THE FIRST APOSTLES OF THE EAST.

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...and they participated in the faith. And the Indians. And in that very separation of his own to that chosen one, he also passed through to Tagrit, a place that had been established in Tagrit by Ardashir original: "ܐܲܪܕܲܫܝܼܪ" the King, which is called "The Black." And he found in that encampment some Magi who used to consecrate their hands, and he proclaimed to them the word of the gospel. And some of them believed from among them, on Sunday original: "ܒܪܚܲܕܒܫܲܒܐ" Bar-had-beschaba, i.e., son of the Lord's day; a name frequently used among the Syrians., Miherphirzat, his son, with all his family.

A detail states that when the Holy Spirit commanded Thomas to go to India original: "ܠܗܿܢܕܘܼ", he hesitated within himself and said that he was not able to go to the barbarians. And while he was wavering with this thought, it was told to him that a merchant of the King of India, named Haban original: "ܚܲܒܲܢ", had come there to buy skilled laborers. And Thomas went to him in order to learn from him about the customs of the land. Our Lord appeared to him in the guise of a merchant, and took him by his hand and brought him to the merchant, and said to him: "This is my servant original: "ܥܲܒܕܐ", and he is a craftsman original: "ܐܘܼܡܳܢܳܐ", and wise in building original: "ܒܸܢܝܢܐ". If it is worthy to you, buy him." And he accepted him, and he gave...

The name Margi is derived from the river Margo, which is also called Murgh-ab. See Ritter, Erdkunde, West-Asien [Geography, West Asia], VIII, part 227, et seq.

1. Bar-had-beschaba, i.e., son of the Lord's day. A name frequently used among the Syrians.
2. See Tischendorf, Acta S. Thomae apocrypha [Apocryphal Acts of St. Thomas],

and the Indians. In that same transit of his toward India, he also passed through a garrison that King Ardashir, nicknamed "The Black," had placed in Tagrit, and in that garrison he found men from the common people devoted to magic, to whom he announced the word of the gospel; some of them believed, among whom in particular was Barhadbeschaba, the son of Miherphirzat, with his whole family.

It is reported, however, that when the Holy Spirit commanded Thomas to go away to evangelize in India, he resisted in himself and excused himself from the journey to a barbarian people. And while he remained uncertain with this kind of thought, it was said to him that a merchant of the King of India, named Haban, had arrived there for the sake of engaging in trade; Thomas approached him in order to inquire from him about the habits of the region; while going, however, the Lord appeared to him in the guise of a merchant, and holding him by the hand, led him to the merchant, to whom he said: "This servant of mine is an honest artisan in the construction of materials; if you have need of him, buy him." And

p. 190, 199; Pseudo-Abdias, Histor. Apostol. [History of the Apostles], book IX; Wright, Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles, in Syriac and English. London 1871, vol. I, p. 173-333; vol. II, p. 146-292.
3) Haban, or Habban, in Greek 'Aββαϛ, in Latin Abban.