Volume 8 · Chapter 553 · Pp. 494-500

The beginning of the Sabbath in Ephraim. The thieves of the Adummim and help given to three children.

Chapter 553 recounts the return of the ten apostles, weary and dusty, to a house where they inquire about Jesus' whereabouts. A Samaritan woman explains that Jesus has gone early into the woods to pray, sometimes alone and sometimes with children, teaching them to see God in all things. The chapter highlights the apostles' concern for Jesus' safety, contrasting it with the fate of John the Baptist, and emphasizes trust in divine protection. Additionally, the narrative touches on the beginning of the Sabbath in Ephraim and an episode involving thieves at the Adummim and assistance given to three children.

Themes: Divine Protection, Prayer and Solitude, Trust in God, Sabbath Observance, Innocence of Children, Good Samaritan