The Deeds of Páulus and Theókleia 5

At length Theókleia was missed and sought for by the family and by Thamyris in every street as though she had been lost, but one of the porter’s fellow-servants told them that she had gone out in the night. Then they examined the porter and he told them that she was gone to the prison to the strange man. They therefore went according to his direction and found her there; and when they came out, they got a mob together and went and told the governor all that happened. Then he ordered Páulus to be brought before his judgment-seat. Theókleia in the meantime lay rolling on the ground in the prison, in that same place where Páulus had sat to teach her. Then the governor also ordered her to be brought before his judgment-seat. She received the summons with joy and went. When Páulus was brought there, the mob cried out with more vehemence, "He is a magician, so let him die!" Nevertheless, the governor attended with pleasure upon Páulus's discourses of the pure works of the Anointed, and after calling together a council, he summoned Theókleia and said to her, "Why do you not, according to the law of the Iconians, marry Thamyris?" She stood still with her eyes fixed upon Páulus, and finding she made no reply, Theoclia her mother cried out, "Let the unjust creature be burned! Let her be burned in the midst of the theatre for refusing Thamyris, so all women may learn from her to avoid such practices!" Then the governor was exceedingly concerned and ordered Páulus to be whipped out of the city and Theókleia to be burned. So the governor arose and went immediately into the amphitheater; and all the people went forth to see the dismal sight. But Theókleia, just as a lamb in the wilderness looks every way to see his shepherd, looked around for Páulus; And as she was looking upon the multitude, she saw Yâ-hwéh Yâhuwshúa` in the likeness of Páulus, and said to herself, Páulus has come to see me in my distressed circumstances. And she fixed her eyes upon Him, but He instantly ascended up to the heavens while she looked on Him. Then the young men and women brought wood and straw for the burning of Theókleia; who, being brought naked to the stake, extorted tears from the governor, who was surprised to see the greatness of her beauty. And when they had placed the wood in order, the people commanded her to go upon it, and she did so, first making the sign of the cross. Then the people set fire to the pile; though the flame was exceeding large, it did not touch her, for Yâ-hwéh took compassion on her and caused a great eruption from the earth beneath, and a cloud from above to pour down great quantities of rain and ice-precipitation; So that by the rupture of the earth, very many were in great danger and some were killed, but the fire was extinguished and Theókleia preserved.

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