Commodian — Carmen de Duobus Populis 541–580

Nor do those stiff-necked, bristles up, look at this: What? Always they tortured the innocent when the law was broken. So they did to God what they were used to, cruel, and still dare call themselves sons of the Highest. Already how the Lord rose I noted above — not from my voice, but I spoke prophetic sayings. But he had foretold the disciples all things about himself, how he would suffer from the people with Peter denying; and that he would rise from the tombs on the third day — he had said that too, and he filled all the sayings. But when he rose, he came to the apostles himself and stood in their midst: Peace to you, he says. Among which disciples one was not there praying; when they reported to him, he began to disbelieve and adds: If first I do not put my finger where the nails were, or where he was struck by the lance, I do not believe. Then on the Lord’s day he returned again to them and stood in their midst: Peace to you, he says. And at once he approaches that unbelieving Thomas: Come nearer and touch the body as before. I am not a shade, such as the dead are held to be: a shade makes no footprint; consider the wound. He stretched the palms; but that one began to touch and put the hand in the side where the lance had been fixed, and from then bowed himself praying: You are my God and Lord truly! Against whom: Because you have seen these things, you have believed, but those later ones are happy who believe by the name alone heard. Forty days in order he spent with them; he taught them many things that would come on the age. After his ascent they did many wonders; by the word they healed the sick in Christ’s name. If he were such as those faithless say, strong things would not happen from the witnesses’ word through him. He ascended into the heavens, as also scripture sang: Receive the king, princes, of the heavens on high! What more need is there to recite all things from the law? These suffice for the raw, to be kept with a good heart. But if they themselves will not know God by reading these things, let them reckon to themselves where they will have come — there where they do not will. ****** Third-day risen: Peace to you. Thomas touches; later ears are blessed. Forty days, ascent, healings in the Name — not a shade.