…And when Thecla was sought for by her friends, and
Thamyris, as if she had been lost, was running up and down the streets, one of
the gatekeeper's fellow-slaves informed him that she had gone out by night.
And having gone out, they examined the gatekeeper; and he said to them: She
has gone to the foreigner into the prison. And having gone, they found her, as
it were, enchained by affection. And having gone forth thence, they drew the
multitudes together, and informed the governor of the circumstance. And he
ordered Paul to be brought to the tribunal; but Thecla was wallowing on the
ground15 in the place where he sat and taught her in the prison; and he
ordered her too to be brought to the tribunal. And she came, exulting with
joy. And the crowd, when Paul had been brought, vehemently cried out: He is a
magician! away with him! But the proconsul gladly heard Paul upon the holy
works of Christ. And having called a council, he summoned Thecla, and said to
her: Why dost thou not obey Thamyris, according to the law of the Iconians?
But she stood looking earnestly at Paul. And when she gave no answer, her
mother cried out, saying: Burn the wicked wretch; burn in the midst of
the theatre her that will not marry, in order that all the women that have
been taught by this man may be afraid.
… But the maid-servants16 and virgins brought the
faggots, in order that Thecla might be burned. And when she came in naked,
the governor wept, and wondered at the power17 that was in her. And the public
executioners arranged the faggots for her to go up on the pile. And she,
having made the sign of the cross, went up on the faggots; and they lighted
them. And though a great fire was blazing, it did not touch her; for God,
having compassion upon her, made an underground rumbling, and a cloud
overshadowed them from above, full of water and hail; and all that was in the
cavity of it was poured out, so that many were in danger of death. And the
fire was put out, and Thecla saved.
….. Thecla, whither art thou going? And she said: I
have been saved from the fire, and am following Paul. And the boy said: Come,
I shall take thee to him; for he is distressed about thee, and is praying six
days. And she stood beside the tomb where Paul was with bended knees, and
praying, and saying: O Saviour Christ, let not the fire touch Thecla, but
stand by her, for she is Thine. And she, standing behind him, cried out: O
Father, who hast made the heaven and the earth, the Father of Thy holy Son, I
bless Thee that Thou hast saved me that I may see Paul. And Paul, rising up,
saw her, and said: O God, that knowest the heart, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, I bless Thee that Thou, having heard me, hast done quickly what I
wished.
And they had five loaves, and herbs, and water; and they
rejoiced in the holy works of Christ. And Thecla said to Paul: I shall cut my
hair, and follow thee whithersoever thou mayst go. And he said: It is a
shameless age, and thou art beautiful. I am afraid lest another temptation
come upon thee worse than the first, and that thou withstand it not, but be
cowardly. And Thecla said: Only give me the seal 18 in Christ, and temptation
shall not touch me. And Paul said: Thecla, wait with patience, and thou shalt
receive the water.
And Paul sent away Onesiphorus and all his house to
Iconium; and thus, having taken Thecla, he went into Antioch.
(from the Acts of Paul and Thecla)
