The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 208 “The son of Abraham was Ishmael, from whom must be descended the Messiah promised to Abraham.” The Ishmaelite reading of the promise:
The Son of Abraham; Jesus Departeth from the Temple
'If I work iniquity, reprove me, and God will love you, because ye shall be doing his will; but if none can reprove me of sin, it is a sign that ye are not sons of Abraham as ye call yourselves, nor are ye incorporate with that head wherein Abraham was incorporate. As God liveth, so greatly did Abraham love God, that he not only brake in pieces the false idols and forsook his father and mother, but was willing to slay his own son in obedience to God.'
The high priest answered: 'This I ask of thee, and I do not seek to slay thee, wherefore tell us: Who was this son of Abraham?'
Jesus answered: 'The zeal of thine honour, O God, enflameth me, and I cannot hold my peace. Verily I say, the son of Abraham was Ishmael, from whom must be descended the Messiah promised to Abraham, that in him should all the tribes of the earth be blessed.'
Then was the high priest wroth, hearing this, and cried out: 'Let us stone this impious fellow, for he is an Ishmaelite, and hath spoken blasphemy against Moses and against the law of God.'
Whereupon every scribe and Pharisee, with the elders of the people, took up stones to stone Jesus, who vanished from their eyes and went out of the temple.
And then, through the great desire that they had to slay Jesus, blinded with fury and hatred, they struck one another in such wise that there died a thousand men; and they polluted the holy temple.
The disciples and believers, who saw Jesus go out of the temple (for from them he was not hidden), followed him to the house of Simon.
Thereupon Nicodemus came thither and counselled Jesus to go out of Jerusalem beyond the brook Cedron, saying: 'Lord, I have a garden with a house beyond the brook Cedron, I pray thee, therefore, go thither with some of thy disciples, to tarry there until this hatred of our priests be past; for I will minister to you what is necessary. And the multitude of disciples leave thou here in the house of Simon and in my house, for God will provide for all.'
And this Jesus did, desiring only to have with him the twelve first called apostles.
'If I do wrong, rebuke me, and God will love you, for you will be doing his will. But if no one can convict me of sin, it is a sign that you are not children of Abraham as you call yourselves, and that you are not joined to that head to which Abraham was joined. As God lives, Abraham so loved God that he not only smashed the false idols and left his father and mother — he was even willing to slay his own son in obedience to God.'
The high priest answered: 'I ask you this without seeking to kill you. Tell us, then: who was this son of Abraham?'
Jesus answered: 'Zeal for your honor, O God, sets me on fire, and I cannot remain silent. Truly, I tell you, Abraham's son was Ishmael, from whom the Messiah promised to Abraham must descend, so that in him all the tribes of the earth may be blessed.'
When the high priest heard this, he became angry and cried out: 'Let us stone this impious man, for he is an Ishmaelite and has spoken blasphemy against Moses and God's law.'
Then every scribe and Pharisee, together with the elders of the people, picked up stones to stone Jesus. But he vanished from their sight and left the temple.
Blinded by fury, hatred, and their desire to kill Jesus, they struck one another so violently that a thousand people died, and they defiled the holy temple.
The disciples and believers, who could still see Jesus as he left the temple, followed him to Simon's house.
Nicodemus came and advised Jesus to leave Jerusalem and cross the Brook Cedron. He said: 'Lord, I have a garden with a house beyond the brook. I ask you to go there with some of your disciples and remain until the hatred of our priests has passed. I will provide everything you need. Leave the rest of the disciples here in Simon's house and in mine, for God will provide for them all.'
Jesus did so, taking with him only the twelve apostles first called.
'If I work iniquity, reprove me, and God will love you, because ye shall be doing his will; but if none can reprove me of sin, it is a sign that ye are not sons of Abraham as ye call yourselves, nor are ye incorporate with that head wherein Abraham was incorporate. As God liveth, so greatly did Abraham love God, that he not only brake in pieces the false idols and forsook his father and mother, but was willing to slay his own son in obedience to God.'
The high priest answered: 'This I ask of thee, and I do not seek to slay thee, wherefore tell us: Who was this son of Abraham?'
Jesus answered: 'The zeal of thine honour, O God, enflameth me, and I cannot hold my peace. Verily I say, the son of Abraham was Ishmael, from whom must be descended the Messiah promised to Abraham, that in him should all the tribes of the earth be blessed.'
Then was the high priest wroth, hearing this, and cried out: 'Let us stone this impious fellow, for he is an Ishmaelite, and hath spoken blasphemy against Moses and against the law of God.'
Whereupon every scribe and Pharisee, with the elders of the people, took up stones to stone Jesus, who vanished from their eyes and went out of the temple.
And then, through the great desire that they had to slay Jesus, blinded with fury and hatred, they struck one another in such wise that there died a thousand men; and they polluted the holy temple.
The disciples and believers, who saw Jesus go out of the temple (for from them he was not hidden), followed him to the house of Simon.
Thereupon Nicodemus came thither and counselled Jesus to go out of Jerusalem beyond the brook Cedron, saying: 'Lord, I have a garden with a house beyond the brook Cedron, I pray thee, therefore, go thither with some of thy disciples, to tarry there until this hatred of our priests be past; for I will minister to you what is necessary. And the multitude of disciples leave thou here in the house of Simon and in my house, for God will provide for all.'
And this Jesus did, desiring only to have with him the twelve first called apostles.