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The Gospel Called the Protevangelion
Chapter VIII
2 Mary fed in the temple by angels.
3 When twelve years old the priests consult what to do with her.
6 The angel of the Lord warns Zacharias to call together all the
widowers, each bringing a rod.
7 The people meet by sound of trumpet.
8 Joseph throws away his hatchet, and goes to the meeting.
11 A dove comes forth from his rod, and alights on his head.
12 He is chosen to betroth the Virgin,
13 refuses because he is an old man,
14 is compelled,
16 takes her home, and goes to mind his trade of building.
AND her parents went away
filled with wonder, and praising God,
because the girl did not return back
to them.
2 But Mary continued in the
temple as a dove educated there,
and received her food from the
hand of an angel.
3 And when she was twelve
years of age, the priests met in a
council, and said, Behold, Mary is
twelve years of age, what shall we
do with her, for fear lest the holy
place of the Lord our God should
be defiled?
4 Then replied the priests to
Zacharias the high-priest, Do you
stand at the altar of the Lord, and
enter into the holy place, and make
petitions concerning her, and
whatsoever the Lord shall manifest
unto you, that do.
5 Then the high-priest entered
into the Holy of Holies, and taking
away with him the breast-plate of
judgment made prayers concerning her;
6 And behold the angel of the
Lord came to him, and said,
Zacharias, Zacharias, Go forth and
call together all the widowers
among the people, and let every
one of them bring his rod, and
he by whom the Lord shall shew
a sign shall be the husband of
Mary.
7 And the criers went out
through all Judaea, and the trumpet
of the Lord sounded, and all
the people ran and met together.
8 Joseph also throwing away
his hatchet, went out to meet
them; and when they were met,
they went to the high-priest;
taking every man his rod.
9 After the high-priest had
received their rods, he went
into the temple to pray;
10 And when he had finished
his prayer, he took the rods, and
went forth and distributed them,
and there was no miracle attended
them.
11 The last rod was taken by
Joseph, said behold a dove
proceeded out of the rod, and
flew upon the head of Joseph.
12 And the high-priest said,
Joseph, Thou art the person
chosen to take the Virgin of the
Lord, to keep her for him:
13 But Joseph refused, saying,
I am an old man, and have children,
but she is young, and I fear
lest I should appear ridiculous
in Israel.
14 Then the high-priest replied,
Joseph, Fear the Lord thy God,
and remember how God dealt with
Dathan, Korah, and Abiram, how
the earth opened and swallowed
them up, because of their
contradiction.
15 Now therefore, Joseph, fear
God lest the like things should
happen in your family.
16 Joseph then being afraid,
took her unto his house, and
Joseph said unto Mary, Behold, I
have taken thee from the temple
of the Lord, and now I will leave
thee in my house; I must go to
mind my trade of building. The
Lord be with thee.
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