Acts of Andrew and Matthias
In the City of the
Man-eaters.
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About that time all the apostles
had come together to the same place, and shared among themselves the
countries, casting lots, in order that each might go away into the part
that had fallen to him. By lot, then, it fell to Matthias to set
out to the country of the man-eaters. And the men of that city
used neither to eat bread nor drink wine; but they ate the flesh of
men, and drank their blood. Every man, therefore, who came into
their city they laid hold of, and digging they thrust out his eyes, and
gave him a drug to drink, prepared by sorcery and magic; and from
drinking the drug his heart was altered and his mind deranged.
Matthias then having come into the gate of their city, the men of that city laid hold of him, and thrust out his eyes; and after putting them out they made him drink the drug of their magical deception, and led him away to the prison, and put beside him grass to eat, and he ate it not. For when he had partaken of their drug, his heart was not altered, nor his mind deranged; but he kept praying to God, weeping, and saying: Lord Jesus Christ, for whose sake we have forsaken all things and have followed Thee, knowing that Thou art the helper of all who hope in Thee, attend then and behold what they have done to Matthias Thy servant, how they have made me nigh to the brutes; for Thou art He who knowest all things. If, therefore, Thou hast ordained that the wicked men in this city should eat me up, I will not by any means flee from Thy dispensation. Afford to me then, O Lord, the light of mine eyes, that at least I may behold what the wicked men in this city have in hand for me; do not forsake me, O my Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give me up to this bitter death.
While Matthias was thus praying in the prison, a
light shone, and there came forth out of the light a voice
saying: Beloved Matthias, receive thy sight. And
immediately he received his sight. And again there came forth a
voice saying: Be of good courage, our Matthias, and be not
dismayed; for I shall not by any means forsake thee, for I shall
deliver thee from all danger; and not only thee, but also all thy
brethren who are with thee: for I am with thee everywhere and at
all times. But remain here twenty-seven days for the
edification of many souls; and after that I shall send forth Andrew to thee, and he shall lead thee forth out of this prison; and not thee only, but also all who hear. Having said this, the Saviour said again to Matthias, Peace be to thee, our Matthias, and went into heaven. Then Matthias having beheld Him, said to the Lord: Let thy grace abide with me, O my Lord Jesus.
Then Matthias therefore
sat down in the prison, and sang. And it came to pass that, when
the executioners came into the prison to bring forth the men to eat
them, Matthias also shut his eyes, that they might not behold that he
saw. And the executioners having come to him, read the ticket in
his hand, and said among themselves: Yet three days, and we shall
bring out this one also from the prison, and slay him. Because in
the case of every man whom they laid hold of, they noted that day on
which they laid hold of him, and tied a ticket to his right hand, that
they might know the completion of the thirty days.