Sophia Scriptura

Acts of Peter (Actus Vercellenses) 27–41

Anonymous · Acts of Peter (Actus Vercellenses) · ca. 180–200 · unknown · 10 passages

Pseudonymous: Anonymous. Part of the Acts of Peter, which Eusebius (Hist. eccl. 3.3.2) rejects as not among the books handed down. It is not part of the 66-book canon. The Acts of Peter are generally dated to the late second century (ca. 180-200; confidence: approximate); the Greek original is lost except for the Martyrdom, and most of the earlier chapters survive only in this Latin version, preserved in a single damaged seventh-century manuscript (Codex Vercellensis CVIII), called the Actus Vercellenses.

Latin text: Lipsius 1891 (OCR text layer from the Internet Archive scan).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).

Chapter 27

27Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103

Inter haec adfertur et uiduae filius in grauato a iuuenibus, quibus populus dato loco perduxerunt ad Petrum. Petrus autem eleuatis oculis ad caelum, et extendens manus suas sic dixit: Pater sancte filii tui Iesu Christi, qui nobis uirtutem tuam praebuisti, ut per te petamus et inpetremus, et omnia quae sunt in saeculo contemnamus, et te solum sequi, qui in paucis uideris et in multis uolens cognosci: circumsplende, domine, inlumina, appare, suscita uiduae senioris filium, quae sibi adiuuare non potest sine filio. et uocem accipiens Christi domini mei, dico tibi: iuuenis, surge et ambula cum matre tua usque dum ei prodes. postea autem mihi uacabis altius ministrans, diaconi ac episcopi sortem, et continuo mortuus se leuauit, et uidentes turbae miratae sunt, et populo clamante: Tu, deus saluator, tu Petri deus, deus inuisibilis et saluator. Et dicebant inter se, uere mirantes hominis uerbo inuocantis dominum suum uirtutem, et in sanctificationem acceperunt.

Meanwhile the widow's son too was brought, carried by the young men, and the people made room and they brought him to Peter. Peter raised his eyes to heaven, stretched out his hands and said: 'Holy Father of your Son Jesus Christ, who have given us your power, that through you we may ask and obtain, and may despise all that is in the world and follow you alone, who are seen by few and wish to be known by many: shine round about, Lord, give light, appear, raise the son of the aged widow, who cannot help herself without her son. And I, taking up the word of Christ my Lord, say to you: Young man, rise and walk with your mother as long as you can be of use to her. Afterwards you will be free to serve me in a higher way, in the office of deacon and bishop.' And at once the dead man raised himself, and the crowds who saw it were amazed, and the people cried out: 'You are the saving God, you are the God of Peter, the invisible God and Saviour.' And they said among themselves, truly marvelling at the power of a man who called on his Lord with a word; and they received it for their sanctification.

Luke 7:14 (allusion, high confidence) · John 11:41 (echo, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Peter raises the widow's son, who is to serve later as deacon and bishop, and the people acclaim the God of Peter.

  • 'In the office of deacon and bishop' renders a damaged phrase (diaconi ac episcopi sortem) by sense.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip): Inter haee adfertur et ui duae filius in grauato i f. 3597 ἃ luuenibus, → Inter haec adfertur et uiduae filius in grauato a iuuenibus,; oeu lis ad eaelum, → oculis ad caelum,; sie dixit: Pater sanete → sic dixit: Pater sancte; inpetremaus, εἰ omnia → inpetremus, et omnia; sceulo → saeculo; uo lens → uolens; eireumsplende, domine, inumina, → circumsplende, domine, inlumina,; fiiium, → filium,; dieo tibi: → dico tibi:; eum marem tua usque dum ei prode es. → cum matre tua usque dum ei prodes.; mili uagauis altiis ministrans, diaconi ac episcopi 4sorpte, et eon tinuo → mihi uacabis altius ministrans, diaconi ac episcopi sortem, et continuo; turbe mirate → turbae miratae; εἰ populo elamante: → et populo clamante:; sal uatur, → saluator,; inuisiuilis et saliuatur. → inuisibilis et saluator.; sanetificatio nem aeciperunt. t. 3695 → sanctificationem acceperunt..

Topics: Church office

Cite (SBL): Acts Pet. 27 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/actus-vercellenses/27/#p-27). (abbreviation not yet checked)

BibTeX · RIS (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-actus-vercellenses-27) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude from Lipsius's Latin (Acta apostolorum apocrypha 1, 1891), OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; no public-domain English: re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 28

28Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103

Peruolante itaque fama per totam urbem, matér cuiusdam senatoris superuenit, misit se per mediam turbam et cecidit ad pedes Petri dicens: Didici a meis, esse te ministrum dei misericordis, et gracia ipsius communicare omnibus desiderantibus lumen hoc, communica ergo et filio lumen, quoniam cognoui te nulli inuidum esse: matrona te rogante non te auertas. Cui Petrus dixit: Credes in deum meum per quem filius tuus resurrecturus est? mater autem cum uoce magna dixit cum lacrimis: Credo, Petre, credo. uniuersus populus clamauit: Condona matri filium. Petrus autem dixit: Adferatur hoc palam istis uniuersis. et conuersus Petrus ad populum dixit: Viri Romani, et ego ex uobis cum sum unus, carnem portans humanam sed peccator. sed misericordiam consecutus sum: nolite ergo me intendere tamquam meae uirtuti faciam quae facio, sed domini mei Iesu Christi qui est iudex uiuorum atque mortuorum. credens in eo, missus ab ipso confido mihi inuocare eum, mortuos suscitare. uade ergo et tu, mulier, et fac filium tuum huc adferri et resurgere. misit se autem mulier per medium turbae, et exiit ad puplicum currens cum gaudium magno, et credens animo peruenit in domum, et per iuuenes suos tulit eum et uenit ad forum. dixit autem ad iuuenes ut acciperent pilia in capita sua et ante lectu irent, et quaecumque in corpore filii sui consumptura erat ferri ante lectum eius, et uidens Petrus misericordiam haberet in corpore et in se. plangentium autem omnibus, peruenit in multitudinem: consecuta est autem turba senatorum et matronarum, uidentes dei mirabilia. liberalis autem magis carissimus erat in senato Nicostratus qui mortuus erat. quem adferentes posuerunt ante Petrum. Petrus autem petens silentium uoce maxima dixit: Viri Romani, nunc sit iudicium iustum inter me et Simonem, et aestimate quis nostrum deo uiuo credat, hic aut ego. positum autem corpus suscitet hic et credite illi quasi angelo dei. si autem non potuerit, ego deum meum inuocabo: reddam uiuum filium matri, et credite quia hic magus est et seductor qui hospitatur aput uos. Audientes autem haec uniuersi, iustum illis uisum est quod dixisset Petrus. hortabantur Simonem dicentes: Nunc si quid in te est, ostende palam: aut traduce aut traduceris. quid stas? age, incipe! Simon autem ut uidit omnes instare sibi, stabat tacens. postquam uidit populum tacuisse et respicientem ad se, exclamauit Simon dicens: Viri Romani, si uideritis mortuum surrexisse, eicitis ab urbe Petrum? Et totus populus dixit: Non eum tantum eicimus, sed ipsa hora flammis cremauimus. Accessit Simon ad caput mortui, et inclinans se, per ter erige se ostendit populo eleuasse caput et agitare, et oculos aperientem. et inclinante se Simonem molli. statim ligna et gremia coeperunt petere, ut Petrum flammis cremarent. Petrus autem accepta uirtute Christi eleuauit uocem suam, ad subclamantes aduersus se dixit: Nunc uideo uos, populi Romani, quod mihi non licet dicere fatuus et uanos esse, quamdiu oculi uestri et aures uestre et precordia excaecata sunt. usque qua sensus uester obscuratus est, non uidetis maleficatos uos esse, tamquam putetis mortuum surrexisse qui non se leuauit. sufficiebat mihi, uiri Romani, tacere et silentio mori, et relinquere uos in figmentis huius mundi. sed ignis inextinguibilis poenam ante oculos habeo. si ergo hoc uisum est uobis, loquatur mortuus, surgat, si uiuit, soluit sibi mentum ligatum manibus suis, clamet matrem suam, et uobis clamantibus dicat: quid clamatis? manu sua annuat uobis. uultis ergo uidere, quoniam mortuus est, et uos obligati estis, recedat hic a lecto, qui suasit uobis recedere a Christo, et talem illum uidebitis, qualem adtulistis uidistis. Agrippa autem praefectus iam non tolerans leuauit se, et manibus suis inpegit Simonem. et denuo mortuus iacebat sicut ante erat. populus autem in furia conuersus a magia Simonis, coepit adclamare: Exaudi, Caesar, si iam non surgit mortuus, ardeat Simon pro Petro, quoniam nos uere excaecauit. Petrus autem dixit extensa manu: O uiri Romani, iam pacientiam praebete. non dico uobis, ut puero suscitato ardeat Simon: si enim dixero, facietis. Subclamauit populus: Etsi tu nolueris, Petre, nos faciemus. Quibus Petrus dixit: Si perseueraueritis in hoc, puer se non leuauit. malum enim pro malo non nouimus retribuere; sed didicimus inimicos nostros diligere et pro persecutores nostros orare. si enim et hic potest paeniteri, melius. deus enim non memorabitur mala. ueniat ergo in lumine Christi. si autem non potest, partem patris sui diabuli possideat. uestre autem manus non coinquinentur. Et cum hoc dixisset ad populum, accessit ad puerum et antequam suscitaret eum, dixit ad matrem eius: Istos iuuenes quos manum misisti in honore filii tui, possunt liberi obsequium domino suo uiuo prestare: scio enim quorundam animum ledi, quod uiderint filium tuum surrexisse, quod iterum seruituri sunt illi. sed permaneant omnes liberi, percipientes ciuaria sicut ante percipiebant, filius enim tuus resurrecturus est, et cum eo sint. Et diutius intuebatur Petrus quid cogitaret. et dixit mater pueri: Quid aliud possum facere? itaque coram prefecto dicam, quaecumque consumere habui in corpore filii mei, ipsi possideant. Cui dixit Petrus: Cetera uiduis distribuantur. Gaudens uero Petrus animo in spiritu dixit: Domine qui misericors es, Iesu Christe, appare Petro tuo inuocanti te, sicut semper fecisti misericordiam et bonitatem: praesentibus istis omnibus qui libertatem consecuti sunt, ut hii seruire possint, exurgat nunc Nicostratus. Et tangens Petrus pueris latus dixit: Surge. Et surgens puer sustulit uestimenta sua et sedit et soluit sibi mentum, petens alia uestimenta, descendit de lecto et dixit ad Petrum: Rogo te, homo, eamus ad dominum Christum nostrum quem uidi tecum loquentem; qui tibi dixit, me tibi ostendens: 'Huc mihi eum adduc, meus enim est. Audiens Petrus hoc a puero, confortabatur plus animo domini adiutorio, et dixit Petrus ad populum: Viri Romani, sic mortui resuscitantur, sic confabulantur, sic ambulant resurgentes, uiuunt ad tempus quem deus uoluerit. nunc ergo qui conuenistis ad spectaculum, si non conuertamini ab his malis uestris, et ab omnibus fabricatis diis uestris, et ab omni inmunditia et concupiscentia, percipite communicationem Christi credentes ut in aeternum uitam consequamini. Ex eadem hora adorabant eum tamquam deum pedibus eius deuoluti, et quos habebant in domo infirmos ut curaret eos. praefectus autem uidens tantam multitudinem ad Petrum adtendentem, adnuebat Petro ut discederet. Petrus autem dicebat populo ut in domo Marcelli uenirent. mater autem pueri rogabat Petrum ut in domum suam pedem poneret. Petrus autem. constituerat die dominico ad Marcellum ut uideret uiduas, ut pollicitus erat Marcellus, ut manu ipsius ministrarentur. dicebat ergo puer qui surrexerat: Ego a Petro non discedo. mater autem gaudens et hilaris peruenit in domo sua. et alia die post sabbatum uenit in domum Marcelli. adferens Petro duo milia aureorum, dicens ad Petrum: Haec diuide uirginibus Christi qui ei deseruiunt. puer autem a mortuis resurrexit cum uidisset nemini se donasse, uenit ad domum et aperuit armarium. et ipse obtulit quattuor milia aureorum dicens ad Petrum: Ecce et ego qui resuscitatus sum duplicem oblationem offero, et me ipsum ex hodiernum loquentem uictimam deo. … milia aureorum: debes enim illi'. timens autem ego, ne quid mali patiar ab illo quem uidi de caelis respicientem. Et haec dicens posuit ad pedes pecuniam et discessit. Petrus autem magnificabat dominum, quoniam pauperes refrigeraturi erant. quidam autem de fratribus dicebant Petro: Vide, frater, ne non bene acceperis paecuniam. dicitur enim fornicatam illam esse, neque ullum uirum relinquisse; usque et de seruis suis non parcit. si autem tibi uidetur, communicare ei noli de mensa domini nostri Iesu Christi, sed mittatur ignis eius in eam, Petrus hoc audito subrisit et dixit: Haec quae sit ignoro. ego. hanc paecuniam accepi a debitrice Christi: do enim illam seruis Christi: ipse enim illis prouidit.

As the news flew through the whole city, the mother of a certain senator came, pushed her way through the middle of the crowd and fell at Peter's feet, saying: 'I have learned from my people that you are a minister of the merciful God, and that by his grace you share this light with all who desire it. Share the light, then, with my son too, for I know that you begrudge no one; do not turn away from a matron who begs you.' Peter said to her: 'Will you believe in my God, through whom your son will rise?' The mother said with a loud voice and with tears: 'I believe, Peter, I believe.' The whole people cried out: 'Give the mother her son.' Peter said: 'Let him be brought here openly before all these.' And Peter turned to the people and said: 'Men of Rome, I too am one of you, bearing human flesh, and a sinner; but I have obtained mercy. Do not look at me as though I did what I do by my own power, but by the power of my Lord Jesus Christ, who is the judge of the living and the dead. Believing in him and sent by him, I trust that when I call on him I can raise the dead. Go, then, woman, and have your son brought here and raised.' The woman pushed through the crowd and went out into the street running with great joy, and believing in her heart she came to her house, had him carried by her young men, and came to the forum. She told the young men to put caps on their heads and walk before the bier, and that whatever she had meant to spend on her son's body should be carried before his bier, so that Peter, seeing it, might have mercy on the body and on her. With all of them mourning, she came into the crowd; and a company of senators and matrons followed, to see the wonders of God. Nicostratus, who had died, was a man of free birth and very dear in the senate. They brought him and set him before Peter. Peter asked for silence and said in a very loud voice: 'Men of Rome, now let there be a just judgement between me and Simon; judge which of us believes in the living God, he or I. Let him raise the body that lies here, and then believe him as an angel of God. But if he cannot, I will call on my God; I will give the son back alive to his mother, and then believe that this man who is your guest is a magician and a deceiver.' When they all heard this, what Peter had said seemed just to them. They urged Simon, saying: 'Now, if there is anything in you, show it openly: either expose him or be exposed. Why do you stand there? Come, begin!' When Simon saw them all pressing on him, he stood silent. When he saw that the people had fallen silent and were looking at him, Simon cried out: 'Men of Rome, if you see the dead man raised, will you throw Peter out of the city?' And the whole people said: 'We will not only throw him out, but burn him with fire that very hour.' Simon went to the dead man's head, bent down three times, and showed the people that he had raised his head and moved it and opened his eyes … And at once they began to look for wood and brushwood to burn Peter with fire. But Peter, having received the power of Christ, raised his voice and said to those who were shouting against him: 'Now I see, people of Rome, that I must not call you foolish and empty, so long as your eyes and ears and hearts are blinded. How long has your understanding been darkened? You do not see that you have been bewitched, since you think that a dead man has risen who has not raised himself. It would have been enough for me, men of Rome, to keep silent and die in silence, and leave you among the illusions of this world. But I have before my eyes the punishment of unquenchable fire. If, then, you think so, let the dead man speak, let him rise if he is alive; let him untie the band from his chin with his own hands, call his mother, and say to you who are shouting: Why are you shouting? Let him beckon to you with his hand. If you wish to see that he is dead and that you are spellbound, let this man stand back from the bier, who has persuaded you to stand back from Christ, and you will see him such as you saw him when you brought him.' Agrippa the prefect, no longer able to bear it, rose and pushed Simon away with his hands. And the dead man lay dead again, as he was before. The people, turned to fury against the magic of Simon, began to cry out: 'Hear, Caesar: if the dead man does not rise now, let Simon burn instead of Peter, since he has truly blinded us.' Peter stretched out his hand and said: 'Men of Rome, be patient now. I do not tell you to burn Simon when the boy is raised; for if I say it, you will do it.' The people cried out: 'Even if you do not wish it, Peter, we will do it.' Peter said to them: 'If you persist in this, the boy will not rise. We have not learned to repay evil for evil, but we have learned to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. For if even this man can repent, so much the better; for God will not remember evil. Let him come, then, into the light of Christ. But if he cannot, let him have the portion of his father the devil. But let your hands not be defiled.' When he had said this to the people, he went to the boy, and before raising him he said to his mother: 'These young men whom you set free in honour of your son can, as free men, render service to their living master. For I know that some of them are troubled to see your son risen, because they will be his slaves again. But let them all remain free, receiving their allowances as they received them before, for your son is going to rise; and let them be with him.' And Peter looked at her a long time to see what she was thinking. The boy's mother said: 'What else can I do? So before the prefect I say: whatever I was to spend on the body of my son, let them have it.' Peter said to her: 'Let the rest be distributed to the widows.' Then Peter, rejoicing in his soul, said in the Spirit: 'Lord Jesus Christ, who are merciful, appear to your Peter who calls on you, as you have always shown mercy and goodness: in the presence of all these who have gained their freedom, so that they may be able to serve, let Nicostratus rise now.' And Peter touched the boy's side and said: 'Rise.' And the boy rose, took up his clothes, sat up and untied his chin; he asked for other clothes, came down from the bier and said to Peter: 'I beg you, man, let us go to our Lord Christ, whom I saw talking with you; who said to you, pointing me out to you: Bring him here to me, for he is mine.' When Peter heard this from the boy, he was still more strengthened in mind by the Lord's help, and Peter said to the people: 'Men of Rome, so are the dead raised, so they talk, so they walk when they rise, and they live for the time God wills. Now, then, you who have gathered for the spectacle, if you turn from these evil ways of yours, from all your gods made by hands, and from all uncleanness and lust, receive the fellowship of Christ, believing, so that you may obtain eternal life.' [29] From that hour they worshipped him as a god, falling at his feet, and brought the sick they had at home for him to heal. The prefect, seeing so great a multitude attending to Peter, signed to Peter to withdraw. Peter told the people to come to the house of Marcellus. The boy's mother begged Peter to set foot in her house; but Peter had arranged to be with Marcellus on the Lord's day, to see the widows, as Marcellus had promised, so that they might be served by his own hand. The boy who had risen said: 'I will not leave Peter.' His mother, glad and cheerful, went to her house; and on the day after the sabbath she came to the house of Marcellus, bringing Peter two thousand pieces of gold, and said to Peter: 'Divide these among the virgins of Christ who serve him.' The boy who had risen from the dead, when he saw that he had given nothing to anyone, went home, opened his chest, and himself brought four thousand pieces of gold, saying to Peter: 'See, I too, who was raised, offer a double offering, and myself from this day as a speaking sacrifice to God.' [30] … thousand pieces of gold; for you owe it to him. I was afraid that I might suffer some harm from him whom I saw looking down from heaven.' Saying this, she laid the money at his feet and went away. Peter magnified the Lord, because the poor would be refreshed. But some of the brothers said to Peter: 'Take care, brother, that you have not done wrong in accepting this money. For it is said that she is a fornicator and has left no man alone; she does not even spare her own slaves. If it seems good to you, do not let her share in the table of our Lord Jesus Christ, but let her money be sent back to her.' When Peter heard this, he smiled and said: 'What this woman is otherwise, I do not know. I received this money as from a debtor to Christ; I give it to the servants of Christ, for he himself has provided for them.'

Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.

Mark 9:24 (echo, medium confidence) · Acts 10:26 (echo, medium confidence) · Acts 10:42 (allusion, medium confidence) · Acts 3:12 (echo, medium confidence) · Gal 3:1 (echo, medium confidence) · Mark 9:43 (echo, low confidence) · Rom 12:17 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 5:44 (allusion, high confidence) · Rom 12:2 (echo, low confidence) · Rom 12:1 (echo, medium confidence) · Luke 7:39 (echo, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Simon fails to raise the dead Nicostratus while Peter raises him and refuses vengeance on Simon; the crowd honours Peter, gifts pour in for the poor, and Peter accepts money from a woman of ill repute as owed to Christ.

  • Chapters 29 and 30 lie inside this ref, marked [29] and [30]. The opening of chapter 30 (Chryse, a wealthy woman, bringing ten thousand pieces of gold after a vision) is lost in the scan, marked …. A passage in Simon's attempt is damaged and marked …. Peter's call not to repay evil for evil echoes Rom 12:17 and Matt 5:44. The last request of the brothers ('let her money be sent back') renders a garbled phrase by sense.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip): euiusdam se natoris → cuiusdam senatoris; turbam οὐ et eaecidit → turbam et cecidit; esse fé ministrum dei miserieordis, → esse te ministrum dei misericordis,; communieare oninibus desi derantibus lumen hoe, eommuniea → communicare omnibus desiderantibus lumen hoc, communica; ma ter autem cum uote magna dixit eum laeri mis: → mater autem cum uoce magna dixit cum lacrimis:; uniuersu populus → uniuersus populus; Adferatur hoe → Adferatur hoc; Petrus δὲ populum → Petrus ad populum; eum sum unus, → cum sum unus,; pec cator. → peccator.; eonsecutus sum: → consecutus sum:; mejae uirtuti faciam quae faeio, → meae uirtuti faciam quae facio,; atquae mutuorum. → atque mortuorum.; eonfido → confido; et; r 3807 tu, mulier, et fae filium tuum hue → et tu, mulier, et fac filium tuum huc; eurrens eum gaudium → currens cum gaudium; iuue;nes → iuuenes; leetu irent, → lectu irent,; in eorpore filii → in corpore filii; in eorpore et in se. → in corpore et in se.; earissimus → carissimus; Nicostraitus → Nicostratus; nune sit iudicium → nunc sit iudicium; hie auf ego. → hic aut ego.; suscitet hic ; ; 359" et → suscitet hic et; po tuerit, ego deum meum inuoeabo: → potuerit, ego deum meum inuocabo:; quia hie magus → quia hic magus; haee uniuersi, → haec uniuersi,; Nune si quid in te est, os tende → Nunc si quid in te est, ostende; taeuisse et respieien tem → tacuisse et respicientem; exelamauit → exclamauit; popu lus → populus; eieimus, → eicimus,; eremauimus. Aecessit Simon ad eaput → cremauimus. Accessit Simon ad caput; inelinans → inclinans; aperien te. → aperientem.; molli. statim ligna et gremia aeceWES SACS «4 BERN DUM perunt pete re, ut Petrum flammas eremarent. Petrus autem ἢ us ela "τ 361: Accepta → molli. statim ligna et gremia coeperunt petere, ut Petrum flammis cremarent. Petrus autem accepta; ad sucelamantes ie πὰ aduersus → ad subclamantes aduersus; Nune uideo → Nunc uideo; mii non lieet → mihi non licet; oeuli uestri et iris ai aures uestre et preeordia excate → oculi uestri et aures uestre et precordia excaecata; sensus ticas uester obs curatus → sensus uester obscuratus; tam- : "5. (θὰ ju quam → tamquam; suf ed eiebat mihi, → sufficiebat mihi,; taeere et silentio mori, et relin quere YBlin ttr uos → tacere et silentio mori, et relinquere uos; poenam wn ante → poenam ante; si ergo hoe uisum → si ergo hoc uisum; loquatur F3ts ἐμ mortuus, → loquatur mortuus,; ligatum mui- , "^": bus suis, → ligatum manibus suis,; elamantibus dieat: quid e fietamet clamatis? → clamantibus dicat: quid clamatis?; quon- VE Nifi iam → quoniam; oblilgati estis, reeedat hie a lecto, qui "yr sua sit → obligati estis, recedat hic a lecto, qui suasit; qualem ὦ istis et adtultum → qualem adtulistis; tam non d: Doni; tolerans → iam non tolerans; et se a ἡ denuo → et denuo; sieut ante erat. populus autem in Viste furia → sicut ante erat. populus autem in furia; adelamare: Exaudi, V t lij je Caesar, → adclamare: Exaudi, Caesar,; pro Pet, quoniam nos uero excae cauit. → pro Petro, quoniam nos uere excaecauit.; extensa IS manu: → extensa manu:; pacieneiam praebete. «4non? dico "à ἧς uobis, → pacientiam praebete. non dico uobis,; um Suecelamauit → Subclamauit; nouimus [ retribuere; sei didicimus inimieos → nouimus retribuere; sed didicimus inimicos; si enim et hie potest → si enim et hic potest; eoinquinentur. Et eum hoe dixisset → coinquinentur. Et cum hoc dixisset; prestare: scio ; enim → prestare: scio enim; uijderint → uiderint; pereipientes eiuaria sicut ante pereipiebant, → percipientes ciuaria sicut ante percipiebant,; intueba tur → intuebatur; prefeeto dieam, → prefecto dicam,; distribuan'tur. → distribuantur.; sieut semper → sicut semper; nune Nicostratus. → nunc Nicostratus.; edmus → eamus; osten dens: 'Huc mihi eum adhue, → ostendens: 'Huc mihi eum adduc,; hoe a puero, eonfortalbatur → hoc a puero, confortabatur; sie mortui → sic mortui; sie ambulant → sic ambulant; nune ergo → nunc ergo; speetaeulum, → spectaculum,; fa brieatis → fabricatis; concupiscenti, I . 57 pereipite eommunieationem → concupiscentia, percipite communicationem; «ut» in aeternum uitàm → ut in aeternum uitam; ὃ XXIX Ex eadem → Ex eadem; tamjquam → tamquam; euraret → curaret; multitudinem n jar. ad Petrum → multitudinem ad Petrum; sr mutem dicebat → autem dicebat; Mareelli uenirent. mater np te autem → Marcelli uenirent. mater autem; domi nico id Marcellum. jaro ἢ uideret → dominico ad Marcellum ut uideret; Mareellus, ut manu ipsius Ἰώ É mupistrarentur. → Marcellus, ut manu ipsius ministrarentur.; mig 108 diseedo. → non discedo.; domo sna. → domo sua.; domum Mareelli. → domum Marcelli.; au'reorum, dicens ad Petrum: 7^' Haee diuilde → aureorum, dicens ad Petrum: Haec diuide; puer autem 79'* αἱ 4 mortuis → puer autem a mortuis; milia j; «. sa; v .,; &ureoum dicens ad Pe trum: → milia aureorum dicens ad Petrum:; resuscitatus s»! suum duplieem → resuscitatus sum duplicem; hodiernum (j^^ loquentem uietimam deo. : ? milia → hodiernum loquentem uictimam deo. … milia; respieientem. Et haee diens → respicientem. Et haec dicens; Petrus autem , c aggr maguificabat → Petrus autem magnificabat; aeceperis paecuni[am. dieitur enim fornieatam → acceperis paecuniam. dicitur enim fornicatam; lesu Christi, → Iesu Christi,; Petrus hoe audito → Petrus hoc audito; ego. liane paecuniam → ego. hanc paecuniam; deuitrice Christi: do euim → debitrice Christi: do enim.

Topics: Ethics, Heresy

Cite (SBL): Acts Pet. 28 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/actus-vercellenses/27/#p-28). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Lipsius's Latin (Acta apostolorum apocrypha 1, 1891), OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; no public-domain English: re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 31

31Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103

Adferebant autem ad Petrum infirmos sabbato ut sanaret ab infirmitatibus suis, et omnes sanabantur. nam et podagri et ciragrici et quartanari et ab omne infirmitate sanabuntur in nomine Iesu Christi credentes. adponebantur autem cottidie in domini gratia credentes. sed post dies paucos Simon se dicebat Petrum vincere tamquam non credentem deo uiuo sed persuasioni uane, et fantasmata omnia facere. qui autem iam constabiliti erant in deo et Christo, non seducebat. nam Simon faciebat in triclinio, sed nihil uerum, et animatos iam traductos faciebat, et cludos rectos ambulare, sed in breui, caecos uidere, sed non uerum, quod faciebat in fantasia, ut ad hora hominibus uideretur; nam redibant iterum in eam ualetudinem. nihil tamen firmum, sicut Petrus Nicostratum et ceteros fecerat sanos. nam Petrus sequendo Simonem magum dissoluebat eum, nam ab omnibus aporiabatur et nemo illi iam nihil credebat. nouissime autem dicit Simon: Viri Romani, putatis, quod Petrus me uicit, quasi fortior sit me? sic illum adtenditis tamquam potentiorem? seduxit enim uos. sed crastina die uolabo ad dominum cuius ego uirtutem noui, quia uos cecidistis me, et ego uado ad patrem omnium et dico illi: 'Iniuriam mihi fecerunt filii tui; ego ad te ideo reuersus sum".

They brought the sick to Peter on the sabbath, so that he might heal them of their infirmities, and all were healed: those with gout in the feet and in the hands, those with quartan fevers, and those with every infirmity were healed, believing in the name of Jesus Christ. And every day more were added, believing in the grace of the Lord. But after a few days Simon said that he would prove Peter to be one who believed not in the living God but in an empty persuasion, and that he did everything by illusions. Those who were already firmly established in God and in Christ, however, he did not lead astray. For Simon performed in the dining room, but nothing was real: he made some who had already been carried out for burial seem alive, made the lame walk straight, but only for a short time, and the blind see, but not truly, because he did it by illusion, so that it seemed so to people for an hour; then they returned to the same sickness. Nothing was lasting, as when Peter had made Nicostratus and the others well. For Peter, following Simon the magician, undid his work, so that he was baffled by everyone, and no one any longer believed him at all. At last Simon says: 'Men of Rome, do you think that Peter has defeated me, as though he were stronger than I? Do you look to him as the more powerful? He has led you astray. But tomorrow I will fly to the Lord whose power I know, since you have failed me; and I am going to the Father of all, and I will say to him: Your sons have wronged me; that is why I have come back to you.'

Acts 2:47 (echo, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Peter heals the sick while Simon's illusory wonders fail, and Simon announces that he will fly up to God.

  • This and the following chapters overlap the Greek Martyrdom of Peter (published separately), chapters 2–3; the Latin is translated as it stands. 'Seem alive' renders a damaged phrase by sense.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip): saparet → sanaret; sana bantur. nam et podagr et ciragrilei → sanabantur. nam et podagri et ciragrici; lesu → Iesu; eottidie → cottidie; fantasmata omnia , ; 5660 faeere. → fantasmata omnia facere.; n0n seducebat. → non seducebat.; «anima» tos iam traductos faeiebat, et clu dos → animatos iam traductos faciebat, et cludos; brebi, → breui,; faeiebat in fantasia, → faciebat in fantasia,; fir mum, $5 sieut οἱ Petrus → firmum, sicut Petrus; dieit Simon: → dicit Simon:; sie illum → sic illum; potentiorem Ié: perseduxit → potentiorem? seduxit; erastina die volabo ad dowinum euius → crastina die uolabo ad dominum cuius; caeecidistis → cecidistis; milhi → mihi; reluersus sum". f. 3677 → reuersus sum"..

Topics: Heresy

Cite (SBL): Acts Pet. 31 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/actus-vercellenses/27/#p-31). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Lipsius's Latin (Acta apostolorum apocrypha 1, 1891), OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; no public-domain English: re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 32

32Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103

Alia autem die turba magna conuenit ad platea quae dicitur sacra uia, ut uiderent eum uolantem. et Petrus uenit ut et ipse interesset. et uenit et magna uoce dixit Simon Petro: Adtende Petre, quia ad dominum uado coram populo spectante me. dico tibi, Petre, si quid deus tuus potest, quem Iudaei occiderunt et uos lapidauerunt qui sub ille eratis collecti, appareat modo quae sit fides tua: ego enim ad eum uado. en subito in alto uisus est omnibus uidentibus in tota urbe super omnia templa et montes, respiciens autem Petrus et ipse mirabatur talem uisum. Petrus uero clamauit ad dominum Iesum Christum dicens: Si passus fueris hunc quod conatus est facere, omnes qui crediderunt in te scandalizantur, et quaecumque dedisti per me signa erunt ficta, citius ergo, domine, fac gratiam tuam et ostende omnibus qui me adtendunt uirtutem tuam. sed non peto ut moriatur, sed aliquid in membris suis uexetur. et continuo cecidit ad terram, fregit erus in tres partes. tunc eum lapidantes omnes fidentes et conlaudantes dominum. Superueniens autem quidam de uia amicus Simonis, nomine Gemellus a quo Simon multa acceperat, uidens eum crure fracto, subridens dixit ei: Tu es dei uirtus? quis tibi crus fregit? numquid ipse deus, cuius te uirtutem esse dicis? currens autem ipse Gemellus ad Petrum dixit: Ecce ego de credentibus Iesu Christi unus opto esse. Petrus dixit ei: Quae inuidia hic est, frater? ueni et fac consuetudinem. Simon autem male tractatus inuenit qui eum tollerent in grauato extra Romam Aricia. et ibi paucos dies fecit et inde tultus est quasi exiliaticum ab urbe nomine Castorem Terracina. et ibi duo medici concidebant eum, extremum autem die angelum satanae fecerunt ut expiraret. Petrus autem Romae morabatur cum fratribus gloriosus in domino et gratias agens die ac nocte turba adueniente credentium in nomine Christi. conueniebant autem ad eum et concubinae praefecti audientes castitatem debere obseruari et conlocutae inter se abstinebant se a concubitu Agripae praefecti, et cum illis molestus esset, excusationibus adueniendo aporiabant eum. cumque ille bilem pateretur praeterea diligens eas, exposuit eis curiosos ut sciret ubi prodirent. et inuenerunt quoniam ad Petrum conueniunt. dixit eis Agrippa: Petrus uos prohibuit non communicare mecum; ille uos haec docuit. scitote quia et uos et illum perdam. istae autem paratae erant omnia mala pati, quam se conmittere cum eo, confortante domino.

The next day a great crowd gathered at the street called the Sacred Way, to see him fly. And Peter came too, to be present. And Simon came and said in a loud voice to Peter: 'Look, Peter, I am going up to the Lord before the people who are watching me. I tell you, Peter, if your God can do anything (he whom the Jews killed, and who stoned you who were gathered under him), let it now appear what your faith is; for I am going to him.' And suddenly he was seen high up by everyone in the whole city, above all the temples and hills; and Peter, looking up, also marvelled at such a sight. And Peter cried out to the Lord Jesus Christ, saying: 'If you allow this man to do what he has attempted, all who have believed in you will be made to stumble, and all the signs you have given through me will be thought false. Quickly, then, Lord, show your grace and show your power to all who are watching me. Yet I do not ask that he die, but that he be hurt somewhat in his limbs.' And at once he fell to the ground and broke his leg in three places. Then they all stoned him, believing and praising the Lord. A certain friend of Simon named Gemellus, coming up from the road, from whom Simon had received much, saw him with his leg broken, smiled, and said to him: 'Are you the power of God? Who broke your leg? Was it God himself, whose power you say you are?' And Gemellus himself ran to Peter and said: 'See, I too wish to be one of those who believe in Jesus Christ.' Peter said to him: 'What grudge could there be here, brother? Come and keep company with us.' Simon, badly hurt, found people to carry him on a stretcher out of Rome to Aricia; he stayed there a few days, and from there he was carried to Terracina, to a certain Castor who had been banished from the city. And there two doctors operated on him, and at last, on the final day, the angel of Satan breathed his last. [33] Peter stayed in Rome with the brothers, glorious in the Lord, and giving thanks day and night as a crowd of believers in the name of Christ kept coming. The concubines of the prefect also came to him, hearing that chastity must be kept; and having talked among themselves, they kept away from intercourse with the prefect Agrippa; and when he troubled them, they put him off with excuses. Since he was angry, and yet loved them, he set spies on them to learn where they went; and they found that they went to Peter. Agrippa said to them: 'Peter has forbidden you to have intercourse with me; he has taught you this. Know that I will destroy both you and him.' But they were ready to suffer every evil rather than give themselves to him, as the Lord strengthened them.

Notes and citation

Summary: Simon flies over Rome but falls at Peter's prayer and dies after surgery at Terracina; the prefect Agrippa's concubines, hearing Peter preach chastity, refuse him.

  • Chapter 33 begins at [33]; its numeral is removed. The demand for sexual abstinence, even within existing unions, is a distinctive teaching of these Acts (compare the Greek Martyrdom of Peter 4); translated as written. 'They all stoned him' may mean 'threw stones at him'.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip): dieitur saera uia, → dicitur sacra uia,; Tudaei → Iudaei; uidenübus in tota urbe sup omnia → uidentibus in tota urbe super omnia; elamaut → clamauit; hune quod → hunc quod; seandalizantur, e£ quaecumque → scandalizantur, et quaecumque; fineta, titius ergo, → ficta, citius ergo,; uirtuitem → uirtutem; eaecidit ad, v s;« terram, → cecidit ad terram,; lapadantes → lapidantes; Gemellus a. quo → Gemellus a quo; aeceperat, → acceperat,; crus i fregit? → crus fregit?; eurrens → currens; Eece ego → Ecce ego; lesu Christi → Iesu Christi; Pejtrus dixit ei: Quae invidia hie est, → Petrus dixit ei: Quae inuidia hic est,; fae consuetudinem. → fac consuetudinem.; follerent → tollerent; exiliatieum → exiliaticum; concidebant eum, j extremum → concidebant eum, extremum; sa tanae → satanae; XXXII] Petrus autem Romae morabatur eum → Petrus autem Romae morabatur cum; ad-; c sesr ueniente → adueniente; ad emn et → ad eum et; eonlocutae → conlocutae; ἃ concubitu → a concubitu; et eum illis → et cum illis; curios«os» → curiosos; εἰ serunt → et inuenerunt; n4on» communicare → non communicare; do» euit. → docuit.; «per» dam. → perdam.; om4nia» mala → omnia mala; se conmittere eum eo, → se conmittere cum eo,.

Topics: Heresy, Marriage

Cite (SBL): Acts Pet. 32 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/actus-vercellenses/27/#p-32). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Lipsius's Latin (Acta apostolorum apocrypha 1, 1891), OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; no public-domain English: re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 34

34Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103

Vna autem forma formonsissima, Albini clarissimi uiri amici Caesaris coniunx nomine Xantippe, cum alias matronas conueniens ad Petrum de castitate seruanda sustulit se a marito. ipse autem furiens et amans eam mirabatur, quoniam neque in eodem lecto maneret, et tamquam bestia furiabatur, quaerens quomodo Petrum perderet. multae autem conplures et aliae honestae feminae, audientes uerbum de castitate, recedebant a uiris suis, et uiri a mulieribus, propter quod uellent caste et mundae deo seruire. tumultu autem non minimo concitato ab Albino, rettulit praefecto de coniuge sua. dixit ei: Aut tu me defende de Petro qui istas suasit Christianas fieri, aut ego me uindicabo. et praefectus hoc passus referebat Albino, et dixit Albinus praefecto: Quid ergo taces? cur non te defendes et uniuersos? occidamus ergo illum, ut possimus coniuges nostras possidere.

One woman, very beautiful, Xanthippe by name, the wife of Albinus, a most distinguished man and friend of Caesar, came with the other matrons to Peter and, hearing about keeping chastity, withdrew from her husband. He, raging and loving her, was amazed that she would not even stay in the same bed with him; and like a wild beast he raged …, seeking how he might destroy Peter. Many other honourable women too, hearing the word about chastity, withdrew from their husbands, and husbands from their wives, because they wished to serve God chastely and purely. When no small uproar had been stirred up, Albinus told the prefect about his wife and said to him: 'Either you defend me against Peter, who has persuaded these women to become Christians, or I will take my own revenge.' And the prefect, who had suffered the same, told this to Albinus, and Albinus said to the prefect: 'Why then are you silent? Why do you not defend yourself and all of us? Let us kill him, so that we may have our wives.'

Notes and citation

Summary: Xanthippe, wife of Albinus, and many others withdraw from their spouses after Peter's preaching on chastity, and Albinus and Agrippa plot to kill Peter.

  • Spouses separating for the sake of continence reflects the ascetic teaching of these Acts; translated as written. A few words are garbled in the scan and marked ….

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip): Aluini clarisUds simi uiri amiei → Albini clarissimi uiri amici; nomin4e» Xantippe, eum Made alias → nomine Xantippe, cum alias; ser'uanda ido sustulit → seruanda sustulit; mira-, τ 9688 sea batur, → mirabatur,; ὧνἑἵ besteus furiabatur ad Θ᾽ ἅπι, → bestia furiabatur,; pernme deret. → perderet.; pd audientes → audientes; Lug uri a mulieribus, → uiri a mulieribus,; uelllent → uellent; Aut tu me ΤῈ defende → Aut tu me defende; «aput jJ eg) me uindieabo. → aut ego me uindicabo.; praefeetus «h»oe passus referebat Albne, et dixit «Alb»inus → praefectus hoc passus referebat Albino, et dixit Albinus; eur Jp non → cur non; possin mus eoniuges → possimus coniuges; possidere. A TN. Ν δι ja → possidere..

Topics: Marriage, Persecution

Cite (SBL): Acts Pet. 34 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/actus-vercellenses/27/#p-34). (abbreviation not yet checked)

BibTeX · RIS (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-actus-vercellenses-34) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude from Lipsius's Latin (Acta apostolorum apocrypha 1, 1891), OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; no public-domain English: re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 35

35Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103

Conlocutio itaque facta est a Xantippe. rettulit enim Petro et rogabat eum ut exiret a Roma, ut ad horam malus locum non haberet. haec et omnes fratres ei dicebant, … itaque adueniente eo et retribuente unicuique secundum facta sua. et nunc nolite furere in Agrippa praefecto. minister est paternae energiae et traditionis illius. hoc autem quod factum est in me dominus meus ante mihi ostendit.

So Xanthippe learned of the plot. She told Peter and begged him to leave Rome, so that for the present the evil might find no opportunity. All the brothers too said this to him … [36] … when he comes and repays each according to his deeds. And now do not rage against Agrippa the prefect; he is a minister of his father's working and of its tradition. And what has happened to me, my Lord showed me beforehand.

Matt 16:27 (allusion, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Xanthippe warns Peter of the plot and the brothers urge him to leave Rome; after a gap, Peter, now condemned, tells the brothers not to rage against Agrippa.

  • A whole page of the scan is unreadable here, and its OCR debris is removed: it held the rest of chapter 35 (Peter's flight from Rome and his meeting with the Lord at the gate, the 'Quo vadis' scene, which the published Greek Martyrdom of Peter 6 gives) and the start of chapter 36 (his arrest and condemnation). Chapter 36 resumes at [36]. 'His father' is the devil.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip; scan page lost: OCR debris of an unreadable page removed): qii 9 quibus ... .. net της pe que s TES P np. Ὁ, τῷ. t y o Dg. Eu IET Ἡ. qn cr. jid lacuna E) qe d ro vafe IN (mi MI ui; ἔμ. ΓΝ Ἵ L2 d ἡ Ρ sua , Re "TN ali 4; E d LJ d Ts dw l r] m Ρ 5 D pio P ul yit" uet rdi qe E Digitized by CGox y Google (ma) nefe → … ; Conlojeutio → Conlocutio; Sanctippe. rettulit roi in enim → Xantippe. rettulit enim; exiret à Roma, ut ad hora malus loeum → exiret a Roma, ut ad horam malus locum; haee et omnes → haec et omnes; adueniente eum et re;tribuente unicuique c sssc secundum faeta → adueniente eo et retribuente unicuique secundum facta; nune nolite furere in Agrippa praefeto. → nunc nolite furere in Agrippa praefecto.; aenergiae → energiae; hoe autem quod faetum est in me dominus meus ante mibi → hoc autem quod factum est in me dominus meus ante mihi.

Extrabiblical texts: Mart. Pet. 6–7 (Martyrdom of Peter (Greek Acts of Peter); echo)

Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution

Cite (SBL): Acts Pet. 35 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/actus-vercellenses/27/#p-35). (abbreviation not yet checked)

BibTeX · RIS (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-actus-vercellenses-35) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude from Lipsius's Latin (Acta apostolorum apocrypha 1, 1891), OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; no public-domain English: re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 37

37Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103

Sed quia dubito et non accedo ad crucem? o nomen crucis mysterium obscurum, gratia inconparabilis in nomen crucis dicta! o natura hominum, qui non discedunt ab ea et qui non recedunt ab ea. O amor inrecessibilis, qui per labia immunda nominari non potest! adpraehendo te nunc ad consummationem huius loci. non abscondo quod olim optabam crucis mysterium frui. fratres, qui in Christo speratis, ne putetis hoc esse crucem. quod palam uidetur. aliud est autem praeter hoc obscurum et magnum mysterium. nunc maximum mihi in nouissimo die meo audite. nolite haec quae oculis uidetis humanis. excaecate oculos et aures uestras ab istis passionibus quae palam uidetis. sed in notitiam uestri sit permanere totum mysterium uitae aeternae. sed iam hora est tradere corpus meum. Et conuersus ad eos, qui eum suspensuri erant, dixit ad eos: Capite, deorsum me crucifigite; et propter quam causam sic peto figi, audientibus dicam. Vt autem suspenderunt eum, ut ipse petierat, coepit dicere: Quibus est uoluntas audiendi, audite quae nunc maxime uobis adnuntio suspensum. intellegitis omnis mysterium principatus quod factum est. prior enim homo cuius effigiem sumpsi capite deorsum missus, et totum genus in terra proieiens .... ipsam ergo effigiem suspensam et homo susum adtendens Christus partem, quem dehonorificauit et communicauit, dextram in sinistram demutans sic, ut «bona» tamquam mala uiderentur et mala tamquam bona et dominus ipse dixit: 'Si non feceritis dextram tamquam sinistram et sinistram ut dextram, et quae sunt susum tamquam deorsum et quae retro sunt tamquam ab ante, non introibitis in regna caelorum.' haec autem prouidentia domini ad uos adtuli. et signum quem in me conspicitis illius figura est primi hominis generatio. uos autem, dilectissimi fratres, qui nunc auditis primum, qui incipietis audire, et ostendi uobis primum errorem, ut obseruare possitis. subiecerunt me itaque idem domini mei Iesu Christi cruci, quod est extensum uerbum unum et solum, de quo spiritus sanctus dicit: 'Quid enim est uerbum nisi hoc lignum, in quo crucifixus sum? clauus autem de plagio hominis figura est: clauus autem qui continet [et] in directo ligno ligno plagio in medio, conuersio et paenitentiam hominis est.

'But why do I hesitate and not go to the cross? O name of the cross, hidden mystery! O incomparable grace, spoken in the name of the cross! O nature of men, who do not depart from it and do not withdraw from it! O love that cannot be withdrawn, which cannot be named by unclean lips! I grasp you now, at the end of my stay in this place. I will not hide that I have long wished to enjoy the mystery of the cross. Brothers who hope in Christ, do not think that this which is seen openly is the cross; for besides this there is another, hidden and great mystery. Now hear from me the greatest thing, on my last day: do not look at these things with human eyes; shut your eyes and ears to these sufferings that you see openly; but let it be in your knowledge to abide in the whole mystery of eternal life. But it is now time to hand over my body.' And turning to those who were about to hang him, he said to them: 'Crucify me head downward; and why I ask to be fixed so, I will tell those who are listening.' [38] When they had hung him up as he himself had asked, he began to speak: 'You who wish to hear, hear what I now above all announce to you as I hang. Understand the mystery of the whole beginning, how it came about. For the first man, whose likeness I have taken on, was cast head downward, and casting his whole race to the earth … So this likeness of his, hanging … and man looking upward … exchanging right for left, so that good things seemed evil and evil things good. And the Lord himself said: Unless you make the right as the left and the left as the right, and what is above as below and what is behind as before, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. This understanding of the Lord I have brought to you; and the sign you see in me is the image of the first man's begetting. And you, dearest brothers, who hear now for the first time, who are beginning to hear: I have shown you the first error, so that you may be on your guard. They have set me, then, on the same cross as my Lord Jesus Christ, which is the stretched-out Word, one and only, of whom the Spirit says: For what is the Word but this wood on which I am crucified? The nail in the crossbeam is a figure of man; the nail that holds the crossbeam in the middle of the upright is the conversion and repentance of man.'

Matt 18:3 (echo, medium confidence) · 2 Cor 4:18 (echo, medium confidence) · Rom 5:12 (echo, medium confidence) · Isa 5:20 (echo, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Peter speaks on the hidden mystery of the cross, asks to be crucified head downward, and explains it as an image of the first man's fall and of conversion.

  • The mystical teaching on the cross, the inverted world of the first man, and the saying 'Unless you make the right as the left …' (an unwritten saying of Jesus, compare Gospel of Thomas 22) are distinctive of these Acts; translated as written. Chapter 38 begins at [38]; its numeral is removed. Several lines are garbled in the scan and marked …; compare the published Greek Martyrdom of Peter 8–9, which has the same speech. 'Of whom the Spirit says' quotes an unidentified saying.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip): erucem? omne erc mysterium obseurum, → crucem? o nomen crucis mysterium obscurum,; nomen erueis dieta! → nomen crucis dicta!; diseedunt → discedunt; 0 amor → O amor; abseondo → abscondo; erueis mysterium → crucis mysterium; putetis hoe esse → putetis hoc esse; praeter hoc obseurum → praeter hoc obscurum; nune maximum mihiin → nunc maximum mihi in; haee quae oculis uileis → haec quae oculis uidetis; exeaeeare → excaecate; istis; v. sco« passionibus → istis passionibus; eorpus mejum. → corpus meum.; suspensur erant, → suspensuri erant,; eausam sie peto → causam sic peto; dicam. i a ΤᾺ XXXVIII Vt autem → dicam. Vt autem; luy —CUepitdieere: → coepit dicere:; «quae nune? own; máxime → quae nunc maxime; omnes mysteà. rum prineipatus quod faetum → omnis mysterium principatus quod factum; appo 56 effigiem → effigiem; eapite deorsum → capite deorsum; 5,5; min ferra → in terra; jus famqum et → et; des honorfieauit → dehonorificauit; ΩΣ sie, → sic,; tamquam, "m με bona → tamquam bona; tamἡ ας. Qum sinistram → tamquam sinistram; «susum) y tamquam → susum tamquam; retro sunt» tamquam → retro sunt tamquam; non ; b ,, iut in regna eaelorum.' → non introibitis in regna caelorum.'; domini qu gy. t7 TT. ad → domini ad; conspieitis illius eorpus ΠΝ es primi → conspicitis illius figura est primi; dilec tissimi → dilectissimi; ak. E qui nune → qui nunc; ineipietis → incipietis; ostendi uobis Dy fi primum → ostendi uobis primum; subieiunt → subiecerunt; Christi eruci, → Christi cruci,; ὃ «, ds unum → unum; di cit: *Quid enim est win ἃ ....uUerbum nisi hoe → dicit: 'Quid enim est uerbum nisi hoc; erucifixus sum? elauum pa ὃν» autem → crucifixus sum? clauus autem; au tem qui continet sni fo [et] in direeto ligno → autem qui continet [et] in directo ligno; pa«e»im nitentiam hominis est. mL → paenitentiam hominis est..

Extrabiblical texts: Mart. Pet. 8–9 (Martyrdom of Peter (Greek Acts of Peter); echo); Gos. Thom. 22 (Gospel of Thomas; echo)

Topics: Martyrdom, Christology

Cite (SBL): Acts Pet. 37 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/actus-vercellenses/27/#p-37). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Lipsius's Latin (Acta apostolorum apocrypha 1, 1891), OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; no public-domain English: re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 39

39Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103

Haec autem, domine, tu mihi in notitiam pertulisti; reuelasti quod est uerbum uitae, nunc a me lignum dictum, gratias tibi ago, non labiis istis clauis fixum, neque lingua, per quem uerum et mendum exit, neque uerbo hoc Christe, gratulor tibi, silentio uocis tuae, quod est in me, Christum te diligens, tibi loquens et te uidens, tibi referens, qui solutus spiritus. omnia tibi cognita sunt. tu mihi pater, tu mihi mater, tu mihi frater, tu mihi amicus, tu seruus, tu procurans; et omnia in te, et quidquid tu, et non est alius nisi tu, in hunc autem et uos refugientes et in eum omnia sperantes, hoc constet in uos ut quae didicistis possint permanere in uobis, ut possitis ad ea peruenire quae promisit se daturum, quae neque oculus uidit, neque auris audiuit, neque in cor hominis peccatoris ascendit, praecantes eum de quibus promisit se daturum. oramus te domine Iesu et inuocamus gloriantes et depraecantes confitemur tibi, honorificantes te adhuc homines infirmi, quoniam tu es dominus solus et non est alius. tibi honor, claritas et potestas et nunc et in saecula saeculorum. amen.

'These things, Lord, you have brought to my knowledge; you have revealed what the word of life is, now called by me wood. I give you thanks, not with these lips fastened with nails, nor with the tongue through which truth and falsehood come out, nor with this word …; but, O Christ, I give you thanks with the silence of the voice that is in me, loving you as Christ, speaking to you and seeing you, giving back to you, a spirit set free. All things are known to you. You are my father, you my mother, you my brother, you my friend, you servant, you steward; all things are in you, and whatever you are, and there is no other but you. To him, then, you too must flee for refuge, and hope for all things in him; let this be fixed in you, that what you have learned may remain in you, so that you may come to the things he has promised to give, which eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have they entered the heart of sinful man, praying to him for the things he has promised to give. We pray to you, Lord Jesus, and call on you, glorying and entreating; we confess to you, honouring you, we who are still weak men, because you alone are Lord and there is no other. To you be honour, glory and power, now and for ever and ever. Amen.'

1 John 1:1 (echo, medium confidence) · Jas 3:10 (echo, low confidence) · 1 Cor 2:9 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 64:4 (allusion, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Hanging on the cross, Peter gives thanks to Christ in the silence of the spirit and urges the brothers to hope in him alone.

  • Compare the published Greek Martyrdom of Peter 10. Calling Christ 'father … mother … brother … servant' is distinctive of these Acts; translated as written. A phrase after 'nor with this word' is garbled in the scan, marked ….

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip): Haee autem, → Haec autem,; perπὸ tulisti; → pertulisti;; lignum sir. V dietum, → lignum dictum,; elauis fixum, neque. szo« Uo ff lingua, → clauis fixum, neque lingua,; uerbo hoe Christe, → uerbo hoc Christe,; rejferens, → referens,; eognita → cognita; milhi mater, → mihi mater,; proeurans; → procurans;; in hune autem → in hunc autem; eonstet → constet; promisit; t sz: se datuerum», quae → promisit se daturum, quae; nequ«e auris» audiuit, → neque auris audiuit,; pecca«toris» , ascendit, → peccatoris ascendit,; quibus) promisit se datu4rump». → quibus promisit se daturum.; d«omine» Iesu et innoeamus → domine Iesu et inuocamus; de dopraecantes → depraecantes; honorifiantes te adhue → honorificantes te adhuc; dominus sus et → dominus solus et; et Dune et → et nunc et.

Extrabiblical texts: Mart. Pet. 10 (Martyrdom of Peter (Greek Acts of Peter); echo)

Topics: Martyrdom, Prayer, Christology

Cite (SBL): Acts Pet. 39 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/actus-vercellenses/27/#p-39). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Lipsius's Latin (Acta apostolorum apocrypha 1, 1891), OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; no public-domain English: re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 40

40Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103

Circumstantes autem maxima uoce dixerunt amen. Marcellus itaque consilium cuiusquam petens, quod non licebat nisi petisset, ut uidit quoniam beatus Petrus deposuisse spiritum, manibus suis deponens corpus illius delauit … lacte et uino, et murra paene pondo quinquaginta [et] implens sarcofagum et perfundens melle Attico, in suo monumento posuit. Petrus autem nocte aduenit ad Marcellum et dixit: Marcelle, quomodo audisti uerbum: 'Sine mortuos sepellire?' Marcello recogitante, iterum dicit in &somnio ad eum Petrus: Illa quae contulisti in mortuo perdidisti. Marcellus itaque expergefactus rettulit fratribus quomodo sibi apparuisset apostolus Christi Petrus.

Those standing round said Amen with a very loud voice. And Marcellus, without asking anyone's leave (though it was not allowed unless one asked), when he saw that blessed Peter had given up his spirit, took down his body with his own hands and washed it … with milk and wine, and with nearly fifty pounds of myrrh … he filled a stone coffin, poured Attic honey over it, and laid him in his own tomb. But Peter came to Marcellus by night and said: 'Marcellus, how did you hear the word: Let the dead bury their own dead?' While Marcellus was pondering this, Peter said to him again in a dream: 'What you spent on the dead man you have lost.' And Marcellus, waking, told the brothers how Peter the apostle of Christ had appeared to him.

Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.

Matt 8:22 (quotation, high confidence) · John 19:39–40 (echo, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Marcellus buries Peter lavishly, and Peter appears to him in a dream to rebuke the waste.

  • A phrase about the spices is garbled in the scan, marked …; compare the Greek Martyrdom of Peter 11. The editor deletes et before 'filled'.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip): Cireumstantes autem ma xima → Circumstantes autem maxima; Mareellus itaque consilium cuiusquam pejtens, quod non lieebat → Marcellus itaque consilium cuiusquam petens, quod non licebat; deposui spiritum, → deposuisse spiritum,; de«lauit» «nm LU y in τῆν , 0r T4» nu Σ᾿ lacte → delauit … lacte; sarehofagzum → sarcofagum; a«utem» nocte → autem nocte; «Sine inuipeem mortuos 5;;» sepellire?" Mar 4cello» → 'Sine mortuos sepellire?' Marcello; &&omnio» → &somnio; contu «listi» → contulisti; Mareellus &ita»que expergefaetus → Marcellus itaque expergefactus; fratrilbus → fratribus.

Extrabiblical texts: Mart. Pet. 11 (Martyrdom of Peter (Greek Acts of Peter); echo)

Topics: Martyrdom

Cite (SBL): Acts Pet. 40 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/actus-vercellenses/27/#p-40). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Lipsius's Latin (Acta apostolorum apocrypha 1, 1891), OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; no public-domain English: re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 41

41Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103

Imperator uero postquam scibit Petrum mortuum, arguit Agrippam praefectum quod sine consilio suo fecisset. uolebat enim Petrum uariis cruciatibus perdere. etenim Nero ad manum habebat qui crediderant in Christo, qui recesserant a latere Neronis; et ualde furiebatur Nero. quaerebat ergo autem omnes male perdere. et dum hoc cogitat, uidet angelum dei flagellantem se et dicentem sibi: Nero, audi: non potes seruos Christi persequi. abstine ergo manus tuas a seruis meis, minus ne senties si me contempseris. Sic autem Nero timore accepto abstinuit manus suas a discentibus dei et Christi quo termino Petrus arcessitus est. Pax omnibus fratribus et qui legunt et qui audiunt. actus Petri apostoli explicuerunt cum pace [et Simonis.] amen.

When the emperor learned that Peter was dead, he blamed Agrippa the prefect for having done it without consulting him; for he had wanted to destroy Peter with various tortures. For Nero had at hand some who had believed in Christ and had withdrawn from Nero's side, and Nero was raging greatly. He sought, then, to destroy them all cruelly. And while he was thinking of this, he sees an angel of God scourging him and saying to him: 'Nero, listen: you cannot persecute the servants of Christ. Keep your hands off my servants, or you will feel my power, if you despise me.' So Nero, seized with fear, kept his hands off the disciples of God and of Christ from the time when Peter was taken away. Peace to all the brothers, both those who read and those who hear. Here end the Acts of Peter the apostle, in peace, and of Simon. Amen.

Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.

Notes and citation

Summary: Nero, angry that Peter died without his order, plans to kill Peter's disciples but is restrained by an angel; the Acts end with a blessing.

  • A note of the editor (in Latin, on letters he supplied) had leaked into the text and is removed. Compare the Greek Martyrdom of Peter 12. The editor brackets 'and of Simon' in the closing title.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip): erueiatibus → cruciatibus; Ὁ a(utemi». ego. suppleui. post literam à tres uel. quattuor. literae omnes → autem omnes; hoe cogitat, → hoc cogitat,; serbos → seruos; Sie autem Nero «tiymore aceepto → Sic autem Nero timore accepto; ἃ discentibus → a discentibus; ter«mi» no Petrus arceessitus → termino Petrus arcessitus; om «ni»bus fratribus t. s72* et → omnibus fratribus et; aetus Petri → actus Petri; eum paee → cum pace.

Extrabiblical texts: Mart. Pet. 12 (Martyrdom of Peter (Greek Acts of Peter); echo)

Topics: Persecution, Martyrdom

Cite (SBL): Acts Pet. 41 (Lipsius–Bonnet, 45–103; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/actus-vercellenses/27/#p-41). (abbreviation not yet checked)

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Lipsius's Latin (Acta apostolorum apocrypha 1, 1891), OCR slips corrected by logged corrections; no public-domain English: re-read against the Latin.