The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 72 “I am come to prepare the way for the messenger of God… many false prophets shall take my words and contaminate my gospel.” The coming guide, and why textual additions matter:
Betrayal Foretold and the Messenger of God
At night Jesus spake in secret with his disciples, saying: 'Verily I say unto you that Satan desireth to sift you as wheat; but I have besought God for you, and there shall not perish of you save he that layeth snares for me.' And this he said of Judas, because the angel Gabriel said to him how that Judas had hand with the priests, and reported to them all that Jesus spake.
With tears drew near unto Jesus he who writeth this, saying: 'O master, tell me, who is he that should betray thee?'
Jesus answered, saying: 'O Barnabas, this is not the hour for thee to know him, but soon will the wicked one reveal himself, because I shall depart from the world.'
Then wept the apostles, saying: 'O master, wherefore wilt thou forsake us? It is much better that we should die than be forsaken of thee!'
Jesus answered: 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither be ye fearful: for I have not created you, but God our creator who hath created you will protect you. As for me, I am now come to the world to prepare the way for the messenger of God, who shall bring salvation to the world. But beware that ye be not deceived, for many false prophets shall come, who shall take my words and contaminate my gospel.'
Then said Andrew: 'Master, tell us some sign, that we may know him.'
Jesus answered: 'He will not come in your time, but will come some years after you, when my gospel shall be annulled, insomuch that there shall be scarcely thirty faithful. At that time God will have mercy on the world, and so he will send his messenger, over whose head will rest a white cloud, whereby he shall be known of one elect of God, and shall be by him manifested to the world. He shall come with great power against the ungodly, and shall destroy idolatry upon the earth. And it rejoiceth me because that through him our God shall be known and glorified, and I shall be known to be true; and he will execute vengeance against those who shall say that I am more than man. Verily I say to you that the moon shall minister sleep to him in his boyhood, and when he shall be grown up he shall take her in his hands. Let the world beware of casting him out because he shall slay the idolaters, for many more were slain by Moses, the servant of God, and Joshua, who spared not the cities which they burnt, and slew the children; for to an old wound one applieth fire.
'He shall come with truth more clear than that of all the prophets, and shall reprove him who useth the world amiss. The towers of the city of our father shall greet one another for joy: and so when idolatry shall be seen to fall to the ground and confess me a man like other men, verily I say unto you the messenger of God shall be come.'
That night Jesus spoke privately with his disciples, saying: 'Truly, I tell you that Satan desires to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed to God for you, and none of you will perish except the one who lays a snare for me.' He said this of Judas, because the angel Gabriel had told him that Judas was in league with the priests and reported to them everything Jesus said.
The writer of this account approached Jesus in tears and said: 'O master, tell me who it is that will betray you.'
Jesus answered: 'O Barnabas, this is not the hour for you to know him, but the wicked one will soon reveal himself, for I am about to depart from the world.'
The apostles wept and said: 'O master, why will you forsake us? It would be far better for us to die than to be abandoned by you!'
Jesus answered: 'Do not let your hearts be troubled or be afraid, for I did not create you. God our Creator, who created you, will protect you. As for me, I have now come into the world to prepare the way for the Messenger of God, who will bring salvation to the world. But take care that you are not deceived, for many false prophets will come, take my words, and corrupt my gospel.'
Then Andrew said: 'Master, tell us some sign, that we may know him.'
Jesus answered: 'He will not come in your time, but some years after you, when my gospel has been annulled so thoroughly that scarcely thirty faithful people remain. At that time God will have mercy on the world and send his Messenger. A white cloud will rest over his head, by which one of God’s elect will recognize him and make him known to the world. He will come with great power against the ungodly and destroy idolatry upon the earth. I rejoice because through him our God will be known and glorified, and I will be recognized as truthful. He will execute vengeance against those who say that I am more than a man. Truly, I tell you that the moon will minister sleep to him in his childhood, and when he is grown he will take it in his hands. Let the world beware of rejecting him because he will kill the idolaters. Many more were killed by Moses, God’s servant, and by Joshua, who did not spare the cities they burned or the children they killed; for an old wound must be treated with fire.'
'He will come with truth clearer than that of all the prophets and will reprove those who misuse the world. The towers of the city of our father will greet one another for joy. When idolatry is seen to fall to the ground and to confess that I am a man like other men, truly, I tell you, the Messenger of God will have come.'
At night Jesus spake in secret with his disciples, saying: 'Verily I say unto you that Satan desireth to sift you as wheat; but I have besought God for you, and there shall not perish of you save he that layeth snares for me.' And this he said of Judas, because the angel Gabriel said to him how that Judas had hand with the priests, and reported to them all that Jesus spake.
With tears drew near unto Jesus he who writeth this, saying: 'O master, tell me, who is he that should betray thee?'
Jesus answered, saying: 'O Barnabas, this is not the hour for thee to know him, but soon will the wicked one reveal himself, because I shall depart from the world.'
Then wept the apostles, saying: 'O master, wherefore wilt thou forsake us? It is much better that we should die than be forsaken of thee!'
Jesus answered: 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither be ye fearful: for I have not created you, but God our creator who hath created you will protect you. As for me, I am now come to the world to prepare the way for the messenger of God, who shall bring salvation to the world. But beware that ye be not deceived, for many false prophets shall come, who shall take my words and contaminate my gospel.'
Then said Andrew: 'Master, tell us some sign, that we may know him.'
Jesus answered: 'He will not come in your time, but will come some years after you, when my gospel shall be annulled, insomuch that there shall be scarcely thirty faithful. At that time God will have mercy on the world, and so he will send his messenger, over whose head will rest a white cloud, whereby he shall be known of one elect of God, and shall be by him manifested to the world. He shall come with great power against the ungodly, and shall destroy idolatry upon the earth. And it rejoiceth me because that through him our God shall be known and glorified, and I shall be known to be true; and he will execute vengeance against those who shall say that I am more than man. Verily I say to you that the moon shall minister sleep to him in his boyhood, and when he shall be grown up he shall take her in his hands. Let the world beware of casting him out because he shall slay the idolaters, for many more were slain by Moses, the servant of God, and Joshua, who spared not the cities which they burnt, and slew the children; for to an old wound one applieth fire.
'He shall come with truth more clear than that of all the prophets, and shall reprove him who useth the world amiss. The towers of the city of our father shall greet one another for joy: and so when idolatry shall be seen to fall to the ground and confess me a man like other men, verily I say unto you the messenger of God shall be come.'