The Jews angry with NICODEMUS. Nicodemus and Joseph. the body of Jesus from the said, How can such persons as these enter into the syna cross. 13 And the governor gave gogue ? him leave.. 3 The Jews answered him, 14 And Nicodemus came, But how durst thou enter into bringing with him a mixture the synagogue, who wast a of myrrh and aloes about a confederate with Christ? Let hundred pound weight; and thy lot be along with him in they took down Jesus from the other world. the cross with tears, and 4 Nicodemus answered, Abound him in linen cloaths men; so may it be, that I may with spices, according to the have my lot with him in his custom of burying among the kingdom. Jews, CHAP. IX. 5 In like manner Joseph, 15 And placed him in a when he came to the Jews, new tomb, which Joseph had said to them, Why are ye anbuilt, and caused to be cut out gry with me for desiring the of a rock, in which never any body of Jesus of Pilate ? Beman had been put; and they hold, I have put him in-my rolled a great stone to the tomb, and wrapped him up in door of the sepulchre. clean linen, and put a stone at the door of the sepulchre : 6 I have acted rightly toThe Jews angry with Nic-wards him; but ye have actodemus; 5 and with Jo-ed unjustly against that just seph of Arimathæa, 7 whom person, in crucifying him, givthey imprison. ing him vinegar to drink,crownHEN the unjust Jews ing him with thorns, tearing heard that Joseph had his body with whips, and begged and buried the body prayed down the guilt of his of Jesus, they sought after Ni- blood upon you. codemus, and those fifteen 7 The Jews at the hearing men who had testified before of this were disquieted and the governor, that Jesus was troubled; and they seized Jonot born through fornication, seph, and commanded him to and other good persons, who be put in custody before the had shewn any good actions sabbath, and kept there till towards him. the sabbath was over. WIL 2 But when they all con- 8 And they said to him, cealed themselves through fear Make confession; for at this of the Jews, Nicodemus alone time it is not lawful to do thee shewed himself to them, and any harm, till the first day of Joseph imprisoned, NICODEMUS. makes his escape. the week come. But we know priests and Levites, that they that thou wilt not be thought should all meet after the sabworthy of a burial; but we bath, and they contrived to will give thy flesh to the birds what death they should put of the air, and the beasts of Joseph. the earth. 14 When they had done 9 Joseph answered, That this, the rulers, Annas and speech is like the speech of Caiaphas, order Joseph to be proud Goliath, who reproach-brought forth. tion of the Gospel lost or omitted, which cannot be supplied. ed the living God in speaking ¶ In this place there is a poragainst David. But ye scribes and doctors know, that God saith by the prophet Vengeance is mine, and I will repay to you* evil equal to that 1 which ye have threatened to me. 10 The God whom you have hanged upon the cross, is able to deliver me out of your hands. All your wickedness will return upon you. CHAP. X. Joseph's escape. 2 The sol- 21 W heard this, they ad HEN all the assembly 11 For the governor, when mired and were astonished, behe washed his hands, said, I cause they found the same seal am clear from the blood of upon the lock of the chamber, this just person. But ye an- and could not find Joseph. swered and cried out, His 2 Then Annas and Caiablood be upon us and our chil-phas went forth, and while dren. According as ye have they were all admiring at Josaid, may ye perish for ever. seph's being gone, behold one 12 The elders of the Jews of the soldiers, who kept the hearing these words, were ex- sepulchre of Jesus, spake in ceedingly enraged; and seiz- the assembly, ing Joseph, they put him into 3 *That while they were a chamber where there was no guarding the sepulchre of Jewindow; they fastened the sus, there was an earthquake; door, and put a seal upon the and we saw an angel of God lock; roll away the stone of the sep13 And Annas and Caia-ulchre and sit upon it; phas placed a guard about it, 4 And his countenance was and took counsel with the *Deut. xxii. 32. Heb. x. 30. *Matt xxviii. 11, 12, &c. Christ rises again, NICODEMUS. preaches in Galilee. like lightning, and his gar-shut up Joseph, who buried ment like snow; and we be-the body of Jesus, in a chamcame through fear like per-ber, under a lock which was sons dead. sealed; and when ye opened 5 And we heard an angel it, found him not there. saying to the women at the 12 Do ye then produce Josepulchre of Jesus, Do not seph whom ye put under fear; I know that you seek guard in the chamber, and we Jesus who was crucified; he will produce Jesus whom we is risen as he foretold. guarded in the sepulchre. 6 Come and see the place) 13 The Jews answered and where he was laid; and go said, We will produce Joseph, presently, and tell his disci- do ye produce Jesus. But ples that he is risen from the Joseph is in his own city of dead, and he will go before Arimathæa. you into Galilee; there ye shall see him, as he told you. 7 Then the Jews called together all the soldiers who kept the sepulchre of Jesus, and 15 The Jews hearing this, said to them, Who are those were afraid, and said among women, to whom the angel themselves, If by any means spoke? Why did ye not seize these things should become them ? 8 The soldiers answered and said, We know not who the women were; besides, we became as dead persons through fear, and how could we seize those women? 14 The soldiers replied, if Joseph be in Arimathæa, and Jesus in Galilee, we heard the angel inform the women. public, then every body will believe in Jesus. 16 Then they gathered a large sum of money, and gave it to the soldiers, saying, Do ye tell the people that the dis ciples of Jesus came in the night when ye were asleep 9 The Jews said to them, As the Lord liveth, we do not and stole away the body of believe you. Jesus; and if Pilate the gov 10 The soldiers answering, ernor should hear of this, we said to the Jews, When ye will satisfy him and secure saw and heard Jesus working you. so many miracles, and did not 17 The soldiers according believe him, how should ye be-ly took the money, and said lieve us ? Ye well said, As as they were instructed by the the Lord liveth, for the Lord Jews; and their report was truly does live. spread abroad among all the 11 We have heard that ye people. The Jews repent of NICODEMUS. their cruelty to Jesus. 18 But a certain priest 24 And the three men farPhinees, Ada a schoolmaster, ther answered and said, adding and a Levite, named Ageus, these words, If we should not they three came from Galilee own the words which we heard to Jerusalem, and told the chief Jesus speak, and that we saw priests and all who were in the him ascending into heaven, synagogues, saying, we should be guilty of sin. 19 We have seen Jesus, 25 Then the chief priests whom ye crucified,talking with immediately arose up, and his eleven disciples, and sitting holding the book of the law in in the midst of them in mount their hands, conjured those Olivet, and saying to them.* men, saying, Ye shall no more 20 Go forth into the whole hereafter ever declare those world, preach the Gospel to things which ye have spoke all nations, baptizing them in concerning Jesus. the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and whosoever shall believe and be baptized, shall be saved. 26 And they gave them a large sum of money, and sent other persons along with them, who should conduct them to 21 And when he had said their own country, that they these things to his disciples, we saw him ascending up to heaven. might not by any means make any stay at Jerusalem. 27 Then the Jews did as22 When the chief priests, semble all together, and havand elders, and Levites heard ing expressed the most lamenthese things, they said to these table concern, said, What is three men, Give glory to the this extraordinary thing which God of Israel, and make con- is come to pass in Jerusalem ? fession to him, whether those 28 But Annas and Caiathings are true, which ye say phas comforted them, saying, ye have seen and heard. Why should we believe the 23 They answering, said, soldiers who guarded the sepAs the Lord of our fathers ulchre of Jesus, in telling us, liveth, the God of Abraham, that an angel rolled away the and the God of Isaac, and the stone from the door of the sepGod of Jacob, according as ulchre? we heard Jesus talking with 29 Perhaps his own discihis disciples, and according as ples told them this, and gave we saw him ascending up to them money that they should heaven, so we have related the say so, and they themselves truth to you. took away the body of Jesus. 30 Besides consider this, that * Matt xxvifi. 16. and Mark,xvi. 16. The Jews counsel. NICODEMUS. Joseph found, there is no credit to be given to them three days, and they foreigners, because they also could not find him. * took a large sum of us, and 4 And now hear me, O they have declared to us ac- sons of Israel, and let us send cording to the instructions men into the mountains of Iswhich we gave them. They rael, lest perhaps the spirit must either be faithful to us, hath carried away Jesus, and or to the disciples of Jesus. there perhaps we shall find him, and be satisfied. CHAP. XI. 5 And the counsel of Nico 1 Nicodemus counsels the demus pleased all the people; Jews. 6 Joseph found. 11 and they sent forth men who Invited by the Jews to re-sought for Jesus, but could not turn. 19 Relates the man- find him; and they returning, ner of his miraculous es- said, We went all about, but cape. could not find Jesus, but we have found Joseph in his city HEN Nicodemus arose, and said, Ye say right, of Arimathæa. O sons of Israel, ye have 6 The rulers hearing this, heard what those three men and all the people, were glad, have swore by the Law of and praised the God of Israel, God, who said, We have seen because Joseph was found, Jesus speaking with his disci-whom they had shut up in a ples upon mount Olivet, and chamber, and could not find. we saw him ascending up to 7 And when they had formheaven. ed a large assembly, the chief 2 And the scripture teach-priests said, By what means eth us that the blessed prophet shall we bring Joseph to us to Elijah was taken up to heav-speak with him? en; and Elisha being asked 8 And taking a piece of by the sons of the prophets, Where is our father Elijah? He said to them, that he is taken up to heaven. paper, they wrote to him, and said, Peace be with thee, and all thy family. We know that we have offended against God 3 And the sons of the and thee. Be pleased to give prophets said to him, Perhaps a visit to us your fathers, for the spirit hath carried him into we were perfectly surprised at one of the mountains of Israel, your escape from prison. there perhaps we shall find 9 We know that it was mahim. And they besought Eli-licious counsel which we took sha, and he walked about with against thee, and that the Lord took care of thee and the Lord *Heathens. |