A New Witness to the Acta Pilati Tradition

In a few days I will be heading to Winnipeg to participate in a workshop dedicated to the Acts of Pilate/Gospel of Nicodemus cycle of texts ("Editing the Acts of Pilate in Early Christian Languages: Theory and Practice"). For more information on the event see the web site dedicated to the workshop. I will be presenting on two fragmentary texts preserved in one of the manuscripts (Vienna, cod. hist. gr. 91) I used for my critical edition of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. One of these texts is a portion of a sermon by Pseudo-Eusebius of Alexandria (“On the Passion, for the Preparation Day”) which draws upon the Descensus tradition. The other text is another sermon that also draws upon the Pilate cycle (particularly the Narrative of Joseph of Arimathea) but I have not been able to identify it. I give the preliminary English translation of this text below (hyphens —– indicate words in the manuscript that I have not been able to decipher).

The Funeral of Jesus

…and he was very afraid. He said to Joseph: “I grant to you, Joseph, the body of Jesus”. And Nicodemus heard that Joseph received the right to take down the body of Jesus. Running swiftly, he came to Joseph saying: “My Lord Joseph, do not deprive me of your reward; rather, I too shall be with you at the tomb of the stranger so that we may find mercy”. And Joseph brought a clean linen shroud and Nicodemus myrrh and about one hundred pounds of aloes. And taking down the body of Jesus from the cross, they embalmed it with myrrh and put on the linen shroud.

Joseph said to Nicodemus: “You know, brother, that a counterfeit appeared in the shroud of the stranger. The same stranger and I, an enemy, we came from the synagogue just as the priests were saying how strange that we are preparing him for burial rather than a family member and heir. And you saw that every stranger who was dying came into Jerusalem from the temple at his departure”. Nicodemus said: “Fear not Joseph, because of the snares and threats of the Jews. I shall go to the temple and I shall request the delivery of the body of Jesus and (ask) also about the other strangers”. Joseph said: “Go quickly”.

And Nicodemus went to the temple and brought the face cloth that was on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Why by itself? Because it was from the temple and it was not received in an offering but only the linen cloths. In the morning Joseph and Nicodemus, after the sacrifice, received also the whole burnt offerings.

And after Nicodemus came from the temple, he placed the body of Jesus in the tomb of Joseph which was hewn out of rock opposite the place of the skull where Christ was crucified. And they rolled a great stone against the entrance of the tomb and returned each to his home. And after the third day of burial, at the third hour, the Lord rose.

The priests and the scribes said: “Horror horror! Why is this misery for us? Come then, we shall say that Joseph and his disciples stole it, and that they said he rose from the dead. In addition, we will sentence Joseph to death so that…. the resurrection of Jesus in the pretext of Joseph.” Making a plot, the priests and the scribes in gossip said to the synagogue of the Jews: “Listen, people of Israel, the promise of Jacob, Joseph of Arimathea did not want to go into our plan, rather he went with the nailed one, the enemy of us and of God and the law, and he prepared him for burial in his garden and in his tomb. Then he devised with the disciples of Jesus and stole his body and they said that he rose from the dead.” And the people said: “Why do they want a dead body?”

And the whole crowd ran and took Joseph by force to the high priests. And the high priests said to him: “Why are you doing this, oh wrongdoer and transgressor of the law?” And Joseph answered and said: “Oh foolish and blind and shameless, are you not ashamed saying such things: ‘Why does he want to steal a dead body?’ But above all also, how were the seals of the tomb laid bare (?), and the guards of Pilate? How was the dead carried off by lowly and worthless men? So, do not accuse”.

And hearing Joseph, the high priests and all the people and the entire synagogue were gnashing their teeth. And they were very furious and coming upon Joseph, they led him away by force to Pilate saying: “This man is a transgressor of the law and the crucified one he took down from the tree and prepared him for burial out of their own means. But also the shroud of the stranger was brought from the temple and he was not satisfied with such a shameless act but also he devised with the disciples of Jesus. And coming, they stole his body and said that he was risen from the dead”

And Pilate, becoming furious, said to the Jews in great anger speaking angrily, “Oh —- with you, stubborn and hardhearted and ——-. Yesterday a disturbance happened and a great confusion. And a righteous man was crucified unjustly. Such signs and wonders were accomplished and you did not believe. And again today in the synagogue also a disturbance at the good accomplished. But I did not judge nor command about this”.

Then Pilate commanded and sent them away outside saying, “Go and do what you wish; see to it yourselves. I am innocent of this man’s blood and all my house”. And the priests, coming out, went to the synagogue and locked Joseph in a dark prison, saying, “Tomorrow we will stone him as a wrongdoer.” Placing trustworthy guards at the entrance of the prison —–. Their slaves came with  the disciples of Jesus and they carried him out from the prison.

And Joseph sat in the prison alone. And he cried bitterly, saying, “What good is it to me now (to be) of Jesus? Behold, —- of me putting to death thus and kill my spirit. For tomorrow I will be stoned as a wrongdoer and I will die unjustly”. And as he was thinking these things, a great light shone and a voice came to him saying, “Fear not, Joseph, for I am with you. Do not be afraid of the threats of the Jews. Rise”.

And looking up Joseph saw in the middle of the prison Jesus standing with the thief, holding the cross. And discovering Jesus, he fell down to his feet saying, “Truly you are the son of the God of life. Truly you were raised from the grave, so mighty and prevailing over all who despise you”. Then Jesus, stretching out his right hand, took hold of Joseph and, bringing him out of the city, he led him to Galilee. And, after teaching him, he delivered him to his disciples so that he might proclaim to them his resurrection.The next day, the Jews assembled and said to the priests, “Give us the wrongdoer Joseph so that we may stone him”. And the priests went in the prison. Their seals they found preserved. And opening, they found nothing inside. The priests said to the prisoners, “Where is Joseph?” And (they said), “We do not know”. Then the priests knew their failure. Afflicted by fear and timidity, they fell to the ground as if dead. Oh their —–, oh their misery, not wishing to show kindness to those who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. Because to him all is fitting, give dominion, honour, magnificence, now and then and forever and ever, amen.