After his sufferings he had also shown himself alive to them in many convincing manifestations, revealing himself to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.

For the man on whom this miracle of healing had been wrought was over forty years old.

"And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel;

"But at the end of forty years there appeared to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush.

"This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years.

"So God turned from them, and gave them up to the worship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the book of the Prophets. "Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, O House of Israel?

"For about forty years he bore with them in the desert,

"Then they asked for a king, and he gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a Benjamite for forty years.

And there were more than forty who had sworn this oath.

"Now do not let them persuade, for more than forty men are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse, not to eat nor drink until they have killed him; even now they are all ready, awaiting your consent."