Tatian: Diatessaron — Arabic Witness

Section LIV.

[1] ^{Edition note 1}And while they talked together,^{Edition note 2} the evening of that day arrived which was the First-day; and the doors were shut where the disciples were, because of the fear of the [2] Jews; ^{Edition note 3}and Jesus came and stood among them, and said unto them, Peace be with you: I am he; fear not. ^{Edition note 4}But they were agitated, and became afraid, and supposed that they [3] saw a spirit. ^{Edition note 5}Jesus said unto them, Why are ye agitated? and why do thoughts rise [4] [Arabic, p. 205] in^{Edition note 6} your hearts? ^{Edition note 7}See my hands and my feet, that I am he: feel me, and know that a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me having that. [5] ^{Edition note 8}And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his feet and his side.^{Edition note 9} [6] ^{Edition note 10}And they were until this time unbelieving, from their joy and their wonder. He [7] said unto them, Have ye anything here to eat? ^{Edition note 11}And they gave him a portion of broiled fish and of honey.^{Edition note 12 Edition note 13}And he took it, and ate before them.

[8] ^{Edition note 14}And he said unto them, These are the sayings which I spake unto you, while I was with you, that^{Edition note 15} everything must be fulfilled, which is written in the law of [9] Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. ^{Edition note 16}Then opened he their [10] heart, that they might understand the scriptures; and he said unto them, ^{Edition note 17}Thus it is written, and thus it is necessary^{Edition note 18} that the Messiah suffer, and rise from among the [11] dead on the third day; ^{Edition note 19}and that repentance unto the forgiveness of sins be preached [12] in his name among all the peoples; and the beginning shall be from Jerusalem. ^{Edition note 20}And [13] ye shall be witnesses of that.

And I send unto you the promise of my Father. ^{Edition note 21}And [14] when the disciples heard that, they were glad. ^{Edition note 22}And Jesus said unto them again, [15] Peace be with you: as my Father hath sent me, I also send you. ^{Edition note 23}And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: [16] ^{Edition note 24}and if ye forgive sins to any man, they shall be forgiven him; and if ye retain them against any man, they shall be retained.

[17] ^{Edition note 25}But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Thama, was not there with the disciples [18] when Jesus came. ^{Edition note 26}The disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen our Lord. But he said unto them, If I do not see in his hands the places of the nails, and put on them my fingers, and pass my hand over his side, I will not believe.

[19] ^{Edition note 27}And after eight days, on the next First-day, the disciples were assembled again within, and Thomas with them. And Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood [20] [Arabic, p. 206] in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be with you. ^{Edition note 28}And he said to Thomas, Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither [21] thy hand, and spread it on my side: and be not unbelieving, but believing. ^{Edition note 29}Thomas [22] answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. ^{Edition note 30}Jesus said unto him, Now since thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen me, and have believed.

[23] ^{Edition note 31}And many other signs did Jesus before his disciples, and they are they which [24] are not written in this book: ^{Edition note 32}but these that^{Edition note 33} are written also are that ye may believe in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God; and that when ye have believed, ye may have in his name eternal life.

[25] ^{Edition note 34}And after that, Jesus shewed himself again to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias; [26] and he shewed himself unto them thus. ^{Edition note 35}And there were together Simon Cephas, and Thomas which was called Twin,^{Edition note 36} and Nathanael who was of Cana of Galilee, [27] and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of the disciples. ^{Edition note 37}Simon Cephas said unto them, I go to catch fish. They said unto him, And we also come with thee. And they went forth, and went up into the boat; and in that night they caught nothing. [28] ^{Edition note 38}And when the morning arrived, Jesus stood on the shore of the sea: but the disciples [29] knew not that it was Jesus. ^{Edition note 39}And Jesus said unto them, Children, have ye anything [30] to eat?

They said unto him, No. ^{Edition note 40}He said unto them, Cast your net from the right side of the boat, and ye shall find.^{Edition note 41} And they threw, and they were not able [31] to draw the net for the abundance of the fish that were come^{Edition note 42} into it. ^{Edition note 43}And that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Cephas, This is our Lord. And Simon, when he heard that it was our Lord, took his tunic, and girded it on his waist (for he was [32] naked), and cast himself into the sea to come to Jesus. ^{Edition note 44}But some others of the disciples came in the boat^{Edition note 45} (and they were not far from the land, but about two [33] [Arabic, p. 207] hundred cubits), and drew that net of fish. ^{Edition note 46}And when they went up on the [34] land, they saw live coals laid, and fish laid thereon, and bread. ^{Edition note 47}And Jesus [35] said unto them, Bring of this fish which ye have now caught. ^{Edition note 48}Simon Cephas therefore went up, and dragged the net to the land, full of great fish, a hundred and fifty-three [36] fishes: and with all this weight that net was not rent. ^{Edition note 49}And Jesus said unto them, Come and sit down.

And no man of the disciples dared to ask him who he was, for they knew that it was our Lord. But he did not appear to them in his own [37, 38] form. ^{Edition note 50}And Jesus came, and took bread and fish, and gave unto them. ^{Edition note 51}This is the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples, when he had risen from among the dead.

[39] ^{Edition note 52}And when they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Cephas, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me more than these? He said unto him, Yea, my Lord; thou [40] knowest that I love thee. ^{Edition note 53}Jesus said unto him, Feed for me my lambs. He said unto him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me? He said unto him, Yea, my Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He said unto him, Feed for [41] me my sheep.^{Edition note 54 Edition note 55}He said unto him again the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me?

And it grieved Cephas that he said unto him three times, Lovest thou me? He said unto him, My Lord, thou knowest everything; thou knowest that I [42] love thee. ^{Edition note 56}Jesus said unto him, Feed for me my sheep.^{Edition note 57} Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast a child, thou didst gird thy waist for thyself, and go whither [Arabic, p. 208] thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch out thy hands, and another shall gird thy waist, and take thee whither thou wouldest not. [43] ^{Edition note 58}He said that to him to explain by what death he was to glorify God.

And when he [44] had said that, he said unto him, Come after me. ^{Edition note 59}And Simon Cephas turned, and saw that disciple whom Jesus loved following him; he which at the supper leaned^{Edition note 60} on [45] Jesus’ breast, and said, My Lord, who is it that betrayeth thee? ^{Edition note 61}When therefore Cephas saw him, he said to Jesus, My Lord, and this man, what shall be in his [46] case?^{Edition note 62 Edition note 63}Jesus said unto him, If I will that this man remain until I come, what is [47] that to thee? follow thou me. ^{Edition note 64}And this word spread among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: but Jesus said not that he should not die; but, If I will that this man remain until I come, what is that to thee?

[48] ^{Edition note 65}This is the disciple which bare witness of that, and wrote it: and we know that his witness is true.