Apocryphal Thomas

ACTS OF THOMAS : M. M. NINAN
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THE ACTS OF THOMAS
with added commentaries and explanations by
Prof. M. M. Ninan
2011
Content
Summary of Contents
I. Judas Thomas is sold to the merchant Abban and taken to India. The royal wedding party. Thomas
succeeds in urging celibacy on the bridle couple (chapters 1 to 16).
II. Thomas meets King Gondophares, who commissions him to build a royal palace. Thomas then
spends the money on the poor before being imprisoned by the King. The king releases Thomas after his
brother Gad dies and returns to tell him of a palace in heaven (chapters 17 to 29).
III. Raising of a man killed by a serpent (chapters 30 to 38)
IV. The speaking colt (chapters 39 to 41) [Klijn includes this episode within section 5]
V. Exorcism of the woman possessed by a demon (chapters 42 to 50)
VI. Raising the woman murdered by her lover. Her vision of hell (chapters 51 to 61)
VII. Siphor the captain of King Misdaeus finds Thomas to ask him to exorcize his wife and daughter.
Thomas agrees to visit them (chapters 62 to 67).
VIII The wild asses deliver Thomas and the captain to his family. Thomas addresses and exorcizes the
demon(s) (chapters 68 to 81)
IX Mygdonia, the wife of Charisius a kinsman of the king, is converted by Thomas. Charisius reacts by
having the king agree to kill Thomas. Siphor testifies on Thomas' behalf to the king. The Hymn of the
Pearl is sung by Thomas in prison (chapters 82-118).
X Mygdonia is baptized after Thomas is released from prison (chapters 119 to 133).
XI King Misdaeus' wife, Tertia, is also converted. Misdaeus has Thomas arrested again and threatens to
kill him (chapters 134 to 138).
XII Misdaeus's son Vazan is converted by Thomas when he visits him in prison (chapters 139 to 149).
XIII Vazan and his wife, and Tertia are baptized by Thomas (chapters 150 to 158).
XIV Thomas is martyred. A vision of Thomas appears and the king's son is cured of an illness.
Misdaues then converts.
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