ZACHEUS. The false Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ provides a Master for our Saviour, whose Name was Zacheus1. St. Irenæus also mentions this Master2, who having bid Jesus Christ to pronounce A, he did so accordingly. The Master then bid him pronounce B; but he answer’d, First teach me what is the Meaning of A, and then I will tell you the Meaning of B. He would insinuate by this, says St. Irenæus, that he alone knew the Mystery that was conceal’d under the Letter A. The Gospel of the Infancy which we have in Greek intimates, that Zacheus having bid Jesus to pronounce Aleph, Jesus answer’d Beth, Gimel, and the rest of the Alphabet without Hesitation; and that afterwards he explain’d to his Master the Writings of the Prophets in such a manner, as fill’d him with Admiration. The Gospel of the Infancy printed in Latin relates almost the same thing, but in a more ample manner. It calls also this Master Zacheus.
Read this article in its place on the printed pages