Acts of Paul and Thecla 8

1When the people saw this, they said, “The judgments passed in this city are unjust.” But Thecla asked the governor for the favor that her chastity would not be violated, but preserved until she was thrown to the beasts.

2The governor then asked who would take her in. A very rich widow named Trifina, whose daughter had recently died, asked to have her in her care, and she began to treat Thecla in her house as her own daughter.

3At last the day came when the beasts were to be brought out for display. Thecla was brought to the amphitheater and put into a den containing an exceedingly fierce lioness, in the presence of a multitude of spectators.

4Trifina accompanied Thecla without showing any alarm, and the lioness licked Thecla’s feet. The written notice stating her crime read: “Sacrilege.” Then the woman cried out, “O God, the judgments of this city are unrighteous!”

5After the beasts had been displayed, Trifina took Thecla home with her, and they went to bed. And behold, Trifina’s dead daughter appeared to her mother and said, “Mother, regard the young woman Thecla as your daughter in my place. Ask her to pray for me, so that I may be transferred to a state of happiness.”

6Then Trifina said sorrowfully, “My daughter Falconilla has appeared to me and instructed me to receive you in her place. Therefore, Thecla, I ask you to pray for my daughter, so that she may be transferred to a state of happiness and to eternal life.”

7When Thecla heard this, she immediately prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord God of heaven and earth, Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High, grant that her daughter Falconilla may live forever.” When Trifina heard this, she groaned again and said, “O unrighteous judgments! O senseless wickedness, that such a person should (again) be thrown to the beasts!”

8The next morning, at daybreak, Alexander came to Trifina’s house and said, “The governor and the people are waiting. Bring out the criminal.”

9But Trifina rushed at him so violently that he became frightened and ran away. Trifina was a member of the royal family. She expressed her sorrow in this way and said, “Alas! I have trouble in my house for two reasons, and there is no one who will relieve me—either in the loss of my daughter or in my inability to save Thecla. But now, O Lord God, be the helper of your servant Thecla.”

10While she was saying this, the governor sent one of his own officers to bring Thecla. Trifina took her by the hand and went with her, saying, “I went with Falconilla to her grave, and now I must go with Thecla to the beasts.”

11When Thecla heard this, she prayed with tears and said, “O Lord God, in whom I have placed my confidence and found refuge, reward Trifina for her compassion toward me and for preserving my chastity.”

12Then there was a great noise in the amphitheater. The beasts roared, and the people cried out, “Bring in the criminal!”

13But the woman cried out and said, “Let the whole city suffer for such crimes, and order all of us, O governor, to receive the same punishment. O unjust judgment! O cruel sight!”

14Others said, “Let the whole city be destroyed for this vile act. Kill us all, O governor! O cruel sight! O unrighteous judgment!”