Acts of Paul and Thecla

Paul cometh unto Iconium; he preacheth the word of God in the house of Onesiphorus; Thecla hearkeneth at the window for three days and three nights; Thamyris and her mother conspire against Paul.

1As Paul went up unto Iconium, after his flight from Antioch, his fellow-travellers were Demas and Hermogenes the coppersmith, full of hypocrisy. They were importunate with Paul, as if they loved him; but Paul, looking only unto the goodness of Christ, did them no evil; rather, he loved them greatly, that he might make all the words of the Lord sweet unto them, by the teaching of His glory and of His doctrine, and of the birth and of the resurrection of the Beloved.

2And there met him a certain Onesiphorus, having heard that Paul was come unto Iconium; and he came forth with his children, Simmias and Zeno, and with his wife Lectra, that he might receive him into his house; for Titus had described unto him what manner of person Paul was. For unto that hour Onesiphorus had not seen him in the flesh, only in spirit.

3And Onesiphorus went the way of the king's highway that leadeth unto Lystra; and he stood there to receive him. He looked upon them that came, according unto the description of Titus. And he saw Paul coming — a man little of stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in good condition of body, with eyebrows meeting and nose somewhat hooked, full of grace; for sometimes he appeared as a man, and sometimes he had the face of an angel.

4Paul, seeing Onesiphorus, smiled. Onesiphorus said: Hail, thou servant of the blessed God. Paul said: Grace be with thee, and with thy house. Demas and Hermogenes were jealous; and they wrought greater hypocrisy. Demas said: Are not we of the blessed God? Wherefore didst thou not greet us also? Onesiphorus said: I see not in you the fruit of righteousness; but if ye be of any thing, come ye also into my house and rest yourselves.

5And when Paul had entered into the house of Onesiphorus, there was great joy, and a bowing of knees, and a breaking of bread, and the word of God concerning continence and the resurrection. Paul saying: Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall behold God. Blessed are they that have kept the flesh chaste; for they shall become a temple of God. Blessed are they that have continence; for unto them shall God speak. Blessed are they that have renounced this world; for they shall be well-pleasing unto God. Blessed are the fearful and meek; for they shall be heirs of God. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy, and shall not see the bitter day of judgment. Blessed are the bodies of the virgins; for they shall be well-pleasing unto God, and shall not lose the reward of their purity. Blessed are they that have wives as not having them; for they shall inherit God. Blessed are they that have the fear of God; for they shall be the angels of God.

6While Paul was so speaking in the midst of the assembly in the house of Onesiphorus, a certain virgin named Thecla — the daughter of Theocleia, betrothed unto Thamyris — sat by the window of the next house, and she gave heed unto the discourse of Paul night and day. She would not stir from the window; but went forward in faith, rejoicing greatly. Yet again, when she beheld many women and virgins going in unto Paul, she conceived a great desire that she also might be counted worthy to stand before Paul, and to hear the word of Christ. For she had not yet beheld the appearance of Paul; she only heard his discourse.

7And when she would not stir from the window, her mother sent unto Thamyris. He came rejoicing, as if he were already taking her in marriage. Thamyris said unto Theocleia: Where is my Thecla, that I may see her? Theocleia said: Thamyris, I have a strange thing to tell thee. Three days and three nights Thecla hath not stirred from the window, neither for to eat nor to drink; but, gazing earnestly as if upon some pleasing sight, she so attached herself unto a strange man teaching deceitful and crafty discourses, that I marvel that a maiden of so much modesty as she suffereth herself to be tormented.

8Thamyris said unto Thecla: My betrothed, why dost thou sit thus? What manner of disease hath laid hold of thee? Turn thou unto thy Thamyris, and be ashamed. Her mother also said the like; saying: Why sittest thou thus, my child, looking down and answering not? Theocleia and Thamyris and the maidservants wept — all of them — for the loss of a betrothed, of a handmaid for a husband, and of a child for a mother. There was therefore great weeping in the house. While these things were taking place, Thecla turned not to them, but gave herself wholly unto the discourse of Paul.