Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/327

 madness and his passion, and he will be thy companion on the dangerous road and bring thee into his kingdom; and he shall bring thee into eternal life, by giving thee a sure hope, which passes not away and changes not."

104. And Sifôr stood before the king, who asked him, "Who and whence is and what teaches that magician whom thou hast in thy house?" And Sifôr answered the king, "O King, thou art hardly ignorant of the trouble and sadness which I and my friends suffered because of my wife, which thou knowest and which others remember, and because of my daughter, which I regard more than all my possessions, what time of trial I had to undergo. For I became an object of derision and curse for our whole country. But I heard of that man, went to him, besought him and took him and brought him hither. And on the way I perceived wonderful and surprising things, and here many heard of the wild ass and of the demon which he drove out; and he healed my wife and daughter, and now they are well. He asks no reward, but demands faith and holiness that they become coworkers in his work. He teaches to honor and fear one God, the Lord of all, and Jesus Christ, his Son, that they may have life eternal. He only eats bread and salt, and drinks water from even to even; and he prays much, and whatever he asks of God is given to him. And he teaches that this God is holy and mighty, and that the Messiah is life and makes alive.