Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/459

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LATIN GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS.
343

also the old man Simeon, the teacher, took him in his arms, and said, Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel. And he blessed Mary, his mother, and said, I declare unto thee concerning this child. And Mary said, Good, my lord. And Simeon answered, Good. And he said again, Behold, he is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against; and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.[1]

And the Jews said to Levi, and how knowest thou these things? Levi saith, Know ye not that I learned the law from him? They of the council say unto him, We would see thy father. And they sought out his father, and obtained information, for he said, Why have ye not believed my son? Simeon the blessed and just taught him the law. The council said to Rabbi Levi, The saying which thou hast spoken is true. And the chief priests, and rulers of the synagogue, and the Levites, said among themselves, Come, let us send into Galilee to the three men who came hither, and told us of his teaching and assumption, and let them tell us how they

  1. Luke ii. 28-32, 34, 35. From Lat. Vulgate.