Acts of Andrew (Greek fragments and Martyrdom)

Contents

Reading pages: 1.1–1.18 · 2.1–2.19

1. 1.1Andrew tells the brothers that they belong to the one who abides, the light, and the One, and that their glory is to be known by God.
2. 1.2Andrew sends the brothers home, and for many days they gather freely in the prison while Aegeates leaves the case aside.
3. 1.3Aegeates breaks off a trial, remembering Andrew, and hurries home to Maximilla.
4. 1.4Aegeates tells Maximilla that if she returns to their married life he will release Andrew, and if not he will torment him.
5. 1.5Andrew urges Maximilla to refuse Aegeates and to endure his threats, seeing in her Eve repenting and in himself Adam turning back.
6. 1.6Andrew praises the soul that returns to itself, recognizing that it is immaterial, holy, light, and akin to the unbegotten, and bids it long to see the one who did not come into being.
7. 1.7Andrew tells Maximilla to trample on Aegeates' threats and remain chaste, whatever tortures are brought upon his own body.
8. 1.8Andrew tells Maximilla of the Lord's word that the devil will release him from prison, and charges her to remain chaste, warning that he will suffer on her account if she yields.
9. 1.9Andrew begs Maximilla's inner mind to remain clear-sighted, to love Jesus, and to see and hear what he sees and says.
10. 1.10Andrew asks the weeping Stratocles whether the inner man in him has heard and received his words, and Stratocles' inner man answers that he has.
11. 1.11Andrew takes Stratocles' tears as a sign that his words have not been spoken in vain.
12. 1.12Stratocles begs Andrew's help to grow the seed of the word; Andrew foretells his crucifixion; Maximilla refuses Aegeates, who resolves to crucify Andrew.
13. 1.15Andrew tells the brothers that he was sent to remind those akin to his words to flee changeable things and to see in the word the mysteries of their own nature.
14. 1.16Andrew charges the brothers to stand firm on the foundation laid for them, remembering the works and words they received through him.
15. 1.17Andrew tells the brothers not to be troubled by his coming death, since the devil has always waged a disguised war on mankind under a show of friendship.
16. 1.18Andrew tells the brothers that since grace was revealed the devil has turned to open hatred, and urges them to wake up and gladly welcome the end.
17. 2.1After the ascension Peter urges the apostles in Jerusalem to go out into the world as Christ commanded.
18. 2.2The apostles cast lots for their mission fields, and Bithynia falls to Andrew.
19. 2.3Andrew comes to Patras and works healings in the name of Jesus, and the proconsul Lesbius seeks to kill him as a magician.
20. 2.4An angel strikes Lesbius senseless; he sends for Andrew and begs him for the knowledge of the true God.
21. 2.5Andrew prays to Christ and heals Lesbius, who believes with all his household.
22. 2.6Andrew heals the sick of Patras, and the people destroy their idols and temples, proclaiming the God of Andrew.
23. 2.7Removed from office by the emperor, Lesbius gladly gives up his position and joins Andrew.
24. 2.8Christ tells Andrew in a vision to take up his cross; news comes that the new proconsul Aegeates has sent executioners to arrest him.
25. 2.9The executioners of Aegeates seize Andrew's host Antiphanes, and the city gathers at his door in protest.
26. 2.10The people protest Andrew's arrest; he calms them, telling them it is a grace to die for Christ, and gives himself up to the executioners.
27. 2.11Aegeates demands to know by whose power Andrew has destroyed the worship of the gods and won Achaia for a crucified man.
28. 2.12Andrew tells Aegeates that the demons and idols have been overthrown by God the Word, who came in a body and sent the apostles, and calls him to believe and be saved.
29. 2.13Aegeates has Andrew scourged and condemned to the cross; Andrew prays to be received by Christ, and the crowd protests the unjust sentence.
30. 2.14Andrew greets the cross and its mystery, gives himself to the executioners, and hangs bound on it for four days without weakening.
31. 2.16From the cross Andrew urges Aegeates to believe in the crucified Christ and prays to be released into immortality.
32. 2.17Andrew dies giving thanks, and the crowd praises the God of Andrew.
33. 2.18Maximilla and Stratocles bury Andrew; Maximilla separates from Aegeates, who kills himself, and Stratocles gives his inheritance to the poor.
34. 2.19The account closes with the date of Andrew's martyrdom, 30 November by the Roman calendar.