Acts of Paul and Thecla 7

1Then Paul sent Onesiphorus and his family back to their own home. Taking Thecla with him, he went to Antioch.

2As soon as they entered the city, a Syrian named Alexander, a city magistrate who had performed many significant services for the city during his term, saw Thecla and fell in love with her. He tried to win Paul over with many costly gifts.

3But Paul told him, “I do not know the woman you are speaking about, nor does she belong to me.”

4But Alexander, being a person of great power in Antioch, seized her in the street and kissed her. Thecla would not tolerate this. Looking around for Paul, she cried out loudly in distress, “Do not force me, a stranger! Do not force me, a servant of God! I am one of the prominent people of Iconium, and I was forced to leave that city because I refused to marry Thamyris.”

5Then she seized Alexander, tore his coat, took the crown from his head, and made him look ridiculous in front of all the people.

6But Alexander, partly because he loved her and partly because he was ashamed of what had happened, brought her before the governor. When she admitted what she had done, the governor condemned her to be thrown to the beasts.