[...] which [...] purpose [... after ...] us [...] apostles [...].
We sailed [...] of the body. Others were not anxious in their
hearts. And in our hearts, we were united. We agreed to fulfill the
ministry to which the Lord appointed us. And we made a covenant with
each other.
We went down to the sea at an opportune moment, which came to us
from the Lord. We found a ship moored at the shore ready to embark,
and we spoke with the sailors of the ship about our coming aboard
with them. They showed great kindliness toward us as was ordained by
the Lord. And after we had embarked, we sailed a day and a night.
After that, a wind came up behind the ship and brought us to a small
city in the midst of the sea.
And I, Peter, inquired about the name of this city from residents
who were standing on the dock. A man among them answered, saying,
"The name of this city is Habitation, that is, Foundation [...]
endurance." And the leader among them holding the palm branch at the
edge of the dock. And after we had gone ashore with the baggage, I
went into the city, to seek advice about lodging.
A man came out wearing a cloth bound around his waist, and a gold
belt girded it. Also a napkin was tied over his chest, extending
over his shoulders and covering his head and his hands.
I was staring at the man, because he was beautiful in his form
and stature. There were four parts of his body that I saw: the soles
of his feet and a part of his chest and the palms of his hands and
his visage. These things I was able to see. A book cover like (those
of) my books was in his left hand. A staff of styrax wood was in his
right hand. His voice was resounding as he slowly spoke, crying out
in the city, "Pearls! Pearls!"
I, indeed, thought he was a man of that city. I said to him, "My
brother and my friend!" He answered me, then, saying, "Rightly did
you say, 'My brother and my friend.' What is it you seek from me?" I
said to him, "I ask you about lodging for me and the brothers also,
because we are strangers here." He said to me, "For this reason have
I myself just said, 'My brother and my friend,' because I also am a
fellow stranger like you."
And having said these things, he cried out, "Pearls! Pearls!" The
rich men of that city heard his voice. They came out of their hidden
storerooms. And some were looking out from the storerooms of their
houses. Others looked out from their upper windows. And they did not
see (that they could gain) anything from him, because there was no
pouch on his back nor bundle inside his cloth and napkin. And
because of their disdain they did not even acknowledge him. He, for
his part, did not reveal himself to them. They returned to their
storerooms, saying, "This man is mocking us."
And the poor of that city heard his voice, and they came to the
man who sells this pearl. They said, "Please take the trouble to
show us the pearl so that we may, then, see it with our (own) eyes.
For we are the poor. And we do not have this [...] price to pay for
it. But show us that we might say to our friends that we saw a pearl
with our (own) eyes." He answered, saying to them, "If it is
possible, come to my city, so that I may not only show it before
your (very) eyes, but give it to you for nothing."
And indeed they, the poor of that city, heard and said, "Since we
are beggars, we surely know that a man does not give a pearl to a
beggar, but (it is) bread and money that is usually received. Now
then, the kindness which we want to receive from you (is) that you
show us the pearl before our eyes. And we will say to our friends
proudly that we saw a pearl with our (own) eyes" - because it is not
found among the poor, especially such beggars (as these). He
answered (and) said to them, "If it is possible, you yourselves come
to my city, so that I may not only show you it, but give it to you
for nothing." The poor and the beggars rejoiced because of the man
who gives for nothing.
The men asked Peter about the hardships. Peter answered and told
those things that he had heard about the hardships of the way.
Because they are interpreters of the hardships in their ministry.
He said to the man who sells this pearl, "I want to know your
name and the hardships of the way to your city because we are
strangers and servants of God. It is necessary for us to spread the
word of God in every city harmoniously." He answered and said, "If
you seek my name, Lithargoel is my name, the interpretation of which
is, the light, gazelle-like stone.
"And also (concerning) the road to the city, which you asked me
about, I will tell you about it. No man is able to go on that road,
except one who has forsaken everything that he has and has fasted
daily from stage to stage. For many are the robbers and wild beasts
on that road. The one who carries bread with him on the road, the
black dogs kill because of the bread. The one who carries a costly
garment of the world with him, the robbers kill because of the
garment. The one who carries water with him, the wolves kill because
of the water, since they were thirsty for it. The one who is anxious
about meat and green vegetables, the lions eat because of the meat.
If he evades the lions, the bulls devour him because of the green
vegetables."
When he had said these things to me, I sighed within myself,
saying, "Great hardships are on the road! If only Jesus would give
us power to walk it!" He looked at me since my face was sad, and I
sighed. He said to me, "Why do you sigh, if you, indeed, know this
name "Jesus" and believe him? He is a great power for giving
strength. For I too believe in the Father who sent him."
I replied, asking him, "What is the name of the place to which
you go, your city?" He said to me, "This is the name of my city,
'Nine Gates.' Let us praise God as we are mindful that the tenth is
the head." After this I went away from him in peace.
As I was about to go and call my friends, I saw waves and large
high walls surrounding the bounds of the city. I marveled at the
great things I saw. I saw an old man sitting and I asked him if the
name of the city was really Habitation. He [...], "Habitation
[...]." He said to me, "You speak truly, for we inhabit here because
we endure."
I responded, saying, "Justly [...] have men named it [...],
because (by) everyone who endures his trials, cities are inhabited,
and a precious kingdom comes from them, because they endure in the
midst of the apostasies and the difficulties of the storms. So that
in this way, the city of everyone who endures the burden of his yoke
of faith will be inhabited, and he will be included in the kingdom
of heaven."
I hurried and went and called my friends so that we might go to
the city that he, Lithargoel, appointed for us. In a bond of faith
we forsook everything as he had said (to do). We evaded the robbers,
because they did not find their garments with us. We evaded the
wolves, because they did not find the water with us for which they
thirsted. We evaded the lions, because they did not find the desire
for meat with us. We evaded the bulls [...] they did not find green
vegetables.
A great joy came upon us and a peaceful carefreeness like that of
our Lord. We rested ourselves in front of the gate, and we talked
with each other about that which is not a distraction of this world.
Rather we continued in contemplation of the faith.
As we discussed the robbers on the road, whom we evaded, behold
Lithargoel, having changed, came out to us. He had the appearance of
a physician, since an unguent box was under his arm, and a young
disciple was following him carrying a pouch full of medicine. We did
not recognize him.
Peter responded and said to him, "We want you to do us a favor,
because we are strangers, and take us to the house of Lithargoel
before evening comes." He said, "In uprightness of heart I will show
it to you. But I am amazed at how you knew this good man. For he
does not reveal himself to every man, because he himself is the son
of a great king. Rest yourselves a little so that I may go and heal
this man and come (back)." He hurried and came (back) quickly.
He said to Peter, "Peter!" And Peter was frightened, for how did
he know that his name was Peter? Peter responded to the Savior, "How
do you know me, for you called my name?" Lithargoel answered, "I
want to ask you who gave the name Peter to you?" He said to him, "It
was Jesus Christ, the son of the living God. He gave this name to
me." He answered and said, "It is I! Recognize me, Peter." He
loosened the garment, which clothed him - the one into which he had
changed himself because of us - revealing to us in truth that it was
he.
We prostrated ourselves on the ground and worshipped him. We
comprised eleven disciples. He stretched forth his hand and caused
us to stand. We spoke with him humbly. Our heads were bowed down in
unworthiness as we said, "What you wish we will do. But give us
power to do what you wish at all times."
He gave them the unguent box and the pouch that was in the hand
of the young disciple. He commanded them like this, saying, "Go into
the city from which you came, which is called Habitation. Continue
in endurance as you teach all those who have believed in my name,
because I have endured in hardships of the faith. I will give you
your reward. To the poor of that city give what they need in order
to live until I give them what is better, which I told you that I
will give you for nothing."
Peter answered and said to him, "Lord, you have taught us to
forsake the world and everything in it. We have renounced them for
your sake. What we are concerned about (now) is the food for a
single day. Where will we be able to find the needs that you ask us
to provide for the poor?"
The Lord answered and said, "O Peter, it was necessary that you
understand the parable that I told you! Do you not understand that
my name, which you teach, surpasses all riches, and the wisdom of
God surpasses gold, and silver and precious stone(s)?"
He gave them the pouch of medicine and said, "Heal all the sick
of the city who believe in my name." Peter was afraid to reply to
him for the second time. He signaled to the one who was beside him,
who was John: "You talk this time." John answered and said, "Lord,
before you we are afraid to say many words. But it is you who asks
us to practice this skill. We have not been taught to be physicians.
How then will we know how to heal bodies as you have told us?"
He answered them, "Rightly have you spoken, John, for I know that
the physicians of this world heal what belongs to the world. The
physicians of souls, however, heal the heart. Heal the bodies first,
therefore, so that through the real powers of healing for their
bodies, without medicine of the world, they may believe in you, that
you have power to heal the illnesses of the heart also.
"The rich men of the city, however, those who did not see fit
even to acknowledge me, but who reveled in their wealth and pride -
with such as these, therefore, do not dine in their houses nor be
friends with them, lest their partiality influence you. For many in
the churches have shown partiality to the rich, because they also
are sinful, and they give occasion for others to sin. But judge them
with uprightness, so that your ministry may be glorified, and that
my name also, may be glorified in the churches." The disciples
answered and said, "Yes, truly this is what is fitting to do."
They prostrated themselves on the ground and worshipped him. He
caused them to stand and departed from them in peace. Amen.