Protoevangelium of James

1In the records of the twelve tribes of Israel was Joachim, a man of great wealth. He always gave double in his offerings, saying, “There will be plenty from my abundance for everyone, and my offering will be for forgiveness to the Lord, for my atonement.” As the great day of the Lord approached, the sons of Israel were bringing their offerings. Rubim stood across from him and said, “It’s not right for you to offer first, since you haven’t had any children in Israel.” This deeply upset Joachim, and he went to check the records of the twelve tribes, saying, “I’ll see if I’m the only one who hasn’t had children in Israel.” He searched and found that all the righteous people had raised children. He then thought of the patriarch Abraham, who, even in his old age, was given a son, Isaac, by God. Joachim was overcome with distress and didn’t return to his wife, but instead withdrew to the desert. He set up a tent and fasted for forty days and forty nights. He told himself, “I won’t eat or drink until the Lord my God looks upon me; prayer will be my food and drink.”^[1] 2 And his wife, Anna, mourned with two kinds of grief and lamented with two types of sorrow, saying: “I will weep for my widowhood; I will weep for my childlessness.” The great day of the Lord was approaching, and Judith, her maidservant, said: “How long will you torment yourself? Look, the great day of the Lord is near, and it is unlawful for you to mourn. Take this headband, which was given to me by the woman who made it. It is not fitting for me to wear because I am a maidservant, and it has a royal look to it.” But Anna replied: “Leave me alone; I have not done such things, and the Lord has humbled me greatly. I fear that some wicked person has given it to you, and now you’ve come to make me share in your sin.” Judith answered: “Why should I curse you when the Lord has closed your womb, preventing you from bearing fruit in Israel?” Anna, deeply grieved, took off her mourning clothes, cleaned her head, and put on her wedding garments. Around the ninth hour, she went down to the garden to take a walk. She saw a laurel tree, sat under it, and prayed to the Lord, saying: “O God of our fathers, bless me and hear my prayer, just as You blessed the womb of Sarah and gave her a son, Isaac.”^[2] 3 As she looked up toward the heavens, she saw a sparrow’s nest in the laurel tree and began to mourn within herself, saying: “Why was I even born? Who brought me into this world? What womb carried me? I’ve become a curse in front of the people of Israel. I’ve been shamed, mocked, and driven out of the Lord’s temple. What am I even compared to now? I’m not like the birds in the sky, because even they are able to have offspring before You, Lord. What am I compared to? I’m not like the animals on the earth, because they too bring forth life before You, Lord. What am I compared to? I’m not even like the waters, because even they give life. And what am I compared to? Not even the earth, because the earth produces fruit in its season and gives You praise, Lord.” 4 And suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared beside her, saying: “Anna, Anna, the Lord has heard your prayer. You will conceive and give birth, and your child will be known throughout the world.” Anna replied: “As surely as the Lord my God lives, whether I have a son or a daughter, I will dedicate the child to the Lord, and they will serve Him in holy things all their life.” And then, two angels appeared, saying: “Look, your husband Joachim is on his way with his flocks. For an angel of the Lord went to him, saying: ‘Joachim, Joachim, the Lord God has heard your prayer. Go back now, for your wife Anna will conceive.’” So Joachim returned and called to his shepherds, saying: “Bring me ten spotless lambs for the Lord my God, twelve tender calves for the priests and elders, and a hundred goats for the people.” And sure enough, Joachim came with his flocks. Anna stood by the gate, and when she saw Joachim approaching, she ran to him, threw her arms around his neck, and said: “Now I know that the Lord God has blessed me greatly, for the widow is no longer a widow, and I, who was childless, will now conceive.” And Joachim rested in his home for the rest of that day. 5 The next day, Joachim brought his offerings, thinking, “If the Lord has shown me favor, I’ll see a sign from the priest’s forehead plate.” He made his offerings and watched closely as the priest went up to the altar. Seeing no sign of sin in himself, Joachim said, “Now I know the Lord has been gracious to me and has forgiven all my sins.” He left the temple feeling at peace and went home. When Anna’s time came, in the ninth month, she gave birth. She asked the midwife, “What did I have?” and the midwife said, “It’s a girl.” Anna exclaimed, “My heart is full of joy today!” After resting, and once her purification was complete, Anna nursed the baby and named her Mary. 6 The child grew stronger every day, and when she was six months old, her mother set her on the ground to see if she could stand. She took seven steps and walked back into her mother’s arms. Her mother quickly picked her up, saying, “As surely as the Lord my God lives, you won’t walk on this earth until I bring you to the temple of the Lord.” She created a special place in her bedroom and kept everything unclean or common away. She gathered the pure daughters of the Hebrews, and they led her astray. When she turned a year old, Joachim threw a big feast, inviting the priests, scribes, elders, and all the people of Israel. Joachim brought the child to the priests, and they blessed her, saying, “O God of our ancestors, bless this child and give her a name that will be remembered for generations.” Everyone said, “Amen, amen.” He then brought her to the chief priests, and they blessed her, saying, “O God most high, look upon this child and bless her with a lasting blessing.” Her mother picked her up again, took her to the sanctuary in her room, and nursed her. Anna then sang a song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord my God, for He has seen me and removed my shame. The Lord has given me the fruit of His righteousness, one of a kind, richly blessed in His sight. Who will tell the sons of Reuben that Anna is nursing? Listen, listen, you twelve tribes of Israel, Anna is nursing!” She laid the child to rest in the sanctuary of her room and went out to serve her guests. When the meal was over, they left, rejoicing and praising the God of Israel. 7 Time passed, and the child grew. When she was two years old, Joachim said, “Let’s take her to the temple of the Lord to fulfill the vow we made, in case the Lord calls us before we’ve made our offering.” But Anna replied, “Let’s wait until she’s three, so she won’t miss her father or mother.” Joachim agreed, and they waited. When the child turned three, Joachim said, “Invite the undefiled daughters of the Hebrews, and let each one take a lamp. Let them stand with the lamps burning so the child won’t turn back or become distracted from going to the temple of the Lord.” They did this as they made their way to the temple. The priest welcomed her, kissed her, and blessed her, saying, “The Lord has exalted your name for all generations. In you, in the last days, the Lord will reveal His redemption to the people of Israel.” He then set her down on the third step of the altar, and the Lord God poured grace upon her. She danced with joy, and all the people of Israel loved her.^[3] 8 Her parents left, marveling and praising the Lord because the child hadn’t turned back. Mary remained in the temple of the Lord, like a dove living there, receiving food from the hand of an angel. When she turned twelve, the priests gathered and said, “Look, Mary has reached the age of twelve here in the temple. What should we do with her so that she doesn’t defile the sanctuary of the Lord?” They said to the high priest, “You stand at the altar of the Lord; go in and pray about her, and whatever the Lord reveals to you, that’s what we’ll do.” The high priest went in, taking the robe with the twelve bells, and entered the holy of holies. As he prayed about her, an angel of the Lord appeared beside him, saying, “Zacharias, Zacharias, go out and gather the widowers of the people. Let each one bring his staff, and the one to whom the Lord shows a sign, she will be his wife.” So the heralds went throughout all of Judea, and the trumpet of the Lord sounded, and everyone came running.^[4] 9 And Joseph, throwing down his axe, went out to meet them; and when they had gathered, they went to the high priest, each bringing their rods. The high priest, taking all their rods, went into the temple to pray; and after he finished, he took the rods and returned them to the men, but no sign appeared in any of them. Joseph took his rod last, and behold, a dove emerged from it and flew onto Joseph’s head. The priest said to Joseph, “You have been chosen by lot to take into your care the virgin of the Lord.” But Joseph protested, saying, “I have children, and I am an old man, while she is a young girl. I’m afraid I’ll become a laughingstock among the sons of Israel.” The priest replied, “Fear the Lord your God, and remember what the Lord did to Dathan, Abiram, and Korah, when the earth opened and swallowed them because of their rebellion. Now, Joseph, fear lest the same thing happen in your house.” Joseph, fearful, accepted her into his care. He said to Mary, “Behold, I have received you from the temple of the Lord; now I leave you in my home while I go to build my buildings, and I will return to you. The Lord will protect you.” 10 The priests gathered and said, “Let’s make a new veil for the temple of the Lord.” The priest instructed, “Bring me the pure, undefiled virgins from the family of David.” The officers went out, found seven virgins, and the priest remembered the child Mary, knowing she was from the family of David and pure before God. The officers went and brought her too. They all entered the temple of the Lord. The priest said, “Let’s draw lots to decide who will spin the gold, the white, the fine linen, the silk, the blue, the scarlet, and the true purple”. The lot for the true purple and scarlet fell to Mary, and she took them and returned to her house. At that time, Zacharias was mute, and Samuel was filling in for him until Zacharias could speak again. Mary took the scarlet and began spinning it. 11 And she took the pitcher and went out to fill it with water. Suddenly, a voice said: “Greetings, you who have received grace; the Lord is with you, and you are blessed among women!” She looked around, right and left, to see where the voice came from. Shaken, she went back to her house, put down the pitcher, and sat down with her work. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to her, saying: “Don’t be afraid, Mary, you’ve found favor with God, and you will conceive, just as He said.” Mary thought, “Will I really conceive by the Lord, the living God? Will I give birth like any other woman?” The angel replied: “Not in the usual way, Mary. God’s power will overshadow you, and that’s why the child born to you will be called the Son of the Most High. You will name Him Jesus, and He will save His people from their sins.” Mary said: “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it happen just as you’ve said.” 12 Mary finished making the purple and scarlet cloths and took them to the priest. The priest blessed her, saying, “Mary, the Lord God has exalted your name, and you will be blessed by all the generations of the earth.” Filled with joy, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth and knocked on the door. When Elizabeth heard her, she dropped the scarlet she was holding, rushed to the door, and opened it. Seeing Mary, she blessed her and said, “How is it that the mother of my Lord has come to visit me? For as soon as I heard your voice, the child within me leaped and blessed you.” But Mary, having forgotten the mysteries the angel Gabriel had revealed, looked up to heaven and asked, “Who am I, Lord, that all generations of the earth should bless me?” Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months, and day by day she grew larger. Fearing what might happen, Mary returned to her own home and hid herself from the people of Israel. She was sixteen years old when these events took place. 13 Mary was in her sixth month when Joseph returned from his work. As he entered the house, he saw that she was pregnant. Shocked, he struck his face, fell to the ground on sackcloth, and wept bitterly, saying, “How can I face the Lord, my God? What prayer can I offer for this girl? I received her as a virgin from the temple of the Lord, and I have failed to protect her. Who has betrayed me? Who has done this terrible thing in my house and defiled this virgin? Hasn’t the story of Adam repeated itself in me? Just as Adam was praising God, the serpent came and deceived Eve when she was alone—so it has happened to me too.” Then Joseph stood up from the sackcloth and called Mary. He said, “You, who have been cared for by God, why have you done this and forgotten the Lord, your God? Why have you humbled yourself, you who were raised in the holy of holies and received food from the hand of an angel?” Mary wept bitterly and said, “I am innocent and have known no man.” Joseph asked, “Then how is it that you are with child?” She replied, “As the Lord my God lives, I don’t know how this has come to me.” 14 Joseph was deeply afraid and withdrew from Mary, thinking about what he should do. He said to himself, “If I cover up her supposed sin, I will be going against the law of the Lord; but if I expose her to the people of Israel, I fear that what’s inside her might be from an angel, and I’ll be responsible for condemning innocent blood to death. What should I do? I’ll quietly divorce her.” As night fell, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for what’s conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you will name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Joseph woke from his dream, glorifying the God of Israel for the grace he had been given, and he stayed with Mary.^[5] 15 Annas the scribe came up to Joseph and asked, “Why haven’t you come to our assembly?” Joseph replied, “I was tired from my journey and rested on the first day.” Then he noticed Mary was pregnant. He ran to the priest and said, “Joseph, the man you vouched for, has committed a serious offense.” The priest asked, “What do you mean?” Annas answered, “He’s dishonored the virgin who was entrusted to him from the temple of the Lord. He married her in secret and didn’t tell the people of Israel.” The priest asked, “Has Joseph really done this?” Annas continued, “Send officers and you’ll see for yourself that the virgin is pregnant.” The officers went, found it to be true, and brought Mary and Joseph to the tribunal. The priest asked Mary, “Why have you done this? Why have you brought shame on yourself and forgotten the Lord your God? You, who were raised in the holy of holies, received food from an angel, heard the hymns, and danced before Him—why have you done this?” Mary wept bitterly and said, “As the Lord my God lives, I am pure before Him and have not been with a man.” The priest turned to Joseph and asked, “Why have you done this?” Joseph answered, “As the Lord lives, I am innocent regarding her.” The priest said, “Don’t lie; tell the truth. You secretly married her and didn’t tell the people of Israel. You didn’t bow your head in humility so that your offspring could be blessed.” Joseph remained silent. 16 The priest said, “Give up the virgin you received from the temple of the Lord.” Joseph broke down in tears. The priest continued, “I will make you drink the water of the Lord’s ordeal, and He will reveal your sins to you.” The priest took the water, gave it to Joseph to drink, and sent him to the hill country. Joseph returned unharmed. Then the priest gave the water to Mary, sent her to the hill country as well, and she too returned unharmed. Everyone was amazed that no sin was found in them. The priest said, “If the Lord God hasn’t revealed your sins, then I do not judge you.” He sent them away, and Joseph took Mary and went home, rejoicing and praising the God of Israel.^[6] 17 And there was an order from Emperor Augustus that everyone in Bethlehem of Judea should be registered. Joseph said, “I will register my sons, but what should I do about this young woman? How should I register her? As my wife? I’m embarrassed. As my daughter then? But everyone in Israel knows she’s not my daughter. The Lord’s will shall bring it about in time.” So, he saddled the donkey, placed her on it, and his son led the way while Joseph followed. When they had traveled about three miles, Joseph noticed that she looked troubled and thought to himself, “It must be what’s inside her that is causing her distress.” Then, Joseph turned again and saw her laughing. He asked, “Mary, why do I see you laughing one moment and looking sorrowful the next?” Mary answered, “Because I see two groups of people with my eyes—one weeping and lamenting, and the other rejoicing and celebrating.” When they reached the middle of the road, Mary said to him, “Help me down from the donkey, for the child within me is pressing to be born.” He helped her down and asked, “Where can I take you to hide your shame? This place is deserted.” 18 He found a cave there and led her inside. Leaving his two sons with her, he went out to look for a midwife in the Bethlehem area. As I, Joseph, was walking, it felt as though I wasn’t moving, and I looked up at the sky and saw that the heavens were in awe. I looked toward the highest point of the sky and saw it standing still, with the birds of the air frozen in place. I looked down at the earth and saw workers lying around a trough, their hands paused in mid-motion. Those who were eating had stopped; those who were rising hadn’t gotten up; and those who were bringing food to their mouths didn’t finish the action. All of them were looking upward. I saw sheep walking, but they had stopped as well. A shepherd had raised his hand to strike the sheep, but his hand remained raised in the air. I looked at the flowing river and saw young goats with their mouths on the water, but they weren’t drinking. Everything in that moment seemed suspended, as if time itself had paused. 19 I saw a woman coming down from the hills, and she asked me, “Where are you headed?” I replied, “I’m looking for a Hebrew midwife.” She asked, “Are you from Israel?” and I said, “Yes.” Then she asked, “Who’s giving birth in the cave?” I told her, “A woman engaged to me.” She asked, “Isn’t she your wife?” I explained, “It’s Mary, who was raised in the temple of the Lord, and I was chosen by lot to be her husband. But she isn’t really my wife, because she’s conceived by the Holy Spirit.” The midwife asked, “Is that true?” and Joseph answered, “Come see for yourself.” So the midwife followed him, and when they got to the cave, a bright cloud covered the entrance. The midwife said, “I feel so blessed today—my eyes have seen something amazing! Salvation has come to Israel.” Right after that, the cloud disappeared, and a brilliant light filled the cave, so intense it was hard to look at. After a moment, the light faded, and the baby appeared, going straight to Mary to nurse. The midwife shouted, “This is an incredible day—I’ve seen something truly miraculous!” She left the cave and met Salome. The midwife said, “Salome, I just saw something unbelievable—a virgin has given birth, something that’s impossible by nature.” Salome replied, “As God lives, I won’t believe it unless I examine her myself.” 20 The midwife went in and said to Mary, “Show yourself; there's been a lot of talk about you.” Then Salome reached out and touched her, but immediately cried out, “Woe to me for my sin and unbelief! I’ve tested the living God, and now look—my hand is burning and falling apart!” In pain, she fell to her knees, praying, “O God of my ancestors, remember that I’m a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Don’t let me be disgraced in front of the people of Israel. Please restore me to health, for You know, Lord, that I’ve served in Your name and received my reward from You.” Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared beside her and said, “Salome, Salome, the Lord has heard your prayer. Touch the child and carry Him, and you will be healed and filled with joy.” Salome went over and picked up the baby, saying, “I will worship Him, for a great King has been born to Israel.” Immediately, Salome was healed, and she left the cave in peace. Then a voice said, “Salome, Salome, don’t speak of the miraculous things you’ve seen until the child has entered Jerusalem.” 21 Joseph was preparing to travel to Judea, but there was a great commotion in Bethlehem because some wise men (Magi) had arrived, asking, “Where is the one born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed and sent officers to speak with the Magi. He also summoned the priests and questioned them, asking, “What does the scripture say about the Christ? Where is He to be born?” They replied, “In Bethlehem of Judea, as it is written.” After sending the priests away, Herod questioned the Magi further, asking, “What sign did you see concerning this newborn king?” The Magi answered, “We saw a large star shining so brightly among the others that it obscured their light, and we knew from this that a king had been born to Israel. That’s why we came to worship him.” Herod said, “Go and search for him, and if you find him, let me know so that I can go and worship him too.” The Magi then left. The star they had seen in the east reappeared and guided them until it stopped over the cave. When they entered, they found the child with His mother Mary. They opened their bags and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Afterward, having been warned by an angel not to return to Herod, they went back to their country by a different road. 22 When Herod realized that the Magi had deceived him, he flew into a rage and sent soldiers, ordering them, “Kill all the children two years old and younger.” When Mary heard that children were being killed, she became frightened. She took the baby, wrapped Him up, and placed Him in a manger. Elizabeth, hearing that they were also searching for John, took him and fled to the hills, desperately looking for a place to hide. But there was nowhere to go. In anguish, Elizabeth cried out, “O mountain of God, shelter this mother and her child!” Immediately, the mountain split open and took them in. A radiant light surrounded them, for an angel of the Lord was there, protecting them. 23 Herod searched for John and sent officers to question Zacharias: “Where is your son hiding?” Zacharias replied, “I serve God in holy matters, and I stay in the Lord’s temple all the time. I don’t know where my son is.” The officers reported back to Herod, and he became furious, saying, “His son is destined to be king of Israel.” He sent them again, saying, “Tell me the truth. Where is your son? You know your life is in my hands.” Zacharias responded, “I am God's martyr if you spill my blood; the Lord will receive my spirit because you’ve shed innocent blood in the vestibule of the Lord’s temple.” At daybreak, Zacharias was killed. The people of Israel didn’t know he had been murdered. 24 At the time of the salutation, the priests went on their way, but Zacharias didn’t come out to bless them as he usually did. The priests waited for him to offer his greeting during the prayer and to glorify the Most High. When he took too long, they grew nervous. One of them bravely entered the temple and found clotted blood by the altar. He heard a voice say, “Zacharias has been killed, and his blood won’t be cleaned up until his avenger comes.” Frightened, he ran out and told the others. They went in and saw what had happened. The temple’s decorations made a wailing sound, and the priests tore their clothes from top to bottom. Though they didn’t find his body, they saw his blood had turned to stone. Terrified, they went out and told the people that Zacharias had been murdered. All the tribes heard and mourned, grieving for him for three days and nights. After that, the priests met to decide who would replace him, and the lot fell to Simeon, the man who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he wouldn’t die before seeing Christ in the flesh. I, James, who wrote this account in Jerusalem, went into the wilderness when there was unrest after Herod’s death, staying there until things settled down in the city. I glorified the Lord God, who gave me the wisdom and ability to write this story. Grace be with those who fear our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.