Chapter 20

1Sent to school to Zaccheus to learn his letters, and teaches Zaccheus. 13 Sent to another schoolmaster. 14 refuses to tell his letters, and the schoolmaster going to whip him his hand withers and he dies . THERE was also at Jerusalem one named Zaccheus, who was a schoolmaster.
2And he said to Joseph, Joseph, why dost thou not send Jesus to me, that he may learn his letters?
3Joseph agreed, and told St. Mary;
4So they brought him to that master; who, as soon as he saw him, wrote out an alphabet for him.
5And he bade him say Aleph; and when he had said Aleph, the master bade him pronounce Beth.
6Then the Lord Jesus said to him, Tell me first the meaning of the letter Aleph, and then I will pronounce Beth.
7And when the master threatened to whip him, the Lord Jesus explained to him the meaning of the letters Aleph and Beth;
8Also 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.
9The 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.
10At this the master was so surprised, that he said, I believe this boy was born before Noah;
11And turning to Joseph, he said, Thou hast brought a boy to me to be taught, who is more learned than any master.
12He said also unto St. Mary, This your son has no need of any learning.
13They brought him then to a more learned master, who, when he saw him, said, say Aleph.
14And 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.
15But this master, when he lift up his hand to whip him, had his hand presently withered, and he died.
16Then 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.