English Original
Three hundred years before the birth of Christ, a poor mother had twelve sons. She prayed daily that they might live to see the promised Redeemer. As their need grew desperate, she sent them out, one by one, to seek bread.
The eldest, Peter, wandered deep into a vast forest, lost and starving. Weak and near death, he saw a radiant, angelic child. "Why art thou in such trouble?" the child asked. Peter replied, "I seek bread, and my greatest wish is to see the promised Saviour."
The child said, "Come with me, and thy wish shall be fulfilled." He led Peter through cliffs to a great cavern, shining with gold, silver, and crystal. Twelve cradles stood side by side. "Lie down in the first," said the angel, who then sang and rocked Peter to sleep.
One by one, each brother was guided by his guardian angel to the cavern, rocked to sleep in a cradle. They slept for three hundred years, until the night the Saviour was born. Then they awoke, were with Him on earth, and became known as the twelve apostles.
中文翻译
在基督诞生前三百年前，一位贫穷的母亲有十二个儿子。她每日祈祷，希望他们能活着见到应许的救世主。当他们的处境变得极度艰难时，她将他们一个接一个地派出去寻找食物。
长子彼得走进了一片大森林深处，迷了路，饥肠辘辘。他虚弱不堪，濒临死亡时，看到了一个光芒四射、如天使般美丽善良的孩子。孩子问：“你为何如此苦恼？”彼得答道：“我在寻找食物，而我最大的愿望是见到应许的救世主。”
孩子说：“跟我来，你的愿望将会实现。”他领着彼得穿过悬崖，来到一个巨大的洞穴，里面金、银、水晶闪闪发光。十二个摇篮并排而立。天使说：“躺在第一个里。”然后他唱着歌，摇着彼得入睡。
兄弟们一个接一个，由各自的守护天使引领到洞穴，在摇篮中被摇着入睡。他们沉睡了整整三百年，直到救世主诞生的那个夜晚。他们醒来，与祂一同来到世间，被称为十二门徒。