1 Infancy of Jesus Christ Chapter 20
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (apocryphal)

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:1

THERE was also at Jerusalem one named Zaccheus, who was a schoolmaster:

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:2

And he said to Joseph, Joseph, why dost thou not send Jesus to me, that he may learn his letters?

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:3

Joseph agreed, and told St. Mary;

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:4

So they brought him to that master; who, as soon as he saw him, wrote out an alphabet for him,

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:5

And he bade him say Aleph; and when he had said Aleph, the master bade him pronounce Beth.

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:6

Then the Lord Jesus said to him, Tell me first the meaning of the letter Aleph, and then I will pronounce Beth.

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:7

And when the master threatened to whip him, the Lord Jesus explained to him the meaning of the letters Aleph and Beth;

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:8

Also which were the straight figures of the letters, which the oblique, and what letters had double figures; which had points, and which had none; why one letter went before another; and many other things he began to tell him, and explain, of which the master himself had never heard, nor read in any book.

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:9

The Lord Jesus farther said to the master, Take notice how I say to thee; then he began clearly and distinctly to say Aleph, Beth, Gimel, Daleth, and so on to the end of the alphabet.

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:10

At this the master was so surprised, that he said, I believe this boy was born before Noah;

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:11

And turning to Joseph, he said, Thou hast brought a boy to me to be taught, who is more learned than any master.

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:12

He said also to St. Mary, This your son has no need of any learning.

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:13

They brought him then to a more learned master, who, when he saw him, said, say Aleph;

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:14

And when he had said Aleph, the master bade him pronounce Beth; to which the Lord Jesus replied, Tell me first the meaning of the letter Aleph, and then I will pronounce Beth.

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:15

But this master, when he did lift up his hand to whip him, had his hand presently withered, and he died.

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ 20:16

Then said Joseph to St. Mary, Henceforth we will not allow him to go out of the house; for every one who displeases him is killed.

1 Infancy of Jesus Christ Chapter 20