Acts of Philip (77-81)

77 Philip smiled and bade him speak first. He said: Do you receive the prophets or no? Philip: Because of your unbelief there is need of the prophets. Aristarchus: It is written: Who shall declare thy might, O God? and, No man can know thy glory; and, Thy glory hath filled the earth; and, The Lord is judge of quick and dead; and, God is a consuming fire and shall burn up his enemies on every side; and, One God hath made all these things. How then say you that Mary bore Jesus? .⋯ But you will say that he is the power and wisdom of God who was with him when he made the world. I do not deny that the first Scripture says: Let us make man.

78 Philip smiled and said: Hearken all: Isaiah said, Behold my servant (child) whom I have chosen. ⋯ And of the cross: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. ⋯ And again: I gave my back to the scourger. ⋯ And another: I spread out my hands to a disobedient people. And: I was found of them that sought me not . ⋯ And David saith: Thou art my son. ⋯ And of his resurrection and Judas: Lord, why are they increased that trouble me. ⋯ And again David: I foresaw the Lord alway before me. ⋯ But David is dead. Take also of the twelve prophets: Say unto the daughter of Sion. ⋯ And: Out of Egypt have I called my son.

79 Aristarchus said: This Jesus is called Christ. Isaiah: Thus saith the Lord unto Christ my lord. ⋯ The Jews said: You are arguing for Christ. The people and rulers acclaimed Philip and said he should be received.

80 A bier was brought with a dead man, only son of a rich man: and with it ten slaves who were to be burnt with the corpse. The people said: Here is a great contest for the Christians. If theirs be God he will raise him and we will believe, and burn our idols.

81 Philip said to the parents: What will you do if I raise him? What you will. The slaves made signs to him to remember them. There was this evil law of burning slaves, and sometimes even men’s wives.