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The Acts of Peter

History of the Text

The Acts of Peter is an apocryphal text, which according to Christine Thomas (professor of Religious Studies at the University of California Santa Barbara) is arguably part of the ancient Greek novel genre. ("Department of Religious Studies University of California Santa Barbara") Thomas states that “the assertion that the Apocryphal Acts were most like the ancient Greek novel, and shared their purpose, and intended audience, has become common.”(Thomas, p.3)

	On a different note, she also claims that there is a body of versions of the Acts of Peter. Thomas argues that the text is a multifarious conglomeration of sources with “the earlier versions serving as sources for the later, and the later existing as redactions of the former. The earliest source is a scrap of vellum in Greek preserved among the Oxyrhynchus Papyri, P. Oxy. 849, which contains some 28 lines.”(Thomas, p.10)  She states that even “[t]he most extensive version, the Actus Vercellenses, do not [even] preserve the work in their entirety. Furthermore, she states“ [f]our later texts dating from the fourth to sixth centuries retell large parts of the Acts of Peter.”(Thomas, p.10)  (Thomas, p.10) In her opinion, the text has so many elements that she refers to it as a “trajectory of the Acts of Peter,” instead of a single text.(Thomas, p.10) 

In qualifying the available versions of the text, Thomas states that “The Actus Vercellenses…,”contains “most of its remains…in one continuous segment.” (Thomas, p.11)The following partial synopsis(encompassing some of the first 23 of the 29 parts found in the original Latin text) of the Acts of Peter presents J.K. Elliott’s translation in Apocryphal New Testament of precisely this source, found in Bart D. Ehrman’s Lost Scriptures Books that Did Not Make it into the New Testament. Elliott’s translation is based on Latin sources. One of them is the Latin text called Codex Vercellensis, which “dates from the sixth-seventh century, but its text is likely to be a fourth-fifth century translation of the original Greek Acts.Codex Berol.8502.4(Coptic)…”(Elliott, p.391)

Introduction

The Acts of Peter is an apocryphal text that was in circulation at around the end second century. (Ehrman, p. 135) It describes the role of Peter as proselytizer. The text highlights the supernatural abilities God gives him to impress the people of Rome. In this sense, the account presents him as a figure similar to Jesus Christ in charisma and rightfulness. The premise of the text is that in Rome a certain man named Simon (whom Peter had once expelled from Judaea) had led the population astray from the teachings of Saul. He had convinced them with acts of charisma and magic tricks, and had declared that Jesus had not been the son of God; that he had been a simple son of a carpenter. God bestows on Peter supernatural powers, which he uses to recover the faith of the Romans.

Part 5

The text begins by describing that Simon had used acts of sorcery to convince the population that he had divine powers. The narrator mentions that without the moral leadership of the disciples, the population had believed in the power of Simon. “And the brethren were exceedingly disturbed, especially the neophytes. As Simon’s authority grew more and more.” (Part 5) Some “… even turned against their leaders “some of those among whom he worked in their daily conversations called Paul a sorcerer and a deceiver…” (Part5) The narrator states that in fact God had anticipated this event at the time of Jesus’ death, “While they were grieving and fasting God was already preparing Peter at Jerusalem for the future.”(Part5) The text situates God’s message to Peter informing him of the situation twelve years after the death of Jesus. The message is the following: “Peter, Simon, whom you expelled from Judaea after having exposed him as a magician, has forestalled you at Rome.( Part5)” Soon after hearing this from the voice of God Peter goes to Caesarea, where he boards a ship to take him to Italy. In this event Peter finds confirmation that in reality God considers him a “servant worthy of his service, since “though boarding without any provisions”, the captain of the ship noticed his holiness and extended an offer to share his food with him. (Part5) Another instance which Peter believes to be further confirmation of the will of God is that the captain of the ship hears the word of God in a dream telling him, while he’s steering the ship, It seemed to me as if a human voice from heaven said to me, “Theon, Theon!” Twice it called me by name and said to me, ‘Amongst all the passengers treat Peter in the most honorable way. For with his help you and the rest will escape safe from an unexpected incident.’(Part5) After hearing this, Peter decides to speak about the word of Christ to the boat passengers and “began at once to speak to Theon of the great deeds of God, and how the Lord had chosen him among the apostles…” (Part5) Theon informs Peter of his desire to be baptized in the Adriatic Sea, which Peter does. Upon baptizing Theon, the two of them observe “a young man, radiant in splendor, appeared and said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’ which motivates them to partake in the Eucharist, and “While they were eating and rejoicing in the Lord, suddenly a moderate wind, not a violent one, arose at the prow of the ship and lasted six days and six nights till they came to Puteoli.”(Part 5)

Part 6

In Puteoli, Theon announces to Ariston, an innkeeper, that he has brought Peter with him. Ariston becomes emotional from hearing the news and tells him that he had moved from Rome precisely because “a certain Jew named Simon has invaded the city. By means of his magical sayings and his wickedness he has completely perverted the entire fraternity.”(Part 6) He then meets Peter, at whose sight he “fell upon his face to the feet of Peter…”(Part 6)Ariston mentions the situation in Rome and the undoing of the work of Paul “All whom Paul entrusted to us we have lost through the power of Satan.” (Part 6) Peter emotively asserts that the wrong of the world will be undone: He who tempts the world by his angels forestalled us; but he who has the power to deliver his servants from all temptation will destroy his deceits and put them under the feet of the ones who believe in Christ, whom we preach.”(Part 6)Peter decides to not remain longer in Puteoli and Theon and Ariston accompany him to the “house of the presbyter Narcissus.”(Part 6)

Part 7

At his arrival in Rome he gathers a crowd and begins “to speak with a loud voice” of the coming of Jesus Christ and mentions his eyewitness account of him, “I was with him, and I walked on the water and survive as a witness.”(Part 7) He also mentions his now very well-known denial of Jesus Christ “I denied our Lord Jesus Christ, not once, but thrice: for those who ensnared me were wicked gods, just as the prophet of the lord said,” and communicates that “Satan the deceiver sends arrows upon you too, to make you leave the way.”(Part 7) In a message of solidarity he states: For if Satan has subverted me, whom the Lord esteemed so highly, so that I denied the light of my hope, causing me to fall and persuading me to flee as if I believed in a man, what do you think will happen to you, who have just been converted?( Part 7)Peter affirms that he will not only use words to persuade them back into the faith, but that he will “by reason of miraculous deeds and powers I exhort you by faith in Jesus Christ. (Part 7)

Part 8

The crowd tells Peter that Simon lives in the house of Senator Marcellus. They tell him that Marcellus had previously been a great Christian benefactor. For instance, that “To him the emperor says, ‘I will give you no office, lest you rob the provinces to benefit the Christians;’ talking about Marcellus’ tax collections “…Caesar said to him, ‘It would be mine you kept it for me, but now it is not mine, since you give it to whom you please, and who knows to what low people?’’(Part 8)Furthermore, the populace attributes the reason for their withdrawal of faith to Marcellus’ own, “For had he not been changed we certainly should not have left the holy faith in God our Lord.”(Part 8) Peter then curses the devil who had led astray many over time starting with “the first man whom he “enticed to evil lust,” and assures him that “Christ Jesus keeps his “… sheep” with the” greatest diligence.” (Part 8)

Part 9

When Peter, followed by the crowd of people goes to the house of Marcellus and tells the keeper to inform Simon that he is there to talk. The keeper had been told to tell Peter that Simon was not in the house and seeing that Simon was unwilling to talk he makes a dog, who was tied nearby tell Simon and his followers “… and lifting his front legs he said with a very loud voice” Simon, Peter, who stands at the door, bids you to come outside in public, for he says ‘On your account have I come to Rome, you wicked man and destroyer of simple souls.’” (Part 9)

Part 10

Upon seeing this miracle, Marcellus, the senator, “[runs] outside and [falls] down before Peter…” and confesses that he had sinned and expressed his repentance.(Part 10) He tells Peter that he believed in Simon and even erected a Statue of him “To Simon, the young god’ because “he said that he was the power of God.”(Part 10) He also confesses that Simon had persuaded them by calling him (Peter) “an unbeliever because you lost faith on the water.” Peter then asks God to “receive him [Marcellus] among the number of your sheep.”(Part 10)

Part 11

A young possessed man tells Peter that Simon had made the dog talk more and that he had commanded that he “die at your feet” when “he has fulfilled your wish.”(Part 11) Peter calls for the demon to leave the man’s body, and when he hears this, the man breaks a statue of Caesar “to pieces.” (Part 11)Peter tells Marcellus to not worry about it for if he believes he will be able to restore it by sprinkling water on it, which he does and becomes more convinced of his faith. (Part 11)

Part 12

Still inside of his house, Simon commands the dog to tell Peter that he is not there. The dog scolds him and curses him to hell. He then runs to Peter and tells him “Peter, you shall have a hard fight with Simon, the enemy of Christ… but many whom he deceive you shall convert to the faith.”(Part 12)The dog then dies. This occurrence stirs the crowd, who ask Peter for more miracles. (Part 12)

Part 13

In response, Peter grabs a smoked tuna fish and throws it in a pond at which point it comes back to life. Many more people believe Peter and “met day and night in the house of Narcissus the presbyter.”(Part 13)

Part 14

Marcellus decides to throw Simon out of his house, and his servants treat him badly as they expel him. Simon goes to the house of the presbyter Narcissus and tells Peter that he “will prove that [he][Peter] believed in a Jewish man and the son of a carpenter.” (Part 14)

Part 15

“When Peter hear[s] these things he send[s] to him a woman with her suckling child” and tells her to come before Simon and remain silent. (Part 15) When she reaches him her baby tells Simon “assuming a manly voice”, that he will become speechless and should leave the city to return on the coming Sabbath. Simon then becomes speechless and “lodge[s] in a stable.”(Part 15)

Part 16

At night, Jesus appears to Peter and tells him that he has in fact converted “the greatest part of the brethren” and that he will give Peter the power to perform miracles on the next Sabbath. (Part 16) He warns him that Simon will use the power of the devil to manipulate the crowd. The next day Peter tells the converted of what had happened. (Part 16)

Part 20

Peter gives sight to an old blind widow. He also reaffirms the importance of the scriptures and states how he experienced the blinding sight of God in “the holy mountain.” (Part 20) He tells them of how Jesus had come to earth to eradicate the “deceit” that “was spread and many thousands of people were plunging into perdition….”, and reminds them that Jesus had come to save them and that “This Jesus you have, brethren, the door, the light, the way, the bread, the water, the life, the resurrection, the refreshment, the pearl, the treasure, the seed, the abundance…” (Part 20)

Part 23

On the Sabbath a mass gathers in some sort of arena for which “on payment of a piece of gold each occupied a seat.” (Part 23)The people ask Peter to show them his credentials. He tells them that “they will be our true judges” and reminds Simon that he has expelled him from Judaea for defrauding Eubola, “a highly respected but simple woman, by means of his magic,” and that he had “fall[en] at my feet and those of Paul, when in Jerusalem [he] saw the miraculous cures which took place by our hands…”( Part 23) Simon refutes by saying that the Romans “are no fools,” and “will not believe that a god can be crucified.” (Part 23)

Bibliography 1. Ehrman, Bart. Scriptures : books that did not make it into the new testament . New York : Oxford University Press, 2003. Print. 2. Elliott, J. The Apocryphal New Testament : a collection of apocryphal Christian literature in an English translation . New York : Oxford University Press, 1993. Print.

3. Thomas, Christine . The Acts of Peter, Gospel literature, and the ancient novel : rewriting the past . New York : Oxford University Press, 2003. Print.

4. "http://www.religion.ucsb.edu/Faculty/thomas.htm." Department of Religious Studies University of California Santa Barbara. The Regents of the University of California, n.d. Web. 14 Jun 2012