Acts of Paul and Thecla

Historical source scan page 155

198 THE HISTORY OF THECLA. where Paul was. And whilst she was looking among all that crowd, she saws the Lord Jesus the Messiah, who was sitting beside her in the likeness of Paul. And Thecla answered and saith: ‘Thus indeed hath Paul come and seated himself opposite me, as if I were not able to bear whatever may come” upon me.” And she was looking upon him, and her eyes were gazing intently at him; and the Lord‘ rose up thence and ascended unto Heaven. ܩܡܘ)‎ ( And the youths and maidens brought faggots and placed (them) in the theatre, that they might burn Thecla; and they brought her into the theatre naked. And when the hégemén saw her, he wept, and was astonished at the strength that was in her. And they piled up the faggots, and . the youths laid hold of her‘ that she might ascend the pile. And as soon as Thecla ascended (it)*, she stretched out her hands in the form of the Cross, and ascended the pile. And when the flames of fire rose, not even an atom of her hair was singed, because the Spirit of God had compassion upon her ;‘ and the sound of its roaring went up from the earth, and a raincloud overshadowed (them ),* and hailstones and water were poured out abun- dantly, and many of those people, who were sitting and looking on, perished ; and the fire was extinguished, and Thecla preserved alive. a ©. Thecla saw. × Reading ܕܐܬܳܐ‎ with ¢. ° ¢ adds Jesus. 4 C. of Thecla. ¢ C. ascended the pile. fT read, with A, ܝ ܪܥܼܡܬ‎ not, with C, ܀ ܥܪܶܡܬ‎ Compare, in particu- - lar, the Samaritan AV‘. 8 C. seems to have the correct reading, ܐܛܠܠܬ‎ °