemus.

Now on the next day, which was the preparation,