Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/160

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In like manner did also Cleopatra. And John answered, "To-morrow I will be with you." And they said again to him, " We have no hope in thy God, but would be revived in vain, if thou didst not abide with us." And Cleobius, Aristodemus and Daemonicus, grieved to the very heart, said to John, "Let us abide with them, that they remain unmolested with the Lord!" So he remained with the brethren.

THE PICTURE OF JOHN.

(Acta pp. 165–167.)

26. And a great multitude gathered together for the sake of John. And while' he was preaching to those present, Lycomedes, who had a talented painter as friend, hastily went to him and said, "Thou seest that I have come to thee. Come quickly to my house, and whom I shall point out, paint him without him perceiving it. And the painter gave the necessary instruments and colors to some one, and said to Lycomedes, "Point him out to me, and care not for the rest!" And Lycomedes pointed out John to the painter, and brought him into a room close by, from which the apostle of Christ could be seen. And Lycomedes ate bread with the blessed, united in faith and in the knowledge of our God; but rejoiced still more that he was to have him in that picture.

27. On the first day the painter made the outline and left; on the following day he completed the