{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 2,
  "chapterName": "c.180-230. The Acts of Thomas",
  "pageFrom": 2,
  "pageTo": 2,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 2,
      "ocrText": "2\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\n2. THE ACTS OF THOMAS (180-230 A.D.)\nThe Acts of Thomas was originally written in Syriac and was later\ntranslated into Greek. It is usually dated between 180 and 230 A.D..\nAuthorship has been attributed to Bardesanes. Though mainly\nlegendary it contains some historical references. The whole document\nconsists of thirteen Acts, including accounts of St. Thomas' journey\nfrom Jerusalem to India, and his work there up till his martyrdom.\nThe English version used here is from Edger Hennecke, New Testa-\nment Apocrypha, edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher, Vol. II, pp. 442 ff.\n1. At that time we apostles were all in Jerusalem, Simon\ncalled Peter and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee and.\nJohn his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew\nthe publican, James (the son) of Alphaeus and Simon the Cana-\nnaean, and Judas (the brother) of James; and we divided the\nregions of the world, that each one of us might go to the region\nwhich fell to his lot, and to the nation to which the Lord sent him..\nAccording to lot, India fell to Judas Thomas, who is also (called)\nDidymus; but he did not wish to go, saying that through weakness.\nof the flesh he could not travel, and: 'How can I, who am a Hebrew,\ngo and preach the truth among the Indians?' And as he considered\nand said this, the Saviour appeared to him by night and said to\nhim: Fear not, Thomas, go to India and preach the word there,.\nfor my grace is with thee. But he would not obey and said:\nSend me where thou wilt but somewhere else! For I am not\ngoing to the Indians.'\n2. And as he thus spoke and thought, it happened that a\ncertain merchant was there who had come from India. His name\nwas Abban and he had been sent by king Gundaphorus and had\nreceived orders from him to buy a carpenter and bring him back.\nto him.\n3. On the following morning the apostle prayed and be--\nsought the Lord, and said: 'I go wither thou wilt, Lord Jesus;\nthy will be done!' and he went off to Abban the merchant\n17. But when the apostle came to the cities of India with.\nAbban the merchant, Abban went off to salute King Gundaphorus,.\nand reported to him concerning the carpenter whom he had brought\nwith him\n62. While the apostle Thomas was proclaiming the word of\nGod in all India, a certain captain of king Misdaeus (Mazdais)\ncame to him and said to him: I have heard concerning thee that\nthou dost not take any reward of any man, but whatever thou hast\nthou dost give to the needy. For if thou didst take rewards, I\nwould have sent much money and would not have come hither",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}