Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/258

 for the service, toward the north. When the King saw this, he said to the apostle, "Thou art truly a craftsman, and it is fitting that thou shouldst serve Kings." And having left many things for him, he went away.

19. And at the appointed time he sent coined silver and the necessaries for his and the workmen's living. And he took everything and divided it, going about in the cities and surrounding villages, distributing to the poor and needy, and spending alms, and gave them recreation, saying, "The King knows how to obtain royal recompense, but the poor must be refreshed, as the condition requires it." After this the King sent a messenger to the apostle, having written the following: "Let me know what thou hast done, or what I should send to thee or what thou needest." The apostle sends to him word, saying, "The palace is built, and only the roof remains to be done." Upon hearing this, the King sent him again gold and uncoined silver and wrote, "Let the palace, if it be done, be roofed." And the apostle said to the Lord, "I thank thee, Lord, in every respect, that thou didst die for a short time, that I may live in thee for ever, and that thou hast sold me, to deliver many through me." And he did not cease to teach and refresh the afflicted, saying, "The Lord hath dispensed this to you, and he gives to each his food. For he is the support of the orphans and the provider of the widows, and rest and repose to all that are afflicted."