04 And stepping a few feet away from them again, he prayed, saying the same words. And at the ninth hour, when he came near to them, he found them again asleep, for the time grew late, (that is to say, it was now mid-night or the time of sleep). But they did not hear him, for even though my own eyes grew heavy, I could see that their eyes remained closed.
05 And at about the tenth hour, he cometh to the three a third time, and saith to them: You have had enough time to sleep: Rise up for my time is come: Let us go into Jerusalem. Behold, he that has announced my coming is at hand, for I hear the escort approaching.
06 And while he was yet speaking, cometh Judas the divine. And marching not far behind him, many Temple guards with swords and staffs, sent by the chief priests, and following them the disciples of the chief pharisees.
07 And he that led the false escort had given the chief priests his trust, saying: David of Genez`areth, the one whom I love, he is the 'chosen king', for he has been anointed by the great white dove'. And when he was come near to our thrice blessed king, immediately going up to him, he laid his head upon his shoulder, and glorifying him, he said to him, with the utmost respect: Hail Messiah! and because he loved him greatly, he knelt down and kissed his feet as a sign of servitude.
08 But instead of an honourary escort, the Temple guards laid hands on him, and they held him fast. And seeing that they were arresting him, Judas the revealer cried out: No! And standing nearby, he that was most dear to him, drawing a sword, struck the servant of the Chief Priest, and cut off his ear. And because of his gallant heroism, on this night, his name was changed to saint Jude the divine, because he was most dear to him [but some historians say, Timothy].
09 And standing nearby, I also yelled aloud: No! escort him back with respect. And ripping off my outer garment, they tried to laid hold on me also. But before they could recognize me, casting off the white linen cloth, I fled from them and returned to my father to tell him the bad news, and to put on some fresh linen, which had only recently been procured by my mother.
10 But remaining a 'man of peace', our shepherd king saith to them: I have requested an audience, but you have come out as if I were a robber, and with swords and staffs in hand you apprehend me instead? And questioning their intent, he saith unto them: On the Sabbath, I was all day with you in the Temple, and your masters did not order you to lay hands on me? But that the scripture concerning true prophets may be wrongly exemplified.* For it is written in the book of Zecharias: 'I will smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand on the pious ones'.*
11 And hearing, his disciples immediately put his contingency plans into effect; and like lost sheep who have gone astray, all of his disciples, left him to his fate before awaiting an outcome, and fled to Galilee. |
ND shortly thereafter, they came to the mount of Oliveri again. And he saith to Levi and to the seven: Sit you here, while I pray. For under our Mosaic laws he knew that he needed two or three witness to his second baptism.* He therefore taketh Cephas and the twins with him; and he began to fear and to breathe heavy. And being most apprehensive, he saith unto them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death; rest you here and wait for Judas to return with the servants of the Temple, who will escort me to the council chambers of the Great Sanhedrine.
