Note 238 — The Twelve Apostles. (continued 2)

Florence, S. Maria Novella. It is clear that the extravagant legends which refer to Judas Iscariot were the inventions of the middle ages, and are as little countenanced by the writings of the early fathers as by the Gospels. Eusebius says, that ‘Christ gave like gifts to Judas with the other apostles; that once our Saviour had good hopes of him on account of the power of the free will, for Judas was not of such a nature as rendered his salvation impossible; like the other apostles, he might have been instructed by the Son of God, and might have been a sincere and good disciple.’ (Quoted in Lardner, vol. viii. p. 77.) The Mahometans believe that Christ did not die, that he ascended alive into heaven, and that Judas was crucified in his likeness. (Curzon, p. 185.)