The Lost Scriptures.

The Acts of Thomas

10 And the apostle stood, and began to pray and to speak thus: My Lord and MY God, that travellest with thy servants, that guidest and correctest them that believe in thee, the refuge and rest of the oppressed, the hope of the poor and ransomer of captives, the physician of the souls that lie sick and saviour of all creation, that givest life unto the world and strengthenest souls; thou knowest things to come, and by our means accomplishest them: thou Lord art he that revealeth hidden mysteries and maketh manifest words that are secret: thou Lord art the planter of the good tree, and of thine hands are all good works engendered: thou Lord art he that art in all things and passest through all, and art set in all thy works and manifested in the working of them all. Jesus Christ, Son of compassion and perfect saviour, Christ, Son of the living God, the undaunted power that hast overthrown the enemy, and the voice that was heard of the rulers, and made all their powers to quake, the ambassador that wast sent from the height and camest down even unto hell, who didst open the doors and bring up thence them that for many ages were shut up in the treasury of darkness, and showedst them the way that leadeth up unto the height: l beseech thee, Lord Jesu, and offer unto thee supplication for these young persons, that thou wouldest do for them the things that shall help them and be expedient and profitable for them. And he laid his hands on them and said: The Lord shall be with you, and left them in that place and departed.

Although this version is known as the Acts of Thomas, the hero is oftentimes referred to as Judas. His complete name is Thomas Judas Didymus. Interestingly, both Thomas (Hebrew) and Didymus (Greek) mean “twin,” which is more of a title than a name. The Acts of Thomas, then, is really about Judas, who was one of the original Apostles. The Acts of Thomas are a series of stories that occurred during the ministry of Judas Thomas, or “Judas, who is also Thomas.” The story begins at the point where the Apostles had gathered to divide up the countries between them in order that “each may preach in the region that fell to him and to the place where the Lord sent him.” This, apparently, was done by casting lots. Judas Thomas got India.

Thomas was not thrilled with his “assignment”, and when it was recognized he had a lot of hesitation, the Lord appeared to him and promised to “be with” him, but he still refused to go. While Judas Thomas was still thinking things over, a merchant came to the city hoping to find a good carpenter. “The Lord” offered to “sell” Judas Thomas to him for twenty pieces of silver. After the sale was completed, the Lord took Judas Thomas to him. The merchant asked Judas Thomas if the Lord was his master, to which he replied in the affirmative. With that, the merchant explained that he had just bought him outright. Apparently, Judas Thomas remained silent, and they were soon aboard a ship sailing for India. 

Thomas will go on to convert a King, Gundaphar, as well as his wife. The story is told that Thomas has been given money to build an enormous palace for the king, but he instead gives the money to the poor. When the king returns from a long trip, and realizes that Thomas has built nothing, and has converted his wife to Christianity in his absence, the king orders that Thomas be executed. The king’s brother, who had died, is brought by angels to a palace in heaven that has been built by Thomas for the king – and the brother asks to be returned to the earth so he can buy the palace in heaven from his brother, a “palace for eternity”. The king converts to Christianity, and spares the life of Thomas.

Jesus promises us that he is preparing a place, a room a mansion for each one of his believers – so that when we die, he will come to take us to be with him forever. It may not be a kingdom for our own, but it will be a “Palace for Eternity”.

Pastor Dave