And after these things Judas departed to be imprisoned. And Tertia with Mygdonia and Marcia also went to be imprisoned. And the apostle Thomas said unto them — the multitude of them that had believed being present: Daughters and sisters and fellow-servants which have believed in my Lord and God, ministers of my Jesus, hearken to me this day: for I do deliver my word unto you, and I shall no more speak with you in this flesh nor in this world; for I go up unto my Lord and God Jesus Christ, unto him that sold me, unto that Lord that humbled himself even unto me the little, and brought me up unto eternal greatness, that vouchsafed to me to become his servant in truth and steadfastness: unto him do I depart, knowing that the time is fulfilled, and the day appointed hath drawn near for me to go and receive my recompense from my Lord and God: for my recompenser is righteous, who knoweth me, how I ought to receive my reward; for he is not grudging nor envious, but is rich in his gifts, he is not a lover of craft in that he giveth, for he hath confidence in his possessions which cannot fail.
2I am not Jesus, but I am his servant: I am not Christ, but I am his minister; I am not the Son of God, but I pray to become worthy of God. Continue ye in the faith of Christ: continue in the hope of the Son of God: faint not at affliction, neither be divided in mind if ye see me mocked or that I am shut up in prison; for I do accomplish his will. For if I had willed not to die, I know in Christ that I am able thereto: but this which is called death, is not death, but a setting free from the body; wherefore I receive gladly this setting free from the body, that I may depart and see him that is beautiful and full of mercy, him that is to be loved: for I have endured much toil in his service, and have laboured for his grace that is come upon me, which departeth not from me. Let not Satan, then, enter you by stealth and catch away your thoughts: let there be in you no place for him: for he is mighty whom ye have received. Look for the coming of Christ, for he shall come and receive you, and this is he whom ye shall see when he cometh.
3When the apostle had ended these sayings, they went into the house, and the apostle Thomas said: Saviour that didst suffer many things for us, let these doors be as they were and let seals be set on them. And he left them and went to be imprisoned: and they wept and were in heaviness, for they knew that Misdaeus would slay him.
4And the apostle found the keepers wrangling and saying: Wherein have we sinned against this wizard? for by his art magic he hath opened the doors and would have had all the prisoners escape: but let us go and report it unto the king, and tell him concerning his wife and his son. And as they disputed thus, Thomas held his peace. They rose up early, therefore, and went unto the king and said unto him: Our lord and king, do thou take away that sorcerer and cause him to be shut up elsewhere, for we are not able to keep him; for except thy good fortune had kept the prison, all the condemned persons would have escaped for now this second time have we found the doors open: and also thy wife, O king, and thy son and the rest depart not from him. And the king, hearing that, went, and found the seals that were set on the doors whole; and he took note of the doors also, and said to the keepers: Wherefore lie ye? for the seals are whole. How said ye that Tertia and Mygdonia come unto him into the prison? And the keepers said: We have told thee the truth.
5And Misdaeus went to the prison and took his seat, and sent for the apostle Thomas and stripped him and girded him with a girdle and set him before him. And Misdaeus said: Art thou a slave or a freeman? Judas saith: I am a slave of one only, over whom thou hast no power; but I am not thy slave. And Misdaeus said: How ranst thou away and camest unto this country? Judas saith: My Lord sold me hither, that I might save many and by thy hands depart out of this world. And Misdaeus said: Who is thy Lord, and what is his name, and of what country is he? Judas saith: My Lord is in heaven and on earth, and he is the Lord and ruler of all, and his name is Jesus Christ. Misdaeus said: I was in no haste to destroy thee, but had patience with thee; but thou hast added unto thy sorceries, and thy deeds are spoken of throughout all the country: but I will so do unto thee that thy sorceries shall depart with thee, and our land shall be cleansed from them. Judas saith: These things which thou callest sorceries shall never depart from this world, but shall abide for ever.
6When the apostle had said these things, Misdaeus considered how he should put him to death; for he was afraid because of the much people that were subject unto him, for many also of the nobles and of them that were in authority believed on him. He took him therefore and went out of the city; and armed soldiers went with him. And the people supposed that the king desired to learn somewhat of him, and they stood still and gave heed. And when they had walked one mile, he delivered him unto four soldiers and an officer, and commanded them to take him into the mountain and there pierce him with spears and put an end to him, and return again to the city. And saying thus unto the soldiers, he himself also returned unto the city.
7But the men ran after Thomas, desiring to deliver him from death. And two soldiers went at the right hand of the apostle and two on his left, holding spears, and the officer held his hand and led him. And the apostle Thomas said: O the mysteries of thee, Christ, that are hidden even unto this hour! How far is the compassion of thy goodness spread abroad! Lo, four soldiers are they that press upon me, for of four elements was I composed; and one is he that leadeth me, for of one spirit was I made. But now am I come unto my reward, and unto him that sent me do I return. And he turned unto the people that followed him and said: Grieve not for me, my brethren, but pray for yourselves that ye may obtain mercy with God. And he said unto the soldiers: Walk on before me, and let us hasten unto the place.
8And being come up into the mountain unto the place where he was to be slain, he said unto them that held him, and to the rest: Brethren, hearken unto me at this last time; for now do I deliver up my spirit and depart unto my Lord. And he said unto Iuzanes: Thou son of the earthly king Misdaeus and minister of our Lord Jesus Christ, give unto the servants of Misdaeus their price that they may suffer me to go and pray. And Iuzanes persuaded the soldiers to let him pray.
9And the blessed Thomas went to pray, and kneeled down and rose up and stretched forth his hands unto heaven and said: My Lord and my God, and hope and confidence, who hast guided me in all my journeys and hast revealed thy mysteries unto me: who didst come down for the salvation of the world and didst endure suffering for our sakes: receive now my spirit, and keep my soul in thy hands, that the prince of darkness may not have power over me. And preserve thy church which thou hast planted in this country, and let thy holy name be glorified in them for ever and ever.
10And when he had thus prayed he said unto the soldiers: Come hither and accomplish the commandments of him that sent you. And the four came and pierced him with their spears, and he fell down dead. And all the brethren wept; and they brought beautiful robes and many fine linens, and buried him in the royal sepulchre wherein the former kings were laid.
11But Siphor and Iuzanes would not go down to the city, but continued sitting by him all the day. And the apostle Thomas appeared unto them and said: Why sit ye here? I am not here, but I am ascended up into heaven and have received the things which I hoped for. But rise up and go down unto the brethren, and be of good cheer, for the Lord is with you. And they rose up and went down unto the brethren and comforted them. And the Lord wrought with them, and many were added unto the faith.
12Now it came to pass after a long time that one of the children of Misdaeus the king was possessed of an evil spirit (or devil) and could by no means be healed. And Misdaeus thought to open the sepulchre of the holy apostle and take one of the bones of the apostle and hang it upon his son, that he might be healed. But when he came to open the sepulchre, he found not the body of the holy apostle; for one of the brethren had stolen it away and carried it unto the West (or into Mesopotamia). And the king took some of the dust of the place where the bones of the apostle had lain, and bound it upon his son, saying: I believe in thee, Jesus, now that Thomas hath left me. And straightway the devil departed out of his son, and he was healed. And Misdaeus the king also believed, and submitted himself unto Siphor and Iuzanes, and with all his house believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, unto whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.