Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/366



150. And the young man Vazan asked the apostle and said, I pray thee, man, apostle of God, allow me to go out and I shall persuade the jailer to let thee go to my house, that from thee I may receive the seal and become thy servant and one that keeps the commandment of God whom thou preachest. For previously I walked already in accordance with thy preaching till my father forced me and bound me to a woman named Mnêsar. Being twenty-one years of age, I have been married to her seven years. Before she became my wife, I knew no other woman. On this account my father considered me also as unprofitable. And neither son nor daughter was ever born to me by this wife. But my wife also lived all this time in chastity with me, and to-day I know that if she were well and heard thy words, that I should have rest and she would receive eternal life. But danger and many sufferings try her. I will therefore persuade the keeper, provided thou wilt come with me. For I live all alone. At the same time thou healest the unfortunate." Upon hearing this, Judas, the apostle of the Most High, said to Vazan, "If thou believest,