The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 261 -
Salome And Cornelius Recognize The Family
SALOME AND CORNELIUS now considered back and forth just who this group from Egypt might really be.
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Cornelius said,'It seems to me that these four men, who seem to be rather young, have a strong resemblance to the sons of that remarkable man with whom we both associated in Bethlehem.
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Their speech also has an unmistakable Nazarene ring.
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Listen, my esteemed lady friend! This remarkable man, who was named Joseph, very probably emigrated to Egypt, as I have heard in a letter from my brother in Tyre.
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How - what if that were the same Joseph?
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Should we therefore not go over to these people and look at them more closely? And if they are the right ones,
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should we not promptly show them the most elaborate hospitality?'
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When Salome heard this, she nearly fainted from ecstasy and declared,
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'Oh friend, you are surely right - it must be true and that is surely the holy family!
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Therefore I shall quickly awaken my servants so they can go with us to where this family rests!'
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Thereupon Salome went and awakened all her servants.
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In a short time everyone in Salome's house was on his feet,
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and when all were ready to leave, Cornelius said to Salome,
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'Now let us go there and see who this family is.'
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Thereupon Salome quickly called everyone in the house together, and the whole company went over to where Joseph rested by a moderate fire.
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When they arrived there, Cornelius asserted to Salome,
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'Just look over there! There beside the fire - is that not the young Mary, the wife of Joseph with her Child?
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And yonder old man, say, is he not Joseph, that remarkable man with whom we became acquainted in Bethlehem?'
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Here Salome opened her eyes wide and stared and slowly recognized what Cornelius pointed out to her.
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But that was too much for Salome! She sank down and fainted, and Cornelius had his hands full to bring his companion on her feet again.