Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/458

342 which I had put upon him, and the napkin which I had wrapped about his face; and I knew that it was Jesus. And he took hold of me with his hand, and put me in the midst of my house, the doors being shut, and he put me in my bed, and said to me, Peace be to thee! And he kissed me and said to me, For forty days go not from thine house; for behold, I go into Galilee to my brethren.

when the rulers of the synagogue, and the priests, and Levites, heard these words from Joseph, they became as dead men, and fell upon the ground, and fasted until the ninth hour. And Joseph and Nicodemus besought them, saying, Arise, and stand upon your feet, and taste bread, and refresh your souls, for to-morrow is the sabbath of the Lord. And they arose and besought the Lord, and ate and drank, and went away, every man to his own house.

Now on the sabbath the teachers and doctors sat questioning together and saying, What is this wrath which is come upon us? for we know his father and mother. Levi the teacher said, I know his parents feared God, and never departed from prayer, and gave tithes three times in the year. And when Jesus was born his parents presented him in this place, and offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to God. For