Acts of Apostle Thomas

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III AD 40 ARRIVAL OF APOSTLE THOMAS IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN 1—Thomas goes to India Summary of Acts of Thomas From NewWorld Encyclopaedia Long considered fictional, King Gundaphorus, or Gondophares, is now believed to be the first king of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom, dating to the period after the crucifixion of Jesus. The apostles gather in Jerusalem, where each of them is assigned as an evangelist to a different region of the world by drawing lots. Thomas is assigned to India, but refuses to go, pleading weakness of health and also that, as a Jew, he cannot live among Gentiles. The resurrected Christ then sells Thomas—who, like his twin brother Jesus, is a carpenter—as a slave to a merchant named Abbanes, the agent of King Gundaphorus of India. On arriving, Thomas attends the wedding feast of the king's daughter with his master. He declines food and drink, and refuses to gaze at a lovely flute-girl who dances for him. For his rudeness, he is struck by a royal cup-bearer. Thomas responds by bursting into a hymn of praise to the 37
III AD 40 ARRIVAL OF APOSTLE THOMAS IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN dancer and God, in which he prophesies the cup-bearer's death. The cup-bearer is soon killed by a lion while drawing water from a well, and the flute-girl, a Jew herself, immediately breaks her flute and becomes Thomas' first disciple. The king hears of the miracle and asks Thomas to pray for the success of his daughter's marriage, she being an only child. At the bridal chamber, Thomas blesses the couple and prays to Jesus as "the ambassador that wast sent from the height… who showedst the way that leadeth up unto the height." However, when the groom enters the bridal chamber, he sees a vision of Jesus speaking with the bride. Jesus declares "if ye abstain from this foul intercourse, ye become holy temples." He explains that procreation is an error, since "children become useless, oppressed of devils… they will be caught either in adultery or murder or theft or fornication, and by all these will ye be afflicted." The couple immediately convert, committing themselves to "abstain from foul desire." In the morning, the bride tells her parents: "I am yoked unto a true husband," and her groom gives thanks to Jesus "who hast removed me far from corruption." The king is understandably upset and commands that Thomas, "the sorcerer," be apprehended. 2—King Gundaphorus' palace Thomas meets King Gundaphorus, who learns of his carpentry skills and commands him to build a new royal palace, leaving him with a substantial sum of money to complete the task. Thomas, however, gives the money away to the poor and the sick as an manifestation of God's love for them. The king then imprisons both Thomas and his master, declaring that they will be punished with death. The king's brother, Gad, then takes sick and dies. The angels carry him to heaven and show him a gorgeous house, which they explain was built there for Gundaphorus by Thomas. Gad receives permission to return to earth, where he attempts to buy the king's heavenly palace from him. Learning the true value of Thomas' actions, the king releases Thomas from prison and both the king and his brother humble themselves before Thomas, becoming disciples and devoting themselves to the care of the poor. Thomas seals their commitment with a sacrament of holy oil, reciting a liturgical psalm, and invoking the Trinity. In a Gnostic variation, however, he refers to the Holy Spirit as "Compassionate Mother… she that revealeth the hidden mysteries, Mother of the seven houses." After this, Thomas continues his preaching, teaching all to "abstain from fornication and covetousness and the service of the belly." 3—Thomas and the Great Serpent On the road, Thomas encounters the dead body of a handsome youth. A huge black serpent (or dragon) emerges from a nearby hole and declares that he has killed the youth out of jealousy over the youth's sexual intercourse with a beautiful young woman with whom the dragon was enamored. The dragon knows that Thomas is Christ's twin brother and identifies himself as "the son to him that sitteth on a throne over all the earth" and also as he who "spake with Eve the things which my father bade me speak unto her." He also takes credit for inspiring Cain to kill Abel and binding the fallen angels in lust toward human women, in order that children might be born who would do his will. He boasts of hardening Pharaoh's heart, causing the Israelites to sin in the wilderness, and moving Judas Iscariot to deliver up Christ. 38
Page 3 and 4: ACTS OF THE APOSTLE THOMAS THE STOR
Page 5 and 6: Foreword "This Thomas preached the
Page 7 and 8: Dedicated to My Father & Mother Who
Page 10 and 11: THE ACTS OF APOSTLE THOMAS : M. M.
Page 20 and 21: II AD 30 - 40 PARTHIAN MISSION APOS
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Page 52 and 53: IV DORMITION OF MARY : M. M. NINAN
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Page 72 and 73: VII CHINA EVANGELIZATON : M. M. NIN
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VIII CHINA EVANGELIZATON : M. M. NI
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X 72 AD APOSTLE ST. THOMAS 99 MARTY
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X 72 AD APOSTLE ST. THOMAS 101 MART
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X REFERENCES TO THOMAS CHRISTIAN TR
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9. Ambrose of Milan: 339-397 AD X R
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XI BARTHOLOMEW 125 MISSION : M. M.
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XII KALABHRA INTER-REGNUM : M. M. N
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XIII THE THOMAS WAY: SAIVISM AND NA
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XIV SIGNIFICANCE OF SANSKRIT: M. M.
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XV CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE ON BUDDHISM:
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XVI DEVELOPMENT OF VAISHNAVITE HERE
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XVII MAHABALI CONNECTION : M. M. NI
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XVIII SURAYA IMMIGRATION : M. M. NI
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XIX SYNCRETIZATION : M. M. NINAN __
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XX RECENT HISTORY : M. M. NINAN ___
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HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANITY I
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Acts of Apostle Thomas

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