Act of Xanthippe – Act of Polyxena – Act of Rebecca
The Acts of Xanthippe, Polyxena, and Rebecca is a New Testament apocryphal text, estimated to date from the 3rd or 4th century AD. Set during Nero’s reign, it comprises two main stories: Xanthippe’s spiritual awakening after hearing of Paul’s teachings in Spain, and her sister Polyxena’s adventurous quest for baptism. Polyxena faces abductions, miraculous rescues by apostles like Peter and Philip, and a lioness guiding her to baptism alongside Rebecca, a minor Jewish slave character. Reflecting Greek romance influences, the narrative emphasizes faith, chastity, and divine intervention, culminating in their return to Spain and reunion with Paul.
1. When the blessed Paul was at Rome through the word of the Lord, it so happened that a certain servant of a ruler of Spain came to Rome with letters from his master and heard the word of God from Paul—the truly golden and beautiful nightingale. This servant being greatly touched, and being unable to remain and be filled with the divine word because he was hastened along by the letters, returned into Spain in great grief; and being unable to show his desire to anyone, because his master was an idolater, he was always pained at heart and sighing greatly. Now this servant was honored and faithful to his masters, and as time went on, the servant fell sick and grew lean in body, which his master perceiving said to him, “What has happened to you that you have thus fallen together in countenance?” The servant said, “There is a great pain in my heart, and I can in no way find rest.” His master said to him, “And what is the pain that cannot receive healing from my chief physician?” The servant said, “While I was still in Rome, this pain and its recurring mishap made itself known to me.” His master said, “And do you not know of any who have fallen into this disease and been healed?” The servant said, “Yes, but where that physician [who can heal] is, I do not know, for I left him in Rome. As many as have been attended by that physician and have gone through the water in his hands, have received healing immediately.” His master said, “I should not hesitate to send you yet again to Rome, if perhaps you might obtain healing.”
2. And while they spoke thus, behold his mistress, Xanthippe by name, overhearing these words, and learning of the teaching of Paul, said, “What is the name of that physician, and what is the healing to ward off such a disease?” The servant said to her, “The calling on a new Name, and anointing with oil, and washing with water. By this treatment I have seen many that had incurable pains receive healing.” As he said this, the images of the idols that stood in the house began to be shake and fall down. And his mistress beckoned to him, saying, “Do you see, brother, the images of the idols being shaken, how they cannot endure the power of the word?” And his master, Probus by name, arose from his midday sleep with a very gloomy countenance, for the Devil had greatly disturbed him, because the knowledge of God had come into his house. And he questioned the servant of everything in order, and the servant having been seized by sickness by the foreknowledge of God, disclosed to him the life of man, and Xanthippe was incurable in her soul concerning this teaching. So Probus was also grieved for Xanthippe, because from that time on she was wasting herself away with waking, and abstinence, and other austerities.
3. And Xanthippe going away to her couch and groaning, said, “Woe is me, wretched one, lying in darkness, that I have not learned the name of the new teacher, that I might summon his prayer to help me, and what to say I do not know. Will I call on him by the Name of his God? But I cannot say, The God that is preached by such a one. Nevertheless, I will say this by conjecture: O God, giving light in Hades, and guiding those in darkness, Lord of free men and kings, and preached by worthy servants in all the world, called on as a brother by sinful men and quick to hear, to whom not even chief-messengers can send up worthy songs of praise, who have shown to me, humble and unworthy, the always-living and abiding seed (though my ignorance does not permit me to receive it), hurry along also the things that concern me, Lord, since by Your will You have made Yourself heard by me, and in Your compassion show me the proclamation of Your herald, so that I may learn from him what is pleasing to You. Indeed, I beg You to look on my ignorance, O God, and enlighten me with the light of Your face—You that never overlook any of those that call on You in truth.” Her husband Probus said to her, “Lady, why do you trouble yourself so much and not turn to sleep at all?” Xanthippe said, “I cannot sleep, for there is an incurable pain in me.” Probus said to her, “And what is your pain or grief, O lady, that I am not sufficient to comfort you? All that you have wanted up to this day I have served you in, and now what is it that you have, and do not tell me?” Xanthippe says to him, “I only beg you [for] this [one] thing, my lord: permit me for a short time—and only for today—to sleep apart from you.” And Probus said to her, “Be it as you will, lady; only cease your groaning.”
4. Then entering into her bedchamber alone, she spoke thus with tears: “In what way, my God, I will act, or what counsel I will take, I do not know. Will I declare the thought that has come on me? I fear the madness and disorder of the city. Will I fly from this impious city? I fear the scheme of the Devil for seizing the sheep. Will I await the mercy and swiftness of the Lord? Again, I fear the untimely snatching away of life, for the death of sinners has no warning. Will I depart and flee to Rome? I fear the length of the journey, being unable to go on foot. But while I say these things by conjecture, constrained by my desire (for I cannot speak with security), may I find pardon with You, my God, and may You fulfill my desire with an excess of right words, and think me but worthy to hear Your preacher, for to see his face, I ask a great thing. Blessed is he that is found in the company of Your preachers and is satisfied with their precious countenances. Blessed are they that are yoked under the preaching of Your commandments. Blessed are they that keep Your commandments; but where now, O Lord, are Your mercies to our fathers, so that we may also be their successors in love toward You and heirs of faith? But behold now, O Lord, I cannot find anyone that has love for You, that communing with him I might refresh my soul even a little. Therefore, hurry, O Lord, to yoke me in desire for You, and keep me under the shadow of Your wings, for You alone are God, glorified for all eternity. Amen.”
5. Therefore Xanthippe, saying these words and others like them, groaned continually all through the night, and Probus heard her and was greatly distressed; and arising from his couch when the morning came, he went in to her, and seeing her eyes inflamed with tears, he said, “Why, lady, do you thus upset me, and will not tell me your pain? Tell it to me, so that I may do whatever is pleasing to you, and do not distress me with your trouble.” Xanthippe says to him, “Rather be of good cheer, my lord, and do not be upset, for my trouble will not harm you, but if I have found favor before you, go forth now to the salutation, and allow me to indulge myself in it as I will, for it is not possible for man to take from me the insatiable pain.” And listening to her, he immediately went out to receive the salutations of the men of the city, for he was the great man among them, and was also known to Nero, the emperor. And sitting down, great grief appeared in his countenance, and being asked the reason for his grief by the chief men of the city, he said to them that he had fallen into many unfounded charges.
6. And Xanthippe went out into the garden, so that she might wait there looking closely for certainty of her husband, and she saw the delight of the trees, and the various singing of the birds, and said, groaning, “O beauty of the world! For that which we previously thought came from itself, we now know that all things are beautifully fashioned by the Beautiful One. O power and invention of wisdom! For not only has He placed in men a thousand leagues, but also in birds he has distinguished various voices, as if from anthems and responses to receive sweet-voiced and heart-stirring hymns from His own works. O delightfulness of the air, declaring the incomparable Creator! Who will turn my sorrow into rejoicing?” And again she said, “God to whom praise is sung by all: give me peace and comfort.” As she said these things, Probus also came up from the street to break his fast, and when he saw her countenance altered by tears, he began to pull out the hairs of his head, but he did not dare speak to her then, so as not to mix other trouble with her trouble. So, he went and fell on his couch, and he said, groaning, “Oh, if only I had the consolation of a child from her, but instead, I only acquire grief on grief! Two years are not yet complete since I was wedded to her, and already she contemplates divorce.”
7. But Xanthippe was always keeping watch through the doors into the streets of the city; and the blessed Paul—the preacher, and teacher, and illuminator of the world—left Rome and even came into Spain by the foreknowledge of God. And coming up to the gates of the city, he stood and prayed, and crossing himself, he entered the city. When Xanthippe saw the blessed Paul walking quietly and equally, and adorned with all virtue and understanding, she was greatly delighted in him and her heart pounded continually, and possessed with an unexpected joy, she said within herself, “Why does my heart beat vehemently at the sight of this man? Why is his walk quiet and composed, as of one who expects to take in his arms one that is pursued? Why is his countenance so kind, as of one that tends the sick? Why does he look so lovingly here and there, as one who desires to assist those who are seeking to flee from the mouths of dragons? Who will tell me that this is one from the flock of preachers? If it were possible for me, I would want to touch the hem of his garments, so that I may behold his kindness and be ready to receive [the] sweet aroma (for the servant had told her this also, that the hems of his garments had the odor of precious perfumes).”
8. Now Probus heard her words, and immediately ran out by himself into the street, and laying hold of Paul’s hand, said to him, “Man, who you are I do not know, but stoop to enter into my house; perhaps you may be a cause of salvation for me.” Paul said to him, “It will be well with you, son, after your request!” And they went in together to Xanthippe. When Xanthippe therefore saw the great Paul, the intellectual eyes of her heart were uncovered, and she read on his forehead, having as it were golden seals, these words, “Paul the Preacher of God.” Then exulting and rejoicing, she threw herself at his feet; and twisting her hair together, she wiped his feet, saying, “Welcome, O man of God, to us humble ones, that live as shadows among shadows. For you have looked on those who were running into Hades as into something beautiful, who addressed the crooked serpent and destroyer as provider and protector, who were running into the dark Hades as to their father—those that were fashioned with a rational nature but have become like irrational creatures. You have sought me, a lowly one, having the sun of righteousness in my heart. Now the poison is restrained now that I have seen your precious face. Now he that troubled me has flown away, when your most beautiful counsel has appeared to me. Now I will be considered worthy of conversion, when I have received the seal of the preacher of the Lord. Before now, I have deemed many blessed who met with you, but I say boldly that from this time forth, I myself will be called blessed by others, because I have touched your hem, because I have received your prayers, because I have enjoyed your sweet and soothing teaching. You have not hesitated to come to us—you that fish the dry land in your course and gather the fish that fall in your way into the net of the kingdom of the heavens.”
9. The great Paul said to her, “Arise, daughter, and do not look on me as having been sought out of your ignorance by my foresight. For Christ, the provider of the world, the searcher out of sinners and the lost, who has not only called to mind those on earth, but also by His own presence has redeemed those in Hades, He Himself has pitied you and sent me here so that He might visit and pity many others together with you. For this mercy and visitation are not of us, but are His order and command, even as we have also received mercy and been saved by Him.” Hearing this, Probus was astonished at their words, for he was altogether ignorant of these things. But Paul raised Xanthippe up from his feet by force, and she, running, set a new gilded chair for Paul to sit down on. The great Paul said to her, “My daughter Xanthippe, do not do this, for you have not yet agreed to the faith of Christ, but wait a while, until the Lord will set in order what is necessary.” Xanthippe said to Paul, “Do you say this to try me, O preacher of God, or do you have any foreknowledge?” Paul said, “No, daughter, but the Devil, who hates the servants of God, sows wickedness in the hearts of his own servants, to oppose those that labor for Christ in preaching, for his wickedness has extended to the apostles and always against the Lord Himself. Therefore, it is fitting to approach the unbelievers gently and kindly.” Xanthippe said to Paul, “I beg you, if you love your servants, pray for Probus, and let me see if he that is hated by you can work in him; let me see if he can even stand against your prayer.” And Paul rejoiced exceedingly at the words of her faith and said to her, “Believe me, daughter, that by his suggestion and working I have not passed a single hour without chains and blows.” Xanthippe said to him, “But you allow these things by your own free will, since you have not neglected your preaching even to [the point of] scourging, but I tell you this again, so that your bonds will be the defeat of the prompter, and your humiliation their overthrow.”
10. Now the report of his presence ran through the whole city and the surrounding country, for some from that city, having been at Rome, had seen the signs and wonders that were done by the blessed Paul and came to see if this was he. Therefore, many came into the house of Probus, and he began to be annoyed and to say, “I will not allow my house to be made an inn.” Xanthippe, knowing that the face of Probus had begun to be estranged, and that he spoke thus, was greatly distressed, saying, “Oh, wretched me! We will not be thought fully worthy to keep this man in our house; for if Paul comes here, the assembly will also be held elsewhere.” Then Xanthippe, considering these matters, put her hand on the foot of Paul, and taking dust, she called Probus to her, and placing her hand on the middle of his breast, [she prayed:] “O Lord my God, who have sought me out—lowly one and ignorant of You—send what is right into this heart.” And Paul perceived her prayer, and made the Sign of the Cross, and for several days the people entered unhindered, and as many as had sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits brought them, and all were healed.
11. And Xanthippe said to Paul, “Teacher, my heart is greatly consumed because I have not as of yet received immersion.” And after this, Probus, being moved by the Devil again, cast Paul out of the house and shut Xanthippe up in her chamber. Then one of the chief men, Philotheus by name, pleaded with the great Paul to come into his house, but the great Paul was unwilling to do so, saying, “Lest Probus trouble your house on my account.” Philotheus said to him, “No, father, I am not subject to him at all, for in no other thing is he greater than me, except in rank, and that because the parents of Xanthippe are above me. But if Probus comes to me, I am above him in riches and in war.” Then Paul, the great apostle of the Lord, was persuaded, and went into the house of Philotheus the ex-prefect. All this was done by the evil one, so that Xanthippe might receive holy immersion with tribulation and be fainthearted concerning the commandments of Christ.
12. Therefore, Xanthippe said to her servants with tears: “Have you learned where Paul has gone to?” They said, “Yes—to the house of Philotheus the ex-prefect”; and Xanthippe rejoiced greatly that Philotheus also believed, being able, as she said, to persuade Probus also. Then Probus called Xanthippe to dinner, and when she did not consent, Probus said, “Do not think that you will also keep away from me in bed.” But when he reclined for dinner, Xanthippe, bending her knees, prayed to the Lord, saying, “Eternal and immortal God, that took dust from the ground and did not value it according to the nature of its creation, but called it the son of immortality; You who came from the heart of the Father to the heart of the earth for our sake, on whom the cherubim dare not fix their gaze, and for us was hidden in the womb, so that by taking up Your abode in a mother, You might make good the offense of Eve; You that drank gall and vinegar, and was pierced in the side by a spear, so that You might heal the wound given by the rib to Adam—for Eve, being his rib, worked a blow for Adam, and through him for all the world; You that gave imperceptible slumber to the serpent, so that he might not know Your Incarnation: remember also my groaning and tears, and grant fulfillment to my sleep, and bring sleep on Probus until I will be deemed worthy of the gift of holy immersion, for I fervently desire to obtain this—to the glory and praise of Your holy Name.”
13. But Probus, while still at dinner, commanded the doors of their house to be secured by cruel and wicked soldiers, and having given these orders, he immediately fell asleep on the couch. Then the servants came and announced this to Xanthippe, so that he might be awakened, but she said, “Put out the lights, my children, and leave him thus.” And during the first sleep, taking three hundred pieces of gold, she went to the doors, saying within herself, “Perhaps the porter will be persuaded by the amount of money.” But he, being evil and disobedient, would not be persuaded to do this, and she, also untying her girdle, which was set with precious stones and worth two hundred pieces of gold, gave it to him and went out saying, “Lord, I win over my own slaves with money, so that Your preacher Paul may not be oppressed by Probus.” And Xanthippe went on to the house of Philotheus the ex-prefect, as to a great and incredible work, running and praising God. As she therefore passed through a certain place, the demons pursued her with fiery torches and lightning, and she, turning, saw behind her this terrible sight, and being possessed with great fear said, “What has happened to you now, O wretched soul? You have been deprived of your desire. You were running to salvation, you were running to immersion, and you have fallen into the serpent and his servants, and your sins have prepared these things for you.” Speaking thus, she was even fainting at heart from great despair; but the great Paul, being forewarned by God of the assault of the demons, immediately stood beside her, also being preceded by a beautiful youth. And immediately the vision of the demons disappeared, and Paul said to her, “Arise, daughter Xanthippe, and behold the Lord desired by you, by whose flame the heavens are shaken and the deep is dried up, coming to you, and pitying and saving you. Behold Him who accepts your prayers and listens immediately. See Him coming in the shape of a man and take courage against the demons.” Then she, rising from the ground, said to him, “Master, why have you left me alone? Even now, be quick to seal me, so that if death overtakes me, I may depart to Him who is full of compassion and has no arrogance.”
14. Therefore, the great Paul, immediately taking her hand, went into the house of Philotheus and immersed her in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Then taking bread, he also gave her communion, saying, “Let this be to you for forgiveness of sins and for a renewing of your soul.” Then the blessed Xanthippe, receiving the divine grace of holy immersion, returned to her own house, rejoicing and praising the Lord. The porter, seeing her, complained loudly in violent words, so that her departure might be deemed to have been without his will if Probus should notice it; but he that gave her light along with Paul kept the whole house, together with Probus, in a deep sleep, and they did not hear his words at all. Then she went running into her bedchamber, saying, “What will I say of You, searcher out of sinners, who are most present with us in tribulations? Your goodness does these things, since for the sake of man whom You made You went down even to death, for however many times man arouses You to anger, yet You, O Lord, pour out Your mercies on him. O depth of compassion and wealth of mercy; O immeasurable goodness and incomparable kindness; O treasure of good things, and giver of mercy, and enricher of all who believe in You! If, therefore, one who loves You says, Be near me, Lord, You have already anticipated him. If he says, I give You thanks; hear my words, before they are spoken, You understand. And as for those that ask of You, You give to each after his asking. Your goodness seeks out those that do not know You, and You run to sinners. O cheerful look, filling the ways of sinners with mercy; O excellent watching and exhortation of the ignorant! Who will tell my lord Paul of the salvation that has now happened to me, so that he might come and give words of thanksgiving for me to this Protector of sinners? Come, many, and behold and know the Lord, who hates sin, but has mercy on sinners. Come, now, O Paul, preacher of God, for even with you I now sit under instruction; and give words of thanksgiving for me, for I desire to keep silent, since human reason makes me afraid, and I do not have the grace of eloquence. I desire to keep silent and [yet] am compelled to speak, for someone inflames and sweetens me within. If I say, I will shut my mouth, there is someone that murmurs within me. Will I say a great thing? Is it not that Teacher that is within Paul, without arrogance, filling the heavens, speaking within and waiting without, sitting on the throne with the Father and stretched on the Cross by man? What, therefore, I will do I do not know. My worthless mind delights me and is not unfolded to the end. You that had Your hands fixed with nails and Your side pierced with the spear—You star out of Jacob and lion’s cub out of Judah; You rod out of Jesse and man and God out of Mary; You invisible God in the bosom of the Father, that cannot be looked on by cherubim and are mocked in Israel: glory be to You, who appeared on the earth and was taken by the people, hung on the tree, and by the report of the wicked, falsely said to be stolen, and that have purchased all of us together.”
15. While she was still speaking this, a cross appeared on the eastern wall, and immediately there entered through it a beautiful Youth, having trembling rays [of light] around Him, and under Him an extended light, on which He also walked. And as He entered within, all the foundations of that house shook and reverberated with a great trembling. Xanthippe, seeing Him, cried out and fell to the ground as if dead; but He, being pitiful and kind, changing immediately into the shape of Paul, raised her up, saying, “Arise, Xanthippe, and do not fear, for the servants of God are thus glorified.” Then Xanthippe arising, gazed on Him, and thinking He was Paul, said, “How have You come in here, preacher of God, seeing that I have given five hundred pieces of gold to the porter, and that although he is my slave, while You have no money?” The Lord said to her, “My servant Paul is richer than all wealth, for whatever treasure he acquires here, he sends it before him into the kingdom of the heavens, so that departing there, he may rest in the unending and eternal rest. This is the treasure of Paul: you and your like.” Then Xanthippe, gazing on Him [and] desiring to say something, saw his face shining as the light; and being greatly amazed, and putting both of her hands over her face, she threw herself to the ground and said, “Hide Yourself, Lord, from my bodily eyes and enlighten my understanding, for I now know who You are: You are He whose precursor was the Cross, the only-begotten Son of the Father alone above, and only Son of the virgin alone below; You are He who was pierced in the hands and who tore the rocks; You are He whom none other can carry except the bosom of the Father.”
16. And as she spoke this, the Lord was again hidden from her, and Xanthippe, coming to herself, said, “Woe is me, O wretched one, that no one has told me what the gratitude of slaves is toward their master. If Paul, the preacher of the Lord, were here, how could he give praise? But perhaps in the face of such favors and gifts they are silent, possessed only with tears, for it is not possible to praise anyone worthily according to his favor.” Saying this, she was seized with great faintness from lack of food, for having been strongly possessed with desire for Christ, she had forgotten to take nourishment. Therefore, being greatly exhausted by abstinence, and the vision, and lack of sleep and other austerities, she was unable to rise from the ground.
17. And Probus arose from his couch with a very gloomy countenance, for in his sleep he had seen a dream and was greatly troubled concerning it. But the porter seeing him about to proceed to the marketplace, having his countenance thus troubled, was greatly afraid, “Lest,” he said, “he understand what has happened, and will miserably destroy me.” Probus, however, having gone forth and signified to those in the market what was suitable for the day and season, quickly returned into the house and said to his servants, “Quickly call the wise men Barandus and Gnosteas to me.” When they were summoned, he said to them, “I have seen a very terrible vision, and what appeared in it is difficult for our power to interpret. However, disclose this to me, as being the most excellent [interpreters] in all the world. Explain it to me when I tell it to you.” Barandus says to him, “If the vision can be interpreted by our wisdom, we will explain it to you, but if it regards the faith that is now spoken of, we cannot explain it to you, for it is of another wisdom and understanding. However, let our lord and master tell the dream, and let us see if there is any explanation for it.” Probus says to Gnosteas, “Why do you say nothing?” Gnosteas said, “I have not heard the dream, and what can I say but whatever it may be, if it is by reason of Paul? Tell me now, and you will find it so.” Probus said, “I thought I was standing in a certain unknown and strange country, and that an Ethiopian king sat there, who ruled over all the earth and never seemed to have any successor. Multitudes of servants stood beside him, and all [of them] hastened to destroy and had mastery far and wide. And when that Ethiopian seemed to have gained his purpose, there arose a raven, and standing above him, it croaked with a pitiful voice. And immediately there arose from the eastern parts an eagle, and it seized his kingdom, and his power was made vain, and those standing by him fled to the eagle. Then that king strove against those that fled to the eagle, but the eagle carried it up into Heaven, and behold, there came a Helper to those that fled to the eagle and left His staff to them. Then laying hold of it, they were not overcome by the violence of that king. As many as ran to those who had the staff, He washed them in pure water, and they that were washed had power over his kingdom. And by that staff, the enemies [serving] the king were put to flight, therefore capable men laying hold of the staff turned great multitudes to themselves. And that king strove against them, and had no might at all, but he hindered many from believing in Him that sent out the men into the world to bear witness, and for that reason many were grieved. Nevertheless, this one did not constrain any like the other, for He Himself was ruler of all light. This then was the end.”
18. Then the wise Barandus said, “By the grace of God I will explain the things sent into the world by the Lord. The king whom you saw is the Devil, and the multitudes of his servants are the demons, and the throngs around him are they that worship the gods. Whereas he thought to have no successor, he did not look for the coming of Christ. The raven portended the weakness of his kingdom, for the raven did not remain obedient to the righteous Noah, but loved pitiful things. The eagle that arose, and took away his kingdom, and carried it up into Heaven, and that there came a protector of those that fled to the eagle, having a staff, that is the Lord Jesus Christ, who left to them His staff, that is, His precious Cross; and that He washed those that fled to Him signifies the invulnerable breastplate of immersion, and therefore they were not overcome. The capable men sent into the world with the Cross are the preachers of God, like Paul who is now with us, against whom that king has no power. This was made known to you because even on those who are hard in unbelief, God has compassion in some way. See therefore whether even you will be able to injure Paul though you desire, for the mighty power that shields him has been shown to you by the Lord. Therefore, understand what has been said to you by me, and do not serve that king of darkness, for as you saw his kingdom vanish away, so will all his servants perish with him. Therefore, come now, my lord, [and] let us go to Paul and receive immersion from him, lest Satan have mastery over us also.” Probus said, “Let us first go to Xanthippe and see whether she still lives, for behold, there are twenty-nine days since she has tasted anything; for I saw her face in the evening, and it was as of one prepared to depart.”
19. And as they went into the chamber, they heard her singing: “Praise the Lord, you sinners also, || Because He accepts your prayers also—Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, you that have despaired like me, || For His mercies are many—Hallelujah! Praise Him, you ungodly, || Because He was crucified for you—Hallelujah! Praise Him, you that strive for the salvation of sinners, || Because God loves you—Hallelujah! Praise Him, you that rejoice at the calling of sinners, || Because you are fellow-citizens with the holy ones—Hallelujah!” As she said these words and more than these with tears, the wise men Barandus and Gnosteas, opening the door, entered and fell at her feet, saying, “Pray for us lowly ones, O servant of Christ, that He may also bring us into your number.” But she said to them, “Brothers, I am not Paul who remits sins, but neither is he far from you. Therefore, do not fall before my knees, but go to him, who is also more able to benefit you.” Then they came running to the house of Philotheus to Paul and found him teaching a great multitude. And Probus also came to hear Paul, and Xanthippe entered along with him to salute him, and coming near to Paul and bending her knees, she paid him homage. Seeing this, Probus marveled that her very proud spirit had changed to such great humility, for she sat beside the feet of Paul on the ground humbly and as one of the worthless. And Probus was greatly grieved, not yet attending to the hearing of the word, but was continuously gazing and fixing his attention on Xanthippe.
20. The great Paul was teaching thus, “Let those that burn in the flesh observe lawful marriage, avoiding fornication, especially that with another’s wife; and let those that are united keep to one another.” Probus heard this teaching with delight and said, “O Paul, how excellently and wisely you employ this teaching. Why then has Xanthippe withdrawn from me?” And Paul said, “My son Probus, they that foresee that the works of men will be tried with fire, and that always have in their mind the certainty of death, cast out all desire that cleaves to the flesh. But woe when the desire will judge him that desired; then he will gnash his teeth to no effect and in vain, for the amendment of conversion is past.” Hearing this, Probus went up into his house marveling and tasted nothing that day, but went and lay down on his bed. And about the third hour of the night, he arose and said, “Oh how wretched was the day in which I was wedded to Xanthippe! If only I had died and not seen her.” Saying this, he arose and said, “I will pray to the God of Paul. Perhaps He will also do to me what is right, so that I may not become a reproach in the world, being rejected by her.” And immediately, falling on the ground, he said, “O God of Paul, if, as I have heard from Xanthippe, You seek after the ignorant and turn back those that have gone astray, also do to me what is right; for You are the King of life and death, as I have heard, and have dominion over things in Heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and over all the thoughts and desires of men, and to You alone belongs glory for all eternity. Amen.”
21. Then Probus, arising from the ground, fell again on the couch; and arising early, he came to Paul, and finding him immersing many in the Name of the lifegiving Trinity, he said, “My lord Paul, if only I were worthy to receive immersion—behold the hour.” Paul said to him, “Son, behold the water is ready for the cleansing of those that come to Christ.” Therefore, immediately taking off his clothes, and Paul laying hold of him, he leapt into the water, saying, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, and everlasting God: let all my sins be taken away by this water.” And Paul said, “We immerse you in the Name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit.” After this, he made him to receive the communion of Christ. Then Xanthippe, having greatly rejoiced, began in the house toward evening, together with her husband, to celebrate with all those in the house and to prepare a feast, and when they came, after lofty orders for the dinner to be magnificent, she herself went up to the chamber. And behold, on the stairs a demon coming in the likeness of one of the actors, and standing in a dark corner, was desirous to frighten and terrify Xanthippe. But she, thinking it to be the actor that she ordinarily had, said in anger, “Many times I have said to him that I no longer care for games, and he despises me as being a woman”; and immediately seizing an iron lampstand, she hurled it at his face and crushed all his features. Then the demon cried out, saying, “Violence from this destroyer! Even women have received power to strike us!” But Xanthippe was greatly afraid.
22. After dinner, Probus then went forth to hear the word, but Xanthippe, sitting in her bedchamber, was reading the Prophets, [and] her sister Polyxena was lying on the couch. Xanthippe loved Polyxena exceedingly, because she was younger than herself, and beautiful in appearance, and Probus also loved her greatly. And as Polyxena lay on the couch, she saw this dream, that a dragon, hideous in appearance, came and signaled to her to come to him, and when she did not obey him to go to him, he came running and swallowed her. From fear of this, the girl leapt up trembling, and Xanthippe, running to her, said, “What has happened to you, dearest, that you have leapt up so suddenly?” For a long time she was unable to speak; then coming to herself, she said, “Oh, my sister Xanthippe! What [great] danger or tribulation awaits me, I do not know; for I saw in my dream that a hideous dragon came and signaled to me to come to him, and, when I would not go, he came running and swallowed me, beginning at my feet. While I was terrified at this, there suddenly spoke out of the air, in the light of the sun, a beautiful Youth, whom I thought to be the brother of Paul, saying, Truly, you have no power. Who also took me by the hand and immediately drew me out of him, and immediately the dragon disappeared. And behold, His hand was full of sweet aroma as of balsam or anything else for fragrance.” Xanthippe said to her, “Truly, you must be greatly troubled, my sister Polyxena, but God holds you dear, seeing that He has shown you strange and marvelous things. Therefore, arise quickly in the morning, and receive holy immersion, and ask in the immersion to be delivered from the snares of the dragon.”
23. Xanthippe, having said this to Polyxena, and having made a cross of wood, went to Paul, but Polyxena remained alone in the bedchamber, her nurse having gone together with Xanthippe. And about the middle of the night, a certain man, powerful in wealth and assistance, finding the doors open and using magical arts, entered within, desiring to carry Polyxena away. Discovering this, she fled into the mill, but the magicians led by the demons found her. And she, not finding any door to escape by, said, “Aah! I am given over to this destroyer”; for she had heard that he was at enmity with her suitor, and he did this to attack and trouble him, being a man who was a robber and exceedingly cruel. Therefore, seizing her, they went out of the city, dragging her to the sea. She looked around this way and that, but there was no one to deliver her; and groaning, she said, “Oh, my sister Xanthippe, you sent seven hundred pieces of gold to Rome and buy books, that through them you might prophesy by me; for this evening you read, I looked to my right hand and beheld, but there was no one that knew me; flight perished from me, and there is no one that seeks out my soul.”
24. While she said these words, those that were dragging her away walked in haste, and coming to the shore, they hired a ship and sailed for Babylonia, for he that carried her off had a brother there, a ruler of a district. But the wind blew against them, so that they could not proceed by reason of it, and as they were rowing on the sea, behold, the great apostle of the Lord, Peter, was sailing past in a ship, being urged by a dream to go to Rome, because when Paul departed for Spain, there had entered into Rome a certain deceiver and magician, Simon by name, and had broken up the assembly which Paul had established. And behold, as he journeyed he heard a voice from Heaven saying to him, “Peter, tomorrow a ship coming from Spain will meet you; therefore, arise and pray for the soul that is troubled in it.” Therefore, as soon as Peter saw the ship, remembering the dream, he said, “O Jesus, that have care for the troubled, whom the tribulation of those in a strange land moves to compassion, whom the weeping of those in captivity made to come on the earth, who give us whatsoever we desire at all times, and never turn away from our request, show now also pity and assistance to the soul that is tossed around in that ship, because You, O Lord, pity those in pain at all times.” The demons then, perceiving his prayer, said to the magicians, “Avoid the course of that ship, for if we meet with it, we cannot move.”
25. But the loving God, taking care of Polyxena, the vessel arrived in Greece, the blessed Philip being there (having come down to the shore by a vision), and there also accompanied him great multitudes of those who were being taught by him. And behold, the vessel which Polyxena was in appeared, terribly tossed about. And the blessed Philip said, “See the vessel, on account of which we came down here, in which there is a soul in trouble.” When the vessel arrived, and everyone had disembarked on the dry land, they lay as half dead, because they had been greatly tossed around in the sea. But the apostle Philip ordered Polyxena to be lifted and taken to the place where he was lodging, and the rest to be tended to. But he that had carried off Polyxena, recovering from the disorder of the sea, was desirous to take her again, for Philip, having entrusted Polyxena to one of those that were taught by him, went on his way rejoicing. But he that had her said, “She was committed to me by a holy man, and I cannot give her up to you.” He, however, giving no heed to him and finding a relation of his there, a nobleman, prepared for war, gathering eight thousand men. Polyxena, knowing this, went forth by night and departed, but he that had charge of Polyxena said, “Taking the tunic of Philip, I will go forth alone to meet them”; but as he said this, it was announced to him that the maid was not there. Then he, leaving all thought of the war, ran into the bedchamber, and not finding the maid threw himself on the ground, saying, “Woe is me, wretched one, that have become an enemy of Philip! What will I answer him, when he asks [for] the maiden from me?” His servants came and said to him, “Arise, our lord, from the ground, for the forces have surrounded your house, and the maid cannot be found.” He said, “Leave me thus to die on her account. Perhaps, even by this, Philip the servant of Christ may be fully satisfied, since I will be found despising his command.” Then the servants, seeing that he did not listen to them, took counsel to flee from the enemies, but again after a little while, being moved by the foreknowledge of God, they said, “It is not right for our master to die. Come, let us go forth to meet them, raising the Sign of the Cross.” Then, raising the precious Cross, they went forth, about thirty men, on the enemy, and slew five thousand, and the rest fled. And they returned with victory to their master, praising God and saying, “What God is so great as our God, who has not allowed His servant to be slain by the wicked?” And coming on their lord, still weeping, they said to him, “Arise, lord, and do not weep, for it is right to not be as we will, but as the Lord wills.”
26. Polyxena, however, going out of the city, and not knowing by what way she should walk, found herself in desert places of the hills, and sitting down, said thus with tears, “Woe is me—outcast and captive—that I cannot find even a wild beast’s den to rest in. Woe is me, left desolate, that not even Hades, that no one escapes, has devoured me. Woe is me, who at one time did not even show myself to my servants, now display myself to demons. Woe is me, that I am now made manifest to all those by whom I disdained to be seen. Woe is me, that was formerly devoted to idols; for this, now even the mercy of God has passed me in silence. Whom then will I call on to help me? The God of Paul whom I have constantly offended? But who will help me now? No one sees, or heeds, or hears my groaning. Truly I will beg Him that sees the hidden things, for who is more pitiful and compassionate than He who always keeps watch over the oppressed? But because my mouth is unclean and defiled, I do not dare ask for help from Him. If only I were as one of the wild beasts, so that I might not know what captivity is. If only I had been drowned in the sea; perhaps having received the divine immersion, I should have gone where no one is made captive. What then will I do, for death delays, and night has come on, and there is no help anywhere?” Having said this, she arose and began to walk onwards, and passing through a narrow area, she fell into very thick and large woods, and finding a hollow in a tree there, which was the den of a lioness, she sat down there, for the lioness had gone forth for her food. And sitting down, she said, “O wretched begetting, O grievous hour in which I, unhappy one, came into this world; O mother that bore me: why, foreseeing my troubles and wanderings, did you name me Polyxena? Has anyone else ever fallen into such tribulations and misfortunes? Truly, my sister Xanthippe, you read concerning me, [the] unhappy one, saying, I have suffered affliction and been utterly bowed down. You uttered these words with grief, while I lay on the couch, not contemplating all of my sorrows. On this account, I have now come into the depths of evils and pass the night in deserts like a wild beast. But the beasts live with others of their kind, while I am left solitary, as not being of one race with mankind.”
27. And as she was saying these words, and more than these, the morning dawned, and the lioness came from her hunting. Polyxena, seeing the wild beast, trembled and said, “By the God of Paul: O wild beast, have compassion on me, and do not tear me apart until I receive immersion.” And the wild beast, fearing the adjuration, immediately went away, and standing far off, it gazed at her. And she said, “Behold, the beast has obeyed me; I will also depart from its dwelling.” And she immediately began to journey toward the east, and the beast went before her until she had come out of the wood. Then Polyxena said, “What will I give to you in return, O beast? The God of Paul will repay you [for] this kindness”; and the wild beast, hearing her prayer, immediately returned to its place. Then she, descending, found a public road, and standing on it wept, not knowing where she should go, and though many went past, she turned to none of them, but said, “Perhaps the God of Paul will remember me, and whoever will have pity on me, to him will I go.”
28. As she said this, Andrew, the apostle of the Lord, also came journeying to that place, and as he drew near to Polyxena, he felt in his heart some commotion arising in himself. Therefore, standing to pray and folding his arms in the shape of the Cross, he said, “Lord Jesus Christ, partaker of light and knower of hidden things, from whom nothing on earth is hid, do to me kindness and mercy, and make clear to me this commotion in [my] heart, and calm my reason—You that always make peace with those that love peace.” Then Polyxena ran to him, and Andrew, the apostle of the Lord, said to her, “Do not approach me, daughter, but tell me who and from where you are.” Polyxena said, “My lord, I am a stranger here, but I see [that] your face is gracious, and your words as the words of Paul, and I suppose you to be of the same God.” Andrew understood that she spoke of the apostle Paul, and he said to her, “And from where do you know of Paul?” She said, “From my own country, for I left him in Spain.” Andrew said to her, “And how do you happen to be here—that country being [so] far away?” She said, “Because it was thus appointed for me and came to pass; but I beg you and fall at your feet: seal me, as Paul seals, by the immersion of regeneration, so that even I, lowly one, may be known by our God, for the kind God, seeing my tribulation and distress, sent you to pity me.” Andrew, the great apostle of the Lord, said to her, “Let us go, daughter, where there is water.”
29. And when they had gone a short distance, they came to a well most transparent and pure. And as the blessed Andrew stood to pray beside the well, behold, a certain maiden named Rebecca, of the tribe of Israel, brought as a captive to that country, came to draw water at the well, and seeing the blessed Andrew, knew him by his appearance. For Rebecca said, “This is the appearance of a prophet, and this is one of the apostles.” And bowing down to him, she said, “Have mercy on me, servant of the true God, who am captive and sold for the third time, who was once honored by prophets and am now insulted by idolaters; and recall me, lowly one—you that were sent to call back many sinners.” Andrew, the apostle of Christ, said, “God will care for you also, daughter, as well as for this stranger. Therefore, receive immersion now and be as of one people, glorifying God always.”
30. Therefore, the apostle prayed standing, and behold, the lioness came running and stood gazing at him. And Andrew, the apostle of the Lord, said, “What then does this beast want?” Opening her mouth, the lioness spoke with a human voice: “Andrew, apostle of Christ: the prayer of her who stands on your right hand has overtaken me. Therefore, confirm, and instruct, and admonish them in the right and true faith of Christ, for they greatly desire the Name of the Lord.” And behold the wonderful humility of God, that even on irrational and untamable beasts He has poured out His mercy. Weeping, the blessed Andrew said, “What will I say or what will I speak concerning Your mercy, O God, that You thus cleave to the lowly at all times and take care of those in ignorance, being without arrogance and full of mercy?” And having completed the prayer, he immersed the maidens in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then the lioness immediately set off to the mountain, and the Apostle Andrew said to the maidens, “Be zealous, daughters, to be of good reputation before God by living well in a strange land, and do not separate from each other, and may God, who is always present to those that call on Him, keep you in holiness, driving the evil one away from you. And pray also for me.” Polyxena said, “We will follow you wherever you go.” The apostle Andrew said, “This was not made known to me by the Lord, daughters; therefore, remain with peace, hoping in the Lord, and He will preserve you to the end.”
31. And Andrew went on his way, rejoicing and glorifying God. Then Polyxena said, “Where will we go, sister?” Rebecca said, “Let us depart to wherever you desire, lest my mistress send and separate us.” Polyxena said, “Come, let us depart to the lioness in the mountain.” Rebecca said, “It is indeed better for us to live with wild beasts and perish of hunger than to be compelled by Greeks and idolaters to fall into the filth of marriage.” So, they began to journey, and behold, by the providence of God, they met a man driving donkeys, who seeing them said, “You are not of this country, and, as I see, you do not wear its [customary] attire. Therefore, command your servant to eat bread and receive one piece of silver, so that you may remember your servant when you buy bread.” And he made haste, and took the sacks off his donkeys, and spread them on the ground, and made the maidens to sit on them, and said to them, “Seeing that the wine which your servant carries is gathered by Greeks, tell me of what faith you are, that we may thus taste of it.” Polyxena said, “We, brother, taste no wine, and are of the God of Paul.” The donkey-driver said, “Is this God on earth?” Polyxena said to him, “God is everywhere—both in Heaven and on earth.” The donkey-driver, being desirous to learn clearly, said, “Does this Paul then have the same God that is preached by Philip?” Polyxena, learning that he was a Christian, said, “Yes, brother, this is the God of all, whom Paul and Philip preach.”
32. Hearing this, the donkey-driver wept unceasingly, and Polyxena said, “Has then the providence of God overtaken you, that you weep like this?” The donkey-driver said, “If you are desirous to learn why I weep, hear the truth, for one should not hesitate to tell the things of Christ. I was a disciple of Philip, the apostle of Christ, and seeing how all his focus was toward the poor, I took all that I had and sold it. And taking the price, I bought bread and wine and divided them throughout the cities to those that had need; when therefore I had done this for some time in the neighboring city, a certain maimed person cried out, saying (though it was not himself that spoke, but Satan through his mouth), I desire nothing; I take nothing from you, because you are a Christian. Then the whole city arose against me and sought to take me, but some ran one way and some another, while I went through their midst, and no one saw me. And leaving from the city, I gave praise and glory to God that I had been thus rewarded, and I prayed to my God that I should meet someone who knew His all-holy Name, so that relating these things, I might obtain relief. For the men of this country will not hear at all concerning Christ, being full of impiety and filled with wickedness. I therefore exhort you: take one coin from me also, and if it seems good, also rest on the donkeys.” Polyxena said, “May you obtain mercy from God, brother. But if you will receive a full reward, deliver us as far as the sea, so that, if God wills, we may sail for Spain.”
33. The donkey-driver, as if commanded by the voice of God, eagerly receiving the maidens, went on his way rejoicing in the Lord. And he said to Polyxena, “Alter your appearance to that of a man, lest for your beauty’s sake someone may snatch you away from me.” And coming to an inn, they stayed there, and the next day they went forward, paying careful attention to the way. And behold, there came past a certain prefect journeying to Greece, who, seeing the maidens, ordered Polyxena to be carried off on his chariot. Then the donkey-driver followed, crying and saying, “A prefect does violence to no one! Why do you do this?” Then they beat him and drove him away.
34. And he, going on his way, lamented, saying, “Woe is me—wretched and abominable one! Woe is me, that thought to do good, but now I have caused trouble! Woe is me, that my trouble and my course were unacceptable! If only I had died before yesterday, so that I might not have met with these maidens at all. But why do you trouble me, O wretched soul? Let us go to Philip, the apostle of God. If there is no forgiveness for me, it is better for me to choose death in whatsoever fashion than to live with such evil and bitter conscience.” So, he went and found Philip, the apostle of Christ, and said to him, “O disciple and preacher of Christ, thus and thus has happened to me and overtaken me. Does my soul have salvation?” Philip, the apostle of Christ, said, “Do not be distressed concerning this, my son, it is impossible for them to be dishonored, seeing that no one ever overcomes God; for this same Polyxena, when she first came from the sea, I entrusted to a certain brother, who was also greatly distressed because of her running away secretly from his house. Him also I persuaded not to grieve, for through her tribulation and wanderings, many will know God.”
35. The prefect therefore carried Polyxena to the city where he stayed and ordered her to be shut up in a chamber. And one of the soldiers seized Rebecca, but the maid, secretly escaping, fled into the house of an old woman, who received the maiden kindly and implored her well. And sitting down, she wept, saying, “Oh, my sister Polyxena! I, [the] wretched one, did not think that anyone was oppressed like myself, but now I am persuaded and know that all my misfortunes and tribulations do not compare with one day of yours. And most grievous of all: behold, I have been separated from you and am again a captive, but search for me, even into the next world, my sister Polyxena.” The old woman said to her, “What bothers you, daughter, that you weep so bitterly?” Rebecca said, “Allow me, mother, to be distressed and to lament the great and incurable pain of my heart.” The old woman, greatly sympathizing with her, wept greatly, for the maid had told her all that had happened to her, and how through Polyxena she had believed in Christ. So too Polyxena, shut up in the chamber, said, “Woe is me—wretched one! Woe for me—miserable one! Now I clearly know how the Devil hates virginity, but O Lord Jesus Christ, God of all, since I do not dare beg You by myself, I bring to you the prayers of Your holy preacher Paul, so that You might not allow my virginity to be destroyed by anyone.”
36. And as she was yet praying, the attendants came to lead her to the couch of the prefect. But Polyxena said to them, “Brothers, do not hurry to anyone’s destruction, for this time will quickly pass away, and they that work together with the destroyers will perish with them. Rather, assist strangers, so that you are not found strangers to the messengers of God.” The men, being shamed by these words, went to the prefect and said, “The maid, from fear, is seized with a violent fever.” And the prefect said, “Leave her alone.” And behold, the son of the prefect came to Polyxena by night, and she seeing him was afraid, but the youth said to her, “Do not fear, girl. I do not seek to be wedded with you as the bridegroom of destruction, for I know from your prayer that you are the bride of the God of Heaven. I know this God, who is never overcome by anyone, for a certain man of glorious countenance recently preached this God in Antioch, and a certain maid, whose name was Thecla, believing him followed him and encountered dangers on account of her beauty, of whom I have heard that she was condemned to the wild beasts. Therefore, I continually gazed on the man, and he having observed me said to me, God give regard to you, my son. Therefore, from that time on I have not gone into the sacrifices of idols by the grace of Christ, but sometimes pretending illness and sometimes involving myself in some business, my father said to me, Because you have no zeal for the sacrifices of the gods, therefore neither are you in good health, not being worthy of the gods. But I rejoiced, hearing that I was not worthy of the sacrifices to idols; and by the grace of God, you have come here as providence to me.” Polyxena said, “And what is the name of that man?” The youth said, “Paul is his name.” Polyxena said, “He is in my city.” The youth said, “Come then, girl; put on my appearance, and go down to the shore, and wait for me there; having taken money, I will come quickly.”
37. And one of the servants overhearing them, told all of this to the prefect, who being filled with great anger, condemned them to be thrown to the wild beasts. And when they were thrown into the arena, a fierce lioness was let loose on them, which ran and embraced the feet of Polyxena and licked the soles of her feet. Then the prefect and all the city, seeing this fearful and wonderful sight, gave praise and glory to the merciful God, saying, “You—and He, that is named by Polyxena—are God alone, for the gods of the heathen are the works of men’s hands, unable to save or assist anyone. Let them perish now, both themselves and their makers.” And the prefect, immediately taking his son and Polyxena into the palace, heard from them in order the faith and religion in Christ without omission, and he and all in the city believed, and there was great joy and giving of glory to God. And Polyxena said to the prefect, “Be of good cheer, my lord, for the man of God will quickly come, who will perfectly teach, exhort, instruct, and enlighten you in the knowledge of Christ.” She, however, quickly prepared to depart into Spain.
38. And as I, Onesimus, was sailing into Spain to Paul, I received from the Lord a revelation saying to me, “Onesimus, the vessel which you are now in will land in the regions of Greece, and you will find on the shore of the harbor two maids and one youth. Assist them and take them to Paul.” When we reached this place according to the command of the Lord, we found the maids, together with the youth, seeking a vessel. Therefore, when the maids saw us, they knew that we were of the hope of Christ, and Polyxena running to us said, “Truly the man of God cannot be concealed, for the grace and kindness of his countenance makes him evident.” And when we sought to sail away, the sea was troubled by the providence of God. And a disciple of Paul was with us, Lucius by name, capable in word to teach the city. Therefore, we remained seven days, and God opened a great door of faith to that place, and twenty thousand believed, and there was great joy and rejoicing throughout the whole city. And when the season was favorable for us to sail, the prefect again constrained us, and we stayed another seven days, until everyone believed and rejoiced in the Lord.
39. Thus, now by the foreknowledge of Christ, the prefect sent us away with supplies for the voyage, also sending his son with us. And when we had sailed twenty days, Polyxena was greatly exhausted, and we stopped at a certain island for the sake of rest. And behold, certain fierce and hardened men, coming down to us and seeing Polyxena, prepared for battle; but by the grace of Christ, our men defended Polyxena and vanquished them, although the strangers were more numerous and more powerful. Polyxena, therefore fearing becoming a captive again, threw herself into the sea; but the captain dragged her out, having suffered no harm. Then we embarked in the vessel and fled, for the places were rough and wooded, and we were afraid to remain, and in twelve days we arrived in Spain, by the grace of God.
40. And Paul, seeing us, rejoiced greatly, and he said, “Welcome, you that have been troubled.” And Polyxena, laying hold of his feet, said, “It may be that this trouble came on me because I would have blasphemed you, but now I beg and plead that I may not be delivered into such troubles and misfortunes again.” And Paul said, weeping, “Thus must we be troubled, my daughter, so that we may know our defender, Jesus Christ.”
41. And while we were giving the letters of the brothers to Paul, one ran and told Xanthippe of the arrival of Polyxena. And she made haste and came to us, and seeing Polyxena, was overcome by an unspeakable joy and fell to the ground; but Polyxena, embracing her and caressing her for a long time, brought her back to life. Then Xanthippe said to her, “I, my true sister Polyxena, did not go forth at all for forty days, praying much for you to the loving God, that your virginity might not be taken away.” And Paul, the preacher of God, said to me, “Her virginity will not be taken away, and she will come quickly.” And Probus said to me, “It was assigned to her by God to be afflicted like this. Do you see how by many methods God saves many? But now, my beloved sister, having unexpectedly seen your face, I will now willingly die.”
42. Then he who had carried her away came up again and sought for Polyxena, but the great Paul persuaded him to refrain from her, and he also believed and was immersed by Paul, as also the suitor of Polyxena believed, and there was great joy in all that city of Spain for the recovery of Polyxena. From that time forward, she did not leave the blessed Paul at all because of her fear of temptations. These things then being thus, everyone rejoiced in the Lord, glorifying [the] Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—one God, to whom is glory and power, now and forever, and to all eternity. Amen.