Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/170

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54
APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.

him. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Habakkuk the prophet, who said, Between two animals thou art made known.[1] In the same place Joseph tarried with Mary three days.

CHAPTER XV.

Now on the sixth day they entered Bethlehem, where they spent the seventh day. But on the eighth day they circumcised the child, and his name was called Jesus, as he was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.[2] Now after the days of the purification of Mary were fulfilled according to the law of Moses, then Joseph took the infant to the temple of the Lord: and, when the infant had received peritome (peritome, that is circumcision), they offered for him a pair of turtles, or two young pigeons.

Now there was in the temple a certain man of God, perfect and just, whose name was Simeon, a hundred and twelve years old.[3] This man had received an answer from the Lord that he should not taste death unless he saw Christ the Son of God living in the flesh. When he saw the infant he cried out with a

  1. Hab. iii. 2, in the Greek. The Latin Vulgate is, "In medio annorum notum facies,"—In the midst of the years thou shalt make it known.
  2. Luke ii. 21-24.
  3. This age for Simeon seems quite imaginary. Luke ii. 25-38.