CHAPTER 177.
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Levi
Jesus appears, fully materialized, in the temple in Jerusalem. Rebukes the rulers of the Jews for their hypocrisy. Reveals himself to them and they fall back in fear. He appears to the apostles in Simon’s house. Thomas is convinced.
It was the Sabbath day and many priests and scribes and Pharisees were in the temple in Jerusalem. Caiaphas, Annas and some other ruling Jews were there.
2 A stranger came in garb of fisherman and asked, What has become of Jesus who is called the Christ? Is he not teaching in the temple now?
3 The Jews replied, That man from Galilee was crucified a week ago, because he was a dangerous man, a vile, seditious man.
4 The stranger asked, Where did you put the body of this man from Galilee? where is his tomb?
5 The Jews replied, We do not know. His followers came at night and stole the body from the tomb in which it lay and carried it away, and then declared that he had risen from the dead.
6 The stranger asked, How do you know that his disciples stole the body from the tomb? was any one a witness of the theft?
7 The Jews replied, We had a hundred soldiers at the place, and every one of them declares that his disciples stole the body from the tomb.
8 The stranger asked, Will any one of all your hundred men stand forth and say, I saw the body stolen from the tomb?
9 The Jews replied, We do not know; these men are men of truth; we cannot doubt their word.
10 The stranger said, You priests and scribes and Pharisees hear me: I was a witness of the facts, was in the garden of Siloam, and stood among your hundred men.
11 And this I know that not a man among your hundred men, will say, I saw the body stolen from the tomb.
12 And I will testify before the God of heaven and earth, The body was not stolen from the tomb; the man from Galilee is risen from the dead.
13 And then the priests and scribes and Pharisees rushed up to seize the man and cast him out.
14 But instantly the fisherman became a radiant form of light, and priests and scribes and Pharisees fell back in deadly fear; they saw the man from Galilee.
15 And Jesus looked upon the frightened men and said, This is the body that you stoned beyond the city’s gates and crucified on Calvary.
16 Behold my hands, my feet, my side and see the wounds the soldiers made.
17 If you believe that I am phantom made of air, come forth and handle me; ghosts do not carry flesh and bones.
18 I came to earth to demonstrate the resurrection of the dead, the transmutation of the flesh of carnal man to flesh of man divine.
19 Then Jesus raised his hands and said, Peace be to every one of you; good will to all mankind. And then he disappeared.
20 Now, Thomas had not seen the Lord since he had risen from the dead, and when the ten averred that they had seen and talked with him he said,
21 Until I see the nail prints in his hands and feet, the spear wound in his side, and talked with him as I have talked with him before, I cannot have a reason to believe that he is risen from the dead.
22 At Simon’s house in Bethany the men from Galilee had met. It was the evening of the first day of the week, and on the morrow all would turn their faces toward their homes.
23 The eleven apostles all were there; the doors were closed and barred, and Jesus came and said, Peace be to all!
24 And then he said to Thomas, friend, you do not know that I have risen from the dead; the time has come for you to know.
25 Come here and see the nail prints in my hands, the spear wound in my side, and talk with me as you have often talked with me.
26 And Thomas came and saw, and then exclaimed, My master, and my Lord! I do not now believe, I know that you are risen from the dead.
27 And Jesus said, Because you see me you believe, and blessed are your eyes;
28 But blessed thrice are they who see me not and yet believe.
29 Then Jesus vanished from their sight, but the disciples were established in their faith.