Joseph Emprisoned

12.1 When the Jews heard that Joseph had asked for the body, they looked for him and the twelve men who said that Jesus was not born of fornication, and for Nicodemus and for many others, who had come forward before Pilate and made known his good works. But they all hid themselves, and only Nicodemus was seen by them, because he was a ruler of the Jews. And Nicodemus said to them, 'How did you enter into the synagogue?' The Jews answered him, 'How did you enter into the synagogue? You are a sympathizer of his, and his portion shall be with you in the world to come.' Nicodemus said, 'Amen, amen.' Likewise Joseph came forth and said to them, 'Why are you angry with me, because I asked for the body of Jesus? See, I have placed it in my new tomb, having wrapped it in clean linen, and I rolled a stone in front of the door of the cave. And you have not done well with the righteous one, for you have not repented of having crucified him, but you even pierced him with a spear.'

Then the Jews seized Joseph and commanded him to be locked up until the first day of the week. They said to him, 'You know that the time prevents our doing anything against you, because the Sabbath dawns. But you also know that you will not even be counted worthy of burial, but we shall give your flesh to the birds of heaven.'Joseph said to them, 'This is the word of the boastful Goliath, who insulted the living God and the holy David. For God said through the prophet: "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord . And now he who is uncircumcised in the flesh, but circumcised in heart, took water and washed his hands before the sun, saying, "I am innocent of this righteous blood. You will see to it." And you answered Pilate, "His blood be on us and on our children". And now I fear lest the wrath of God come upon you and your children, as you said.' When the Jews heard these words, they were embittered in their hearts, and laid hold on Joseph and seized him and shut him in a windowless house, and guards were stationed at the door. And they sealed the door of the place where Joseph was shut up.

2. And on the Sabbath the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites ordered that everybody should present himself in the synagogue on the first day of the week. And the whole multitude rose up early and took counsel in the synagogue by what death they should kill him. And when the council was in session they commanded him to be brought with great dishonour. And when thev opened the door they did not find him. And all the people were astonished and filled with consternation because they found the seals undamaged, and Caiaphas had the key. And they dared no longer to lay hands on those who had spoken to Pilate on behalf of Jesus

Describes His Rescue

2. And they told the elders and the priests and the Levites, 'We went about to every mountain of Israel, and did not find Jesus. But Joseph we found in Arimathaea.' And when they heard about Joseph, they rejoiced and gave glory to the God of Israel. And the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites took counsel how they should meet with Joseph, and they took a roll of papyrus and wrote to Joseph these words, 'Peace be with you. We know that we have sinned against God and against you, and we have prayed to the God of Israel that you should deign to come to your fathers and your children, because we are all troubled. For when we opened the door we did not find you. We know that we devised an evil plan against you; but the Lord helped you, and the Lord himself has brought to nothing our plan against you, honoured father Joseph.'

3. And they chose from all Israel seven men who were friends of Joseph, whom Joseph himself was acquainted with, and the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites said to them, 'See! If he receives our letter and reads it, you know that he will come with you to us. But if he does not read it, you know that he is angry with us, greet him in peace and return to us.' And they blessed the men and dismissed them. And the men came to Joseph and greeted him with reverence, and said to him, Peace be with youl' He replied, 'Peace be with you and all Israel!' And they gave him the letter. Joseph took the roll, read the letter and kissed it, and blessed God and said, 'Blessed be God, who has delivered the Israelites from shedding innocent blood. And blessed be the Lord, who sent his angel and sheltered me under his wings.' And he set a table before them, and they ate and drank and lay down there.

4. And they rose up early in the morning and prayed. And Joseph saddled his she-ass and went with the men, and they came to the holy city Jerusalem. And all the people met Joseph and cried, 'Peace on your arrival.' And he said to all the people, 'Peace be with you!' And all kissed him, and prayed with Joseph, and were beside themselves with joy at seeing him. And Nicodemus received him into his house and made a great feast. He invited Annas and Caiaphas and the elders and the priests and the Levites to his house, and they rejoiced, eating and drinking with Joseph. And after singing a hymn each one went to his house; but Joseph remained in the house of Nicodemus.

5. And on the next day, which was the day of preparation, the rulers of the synagogue and the priests and the Levites rose up early and came to the house of Nicodemus. Nicodemus met them and said, 'Peace be with you!' They answered, 'Peace be with you and with Joseph and with all your house and with all the house of josephl' And he took them into his house. And the whole council sat down, and Joseph sat between Annas and Caiaphas. And no one dared to speak a word to him. And Joseph said, 'Why have you called me?' And they beckoned to Nicodcmus to speak to Joseph. Nicodemus opened his mouth and said to Joseph, 'Father, you know that the honourable teachers and the priests and the Levites wish to learn something from you.' Joseph answered, 'Ask me.' And Annas and Caiaphas took the law and adjuredJoseph, saying, 'Give glory to the God of Israel and make confession to him. For Achan also, when adjured by the prophet Joshua, did not commit perjury, but told him everything and concealed nothing from him. So you too must not conceal from us a single word.'Joseph answered, 'I will not conceal anything from you.' And they said to him, 'We were very angry because you asked for the body of Jesus, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb. And for this reason we secured you in a house with no window, and locked and sealed the door, and guards watched where you were shut up. And on the first day of the week we opened it, and did not find you, and we were very troubled, and all the people of God were amazed until yesterday. And now tell us what happened.'

6. And Joseph said, 'On the day of preparation about the tenth hour you shut me in, and I remained the whole Sabbath. And at midnight as I stood and prayed, the house where you shut me in was raised up by the four corners, and I saw as it were a flash of lightning in my eyes. Full of fear I fell to the ground. And someone took me by the hand and raised me up from the place where I had fallen, and moisture like water flowed from my head to my feet, and the myrrh came to my nostrils. And he wiped my face and kissed me and said to me, "Do not fear, Joseph. Open your eyes and see who it is who speaks with you." I looked up and saw Jesus. Trembling, I thought it was a phantom, and I recited the commandments. And he said them with me. Now as you well know, a phantom immediately flees if it meets anyone and hears the commandments. And when I saw that he said them with me, I said to him, "Rabbi Elijah!" He said, "I am not Elijah." And I said to him, "Who are you, Lord?" He replied, "I am Jesus, whose body you asked for from Pilate, whom you clothed in clean linen, on whose face you placed a cloth, and whom you placed in your new cave, and you rolled a great stone to the door of the cave." And I asked the one who spoke to me, "Show me the place where I laid you." And he took me and showed me the place where I laid him. And the linen cloth lay there, and the cloth that was upon his face. Then I recognized that it was Jesus. And he took me by the hand and placed me in the middle of my house, with the doors shut, and led me to my bed and said to me, "Peace be with you!" Then he kissed me and said to me, "Do not go out of your house for forty days. For see, I go to my brethren in Galilee."