1 Quarrel between Satan and the prince of hell,
concerning the expected arrival of Christ in hell.
WHILE all the saints were
rejoicing, behold Satan, the
prince and captain of death, said
to the prince of hell,
2 Prepare to receive Jesus of
Nazareth himself, who boasted
that he was the Son of God, and
yet was a man afraid of death, and
said, My soul is sorrowful even to
death.
3 Besides he did many injuries
to me and to many others; for
those whom I made blind and lame
and those also whom I tormented
with several devils, he cured by
his word; yea, and those whom I
brought dead to thee, he by force
takes away from thee.
4 To this the prince of hell
replied to Satan, Who is that so
powerful prince, and yet a man who
is afraid of death?
5 For all the potentates of the
earth are subject to my power,
whom thou broughtest to subjection
by thy power.
6 But if he be so powerful in his
human nature, I affirm to thee for
truth, that he is almighty in his
divine nature, and no man can
resist his power:
7 When therefore he said he was
afraid of death, he designed to
ensnare thee, and unhappy it will be
to thee for everlasting ages,
8 Then Satan replying, said to
the prince of hell, Why didst thou
express a doubt, and wast afraid to
receive that Jesus of Nazareth,
both thy adversary and mine?
9 As for me, I tempted him and
stirred up my old people the Jews
with zeal and anger against him;
10 I sharpened the spear for his
suffering; I mixed the gall and
vinegar, and commanded that he
should drink it; I prepared the
cross to crucify him, and the nails
to pierce through his hands and
feet; and now his death is near
at hand, I will bring him hither,
subject both to thee and me.
11 Then the prince of hell
answering, said, Thou saidst to me
just now, that he took away the
dead from me by force.
12 They who have been kept here
till they should live again upon
earth, were taken away hence,
not by their own power, but by
prayers made to God, and their
almighty God took them from me.
13 Who then is that Jesus of
Nazareth that by his word hath
taken away the dead from me
without prayer to God?
14 Perhaps it is the same who
took away from me Lazarus, after
he had been four days dead, and
did both stink and was rotten, and
of whom I had possession as a dead
person, yet he brought him to life
again by his power.
15 Satan answering, replied to
the prince of hell, It is the very
same person, Jesus of Nazareth.
16 Which when the prince of hell
heard, he said to him, I adjure
thee by the powers which belong
to thee and me, that thou bring
him not to me.
17 For when I heard of the power
of his word, I trembled for fear,
and all my impious company were
at the same disturbed;
18 And we were not able to detain
Lazarus, but he gave himself a
shake, and with all the signs of
malice he immediately went away
from us; and the very earth, in
which the dead body of Lazarus
was lodged, presently turned him
out alive.
19 And I know now that he is
Almighty God who could perform
such things, who is mighty in his
dominion, and mighty in his human
nature, who is the Saviour of
mankind.
20 Bring not therefore this person
hither, for he will set at liberty
all those whom I hold in prison
under unbelief, and bound with
the fetters of their sins, and will
conduct them to everlasting life.