Acts of Thomas

Historical source scan page 193

166 THE ACTS OF JUDAS THOMAS. and every one who was needy, was receiving and being relieved. And they begged of him that they might receive the sign (of baptism, saying :).‘ For we have heard that all the sheep of that God, whom thou preach- est, are known to Him by the sign.” Judas saith to them : *T too rejoice, and I ask of you to partake of the Eucha- rist and of the blessing of this Messiah whom I preach.” And the king gave orders that the bath should be closed for seven days, and that no man should bathe in it. And when (gs) the seven days were done, on the eighth day they three entered into the bath by night that Judas might baptise them. And many lamps were ܚ‎ in the bath.* And when they had entered into the bath-house, J ‘tia went in before them. And our Lord appeared unto them, and said to them: ‘‘ Peace be with you, my brethren.” And they heard the voice only, but the form they did not see, whose it was, for till now they had not been baptised. And Judas went up and stood upon the edge of the cistern, and poured oil upon their heads, and said: ‘‘Come, holy name of the Messiah; come, power of grace, which art from on high; come, perfect mercy ; come, exalted gift; come, sharer of the blessing; come, revealer of hidden mysteries; come, mother of seven houses, whose-rest was in the eighth house; come, mes- senger of reconciliation, and communicate with the minds ® The form ܒܢܐ‎ is actually used for ܒܠܢܝܐ‎ (see Payne Smith's Thesaurus, col. 543), but here it is probably only a slip of the pen, and the fuller form should be restored in the text.