23. But Heliodorus carried on with what had been decided.
24. When he and his spearmen approached the treasury, however, the ruler of all spirits and all authority made an awesome display, so that all those daring to come with Heliodorus fainted, terrified and awestruck by God’s power.
25. A horse appeared to them with a fearsome rider and decked out with a beautiful saddle. While running furiously, the horse attacked Heliodorus with its front hooves. The rider appeared to be clothed in full body armor made of gold.
26. Two young men also appeared before him—unmatched in bodily strength, of superb beauty, and with magnificent robes. They stood on either side of Heliodorus and beat him continuously with many blows.
27. When he suddenly fell to the ground unconscious, his men grasped him and placed him on a stretcher.
28. This was the same man who had just entered the treasury with a large group of men and a full bodyguard. Now they carried him away helpless, despite his weapons, and they publicly acknowledged God’s power.
29. While he was being cut down and left speechless through the divine power and deprived of all hope of recovery,
30. the people were praising the Lord for acting miraculously on behalf of his holy place. And the temple, which had been weighed down with fear and disturbance a short time earlier, was now filled with delight and joy because the almighty Lord had publicly appeared.
31. Some of Heliodorus’ companions rushed to ask Onias to pray to the Most High to give life to the one who was about to draw his last breath.
32. The high priest, fearful that perhaps the king might think that the Jews had done something evil to Heliodorus, offered a sacrifice for the man’s recovery.
33. While the high priest was making the sacrifice for reconciliation, the same two young men, dressed in the same clothing, appeared again to Heliodorus. They stood by him and said, "You owe Onias the high priest your gratitude. Because of him the Lord has graciously given life to you.
34. But you who suffered a beating from heaven must proclaim the great power of God to all." Once they said these things, they disappeared.
35. Heliodorus offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made many solemn promises to the savior for sparing his life. After thanking Onias, he took his military force back to the king.
36. He testified to everyone about the works of the great God that he had seen with his own eyes.
37. When the king asked Heliodorus who would be the right sort of person to send again to Jerusalem, he said:
38. "If you have an enemy or someone plotting against your government, send him, and he will come back badly beaten if he should come back at all, because some divine power truly surrounds the temple.
39. The one who lives in heaven watches over that place and will strike and destroy anyone coming with evil intent."
40. So this is how matters turned out concerning Heliodorus and the guarding of the treasury.