< the men of >(135) Ptolemy brought the girl, and leaving her before the door of the house, went away. "When I saw this, I and her mother went downstairs and found the girl, one side of her body from head to foot being paralyzed and dried up. We carried her away, praising the Lord that he had kept his servant from defilement and violation and . . . This is the reason why the girl < remains >thus to this day. But now you shall hear what happened to (p. 136) Ptolemy. He repented and lamented night and day over that which had happened to him; and because of the many tears which he shed, he became blind. Having decided to hang himself, behold, about the ninth hour of that day, whilst alone in his bedroom, he saw a great light, which illuminated the whole house, and he heard a voice saving unto him: (p. 137) 'Ptolemy, God has not given the vessels for corruption and violation; it is unseemly for thee, as thou hast believed on me, to violate my virgin, whom thou shalt know as thy sister, as if I had become one spirit to both of you—but arise, and speedily go to the house of the apostle Peter and thou shalt see my glory. He will make known the matter to thee.' And Ptolemy delayed not, but ordered his people (p. 138) to show him the way and bring him to me. When he had come to me, he told all that had happened to him in the power of Jesus Christ, our Lord. And he saw with the eyes of his flesh and with the eyes of his soul, and many hoped on Christ; he did good unto them and gave them the presence of God. "After this Ptolemy died; he departed and went to his Lord (p. 139). < When he >, however, < made >his will, he left a piece of land in the name of my daughter, because through her he became a "believer in God and was made whole. I, however, who was appointed administrator, have acted carefully. I sold the acre, and God alone knows that neither I nor my daughter have kept anything from the money of the acre, but I sent the whole sum to the poor. Know, therefore, O servant of Christ Jesus, that God (p. 140) rules (?) his people, and prepares for each what is good; we, however, think that God has forgotten us. Now then, brethren, let us mourn, be watchful and pray, and God's goodness will look upon us, and we hope for it." And some other addresses delivered Peter before them, and glorifying the name of (p. 141) the Lord Christ he gave of the bread to every one of them; and after having distributed it, he rose and went into the house.
[THE PRAXIS OF PETER.]