Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/259



20. When the King came to the city, he inquired of his friends concerning the palace which Judas, surnamed Thomas, had built for him. And they said to him, "He has neither built a palace nor did he do anything of that which he promised to do but he goes about in the cities and villages, and if he has anything, he gives it to the poor, and teaches a new God, takes care of the sick, drives out demons, and performs many miracles. And we believe that he is a magician. But his acts of compassion and the cures done by him as a free gift, still more his single-mindedness, and gentleness, and fidelity, show that he is a just man, or an apostle of the new God, whom he preaches. For he continually fasts and prays, and eats only bread with salt, and his drink is water, and he wears one coat, whether in warm weather or in cold, and he takes nothing from anyone, but gives to others what he has." Upon hearing this, the King stroked his face with his hands, shaking his head for a long time.

21. And he sent for the merchant who had brought him, and for the apostle, and said to him, "Hast thou built the palace?" And he said, "Yes, I have built it." The King said, "When shall we go to inspect it?" And he repeated and said, "Now thou canst not see it, but thou shalt see it when thou hast departed this life." And the King was very wroth, and ordered both the merchant and Judas Thomas to be bound and cast into prison, until he should find out to whom the property of the King had been given, and thus destroy him and