# Acts of Paul and Thecla - Author: Anonymous - Latin title: *Acta Pauli et Theclae* - Date: ca. 150–200 (approximate) - Source: Richard Adelbert Lipsius and Maximilian Bonnet, eds., Acta apostolorum apocrypha, vol. 1 (Leipzig: Hermann Mendelssohn, 1891), 235–272 (OCR text layer from the Internet Archive scan) - Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator - Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/ - Passages: 44 ## Acts of Paul and Thecla (title) - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-0 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The title of the work. ### Greek text Πράξεις Παύλου καὶ Θέκλης ### English translation (Claude) The Acts of Paul and Thecla. ### Translation notes - The Acts of Paul and Thecla form a section of the larger Acts of Paul. The Greek here is an OCR of Lipsius's edition (1891); clear misreadings are read by sense, and passages of the edition's apparatus that leaked into the text are removed by logged corrections. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. pref. (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-0). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 1 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-1 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Paul travels to Iconium with Demas and Hermogenes, two false companions, and teaches them about Christ. ### Greek text ἡγαβαίνοντος Παύλου εἰς Ἰχόνιον μετὰ τὴν φυγὴν τὴν ἀπὸ ἡντιοχείας ἐγενήϑησαν σύνοδοι αὐτῷ 4mu&g καὶ Ἑρμογένης ὃ χαλχεύς, ὑποχρίσεως γέμοντες, καὶ ἐξελιπάρουν τὸν Παῖλον ὡς ἀγαπῶντες αὐτόν. ὁ δὲ Παῦλος ἀποβλέπων εἰς μόνην τὴν ἀγαϑοσύγην τοῦ Χριστοῦ οὐδὲν φαῦλον ἐποίει αὐτοῖς, ἀλλ᾽ ἔστεργεν αὐτοὺὶς σφόδρα, ὥστε πάντα τὰ λόγια κυρίου [καὶ τῆς διδασκαλίας καὶ τῆς ἑρμηνείας τοῦ εὐαγγελίου] καὶ τῆς γεννήσεως καὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τοῦ »JG;tnuévov ἐγλύχαινεν αὐτούς, καὶ τὰ μεγαλεῖα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, πῶς ἀπεκαλύφρϑη αὐτῷ, κατὰ ῥῆμα διηγεῖτο αὐτοῖς, ### English translation (Claude) As Paul was going up to Iconium after his flight from Antioch, Demas and Hermogenes the coppersmith became his travelling companions, full of hypocrisy, and they kept pressing their attentions on Paul as though they loved him. But Paul, looking only to the goodness of Christ, did them no harm, but loved them greatly, so that he made all the oracles of the Lord sweet to them, and the birth and resurrection of the Beloved; and he related to them word for word the great deeds of Christ, how they had been revealed to him. ### Scripture references - Acts 13:51: allusion, medium confidence - 2 Tim 4:10: allusion, medium confidence - 2 Tim 1:15: allusion, medium confidence - 2 Tim 4:14: echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - The editor brackets the words "and of the teaching and the interpretation of the gospel" after "oracles of the Lord" as an addition; they are left out. - Flight from Antioch: Acts 13:50–51. Demas and Hermogenes: 2 Tim 4:10; 1:15; a coppersmith (Alexander) in 2 Tim 4:14. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 1 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-1). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 2 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-2 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Onesiphorus and his family go out to meet Paul, whom they know only by Titus's description. ### Greek text Καί rig ἀνὴρ ὀνόματι Ὀνησι(φύρος ἀκούσας τὸν Παῦλον παραγενόμενον εἰς ᾿Ικόνιον. ἐξῆλθεν σὺν τοῖς τέχνοις αὐτοῦ Σιμμίᾳ καὶ Ζήνωνι καὶ τῇ γυναιχὶ αὐτοῦ.]έχτρᾳ εἰς συνάντησιν Παύλου, ἵνα αὐτὸν ὑποδέξηται: διηγήσατο γὰρ αὐτῷ Τίτος ποταπός ἐστιν τῇ εἰδέᾳ ὁ Παῖλος" οὐ γὰρ εἶδεν αὐτὸν σαρχὶ ἀλλὰ μόνον πνεύματι. ### English translation (Claude) And a man named Onesiphorus, hearing that Paul had come to Iconium, went out with his children Simmias and Zeno and his wife Lectra to meet Paul, so that he might receive him into his house; for Titus had described to him what Paul looked like. For he had not seen him in the flesh, but only in the spirit. ### Scripture references - 2 Tim 1:16: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - Onesiphorus: 2 Tim 1:16; 4:19. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 2 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-2). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 3 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-3 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Onesiphorus waits on the road and recognizes Paul, whose appearance is described. ### Greek text Καὶ ἐπορεύετο χατὰ τὴν βασιλικὴν ὁδὸν τὴν ἐπὶ Agro», καὶ εἱστήχει ἀπεχδεχόμενος αὐτόν, καὶ τοὺς ἐρχομένους ἐϑεώρει χατὰ τὴν μήνυσιν Τίτου. εἶδεν δὲ τὸν Παῦλον ἐρχόμενον, ἄνδρα μιχρὴν τῷ μεγέϑει, ψιλὸν τῇ κεφαλῇ, ἀγχύλον ταῖς χνήμαις, εὐεχτιχύν, σύνοφρυν, μιχρῶς ἐπίρρινον, χάριτος πλήρη" ποτὲ μὲν γὰρ ἐφαίνετο ὡς ἄνϑρωττος. ττοτὲ δὲ ἀγγέλου τιρόσωττον εἶχεν. ### English translation (Claude) And he went along the royal road that leads to Lystra, and stood waiting for him, and watched those who were coming, according to Titus's description. And he saw Paul coming, a man small in stature, bald-headed, bow-legged, of sturdy build, with eyebrows that met, a rather long nose, full of grace; for at times he appeared like a man, and at times he had the face of an angel. ### Scripture references - Acts 6:15: echo, medium confidence ### Translation notes - This is the earliest surviving description of Paul's appearance. "The face of an angel": compare Acts 6:15. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 3 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-3). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 4 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-4 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Onesiphorus welcomes Paul, and Demas and Hermogenes resent not being greeted as warmly. ### Greek text Καὶ ἰδὼν ὃ Παῦλος τὸν ᾿Ονησιφόρον ἐμειδίασεν, καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Ὀνησιφύρος Χαῖρε, ὑπηρέτα τοῦ εὐλογημένου ϑεοῦ" χἀχεῖνος εἶπεν Ἢ χάρις μετὰ σοῦ καὶ τοῦ οἴχου σου. 4ημᾶς δὲ καὶ Ἑρμογένης ἐζήλωσαν καὶ πλείονα τὴν ὑπόχρισιν ἐκίνησαν, ὡς δ εἰπεῖν τὸν “ημᾶν Ἣμεῖς οὐχ ἐσμὲν τοῦ εὐλογημένου, ὅτι ἡμᾶς οὐχ ἠσπάσω οὕτως: καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ᾿θΟνησιφύρος Οὐχ ὁρῶ ἐν ὑμῖν χαρπὸν δικαιοσύνης" εἰ δὲ ἔστε τινές, δεῦτε καὶ ὑμεῖς εἰς τὸν οἶχόν μου καὶ ἀνατιαύσασϑε. ### English translation (Claude) And when Paul saw Onesiphorus he smiled; and Onesiphorus said: "Greetings, servant of the blessed God." And he said: "Grace be with you and your house." But Demas and Hermogenes were jealous and stirred up greater hypocrisy, so that Demas said: "Are we not of the blessed one, that you did not greet us so?" And Onesiphorus said: "I do not see in you fruit of righteousness; but if you are something, come also into my house and rest." ### Scripture references - Phil 1:11: echo, low confidence ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 4 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-4). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 5 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-5 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: In Onesiphorus's house Paul breaks bread and begins a series of beatitudes in praise of chastity and self-control. ### Greek text Καὶ εἰσελϑόντος Παύλου εἰς τὸν τοῦ ᾿Ὀνησιφόρου οἶχον ἐγένετο χαρὰ μεγάλῃ, καὶ κλίσις γονάτων καὶ χλάσις ἄρτοι x«i λόγος ϑεοῦ περὶ ἐγχρατείας καὶ ἀναστάσεως, λέγοντος TOU Παύλου Μαχάριοι οἱ χαϑαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, Ori αὐτοὶ τὸν ϑεὺν ὄψονται. μαχάριοι οἱ ἁγνὴν τὴν σάρχα τηρήσαντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ναὸς ϑεοῦ γενήσονται. μαχάριοι οἱ ἐγχρατεῖς, ὅτι αὐτοῖς λαλήσει ὁ ϑεύς. μαχάριοι οἱ ἀποταξάμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ, Ort αὐτοὶ εὐἰαρεστήσουσιν τῷ ϑεῷ. μαχάριοι οἱ ἔχοντες γυναῖχας ὡς μὴ ἔχοντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσιν τὸν ϑεὸν. μαχάριοι οἱ φόβον ἔχοντες ϑεοῖ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἄγγελοι ϑεοῦ γενήσονται. ### English translation (Claude) And when Paul had entered the house of Onesiphorus there was great joy, and bending of knees and breaking of bread and the word of God about self-control and resurrection, as Paul said: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are those who have kept the flesh chaste, for they shall become a temple of God. Blessed are the self-controlled, for God will speak to them. Blessed are those who have renounced this world, for they shall be well pleasing to God. Blessed are those who have wives as though they had none, for they shall inherit God. Blessed are those who fear God, for they shall become angels of God. ### Scripture references - Matt 5:8: quotation, high confidence - 1 Cor 7:29: allusion, high confidence - 1 Cor 6:19: echo, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The beatitudes adapt Matt 5:3–12 and turn several of them to the praise of continence, a distinctive theme of these Acts; they are translated as written. "Wives as though they had none": 1 Cor 7:29. "Temple of God": compare 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 5 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-5). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 6 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-6 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Paul's beatitudes continue, ending with a blessing on the bodies of virgins. ### Greek text Μαχάριοι οἱ τρέμοντες τὰ λόγια τοῦ ϑεοῖῦ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ παραχληϑήσονται. μαχάριοι οἱ σοφίαν λαβόντες Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ ὑψίστου χληϑίσονται. μαχάριοι 0b τὸ βάπτισμα τηρήσαντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἀναπαύσονται πρὸς τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὸν υἱόν, μακάριοι οἱ σύνεσιν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ χωρήσαντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐν φωτὶ γενήσονται. μαχάριοι οἱ δι ἀγάπην ϑεοῦ ἐξελϑόντες τοῦ σχίματος τοῖ χοσμιχοῦ, ὅτε αὐτοὶ ἀγγέλους κρινοῦσιν καὶ ἐν Wi τοῦ πατρὸς εὐλογηϑήσονται. μαχώριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες, ὕτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηϑήσονται καὶ οὐχ ὄψονται ἡμέραν χρίσεως πιχράν. μαχάρια τὰ σώματα τῶν παρϑένων, ὅτι αὐτὰ εὐαρεστήσουσιν τῷ ϑεῷ καὶ οὐχ ἀπολέσουσιν τὸν μισϑὸν τῆς ἁγνείας αὐτῶν Ott ὃ λόγος τοῦ πατρὸς ἔργον αὐτοῖς γενήσεται σωτηρίας εἰς ἡμέραν τοῦ viov αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν ἕξουσιν εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνυς. ### English translation (Claude) Blessed are those who tremble at the words of God, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who have received the wisdom of Jesus Christ, for they shall be called sons of the Most High. Blessed are those who have kept their baptism, for they shall rest with the Father and the Son. Blessed are those who have taken in the understanding of Jesus Christ, for they shall be in light. Blessed are those who for the love of God have gone out from the outward form of this world, for they shall judge angels and shall be blessed at the right hand of the Father. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy and shall not see the bitter day of judgment. Blessed are the bodies of the virgins, for they shall be well pleasing to God and shall not lose the reward of their chastity; for the word of the Father shall become for them a work of salvation in the day of his Son, and they shall have rest for ever and ever." ### Scripture references - Isa 66:2: echo, medium confidence - Matt 5:4: echo, medium confidence - Luke 6:35: allusion, medium confidence - 1 Cor 7:31: allusion, medium confidence - 1 Cor 6:3: allusion, high confidence - Matt 5:7: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - "Tremble at the words": Isa 66:2, 5. "Sons of the Most High": Luke 6:35. "The form of this world": 1 Cor 7:31. "Judge angels": 1 Cor 6:3. "Blessed are the merciful": Matt 5:7. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 6 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-6). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 7 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-7 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla, a betrothed virgin, listens to Paul's preaching from a neighbouring window for days on end. ### Greek text Καὶ ταῖτα τοῦ Παύλου λέγοντος ἐν μέσῳ τῆς ἐχχλησίας ἐν τῷ Ὀνησιφόρου οἴχῳ, Θέχλα τις παρϑένος Θεοχλείας μητρὺς μεμνηστευμένη ἀνδρὶ Θαμύριδι, καϑεσϑεῖσα ἐπὶ τῆς σύνεγγυς ϑυρίδος τοῦ ofzov ἤκουεν νυχτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας τὸν περὶ ἁγνείας λόγον λεγόμενον ὑπὸ τοῖ Παΐλου: zai οὐχ ἀπένευεν ἀπὸ TUS ϑυρίδος, ἀλλὰ τῇ πίστει ἐπήγετο ὑπερευφραινομένη. ἔτι δὲ xu βλέπουσα πολλὰς γυναῖχας καὶ παρϑένους εἰσττορευομένας πρὸς τὸν Παῦλον, ἐπεπόϑει καὶ αὐτὴ χαταξιωϑῆναι κατὰ πρόσoXov στῆναι Παύλου καὶ ἀχούειν τὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον" οὐδέπω γὰρ τὸν χαραχτῆρα Παύλου ἑωράκει, ἀλλὰ τοῦ λόγου ἤχουεν μόνον. ### English translation (Claude) And while Paul was saying these things in the midst of the church in the house of Onesiphorus, a certain virgin, Thecla, whose mother was Theocleia, betrothed to a man named Thamyris, sat at the window of the house next door and listened night and day to the word about chastity spoken by Paul; and she did not turn away from the window, but was drawn on by faith, rejoicing exceedingly. And besides, when she saw many women and virgins going in to Paul, she longed that she too might be counted worthy to stand in Paul's presence and hear the word of Christ; for she had not yet seen Paul's appearance, but had only heard his word. ### Translation notes - "Was drawn on" (ἐπήγετο) is the editor's own reading; the manuscripts vary (the apparatus note had leaked into the text of section 8 and is removed there). ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 7 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-7). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 8 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-8 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Theocleia calls Thamyris and tells him that Thecla has been captivated by a stranger's teaching. ### Greek text Ὡς δὲ οὐκ ἀφίστατο d τῆς ϑυρίδος, πέμπει ἡ μήτηρ αὐτῆς πρὸς τὸν Θάμυριν" ὃ δὲ ἔρχεται περιχαρίΐς, ὡς δὴ λαμβάνων αὐτὴν τιρὸς γάμον. εἶπεν οὖν ὃ Θάμυρις πρὸς Θεοχλείαν Ποῦ μού ἐστιν ἡ Θέχλα; Καὶ εἶπεν ἡ Θεοχλεία Καινόν σοι ἔχω εἰπεῖν διήγημα, Θώμυρι. καὶ γὰρ ἡμέρας τρεῖς καὶ νύχτας τρεῖς add ἀπὸ τῆς ϑυρίδος οὐχ ἐγείρεται, οὔτε ἐπὶ τὸ φαγεῖν οὔτε ἐπὶ τὸ πιεῖν, ἀλλὰ ἀτενίζουσα ὡς πρὸς εὐφρασίαν, οὕτως τιρόσχειται ἀνὸρὶ ξένῳ ἀπατηλοὺς wal ποικίλους λόγους διδάσκοντι, ὥστε μὲ ϑαυμάζειν πῶς ἡ τοιαύτη αἰδὼς τῆς πιαρϑένου χαλεπὼς ἐνοχλεῖται. ### English translation (Claude) And since she would not leave the window, her mother sends to Thamyris; and he comes overjoyed, as though he were now taking her in marriage. So Thamyris said to Theocleia: "Where is my Thecla?" And Theocleia said: "I have a strange story to tell you, Thamyris. For three days and three nights Thecla has not risen from the window, either to eat or to drink; but gazing intently as if at some delight, she is so devoted to a stranger who teaches deceitful and subtle words that I wonder how such modesty in a virgin is so grievously troubled." ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 8 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-8). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 9 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-9 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Theocleia urges Thamyris to win back Thecla, who is held fast by Paul's teaching on chastity. ### Greek text Θάμυρι, ὁ ἄνϑρωπος οὗτος τὴν Ἰκονιέων πόλιν ἀνασείει, ἔτι δὲ καὶ τὴν σὴν Θέχλαν" “τᾶσαι γὰρ αἱ γυναῖχες καὶ οἱ γέοι εἰσέρχονται πιρὸς αὐτόν, διδασκόμενοι πιαρ᾽ αὐτοῦ ὅτι Δεῖ, φησίν, ἕνα x«i μόνον ϑεὸν φοβεῖσθαι καὶ ζῆν ἁγνῶς. ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἡ δ ϑυγάτηρ μου ὡς ἀράχνη ἐπὶ τῆς ϑυρίδος δεδεμένη τοῖς ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ λόγοις κρατεῖται ἐπεϑυμίᾳ καινῇ καὶ τεάϑει δεινῷ. ἀτενίζει γὰρ τοῖς λεγομένοις ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἑάλωται ἡ παρϑένος. ἀλλὰ πρόσελϑε αὐτῇ σὺ καὶ λάλησον" σοὶ γάρ ἐστιν ἡρμοσμένῃ. ### English translation (Claude) "Thamyris, this man is stirring up the city of the Iconians, and your Thecla too; for all the women and the young men go in to him, being taught by him that, as he says, one must fear one God only and live chastely. And moreover my daughter, clinging to the window like a spider, is held fast by his words with a new desire and a terrible passion. For she hangs on what he says, and the virgin is captured. But go to her yourself and speak to her, for she is betrothed to you." ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 9 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-9). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 10 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-10 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thamyris and Theocleia plead with Thecla, and the household mourns, but she keeps listening to Paul. ### Greek text Καὶ προσελϑὼν θάμυρις, ἅμα μὲν φιλῶν αὐτήν, ἅμα δὲ καὶ φοβούμενος τὴν ἔχπληξιν αὐτῆς, εἶπτεν Θέχλα ἐμοὶ μνηστευϑεῖσα, τί τοιαύτη κάϑησαι; καὶ ποῖόν σὲ πάϑος χατέχει ἔχπληχτον; ἐπιστράφηϑι πρὸς τὸν σὸν Θάμυριν καὶ αἰσχύνϑητι. Ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτῆς τὰ αὐτὰ ἔλεγεν Téxvov, τί τοιαύτῃ κάτω βλέπουσα χάϑησαι, καὶ μηδὲν ἀτιοχρινομένη ἀλλὰ τεαραπλήξ, Καὶ οἱ μὲν ἔχλαιον δεινῶς, Θάμυρις μὲν γυναιχὸς ἀστοχῶν, Θεοχλεέα δὲ réxyov, αἱ δὲ παιδίσκαι κυρίας" πολλὴ οὖν σύγχυσις ἦν ἐν τῷ οἴχῳ πένϑους. καὶ τούτων οὕτως γινομένων Θέχλα οὐχ ἀπεστράφη, ἀλλ᾿ ἦν ἀτενίζουσα τῷ λόγῳ Παύλου. ### English translation (Claude) And Thamyris went to her, at once loving her and fearing her distraction, and said: "Thecla, my betrothed, why do you sit like this? And what passion holds you distracted? Turn back to your Thamyris and be ashamed." And her mother too said the same: "Child, why do you sit like this looking down, and answering nothing, but like one struck senseless?" And they wept terribly, Thamyris for the loss of a wife, Theocleia of a child, and the maidservants of a mistress; so there was great confusion of mourning in the house. And while these things were going on Thecla did not turn away, but kept gazing at the word of Paul. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 10 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-10). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 11 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-11 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thamyris offers Demas and Hermogenes money to tell him about Paul. ### Greek text Ὁ δὲ Θάμυρις ἀναπηδήσας ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὸ ἄμφοδον, καὶ παρετήρει τοὺς εἰσερχομένους τιρὺς τὸν Παῦλον zai ἐξερχομέγρυς, καὶ εἶδεν dco ἄνδρας εἰς ἑαυτοὺς μαχομένους πιχρῶς, xul εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς ᾿νὄρες, τίνες ἐστὲ εὔιατέ μοι, καὶ τίς obrog ὁ ἔσω μεϑ᾽ ὑμῶν, πλανῶν ψυχὰς νέων καὶ παρϑένων ἀπαιτῶν, ἵνα γάμοι μὴ γίνωνται ἀλλὰ οὕτως μένωσιν" ὑπισχνοῦμαι οὖν ὑμῖν δοῦναι πολλὰ χρήματα, ἐὰν εἴπητέ μοι τιερὶ αὐτοῦ" εἰμὶ γὰρ πρῶτος τῆς πόλεως. ### English translation (Claude) But Thamyris leapt up and went out into the street, and watched those going in to Paul and coming out; and he saw two men quarrelling bitterly with each other, and said to them: "Men, tell me who you are, and who this man is inside with you, who leads astray the souls of young men and deceives virgins, so that marriages may not take place but they remain as they are. I promise to give you a great deal of money if you tell me about him; for I am the first man of the city." ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 11 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-11). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 12 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-12 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Demas and Hermogenes report that Paul makes chastity a condition of the resurrection. ### Greek text Καὶ ὁ “ημᾶς καὶ Ἑρμογένης εἶπον αὐτῷ Οὗτος uiv τὶς ἐστιν, οὐχ οἴδαμεν" στερεῖ δὲ νέους γυναικῶν καὶ παρϑένους ἀνδρῶν, λέγων λλως ἀνάστασις ὑμῖν οὐχ ἔστιν, ἐὰν μὴ ἁγνοὶ μείνητε καὶ τὴν σάρχα μὴ μολύνητε ἀλλὰ τηρήσητε vr». ### English translation (Claude) And Demas and Hermogenes said to him: "Who he is we do not know; but he deprives young men of wives and virgins of husbands, saying: 'Otherwise there is no resurrection for you, unless you remain chaste and do not defile the flesh but keep it pure.'" ### Translation notes - The accusers' summary of Paul's teaching is the work's own; it is translated as written. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 12 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-12). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 13 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-13 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thamyris entertains Demas and Hermogenes and asks them about Paul's teaching. ### Greek text Ὁ δὲ Θάμυρις εἶπεν αὐτοῖς “εῦτε, ἄνδρες, εἰς τὸν οἶχύν μου καὶ ἀναπαύσασϑε μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ. καὶ ἀτῆλϑον εἰς πολύτιμον δεῖπνον καὶ πολὺν οἶνον καὶ πλοῦτον μέγαν καὶ τράπεζαν λαμπράν" καὶ ἐπότισεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Θάμυρις, φιλῶν τὴν Θέχλαν xdi ϑέλων τυχεῖν γυναιχός. καὶ εἶπεν ἐν τῷ δείπενῳ ὁ Θάμυρις νόρες, εἴπατέ μοι, τίς ἐστιν ἡ διδασχαλία αὐτοῦ, ἵνα χἀγὼ γνῶ" οὐ γὰρ μιχρῶς ἀγωνιῶ περὶ τῆς Θέχλης. ort οὕτως φιλεῖ τὸν ξένον καὶ ἀποστεροῖμαι γάμου. ### English translation (Claude) And Thamyris said to them: "Come, men, into my house and rest with me." And they went off to a costly dinner, with much wine, great wealth and a splendid table; and Thamyris gave them drink, because he loved Thecla and wished to obtain her as his wife. And at the dinner Thamyris said: "Men, tell me what his teaching is, so that I too may know; for I am in no small distress about Thecla, because she so loves the stranger and I am deprived of marriage." ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 13 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-13). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 14 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-14 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Demas and Hermogenes advise Thamyris to accuse Paul before the governor, and claim the resurrection has already happened in their children. ### Greek text Εἶπον δὲ “ημᾶς καὶ Ἑρμογένης Προσάγαγε αὐτὸν τῷ 17tuóve Καστελίῳ ὡς ἀναττείϑοντα τοὺς 0yA0vg ἐπὶ καινῇ διδαχῇ Χριστιανῶν, zal οὕτως ἀπολεῖ αὐτὸν καὶ σὺ ἕξεις τὴν γυναῖχά σου Θέχλαν. καὶ ἡμεῖς σὲ διδάξομεν, ἣν λέγει οὗτος ἀνάστασιν γενέσϑιιι, ὅτι γδὴ γέγονεν ἐφ᾽ οἷς ἔχομεν τέκνοις [, καὶ ἀνιστάut9a. ϑεὸν ἐπεγνωχότες ἀληθῆ! ### English translation (Claude) And Demas and Hermogenes said: "Bring him before the governor Castellius as one who persuades the crowds to the new teaching of the Christians, and so he will put him to death and you will have your wife Thecla. And we will teach you that the resurrection which this man says is to come has already taken place in the children we have." ### Scripture references - 2 Tim 2:18: allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - The editor brackets the closing words "and we have risen, having come to know the true God" as an addition; they are left out. - "The resurrection has already taken place": compare 2 Tim 2:18 (Hymenaeus and Philetus). ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 14 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-14). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 15 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-15 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thamyris and a mob seize Paul at Onesiphorus's house to take him before the governor. ### Greek text Ὁ δὲ Θάμυρις ἀκούσας τεαρ᾽ αὐτῶν ταῦτα, καὶ πλησϑεὶς [lov xti ϑυμοῦ ὕρϑρου ἀναστὰς εἰς τὸν olxov 'Ovrowpógov πῆλϑεν μετὰ ἀρχύντων καὶ δημοσίων καὶ ὕχλου ἱχανοῦ μετὰ ξύλων, λέγων τῷ Παύλῳ “ιέφϑειρας τὴν Ἰχονιέων πόλιν καὶ τὴν ἑρμοσμένην μοι, ἵνα μὴ ϑελήσῃ με; ἄγωμεν ἐπὶ τὸν ἡγεμόνα Καστέλμιον. Καὶ;&g ὃ ὕχλος ἔλεγεν l[ztayaye τὸν μάγον: διέφϑειρεν γὰρ ἡμῶν πιάσας τὰς γυναῖχας, καὶ συνεσείσϑησαν οἱ ὕχλοι. ### English translation (Claude) And when Thamyris heard these things from them, he was filled with jealousy and anger, and rising at dawn he went to the house of Onesiphorus with magistrates and public officers and a large crowd with clubs, saying to Paul: "You have corrupted the city of the Iconians and the woman betrothed to me, so that she does not want me. Let us go to the governor Castellius." And the whole crowd said: "Away with the magician; for he has corrupted all our wives." And the crowds were stirred up together. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 15 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-15). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 16 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-16 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thamyris accuses Paul before the governor of forbidding virgins to marry. ### Greek text Kai στὰς mo τοῦ βήματος ὁ Θάμυρις κραυγῇ μεγάλῃ εἶπεν νϑύπατε, ὃ ἀἄνϑρωπος οὗτος οὐκ οἴδαμεν πόϑεν ἐστίν, ὃς οὐχ ἐᾷ γαμεῖσθαι τὰς παρϑένους" εἰπάτω ἐπὶ σοῦ τίνος ἕνεχεν ταῦτα διδάσκει. Ὁ δὲ Zug καὶ ἙἭ»μογένης εἶπον τῷ δ Θαμύριδι “έγε αὐτὸν Χριστιανόν, καὶ οὕτως ἀπολέσεις αὐτόν. Ὁ δὲ ἡγεμὼν ἔστησεν τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐχάλεσεν τὸν Παῦλον λέγων αὐτῷ Τίς εἶ, καὶ τί διδάσχεις; οὐ yàg μιχρῶς σου arr; γοροῦσιν. ### English translation (Claude) And Thamyris, standing before the judgment seat, said with a loud shout: "Proconsul, this man, whom we do not know where he comes from, does not allow virgins to marry. Let him say before you why he teaches these things." And Demas and Hermogenes said to Thamyris: "Say that he is a Christian, and so you will destroy him." But the governor held his mind steady and called Paul, saying to him: "Who are you, and what do you teach? For they accuse you of no small things." ### Translation notes - The governor is also called "proconsul" in the text. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 16 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-16). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 17 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-17 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Paul states his message before the governor, who has him imprisoned until a fuller hearing. ### Greek text Καὶ ἦρεν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ó Παῦλος λέγων Εἰ ἐγὼ σήμερον ἀναχρίνομαι τί διδάσχω. ἄχουσον, ἀνϑύπατε. Θεὸς ζῶν, ϑεὸς ἐχδικήσεων, ϑεὸς ζηλωτής, ϑεὸς ἀπροσδεής, χρήζων τῆς τῶν ἀνθρώπων σωτηρίας ἔπεμιψέν με, ὕπως ἀπὸ τῆς φϑορᾶς καὶ τῆς ἀχαϑαρσίας ἀποσπάσω αὐτοὺς καὶ “τάσης ἡδονῆς καὶ ϑανάτου, ὕπως μηχέτε ἁμαρτάνωσιν" διὸ ἔπεμψεν ὁ ϑεὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ παῖδα, ὃν ἐγὼ εὐαγγελίζομαι καὶ διδάσκω ἐν ἐχείνῳ ἔχειν τὴν ἐλπίδα τοὺς ἀνϑρώπους, ὃς μόνος συνεττάϑησεν ztLavouéyqi χύσμῳ, ἵνα μηχέτι ὑπὸ κρίσιν ὦσιν οἱ ἄνϑρωτποι, ἀλλὰ σιίστιν ἔχωσιν zal φόβον ϑεοῦ καὶ γνῶσιν σεμνότητος καὶ ἀγάπην ἀληϑείας, εἰ οὖν ἐγὼ τὰ ὑπὸ ϑεοῦ μοι ἀποχεκαλυμμένα διδάσκω, τί ἀδιχῶ, ἀνϑύπατε, 'O δὲ ἡγεμὼν ἀκούσας ἐχέλευσεν δεθῆναι τὸν Παῦλον καὶ εἰς φυλαχὴν ἀπαχϑῆναι, μέχρις ἂν εὐσχολήσας ἐπιμελέστερον ἀχούσῃ αὐτοῦ. ### English translation (Claude) And Paul lifted up his voice, saying: "If I am being examined today about what I teach, hear, proconsul. The living God, the God of vengeance, the jealous God, the God who needs nothing, desiring the salvation of human beings, has sent me, so that I may draw them away from corruption and impurity and every pleasure and death, that they may sin no more. For this reason God sent his own Child, whom I proclaim; and I teach people to have their hope in him, who alone suffered with a world gone astray, so that people may no longer be under judgment, but may have faith and the fear of God and knowledge of reverence and love of the truth. If then I teach what has been revealed to me by God, what wrong do I do, proconsul?" And when the governor heard this he ordered Paul to be bound and led off to prison until he should have leisure to hear him more carefully. ### Scripture references - Ps 94:1 (93:1 LXX): echo, medium confidence - Exod 20:5: echo, medium confidence - Acts 17:25: echo, medium confidence ### Translation notes - "Child" renders παῖς, which can also mean "servant". "Who alone suffered with a world gone astray": the manuscripts vary at this phrase. - "God of vengeance": Ps 94:1 (93:1 LXX). "Jealous God": Exod 20:5. "Needs nothing": compare Acts 17:25. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 17 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-17). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 18 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-18 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla bribes her way into the prison and listens to Paul at his feet. ### Greek text 'H δὲ Θέχλα νυχτὸς περιελομένη τὰ ψέλια ἔδωχεν τῷ πυλωρῷ, καὶ ἀνοιγείσης αὐτῇ τῆς ϑύρας ἀπῆλϑεν εἰς τὴν φυλαχ καὶ δοῦσα τῷ δεσμοφύλακι κάτοττρον ἀργυροῦν εἰσῆλϑεν πρὴὺς τὸν Παῦλον, καὶ καϑίσασα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ἤκουσεν τὰ μεγαλεῖα τοῦ ϑεοῦ. καὶ οὐδὲν ἐδεδοίχει ὃ Παῦλος, ἀλλὰ τῇ τοῦ ϑεοῦ παρρησίᾳ ἐνεπολιτεύετο" χἀχείνης ηὔξανεν ἡ πίστις, χαταριλοίσης τὰ δεσμὰ αὐτοῦ. ### English translation (Claude) But Thecla by night took off her bracelets and gave them to the gatekeeper, and when the door was opened for her she went off to the prison; and giving the jailer a silver mirror she went in to Paul, and sitting at his feet she heard the great deeds of God. And Paul was not afraid at all, but conducted himself with the boldness that comes from God; and her faith grew as she kissed his bonds. ### Translation notes - A passage of the edition's apparatus (variant readings of section 17) had leaked into the text and is removed. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 18 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-18). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 19 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-19 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla's family find her in the prison with Paul and report it to the governor. ### Greek text ὧς δὲ ἐζητεῖτο Θέχλα ὑπὸ τῶν ἰδίων καὶ Θαμύριδος, ὡς ἀπολλυμένη bdultaco xarà τὰς ὁδούς, χαί τις τῶν συνδούλων τοῦ πυλωροῦ ἐμήνυσεν Ort νυχτὸς ἐξῆλϑεν. καὶ ἀνήτασαν τὸν πυλωρόν, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὅτε πειτόρευται πρὸς τὸν ξένον εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον" καὶ ἀπῆλθον χαϑὼς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς καὶ εὗρον αὐτὴν τρόπον τινὰ συνδεδεμένην τῇ στοργῇ. καὶ ἐξελϑύντες ἐχεῖϑεν τοὺς ὄχλους ἐπεσπάσαντο καὶ τῷ ἡγεμόγι ἐνειράνισαν. ### English translation (Claude) When Thecla was sought by her family and by Thamyris, she was hunted through the streets as one lost; and one of the gatekeeper's fellow slaves disclosed that she had gone out by night. And they questioned the gatekeeper, and he told them that she had gone to the stranger in the prison; and they went as he had told them and found her, in a manner of speaking, bound to him by affection. And going out from there they drew the crowds after them and informed the governor. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 19 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-19). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 20 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-20 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Paul and Thecla are brought before the governor, and Thecla's mother demands that she be burned. ### Greek text Kal ἐκέλευσεν ἄγεσθαι τὸν Παῦλον ἐπὶ τὸ βῆμα" ἡ δὲ Θέχλα ἐχυλέετο ἐπὶ τοῦ τύπου ov ἐδίδασχεν ὁ Παῦλος χαϑήμενος ἐν τῇ φυλαχῇ. ὁ δὲ ἐγεμὼν ἐχέλευσεν κἀχεένην ἀχϑῆναι ἐπὶ τὸ βῆμα" δὲ μετὰ χαρᾶς ἀπίει ἀγαλλιωμένη. ὁ δὲ ὕχλος npooαχϑέντος πάλιν τοῦ Παύλου περισσοτέρως ἐβόα Μάγος ἐστίν, αἷρε αὐτόν. ᾿Ηδέως δὲ ἔχουεν ὃ ἡγεμὼν τοῦ Παύλου ἐπὶ τοῖς ὑσίοις ἔργοις τοῦ Χριστοῦ" «al συμβούλιον ποιήσας ἐχάλεσεν τὴν θέκλαν λέγων dià τί οὐ γαμεῖ χατὰ τὸν Ἰχονιέων νόμον τῷ θαμύριδι, ἡ δὲ εἱστήχει Παύλῳ ἀτενίζουσα: τῆς δὲ μὴ ἀποχρινομένης, Θεοχλεία ἡ μήτηρ αὐτῆς ἀνέχραγεν λέγουσα Κατάχαιε τὴν ἄνομον, χατάχαιε τὴν ἄνυμφον ἐν μέσῳ ϑεάτρου, ἵνα τεῶσαι αἱ ὑπὸ τούτου διδαχϑεῖσαι γυναῖχες (φοβηϑῶσιν. ### English translation (Claude) And he ordered Paul to be brought to the judgment seat; but Thecla rolled about on the place where Paul had taught as he sat in the prison. And the governor ordered her too to be brought to the judgment seat; and she went off with joy, exulting. And when Paul had been brought forward again, the crowd shouted all the more: "He is a magician; away with him!" But the governor heard Paul gladly concerning the holy works of Christ; and having taken counsel he called Thecla, saying: "Why do you not marry Thamyris according to the law of the Iconians?" But she stood gazing intently at Paul. And when she gave no answer, Theocleia her mother cried out, saying: "Burn the lawless one! Burn her who refuses marriage in the middle of the theatre, so that all the women who have been taught by this man may be afraid." ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 20 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-20). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 21 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-21 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Paul is scourged and expelled, Thecla is condemned to burning, and in the theatre she sees the Lord in Paul's form. ### Greek text Καὶ ὁ ἡγεμὼν ἔπαϑεν μεγάλως, καὶ τὸν μὲν Παῦλον φραγελλώσας ἔξω τῆς πύλεως ἐξέβαλεν, τὴν δὲ Θέχλαν ἔχρινεν χαταχαῖναι. καὶ εὐϑέως Ó ἡγεμὼν ἀναστὰς ἀπίει εἰς τὸ ϑέατρῦγ" καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἤχλος ἐξῆλθεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀνάγχην τῆς ϑεωρίας δὲ Θέκλα Oc duvós ἐν ἐρήμῳ περισχοπεὶῖ τὸν τεοιμένα, οὕτως ἐχείνη τὸν Παῖλον ἐζήτει. xoc ἐμβλέιψασα εἰς τὸν ὕχλον εἶδεν τὸν χύριον χαϑήμενον ὡς Παῦλον, καὶ εἶπεν Ὡς ἀνυπομονήτοι μου οὔσης ἦλϑεν Παῦλος ϑεάσασθαί ue. Καὶ προσεῖχεν αὐτῷ ἀτενίζουσα" ὁ δὲ εἰς οὐρανοὺς ἀπίέει. ### English translation (Claude) And the governor was deeply moved; and he had Paul scourged and cast out of the city, but Thecla he condemned to be burned. And at once the governor rose and went off to the theatre; and the whole crowd went out to the compulsory spectacle. But Thecla, as a lamb in the wilderness looks around for the shepherd, so looked for Paul. And looking into the crowd she saw the Lord sitting in the form of Paul, and said: "As though I could not endure, Paul has come to see me." And she gazed intently at him; but he went away into the heavens. ### Translation notes - A garbled repetition of one clause and a passage of the edition's apparatus are removed. - The Lord appearing in the form of Paul is the work's own account. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 21 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-21). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 22 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-22 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla is placed on the pyre, but a storm sent by God quenches the fire and she is saved. ### Greek text Οἱ δὲ παῖδες καὶ αἵ παρϑένοι ἤνεγχαν ξύλα καὶ χόρτον ἵνα Θέχλα χαταχαῇ. ὡς δὲ εἰσήχϑη γυμνή, ἐδάχρυσεν ὃ ἡγεμὼν καὶ ἐθαύμασεν τὴν ἐν αὐτῇ δύναμιν, ἔστρωσαν δὲ τὰ ξύλα καὶ ἐχέλευσαν αὐτὴν οἱ δήμιοι ἐπιβῆναι τῇ πυρᾷ" ἡ δὲ τὸν τύπον τοῦ σταυροῦ στοιησαμένη ἐπέβη τῶν ξύλων" οἱ δὲ ὑφῆψαν. zai μεγάλου πυρὸς λάμψαντος οὐχ ὕψατο αὐτῆς τὸ πῦρʼ ὃ γὰρ ϑεὸς σπλαγχνισϑεὶς ἦχον ὑττόγαιον ἐποίησεν. καὶ νεφέλη ἄνωϑεν ἐπεσχίασεν ὕδατος πλήρης καὶ χαλάζης, καὶ ἐξεχύϑη πᾶν v) χύτος, ὡς πολλοὺς κινδυνεῦσαι καὶ ἀποθανεῖν, καὶ và mg σβεσϑῆναι τὴν δὲ Θέχλαν σωϑῆναι. ### English translation (Claude) And the young men and the virgins brought wood and hay so that Thecla might be burned. And when she was brought in naked, the governor wept and marvelled at the power in her. And the executioners spread out the wood and ordered her to mount the pyre; and she made the sign of the cross and climbed onto the wood; and they set it alight. And though a great fire blazed, the fire did not touch her; for God in his compassion made a rumbling beneath the earth, and a cloud full of water and hail overshadowed it from above, and all that it held poured out, so that many were endangered and died; and the fire was quenched, and Thecla was saved. ### Translation notes - The sign of the cross is mentioned here as Thecla's gesture before the pyre. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 22 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-22). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 23 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-23 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Paul and Onesiphorus's family fast in a tomb outside Iconium, and Onesiphorus's son meets Thecla in the market. ### Greek text "Hv δὲ ὁ Παῦλος νηστεύων μετὰ Ὀνησιφύρου καὶ τῆς γυγαιχὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν τέχνων ἐν μνημείῳ ἀνοιχτῷ, ἐν ὁδῷ ἐν j ἀπὸ Ἰκονίου εἰς “Ζάφνην στορεύονται. ἡνίχα δὲ ἡμέραι στολλαὶ διῆλθον, γηστευόντων αὐτῶν εἶπον οἱ παῖδες τῷ Παύλῳ Πειγῶμεν. Καὶ οὐχ εἶχον στόϑεν ἀγοράσωσιν ἄρτους" κατέλιεϊτεν γὰρ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου ὃ Ὀνησιφόρος καὶ ἠχκολούϑει Παύλῳ ττανοιχί. Παῖλος δὲ ἀπεδύσατο τὸν ἐπενδύτην wal εἶσχτεν Ὕπαγε, τέχνον, ἀγόρασον ἄρτους τιλείονας καὶ φέρε. Ὡς δὲ ἠγόραζεν ὃ σαῖς, εἶδεν Θέκλαν τὴν γείτονα, καὶ ἐϑαμβήϑη καὶ εἶπεν Θέκλα, sU πορεύῃ: ἡ δὲ εἶπεν Παῦλον διώχω, ix πυρὸς σωϑεῖσα. Καὶ ὃ παῖς εἶπεν “εῦρο, ἀπαγάγω σὲ πρὸς αὐτόν" στενάζει γὰρ περὶ σοῦ καὶ προσεύχεται καὶ νηστεύει ἡμέρας ἤδη ἕξ. ### English translation (Claude) Now Paul was fasting with Onesiphorus and his wife and children in an open tomb, on the road by which people go from Iconium to Daphne. And when many days had passed, as they fasted, the children said to Paul: "We are hungry." And they had nothing with which to buy bread; for Onesiphorus had left the things of the world and followed Paul with his whole household. But Paul took off his cloak and said: "Go, child, buy more loaves and bring them." And while the boy was buying, he saw Thecla their neighbour, and was astonished and said: "Thecla, where are you going?" And she said: "I am following Paul, having been saved from the fire." And the boy said: "Come, I will take you to him; for he is groaning over you and praying and fasting, six days now." ### Translation notes - Paul's cloak is evidently to be sold to buy bread; the words are not explicit in this text. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 23 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-23). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 24 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-24 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla finds Paul praying for her in the tomb, and both bless God for her rescue. ### Greek text Ὃς δὲ ἐπέστη ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον Παύλῳ χεχλιχότι τὰ yóvata καὶ πιροσευχομένῳ xc λέγοντε Πάτερ Χριστοῦ, μὴ tuos Θέκλης τὸ τιῦρ, ἀλλὰ πάρεσο αὐτῇ, ὅτι σή ἐστιν, ἡ δὲ ὕπισϑεν ἑστῶσα ἐϑόησεν Πάτερ, ὁ ποιήσας τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν, ὁ τοῦ matos τοῦ Gyuzrtov Gov Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ σπτατῆρ, ECÁO/( σε ὁτι ἔσωσας μὲ ix πυρός, ἵνα Παῦλον ἴδω. Καὶ ἀναστὰς Παῦλος εἶδεν αὐτὴν καὶ εἶπεν Θεὲ χαρδιογνῶστα, ὃ πατὴρ TOU χυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. εὐλογῶ σε Ott ὃ ἠρώτησα ἐτάχυνάς μοι καὶ εἰσήχουσάς μου. ### English translation (Claude) And when she came to the tomb, where Paul was kneeling and praying and saying: "Father of Christ, let not the fire touch Thecla, but stand by her, for she is yours," she, standing behind him, cried out: "Father, who made heaven and earth, the Father of your beloved Child Jesus Christ, I bless you because you saved me from the fire, so that I might see Paul." And Paul rose and saw her and said: "O God who knows the heart, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I bless you because what I asked, you quickly did for me, and you heard me." ### Scripture references - Acts 15:8: echo, medium confidence - Acts 4:24: echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - "Child" renders παῖς. "Who knows the heart": Acts 1:24; 15:8. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 24 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-24). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 25 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-25 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla offers to cut her hair and follow Paul, and asks for baptism, which Paul tells her to wait for. ### Greek text Καὶ ἦν ἔσω ἐν τῷ μνημείῳ ἀγάπη πολλή, Παύλου ἀγαὶλιωμένου καὶ Ὀνησιφόρου xot “πτάντων. εἶχον δὲ ἄρτους πέντε xmi λάχανα καὶ ὕδωρ {καὶ ἅλας», καὶ εὐφραίνοντο ài τοῖς ὁσίοις ἔργοις τοῦ Χριστοῦ. καὶ εἶπεν Θέχλα τῷ Παύλῳ Περικαροῦμαι καὶ ἀχολουϑήσω σοι ὕπου δᾶν πορεύῃ. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Ὁ χαιρὸς αἰσχρύς, καὶ σὶ εὔμορφος" μὴ ἄλλος σὲ πειρασμὸς λήψεται χείρων τοῦ πρώτου, καὶ ovy ὑπομείνης ἀλλὰ δειλανδρήσης. καὶ εἶπεν Θέκλα Μόνον δός μοι τὴν ἐν Χριστιῇ σφραγῖδα, καὶ οὐχ ἅψεταί μοι πειρασμός. καὶ εἶπεν Παῦλος Θέχλα μαχροϑύμησον, καὶ λήψῃ τὸ ὕδωρ. ### English translation (Claude) And inside the tomb there was great love, as Paul and Onesiphorus and all of them rejoiced. They had five loaves, and vegetables and water and salt, and they rejoiced in the holy works of Christ. And Thecla said to Paul: "I will cut my hair short and follow you wherever you go." And he said: "The times are shameful, and you are beautiful. May no other temptation seize you worse than the first, and you not endure it but play the coward." And Thecla said: "Only give me the seal in Christ, and temptation will not touch me." And Paul said: "Thecla, be patient, and you will receive the water." ### Translation notes - "And salt" is printed between the editor's angle brackets as his supplement; it is translated. - "The seal" and "the water" are baptism. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 25 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-25). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 26 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-26 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: In Antioch the Syriarch Alexander assaults Thecla in the street, and she shames him publicly. ### Greek text Καὶ ἀπέπεμψεν Παῦλος τὸν Ὀνησιρύρον πανοιχὶ εἰς Ἰχύνιον, «al οὕτως λαβόμενος τὴν Θέχλαν εἰς ᾿“ντιόχειαν εἰσῆλϑεν. ἅμα δὲ τῷ εἰσέρχεσϑαι αὐτούς, συριάρχης τίς ἩΙλέξανδρος ὀνόματι ἰδὼν τὴν Θέχλαν ἠράσϑη αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐξελιτάρει τὸν Παῦλον χρήμασι καὶ δώροις. ὁ δὲ Παῦλος εἶππεν Οὐχ οἶδα viv γυναῖχα ἣν λέγεις, οὐδὲ ἔστιν ἐμή. ὁ δὲ πολὺ δυνάμενος, αὐτὸς αὐτὶ περιεπλάχη εἰς τὸ ἄμφοδον" ἡ δὲ οὐχ ἠνέσχετο, ἀλλὰ Παῦλον ἐζήτει. καὶ ἀνέχραγεν πιχρῶς λέγουσα Μὴ βιάσῃ τὴν ξένην, μὴ βιάσῃ τὴν τοῦ ϑεοῦ δούλην. ᾿Ιχονεέων εἰμὲ πρώτη, καὶ διὰ τὴ μὴ ϑέλειν μὲ γαμηϑῆναι Θαμύριδι, ἐχβέβλημαι τῆς πόλεως. καὶ λαβομένη τοῦ ᾿᾿λεξάνδρου περιέσχισεν αὐτοῦ τὴν χλαμύδα καὶ τὸν στέφανον ἀφείλετο ἀπὸ τῆς χεφαλῖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔστησεν αὐτὸν θρίαμβον. ### English translation (Claude) And Paul sent Onesiphorus away with his whole household to Iconium, and so, taking Thecla with him, he went into Antioch. And just as they were entering, a Syriarch named Alexander saw Thecla and fell in love with her, and tried to win Paul over with money and gifts. But Paul said: "I do not know the woman you speak of, nor is she mine." But he, being very powerful, himself embraced her in the street; and she would not bear it, but looked for Paul. And she cried out bitterly, saying: "Do not force the stranger; do not force the servant of God. I am one of the leading women of the Iconians, and because I would not marry Thamyris I have been driven out of the city." And seizing Alexander she tore his cloak and took the crown from his head, and made him a laughingstock. ### Translation notes - A Syriarch was a leading provincial official, probably president of the provincial games and cult. Which Antioch is meant (Syrian or Pisidian) is disputed. - Paul's reply is the work's own; it is translated as written. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 26 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-26). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 27 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-27 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla is condemned to the beasts, and Queen Tryphaena takes her into protective keeping. ### Greek text Ὁ δὲ ἅμα μὲν φιλῶν αὐτήν, ἅμα δὲ καὶ αἰσχυνόμενος τὸ γεγονὸς αὐτῷ, προσήγαγεν αὐτὴν τῷ ἡγεμόνι, κἀκείνης ὁμολογησάσης ταῦτα πεπραχέναι κατέχρινεν αὐτὴν εἰς ϑηρία. αἱ δὲ γυναῖχες ἐξετελάγησαν καὶ ἀνέχραξαν παρὰ τὸ βῆμα Καχὶ χρίσις, ἀνοσία χρίσις. Ἢ δὲ Θέχλα ἠτήσατο τὸν ἡγεμόνα ἵνα ἁγνὴ μείνῃ μέχρις οὗ ϑηριομαχήσῃ. χαί τις βασίλισσα πλουσία ὀνόματι Τρύίφαινα, ἧς ἡ ϑυγάτηρ ἐτεϑνύχει, ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν εἰς τήρησιν, καὶ εἶχεν εἰς παραμυϑέαν. ### English translation (Claude) And he, at once loving her and ashamed at what had happened to him, brought her before the governor; and when she admitted that she had done these things, he condemned her to the beasts. But the women were astounded and cried out at the judgment seat: "An evil judgment! An unholy judgment!" And Thecla asked the governor that she might remain chaste until she fought the beasts. And a rich queen named Tryphaena, whose daughter had died, took her into her keeping, and had her as a comfort. ### Translation notes - Some words at the line ends are garbled in the OCR; they are read by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 27 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-27). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 28 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-28 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: In the procession of the beasts a lioness licks Thecla's feet, and Tryphaena's dead daughter asks in a dream for Thecla's prayers. ### Greek text Ἡνίχα δὲ τὰ ϑηρία ἐπόμττευεν, πιροσέδησαν αὐτὴν λεαίνῃ πιχρᾷ, καὶ ἡ βασίλισσα Τρύφαινα ἐπηκολούϑει αὐτῇ. ἡ δὲ λέαινα ἐπάνω καϑεξομένης Θέχλης περιέλειχεν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας, καὶ ovs as πᾷς ὕχλος ἐξίστατο" ἡ δὲ αἰτία τῆς ἐπιγραφῆς αὐτῆς ἦν Ἱερόσυλος. αἱ δὲ γυναῖχες μετὰ τῶν τέχνων ἔχραζον ἄνωϑεν; λέγουσαι Ὦ ϑεέ, dvooía κρίσις γίνεται ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ. Καὶ ἀπὴ τῆς πομπῆς πάλιν λαμβάνει αὐτὲν ἡ Toíqcuvat d» yàg ϑυγάτηρ αὐτῆς Φαλχονίλλα ἦν τεϑνεῶσα, xot χατ᾽ ὄναρ εἶ αὐτῇ Μῆτερ, τὴν ξένην τὴν ἔρημον Θέχλαν ἕξεις εἰς τὸν i τόπον, ἵνα εὔξηται ὑπὲρ ἐμοῖ xcd μετατεϑῶ εἰς τὸν τῶν χαέων τύχιον. ### English translation (Claude) And when the beasts were led in procession, they bound her to a fierce lioness, and Queen Tryphaena followed her. And the lioness, with Thecla sitting on it, licked her feet, and the whole crowd was amazed. And the charge written on her placard was: "Sacrilegious." And the women with their children cried out from above, saying: "O God, an unholy judgment is taking place in this city!" And after the procession Tryphaena takes her again; for her daughter Falconilla had died, and had said to her in a dream: "Mother, you shall have the stranger, the desolate Thecla, in my place, so that she may pray for me and I may be transferred to the place of the righteous." ### Translation notes - Several words at the line ends are garbled in the OCR; they are read by sense. - The prayer of the living for the dead, asked for in Falconilla's dream, is part of the work's story; it is translated as written. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 28 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-28). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 29 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-29 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla prays for Tryphaena's dead daughter Falconilla. ### Greek text Ὅτε οὖν ἀπὸ τῆς πομπῆς ἐλάμβανεν αὐτὴν ἡ Τρύφα eue μὲν ἐσιένϑει ὕτι ἔμελλεν εἰς τὴν αὔρεον ϑηριομαχεῖν, ἱ δὲ καὶ στέργουσα ἐμττόνως ὡς τὴν Svytrréga Φαλχονίλλαν εἶ Τέχνον uov δεύτερον Θέχλα, δεῖρο πιρύσευξαι ὑπὲρ τοῦ τέχ μου, ἵνα ζήσεται εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας" τοῦτο γὰρ εἶδον ἐν ὕπνι ἡ δὲ μὴ μελλήσασα ἐττῆρεν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῆς καὶ εἶπεν Ὁ μου, ὃ υἱὸς τοῦ ὑννίστου ὁ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, δὸς αὐτῇ κατὰ ϑέλημα αὐτῆς, ἵνα ἡ ϑυγάτηρ αὐτῆς Φαλκχκονίλλα ζήσεται τοὺς αἰῶνας. καὶ ταῦτα εἰπούσης Θέκλης ἐπένϑει ἡ Τρύφαινα ἐπέχουσα τοιοῦτον χάλλος εἰς ϑηρία βαλλόμενον. ### English translation (Claude) So when Tryphaena took her from the procession, she mourned because Thecla was to fight the beasts the next day, but she also loved her dearly, like her daughter Falconilla; and she said: "Thecla, my second child, come, pray for my child, that she may live for ever; for this I saw in my sleep." And she, without delay, lifted up her voice and said: "My God, Son of the Most High who are in heaven, grant her according to her wish, that her daughter Falconilla may live for ever." And when Thecla had said this, Tryphaena mourned, seeing such beauty about to be thrown to the beasts. ### Translation notes - Line ends are cut off in the OCR here (e.g. "Τρύφα…", "εἶ…"); the words are read by sense. - Thecla's prayer is addressed to the Son ("My God, Son of the Most High"), as the text reads. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 29 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-29). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 30 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-30 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Tryphaena drives off Alexander when he comes to take Thecla to the arena. ### Greek text Kal ὅτε ὕρϑρος ἐγένετο, ἦλϑεν ᾿λέξανδρος παραλαβεῖν αὐτήν, αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐδίδου τὰ κυνήγια, λέγων 'O ἡγεμὼν χάϑηται καὶ ὃ ὄχλος ϑορυβεῖ ἡμᾶς" δὸς ἀπαγάγω τὴν ϑηριομάχον. ἡ δὲ Τρύφαινα ἀνέχραξεν ὥστε φυγεῖν αὐτὸν λέγουσα" Φαλκονίλλης uov δεύτερον πένϑος ἐπὶ viv οἰκίαν γίνεται, καὶ οὐδεὶς ὃ Bon9uv* οὔτε τέχνον, ἀπέϑανεν γάρ, οὔτε συγγενής, χήρα γάρ εἰμι, ὁ ϑεὸς Θέχλης τοῦ iéxvov μου, βοήϑησον Θέχλῃ. ### English translation (Claude) And when dawn came, Alexander came to take her, for he himself was giving the hunting games, saying: "The governor is seated and the crowd is clamouring at us; give her to me, so that I may take away the beast-fighter." But Tryphaena cried out so that he fled, saying: "A second mourning for my Falconilla is coming upon my house, and there is no one to help: neither child, for she is dead, nor kinsman, for I am a widow. God of Thecla my child, help Thecla." ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 30 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-30). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 31 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-31 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Tryphaena escorts Thecla to the arena, and Thecla prays for a reward for her. ### Greek text Καὶ πέμπει ὃ ἡγεμὼν στρατιώτας ἵνα ἀχϑῇ Θέχλα. ἡ ὲ Τρύφαινα οὐκ ἀπέστη, ἀλλὰ αὐτὴ λαβομένη τῖς χειρὸς αὐτῆς ἀνήγαγεν λέγουσα Τὴν μὲν ϑυγατέρα μου Φαλκονίλλαν ἀπύγαγον εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον: σὲ δέ, Θέχλα, εἰς ϑηριομαχίαν ἀπάγω. ἔχλαυσεν Θέχλα πιχρῶς καὶ ἐστέναξεν πρὸς χύριον, λέγι Κύριε ὃ ϑεὸς ᾧ ἐγὼ πιστεύω, ἐφ᾽ ὃν ἐγὼ κατέφυγα, ó ῥι μενός μὲ ἐκ πυρός, ἀπόδος μισϑὸν Τρυφαένῃ τῇ εἰς τὴν doi σου συμπαϑησάσῃ, καὶ ὅτε μὲ ἁγνὴν ἐτήρησεν. ### English translation (Claude) And the governor sends soldiers so that Thecla might be brought. But Tryphaena did not stand aside; she herself took her by the hand and led her up, saying: "My daughter Falconilla I led away to the tomb; but you, Thecla, I lead away to fight the beasts." And Thecla wept bitterly and groaned to the Lord, saying: "Lord God, in whom I believe, to whom I have fled for refuge, who rescued me from the fire, give a reward to Tryphaena, who has had compassion on your servant, and because she kept me chaste." ### Translation notes - A passage of the edition's apparatus (a variant reading) is removed. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 31 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-31). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 32 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-32 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The crowd in the arena is divided, the men demanding Thecla and the women protesting. ### Greek text GOóovBog ovv ἐγένετό τε καὶ πάταγος τῶν ϑηρίων βοὴ τοῦ δήμου καὶ τῶν γυναιχῶν ὁμοῦ καϑεσϑεισῶν, τῶν λεγόντων Τὴν ἱερόσυλον εἰσάγαγε" τῶν δὲ λεγουσῶν oun πόλις ἐπὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ ταύτῃ" αἷρε πάσας ἡμᾶς, ἀνθύπατε" πιχ ϑέαμα, κακὴ χρίσις. ### English translation (Claude) So there was an uproar: the roaring of the beasts, and the shouting of the people and of the women seated together, the men saying: "Bring in the sacrilegious woman!" and the women saying: "May the city perish for this lawlessness! Take all of us away, proconsul! A bitter spectacle, an evil judgment!" ### Translation notes - The opening of the women's cry is garbled in the OCR ("oun πόλις"); it is read by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 32 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-32). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 33 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-33 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: In the stadium a lioness defends Thecla against a bear and a lion and dies. ### Greek text 'H δὲ Θέχλα ἐκ χειρὸς Τρυφαίνης ληφϑεῖσα ἐξεδύϑη ἔλαβεν διαζώστραν καὶ ἐβλήϑη εἰς τὸ στάδιον, καὶ λέοντες καὶ ἄρχοι ἐβλήϑησαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτήν. καὶ πιχρὰ λέαινα πιροσδραμοῖσα εἰς τοὺς πόδας αὐτῆς ἀνεχλίϑη" ὃ δὲ OyÀog τῶν γυναιχῶν ἐβύησεν μέγα. ^ai ἔδραμεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν ἄρχος" ἡ δὲ λέαινα Ógaμοῖσα ὑπήντησεν καὶ διέρρηξεν τὴν ἄρχον. καὶ πάλιν λέων δεδιδαγμένος ἐπ᾿ ἀνθρώπους ὃς ἣν ᾿ἡλεξάγδρου ἔδραμεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτήν" καὶ ἡ λέαινα συμπλέξασα τῷ λέοντι συνανῃρέϑη. μειζόγνως δὲ ἐπένϑησαν αἱ yvvaixeg, ἐπειδὴ καὶ ἡ βοηϑὸς αὐτῇ ἀπέϑανεν. ### English translation (Claude) And Thecla was taken from Tryphaena's hand and stripped, and was given a girdle and thrown into the stadium; and lions and bears were let loose upon her. And a fierce lioness ran up and lay down at her feet; and the crowd of women raised a great shout. And a bear ran at her; but the lioness ran to meet it and tore the bear apart. And again a lion trained against men, which belonged to Alexander, ran at her; and the lioness, grappling with the lion, perished together with it. And the women mourned all the more, since her helper too had died. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 33 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-33). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 34 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-34 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla baptizes herself in a pool of seals in the name of Jesus Christ, and the seals are killed by lightning. ### Greek text Τότε εἰσβάλλουσιν ττολλὰ ϑηρία, ἑστώσης αὐτὶ ἐχτεταχυίας τὰς χεῖρας καὶ προσευχομένης. ὡς δὲ ἐτέλεσ σεροσευχήν, ἐστράφη zal εἶδεν ὄρυγμα μέγα πλῆρες ὕδατι εἶπεν Νῦν καιρὸς λούσασϑαί ut. καὶ ἔβαλεν ἑαυτὴν λέγου τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ὑστέρᾳ fuco βα:ττίζομαι. Καὶ σαι αἱ γυναῖχες καὶ πᾶς Ó ὄχλος ἔκλαυσαν λέγοντες Μὴ ἑαυτὴν εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ, ὥστε καὶ τὸν ἡγεμόνα δακρῦσαι, Ori οὗτον χάλλος φῶχαι ἔμελλον ἐσθίειν. ἡ μὲν οὖν ἔβαλεν é εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ iv τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ" αἱ δὲ φῶχαι πυρὸς ἀστραπὴς φέγγος ἰδοῦσαι νεχραὶ ἐπέπλευσαν. καὶ ἦν περὶ αὐτὴν γεφέλη πυρός, ὥστε μήτε τὰ ϑηρία ἄπτεσϑαι αὐτῆς, μήτε ϑεωρεῖσϑαι αὐτὴν γυμνήν. ### English translation (Claude) Then they let in many beasts, while she stood with her hands stretched out, praying. And when she had finished her prayer, she turned and saw a great pit full of water, and said: "Now is the time for me to wash." And she threw herself in, saying: "In the name of Jesus Christ I am baptized on my last day." And seeing this, the women and the whole crowd wept, saying: "Do not throw yourself into the water!", so that even the governor wept, because seals were about to devour such beauty. So she threw herself into the water in the name of Jesus Christ; but the seals, seeing the gleam of a flash of lightning, floated dead on the surface. And there was a cloud of fire around her, so that neither did the beasts touch her nor was she seen naked. ### Translation notes - Several words are garbled in the OCR ("ὑστέρᾳ fuco", "Καὶ σαι", "Μὴ ἑαυτὴν"); they are read by sense ("on my last day", "seeing", "Do not throw yourself"). - Thecla's self-baptism is the work's own account; Tertullian (Bapt. 17) objects to those who cite Thecla's example to allow women to baptize. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 34 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-34). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 35 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-35 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The beasts are lulled by the women's perfumes, and when Thecla is tied between bulls the flame burns through her bonds. ### Greek text 4i δὲ γυναῖχες ἄλλων ϑηρίων βαλλομένων φοβερωτέρων ὠλόλυξαν, καὶ αἱ μὲν ἔβαλλον φύλλον, ai δὲ νάρδον, αἱ δὲ κασίαν, αἱ δὲ ἄμωμον, ὡς εἶναι π“λῆϑος μύρων. rra δὲ τὰ βληϑέντα ϑηρία ὥσπερ ὕπνῳ κατασχεϑέντα οὐχ ἥψαντο αὐτῆς" ὡς τὸν ἀλέξανδρον εἰπεῖν τῷ ἡγεμόνι Ταύίρους ἔχω λίαν φοβερούς, ἐχείγος προσδίσωμεν τὴν ϑηριομάχον. zal στυγνάσας ἐπέτρειμεν ὃ ἡγεμὼν λέγων Ποίει ὃ ϑέλεις. Καὶ ἔδησαν αὐτὴν ἐκ ποδῶν μέσον τῶν ταύρων, καὶ ὑπὸ τὰ ἀναγχαῖα αὐτῶν a θωμένα σίδηρα ὑπέϑηχκαν, ἕνα πλείονα ταραχϑέντες ἀποχτεί! αὐτήν. οἱ μὲν οὖν ἵλλοντο" ἡ δὲ περιχαιομένη φλὸξ dix. τοὺς χάλους, καὶ ἦν ὡς οὐ δεδεμένη. ### English translation (Claude) But the women, as other, more fearsome beasts were let in, wailed; and some threw petals, others nard, others cassia, others amomum, so that there was a mass of perfumes. And all the beasts that had been let in were held as if by sleep and did not touch her; so that Alexander said to the governor: "I have some very fearsome bulls; let us tie the beast-fighter to them." And the governor, frowning, gave leave, saying: "Do what you wish." And they bound her by the feet between the bulls, and put red-hot irons under their genitals, so that, being the more maddened, they might kill her. They leaped forward; but the flame blazing around her burned through the ropes, and she was as though she had not been bound. ### Translation notes - A passage of the edition's apparatus (on section 34) is removed. Some line ends are garbled in the OCR; they are read by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 35 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-35). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 36 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-36 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Tryphaena faints, and Alexander, fearing Caesar, begs the governor to release Thecla. ### Greek text Ἡ δὲ Τρύφαινα ἰξέψυξεν ἑστῶσα παρὰ τὴν ἀρήνα τοὺς ἄβαχας, ὥστε τὰς ϑεραπαινίδας εἰπεῖν ᾿ἡπέϑανεν ἡ λισσα Τρύφαινα. καὶ ἐπέσχεν Ó ἡγεμών, καὶ πᾶσα ἡ πόλις Uc καὶ ὁ ᾿λέξανδρος πεσὼν εἰς τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ἡγεμόνος € Ἐλέησον χἀμὲ καὶ τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ἀττόλυσον τὴν ϑηριομάχον, μὴ καὶ ἡ πόλις συναπόληται. ταῦτα γὰρ ἐὰν ἀχούση ὃ Καῖσαρ, τάχα ἀπολέσει σὺν ἡμῖν καὶ τὴν πτόλιν, Ort ἡ συγγενὴς αὐτοῦ Τρύφαινα ἡ βασίλισσα ἀπέϑανεν παρὰ τοὺς ἄβακας. ### English translation (Claude) But Tryphaena fainted as she stood beside the arena at the barriers, so that her maidservants said: "Queen Tryphaena is dead." And the governor halted the games, and the whole city was afraid. And Alexander fell at the governor's feet, saying: "Have mercy on me and on the city, and release the beast-fighter, lest the city perish with her. For if Caesar hears of these things, he may well destroy the city along with us, because his kinswoman Queen Tryphaena has died at the barriers." ### Translation notes - "Barriers" renders ἄβακας, probably the rail or front seats of the arena; the sense is uncertain. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 36 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-36). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 37 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-37 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla tells the governor that she is a servant of the living God and that Christ protected her. ### Greek text Καὶ ἐχάλεσεν Ó ἡγεμὼν τὴν Θέχλαν &x μέσου τῶν ϑηρίων καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Τίς εἶ σύ; καὶ τίνα τὰ περὶ σέ, Ori οὐδὲ ἕν τῶν ϑηρίων ἡψατό σου; ἡ δὲ εἶπεν Ἐγὼ μέν εἶμι ϑεοῖ τοῦ ζῶντος δούλη" τὰ δὲ περὲ ἐμέ, εἰς ὃν εὐδόχησεν ὃ ϑεὸς υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπίστευσα" δι᾿ ὃν οὐδὲ ἕν τῶν ϑηρίων Ὑψψατό μου. οὗτος γὰρ μόνος σωτηρίας ὕρος καὶ ζωῆς ἀϑανάτου ὑπόστασίς ἐστι χειμαζομένοις γὰρ γίνεται καταφυγή, ϑλιβομένοις ἄνεσις, a σεισμένοις σχέπη, καὶ ἁπαξατιλῶς ὃς ἐὰν μὴ πιστεύσῃ εἰς αὐτί οὐ ζήσεται ἀλλὰ ἀποθανεῖται εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ### English translation (Claude) And the governor called Thecla from the midst of the beasts and said to her: "Who are you? And what is there about you, that not one of the beasts touched you?" And she said: "I am a servant of the living God; and as to what is about me, I have believed in his Son, in whom God is well pleased; because of him not one of the beasts touched me. For he alone is the boundary-mark of salvation and the foundation of immortal life. For to the storm-tossed he becomes a refuge, to the afflicted relief, to the despairing a shelter; and in a word, whoever does not believe in him shall not live, but shall die for ever." ### Scripture references - Matt 3:17: echo, medium confidence - John 3:36: echo, medium confidence ### Translation notes - "Boundary-mark" renders ὅρος; the sense of the phrase is uncertain. "In whom God is well pleased": Matt 3:17. "Whoever does not believe": compare John 3:18, 36. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 37 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-37). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 38 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-38 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The governor releases Thecla, and the women of the city praise the one God who saved her. ### Greek text Καὶ ταῖτα ἀχοίσας ὁ ἡγεμὼν ἐκέλευσεν ἐνεχϑῆναι (utt καὶ εἶπεν" Ἔνδυσαι τὰ ἱμάτια. Ἧ δὲ εἶπεν Ὁ ἐνδύσας ue yvur ἐν τοῖς ϑηρίοις, οὗτος ἐν ἡμέρςι χρίσεως ἐνδύσει ue σωτηρίαν. K λαβοῦσα τὰ ἱμάτεα ἐνεδύσατο. καὶ ἐξέπεμψεν εὐϑέως ὁ ἥγεμι ἄχτον λέγων Θέχλαν τὴν τοῦ ϑεοῦ δούλην τὴν ϑεοσεβὴ ἀπολὶ ὑμῖν. 4i δὲ γοεναῖχες sage ἔκραξαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ ὡς ἐξ ἔνι στύματος ἔδωκαν αἶνον τῷ ϑεῷ λέγουσαι Εἷς ϑεὸς ὃ Θέχλι σώσας. ὥστε ἀπὸ τῆς φωνῆς σεισϑῆναι πᾶσαν τὴν πόλιν, ### English translation (Claude) And when the governor heard this he ordered clothes to be brought and said: "Put on the clothes." And she said: "He who clothed me when I was naked among the beasts will clothe me with salvation in the day of judgment." And taking the clothes she put them on. And the governor at once sent out a decree, saying: "I release to you Thecla, the God-fearing servant of God." And all the women cried out with a loud voice and as with one mouth gave praise to God, saying: "One is God, who saved Thecla!", so that the whole city was shaken by the sound, ### Scripture references - Isa 61:10: echo, medium confidence ### Translation notes - "Clothe me with salvation": compare Isa 61:10. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 38 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-38). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 39 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-39 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Tryphaena welcomes Thecla, believes, and is instructed with her household. ### Greek text καὶ τὴν Τρύίφαιναν εὐαγγελισϑεῖσαν ἀπαντῆσαι μετὰ ὄχλου καὶ περιπλαχῆναι τῇ Θέχλῃ καὶ εἰπεῖν NUv πιστεύω ὅτι γεχροὶ ἐγείρονται" νῦν πιστεύω ὅτι τὸ τέκνον μου ζῇ" δεῦρο ἔσω, καὶ τὰ ἐμὰ πάντα σοὶ καταγράψω. ἡ uiv οὖν Θέχλα εἰσῆλϑεν μετ᾽ αὐτῆς καὶ ἀνεταύσατο elg τὸν οἶχον αὐτῆς ἡμέρας (xt, χατηχήσασα αὐτὴν τὸν λόγον τοῦ ϑεοῦ, ὥστε πιστεῦσαι καὶ τῶν παιδισχῶν τὰς πλείονας, καὶ μεγάλην εἶναι χαρὰν ἐν τῷ οἴχῳ. ### English translation (Claude) and Tryphaena, receiving the good news, came to meet her with a crowd, and embraced Thecla and said: "Now I believe that the dead are raised; now I believe that my child lives. Come inside, and I will make over to you in writing all that is mine." So Thecla went in with her and rested in her house eight days, instructing her in the word of God, so that most of the maidservants also believed, and there was great joy in the house. ### Translation notes - "Eight" reads the garbled numeral by sense. A passage of the edition's apparatus (on section 38) is removed. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 39 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-39). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 40 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-40 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla, dressed as a man, finds Paul at Myra and tells him she has been baptized. ### Greek text 'H δὲ Θέχλα Παῦλον ἐπιεπόϑει καὶ ἐζήτει αὐτὸν seg σέμπουσα πανταχοῖ" καὶ ἐμηνύϑη αὐτῇ ἐν Μύροις εἶναι αὐτὶ καὶ λαβοῦσα νεανίσχους καὶ τεαιδίσχας, ἀναζωσαμένη καὶ ua τὸν χιτῶνα εἰς ἐπενδύτην σχήματι ἀνδριχῷ ἀπιῆλϑεν ἐν Ἡύροι καὶ εὗρεν Παῖλον λαλοῦντα τὸν λόγον τοῦ ϑεοῖʼ καὶ ἐπέσ: αὐτῷ. ὁ δὲ ἐϑαμβύϑη βλέπων αὐτὴν καὶ τὸν Ὄχλον τὸν ut αὐτῆς, λογισάμενος μή τὶς αὐτῇ πειρασμὸς πάρεστιν ἕτερι ἡ δὲ συνιδοῖσα εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ἔλαβον τὸ λουτρόν, Παῖλε" γὰρ σοὶ συνεργήσας εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον χἀμοὶ συνήργησεν eic: λούσασϑλαι. ### English translation (Claude) But Thecla longed for Paul and sought him, sending messengers everywhere; and it was reported to her that he was in Myra. And taking young men and maidservants, she girded herself and sewed her tunic into a cloak in the fashion of a man, and went off to Myra, and found Paul speaking the word of God; and she stood beside him. But he was astonished when he saw her and the crowd with her, thinking that some other temptation had come upon her. But she, perceiving this, said to him: "I have received the washing, Paul; for he who worked with you for the gospel has worked with me too for my washing." ### Translation notes - Line ends are cut off in the OCR here; the words are read by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 40 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-40). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 41 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-41 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Paul hears Thecla's story and sends her to teach the word of God in Iconium. ### Greek text Καὶ λαβόμενος ὁ Παῦλος τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῖς ἀπήγαγεν αὐτὴν εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ἑρμείου καὶ τεάντα ἀκούει παρ᾽ αὐτῆς, ὥστε ἐπὶ πολὺ ϑαυμάσαι τὸν Παῦλον, καὶ τοὺς ἀχούοντας στηριχϑῆναι καὶ προσεύξασϑαι ὑπὲρ τῆς Τρυφαίνης. καὶ ἀναστᾶσα Θέχλα εἶπεν τῷ Παύλῳ Πορεύομαι εἰς Ἰκόνιον. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος εἶπτεν Ὕπαγε καὶ δίδασχε τὸν λόγον τοῦ ϑεοῖ. ἡ μὲν οὖν Τρύφαινα πολὶν ἱματισμὸν καὶ χρυσὸν ἔπεμψεν αὐτῇ, ὥστε χαταλιπεῖν τῇ Παύλῳ εἰς διακονίαν τῶν πτωχῶν. ### English translation (Claude) And Paul took her by the hand and led her into the house of Hermias, and hears everything from her, so that Paul marvelled greatly, and those who heard were strengthened and prayed for Tryphaena. And Thecla rose and said to Paul: "I am going to Iconium." And Paul said: "Go and teach the word of God." Now Tryphaena had sent her a great deal of clothing and gold, so that she left it with Paul for the service of the poor. ### Translation notes - Paul's commission to Thecla to teach is the work's own account. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 41 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-41). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 42 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-42 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Back in Onesiphorus's house in Iconium, Thecla praises Christ as her helper in every trial. ### Greek text αὐτὴ δὲ dzni9ev εἰς Ἰκόνιον. καὶ εἰσέρχεται εἰς τὸ Ὀνησιφόρου oixov, καὶ ἔπεσεν εἰς τὸ ἔδαφος ὕπου Παῦλος xat ζόμενος ἐδίδασκεν τὰ λόγια τοῦ ϑεοῦ, καὶ ἔχλαιεν λέγουσα Ἱ ϑεός μου καὶ τοῦ οἴχου τούτου, ὕπου μοι τὸ φῶς ἔλαμψεν Χριστὲ Ἰησοῦ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ϑεοῖ, ὃ ἐμοὶ βοηϑὸς ἐν φυλαχῆ, βοηϑὸ ἐπὶ ἡγεμόνων, βοηϑὸς ἐν πυρί, βοηϑὸς ἐν ϑηρίοις, abrüg ε ϑεός, καὶ σοὶ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν. ### English translation (Claude) But she herself went off to Iconium. And she goes into the house of Onesiphorus, and fell on the floor where Paul had sat and taught the oracles of God, and wept, saying: "My God, and God of this house, where the light shone on me, Christ Jesus, Son of God, my helper in prison, helper before governors, helper in the fire, helper among the beasts, you are God, and to you be glory for ever. Amen." ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 42 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-42). ## Acts of Paul and Thecla 43 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-43 - Source: Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Thecla bears witness to her mother, then teaches at Seleucia, where she dies. ### Greek text Kal εἷρεν τὸν Θάμυριν re vec ra, τὴν δὲ μητέρα ζῶσαν" xu προσχαλεσαμένη τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς λέγει αὐτῦ᾽ʼ Θεοχλεία μῆτερ, δύνασαι πιστεῦσαι Ort ζῇ κύριος ἐν οὐρανοῖς, εἴτε γὰρ χρήματα ποϑεῖς, δώσει σοι κύριος δι᾿ ἐμοῦ" εἴτε τὸ τέχγον, ἰδού, παρέστηχά σοι. καὶ ταῦτα διαμαρτυραμένη ἀπῆλϑεν εἰς Σελεύχειαν, καὶ πολλοὺς φωτίσασα τῷ λόγῳ τοῦ ϑεοῦ μετὰ καλοῦ ὕπνου ἐχοιμήϑη. πάμπολλα db ἰάματα τελέσασα ἀναπαύεται εἰς τὸν τόπον τῶν ἁγίων, χοιμηϑεῖσα τῇ εἰχάδι τετάρτῃ τοῦ Σεπτεμβρίου μηνὸς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ χυρίῳ ἡμῶν, à ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ χράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων" ἀμήν. ### English translation (Claude) And she found Thamyris dead, but her mother living; and calling her mother she says to her: "Theocleia, mother, can you believe that the Lord lives in the heavens? For whether you long for money, the Lord will give it to you through me; or for your child, see, I stand before you." And having borne this witness she went off to Seleucia; and having enlightened many with the word of God, she fell asleep with a good sleep. And having performed very many healings she rests in the place of the saints, having fallen asleep on the twenty-fourth of the month of September, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and might for ever and ever. Amen. ### Translation notes - The account of her death and the date of her feast belong to the ending printed by the editor; the manuscripts end the work in different ways. ### Citation (SBL) Acts Paul Thec. 43 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 235–272; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-pauli-theclae/0/#p-43).