These are all forms of
Christian Apocrypha
Revelation of Paul -
Revelation of John the Theologian -
Gospel of Marcion -
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew - part 1 -
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew - part 2 -
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew - part 3 -
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew - part 4 -
Gospel of Peter -
Gospel of the Nativity of Mary -
Gospel of Mary of Magdalene -
Gospel of James -
Gospel of Bartholomew -
Gospel of Nicodemus -
Consummation of Thomas the Apostle -
Compilation of Thomas - part 1 -
Compilation of Thomas - part 2 -
Apocalypse of the Virgin -
Apocalypse of Peter -
Apocalypse of Thomas -
Acts of Thomas -
Acts of Phillip -
Acts of Peter -
Acts of Peter and Paul -
Acts of Peter and Andrew -
Acts of Paul -
Acts of John -
Acts of John the Theologian -
Acts of Barnabus -
Acts of Andrew and Matthew -
Acts and Martyrdom of Matthew -
Acts and Martyrdom of Andrew
The first Gospel of the INFANCY of JESUS CHRIST
From "The Apocraphal Books of the New Testament", 1901
CHAPTER 1
The following accounts we found in the book of Joseph the high-priest, called by some
Caiaphas: 2 He relates, that Jesus spake even when he was in the cradle, and said to his
mother: 3 Mary, I am Jesus the Son of God, that word which thou didst bring forth according to the
declaration of the angel Gabriel to thee, and my father hath sent me for the salvation of the world.
4 In the three hundred and ninth year of the era of Alexander, Augustus published a
decree that all persons should go to be taxed in their own country. 5 Joseph therefore arose, and
with Mary his spouse he went to Jerusalem, and then came to Bethlehem, that he and his family
might be taxed in the city of his fathers. 6 And when they came by the cave, Mary confessed to
Joseph that her time of bringing forth was come, and she could not go on to the city, and said, Let
us go into this cave. 7 At that time the sun was very near going down. 8 But Joseph hastened
away, that he might fetch her a mid-wife; and when he saw an old Hebrew woman who was of
Jerusalem, he said to her, Pray come hither, good woman, and go into that cave, and you will
there see a woman just ready to bring forth. 9 It was after sunset, when the old woman and
Joseph with her reached the cave, and they both went into it. 10 And behold, it was all filled with
lights, greater than the light of lamps and candles, an, greater than the light of the sun itself. 11
The infant was then wrapped up in swaddling clothes, an sucking the breasts of his mother St.
Mary. 12 When they both saw this light, they were surprised; the old woman asked St. Mary, Art
thou the mother of this child ? 13 St. Mary replied, She was. 14 On which the old woman said,
Thou art very different from all other women. 15 St. Mary answered, As there is not any child
like to my son, so neither is there any woman like to his mother. 16 The old woman answered
and said, O my Lady, I am come hither that I may obtain an everlasting reward. 17 Then our
Lady, St. Mary said to her, Lay thine hand upon the infant; which, when she had done, she
became whole 18 And as she was going forth, she said, From henceforth, all the days of my life, I
will attend upon and be a servant of this infant. 19 After this, when the shepherds came, and had
made a fire and they were exceedingly rejoicing, the heavenly host appeared to them, praising and
adoring the supreme God. 20 And as the shepherds we engaged in the same employment, the
cave at that time seemed like a glorious temple, because both the tongues of angels and men
united to adore and magnify God, on account of the birth of the Lord Christ. 21 But when the
old Hebrew woman saw all these evident miracles, she gave praises to God, and said, I thank
thee, O God, thou God of Israel, for that mine eyes have seen the birth of the Saviour of the
world.
CHAPTER II
And when the time of his circumcision was come, namely, the eighth day, on which the
law commanded the child to be circumcised, they circumcised him in the cave. 2 And the old
Hebrew woman took the foreskin (others say she took the navel-string), and preserved it in an
alabaster-box of old oil of spikenard. 3 And she had a son who was a druggist, to whom she said,
Take heed thou sell not this alabaster box of spikenard-ointment, although thou shouldst be,
offered three hundred pence for it. 4 Now this is that alabaster box which Mary the sinner
procured, and poured forth the ointment out of it upon the head and the feet of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and wiped it off with the hairs of her head. 5 Then after ten days they brought him to
Jerusalem, and on the fortieth day from his birth they presented him in the temple before the Lord,
making the proper offerings for him, according to the requirement of the law of Moses: namely,
that every male which opens the womb shall be called holy unto God. 6 At that time old Simeon
saw him shining as a pillar of light, when St. Mary the Virgin, his mother, carried him in her arms,
and was filled with the greatest pleasure at the sight. 7 And the angels stood around him, adoring
him, as a king's guards stand around him. 8 Then Simeon going near to St. Mary, and stretching
forth his hands towards her, said to the Lord Christ, Now, O my a Lord, thy servant shall depart
in peace, according to thy word; 9 For mine eyes have seen thy mercy, which thou hast prepared
for the salvation of all nations; a light to all people, and the glory of thy people Israel. 10 Hannah
the prophetess was also present, and drawing near, she gave praises to God, and celebrated the
happiness of Mary.
CHAPTER III
And it came to pass, when the Lord Jesus was born at Bethlehem, a city of Judea in the
time of Herod the King; the wise men came from the East to Jerusalem, according to the
prophecy of Zoradascht(Zoroaster), and brought with them offerings: namely, gold, frankincense,
and myrrh, and worshipped him, and offered to him their gifts. 2 Then the Lady Mary took one
of his swaddling clothes in which the infant was wrapped and gave it to them instead of a blessing,
which they received from her as a most noble present. 3 And at the same time there appeared to
them an angel in the form of that star which had before been their guide in their journey; the light
of which they followed till they returned into their own country.
4 On their return their kings and princes came to them inquiring, What they had seen and
done? What sort of journey and return they had? What company they had on the road? 5 But
they produced the swaddling cloth which St. Mary had given to them, on account whereof they
kept a feast. 6 And having, according to the custom of their country, made a fire, they
worshipped it. 7 And casting the swaddling cloth into it, the fire took it, and kept it. 8 And when
the fire was put out, they took forth the swaddling cloth unhurt, as much as if the fire had not
touched it. 9 Then they began to kiss it, and put it upon their heads and their eyes, saying, This is
certainly an undoubted truth, and it is really surprising that the fire could not burn it, and consume
it. 10 Then they took it, and with the greatest respect laid it up among their treasures.
CHAPTER IV
Now Herod, perceiving that the wise men did delay, and not return to him, called together
the priests and wise men and said, Tell me in what place the Christ should be born? 2 And when
they replied, in Bethlehem, a city of Judea, he began to contrive in his own mind the death of the
Lord Jesus Christ. 3 But an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in his sleep and said, Arise,
take the child and his mother, and go into Egypt as soon as the cock crows. So he arose, and
went.
4 And as he was considering with himself about his journey, the morning came upon him.
5 In the length of the journey the girts of the saddle broke. 6 And now he drew near a great city,
in which there was an idol, to which the other idol and gods of Egypt brought their offerings and
vows. 7 And there was by this idol a priest ministering to it, who as often as Satan spoke out of
that idol, related the things he said to the inhabitants of Egypt and those countries. 8 This priest
had a son three years old, who was possessed with a great multitude of devil who uttered many
strange things and when the devils seized him walked about naked with his clothes torn, throwing
stones at those whom he saw. 9 Near to that idol was the inn of the city, into which when Joseph
and St. Mary were come, and had turned into that inn, all the inhabitants of the city were
astonished. 10 And all the magistrates and priests of the idols assembled before that idol, and
made inquiry there, saying, What means all this consternation, and dread, which has fallen upon
our country? 11 The idol answered them, The unknown God is come hither, who is truly God;
nor is there any one besides him, who is worthy of divine worship; for he is truly the Son of God.
12 At the fame of him this country trembled, and at his coming it is under the present commotion
and consternation; and we ourselves are affrighted by the greatness of his power. 13 And at the
same instant this idol fell down, and at his fall all the inhabitants of Egypt, besides others, ran
together.
14 But the son of the priest, when his usual disorder came upon him, going into the inn,
found there Joseph and St. Mary, whom all the rest had left behind and forsook. 15 And when
the Lady St. Mary had washed the swaddling clothes of the Lord Christ, and hanged them out to
dry upon a post, the boy possessed with the devil took down one of them, and put it upon his
head. 16 And presently the devils began to come out of his mouth, and fly away in the shape of
crows and serpents. 17 From that time the boy was healed by the power of the Lord Christ, and
he began to sing praises, and give thanks to the Lord who had healed him. 18 When his father
saw him restored to his former state of health, he said, My son, what has happened to thee, and by
what means wert thou cured ? 19 The son answered, When the devils seized me, I went into the
inn, and there found a very handsome woman with a boy, whose swaddling clothes she had just
before washed, and hanged out upon a post. 20 One of these I took, and put it upon my head,
and immediately the devils left me, and fled away. 21 At this the father exceedingly rejoiced, and
said, My son, perhaps this boy is the son of the living God, who made the heavens and the earth.
22 For as soon as he came amongst us, the idol was broken and all the gods fell down, and were
destroyed by a greater power. 23 Then was fulfilled the prophecy which saith, Out of Egypt I
have called my son.
CHAPTER V
Now Joseph and Mary, when they heard that the idol was fallen down and destroyed were
seized with fear and trembling, and said, When we were in the land of Israel, Herod, intending to
kill Jesus, slew for that purpose all the infants at Bethlehem, and that neighbourhood. 2 And there
is no doubt but the Egyptians if they come to hear that this idol is broken and fallen down, will
burn us with fire. 3 They went therefore hence to the secret places of robbers, who robbed
travellers as they pass by, of their carriages and their clothes, and carried them away bound. 4
These thieves upon their coming heard a great noise, such as the noise of a king with a great army
and many horses, and the trumpets sounding at his departure from his own city at which they
were so affrighted as to leave all their booty behind them, and fly away in haste. 5 Upon this the
prisoners arose, and loosed each other's bonds, and taking each man his bags, they went away,
and saw Joseph and Mary coming towards them, and inquired, Where is that king, the noise of
whose approach the robbers heard, and left us, so that we are now come off safe ? 6 Joseph
answered, He will come after us.
CHAPTER VI
Then they went into another city where there was a woman possessed with a devil, and in
whom Satan, that cursed rebel, had taken up his abode. 2 One night, when she went to fetch
water, she could neither endure her clothes on, nor to be in any house; but as often as they tied
her with chains or cords, she brake them, and went out into desert places, and sometimes standing
where roads crossed, and in churchyards, would throw stones at men. 3 When St. Mary saw this
woman, she pitied her; whereupon Satan presently left her, and fled away in the form of a young
man, saying, Wo to me, because of thee, Mary, and thy son. 4 So the woman was delivered from
her torment; but considering herself naked, she blushed, and avoided seeing any man, and having
put on her clothes, went home, and gave an account of her case to her father and relations, who,
as they were the best of the city, entertained St. Mary and Joseph with the greatest respect. 5 The
next morning having received a sufficient supply of provisions for the road, they went from them,
and about the evening of the day arrived at another town, where a marriage was then about to be
solemnized; but by the arts of Satan and the practices of some sorcerers, the bride was become so
dumb, that she could not so much as open her mouth. 6 But when this dumb bride saw the Lady
St. Mary entering into the town, and carrying the Lord Christ in her arms, she stretched out her
hands to the Lord Christ, and took him in her arms, and closely hugging him, very often kissed
him, continually moving him and pressing him to her body. 7 Straightway the string of her tongue
was loosed, and her ears were opened, and she began to sing praises unto God, who had restored
her. 8 So there was great joy among the inhabitants of the town that night, who thought that God
and his angels were come down among them.
9 In this place they abode three days, meeting with the greatest respect and most splendid
entertainment. 10 And being then furnished by the people with provisions for the road, they
departed and went to another city, in which they were inclined to lodge, because it was a famous
place. 11 There was in this city a gentlewoman, who, as she went down one day to the river to
bathe, behold cursed Satan leaped upon her in the form of a serpent, 12 And folded himself about
her belly, and every night lay upon her. 13 This woman seeing the Lady St. Mary, and the Lord
Christ the infant in her bosom, asked the Lady St. Mary, that she would give her the child to kiss,
and carry in her arms. 14 When she had consented, and as soon as the woman had moved the
child, Satan left her, and fled away, nor did the woman ever afterwards see him. 15 Hereupon all
the neighbours praised the Supreme God, and the woman rewarded them with ample beneficence.
16 On the morrow the same woman brought perfumed water to wash the Lord Jesus; and when
she had washed him, she preserved the water. 17 And there was a girl there, whose body was
white with a leprosy, who being sprinkled with this water, and washed, was instantly cleansed
from her leprosy. 18 The people therefore said Without doubt Joseph and Mary, and that boy are
Gods, for they do not look like mortals. 19 And when they were making ready to go away, the
girl, who had been troubled with the leprosy, came and desired they would permit her to go along
with them; so they consented, and the girl went with them till they came to a city, in which was
the palace of a great king, and whose house was not far from the inn. 20 Here they staid, and
when the girl went one day to the prince's wife, and found her in a sorrowful and mournful
condition, she asked her the reason of her tears. 21 She replied, Wonder not at my groans, for I
am under a great misfortune, of which I dare not tell any one. 22 But, says the girl, if you will
entrust me with your private grievance, perhaps I may find you a remedy for it. 23 Thou,
therefore, says the prince's wife, shalt keep the secret, and not discover it to any one alive! 24 I
have been married to this prince, who rules as king over large dominions, and lived long with
him, before he had any child by me. At length I conceived by him, but alas! I brought forth a
leprous son; which, when he saw, he would not own to be his, but said to me, 26 Either do thou
kill him, or send him to some nurse in such a place, that he may be never heard of; and now take
care of yourself; I will never see you more. 27 So here I pine, lamenting my wretched and
miserable circumstances. Alas, my son! alas, my husband! Have I disclosed it to you? 28 The
girl replied, I have found a remedy for your disease, which I promise you, for I also was leprous,
but God hath cleansed me, even he who is called Jesus, the son of the Lady Mary. 29 The woman
inquiring where that God was, whom she spake of, the girl answered He lodges with you here in
the same house. 30 But how can this be? says she; where is he? Behold, replied the girl, Joseph
and Mary; and the infant who is with them is called Jesus: and it is he who delivered me from my
disease and torment. 31 But by what means, says she, were you cleansed from your leprosy?
Will you not tell me that? 32 Why not? says the girl; I took the water with which his body had
been washed, and poured it upon me, and my leprosy vanished. 33 The prince's wife then arose
and entertained them, providing a great feast for Joseph among a large company of men. 34 And
the next day took perfumed water to wash the Lord Jesus, and afterwards poured the same water
upon her son, whom she had brought with her, and her son was instantly cleansed from his
leprosy. 36 Then she sang thanks and praises unto God, and said, Blessed is the mother that bare
thee, O Jesus! 36 Dost thou thus cure men of the same nature with thyself; with the water with
which thy body is washed? 37 She then offered very large gifts to the Lady Mary, and sent her
away with all imaginable respect.
CHAPTER VII
They came afterwards to another city, and had a mind to lodge there. 2 Accordingly they
went to a man's house, who was newly married, but by the influence of sorcerers could not enjoy
his wife: 3 But they lodging at his house that night, the man was freed of his disorder: 4 And
when they were preparing early in the morning to go forward on their journey, the new married
person hindered them, and provided a noble entertainment for them. 5 But going forward on the
morrow, they came to another city, and saw three women going from a certain grave with great
weeping. 6 When St. Mary saw them she spake to the girl who was their companion, saying, Go
and inquire of them, what is the matter with them, and what misfortune has befallen them? 7
When the girl asked them they made her no answer, but asked her again, Who are ye and where
are ye going? For the day is far spent, and the night is at hand. 8 We are travellers, saith the girl,
and are seeking for an inn to lodge at. 9 They replied, Go along with us, and lodge with us. 10
They then followed them and were introduced into a new house, well furnished with all sorts of
furniture. 11 It was now winter-time and the girl went into the parlour where these women were
and found them weeping and lamenting, as before. 12 By them stood a mule covered over with
silk, and an ebony collar hanging down from his neck, whom they kissed, and were feeding. 13
But when the girl said, How handsome, ladies, that mule is! they replied with tears, and said, This
mule, which you see, was our brother, born of this same mother as we: 14 For when our father
died, and left us a very large estate, and we had only this brother, and we endeavoured to procure
him a suitable match, and thought he should be married as other men, some giddy and jealous
woman bewitched him without our knowledge. 15 And we, one night, a little before day, while
the doors of the house were all fast shut, saw this our brother was changed into a mule, such as
you now see him to be: 16 And we, in the melancholy condition in which you see us, having no
father to comfort us, have applied to all the wise men, magicians, and diviners in the world, but
they have been of no service to us. 17 As often therefore as we find ourselves oppressed with
grief, we rise and go with this our mother to our father's tomb, where, when we have cried
sufficiently we return home. 18 When the girl had heard this, she said, Take courage, and cease
your fears, for you have a remedy for your afflictions near at hand, even among you and in the
midst of your house, 19 For I was also leprous but when I saw this woman, and this little infant
with her, whose name is Jesus, I sprinkled my body with the water with which his mother had
washed him, and I was presently made well. 20 And I am certain that he is also capable of
relieving you under your distress. Wherefore, arise, go to my mistress, Mary, and when you have
brought her into your own parlour, disclose to her the secret, at the same time, earnestly
beseeching her to compassionate your case. 21 As soon as the women had heard the girl's
discourse, they hastened away to the Lady St. Mary, introduced themselves to her, and sitting
down before her, they wept. 22 And said, O our Lady St. Mary, pity your handmaids, for we
have no head of our family no one older than us; no father, or brother to go in and out before us.
23 But this mule, which you see, was our brother, which some woman by witchcraft have brought
into this condition which you see: we therefore entreat you to compassionate us. 24 Hereupon
St. Mary was grieved at their case, and taking the Lord Jesus, put him upon the back of the mule.
25 And said to her son, O Jesus Christ, restore (or heal) according to thy extraordinary power this
mule, and grant him to have again the shape of a man and a rational creature, as he had formerly.
26 This was scarce said by the Lady St. Mary, but the mule immediately passed into a human
form, and became a young man without any deformity. 27 Then he and his mother and the sisters
worshipped the Lady St. Mary, and lifting the child upon their heads, they kissed him, and said,
Blessed is thy mother, O Jesus, O Saviour of the world! Blessed are the eyes which are so happy
as to see thee. 28 Then both the sisters told their mother, saying, Of a truth our brother is
restored to his former shape by the help of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the kindness of that girl,
who told us of Mary and her son. 29 And inasmuch as our brother is unmarried, it is fit that we
marry him to this girl their servant. 30 When they had consulted Mary in this matter, and she had
given her consent, they made a splendid wedding for this girl. 31 And so their sorrow being
turned into gladness, and their mourning into mirth, they began to rejoice. and to make merry, and
sing, being dressed in their richest attire, with bracelets. 32 Afterwards they glorified and praised
God, saying, O Jesus son of David who changest sorrow into gladness, and mourning into mirth!
33 After this Joseph and Mary tarried there ten days, then went away, having received great
respect from those people 34 Who, when they took their leave of them, and returned home,
cried, 33 But especially the girl.
CHAPTER VIII
In their journey from hence they came into a desert country, and were told it was infested
with robbers; so Joseph and St. Mary prepared to pass through it in the night. 2 And as they were
going along, behold they saw two robbers asleep in the road, and with them a great number of
robbers, who were their confederates, also asleep. 3 The names of these two were Titus and
Dumachus; and Titus said to Dumachus, I beseech thee let those persons go along quietly, that
our company may not perceive anything of them: 4 But Dumachus refusing, Titus again said, I
will give thee forty groats, and as a pledge take my girdle, which he gave him before he had done
speaking, that he might not open his mouth, or make a noise. 5 When the Lady St. Mary saw the
kindness which this robber did shew them, she said to him, The Lord God will receive thee to his
right hand, and grant thee pardon of thy sins. 6 Then the Lord Jesus answered, and said to his
mother, When thirty years are expired, O mother, the Jews will crucify me at Jerusalem; 7 And
these two thieves shall be with me at the same time upon the cross, Titus on my right hand, and
Dumachus on my left, and from that time Titus shall go before me into paradise: 8 And when she
had said, God forbid this should be thy lot, O my son, they went on to a city in which were several
idols which, as soon as they came near to it, was turned into hills of sand. 9 Hence they went to
that sycamore tree, which is now called Matarea; 10 And in Matarea the Lord Jesus caused a well
to spring forth, in which St. Mary washed his coat; 11 And a balsam is produced, or grows, in
that country from the sweat which ran down there from the Lord Jesus. 12 Thence they
proceeded to Memphis, and saw Pharaoh, and abode three years in Egypt. 13 And the Lord Jesus
did very many miracles in Egypt, which are neither to be found in the Gospel of the Infancy nor in
the Gospel of Perfection.
14 At the end of three years he returned out of Egypt, and when he came near to Judea,
Joseph was afraid to enter; 15 For hearing that Herod was dead, and that Archelaus his son
reigned in his stead, he was afraid; 16 And when he went to Judea, an angel of God appeared to
him, and said, O Joseph, go into the city Nazareth, and abide there. 17 It is strange indeed that he
who is the Lord of all countries, should be thus carried backward and forward through so many
countries.
CHAPTER IX
When they came afterwards into the city Bethlehem, they found there several very
desperate distempers, which became so troublesome to children by seeing them, that most of them
died. 2 There was there a woman who had a sick son, whom she brought, when he was at the
point of death, to the Lady St. Mary, who saw her when she was washing Jesus Christ. 3 Then
said the woman, O my Lady Mary, look down upon this my son, who is afflicted with most
dreadful pains. 4 St. Mary hearing her, said, Take a little of that water with which I have washed
my son, and sprinkle it upon him. 5 Then she took a little of that water, as St. Mary had
commanded, and sprinkled it upon her son, who being wearied with his violent pains, had fallen
asleep; and after he had slept a little, awaked perfectly well and recovered. 6 The mother being
abundantly glad of this success, went again to St. Mary, and St. Mary said to her, Give praise to
God, who hath cured this thy son. 7 There was in the same place another woman, a neighbour of
her, whose son was now cured. 8 This woman's son was afflicted with the same disease, and his
eyes were now almost quite shut, and she was lamenting for him day and night. 9 The mother of
the child which was cured, said to her, Why do you not bring your son to St. Mary, as I brought
my son to her, when he was in the agonies of death; and he was cured by that water, with which
the body of her son Jesus was washed? 10 When the woman heard her say this, she also went,
and having procured the same water, washed her son with it, whereupon his body and his eyes
were instantly restored to their former state. 11 And when she brought her son to St. Mary, and
opened his case to her, she commanded her to give thanks to God for the recovery of her son's
health, and tell no one what had happened.
part 2