Protevangelium of James 24

1But the priests entered in at the hour of the saluta- tion, and the blessing of Zacharias met them not according to the manner. And the priests stood waiting for Zacharias, to salute him with the prayer, and to glorify the Most High.

Ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθον οἱ ἱερεῖς εἰς τὴν ὥραν τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἀπήντησεν αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὸ ἔθος ἡ εὐλογία τοῦ Ζαχαρίου. καὶ ἔστησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς προσδοκῶντες τὸν Ζαχαρίαν τοῦ ἀσπάσασθαι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ εὐχῇ καὶ δοξάσαι τὸν ὕψιστον. (20163)

2But as he delayed to come, they were all afraid: and one of them took courage and entered in: and he saw beside the altar congealed blood: and a voice saying: Zacharias hath been slain, and his blood shall not be wiped out until his avenger come. And when he heard that word he was afraid, and went forth and told the priests.

Χρονίσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐφοβήθησαν ἅπαντες· ἀποτολμήσας δὲ εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν εἰσῆλθεν, καὶ εἶδε παρὰ τὸ θυσιαστήριον αἷμα πεπηγὸς καὶ φωνὴν λέγουσαν· Ζαχαρίας πεφόνευται, καὶ οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἕως ἂν ἔλθῃ ὁ ἔκδικος αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἀκούσας τὸν λόγον ἐφοβήθη, καὶ ἐξῆλθε καὶ ἀπήγγειλε τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν. (24268)

3And they took courage and went in and saw that which was done: and the panels of the temple did wail: and they rent their clothes from the top to the bottom. And his body they found not, but his blood they found turned into stone. And they feared, and went forth and told all the people that Zacharias was slain. And all the tribes of the people heard it, and they mourned for him and lamented him three days and three nights. And after the three days the priests took counsel whom they should set in his stead: and the lot came up upon Symeon. Now he it was which, was warned by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death until he should see the Christ in the flesh.

Καὶ τολμήσαντες εἰσῆλθον καὶ εἶδον τὸ γεγονός, καὶ τὰ φατνώματα τοῦ ναοῦ ὀλόλυξαν, καὶ αὐτοὶ περιεσχίσαντο ἀπὸ ἄνωθεν ἕως κάτω. καὶ τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ οὐχ εὗρον, ἀλλ᾽ εὗρον τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ λίθον γεγενημένον. καὶ φοβηθέντες ἐξῆλθον καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν παντὶ τῷ λαῷ ὅτι Ζαχαρίας πεφόνευται. καὶ ἤκουσαν πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ ἐπένθησαν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκόψαντο τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας. Μετὰ δὲ τὰς τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἐβουλεύσαντο οἱ ἱερεῖς τίνα ἀντ᾽ αὐτοῦ στήσουσιν, καὶ ἀνέβη ὁ κλῆρος ἐπὶ Συμεών· οὗτος γὰρ ἦν ὁ χρηματισθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος, μὴ ἰδεῖν θάνατον ἕως ἂν ἴδῃ τὸν Χριστὸν ἐν σαρκί. (53481)