Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/308

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

upon the altars. And as thou turnest men over to everlasting life, I turn those which obey me to everlasting damnation and punishment. Thou receivest thy reward, I mine."

77. The demon having spoken this and the more, the apostle said, "Jesus commands thee and thy son through me, that you no more enter into a human dwelling but go out and go and dwell altogether outside of the dwelling of men!" And the demons said to him, "Thou hast given us a hard order. But what wilt thou do to those which are now hidden from thee? For the makers of idols (of wood and stone) enjoy them (the demons dwelling in them) more than thou, and the multitude worships them and does their will, bringing offerings to them and offering wine and water libations as food and presenting gifts." And the apostle said, "they shall now be destroyed with their deeds." And suddenly the demons became invisible. But the women did lie like dead upon the ground, having no voice.

78. And the wild asses stood together and separated not. But the wild ass which by the power of God was able to speak said to the apostle, whilst all were silent and looked on what they would do, "Why standest thou idle, apostle of the Most High, who waits that thou beseech him for the greatest knowledge? What dost thou delay? For thy teacher wishes to show his great deeds by thy hands. What standest thou, herald of the hidden One? For thy Master will make known through thee the