Acts of Paul and Thecla

Thecla escapeth her household and followeth Paul unto the prison; the trial before the governor; the casting of Thecla into the arena; her deliverance, her baptism by her own hand, and her sending forth as an apostle of God.

1Thamyris went forth and stood in the marketplace; and beheld Demas and Hermogenes, and brought them unto his house. He said unto them: Tell me what manner of man this is, who deceiveth the souls of young men and the maidens, that they marry not — but as they are remain. They said unto him: Whosoever shall not keep the flesh chaste, but shall pollute it, that man shall not have the resurrection. Thamyris said: Come into mine house, and rest yourselves. So they went unto a sumptuous supper; and Thamyris said: Tell me what is the doctrine of this man, that I may know it.

2Demas and Hermogenes said: Bring him before Castelius the governor as making the people of new doctrine, after the doctrine of the Christians; and so shall he destroy him; and thou shalt have Thecla as thy wife. Thamyris was therefore moved with great wrath and jealousy; and he rose up early in the morning, and went unto the house of Onesiphorus, with rulers and officers, and a great multitude with staves; and he said unto Paul: Thou hast destroyed the city of the Iconians, and my betrothed Thecla, that she will not have me. Let us go unto the governor Castelius. The whole multitude shouted: Away with the sorcerer; for he hath corrupted all our wives.

3Paul stood before the judgment-seat. The governor said unto him: Who art thou, and what teachest thou? — for they accuse thee not lightly. Paul lifted up his voice, and said: If I am examined this day what I teach, hearken, O proconsul. The living God, the God of vengeance, the jealous God, the God which hath need of nothing, hath chosen to be the salvation of men. He hath sent me, that I might call the people from corruption and uncleanness, and from every pleasure, and from death — that they sin not any more. Wherefore God sent His own Son, whom I preach, and in whom I instruct men: that they should set their hope in Him, who alone hath had compassion upon a world being led astray, that men no longer be under judgment, but should have faith and the fear of God, and the knowledge of seemliness, and the love of truth. If therefore I teach the things that are revealed unto me of God, wherein then do I sin, O proconsul? The governor having heard these things commanded Paul to be bound, and to be sent unto the prison until he could make further inquiry concerning him at greater leisure.

4Now Thecla in the night took off her armlets, and gave them unto the porter; and the door being opened unto her, she went away unto the prison. Unto the gaoler she gave a silver mirror; and so she went in unto Paul, and sat at his feet, and heard him preach the mighty things of God. Paul feared nothing; but bare himself in the boldness of God; and her faith was increased; and she kissed his bonds.

5Now when Thecla was sought for of her own, and of Thamyris, they sought her in the streets, as if she were lost. One of the porter's fellow-servants betrayed that she had gone out by night. They examined the porter; and he said unto them: She is gone unto the stranger, in the prison. They went, and found her, as it were enchained with affection. They went forth thence; and gathered the multitude unto themselves; and shewed unto the governor what was done.

6He commanded Paul to be brought unto the judgment-seat. But Thecla rolled herself upon the place where Paul taught as he sat in the prison. The governor commanded her also to be brought unto the judgment-seat; and she went, exulting with joy. The crowd, when Paul was brought again, clamoured the more: He is a sorcerer; away with him. The governor heard Paul gladly concerning the holy works of Christ. And taking counsel together, he summoned Thecla, and said: Wherefore wilt thou not marry Thamyris, according to the law of the Iconians? She stood looking earnestly upon Paul. When she answered not, Theocleia her mother cried out, saying: Burn the lawless one; burn her that is no bride, in the midst of the theatre — that all the women that have been taught by this man may be afraid.

7The governor was greatly moved; and he scourged Paul, and cast him out of the city; and Thecla he condemned to be burned. Forthwith the governor arose; and went unto the theatre. The whole multitude went forth unto the spectacle. But Thecla, as the lamb in the wilderness looketh round about for the shepherd — even so sought she for Paul. As she looked upon the multitude, she beheld the Lord sitting like unto Paul; and she said: As I am unable to endure my fate, Paul is come to look upon me. She gazed upon Him with great earnestness; but He went up into the heavens.

8Now the young men and the maidens brought wood and straw, that Thecla might be burned. As she came in naked, the governor wept, and marvelled at the power that was in her. Now the executioners spread out the wood, and bade her go up upon the pile. Making the sign of the cross, she went up upon the wood; and they kindled it. Though a great fire blazed, the fire took no hold on her. For God, having compassion on her, made a sound under the earth; and a cloud above, full of rain and hail, overshadowed the theatre; and all its contents were poured out, so that many were in danger of death; and the fire was put out, and Thecla was preserved.

9Now Paul was fasting in an open tomb on the road from Iconium unto Daphne, with Onesiphorus and his wife and children. After many days had passed in their fasting, the children said unto Paul: We are hungered. They had not wherewith to buy bread; for Onesiphorus had left the goods of the world, and had followed Paul with all his house. Paul, having taken off his cloak, said: Go, my child, and buy bread, and bring it. Now while the child was buying, he saw Thecla their neighbour; and was astonished. He said: Thecla, whither goest thou? She said: I seek for Paul, having been delivered out of the fire. The child said: Come; I shall lead thee unto him; for he hath been mourning for thee, and praying and fasting now six days.

10When she came nigh unto the tomb, Paul was kneeling and praying, and saying: Father of Christ, let not the fire have power over Thecla; but be Thou near her, for she is Thine. She, standing behind him, cried out: Father, that didst create the heaven and the earth, the Father of Thy holy child Jesus Christ, I bless Thee that Thou hast preserved me from the fire, that I might see Paul. Paul rose up; and seeing her, he said: O God, the searcher of hearts, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I bless Thee that Thou hast so quickly accomplished what I asked, and hast hearkened unto me.

11Within the tomb there was much love. Paul rejoiced; and Onesiphorus and all of them rejoiced. They had five loaves; and pot herbs, and water, and salt; and they rejoiced over the holy works of Christ. Thecla said unto Paul: I shall cut off my hair, and I shall follow thee whithersoever thou goest. He said: The season is shameful, and thou art beautiful. May no other temptation come upon thee, worse than the first; lest thou endure it not, but play the coward. Thecla said: Only give me the seal of Christ, and temptation shall not touch me. Paul said: Thecla, be patient; thou shalt receive the water.

12Paul sent away Onesiphorus with all his house unto Iconium; and so taking Thecla, he went unto Antioch. As they were going in, a certain Syrian, Alexander by name, an influential citizen of the Antiochenes, beheld Thecla, and was enamoured of her; and would persuade Paul with money and presents. Paul said: I know not the woman of whom thou speakest, neither is she mine. Alexander, being influential, embraced her in the open street. She would not endure it; but sought after Paul, and cried out bitterly, saying: Force not the stranger; force not the handmaid of God. I am one of the chief women of the Iconians; and because I would not have Thamyris, I have been cast out of the city. Taking Alexander, she rent his cloak, and pulled off the crown from his head; and made him a laughing-stock.

13Alexander, loving her at the same time, and being ashamed of what had been done, brought her before the governor; and she having confessed that she had done these things, he condemned her unto the wild beasts. The women were panic-stricken; and cried out beside the judgment-seat: Evil judgment! O impious judgment! Thecla asked of the governor that she might be pure until she should fight with the wild beasts. A certain rich woman, named Tryphaena, whose daughter was dead, took her into keeping, and had her for a consolation.

14When the beasts were exhibited, they bound her unto a fierce lioness; and Tryphaena accompanied her. The lioness, when Thecla had taken her seat upon her back, licked her feet; and all the multitude was astonished. They led her in unto the arena. They cast many beasts upon her; but the lioness ran along beside her, and protected her against every beast that came against her. So they cast her into a great pit of water; for she said: Now is the time for me to wash. She cast herself in, saying: In the name of Jesus Christ I baptize myself on the last day. The women and the multitude wept, saying: Cast not thyself into the water. The governor wept, that the seals were going to devour so much beauty. So she cast herself in, in the name of Jesus Christ. The seals, having seen the flash of fire, swam dead upon the surface; and there was round about her a cloud of fire, so that the wild beasts could not touch her, neither could she be seen naked.

15Now the governor sent for Thecla; and brought her out from among the beasts. He said unto her: Who art thou? And what hast thou about thee, that not one of the wild beasts touched thee? She said: I am the handmaiden of the living God; and as to what I have about me — I have believed in that Son of God in whom He is well pleased. He commanded clothing to be brought; and said: Put on this clothing. She put it on; and the governor cried out: Thecla, the handmaiden of God, is set free. The women cried out with a loud voice; and as with one mouth gave praise to God, saying: There is one God, the God of Thecla. So they brought her unto Tryphaena. The men beheld it, and were astonished, saying: Verily this is a great mystery.

16Now Thecla yearned after Paul, and sought for him, sending searchers in every direction. Word came unto her that he was in Myra. So she took young men and maidens; and having girded herself, and sewn her cloak after the fashion of a man, she went away unto Myra. She found Paul speaking the word of God. Paul was astonished at her appearance; and at her companions. She told him all that had happened unto her; and Paul greatly wondered. They that heard were strengthened in faith; and prayed for Tryphaena.

17Thecla rose up, and said unto Paul: I am going unto Iconium. Paul said: Go, and teach the word of God. Tryphaena sent her much clothing and gold, that she might leave it for the service of the poor. So she went unto Iconium. She went in unto the house of Onesiphorus; and prostrated herself upon the floor where Paul had sat and taught the oracles of God; and she wept, saying: O my God, and God of this house in which Thy light shone upon me — O Christ Jesus, the Son of God, my helper in prison, my helper before the governor, my helper at the fire, my helper among the wild beasts — Thou alone art God; and unto Thee be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

18She found Thamyris dead, and her mother alive. Calling for her mother, she said: Theocleia, my mother, canst thou believe that the Lord liveth in the heavens? For if thou desirest property, the Lord shall give it unto thee through me; and if thou desirest a child, behold thou hast me. So having so testified, she went away unto Seleucia, and enlightened many by the word of God. And she rested in a glorious sleep. Glory be unto God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His days did marvellous things by the hand of Thecla; and unto Christ Jesus the Son of God, that was her helper; and unto the Holy Ghost, that was her counsellor. Forever and ever. Amen.