The Good Thief
Longinus, which was a puissant powerful knight, was with other knights, by the commandment of Pilate, on the side of the cross of our Lord, and pierced the side of our Lord with a spear; and when he saw the miracles, how the sun lost his light, and great earthquaving of the earth was, when our Lord suffered death and passion in the tree wood of the cross, then believed he in Jesu Christ.Some say that when he smote our Lord with the spear in the side, the precious blood avaled dropped down by the shaft of the spear upon his hands, and of adventure by chance with his hands he touched his eyes, and anon immediately, very soon, right away he that had been tofore blind saw anon clearly, wherefore he refused all chivalry his profession as a soldier and abode with the apostles, of by whom he was taught and christened, and after, he abandoned him to lead an holy life in doing alms and in keeping the life of a monk about thirty-eight years in Cæsarea and in Cappadocia, and by his words and his example many men converted he to the faith of Christ.
St. Longinus Before Octavian the Provost
And when this came to the knowledge of Octavian the provost, he took him and would have constrained wanted to force him to do sacrifice to the idols, and St. Longinus said: There may no man serve two lords which be contrary to other; thine idols be lords of thy malices, corrupters of all good works and enemies to chastity, humility and to bounty, benevolence, generosity and friends to all ordure filth of luxury, lust of gluttony, of idleness, of pride and of avarice, and my Lord is Lord of soberness that bringeth the people to the everlasting life.Then said the provost: It is nought nothing, inanity, piffle that thou sayest; make sacrifice to the idols and thy God shall forgive thee because of the commandment that is made to thee.
Longinus said: If thou wilt become Christian God shall pardon thee thy trespasses.
Then the provost was angry, and made the teeth of St. Longinus to be drawn out of his mouth, and did do cut had (others) cut his mouth open. And yet for all that Longinus lost not his speech, but took an axe that he there found, and hewed and brake therewith the idols and said: Now may we see if they be very gods true gods, gods in fact or not.
And anon the devils issued out and entered into the body of the provost and his fellows, and they brayed like beasts and fell down to the feet of St. Longinus and said: We know well that thou art servant unto the sovereign God.
And St. Longinus demanded asked of the devils why they dwelled in these idols, and they answered: We have found place in these idols for us, for over all where Jesu Christ is not named ne nor his sign is not showed, there dwell we gladly; and because when these paynims pagans come to these idols for to adore and make sacrifice in the name of us, then we come and dwell in these idols, wherefore we pray thee, man of God, that thou send us not in the abysm of hell.
And St. Longinus said to the people that there were: What say ye: will ye have these devlls for your gods and worship them or have ye liefer do you prefer that I hunt them out of this world in the name of Jesu Christ?
And the people said with a high voice: Much great is the God of Christian people, holy man, we pray thee that thou suffer not the devils to dwell in this city.
Then commanded St. Longinus to the devils that they should issue out of these people, in such wise that the people had great joy and believed in our Lord.
Octavian Arraigns St. Longinus a Second Time
A little time after, the evil provost made St. Longinus to come tofore him, and said to him that all the people were departed, and by his enchantment had refused the idols; if the king knew it he should destroy us and the city also.Aphrodisius answered: How wilt thou yet torment this good man, which hath saved us and hath done so much good to the city?
And the provost said: He hath deceived us by enchantry.
Aphrodisius said: His God is great and hath none evil in him.
Then did the provost cut out the tongue of Aphrodisius, wherefore St. Longinus signed unto God, and anon the provost became blind and lost all his members. When Aphrodisius saw that, he said: Lord God, thou art just and thy judgment is veritable. true
And the provost said to Aphrodisius: Fair brother, pray to St. Longinus that he pray for me, for I have done ill to him.
And Aphrodisius said: Have not I well told it to thee, do no more so to Longinus: Seest not thou me speak without tongue?
And the provost said, I have not only lost mine eyes, but also my heart and my body is in great pain.
And St. Longinus said: If thou wilt be whole and guerished explanation put me appertly openly, in public to death, and I shall pray for thee to our Lord, after that I shall be dead, that he heal thee.
And anon then the provost did do smite off his head, and after, he came and fell on the body of St. Longinus and said all in weeping, Sire: I have sinned; I knowledge and confess my filth.
And anon came again his sight, and he received health of his body and buried honorably the body of St. Longinus. And the provost believed in Jesu Christ and abode in the company of Christian men, and thanked God, and died in good estate. All this happed in Cæsarea of Cappadocia to the honour of our Lord God, to whom be given laud praise and glory in secula seculorum. world without end, forever
Golden Legend Table of Contents
Christian Iconography Home Page
Longinus's attribute is the spear with which he pierced Jesus' side on the cross. (See the description page for this image and the page explaining the iconography of images of this saint.)
This text was taken from the Internet Medieval Source Book. E-text © by Paul Halsall. Annotations, formatting, and added rubrics by Richard Stracke. Permission is granted for electronic copying, distribution in print form for educational purposes and personal use. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the sources. No permission is granted for commercial use.