Read Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament Online
Authors: [edited by] Bart D. Ehrman
Tags: #Biblical Reference, #Bible Study Guides, #Bibles, #Other Translations, #Apocryphal books (New Testament), #New Testament, #Christianity, #Religion, #Biblical Commentary, #Biblical Studies, #General, #History
pride, frivolity, envy, passion, carelessheart, and wept bitterly, so that John ness, violence, lust, slaves, money, precould only silence him by saying to him, tence, and all the other similar obstacles
“Drusiana has departed this unjust life
which exist in life; it is the same for the
for a better hope.” To this answered Anhelmsman who takes his course for a dronicus, “Of this I am certain, John, and
quiet journey and is opposed by the ad
I have no doubt in the belief in my God.
verse winds and a great tempest and a
My hopes are grounded on the fact, that
mighty wave, when the heaven is serene;
she departed this life pure.”
it is the same for the husbandman who is
opposed by untimely weather and blight
66 After she was interred, John and creeping worms appearing from the took Andronicus aside, and
ground; for the athletes, the near miss,
having learned of the cause he sorrowed
and for the craftsman the obstacles to
more than Andronicus. And he kept sitheir skills.
lence, considering the threats of the enemy, and sat still a little. When the breth69
ren were assembled to hear which words
“The believer must above all
things consider the end and
he would say concerning the departed, he
carefully examine how it will come,
began to speak:
whether energetic and sober and without
impediment, or in confusion and flatter67 “When the helmsman who ing worldly things and bound by pascrosses the ocean has landed sions. Thus one can praise the beauty of
with the ship and passengers in a quiet
the body only when it is completely nahaven free from storms, he feels secure.
ked; and the greatness of the general
The husbandman who sowed the seed-
when he has happily finished the whole
grains in the ground and cared for them
campaign as he promised; and the excelwith great pains is only then to enjoy a lence of the physician when he has sucrest from his labors when he has harceeded in every cure; and so one praises vested abundant corn in his barns. Whoa soul filled with faith and worthy of God ever promises to take part in a race should
if it has happily accomplished that which
rejoice only when he has obtained the
it promised, not one of which made a
prize. He whose name is entered on the
good beginning, and gradually descended
list of prize-fighting should triumph only
into the errors of life and became weak,
after he receives the crowns. And thus it
nor the numb soul which made an effort
is with all races and skills, when they do
to attain higher things and was afterwards
not fail at the end, but are carried out, as
reduced to perishable, nor that which
they were intended.
loved the temporal more than the eternal,
nor that which exchanged the perishable
“So I think it is with the faith
68
for the lasting, nor that which honored
which every one of us practises,
what was not to be honored and loved
THE ACTS OF JOHN
99
works of dishonor, nor that which acwhen he fell down, the serpent sat on cepted pledges from Satan and received
him.
the serpent into its house, nor one which
was reviled for God’s sake and after72
wards was ashamed, nor one which con
On the following day John and
Andronicus and the brethren
sented with the mouth but did not show
went at the break of day to the tomb in
it by the deed; but we praise one which
which Drusiana had been for three days,
refused to be inflamed by filthy lust, to
so that we might break bread there. And
succumb to levity, to be ensnared by
when we were about to start, the keys
thirst after money, or to be betrayed by
were not to be found. And John said to
the strength of the body and anger.”
Andronicus, “It is right that they are lost,
for Drusiana is not in the tomb. Never
While John continued to preach
70
theless, let us go, that you do not appear
to the brethren that they despise
neglectful, and the doors will open of
earthly goods for the sake of the eternal
themselves, since the Lord has already
ones, the lover of Drusiana, inflamed by
given us many other things.”
the influence of the polymorphous Satan
to the most ardent passions, bribed the
When we came to the place, the
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greedy steward of Andronicus with
doors opened at the master’s
money. And he opened the tomb of Drubehest, and at the tomb of Drusiana we siana and left him to accomplish on the
saw a beautiful youth smiling. When John
body that which was once denied to him.
saw him, he exclaimed and said, “Do you
Since he had not procured her during her
come before us here also, noble one? And
lifetime, he continually thought of her
why?” And he heard a voice saying to
body after she was dead, and exclaimed,
him, “For the sake of Drusiana, whom
“Although when living you refused to
you are to raise up. I found her almost
unite with me in love, after your death I
defiled on account of the dead man lying
will dishonor your corpse.” Being in such
near the tomb.” And when the noble one
a frame of mind he obtained the opporhad thus spoken to John he ascended to tunity to execute his impious plan
heaven before the eyes of all. And John
through the accursed steward, and both
turned to the other side of the tomb and
went to the tomb. Having opened the
saw a young man, the very prominent
door, they began to take the graveclothes
Ephesian Callimachus—for this is what
from the corpse, and said, “What have
he was called—and on him a huge snake
you gained, unhappy Drusiana? Could
sleeping, also the steward of Andronicus,
you not have done this while you were
named Fortunatus, dead. On seeing both,
alive? It need not have grieved you if you
he stood helpless and said to the brethren,
had done it willingly.”
“What does all this mean? Or why did
the Lord not reveal to me what took place
While they spoke and only the
71
here, for he was always concerned for
shift remained, there appeared
me?”
something wonderful, which people that
do such things deserve to experience. A
When Andronicus saw these
74
serpent appeared from somewhere, bit
bodies, he jumped up and went
the steward, and killed him. And the serto the tomb of Drusiana. And when he pent did not bite the young man, but
saw her in her shift, he said to John, “I
encircled his feet, hissing fearfully, and
understand what took place, blessed
100
NON-CANONICAL ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
servant of God. This Callimachus loved
have accomplished this when this fearful
my sister. And as he could not get her,
beast killed Fortunatus with one bite bealthough he tried it often, he no doubt fore my eyes? And this deservedly so,
bribed this accursed steward of mine with
for he encouraged me to such madness,
a great sum of money with the intention—
after I had already desisted from the ill-
as one can now see—to accomplish his
timed and dreadful frenzy—but he frightpurpose through him. For this Callimaened me and put me in the state in which chus said to many, ‘If she will not yield
you saw me, before I arose. But I will
to be me alive, rape shall be committed
tell you another great miracle, which
on her death.’ This, O master, the noble
nearly slew me and almost killed me.
one saw and did not allow her earthly
When my soul was seized with mad pasremains to be violated. That is why those sion and the incurable disease was trouwho engineered this are dead. And the bling me, when I had already robbed her
voice which came to you ‘Raise Drusiof the grave-clothes with which she was ana!’ foretold this. For she departed this
dressed, and went from the grave to put
life through sorrow. And I believe him
them down as you see, I turned back to
who said that this is one of the men who
perpetrate the abominable deed. And I
was led astray. For you were asked to
saw a beautiful youth covering her with
raise him. As for the other I know that
this cloak. Rays of light fell from his
he does not deserve salvation. But one
face upon hers, and he turned to me
thing I ask of you. Raise Callimachus
also and said, “Callimachus, die, that
first, and he shall confess what took
you may live.” Who it was, I knew not,
place.”
servant of God. Since you have come
here, I know that it was an angel of
75 And John looked at the corpse God. And this I truly know, that the true and said to the poisonous
God is preached by you; and I am sure
snake, “Depart from him who is to serve
of it. But I pray you, see to it that I may
Jesus Christ!” Then he rose and prayed,
be delivered from this fate and dreadful
“God, whose name is rightly praised by
crime, and bring me to your God as a
us; God, who overcomes each harmful
man who had gone astray in scandalous,
work; God, whose will is done, who alabominable, deceit. On my knees I ask ways hears us, make your grace now effor your help. I will become one of ficacious on this youth! And if through
those who hope in Christ so that the
him some dispensation is to take place,
voice may also prove true, which spoke
make it known to us, when he is raised!”
here to me, ‘Die to live!’ And it is al
And the young man immediately arose
ready fulfilled. For that unbeliever, godand kept silence for a whole hour.
less, lawless man, is dead; I am raised
by you as a believer, faithful and godly,
When the man had regained his
76
that I may know the truth, which I ask
senses, John asked what his inof you to reveal to me.”
trusion into the tomb meant. And having
learned from him what Andronicus had
And John, rejoicing, contem77
already told him, how he passionately
plated the whole spectacle of
loved Drusiana, John asked further
the salvation of people and said, “O Lord
whether he had accomplished his wicked
Jesus Christ, I do not know what your
design to commit rape on the holy earthly
power is. I am amazed at your great
remains. And he replied, “How could I
mercy and endless forbearance. Oh, what
THE ACTS OF JOHN
101
greatness descended to servitude! O unfurther strengthened in you who alone speakable freedom, which was enslaved
can do what is wholly impossible with
by us! O inconceivable glory, which has
man, and have given salvation and rescome upon us! You have kept the grave urrection, and let Drusiana come out
from shame, and redeemed that man who
comforted because, in consequence of the
contaminated himself with blood, and
conversion of the youth, she no more has
taught him to be chaste who meant to
the least impediment to long for you!”
violate dead bodies. Father, full of mercy
and compassion toward him who disre80
garded you, we praise, glorify, and honor
Having spoken thus John said,
“Drusiana, arise!” And she
you and thank you for your great goodarose and came from the tomb. And when ness and long-suffering, holy Jesus, for
she saw that she wore nothing but her
you alone are God and none else; you
shirt, she was perplexed how to explain
against whose power all devices can do
what had happened. Having learned
nothing now and in all eternity! Amen!”
everything from Andronicus, while John
was upon his face and Callimachus with
After these words, John took
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tears praised God, she also rejoiced and
Callimachus, kissed him, and
praised God.
said, “Glory be to our God, who had
mercy upon you, child, and deemed me
Having dressed herself and
81
worthy to praise his power, and delivered
looked around, she saw Fortunyou by a wise method from that madness atus. And she said to John, “Father, he
and intoxication and called you to rest