22 While therefore they called on the Almighty master to keep the things entrusted to them safe and secure[fn] for those who’d entrusted them, 23 Heliodoros went on to execute that which had been decreed. 24 But when he was already present there with his guards near the treasury, the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused a great manifestation, so that all who’d presumed to come with him, stricken with dismay at God’s power, fainted in terror. 25 Because they saw a horse with a frightening rider, adorned with beautiful trappings, and he rushed fiercely and struck at Heliodoros with his forefeet. It seemed like he who sat on the horse had complete armour of gold. 26 Two others also appeared to him, young men notable in their strength, and beautiful in their glory, and splendid in their clothing, who stood by him on either side, and scourged him unceasingly, inflicting on him many sore stripes. 27 When he’d fallen suddenly to the ground, and great darkness had come over him, his guards picked him up and put him on a stretcher, 28 and carried him—this man who’d just now entered with a great retinue and all his guard into the aforesaid treasury, himself now brought to utter helplessness, manifestly made to recognise the sovereignty of God. 29 So, while he, through the working of God, speechless and bereft of all hope and deliverance, lay prostrate, 30 they blessed the master who acted marvellously for his own place. The temple, which a little before was full of terror and alarm, was filled with joy and gladness after the Almighty master appeared.

31 But quickly some of Heliodoros’s familiar friends implored Honyo (Onias) to call on the Most High to grant life to him who lay quite at the last gasp. 32 The high priest, secretly afraid that the king might think that some treachery towards Heliodoros had been perpetrated by the Yehudim (Jews), brought a sacrifice for the recovery of the man. 33 But as the high priest was making the atoning sacrifice, the same young men appeared again to Heliodoros, arrayed in the same clothes. They stood and said, “Give Honyo the high priest great thanks, for his sake the master has granted you life. 34 See that you, since you’ve been scourged from heaven, proclaim to all men the sovereign majesty of God.” When they’d spoken these words, they vanished out of sight. 35 So Heliodoros, having offered a sacrifice to the master and vowed great[fn] vows to him who’d saved his life, and having bidden Honyo farewell, returned with his army to the king. 36 He testified to all men the works of the greatest God, which he’d seen with his eyes.

37 When the king asked Heliodoros what sort of man was fit to be sent yet once again to Yerushalem (Jerusalem), he said, 38 “If you have any enemy or conspirator against the state, send him there, and you’ll receive him back well scourged, if he even escapes with his life; because truly there’s some power of God in that place. 39 Because he who has his residence in heaven himself has his eyes on that place and helps it. Those who come to hurt it, he strikes and destroys.”

40 This was the history of Heliodoros and the keeping of the treasury.