Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/350

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a water fountain, which he dug in a dry place? Who finds a treasure and uses it not?" Upon hearing this, Charis said, "I shall not imitate you nor hasten to destroy you. As for thee, since I have the power, I will put thee in fetters and not permit thee to speak with the sorcerer. And if thou obeyest me < it is well; if not, > I know what I have to do."

131. Judas left the house of Charis and went to the house of Sifôr, and abode with him. And Sifôr said, " I will prepare for him a dining room in which he shall teach." And he did so. And Sifôr said, "I and my wife and my daughter shall from now on live in holiness, in purity, and in one mind. I pray thee, give us the seal that we become servants of the true God and such as belong to his lambs." And Judas said, "I fear to say what I think. I know something, and what I know I cannot express."

132. And he began to speak of baptism: "This baptism is forgiveness of sins. It is a light shed abroad everywhere. It generates the new man, < renews the thoughts, mixes soul and body, > establishes in a threefold[1] manner the new man, and is partaking of forgiveness of sin. Praise be to thee, hidden power, which is united with us by baptism! Praise be to thee, invisible power, which is in the baptism! Praise be to thee, renovation, by which those to be baptized are renewed,[2] taking

  1. Syriac: in the Trinity.
  2. Comp. Titus III, 5.