CALCULOS Y RESULTADOS

When every one had departed from the temple, the priests closed the temple and went away. Then Abraham took the axe and cut off the feet of all the idols, except the great god Baal. At its

feet he placed the axe, amid the ruins which the statues made, for they, through being old and composed of pieces, fell in pieces. Thereupon, Abraham, going forth from the temple, seen by certain men, who suspected him of having gone to thieve something from the temple. So they laid hold on him, and having arrived at the temple, when they saw their gods so broken in piec- es, they cried out with lamentation: “Come quickly, O men, and let us slay him who has slain our gods!” There ran together there about ten thousand men, with the priests, and questioned

Abraham of the reason why he had destroyed their gods.

Abraham answered: “You are foolish! Shall then a man slay God? It is the great God that has slain them. See you not that axe which he has near his feet? Certain it is that he desires no fel- lows.” Then arrived there the father of Abraham, who, mindful of the many discourses of Abra-

ham against their gods, and recognizing the axe wherewith Abraham had broken in pieces the idols, cried out: “It has been this traitor of a son of mine, who has slain our gods! for this axe is mine.” And he recounted to them all that had passed between him and his son. Accordingly the men collected a great quantity of wood, and having bound Abraham’s hands and feet put him

upon the wood, and put fire underneath.

‘Lo! God, through his angel, commanded the fire that it should not burn Abraham his serv- ant. The fire blazed up with great fury, and burned about two thousand men of those who had

condemned Abraham to death. Abraham truly found himself free, being carried by the angel of God near to the house of his father, without seeing who carried him; and thus Abraham

Chapter 29 -

Then Spake God

Then Philip said: “Great is the mercy of God upon whoever loves him. Tell us, O master, how Abraham came to [have] the knowledge of God.” Jesus answered: “Having arrived near to the house of his father, Abraham feared to go into the house; so he removed [himself] some dis- tance from the house and sat under a palm tree, where, being by himself, he said:”There must be a God who has life and power more than man, since he makes man, and man without God

could not make man.”

Thereupon, looking round upon the stars, the moon, and the sun, he thought that they had been God. But after considering their variableness with their movements, hesaid: “It must be [necessarily] that God does not move and that clouds do not hide him [as they hide the plan- ets]; otherwise men would be reduced to nothing.” Remaining thus in suspense, he heard him-

self called by name, “Abraham!” And so, turning round and not seeing any one on any side, he said: “I am sure I heard myself called by name, ‘Abraham. “ Then, two other times in a similar

manner, he heard himself called by name, “Abraham!”

He answered: “What calls me?” Then he heard [the voice] say: “I am the angel of God, Gabriel.” Abraham was filled with fear; but the angel comforted him, saying: “Do not fear, Abraham, for

you are friend of God When you broke in pieces the gods of men, you were chosen [by] the God of the angels and prophets such that you are written in the Book of Life.” Then said Abra-

ham: “What should I do [so as] to serve the God of the angels and holy prophets?” The angel answered: “Go to that fount and wash yourself, for God wishes to speak with you.” Abraham answered: “How should I wash myself?” Then the angel appeared to him as a beauti-

ful youth, and washed himself in the fount, saying: “Do the same as this, O Abraham.” When Abraham had washed himself, the angel said: “Go up that mountain, for God wilshes to speak to you there.” Abraham ascended the mountain as the angel [had instructed him], and having sat down upon his knees he said to himself: “When will the God of the angels speak to me?” He

heard himself called with a gentle voice: “Abraham!” Abraham answered him: “Who calls me?” The voice answered: “I am your God, O Abraham.”

Abraham, filled with fear, bent his face to earth, saying: “How shall your servant who is dust and ashes hearken to you!” Then said God: “Fear not, but rise up, for I have chosen you as my servant, and I will bless you and make you increase into a great people. Therefore go forth from the house of your father and of your kindred, and come to dwell in the land which I will give to

Chapter 30 -

Eternal Life

Jesus went to Jerusalem, near to the Senofegia, a feast of our nation . The scribes and Pharisees having perceived this, took counsel to catch him in his talk. Whereupon, there came to him a doctor, saying: “Master, what must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus answered: “How is it written in the Law?” The tempter answered, saying: “Love the Lord your God, and your neighbour. You shall love your God above all things, with all your heart and your mind, and your neighbour as

yourself.” Jesus answered: “You have answered well: therefore go and do you so, I say, and you shall have eternal life.” He said to him: “And who is my neighbour?”

Jesus answered, lifting up his eyes: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to go to Jericho, a city rebuilt under a curse. This man on the road was seized by robbers, wounded and stripped;

whereupon they departed, leaving him half dead. It chanced that a priest passed by that place, and he, seeing the wounded man, passed on without greeting him. In like manner passed a Levite, without saying a word. It chanced that there passed [also] a Samaritan, who, seeing the wounded man, was moved to compassion, and alighted from his horse, and took the wounded man and washed his wounds with wine, and anointed them with ointment, and binding up his

wounds for him and comforting him, he set him upon his own horse.

Whereupon, having arrived in the evening at the inn, he gave him into the charge of the host. And when he had risen on the morrow, he said: “Take care of this man, and I will pay you all.” And having presented four gold pieces to the sick man for the host, he said: “Be of good cheer, for I will speedily return and conduct you to my own home.” “Tell me,” said Jesus, “which of

these was the neighbour?” The doctor answered: “He who showed mercy.” Then Jesus said: “You have answered rightly; therefore go and do you likewise.” The doctor departed in confu-

Chapter 31 -

To Caesar That is Caesar’s

Then drew near to Jesus the priests, and said: “Master, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar?” Jesus turned round to Judas, and said: “Have you any money?” And taking a penny in his hand,

Jesus turned himself to the priests, and said to them: “This penny has an image: tell me, whose image is it?” They answered: “Caesar”s”. “Give therefore,” said Jesus, “that which is Caesar’s to

Caesar, and that which is God’s give it to God.” Then they departed in confusion. And behold there drew near a centurion, saying: “Lord, my son is sick; have mercy on my old

age!” Jesus answered: “The Lord God of Israel have mercy on you!” The man was departing; and Jesus said: “Wait for me, for I will come to your house, to make prayer over your son.” The

centurion answered: “Lord, I am not worthy that you, a prophet of God, should come to my house, sufficient to me is the word that you have spoken for the healing of my son; for your

God has made you lord over every sickness, even as his angel said to me in my sleep.” Then Jesus marvelled greatly, and turning to the crowd, he said: “Behold this stranger, for he has more faith than all that I have found in Israel.” And turning to the centurion, he said: “Go in peace, because God, for the great faith that he has given you, has granted health to your son.”

The centurion went his way, and on the road he met his servants, who announced to him how his son was healed. The man answered: “At what hour did the fever leave him?” They said: “Yes-

terday, at the sixth hour, the heat departed from him.”

The man knew that when Jesus said: “The Lord God of Israel have mercy on you,” his son received his health. *Whereupon the man believed in our God, and having entered into his house, he brake in pieces all his own gods, saying: “There is only the God of Israel, the true and

living God.” Therefore said he: “None shall eat of my bread that does not worship the God of Israel.”