The Deeds of Páulus and Theókleia 2

While Páulus was preaching this discourse in the convocation which was in the house of ’Onesíphoros, a certain virgin named Theókleia (whose mother's name was Theoclia, and who was betrothed to a man named Thamyris) sat at a certain window in her house. From where, by the advantage of a window in the house where Páulus was, she both night and day heard Páulus's sermons concerning Yâ-hwéh, concerning affectionate love, concerning faith in the Anointed, and concerning prayer; nor would she depart from the window till with exceeding joy she was subdued to the teachings of faith. At length, when she saw many women and virgins going in to Páulus, she earnestly desired that she might be thought worthy to appear in his presence and hear the Word of the Anointed; for she had not yet seen Páulus’s person, but only heard his discourses. But when she would not be prevailed upon to depart from the window, her mother sent for Thamyris, who came with the greatest pleasure, as he hoped now to marry her. Accordingly, he said to Theoclia, "Where is my Theókleia?" Theoclia replied, "Thamyris, I have something very strange to tell you. Theókleia, for the space of three days, will not move from the window not so much as to eat or drink, but is so intent in hearing the artful and delusive discourses of a certain foreigner, that I am completely astonished, Thamyris, that a young woman of her known modesty will suffer herself to be so prevailed upon. For that man has disturbed the entire city of Ikónion, and even your Theókleia, among others. All the women and young men flock to him to receive his teaching; who, besides all the rest, tells them that there is but one Power Who alone is to be worshipped, and that we ought to live in chastity. Notwithstanding this, my daughter Theókleia, like a spider’s web fastened to the window, is captivated by the discourses of Páulus, and attends upon them with prodigious eagerness and vast delight; and thus, by attending to what he says, the young woman is seduced. Now you go and speak to her, for she is betrothed to you." Accordingly, Thamyris went, and saluted her with care not to surprise her, and said, "Theókleia, my spouse, why are you sitting in this melancholy posture? What strange impressions are made upon you? Turn to Thamyris, and blush." Her mother also spoke to her after the same manner and said, "Child, why do you sit so melancholy, like one astonished, and make no reply?" Then they wept exceedingly: Thamyris, that he had lost his future spouse; Theoclia, that she had lost her daughter; and the maids, that they had lost their mistress; and there was universal mourning in the family. But all these things made no impression on Theókleia to incline her so much as to turn and take notice of them, for she continued to contemplate on the discourses of Páulus. Then Thamyris ran into the street to observe who they were who went in to Páulus and came out from him; and he saw two men engaged in a very heated dispute, and said to them; "Sirs, what business have you here? And who is that man within, belonging to you, who deludes the minds of men, both young men and virgins, persuading them that they ought not to marry but continue as they are? I promise to give you a considerable sum if you will give me a just account of him, for I am the chief person of this city." Demas and Hermogénes replied, "We cannot so exactly tell who he is, but we know that he deprives young men of their intended wives, and virgins of their intended husbands, by teaching, 'There can be no future resurrection, unless you continue in chastity and do not defile your flesh.'"

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