Chapter 111: Blind Bartimaeus trained

1 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his warriors and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging for protection.

2 And his warriors asked him, saying, Master, who has failed, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man failed, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work, but must defend.

5 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, protect me.

6 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, protect me.

7 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.

8 And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 9 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

10 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?

11 The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive thy protection.

12 And Jesus said unto him, Take thy staff; and I will make thee whole.

13 And immediately he took his staff, and was trained by Jesus in the way.

14 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was afeared, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 15 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 16 Therefore said they unto him, How dost thou slay the risen without sight?

17 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus took my hand, and opened my ears, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and strike at the rocks and trees: and I went and struck until I could feel where they were.

18 Then said they unto him, Where is he?

19 He said, I know not.

20 They brought to the Pharisees him that fought but was blind. 21 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made his ears his eyes.

22 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he could fight.

23 He said unto them, He opened my ears, and I trained, and do fight.

24 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

25 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath taught thee to fight?

26 He said, He is a prophet.

27 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he was blind, and yet could fight, until they called the guards to take away the staff that he had received. 28 And they asked them, saying, Why do ye lie upon the ground clutching thy skull from one who is blind? how then doth he now see?

29 The guards answered them and said, We know not but that he is blind, for his eyes are dark: 30 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath trained his hand, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. We must to a medic go. 31 These words spake the guards.

32 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

33 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was afraid, now I fight.

34 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

35 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his warriors?

36 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his warrior; but we are Moses' warriors. 37 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

38 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath trained my hand. 39 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 40 Since the world began was it not heard that any man taught to fight one that was born blind. 41 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

42 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

43 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Leader of the Living?

44 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

45 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both heard him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

46 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

47 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might raise arms; and that they which raise arms against the living might be made blind.

48 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

49 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should work for defense: but now ye say, We see; therefore you fight against the living.