Acts of Thomas

Historical source scan page 303

276 THE ACTS OF JUDAS THOMAS. cease, that it may not rear itself proudly.and destroy ; for there are (some) of these who are standing by, who shall believe in Thee and live.” And when Judas had prayed, there was quiet; and by little and little those waters were swallowed up and disappeared,* but the place became as if it had been dried up (by drought). And when king Mardai saw (this), he said: ‘ Drag {him) off to prison, till we can consider what we shall do with him.” And Judas went to be imprisoned, and the whole people were coming after him; and Vizan, the son of king Mazdai, was coming at the nght hand of Judas, and Sifir the general at his left hand. And when Judas had entered the prison, he permitted Sifar and Vizan, and the wife of Sifar and his daughter, to sit . down, because they too had gone in with him, that they might hear the word of life, for they knew that king Mazdai would destroy him because of his great anger. And Thomas began to say: “Thou deliverer of my soul from the slavery of many, because I gave myself to ‘be sold unto one, now, lo, I am glad and rejoice, (rész.) because I know that the times and the seasons, and the years and the months and the days, are at an end, and I shall come and receive Thee, my giver of rest. Lo, I shall be delivered from (the things) of to-day and of to-morrow, and it is for to-day that I care. Lo, I shall give up hope, and receive truth. Lo, I shall escape from the sorrow and the gladness of every day, and put * Literally, were not found.