Gospel of Peter

Gospel of Peter

None of the righteous washed their hands

in the blood of Yeshua —

only Herod, the scribes, and the elders.

Pilate washed his hands,

but still delivered Him over

because the leaders demanded it.

They mocked Him,

clothed Him in purple,

placed a crown of thorns on His head,

and struck Him, saying:

“Prophesy to us, O King!”

They brought Him to the place called Golgotha

and crucified Him.

Two criminals were crucified with Him —

one on the right, one on the left.

They wrote above His head:

“This is the King of Israel.”

At noon, darkness fell over the whole land.

They gave Him vinegar and gall to drink.

They laughed and said:

“Let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”

Yeshua cried out,

“My power, My power —

You have forsaken Me!”

And then He was taken up.

At His death, the earth shook.

The veil of the temple was torn.

Many saw visions and trembled.

Joseph of Arimathea,

a friend of the Anointed,

asked Pilate for His body.

They buried Him in a new tomb,

and sealed the stone.

The leaders asked for guards,

saying:

“Lest His disciples come and steal Him away.”

So a watch was set.

And seven seals were placed upon the tomb.

At the third hour of the night,

a loud voice rang out from heaven.

The stone rolled back on its own.

Two radiant men descended from the skies

and entered the tomb.

Then three men emerged —

and behind them, the cross.

The heads of the two men reached the heavens.

But the head of the One in the center

reached beyond the heavens.

And the cross spoke, saying:

“Yes.”

The soldiers fell as if dead.

They ran and told what they saw.

The leaders bribed them with silver, saying:

“Say His disciples came by night and stole Him.”

But many in the city rejoiced,

for they knew He had risen.

The final lines of the scroll are broken,

but it ends with joy and awe.

Some say the apostles went into hiding.

Others say they began to proclaim boldly

what they had seen and heard.