These are all forms of
Christian Apocrypha
Revelation of Paul -
Revelation of John the Theologian -
Gospel of Marcion -
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew - part 1 -
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew - part 2 -
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew - part 3 -
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew - part 4 -
Gospel of Peter -
Gospel of the Nativity of Mary -
Gospel of Mary of Magdalene -
Gospel of James -
Gospel of Bartholomew -
Gospel of Nicodemus -
Consummation of Thomas the Apostle -
Compilation of Thomas - part 1 -
Compilation of Thomas - part 2 -
Apocalypse of the Virgin -
Apocalypse of Peter -
Apocalypse of Thomas -
Acts of Thomas -
Acts of Phillip -
Acts of Peter -
Acts of Peter and Paul -
Acts of Peter and Andrew -
Acts of Paul -
Acts of John -
Acts of John the Theologian -
Acts of Barnabus -
Acts of Andrew and Matthew -
Acts and Martyrdom of Matthew -
Acts and Martyrdom of Andrew
Acts of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist
John the Theologian
ABOUT HIS EXILE AND DEPARTURE.
WHEN Agrippa, whom, on account of his plotting against Peace, they stoned and put to death,
was king of the Jews, Vespasian Caesar, coming with a great
army, invested Jerusalem; and some prisoners of war he took and slew, others
he destroyed by famine in the siege, and most he banished, and at length
scattered up and down. And having destroyed the temple, and put the holy
vessels on board a ship, he sent them to Rome, to make for himself a temple of
peace, and adorned it with the spoils of war.
And when Vespasian was dead, his son Domitian, having got possession of the kingdom. along
with his other wrongful acts, set himself also to make a persecution against the righteous men.
For, having learned that the city was filled with Jews, remembering the orders given by his father
about them, he purposed casting them all out of the city of the Romans. And some of the Jews
took courage, and gave Domitian a book, in which was written as follows:--
O Domitian, Caesar and king of all the world, as many of us as are Jews entreat thee, as
suppliants we beseech of thy power not to banish us from thy divine and benignant countenance;
for we are obedient to thee, and the customs, and laws, and practices, and policy, doing wrong in
nothing, but being of the same mind with the Romans. But there is a new and strange nation,
neither agreeing with other nations nor consenting to the religious observances of the Jews,
uncircumcised, inhuman, lawless, subverting whole houses, proclaiming a man as God, all
assembling together under a strange name, that of Christian. These men reject God, paying no
heed to the law given by Him, and proclaim to be the Son of God a man born of ourselves, Jesus
by name, whose parents and brothers and all his family have been connected with the Hebrews;
whom on account of his great blasphemy and his wicked fooleries we gave up to the cross. And
they add another blasphemous lie to their first one: him that was nailed up and buried, they glorify
as having risen from the dead; and, more than this, they falsely assert that he has been taken up by
clouds into the heavens.
At all this the king, being affected with rage. ordered the senate to publish a decree that they
should put to death all who confessed themselves to be Christians. Those, then, who were found
in the time of his rage, and who reaped the fruit of patience, and were crowned in the triumphant
contest against the works of the devil, received the repose of incorruption.
And the fame of the teaching of John was spread abroad in Rome; and it came to the ears of
Domitian that there was a certain Hebrew in Ephesus, John by name, who spread a report about
the seat of empire of the Romans, saying that it would quickly be rooted out, and that the
kingdom of the Romans would be given over to another. And Domitian, troubled by what was
said, sent a centurion with soldiers to seize John, and bring him. And having gone to
Ephesus, they asked where John lived. And having come up to his gate, they
found him standing before the door; and, thinking that he was the porter, they
inquired of him where John lived. And he answered and said: I am he. And they,
despising his common, and low, and poor appearance, were filled with threats,
and said: Tell us the truth. And when he declared again that he was the man
they sought, the neighbours moreover bearing witness to it, they said that he was to go with them at once to the king in Rome. And, urging them to take
provisions for the journey, he turned and took a few dates, and straightway
went forth.
And the soldiers, having taken the public conveyances, travelled fast, having seated him in the
midst of them. And when they came to the first change, it being the hour of breakfast, they entreated him to be of good courage, and to take bread, and eat with them. And John said: I
rejoice in soul indeed, but in the meantime I do not wish to take any food. And they started, and
were carried along quickly. And when it was
evening they stopped at a certain inn; and as, besides, it was the hour of
supper, the centurion and the soldiers being most kindly disposed, entreated
John to make use of what was set before them. But he said that he was very
tired, and in want of sleep more than any food. And as he did this each day,
all the soldiers were struck with amazement, and were afraid lest John should
die, and involve them in danger. But the Holy Spirit showed him to them as
more cheerful. And on the seventh day, it being the Lord's day, he said to
them: Now it is time for me also to partake of food. And having washed his
hands and face, he prayed, and brought out the linen cloth, and took one of
the dates, and ate it in the sight of all.
And when they had ridden a long time they came to the end of their journey, John thus fasting.
And they brought him before the king, and said: Worshipful king, we bring to thee John, a god,
not a man; for, from the hour in which we apprehended him, to the present, he has not tasted
bread. At this Domitian being amazed, stretched out his mouth on account of the wonder, wishing
to salute him with a kiss; but John bent down his head, and kissed his breast. And Domitian said:
Why hast thou done this? Didst thou not think me worthy to kiss thee? And John said to him: It is
right to adore the hand of God first of all, and in this way to kiss the mouth of the king; for it is
written in the holy books, The heart of a king is in the hand of God.
And the king said to him: Art thou John, who said that my kingdom would speedily be
uprooted, and that another king, Jesus, was going to reign instead of me? And John answered and
said to him: Thou also shalt reign for many years given thee by God, and after thee very many
others; and when the times of the things upon earth have been fulfilled, out of heaven shall come a
King, eternal, true, Judge of living and dead, to whom every nation and tribe shall confess,
through whom every earthly power and dominion shall be brought to nothing, and every mouth
speaking great things shall be shut. This is the mighty Lord and King of everything that hath
breath and flesh, the Word and Son of the living One, who is Jesus Christ.
At this Domitian said to him: What is the proof of these things? I am not
persuaded by words only; words are a sight of the unseen. What canst thou
show in earth or heaven by the power of him who is destined to reign, as thou
sayest? For he will do it, if he is the Son of God. And immediately John asked for a deadly poison. And the king having ordered poison to be given to him,
they brought it on the instant. John therefore, having taken it. put it into a
large cup, and filled it with water, and mixed it, and cried out with a loud voice, and said: In Thy name, Jesus Christ, Son of God, I drink the cup which
Thou wilt sweeten; and the poison in it do Thou mingle with Thy Holy Spirit,
and make it become a draught of life and salvation, for the healing of soul
and body, for digestion and harmless assimilation, for faith not to be
repented of, for an undeniable testimony of death as the cup of
thanksgiving. And when he had drunk the cup, those standing beside Domitian
expected that he was going to fall to the ground in convulsions. And when John
stood, cheerful, and talked with them safe, Domitian was enraged against those who had given the poison, as having spared John. But they swore by the fortune
and health of the king, and said that there could not be a stronger poison
than this. And John, understanding what they were whispering to one another,
said to the king: Do not take it ill, O king, but let a trial be made, and
thou shalt learn the power of the poison. Make some condemned criminal be
brought from the prison. And when he had come, John put water into the cup,
and swirled it round, and gave it with all the dregs to the condemned
criminal. And he, having taken it and drunk, immediately fell down and died.
And when all wondered at the signs that had been done, and when Domitian had
retired and gone to his palace, John said to him: O Domitian, king of the
Romans, didst thou contrive this, that, thou being present and bearing
witness, I might to-day become a murderer? What is to be done about the dead
body which is lying? And he ordered it to be taken and thrown away. But John,
going up to the dead body, said: O God, Maker of the heavens, Lord and Master
of angels, of glories, of powers, in the name of Jesus Christ, Thine only
begotten Son, give to this man who has died for this occasion a renewal of
life, and restore him his soul, that Domitian may learn that the Word is much
more powerful than poison, and is the ruler of life. And having taken him by
the hand, he raised him up alive.
And when all were glorifying God, and wondering at the faith of John, Domitian said to him: I
have put forth a decree of the senate, that all such persons should be summarily dealt with,
without trial; but since I find from thee that they are innocent, and that their religion is rather beneficial, I banish thee to an island, that I
may not seem myself to do away with my own decrees. He asked then that the condemned
criminal should be let go; and when he was let go, John said: Depart, give thanks to God, who has
this day delivered thee from prison and from death.
And while they were standing, a certain home-born slave of Domitian's, of those in the
bed-chamber, was suddenly seized by the unclean demon, and lay dead; and word was brought to
the king. And the king was moved, and entreated John to help her. And John said: It is not in man
to do this; but since thou knowest how to reign, but dost not know from whom thou hast received
it, learn who has the power over both thee and thy kingdom. And he prayed thus: O Lord, the
God of every kingdom, and master of every creature, give to this maiden the breath of life. And
having prayed, he raised her up. And Domitian, astonished at all the wonders, sent him away to an
island, appointing for him a set time.
And straightway John sailed to Patmos, where also he was deemed worthy to see the
revelation of the end. And when Domitian was dead, Nerva succeeded to the kingdom, and
recalled all who had been banished; and having kept the kingdom for a year, he made Trajan his
successor in the kingdom. And when he was king over the Romans, John went to Ephesus, and
regulated all the teaching of the church, holding many conferences, anti reminding them of what
the Lord had said to them, and what duty he had assigned to each. And when he was old and
changed, he ordered Polycarp to be bishop over the church.
And what like his end was, or his departure from men, who cannot give an account of? For on
the following day, which was the Lord's day, and in the presence of the brethren, he began to say
to them: Brethren, and fellow-servants, and co-heirs, and copartners of the kingdom of the Lord,
know the Lord what miracles He hath shown you through me, what wonders, what cures, what
signs, what gracious gifts, teachings, rulings, rests, services, glories, graces, gifts, faiths,
communions; how many things you have seen with your eyes, that ear hath not heard. Be strong,
therefore, in Him, remembering Him in all your doings, knowing the mystery of the dispensation
that has come to men, for the sake of which the Lord has worked. He then, through me, exhorts
you: Brethren, I wish to remain without grief, without insult, without treachery, without
punishment. For He also knows insult from you, He knows also dishonour, He knows also
treachery, He knows also punishment from those that disobey His commandments. Let not
therefore our God be grieved, the good, the compassionate, the merciful, the holy, the pure, the
undefiled, the only, the one, the immutable, the sincere, the guileless, the slow to anger, He that is
higher and more exalted than every name that we speak or think of--our God, Jesus Christ. Let
Him rejoice along with us because we conduct ourselves well; let Him be glad because we live in
purity; let Him rest because we behave reverently; let Him be pleased because we live in
fellowship; let Him smile because we are sober-minded; let Him be delighted because we love.
These things, brethren, I communicate to you, pressing on to the work set before me, already
perfected for me by the Lord. For what else have I to say to you? Keep the sureties of your God;
keep His presence, that shall not be taken away from you. And if then ye sin no more, He will
forgive you what ye have done in ignorance; but if, after ye have known Him, and He has had
compassion upon you, you return to the like courses, even your former offences will be laid to
your charge, and ye shall have no portion or compassion before His face.
And when he had said this to them, he thus prayed: Jesus, who didst wreathe this crown by Thy
twining, who hast inserted these many flowers into the everlasting flower of Thy countenance,
who hast sown these words among them, be Thou Thyself the protector and healer of Thy people.
Thou alone art benignant and not haughty, alone merciful and kind, alone a Saviour, and just;
Thou who always seest what belongs to all, and art in all, and everywhere present, God Lord
Jesus Christ; who with Thy gifts and Thy compassion coverest those that hope in Thee; who
knowest intimately those that everywhere speak against us, and blaspheme Thy holy name, do
Thou alone, O Lord, help Thy servants with Thy watchful care. So be it, Lord.
And having asked bread, he gave thanks thus, saying: What praise, or what sort of offering, or
what thanksgiving, shall we, breaking the bread, invoke, but Thee only? We glorify the name by
which Thou hast been called by the Father; we glorify the name by which Thou hast been called
through the Son; we glorify the resurrection which has been manifested to us through Thee; of
Thee we glorify the seed, the word, the grace, the true pearl, the treasure, the plough, the net,
the majesty, the diadem, Him called Son of man for our sakes, the truth, the rest, the
knowledge, the freedom, the place of refuge in Thee. For Thou alone art Lord, the root of
immortality, and the fountain of incorruption, and the seat of the ages; Thou who hast been called all these for our sakes, that now we, calling
upon Thee through these, may recognise Thine illimitable majesty, presented to us by Thy
presence, that can be seen only by the pure, seen in Thine only Son.
And having broken the bread, he gave it to us, praying for each of the
brethren, that he might be worthy of the Eucharist of the Lord. He also
therefore, having likewise tasted it, said: To me also let there be a portion
with you, and peace, O beloved. And having thus spoken, and confirmed the
brethren, he said to Eutyches, also named Verus: Behold, I appoint thee a
minister of the Church of Christ, and I entrust to thee the flock of
Christ. Be mindful, therefore, of the commandments of the Lord; and if thou
shouldst fall into trails or dangers, he not afraid: for thou shall fall under
many troubles, and thou shalt be shown to be an eminent witness of the
Lord. Thus, then, Verus, attend to the flock as a servant of God, until the
time appointed for thy testimony.
And when John had spoken this, and more than this, having entrusted to him the flock of
Christ, he says to him: Take some brethren, with baskets and vessels, and follow me. And
Eutyches, without considering, did what he was bid. And the blessed John having gone forth
from the house, went outside of the gates, having told the multitude to stand off from him. And
having come to the tomb of one of our brethren, he told them to dig. And they dug. And he says:
Let the trench he deeper. And as they dug, he conversed with those who bad come out of the
house with him, building them up, and furnishing them thoroughly into the majesty of the Lord.
And when the young men had finished the trench, as he had wished, while we knew nothing,
he takes off the clothes he had on, and throws them, as if they were some bedding, into the depth
of the trench; and, standing in only his drawers, stretched forth his hands, and prayed.
O God, who hast chosen us for the mission of the Gentiles, whet hast sent us out into the
world, who hast declared Thyself through the apostles; who hast never rested, but always savest
from the foundation of the world; who hast made Thyself known through all nature; who hast
made our wild and savage nature quiet and peaceable; who hast given Thyself to it when thirsting
after knowledge; who hast put to death its adversary, when it took refuge in Thee; who hast
given it Thy hand, and raised it from the things done in Hades; who hast shown it its own enemy;
who hast in purity turned its thoughts upon Thee, O Christ Jesus, Lord of things in heaven, and
law of things on earth, the course of things aerial, and guardian of things etherial, the fear of those
under the earth, and grace of Thine own people, receive also the soul of Thy John, which has been
certainly deemed worthy by Thee, Thou who hast preserved me also till the present hour pure to
Thyself, and free from intercourse with woman; who, when I wished in my youth to marry, didst
appear to me, and say, I am in need of thee, John; who didst strengthen for me beforehand my
bodily weakness; who, when a third time I wished to marry, didst say to me at the third hour, in
the sea, John, if thou wert not mine, I would let thee marry; who hast opened up the sight of my
mind, and hast favoured my bodily eyes; who, when I was looking about me, didst call even
the gazing upon a woman hateful; who didst deliver me from temporary show, and preserve me
for that which endureth for ever; who didst separate me from the filthy madness of the flesh; who
didst stop up the secret disease of the soul, and cut out its open actions; who didst afflict and
banish him who rebelled in me; who didst establish my love to Thee spotless and unimpaired; who
didst give me undoubting faith in Thee; who hast drawn out for me pure thoughts towards Thee;
who hast given me the due reward of my works; who bast set it in my soul to have no other
possession than Thee alone: for what is more precious than Thou? Now, O Lord, when I have
accomplished Thy stewardship with which I was entrusted, make me worthy of Thy repose,
having wrought that which is perfect in Thee, which is ineffable salvation. And as I go to Thee, let
the fire withdraw, let darkness be overcome, let the furnace be slackened, let Gehenna be
extinguished, let the angels follow, let the demons be afraid let the princes be broken in pieces, let
the powers of darkness fall, let the places on the right hand stand firm, let those on the left abide
not, let the devil be muzzled, let Satan be laughed to scorn, let his madness be tamed, let his wrath
be broken, let his children be trodden under foot, and let all his root he uprooted; and grant to me
to accomplish the journey to Thee, not insulted, not despitefully treated, and to receive what
Thou hast promised to those that live in purity, and that have loved a holy life.
And gazing towards heaven, he glorified God; and having sealed himself altogether, he stood
and said to us, Peace and grace be with you, brethren! and sent the brethren away. And when they went on the morrow they did not find him,
but his sandals, and a fountain welling up. And after that they remembered what had been said to
Peter by the Lord about him: For what does it concern thee if I should wish him to remain until I
come? And they glorified God for the miracle that had happened. And having thus believed,
they retired praising and blessing the benignant God; because to Him is due glory now and ever,
and to ages of ages. Amen.