Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/393

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THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS, (II.)
277

my bed thirty-eight years, and seeing me he was grieved, and said to me, Arise, take up thy bed and depart to thine house; and as he said to me the word I arose and walked. The Hebrews said, Ask him on what day of the week this was done. He saith, On the sabbath.[1] The Jews said, And therefore we say truly that he keepeth not the sabbath.

Again, another standing in the midst said, I was born blind, and as Jesus went along the way I called to him, saying, Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; and he took clay and anointed mine eyes, and immediately I saw.[2] Another said, I was a cripple, and seeing him I cried, Have mercy on me, Lord, and he took me by the hand, and immediately I arose.[3] Another said, I was a leper, and he healed me by a word alone.[4]

CHAPTER VII.

There was found there also, a woman named Veronica.[5] And she said, I was twelve years with an

  1. John v. 5-9.
  2. John ix. 6.
  3. Matt. ix. 1-7; cf. Acts iii. 7.
  4. Luke xvii. 13.
  5. The Greek is Beronice, but the Latin Veronica seems to be the original. The name has reference to a supposed likeness of Christ, and was often applied to the likeness itself. 'The likeness of the Lord, which is called Veronica — Veronica is the true picture of the Lord,' says Gervase of Tilbury. The word is said not to be a corruption of Berenice, but of Vera Icon, 'a true likeness.' According to one story, Veronica is the name of a woman who received from Jesus his portrait, upon a handkerchief or napkin. They still pretend to exhibit this at Rome and elsewhere, for like many relics, it has 'increased and