The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 221 Jesus charges Barnabas to write his gospel. A gospel “in Barnabas's own hand” is also what the tomb tradition of 488 reports:
Jesus Chargeth Barnabas to Write; the Ascension
And Jesus turned himself to him who writeth, and said: 'See, Barnabas, that by all means thou write my gospel concerning all that hath happened through my dwelling in the world. And write in like manner that which hath befallen Judas, in order that the faithful may be undeceived, and every one may believe the truth.'
Then answered he who writeth: 'All will I do, if God will, O Master; but how it happened unto Judas, I know not, for I saw not all.'
Jesus answered: 'Here are John and Peter who have seen all, and they will tell you all that has passed.'
And then Jesus commanded us to call his faithful disciples that they might see him. Then did James and John call together the seven disciples with Nicodemus and Joseph, and many other of the seventy-two, and they ate with Jesus.
The third day Jesus said: 'Go to the Mount of Olives with my mother, for there will I ascend again unto heaven, and ye will see who shall bear me up.'
So there went all, saving twenty-five of the seventy-two disciples, who for fear had fled to Damascus. And as they all stood in prayer, at mid-day came Jesus with a great multitude of angels who were praising God: and the splendour of his face made them sore afraid, and they fell with their faces to the ground. But Jesus lifted them up, comforting them, and saying: 'Be not afraid, I am your master.'
And he reproved many who believed him to have died and risen again, saying: 'Do ye then hold me and God for liars? For God hath granted to me to live almost unto the end of the world, even as I said unto you. Verily I say unto you, I died not, but Judas the traitor. Beware, for Satan will make every effort to deceive you, but be ye my witnesses in all Israel, and throughout the world, of all things that ye have heard and seen.'
And having thus spoken, he prayed God for the salvation of the faithful, and the conversion of sinners. And, his prayer ended, he embraced his mother, saying: 'Peace be unto thee, my mother, rest thou in God who created thee and me.' And having thus spoken, he turned to his disciples, saying: 'May God's grace and mercy be with you.'
Then before their eyes the four angels carried him up into heaven.
Jesus then turned to the writer and said: 'Barnabas, make certain that you write my gospel, recording everything that happened while I lived in the world. Write also what happened to Judas, so that the faithful may be freed from deception and everyone may believe the truth.'
The writer answered: 'God willing, O Master, I will do everything. But I do not know how the events concerning Judas occurred, for I did not see them all.'
Jesus answered: 'John and Peter are here. They saw everything and will tell you all that happened.'
Jesus then commanded us to call his faithful disciples so that they might see him. James and John gathered the seven disciples, Nicodemus, Joseph, and many others among the seventy-two, and they ate with Jesus.
On the third day Jesus said: 'Go with my mother to the Mount of Olives, for there I will ascend again to heaven, and you will see who carries me up.'
Everyone went except twenty-five of the seventy-two disciples, who had fled to Damascus out of fear. While they all stood in prayer, at midday Jesus appeared with a great multitude of angels praising God. The splendor of his face filled them with fear, and they fell face down upon the ground. Jesus raised and comforted them, saying: 'Do not be afraid; I am your Master.'
He rebuked many who believed he had died and risen again, saying: 'Do you consider both me and God liars? God granted me life almost until the end of the world, just as I told you. Truly, I tell you, I did not die; Judas the traitor died. Take care, for Satan will make every effort to deceive you. Be my witnesses throughout Israel and the whole world to everything you have heard and seen.'
After saying this, he prayed to God for the salvation of the faithful and the conversion of sinners. When his prayer ended, he embraced his mother and said: 'Peace be with you, my mother. Rest in God, who created you and me.' Then he turned to his disciples and said: 'May God's grace and mercy be with you.'
Before their eyes, the four angels carried him up into heaven.
And Jesus turned himself to him who writeth, and said: 'See, Barnabas, that by all means thou write my gospel concerning all that hath happened through my dwelling in the world. And write in like manner that which hath befallen Judas, in order that the faithful may be undeceived, and every one may believe the truth.'
Then answered he who writeth: 'All will I do, if God will, O Master; but how it happened unto Judas, I know not, for I saw not all.'
Jesus answered: 'Here are John and Peter who have seen all, and they will tell you all that has passed.'
And then Jesus commanded us to call his faithful disciples that they might see him. Then did James and John call together the seven disciples with Nicodemus and Joseph, and many other of the seventy-two, and they ate with Jesus.
The third day Jesus said: 'Go to the Mount of Olives with my mother, for there will I ascend again unto heaven, and ye will see who shall bear me up.'
So there went all, saving twenty-five of the seventy-two disciples, who for fear had fled to Damascus. And as they all stood in prayer, at mid-day came Jesus with a great multitude of angels who were praising God: and the splendour of his face made them sore afraid, and they fell with their faces to the ground. But Jesus lifted them up, comforting them, and saying: 'Be not afraid, I am your master.'
And he reproved many who believed him to have died and risen again, saying: 'Do ye then hold me and God for liars? For God hath granted to me to live almost unto the end of the world, even as I said unto you. Verily I say unto you, I died not, but Judas the traitor. Beware, for Satan will make every effort to deceive you, but be ye my witnesses in all Israel, and throughout the world, of all things that ye have heard and seen.'
And having thus spoken, he prayed God for the salvation of the faithful, and the conversion of sinners. And, his prayer ended, he embraced his mother, saying: 'Peace be unto thee, my mother, rest thou in God who created thee and me.' And having thus spoken, he turned to his disciples, saying: 'May God's grace and mercy be with you.'
Then before their eyes the four angels carried him up into heaven.