(NOTE: The electronic text obtained from The Electronic Bible Society was  
not completely corrected. EWTN has corrected all mistakes found.) 
 
APOCRYPHAL ACTS OF THE APOSTLES (1 of 2)
    Acts of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul 
    Acts of Paul and Thecla 
    The Acts of Barnabas 
    The Acts of Philip 
    Acts and Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Andrew 


ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL 
 
    IT came to pass, after Paul went out of the island Gaudomeleta,(1) that  
he came to Italy; and it was heard of by the Jews who were in Rome, the  
elder of the cities, that Paul demanded to come to Caesar. Having fallen,  
therefore, into great grief and much despondency, they said among  
themselves: It does not please him that he alone has afflicted all our  
brethren and parents in Judaea and Samaria, and in all Palestine; and he  
has not been pleased with these, but, behold, he comes here also, having  
through imposition asked Caesar to destroy us. 
 
    Having therefore made an assembly against Paul, and having considered  
many proposals,(2) it seemed good to them to go to Nero the emperor, to ask  
him not to allow Paul to come to Rome. Having therefore got in readiness  
not a few presents, and having carried them with them, with supplication  
they came before him, saying: We beseech thee, O good emperor, send orders  
into all the governments of your worship, to the effect that Paul is not to  
come near these parts; because this Paul, having afflicted all the nation  
of our fathers, has been seeking to come hither to destroy us also. And the  
affliction, O most worshipful emperor, which we have from Peter is enough  
for us. 
 
    And the Emperor Nero, having heard these things, answered them: It  
is(3) according to your wish. And we write to all our governments that he  
shall not on any account come to anchor in the parts of Italy. And they  
also informed Simon the magian, having sent for him, that, as has been  
said, he should not come into the parts of Italy. 
 
    And while they were thus doing, some of those that had repented out of  
the nations, and that had been baptized at the preaching of Peter, sent  
elders to Paul with a letter to the following effect: Paul, dear servant of  
our Lord Jesus Christ, and brother of Peter, the first of the apostles, we  
have heard from the rabbis of the Jews that are in this Rome, the greatest  
of the cities, that they have asked Caesar to send into all his  
governments, in order that, wherever thou mayst be found, thou mayst be put  
to death. But we have believed, and do believe, that as God does not  
separate the two great lights which He has made, so He is not to part you  
from each other, that is, neither Peter from Paul, nor Paul from Peter; but  
we positively believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, into whom we have been  
baptized, that we have become worthy also of your teaching. 
 
    And Paul, having received the two men sent with the letter on the  
twentieth of the month of May, became eager to go, and gave thanks to the  
Lord and Master Jesus Christ. And having sailed from Gaudomeleta, he did  
not now come through Africa to the parts of Italy, but ran to Sicily, until  
he came to the city of Syracuse with the two then who had been sent from  
Rome to him. And having sailed thence, he came to Rhegium of Calabria, and  
from Rhegium he crossed to Mesina, and there ordained a bishop, Bacchylus  
by name. And when he came out of Mesina he sailed to Didymus, and remained  
there one night. And having sailed thence, he came to Pontiole(4) on the  
second day. 
 
    And Dioscorus the shipmaster, who brought him to Syracuse, sympathizing  
with Paul because he had delivered his son from death, having left his own  
ship in Syracuse, accompanied him to Pontiole. And some of Peter's  
disciples having been found there, and having received Paul, exhorted him  
to stay with them. And he stayed a week, in hiding, because of the command  
of Caesar. And all the toparchs were watching to seize and kill him. But  
Dioscorus the shipmaster, being himself also bald, wearing his shipmaster's  
dress, and speaking boldly, on the first day went out into the city of  
Pontiole. Thinking therefore that he was Paul, they seized him, and  
beheaded him, and sent his head to Caesar. 
 
    Caesar therefore, having summoned the first men of the Jews, announced  
to them, saying: Rejoice with great joy, for Paul your enemy is dead. And  
he showed them the head. Having therefore made great rejoicing on that day,  
which was the fourteenth of the month of June, each of the Jews fully  
believed it. 
 
    And Paul, being in Pontiole, and having heard that Dioscorus had been  
beheaded, being grieved with great grief, gazing into the height of the  
heaven, said: O Lord Almighty in heaven, who hast appeared to me in every  
place whither I have gone on account of Thine only-begotten Word, our Lord  
Jesus Christ, punish this city, and bring out all who have believed in God  
and followed His word. He said to them therefore: Follow me: And going  
forth from Pontiole with those who Met believed in the word of God, they  
came to a place called Baias;(1) and looking up with their eyes, they all  
see that city called Pontiole sunk into the sea-shore about one fathom; and  
there it is until this day, for a remembrance, under the sea. 
 
    And having gone forth from Baias, they went to Gaitas, and there he  
taught tim word of God. And he stayed there three days in the house of  
Erasmus, whom Peter sent from Rome to teach the Gospel of God. And having  
come forth from Gaitas, he came to the castle called Taracinas, and stayed  
there seven days in the house of Caesarius the deacon, whom Peter had  
ordained by the laying on of hands. And sailing thence, be came by the  
river to a place called Tribus Tabernes. 
 
    And those who bad been saved out of the city of Pontiole that had been  
swallowed up, reported to Caesar in Rome that Pontiole had been swallowed  
up, with all its multitude. And the emperor, being in great grief on  
account of the city, having summoned the chief of the Jews, said to them:  
Behold, on account of what I heard from you, I have caused Paul to be  
beheaded, and on account of this the city has been swallowed up. And the  
chief of the Jews said to Caesar: Most worshipful emperor, did we not say  
to thee that he troubled all the country of the East, and perverted our  
fathers? It is better therefore, most worshipful emperor, that one city be  
destroyed, and not the seat of thine empire; for this had Rome to suffer.  
And the emperor, having heard their words, was appeased. 
 
    And Paul stayed in Tribus Tabernes four days. And departing thence, he  
came to Appii Forum, which is called Vicusarape; and having slept there  
that night, he saw one sitting on a golden chair, and a multitude of blacks  
standing beside him, saying: I have to-day made a son murder his father.  
Another said: And I have made a house fall, and kill parents with children.  
And they reported to him many evil deeds--some of one kind, some of  
another. And another coming, reported to him: I have managed that the  
bishop Juvenalius, whom Peter ordained, should sleep with the abbess  
Juliana. And having heard all these things when sleeping in that Appii  
Forum, near Vicusarape, straightway and immediately be sent to Rome one of  
those who had followed him from Pontiole to the bishop Juvenalius, telling  
him this same thing which had just been done. And on the following day,  
Juvenalius, running, threw himself at the feet of Peter, weeping and  
lamenting, and saying what had just befallen; and he recounted to him the  
matter, and said: I believe that this is the light which thou wast  
awaiting. And Peter said to him: How is it possible that it is he when he  
is dead? And Juvenalius the bishop took to Peter him that had been sent by  
Paul, and be reported to him that he was alive, and on his way, and that he  
was at Appii Forum. And Peter thanked and glorified the God and Father of  
our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
    Then having summoned his disciples that believed, he sent them to Paul  
as far as Tribus Tabernes. And the distance from Rome to Tribus Tabernes is  
thirty-eight miles.(2) And Paul seeing them, having given thanks to our  
Lord jesus Christ, took courage; and departing thence, they slept in the  
city called Aricia. 
 
    And a report went about in the city of Rome that Paul the brother of  
Peter was coming. And those that believed in God rejoiced with great joy.  
And there was great consternation among the Jews; and having gone to Simon  
the magian, they entreated him, saying: Report to the emperor that Paul is  
not dead, but that he is alive, and has come. And Simon said to the Jews:  
What head is it, then, which came to Caesar from Pontiole? Was it not bald  
also? 
 
    And Paul having come to Rome, great fear fell upon the Jews. They came  
together therefore to him, and exhorted him, saying: Vindicate the faith in  
which thou wast born; for it is not right that thou, being a Hebrew, and of  
the Hebrews, shouldst call thyself teacher of Gentiles, and vindicator of  
the uncircumcised; and, being thyself circumcised, that thou shouldst bring  
to nought the faith of the circumcision.(3) And when thou seest Peter,  
contend against his teaching, because be has destroyed all the bulwarks of  
our law; for he has prevented the keeping of Sabbaths and new moons, and  
the holidays appointed by the law. And Paul, answering, said to them: That  
I am a true Jew, by this you can prove; because also you have been able to  
keep the Sabbath, and to observe the true circumcision; for assuredly on  
the day of the Sabbath God rested from all His works. We have fathers, and  
patriarchs, and the law. What, then, does Peter preach in the kingdom of  
the Gentiles? But if he shall wish to bring in any new teaching, without  
any tumult, and envy, and trouble, send him word, that we may see, and in  
your presence I shall convict him. But if his teaching be true, supported  
by the book and testimony of the Hebrews, it becomes all of us to submit to  
him. 
 
    Paul saying these and such like things, the Jews went and said to  
Peter: Paul of the Hebrews has come, and entreats thee to come to him,  
since those who have brought him say that he cannot meet whomsoever he may  
wish until he appear before Caesar. And Peter having heard, rejoiced with  
great joy; and rising up, immediately went to him. And seeing each other,  
they wept for joy; and long embracing each other, they bedewed each other  
with tears. 
 
    And when Paul had related to Peter the substance(1) of all his doings,  
and how, through the disasters of the ship, he had come, Peter also told  
him what he had suffered from Simon the magian, and all his plots. And  
having told these things, he went away towards evening. 
 
    And in the morning of the following day, at dawn, behold, Peter coming,  
finds a multitude of the Jews before Paul's door. And there was a great  
uproar between the Christian Jews and the Gentiles. For, on the one hand,  
the Jews said: We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, the friends of  
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, with whom God spake,  
to whom He showed His own mysteries and His great wonders. But you of the  
Gentiles are no great thing in your lineage; if otherwise, you have become  
polluted and abominable by idols and graven images. 
 
    While the Jews were saying such things, and such-like, those of the  
Gentiles answered, saying: We, when we heard the truth, straightway  
followed it, having abandoned our errors. But you, both knowing the mighty  
deeds of your fathers, and seeing the signs of the prophets, and having  
received the law, and gone through the sea with dry feet, and seen your  
enemies sunk in its depths, and the pillar of fire by night and of cloud by  
day shining upon you, and manna having been given to you out of heaven, and  
water flowing to you out of a rock,--after all these things you fashioned  
to yourselves the idol of a calf, and worshipped the graven image. But we,  
having seen none of the signs, believe to be a Saviour the God whom you  
have forsaken in unbelief. 
 
    While they were contending in these and such-like words, the Apostle  
Paul said that they ought not to make such attacks upon each other, but  
that they should rather give heed to this, that God had fulfilled His  
promises which He swore to Abraham our father, that in his seed he should  
inherit all the nations.(2) For there is no respect of persons with God.(3)  
As many as have sinned in law shall be judged according to law, and as many  
as have sinned without law shall perish without law.(4) But we, brethren,  
ought to thank God that, according to His mercy, He has chosen us to be a  
holy people to Himself: so that in this we ought to boast, whether Jews or  
Greeks; for you are all one in the belief of His name. 
 
    And Paul having thus spoken, both the Jews and they of the Gentiles  
were appeased. But the rulers of the Jews assailed Peter. And Peter, when  
they accused him of having renounced their synagogues, said: Hear,  
brethren, the holy Spirit about the patriarch David, promising, Of the  
fruit of thy womb shall He set upon thy throne.(5) Him therefore to whom  
the Father said, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee, the chief  
priests through envy crucified; but that He might accomplish the salvation  
of the world, it was allowed that He should suffer all these things.(6)  
Just as, therefore, from the side of Adam Eve was created, so also from the  
side of Christ was created the Church, which has no spot nor blemish. In  
Him,(7) therefore, God has opened an entrance to all the sons of Abraham,  
and Isaac, and Jacob, in order that they may be in the faith of profession  
towards Him,(8) and have life and salvation in His name. Turn, therefore,  
and enter into the joy of your father Abraham, because God hath fulfilled  
what He promised to him. Whence also the prophet says, The Lord hath sworn,  
and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of  
Melchizedec.(9) For a priest He became upon the cross, when He offered the  
whole burnt-offering of His own body and blood as a sacrifice for all the  
world. 
 
    And Peter saying this and such-like, the most part of the people  
believed. And it happened also that Nero's wife Libia, and the yoke-fellow  
of Agrippa the prefect, Agrippina by name, thus believed, so that also they  
went away from beside their own husbands. And on account of the teaching of  
Paul, many, despising military life, clung to God; so that even from the  
emperor's bed-chamber some came to him, and having become Christians, were  
no longer willing to return to the army or the palace. 
 
    When, consequently, the people were making a seditious murmuring,  
Simon, moved with zeal, rouses himself, and began to say many evil things  
about Peter, saying that he was a wizard and a cheat. And they believed  
him, wondering at his miracles; for he made a brazen serpent move itself,  
and stone statues to laugh and move themselves, and himself to run and  
suddenly to be raised into the air. But as a set-off to these, Peter healed  
the sick by a word, by praying made the blind to see, put demons to flight  
by a command; sometimes he even raised the dead. And he said to the people  
that they should not only flee from Simon's deceit, but also that they  
should expose him, that they might not seem to be slaves to the devil. 
 
    And thus it happened that all pious men abhorred Simon the magian, and  
proclaimed him impious. But those who adhered to Simon strongly affirmed  
Peter to be a magian, bearing false witness as many of them as were with  
Simon the magian; so that the matter came even to the ears of Nero the  
Caesar, and he gave order to bring Simon the magian before him. And he,  
coming in, stood before him, and began suddenly to assume different forms,  
so that on a sudden he became a child, and after a little an old man, and  
at other times a young man; for he changed himself both in face and stature  
into different forms, and was in a frenzy, having the devil as his servant.  
And Nero beholding this, supposed him to be truly the son of God; but the  
Apostle Peter showed him to be both a liar and a wizard, base and impious  
and apostate, and in all things opposed to the truth of God, and that  
nothing yet remained except that his wickedness, being made apparent by the  
command of God, might be made manifest to them all. 
 
    Then Simon, having gone in to Nero, said: Hear, O good emperor: I am  
the son of God come down from heaven. Until now I have endured Peter only  
calling himself an apostle; but now he has doubled the evil: for Paul also  
himself teaches the same things, and having his mind turned against me, is  
said to preach along with him; in reference to whom, if thou shalt not  
contrive their destruction, it is very plain that thy kingdom cannot stand. 
 
    Then Nero, filled with concern, ordered to bring them speedily before  
him. And on the following day Simon the magian, and Peter and Paul the  
apostles of Christ, having come in to Nero, Simon said: These are the  
disciples of the Nazarene, and it is not at all well that they should be of  
the people of the Jews, Nero said: What is a Nazarene? Simon said: There is  
a city of Judah which has always been opposed to us, called Nazareth, and  
to it the teacher of these men belonged. Nero said: God commands us to love  
every man; why, then, dost thou persecute them? Simon said: This is a race  
of men who have turned aside all Judaea from believing in me. Nero said to  
Peter: Why are you thus unbelieving, according to your race?(1) Then Peter  
said to Simon: Thou hast been able to impose upon all, but upon me never;  
and those who have been deceived, God has through me recalled from their  
error. And since thou hast learned by experience that thou canst not get  
the better of me, I wonder with what face thou boastest thyself before the  
emperor, and supposest that through thy magic art thou shalt overcome the  
disciples of Christ. Nero said: Who is Christ? Peter said: He is what this  
Simon the magian affirms himself to be; but this is a most wicked man, and  
his works are of the devil. But if thou wishest to know, O good emperor,  
the things that have been done in Judaea about Christ, take the writings of  
Pontius Pilate sent to Claudius, and thus thou wilt know all. And Nero  
ordered them to be brought, and to he read in their presence; and they were  
to the following effect:(2)-- 
 
    Pontius Pilate to Claudius, greeting. There has lately happened an  
event which I myself was concerned in. For the Jews through envy have  
inflicted on themselves, and those coming after them, dreadful judgments.  
Their fathers had promises that their God would send them his holy one from  
heaven, who according to reason should be called their king, and he had  
promised to send him to the earth by means of a virgin. He, then, when I  
was procurator, came into Judaea. And they saw(3) him enlightening the  
blind, cleansing lepers, healing paralytics, expelling demons from men,  
raising the dead, subduing the winds, walking upon the waves of the sea,  
and doing many other wonders, and all the people of the Jews calling him  
Son of God. Then the chief priests, moved with envy against him, seized  
him, and delivered him to me; and telling one lie after another, they said  
that he was a wizard, and did contrary to their law. And I, having believed  
that these things were so, gave him up, after scourging him, to their  
will;(4) and they crucified him, and after he was buried set guards over  
him. But he, while my soldiers were guarding him, rose on the third day.  
And to such a degree was the wickedness of the Jews inflamed against him,  
that they gave money to the soldiers, saying, Say his disciples have stolen  
his body. But they, having taken the money, were not able to keep silence  
as to what had happened; for they have testified that they have seen him  
(after he was) risen, and that they have received money from the Jews.  
These things, therefore, have I reported, that no one should falsely speak  
otherwise, and that thou shouldest not suppose that the falsehoods of the  
Jews are to be believed. 
 
    And the letter having been read, Nero said: Tell me, Peter, were all  
these things thus done by him? Peter said: They were, with your permission,  
O good emperor. For this Simon is full of lies and deceit, even if it  
should seem that he is what he is not--a god. And in Christ there is all  
excellent victory through God and through man,(1) which that  
incomprehensible glory assumed which through man deigned to come to the  
assistance of men. But in this Simon there are two essences, of man and of  
devil, who through man endeavours to ensnare men. 
 
    Simon said: I wonder, O good emperor, that you reckon this man of any  
consequence--a man uneducated, a fisherman of the poorest, and endowed with  
power neither in word nor by rank. But, that I may not long endure him as  
an enemy, I shall forthwith order my angels to come and avenge me upon him.  
Peter said: I am not afraid of thy angels; but they shall be much more  
afraid of me in the power and trust of my Lord Jesus Christ, whom thou  
falsely declarest thyself to be. 
 
    Nero said: Art thou not afraid, Peter, of Simon, who confirms his  
godhead by deeds? Peter said: Godhead is in Him who searcheth the hidden  
things of the heart.(2) Now then, tell me what I am thinking about, or what  
I am doing. I disclose to thy servants who are here what my thought is,  
before he tells lies about it, in order that he may not dare to lie as to  
what I am thinking about. Nero said: Come hither, and tell me what thou art  
thinking about. Peter said: Order a barley loaf to be brought, and to be  
given to me secretly. And when he ordered it to be brought, and secretly  
given to Peter, Peter said: Now tell us, Simon, what has been thought  
about, or what said, or what done. 
 
    Nero said: Do you mean me to believe that Simon does not know these  
things, who both raised a dead man, and presented himself on the third day  
after he had been beheaded, and who has done whatever he said he would do?  
Peter said: But he did not do it before me, Nero said: But he did all these  
before me. For assuredly he ordered angels to come to him, and they came.  
Peter said: If he has done what is very great, why does he not do what is  
very small? Let him tell what I had in my mind, and what I have done. Nero  
said: Between you, I do not know myself. Simon said: Let Peter say what I  
am thinking of, or what I am doing. Peter said: What Simon has in his mind  
I shall show that I know, by my doing what he is thinking about. Simon  
said: Know this, O emperor, that no one knows the thoughts of men, but God  
alone. Is not, therefore, Peter lying? Peter said: Do thou, then, who  
sayest that thou art the Son of God, tell what I have in my mind; disclose,  
if thou canst, what I have just done in secret. For Peter, having blessed  
the barley loaf which he had received, and hawing broken it with his right  
hand and his left, had heaped it up in his sleeves. Then Simon, enraged  
that he was not able to tell the secret of the apostle, cried out, saying:  
Let great dogs come forth, and eat him up before Caesar. And suddenly there  
appeared great dogs, and rushed at Peter. But Peter, stretching forth his  
hands(3) to pray, showed to the dogs the loaf which he had blessed; which  
the dogs seeing, no longer appeared. Then Peter said to Nero: Behold, I  
have shown thee that I knew what Simon was thinking of, not by words, but  
by deeds; for he, having promised that he would bring angels against me,  
has brought dogs, in order that he might show that he had not god-like but  
dog-like angels. 
 
    Then Nero said to Simon: What is it, Simon? I think we have got the  
worst of it. Simon said: This man, both in Judaea and in all Palestine and  
Caesarea, has done the same to me;(4) and from very often striving with me,  
he has learned that this is adverse to them. This, then, he has learned how  
to escape from me; for the thoughts of men no one knows but God alone. And  
Peter said to Simon: Certainly thou feignest thyself to be a god; why,  
then, dost thou not reveal the thoughts of every man? 
 
    Then Nero, turning to Paul, said: Why dost thou say nothing, Paul? Paul  
answered and said: Know this, O emperor, that if thou permittest this  
magician to do such things, it will bring an access of the greatest  
mischief to thy country, and will bring down thine empire from its  
position. Nero said to Simon: What sayest thou? Simon said: If I do not  
manifestly hold myself out to be a god, no one will bestow upon me due  
reverence. Nero said: And now, why dost thou delay, and not show thyself to  
be a god, in order that these men may be punished? Simon said: Give orders  
to build for me a lofty tower of wood, and I, going up upon it, will call  
my angels, and order them to take me, in the sight of all, to my father in  
heaven; and these men, not being able to do this, are put to shame as(5)  
uneducated men. And Nero said to Peter: Hast thou heard, Peter, what has  
been said by Simon? From this will appear how much power either he or thy  
god has. Peter said: O most mighty emperor, it thou wert willing, thou  
mightst perceive that he is full of demons. Nero said: Why do you make to  
me roundabouts of circumlocutions? To-morrow will prove you. 
 
    Simon said: Dost thou believe, O good emperor, that I who was dead, and  
rose again, am a magician? For it had been brought about by his own  
cleverness that the unbelieving Simon had said to Nero: Order me to be  
beheaded in a dark place, and there to be left slain; and if I do not rise  
on the third day, know that I am a magician; but if I rise again, know that  
I am the Son of God. 
 
    And Nero having ordered this, in the dark, by his magic art he managed  
that a ram should be beheaded. And for so long did the ram appear to be  
Simon until he was beheaded. And when he had been beheaded in the dark, he  
that had beheaded him, taking the head, found it to be that of a ram; but  
he would not say anything to the emperor, lest be should scourge him,  
having ordered this to be done in secret. Thereafter, accordingly. Simon  
said that he had risen on the third day, because he took away the head of  
the ram and the limbs--but the blood had been there congealed--and on the  
third day he showed himself to Nero, and said: Cause to be wiped away my  
blood that has been poured out; for, behold, having been beheaded, as I  
promised, I have risen again on the third day. And when Nero said, To- 
morrow will prove you, turning to Paul, he says: Thou Paul, why dost thou  
say nothing? Either who taught thee, or whom thou hast for a master, or how  
thou hast taught in the cities, or what things have happened through thy  
teaching? For I think that thou hast not any wisdom, and art not able to  
accomplish any work of power. Paul answered: Dost thou suppose that I ought  
to speak against a desperate man. a magician, who has given his soul up to  
death, whose destruction and perdition will come speedily? For he ought to  
speak who pretends to be what he is not, and deceives men by magic art. If  
thou consentest to hear his words, and to shield him, thou shalt destroy  
thy soul and thy kingdom, for he is a most base man. And as the Egyptians  
Jannes and Jambres led Pharaoh and his army astray until they were  
swallowed up in the sea, so also he, through the instruction of his father  
the devil, persuades men to do many evils to themselves, and thus deceives  
many of the innocent, to the peril of thy kingdom. But as for the word of  
the devil, which I see has been poured out through this man, with groanings  
of my heart am dealing with the Holy Spirit, that it may clearly shown what  
it is; for as far as he seems to raise himself towards heaven, so far will  
he be sunk down into the depth of Hades, where there is weeping and  
gnashing of teeth. But about the teaching of my Master, of which thou   
didst ask me, none attain it except the pure, who allow faith to come into  
their heart.(1) For as many things as belong to peace and love, these have  
I taught. Round about from Jerusalem, and as far as Illyricum,(2) I have  
fulfilled the word of peace. For I have taught that in honour they should  
prefer one another;(3) I have taught those that are eminent and rich not to  
be lifted up, and hope in uncertainty of riches, but to place their hope in  
God;(4) I have taught those in a middle station to be content with food and  
covering;(5) I have taught the poor to rejoice in their own poverty; I have  
taught fathers to teach their children instruction in the fear of the Lord,  
children to obey their parents in wholesome admonition;(6) I have taught  
wives to love their own husbands, and to fear them as masters, and husbands  
to observe fidelity to their wives; I have taught masters to treat their  
slaves with clemency, and slaves to serve their own masters faithfully;(7)  
I have taught the churches of the believers to reverence one almighty,  
invisible, and incomprehensible God. And this teaching has been given me,  
not from men, nor through men, but through Jesus Christ,(8) who spoke to me  
out of heaven, who also has sent me to preach, saying to me, Go forth, for  
I will be with thee; and all things, as many as thou shalt say or do, I  
shall make just. 
 
    Nero said: What sayest thou, Peter? He answered and said: All that Paul  
has said is true. For when he was a persecutor of the faith of Christ, a  
voice called him out of heaven, and taught him the truth; for he was not an  
adversary of our faith from hatred, but from ignorance. For there were  
before us false Christs, like Simon, false apostles, and false prophets,  
who, contrary to the sacred writings, set themselves to make void the  
truth; and against these it was necessary to have in readiness this man,  
who from his youth up set himself to no other thing than to search out the  
mysteries of the divine law, by which(10) he might become a vindicator of  
truth and a persecutor of falsehood. Since, then, his persecution was not  
on account of hatred, but on account of the vindication of the law, the  
very truth out of heaven held intercourse with him, saying, I am the truth  
which you persecutest; cease persecuting me. When, therefore, he knew that  
this was so, leaving off that which he was vindicating, he began to  
vindicate this way of Christ which he was persecuting. 
 
    Simon said: O good emperor, take notice that these two have conspired  
against me; for I am the truth, and they purpose evil against me. Peter  
said: There is no truth in thee; but all thou sayest is false. 
 
    Nero said: Paul, what sayest thou? Paul said: Those things which thou  
hast heard from Peter, believe to have been spoken by me also; for we  
purpose the same thing, for we have the same Lord Jesus the Christ. Simon  
said: Dost thou expect me, O good emperor, to hold an argument with these  
men, who have come to an agreement against me? And having turned to the  
apostles of Christ, he said: Listen, Peter and Paul: if I can do nothing  
for you here, we are going to the place where I must judge you. Paul said:  
O good emperor, see what threats he holds out against us. Peter said: Why  
was it  necessary to keep from laughing outright at a foolish man, made the  
sport of demons, so as to suppose that he cannot be made manifest? 
 
    Simon said: I spare you until I shall receive my power. Paul said: See  
if you will go out hence safe. Peter said: If thou do not see, Simon, the  
power of our Lord Jesus Christ, thou wilt not believe thyself not to be  
Christ. Simon said: Most sacred emperor, do not believe them, for they are  
circumcised knaves. Paul said: Before we knew the truth. we had the  
circumcision of the flesh; but when the truth appeared, in the circumcision  
of the heart we both are circumcised, and circumcise. Peter said: If  
circumcision be a disgrace, why hast thou been circumcised, Simon? 
 
    Nero said: Has, then, Simon also been circumcised? Peter said: For not  
otherwise could he have deceived souls, unless he reigned himself to be a  
Jew, and made a show of teaching the law of God. Nero said: Simon, thou, as  
I see, being carried away with envy, persecutest these men. For, as it  
seems, there is great hatred between thee anti their Christ; and I am  
afraid that thou wilt be worsted by them, and involved in great evils.  
Simon said: Thou art led astray, O emperor. Nero said: How am I led astray?  
What I see in thee, I say. I see that thou art manifestly an enemy of Peter  
anti Paul and their master. 
 
    Simon said: Christ was not Paul's master. Paul said: Yes; through  
revelation He taught me also. But tell me what I asked thee--Why wast thou  
circumcised? Simon said: Why have you asked me this? Paul said: We have a  
reason for asking you this. Nero said: Why art thou afraid to answer them?  
Simon said: Listen, O emperor. At that time circumcision was enjoined by  
God when I received it. For this reason was I circumcised. 
 
    Paul said: Hearest thou, O good emperor, what has been said by Simon?  
If, therefore, circumcision be a good thing, why hast thou, Simon, given up  
those who have been circumcised, and forced them, after being condemned, to  
be put to death? Nero said: Neither about you do I perceive anything good.  
Peter and Paul said: Whether this thought about us be good or evil has no  
reference to the matter; but to us it was necessary that what our Master  
promised should come to pass. Nero said: If I should not be willing? Peter  
said: Not as thou willest, but as He promised to us. 
 
    Simon said: O good emperor, these men have reckoned upon thy clemency,  
and have bound thee. Nero said: But neither hast thou yet made me sure  
about thyself. Simon said: Since so many excellent deeds and signs have  
been shown to thee by me, I wonder how thou shouldst be in doubt. Nero  
said: I neither doubt nor favour any of you; but answer me rather what I  
ask. 
 
    Simon said: Henceforward I answer thee nothing. Nero said: Seeing that  
thou liest, therefore thou sayest this. But if even I can do nothing to  
thee, God, who can, will do it. Simon said: I no longer answer thee. Nero  
said: Nor do I consider thee to be anything: for, as I perceive, thou art a  
liar in everything. But why do I say so much? The three of you show that  
your reasoning is uncertain; and thus in all things you have made me doubt,  
so that I find that I can give credit to none of you.(1) 
 
    Peter said: We preach one God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that  
has made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that therein is, who  
is the true King; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.(2) Nero said:  
What king is lord? Paul said: The Saviour of all the nations. Simon said: l  
am he whom you speak of. Peter and Paul said: May it never be well with  
thee, Simon, magician, and full of bitterness. 
 
    Simon said: Listen, O Caesar Nero, that thou mayst know that these men  
are liars, and that I have been sent from the heavens: to-morrow I go up  
into the heavens, that I may make those who believe in me blessed, and show  
my wrath upon those who have denied me. Peter and Paul said: Us long ago  
God called to His own glory; but thou, called by the devil, hastenest to  
punishment. Simon said: Caesar Nero, listen to me. Separate these madmen  
from thee, in order that when I go into heaven to my father, I may be very  
merciful to thee. Nero said: And whence shall we prove this, that thou  
goest away into heaven? Simon said: Order a lofty tower to be made of wood,  
and of great beams, that I may go up upon it, and that my angels may find  
me in the air; for they cannot come to me upon earth among the sinners.  
Nero said: I will see whether thou wilt fulfil what thou sayest. 
 
    Then Nero ordered a lofty tower to be made in the Campus Martins, and  
all the people and the dignities to be present at the spectacle. And on the  
following day, all the multitude having come together, Nero ordered Peter  
and Paul to he present, to whom also he said: Now the truth has to be made  
manifest. Peter and Paul said: We do not expose him, but our Lord Jesus  
Christ, the Son of God, whom he has falsely declared himself to be. 
 
    And Paul, having turned to Peter, said: It is my part to bend the knee,  
and to pray to God; and thine to produce the effect, if thou shouldst see  
him attempting anything, because thou wast first taken in hand(1) by the  
Lord. And Paul, bending his knees, prayed. And Peter, looking stedfastly  
upon Simon, said: Accomplish what thou hast begun; for both thy exposure  
and our call is at hand: for I see my Christ calling both me and Paul. Nero  
said: And where will you go to against my will? Peter said: Whithersoever  
our Lord has called us. Nero said: And who is your lord? Peter said: Jesus  
the Christ, whom I see calling us to Himself. Nero said:  Do you also then  
intend to go away to heaven?  Peter said: If it shall seem good to Him that  
calls us. Simon said: In order that thou mayst know, O emperor, that these  
are deceivers, as soon as ever I ascend into heaven, I will send my angels  
to thee, and will make thee come to me. Nero said: Do at once what thou  
sayest. 
 
    Then Simon went up upon the tower in the face of all, and, crowned with  
laurels, he stretched forth his hands, and began to fly. And when Nero saw  
him flying, he said to Peter: This Simon is true; hut thou and Paul are  
deceivers. To whom Peter said: Immediately shalt thou know that we are true  
disciples of Christ; but that he is not Christ, but a magician, and a  
malefactor. Nero said: Do you still persist? Behold, you see him going up  
into heaven. Then Peter, looking stedfastly upon Paul, said: Paul, look up  
and see. And Paul, having looked up, full of tears, and seeing Simon  
flying, said: Peter, why art thou idle? finish what thou hast begun; for  
already our Lord Jesus Christ is calling us. And Nero hearing them, smiled  
a little, and said: These men see themselves worsted already, and are gone  
mad. Peter said: Now thou shalt know that we are not mad. Paul said to  
Peter: Do at once what thou doest. 
 
    And Peter, looking stedfastly against Simon, said: I adjure you, ye  
angels of Satan, who are carrying him into the air, to deceive the hearts  
of the unbelievers, by the God that created all things, and by Jesus  
Christ, whom on the third day He raised from the dead, no longer from this  
hour to keep him up, but to let him go. And immediately, being let go, he  
fell into a place called Sacra Via, that is, Holy Way, and was divided into  
four parts, having perished by an evil fate. 
 
    Then Nero ordered Peter and Paul to be put in irons, and the body of  
Simon to be carefully kept three days, thinking that he would rise on the  
third day. To whom Peter said: He will no longer rise, since he is truly  
dead, being condemned to everlasting punishment. And Nero said to him: Who  
commanded thee to do such a dreadful deed? Peter said: His reflections and  
blasphemy against my Lord Jesus Christ have brought him into this gulf of  
destruction. Nero said: I will destroy you by an evil taking off. Peter  
said: This is not in thy power, even if it should seem good to thee to  
destroy us; but it is necessary that what our Master promised to us should  
he fulfilled. 
 
    Then Nero, having summoned Agrippa the propraetor, said to him: It is  
necessary that men introducing mischievous religious observances should  
die. Wherefore I order them to take iron clubs,(2)and to be killed in the  
sea-fight. Agrippa the propraetor said: Most sacred emperor, what thou hast  
ordered is not fitting for these men,since Paul seems innocent beside  
Peter. Nero said: By what fate, then, shall they die? Agrippa answered and  
said: As seems to me, it is just that Paul's head should be cut off, and  
that Peter should be raised on a cross as the cause of the murder. Nero  
said: Thou hast most excellently judged. 
 
    Then both Peter and Paul were led away from the presence of Nero.And  
Paul was beheaded on the Ostesian road.(3) 
 
    And Peter, having come to the cross, said: Since my Lord Jesus Christ,  
who came down from the heaven upon the earth, was raised upon the cross  
upright,(4) and He has deigned to call to heaven me, who am of the earth,  
my cross ought to be fixed head downmost, so as to direct my feet towards  
heaven; for I am not worthy to be crucified like my Lord. Then, having  
reversed the cross, they nailed his feet up. 
 
    And the multitude was assembled reviling Caesar, and wishing to kill  
him. But Peter restrained them, saying:(1) A few days ago, being exhorted  
by the brethren, I was going away; and my Lord Jesus Christ met me, and  
having adored Him, I said, Lord, whither art Thou going? And He said to me,  
I am going to Rome to be crucified. And I said to Him, Lord, wast Thou not  
crucified once for all? And the Lord answering, said, I saw thee fleeing  
from death, and I wish to be crucified instead of thee. And I said, Lord, I  
go; I fulfil Thy command. And He said to me, Fear not, for am with thee.(2)  
On this account, then, children, do not hinder my going; for already my  
feet are  going on the road to heaven. Do not grieve, therefore, but rather  
rejoice with me, for to-day I receive the fruit of my labours. And thus:  
speaking, he said: I thank Thee, good Shepherd, that the sheep which Thou  
hast entrusted to me, sympathize with me; I ask, then, that with me they  
may have a part in Thy kingdom.(3) And having thus spoken, he gave up the  
ghost. 
 
    And immediately there appeared men glorious and strange in appearance;  
and they said: We are here, on account of the holy and chief apostles, from  
Jerusalem. And they, along with Marcellus, an illustrious man, who, having  
left Simon, had believed in Peter, took up his body secretly, and put it  
under the terebinth near the place for the exhibition of sea-fights in the  
place called the Vatican.(4) 
 
    And the men who had said that they came from Jerusalem said to the  
people: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, because you have been deemed worthy  
to have great champions. And know that Nero himself, after these not many  
days, will be utterly destroyed, and his kingdom shall be given to another. 
 
    And after these things the people revolted against him; and when he  
knew of it, he fled into desert places, and through hunger and cold he gave  
up the ghost, and his body became food for the wild beasts. 
 
    And some devout men of the regions of the East wished to carry off the  
relics of the saints, and immediately there was a great earthquake in the  
city;(5) and those that dwelt in the city having become aware of it, ran  
and seized the men, but they fled. But the Romans having taken them, put  
them in a place three miles froth the city, and there they were guarded a  
year and seven months, until they had built the place in which they  
intended to put them. And after these things, all having assembled with  
glory and singing of praise, they put them in the place built for them. 
 
    And the consummation of the holy glorious Apostles Peter and Paul was  
on the 29th of the month of June--in Christ Jesus our Lord, to  whom be  
glory and strength. 
 
THE STORY OF PERPETUA. 
 
    AND as Paul was being led away to be beheaded at a place about three  
miles from the city, he was in irons. And there were three soldiers  
guarding him who were of a great family. And when they had gone out of the  
gate about the length of a bow-shot, there met them a God-fearing woman;  
and she, seeing Paul dragged along in irons, had compassion on him, and  
wept bitterly. And the name of the woman was called Perpetua; and she was  
one-eyed. And Paul, seeing her weeping, says to her: Give me thy  
handkerchief, and when I turn back I shall give it to thee. And she, having  
taken the handkerchief, gave it to him willingly. And the soldiers laughed,  
and said to the woman: Why dost thou wish, woman, to lose thy handkerchief?  
Knowest thou not that he is going away to be beheaded? And Perpetua said to  
them: I adjure you by the health of Caesar to bind his eyes with this  
handkerchief when you cut off his head. Which also was done. And they  
beheaded him at the place called Aquae Salviae, near the pine tree. And as  
God had willed, before the soldiers came back, the handkerchief, having on  
it drops of blood, was restored to the woman. And as she was carrying it,  
straightway and immediately her eye was opened. 
 
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF PERPETUA. 
 
    And the three soldiers who had cut off the head of Saint Paul, when  
after three hours they came on the same day with the BULLA bringing it to  
Nero, having met Perpetua, they said to her: What is it, woman? Behold, by  
thy confidence thou hast lost thy handkerchief. But she said to them: I  
have both got my handkerchief, and my eye has recovered its sight. And as  
the Lord, the God of Paul, liveth, I also have entreated him that I may be  
deemed worthy to become the slave of his Lord. Then the soldiers who had  
the BULLA, recognising the handkerchief, and seeing that her eye had been  
opened, cried out with a loud voice, as if from one mouth, and said: We too  
are the slaves of Paul's master. Perpetua therefore having gone away,  
reported in the palace of the Emperor Nero that the soldiers who had  
beheaded Paul said: We shall no longer go into the city, for we believe in  
Christ whom Paul preached, and we are Christians. Then Nero, filled with  
rage, ordered Perpetua, who had informed him of the soldiers, to be kept  
fast in irons; and as to the soldiers, he ordered one to be beheaded  
outside of the gate about one mile from the city, another to be cut in two,  
and the third to be stoned. And Perpetua was in the prison; and in this  
prison there was kept Potentiana, a noble maiden, because she had said: I  
forsake my parents and all the substance of my father, and I wish to become  
a Christian. She therefore joined herself to Perpetua, and ascertained from  
her everything about Paul, and was in much anxiety about the faith in  
Christ. And the wife of Nero was Potentiana's sister; and she secretly  
informed her about Christ, that those who believe in Him see everlasting  
joy, and that everything here is temporary, but there eternal: so that also  
she fled out of the palace, and some of the senators' wives with her. Then  
Nero, having inflicted many tortures upon Perpetua, at last tied a great  
stone to her neck, and ordered her to be throw  over a precipice. And her  
remains lie at the Momentan(1) gate. And Potentiana also underwent many  
torments; and at last, having made a furnace one day, they burned her. 
 
 
ACTS OF PAUL AND THECLA 
 
    As Paul was going up to Iconium after the flight from Antioch, his  
fellow-travellers were Demas and Ermogenes, full of hypocrisy; and they  
were importunate with Paul,(1) as if they loved him. But Paul, looking only  
to the goodness of Christ, did them no harm, but loved them exceedingly, so  
that he made the oracles of the Lord sweet to them in the teaching both of  
the birth and the resurrection of the Beloved; and he gave them an account,  
word for word, of the great things of Christ, how He(2) had been revealed  
to him. 
 
    And a certain man, by name Onesiphorus, hearing that Paul had come to  
Iconium, went out to meet him with his children Silas and Zeno, and his  
wife Lectra, in order that he might entertain him: for Titus had informed  
him what Paul was like in appearance: for he had not seen him in the flesh,  
but only in the spirit. And he went along the road to Lystra, and stood  
waiting for him, and kept looking at the passers by according to the  
description of Titus. And he saw Paul coming, a man small in size, bald- 
headed, bandy-legged, well-built,(3) with eyebrows meeting, rather long- 
nosed, full of grace. For sometimes he seemed like a man, and sometimes he  
had the countenance of an angel. And Paul, seeing Onesiphorus, smiled; and  
Onesiphorus said: Hail, O servant of the blessed God! And he said: Grace be  
with thee and thy house. And Demas and Ermogenes were jealous, and showed  
greater hypocrisy; so that Demas said: Are not we of the blessed God, that  
thou hast not thus saluted us? And Onesiphorus said: I do not see in you  
the fruit of righteousness; but if such you be, come you also into my house  
and rest yourselves. 
 
    And Paul having gone into 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 the resurrection; Paul saying: Blessed are the pure in  
heart, for they shall see God:(4) blessed are they that have kept the flesh  
chaste, for they shall become a temple of God:(5) blessed are they that  
control themselves, for God shall speak with them: blessed are they that  
have kept aloof from this world, for they shall be called upright:(6)  
blessed are they that have wives as not having them, for they shall receive  
God for their portion:(7) blessed are they that have the fear of God, for  
they shall become angels of God:(8) blessed are they that have kept the  
baptism, for they shall rest beside the Father and the Son: blessed are the  
merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,(9) 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 to them a work of salvation against the day  
of His Son, and they shall have rest for ever and ever.(10) 
 
    And while Paul was thus speaking in the midst of the church in the  
house of Onesiphorus, a certain virgin Thecla, the daughter of Theocleia,  
betrothed to a man named Thamyris, sitting at the window close by, listened  
night and day to the discourse of virginity and prayer, and did not look  
away from the window, but paid earnest heed to the faith, rejoicing  
exceedingly. And when she still saw many women going in beside Paul, she  
also had an eager desire to be deemed worthy to stand in the presence of  
Paul, and to hear the word of Christ; for never had she seen his figure,  
but heard his word only. 
 
    And as she did not stand away from the window, her mother sends to  
Thamyris; and he comes gladly, as if already receiving her in marriage. And  
Theocleia said: I have a strange story to tell thee, Thamyris; for  
assuredly for three days and three nights Thecla does not rise from the  
window, neither to eat nor to drink; but looking earnestly as if upon some  
pleasant sight, she is so devoted to a foreigner teaching deceitful and  
artful discourses, that I wonder how a virgin of such modesty is so  
painfully put about. Thamyris, this man will overturn the city of the  
Iconians, and thy Thecla too besides; for all the women and the young men  
go in beside him, being taught to fear God and to live in chastity.  
Moreover also my daughter, tied to the window like a spider, lays hold of  
what is said by Paul with a strange eagerness and awful emotion; for the  
virgin looks eagerly at what is said by him, and has been captivated. But  
do thou go near and speak to her, for she has been betrothed to thee. 
 
    And Thamyris going near, and kissing her, but at the same time also  
being afraid of her overpowering emotion, said: Thecla, my betrothed, why  
dost thou sit thus? and what sort of feeling holds thee overpowered? Turn  
round to thy Thamyris, and be ashamed. Moreover also her mother said the  
same things: Why dost thou sit thus looking down, my child, and answering  
nothing, but like a mad woman? And they wept fearfully, Thamyris indeed for  
the loss of a wife, and Theocleia of a child, and the maidservants of a  
mistress: there was accordingly much confusion in the house of mourning.(1)  
And while these things were thus going on, Thecla did not turn round, but  
kept attending earnestly to the word of Paul. 
 
    And Thamyris starting up, went forth into the street, and kept watching  
those going in to him and coming out. And be saw two men bitterly  
contending with each other; and he said: Men, tell me who this is among  
you, leading astray the souls of young men, and deceiving virgins, so that  
they do not marry, but remain as they are. I promise, therefore, to give  
you money enough if you tell me about him; for I am the first man(2) of the  
city. And Demas and Ermogenes said to him: Who this is, indeed, we do not  
know; but he deprives young men of wives, and maidens of husbands, saying,  
There is for you a resurrection in no other way, unless you remain chaste,  
and pullute not the flesh, but keep it chaste. And Thamyris said to them:  
Come into my house, and rest yourselves. And they went to a sumptuous  
dinner, and much wine, and great wealth, and a splendid table; and Thamyris  
made them drink, from his love to Thecla, and his wish to get her as his  
wife.  And Thamyris said during the dinner: Ye men, what is his teaching,  
tell me, that I also may know; for I am no little distressed about Thecla,   
because she thus loves the stranger, and I am  prevented from marrying. 
 
    Demas and Ermogenes said: Bring him before the governor Castelios on  
the charge of persuading the multitudes to embrace the new teaching of the  
Christians, and he will speedily destroy him, and thou shalt have Thecla as  
thy wife. And we shall teach thee that the resurrection of which this man  
speaks has taken place, because it has already taken place in the children   
which we have;(3) and we rose again when we came to the knowledge of the  
true God. 
 
    And Thamyris, hearing these things, being filled with anger and rage,  
rising up early, went to the house of Onesiphorus with archons and public  
officers, and a great crowd with batons, saying: Thou hast corrupted the  
city of the Iconians, and her that was betrothed to me, so that she will  
pot have me: let us go to the governor Castelios. And all the multitude  
said: Away with the magician; for he has corrupted all our wives, and the  
multitudes have been persuaded to change their opinions. 
 
    And Thamyris, standing before the tribunal, said with a great shout: O  
proconsul, this man, who he is we know not, who makes virgins averse to  
marriage; let him say before thee on what(4) account he teaches these  
things. And Demas and Ermogenes said to Thamyris: Say that he is a  
Christian, and thus thou wilt do away with him. But the proconsul stayed  
his intention, and called Paul, saying: Who art thou, and what dost thou  
teach? for they bring no shall charges against thee. And Paul lifted up his  
voice, saying: Since I am this day examined as to what I teach, listen, O  
proconsul: A living God, a God of retributions, a jealous God, a God in  
need of nothing, consulting for the salvation of men, has sent me that I  
may reclaim them from corruption and uncleanness, and from all pleasure,  
and from death, that they may not sin. Wherefore God sent His own Son, whom  
I preach, and in whom I teach men to rest their hope, who alone has had  
compassion upon a world led astray, that they may be no lover trader  
judgment, O proconsul, but may, have faith, and the fear of God, and the  
knowledge of holiness, and the love of truth. If, therefore, I teach what  
has been revealed to me by God, wherein do I do wrong? And the proconsul  
having heard, ordered Paul to be bound, and sent to prison, until, said he,  
I, being at leisure, shall hear him more attentively. 
 
    And Thecla by night having taken off her bracelets, gave them to the  
gatekeeper; and the door having been opened to her, she went into the  
prison; and having given the jailor a silver mirror, she went in beside  
Paul, and, sitting at his feet, she heard the great things of God. And Paul  
was afraid of nothing, but ordered his life in the confidence of God. And  
her faith also was increased, and she kissed his bonds. 
 
    And when Thecla was sought for by her friends, and Thamyris, as if she  
had been lost, was running up and down the streets, one of the gatekeeper's  
fellow-slaves informed him that she had gone out by night. And having gone  
out, they examined the gatekeeper; and he said to them: She has gone to the  
foreigner into the prison. And having gone, they found her, as it were,  
enchained by affection. And having gone forth thence, they drew the  
multitudes together, and informed the governor of the circumstance. And he  
ordered Paul to be brought to the tribunal; but Thecla was wallowing on the  
ground(1) in the place where he sat and taught her in the prison; and he  
ordered her too to be brought to the tribunal. And she came, exulting with  
joy. And the crowd, when Paul had been brought, vehemently cried out: He is  
a magician! away with him! But the proconsul gladly heard Paul upon the  
holy works of Christ. And having called a council, he summoned Thecla, and  
said to her: Why dost thou not obey Thamyris, according to the law of the  
Iconians? But she stood looking earnestly at Paul. And when she gave no  
answer, her mother cried out, saying: Burn the wicked wretch; burn in the  
midst of the theatre her that will not marry, in order that all the women  
that have been taught by this man may be afraid. 
 
    And the governor was greatly moved; and having scourged Paul, he cast  
him out of the city, and condemned Thecla to be burned. And immediately the  
governor went away to the theatre, and all the crowd went forth to the  
spectacle of Thecla. But as a lamb in the wilderness looks round for the  
shepherd, so she kept searching for Paul. And having looked upon the crowd,  
she saw the Lord sitting in the likeness of Paul, and said: As I am unable  
to endure my lot, Paul has come to see me. And she gazed upon him with  
great earnestness, and he went up into heaven. But the maid-servants(2) and  
virgins brought the faggots, in order that Thecla might be burned. And when  
she came in naked, the governor wept, and wondered at the power(3) that was  
in her. And the public executioners arranged the faggots for her to go up  
on the pile. And she, having made the sign of the cross, went up on the  
faggots; and they lighted them. And though a great fire was blazing, it did  
not touch her; for God, having compassion upon her, made an underground  
rumbling, and a cloud overshadowed them from above, full of water and hail;  
and all that was in the cavity of it was poured out, so that many were in  
danger of death. And the fire was put out, and Thecla saved. 
 
    And Paul was fasting with Onesiphorus and his wife, and his children,  
in a new tomb, as they were going from Iconium to Daphne. And when many  
clays were past, the fasting children said to Paul: We are hungry, and we  
cannot buy loaves; for Onesiphorus had left the things of the world, and  
followed Paul, with all his house. And Paul, having taken off his cloak,  
said: Go, my child, buy more loaves, and bring them. And when the child was  
buying, he saw Thecla their neighbour, and was astonished, and said:  
Thecla, whither art thou going? And she said: I have been saved from the  
fire, and am following Paul. And the boy said: Come, I shall take thee to  
him; for he is distressed about thee, and is praying six days. And she  
stood beside the tomb where Paul was with bended knees, and praying, and  
saying: O Saviour Christ, let not the fire touch Thecla, but stand by her,  
for she is Thine. And she, standing behind him, cried out: O Father, who  
hast made the heaven and the earth, the Father of Thy holy Son, I bless  
Thee that Thou hast saved me that I may see Paul. And Paul, rising up, saw  
her, and said: O God, that knowest the heart, the Father of our Lord Jesus  
Christ, I bless Thee that Thou, having heard me, hast done quickly what I  
wished. 
 
    And they had five loaves, and herbs, and water; and they rejoiced in  
the holy works of Christ. And Thecla said to Paul: I shall cut my hair, and  
follow thee whithersoever thou mayst go. And he said: It is a shameless  
age, and thou art beautiful. I am afraid lest another temptation come upon  
thee worse than the first, and that thou withstand it not, but be cowardly.  
And Thecla said: Only give me the seal(4) in Christ, and temptation shall  
not touch me. And Paul said: Thecla, wait with patience, and thou shalt  
receive the water. 
 
    And Paul sent away Onesiphorus and all his house to Iconium; and thus,  
having taken Thecla, he went into Antioch. And as they were going in, a  
certain Syriarch, Alexander by name, seeing Thecla, became enamoured of  
her, and tried to gain over Paul by gifts and presents. But Paul said: I  
know not the woman whom thou speakest of, nor is she mine. But he, being of  
great power, himself embraced her in the street. But she would not endure  
it, but looked about 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 chief  
persons of the Iconians; and because I would not have Thamyris, I have been  
cast out of the city. And taking hold of Alexander, she tore his cloak, and  
pulled off his crown, and made him a laughing-stock. And he, at the same  
time loving her, and at the same time ashamed of what had happened, led her  
before the governor; and when she had confessed that she had done these  
things, he condemned her to the wild beasts. And the women were struck with  
astonishment, and cried out beside the tribunal: Evil judgment! impious  
judgment! And she asked the governor, that, said she, I may remain pure  
until I shall fight with the wild beasts. And a certain Tryphaena,(1) whose  
daughter was dead, took her into keeping, and had her for a consolation. 
 
    And when the beasts were exhibited, they bound her to a fierce lioness;  
and Tryphaena accompanied her. But the lioness, with Thecla sitting upon  
her, licked her feet; and all the multitude was astonished. And the charge  
on her inscription was: Sacrilegious. And the women cried out from above:  
An impious sentence has been passed in this city! And after the exhibition,  
Tryphaena again receives her. For her daughter Falconilla had died, and  
said to her in a dream: Mother, thou shaft have this stranger Thecla in my  
place, in order that she may pray concerning me, and that I may be  
transferred to the place of the just. 
 
    And when, after the exhibition, Tryphaena received her, at the same  
time indeed she grieved that she had to fight with the wild beasts on the  
day following; and at the same time, loving her as much as her daughter  
Falconilla, she said: My, second child Thecla, come and pray for my child,  
that she may live for ever; for this I saw in my sleep. And she, nothing  
hesitating, lifted up her voice, and said: God most high,(2) grant to this  
woman according to bet wish, that her daughter Falconilla may live for  
ever. And when Thecla had thus spoken, Tryphaena lamented, considering so  
much beauty thrown to the wild beasts. 
 
    And when it was dawn, Alexander came to take her, for it was he that  
gave the hunt,(3) saying: The governor is sitting, and the crowd is in  
uproar against us. Allow me to take away her that is to fight with the wild  
beasts. And Tryphaena cried aloud, so that he even fled, saying: A second  
mourning for my Falconilla has come 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, help her! 
 
    And immediately the governor sends an order that Thecla should be  
brought. And Tryphaena, taking her by the hand, said: My daughter Fal- 
conillia, indeed, I took away to the tomb; and thee, Thecla, I am taking to  
the wild-beast fight. And Thecla wept bitterly, saying: O Lord, the God in  
whom I believe, to whom I have fled for refuge, who deliveredst me from the  
fire, do Thou grant a recompense to Tryphaena, who has had compassion on  
Thy servant, and because she has kept me pure. Then a tumult arose, and a  
cry of the people, and the women sitting together, the one saying: Away  
with the sacrilegious person! the others saying: Let the city be raised(4)  
against this wickedness. Take off all of us, O proconsul! Cruel sight! evil  
sentence! 
 
    And Thecla, having been taken out of the hand of Tryphaena, was  
stripped, and received a girdle,(5) and was thrown into the arena, and  
lions and bears and a fierce lioness were let loose upon her; and the  
lioness having run up to her feet, lay down; and the multitude of the women  
cried aloud. And a bear ran upon her; but the lioness, meeting the bear,  
tore her to pieces. And again a lion that had been trained against men,  
which belonged to Alexander, ran upon her; and she, the lioness,  
encountering the lion, was killed along with him. And the women made great  
lamentation, since also the lioness, her protector, was dead. 
 
    Then they send in many wild beasts, she standing and stretching forth  
her hands, and praying. And when she had finished her prayer, she turned  
and saw a ditch full of water, and said: Now it is time to wash myself. And  
she threw herself in, saying: In the name of Jesus Christ I am baptized on  
my last day. And the women seeing, and the multitude, wept, saying: Do not  
throw thyself into the water; so that also the governor shed tears, because  
the seals were going to devour such beauty. She then threw herself in the  
name of Jesus Christ; but the seals having seen the glare of the fire of  
lightning, floated about dead. And there was round her, as she was naked, a  
cloud of fire; so that neither could the wild beasts touch her, nor could  
she be seen naked. 
 
    And the women, when other wild beasts were being thrown in, wailed. And  
some threw sweet-smelling herbs, others nard, others cassia, others amomum,  
so that there was abundance of perfumes. And all the wild beasts that had  
been thrown in, as if they had been withheld by sleep, did not touch her;  
so that Alexander said to the governor: I have bulls exceedingly terrible;  
let us bind to them her that is to fight with the beasts. And the governor,  
looking gloomy, turned, and said: Do what thou wilt. And they bound her by  
the feet between them, and put red-hot irons under the privy parts of the  
bulls, so that they, being rendered more furious, might kill her. They  
rushed about, therefore; but the burning flame consumed the ropes, and she  
was as if she had not been bound. But Tryphaena fainted standing beside the  
arena, so that the crowd said: Queen Tryphaena is dead. And the governor  
put a stop to the games, and the city was in dismay. And Alexander  
entreated the governor, saying: Have mercy both on me and the city, and  
release this woman. For if Caesar hear of these things, he will speedily  
destroy the city also along with us, because his kins-  woman Queen  
Tryphaena has died beside the ABACI.(1) 
 
    And the governor summoned Thecla out of the midst of the wild beasts,  
and said to her: Who art thou? and what is there about thee, that  not one  
of the wild beasts touches thee? And she said: I indeed am a servant of the  
living God; and as to what there is about me, I have  believed in the Son  
of God, in whom He is well pleased; wherefore not one of the beasts has  
touched me. For He alone is the end(2) of salvation, and the basis of  
immortal life; for He is a refuge to the tempest-tossed, a solace to the  
afflicted, a shelter to the despairing; and, once for all, whoever shall  
not believe on Him, shall not live for ever. 
 
    And the governor having heard this, ordered her garments to be brought,  
and to be put on. And Thecla said: He that clothed me naked among the wild  
beasts, will in the day of judgment clothe thee with salvation. And taking  
the garments, she put them on. The governor therefore immediately issued an  
edict, saying: I release to you the God-fearing Thecla, the servant of God.  
And the women shouted aloud, and with one mouth returned thanks to God,  
saying: There is one God, the God of Thecla; so that the foundations of the  
theatre were shaken by their voice. And Tryphaena having received the good  
news, went to meet the holy Thecla, and said: Now I believe that the dead  
are raised: now I believe that my child lives. Come within, and I shall  
assign to thee all that is mine. She therefore went in along with her, and  
rested eight days, having instructed her in the word of God, so that most  
even of the maid-servants believed.And there was great joy in the house. 
 
    And Thecla kept seeking Paul; and it was told her that he was in Myra  
of Lycia. And taking young men and maidens, she girded herself; and having  
sewed the tunic so as to make a man's cloak, she came to Myra, and found  
Paul speaking the word of God. And Paul was astonished at seeing her, and  
the crowd with her, thinking that some new trial was coming upon her. And  
when she saw him, she said: I have received the baptism, Paul; for He that  
wrought along with thee for the Gospel has wrought in me also for baptism.  
And Paul, taking her, led her to the house of Hermaeus, and hears  
everything from her, so that those that heard greatly wondered, and were  
comforted, and prayed over Tryphaena. And she rose up, and said: I am going  
to Iconium. And Paul said: Go, and teach the word of God. And Tryphaena  
sent her much clothing and gold, so that she left to Paul many things for  
the service of the poor. 
 
    And she went to Iconium. And she goes into the house of Onesiphorus,  
and fell upon the pavement where Paul used to sit and teach her, and wept,  
saying: God of myself and of this house, where Thou didst make the light to  
shine upon me, O Christ Jesus, the Son of the living God, my help in the  
fire, my help among the wild beasts, Thou art glorified for ever. Amen. And  
she found Thamyris dead, but her mother alive. And having sent for her  
mother, she said: Theocleia, my mother, canst thou believe that the Lord  
liveth in the heavens? For whether thou desirest wealth, God gives it to  
thee through me; or thy child, I am standing beside thee. And having thus  
testified, she departed to Seleucia, and dwelt in a cave seventy-two years,  
living upon herbs and water. And she enlightened many by the word of God. 
 
    And certain men of the city, being Greeks by  religion, and physicians  
by profession, sent to her insolent young men to destroy(3) her. For they  
said: She is a virgin, and serves Artemis, and from this she has virtue in  
healing. And by the providence of God she entered into the rock alive, and  
went under ground. And she departed to Rome to see Paul, and found that he  
had fallen asleep.(4) And after staying there no long time, she rested in a  
glorious sleep; and she is buried about two or three stadia from the tomb  
of her master Paul. 
 
    She was cast, then, into the fire when seventeen years old, and among  
the wild beasts when eighteen. And she was an ascetic in the cave, as has  
been said, seventy-two years, so that all the years of her life were  
ninety. And having accomplished many cures, 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 strength for ever and ever.  
Amen. 
 
    Instead of the last two sections, the MS. which Dr. Grabe used has the  
following:-- 
 
    And a cloud of light guided her. And having come into Seleucia, she  
went forth outside of the city one stadium. And she was afraid of them  
also, for they worshipped idols. And it guided her to the mountain called  
Calamon or Rhodeon; and having there found a cave, she went into it. And  
she was there many years, and underwent many and grievous trials by the  
devil, and bore them nobly, being assisted by Christ. And some of the well- 
born women, having learned about the virgin Thecla, went to her, and  
learned the oracles of God. And many of them bade adieu to the world, and  
lived an ascetic life with her. And a good report was spread everywhere  
concerning her, and cures were done by her. All the city, therefore, and  
country round, having known this, brought their sick to the mountain; and  
before they came near the door they were speedily released from whatever  
disease they were afflicted by; and the unclean spirits went out shrieking,  
and all received their own in health, glorifying God, who had given such  
grace to the virgin Thecla. The physicians, therefore, of the city of the  
Seleucians were thought nothing of, having lost their trade, and no one any  
longer had regard to them; and being filled with envy and hatred, they  
plotted against the servant of Christ, what they should do to her. The  
devil then suggests to them a wicked device; and one day, being  assembled,  
and having taken counsel, they consult with each other, saying: This virgin  
is a priestess of the great goddess Artemis; and if she ask anything of  
her, she hears her as being a virgin, and all the gods love her. Come,  
then, let us take men of disorderly lives, and make them drunk with much  
wine, and let us give them much gold, and say to them, If you can corrupt  
and defile her, we shall give you even more money. The physicians therefore  
said to themselves, that if they should be able to defile her, neither the  
gods nor Artemis would listen to her in the case of the sick. They  
therefore did so. And the wicked men, having gone to the mountain, and  
rushed upon the cave like lions, knocked at the door. And the holy martyr  
Thecla opened, emboldened By the God in whom she believed; for she knew of  
their plot beforehand. And she says to them: What do you want, my children?  
And they said: Is there one here called Thecla? And she said: What do you  
want with her? They say to her: We want to sleep with her. The blessed  
Thecla says to them: I am a humble old woman, but the servant of my Lord  
Jesus Christ; and even though you want to do something to me out of place,  
you cannot. They say to her: It is impossible for us not to do to thee what  
we want. And having said this, they laid fast hold of her, and wished to  
insult her. And she says to them with mildness: Wait, my children, that you  
may see the glory of the Lord. And being laid hold of by them, she looked  
up into heaven, and said: God, terrible and incomparable, and glorious to  
Thine adversaries, who didst deliver me out of the fire, who didst not give  
me up to Thamyris, who didst not give me up to Alexander, who didst deliver  
me from the wild beasts, who didst save me in the abyss, who hast  
everywhere worked with me, and glorified Thy name in me, now also deliver  
me from these lawless men, and let me not insult my virginity, which  
through Thy name I have preserved till now, because I love Thee, and desire  
Thee, and adore Thee, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost for ever.  
Amen. And there came a voice out of the heaven, saying: Fear not, Thecla,  
my true servant, for I am with thee. Look and see where an opening has been  
made before thee, for there shall be for thee an everlasting house, and  
there thou shalt obtain shelter. And the blessed Thecla regarding it, saw  
the rock opened as far as to allow a man to enter, and did according to  
what had been said to her: and nobly fleeing from the lawless ones entered  
into the rock; and the rock was straightway shut together, so that not even  
a joining appeared. And they, beholding the extraordinary wonder, became as  
it were distracted; and they were not able to detain the servant of God,  
but only caught hold of her veil, and were able to tear off a certain part;  
and that by the permission of God for the faith of those seeing the  
venerable place, and for a blessing in the generations afterwards to those  
that believe in our Lord Jesus Christ out of a pure heart. 
 
    Thus, then, suffered the first martyr of God, and apostle, and virgin,  
Thecla, who came from Iconium at eighteen years old; and with the  
journeying, and the going round, and the retirement in the mountain, she  
lived other seventy-two years. And when the Lord took her, she was ninety  
years old. And thus is her consummation. And her holy commemoration is on  
the twenty-fourth of the month of September, to the glory of the Father,  
and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen. 
 
 
THE ACTS OF BARNABAS 
 
THE JOURNEYINGS AND MARTYRDOM OF ST. BARNABAS THE APOSTLE. 
 
    SINCE from the descent of the presence of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the  
unwearied and benevolent and mighty Shepherd and Teacher and Physician, I  
beheld and saw the ineffable and holy and unspotted mystery of the  
Christians, who hold the hope in holiness, and who have been sealed; and  
since I have zealously served Him, I have deemed it necessary to give  
account of the mysteries which I have heard and seen. 
 
    I John, accompanying the holy apostles Barnabas and Paul, being  
formerly a servant of Cyrillus the high priest of Jupiter, but now having  
received the gift of the Holy Spirit through Paul and Barnabas and Silos,  
who were worthy of the calling, and who baptized me in Iconium. After I was  
baptized, then, I saw a certain man standing clothed in white raiment; and  
he said to me: Be of good courage, John, for assuredly thy name shall be  
changed to Mark, and thy glory shall be proclaimed in all the world. the  
darkness in thee has passed away from thee, and there has been given to  
thee understanding to know the mysteries of God. 
 
    And when I saw the vision, becoming greatly terrified, I went to the  
feet of Barnabas, and related to him the mysteries which I had seen and  
heard from that man. And the Apostle Paul was not by when I disclosed the  
mysteries. And Barnabas said to me: Tell no one the miracle which thou hast  
seen. For by me also this night the Lord stood, saying, Be of good courage:  
for as thou hast given thy life for my name to death and banishment from  
thy nation, thus also shall thou be made perfect. Moreover, as for the  
servant who is with you, take him also with thyself; for he has certain  
mysteries. Now then, my child, keep to thyself the things which thou hast  
seen and heard; for a time will come for thee to reveal them.(1) 
 
    And I, having been instructed in these things by him, remained in  
Iconium(2) many days; for there was there a holy man and a pious, who also  
entertained us, whose house also Paul had sanctified. Thence, therefore, we  
came to Seleucia, and after staying three days sailed away to Cyprus; and I  
was ministering to them until we had gone round all Cyprus. And setting  
sail from Cyprus, we landed in Perga of Pamphylia. And there I then stayed  
about two months, wishing to sail to the regions of the West; and the Holy  
Spirit did not allow me. Turning, therefore, I again sought the apostles;  
and having learned that they were in Antioch, I went to them. 
 
    And I found Paul in bed in Antioch from the toil of the journey, who  
also seeing me, was exceedingly grieved on account of my delaying in  
Pamphylia. And Barnabas coming, encouraged him, and tasted bread, and he  
took a little of it. And they preached the word of the Lord, and  
enlightened many of the Jews and Greeks. And I only attended to them, and  
was afraid of Paul to come near him, both because he held me as having  
spent much time in Pamphylia, and because be was quite enraged against me.  
And I gave repentance on my knees upon the earth to Paul, and he would not  
endure it. And when I remained for three Sabbaths in entreaty and prayer on  
my knees, I was unable to prevail upon him about myself; for his great  
grievance against me was on account of my keeping several parchments in  
Pamphylia. 
 
    And when it came to pass that they finished teaching in Antioch, on the  
first of the week they took counsel together to set out for the places of  
the East, and after that to go into Cyprus, and oversee all the churches in  
which they had spoken the word of God. And Barnabas entreated Paul to go  
first to Cyprus, and oversee his own in his village; and Lucius(3)  
entreated him to take the oversight of his city Cyrene. And a vision was  
seen by Paul in sleep, that he should hasten to Jerusalem, because the  
brethren expected him there. But Barnabas urged that they should go to  
Cyprus, and pass the winter, and then that they should go to Jerusalem at  
the feast. Great contention, therefore, arose between them.(4) And Barnabas  
urged me also to accompany them, on account of my being their servant from  
the beginning, and on account of my having served them in all Cyprus until  
they came to Perga of Pamphylia; and I there had remained many days. But  
Paul cried out against Barnabas, saying: It is impossible for him to go  
with us. And those who were with us there urged me also to accompany them,  
because there was a vow upon me to follow them to the end. So that Paul  
said to Barnabas: If thou wilt take John who also is surnamed Mark with  
thee, go another road; for he shall not come with us. And Barnabas coming  
to himself, said: The grace of God does not desert(1) him who has once  
served the Gospel and journeyed with us. If, therefore, this be agreeable  
to thee, Father Paul, I take him and go. And he said: Go thou in the grace  
of Christ, and we in the power of the Spirit. 
 
    Therefore, bending their knees, they prayed to God. And Paul, groaning  
aloud, wept, and in like manner also Barnabas, saying to one another: It  
would have been good for us, as at first, so also at last, to work in  
common among men; but since it has thus seemed good to thee, Father Paul,  
pray for me that my labour may be made perfect to commendation: for thou  
knowest how I have served thee also to the grace of Christ that has been  
given to thee. For I go to Cyprus, and hasten to be made perfect;(2) for I  
know that I shall no more see thy face, O Father Paul. And failing on the  
ground at his feet, he wept long. And Paul said to him: The Lord stood by  
me also this night, saying, Do not force Barnabas not to go to Cyprus, for  
there it has been prepared for him to enlighten many; and do thou also, in  
the grace that has been given to thee, go to Jerusalem to worship in the  
holy place, and there it shall be shown thee where thy martyrdom has been  
prepared. And we saluted one another, and Barnabas took me to himself. 
 
    And having come down to Laodiceia,(3) we sought to cross to Cyprus; and  
having found a ship going to Cyprus, we embarked. And when we had set sail,  
the wind was found to be contrary. Anti we came to Corasium;(4) and having  
gone down to the shore where there was a fountain, we rested there, showing  
ourselves to no one, that no one might know that Barnabas had separated  
from Paul. And having set sail from Corasium, we came to the regions of  
Isauria, and thence came to a certain island called Pityusa;(5) and a storm  
having come on, we remained there three days; and a certain pious man  
entertained us, by name Euphemus, whom also Barnabas instructed in many  
things in the faith, with all his house. 
 
    And thence we sailed past the Aconesiae,(6) and came to the city of  
Anemurium; and having gone into it, we found two Greeks. And coming to us,  
they asked whence and who we were. And Barnabas said to them: If you wish  
to know whence and who we are, throw away the clothing which you have, and  
I shall put on you clothing which never becomes soiled; for neither is  
there in it anything filthy, but it is altogether splendid. And being  
astonished at the saying, they asked us: What is that garment which you are  
going to give us? And Barnabas said to them: If you shall confess your  
sins, and submit yourselves to our Lord Jesus Christ, you shall receive  
that garment which is incorruptible for ever. And being pricked at heart by  
the Holy Spirit, they fell at his feet, entreating and saying: We beseech  
thee, father, give us that garment; for we believe in the living and true  
God whom thou proclaimest. And leading them down to(7) the fountain, he  
baptized them into the name of Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost. And they  
knew that they were clothed with power, and a holy robe. And having taken  
from me one robe, he put it on the one; and his own robe he put on the  
other. And they brought money to him, and straightway Barnabas distributed  
it to the poor. And from them also the sailors were able to gain many  
things.(8) 
 
    And they having come down to the shore, he spoke to them the word of  
God; and he having blessed them, we saluted them, and went on board the  
ship. And the one of them who was named Stephanus wished to accompany us,  
and Barnabas did not permit him. And we, having gone across, sailed down to  
Cyprus by night; anti having come to the place called Crommyacita,(9) we  
found Timon and Ariston the temple Servants, at whose house also we were  
entertained. 
 
    And Timon was afflicted by much fever. And having laid our hands upon  
him, we straightway removed his fever, having called upon the name of the  
Lord Jesus. And Barnabas had received documents from Matthew, a book of the  
word(10) of God, and a narrative of miracles and doctrines. This Barnabas  
laid upon the sick in each place that we came to, and it immediately made a  
cure of their sufferings. 
 
    And when we had come to Lapithus,(11) and an idol festival(12) being  
celebrated in the theatre, they did not allow us to go into the city, but  
we rested a little at the gate. And Timon, after he rose up from his  
disease, came with us. And having gone forth from Lapithus, we travelled  
through the mountains, and came to the city of Lampadistus, of which also  
Timon was a native; in addition to whom, having found also that Heracleius  
was there, we were entertained by him. He was of the city of Tamasus,(1)  
and had come to visit his relations; and Barnabas, looking stedfastly at  
him, recognised him, having met with him formerly at Citium with Paul; to  
whom also the Holy Spirit was given at baptism, and he changed his name to  
Heracleides. And having ordained him bishop over Cyprus, and having  
confirmed the church in Tamasus, we left him in the house of his brethren  
that dwelt there. 
 
    And having crossed the mountain called Chionodes,(2) we came to Old  
Paphos, and there found Rhodon, a temple servant, who also, having himself  
believed, accompanied us. And we met a certain Jew, by name Barjesus,  
coming from Paphos, who also recognised Barnabas, as having been formerly  
with Paul. He did not wish us to go into Paphos; but having turned away, we  
came to Curium.(3) 
 
    And we found that a certain abominable race was being performed(4) in  
the road near the city, where a multitude of women and men naked were  
performing the race. And there was great deception and error in that place.  
And Barnabas turning, rebuked it; and the western part fell, so that many  
were wounded, and many of them also died and the rest fled to the temple of  
Apollo, which was close at hanoi in the city, which was called sacred.(5)  
And when we came near the temple, a great multitude of Jews who were there,  
having been put up to it by Barjesus. stood outside of the city, and did  
not allow us to go into the city; but we spent the evening under a tree  
near the city, and rested there. 
 
    And on the following day, we came to a certain village where  
Aristoclianus dwelt. He being a leper, had been cleansed in Antioch, whom  
also Paul and Barnabas sealed to be a bishop, and sent to his village in  
Cyprus, because there were many Greeks there. And we were entertained in  
the cave by him in the mountain, and there we remained one day. And thence  
we came to Amathus and there was a great multitude of Greeks in the temple  
in the mountain, low women and men pouring libations. There also Barjesus,  
getting the start of as, gained over the nation of the Jews, and did not  
allow us to enter into the city; but a certain widow woman. eighty years  
old. being outside of the city, and she also not worshipping the idols,  
coming forward to us, took us into her house one hour. And when we came out  
we shook the dust off our feet over against that temple where the libation  
of the abominable took place. 
 
    And having gone out thence, we came through desert places, and Timon  
also accompanied us. And having come to Citium, and there being a great  
uproar there also in their hippodrome, having learned this, we came forth  
out of the city, having all shaken the dust off our feet; for no one  
received us, except that we rested one hour in the gate near the aqueduct. 
 
    And having set sail in a ship from Citium, we came to Salamis, and  
landed in the so-called islands, where there was a place full of idols; and  
there there took place high festivals(6) and libations. And having found  
Heracleides there again, we instructed him to proclaim the Gospel of God,  
and to set up churches, and ministers in them. And having gone into  
Salamis. we came to the synagogue near the place called Biblia; and when we  
had gone into it, Barnabas, having unrolled the Gospel which he had  
received from Matthew his fellow-labourer, began to teach the Jews. 
 
    And Barjesus, having arrived after two days, after not a few Jews had  
been instructed, was enraged, and brought together all the multitude of the  
Jews; and they having laid hold of Barnabas, wished to hand him over to  
Hypatius, the governor of Salamis. And having bound him to take him away to  
the governor, and a pious Jebusite,(7) a kinsman of Nero, having count to  
Cyprus, the Jews, learning this, took Barnabas by night, and bound him with  
a rope by the neck; and having dragged him to the hippodrome from the  
synagogue, and having gone out of the city, standing round him, they burned  
him with fire, so that even his bones became dust. And straightway that  
night, having taken his dust, they cast it into a cloth; and having se  
cured it with lead. they intended to throw it into the sea. But I, finding  
an opportunity in the night, anti being able along with Timon and Rhodon to  
carry it. we came to a certain place, and having found a cave, put it down  
there, where the nation of the Jebusites formerly dwelt. And having found a  
secret place in it, we put it away, with the documents which he had  
received from Matthew. And it was the fourth hour of the night of the  
second of the week.(8) 
 
    And when we were hid in the place. the Jews made no little search after  
us; and having almost found us, they pursued us as far as the village of  
the Ledrians; and we, having found there also a cave near the village, took  
refuge in it, and thus escaped them. And we were hid in the cave three  
days; and the Jews having gone away, we came forth and left the place by  
night. And taking with us Ariston and Rhodon, we came to the village of  
Limnes.(1) 
 
    And having come to the shore, we found an Egyptian ship; and having  
embarked in it, we landed at Alexandria. And there I remained, teaching the  
brethren that came the word of the Lord, enlightening them, and preaching  
what I had been taught by the apostles of Christ, who also baptized me into  
the name of Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; who also changed my name to  
Mark in the water of baptism, by which also I hope to bring many to the  
glory of God through His grace; because to Him is due honour and  
everlasting glory. Amen. 
 
    The journeyings and martyrdom of the holy apostle Barnabas have been  
fulfilled through God. 
 
 
THE ACTS OF PHILIP 
 
OF THE JOURNEYINGS OF PHILIP THE APOSTLE. 
 
FROM THE FIFTEENTH ACT UNTIL THE END, AND AMONG THEM THE MARTYRDOM.(1) 
 
    About the time when the Emperor Trajan received the government of the  
Romans, after Simon the son of Clopas, who was bishop of Jerusalem, had  
suffered martyrdom in the eighth year of his reign, being the second bishop  
of the church there after James who bore the name of brother of the  
Lord,(2) Philip the apostle, going through the cities and regions of Lydia  
and Asia, preached to all the Gospel of Christ. 
 
    And having come to the city of Ophioryma, which is called Hierapolis of  
Asia, he was entertained by a certain believer, Stachys by name. And there  
was with him also Bartholomew, one of the seventy disciples of the Lord,  
and his sister Mariamine, and his disciples that followed him. All the men  
of the city therefore, having left their work, ran to the house of Stachys,  
hearing about the works which Philip did. And many men and women having  
assembled in the house of Stachys, Philip along with Bartholomew taught  
them the things of Jesus. 
 
    And Philip's sister Mariamme, sitting in the entry of the house of  
Stachys, addressed herself to those coming, persuading them to listen to  
the apostles, saying to them: Our brethren, and sons of my Father in  
heaven, ye are the excellent riches, and the substance of the city above,  
the delight of the habitation which God has prepared for those that love  
Him. Trample under foot the snares of the enemy, the writhing serpent. For  
his path is crooked, since he is the son of the wicked one, and the poison  
of wickedness is in him; and his father is the devil, the author of death,  
and his mother corruption; rage in his eyes and destruction in his mouth,  
and his path is Hades. Wherefore flee from him that has no substance, the  
shapeless one that has no shape in all the creation, whether in the heaven  
or in the earth, whether in the flying creatures or the beasts. For  
everything is taken away from his shape; for among the beasts of the earth  
and the fowls of the heaven is the knowledge of him, that the serpent  
trails his belly and his breast; and Tartarus is his dwelling-place, and he  
goes in the darkness, since he has confidence in nothing.(3) Flee therefore  
from him, that his poison may not be poured out into your mouth. But be  
rather believing. holy, of good works, having no deceit. Take away from  
yourselves the wicked disposition, that is, the evil desires through which  
the serpent, the wicked dragon, the prince of evil, has produced the  
pasture of destruction and death for the soul, since all the desire of the  
wicked has proceeded from him. And this is the root of iniquity, the  
maintenance of evils, the death of souls: for the desire of the enemy is  
armed against the believers, and comes forth from the darkness, and walks  
in the darkness, taking in hand to war with those who are in the light. For  
this is the beginning of concupiscence.(4) Wherefore you who wish to come  
to us, and the rather that God has come through us to you as a father to  
his own children, wishing to have mercy upon you, and to deliver you from  
the wicked snare of the enemy, flee from the evil lusts of the enemy, and  
cast them completely out of your mind, hating openly the father of evils,  
and loving Jesus, who is light, and life, and truth, and the Saviour of all  
who desire Him. Having run, therefore, to Him, take hold of Him in love,  
that He may bring you up out of the pit of the wicked, and having cleansed  
you, set you blameless, living in truth, in the presence of His Father. 
 
    And all these things Philip said to the multitudes that had come  
together to worship as in old times the serpents and the viper, of which  
also they set up images and worshipped them. Wherefore also they called  
Hierapolis Ophioryma.(5) And these things having been said by Philip,  
Bartholomew and Mariamme and his disciples, and Stachys being along with  
him, all the people gave ear, and a great multitude of them fleeing from  
the enemy were turned to Jesus, and were added to Philip and those about  
him. And the faithful were the more confirmed in the love of Christ. 
 
    And Nicanora, the wife of the proconsul, lying in bed under various  
diseases, especially of the eyes, having heard about the Apostle Philip and  
his teaching, believed in the Lord. For she had even before this heard  
about Him; and having called upon His name, she was released from the  
troubles that afflicted her. And rising up, she went forth out of her house  
through the side door, carried by her own slaves in a silver litter, and  
went into the house of Stachys, where the apostles were. 
 
    And when she came before the gate of the house, Mariamme, the sister of  
Philip the apostle, seeing her, spoke to her in the Hebrew tongue before  
Philip and Bartholomew, and all the multitude of those who had believed,  
saying: Alemakan, Ikasame, Marmare, Nachaman,(1) Mastranan, Achaman; which  
is, Daughter of the father, thou art my mistress, thou hast been given as a  
pledge to the serpent; but Jesus our Redeemer has come to deliver thee  
through us, to break thy bands, and cut them, and to remove them from thee  
from their root, because thou art my sister, one mother brought us forth  
twins. Thou hast forsaken thy father, thou hast forsaken the path leading  
thee to the dwelling-place of thy mother, being in error; thou hast left  
the temple of that deception, and of the temporary glory, and hast come to  
us, fleeing from the enemy, because he is the dwelling-place of death.  
Behold, now thy Redeemer has come to redeem thee; Christ the Sun of  
righteousness has risen upon thee, to enlighten thee.(2) 
 
    And when Nicanora, standing before the door, heard these things, she  
took courage before all, crying out, and saying: I am a Hebrew, and a  
daughter of the Hebrews; speak with me in the language of my fathers. For,  
having heard the preaching of my fathers, I was straightway cured of the  
disease and the troubles that encompassed me. I therefore adore the  
goodness of God who has caused you to be spoiled even to this city, on  
account of His true stone(3) held in honour, in order that through you we  
may receive the knowledge of Him, and may live with you, having believed in  
Him. 
 
    Nicanora having thus spoken, the Apostle Philip, along with Bartholomew  
and Mariamme and those with them, prayed for her to God, saying: Thou who  
bringest the dead to life, Christ Jesus the Lord, who hast freed us through  
baptism from the slavery of death,(4) completely deliver also this woman  
from the error, the enemy; make her alive in Thy life, and perfect her in  
Thy perfection, in order that she may be found in the country of her  
fathers in freedom, having a portion in Thy goodness, O Lord Jesus. 
 
    And all having sent up the amen along with the Apostle Philip, behold,  
there came the tyrant, the husband of Nicanora, raging like an unbroken  
horse; and having laid hold of his wife's garments, he cried out, saying: O  
Nicanora, did not I leave thee in bed? how hadst thou so much strength as  
to come to these magicians? And how hast thou been cured of the  
inflammation of thine eyes? Now, therefore, unless thou tell me who thy  
physician is, and what is his name, I shall punish thee with various  
punishments, and shall not have compassion upon thee. And she answering,  
says to him: O tyrant, cast out from thee this tyranny of thine, forsake  
this wickedness of thine; abandon this life lasting only for a season; run  
away from the brutality of thy worthless disposition; flee from the wicked  
dragon and his lusts; throw from thee the works and the dart of the man- 
slaying serpent; renounce the abominable and wicked sacrifices of the  
idols, which are the husbandry of the enemy, the hedge of darkness; make  
for thyself a life chaste and pure, that being in holiness thou mayst be  
able to know my Physician, and to get His name. If therefore thou wishest  
me to be beside thee, prepare thyself to live in chastity and self- 
restraint, and in fear of the true God, and I shall live with thee all my  
life; only cleanse thyself from the idols, and from all their filth. 
 
    And when the gloomy tyrant her husband heard these words of hers, he  
seized her by the hair of her head, and dragged her along, kicking her, and  
saying: It will be a fine thing for thee to be cut off by the sword, or to  
see thee from beside me committing fornication with these foreign  
magicians; for I see that thou hast fallen into the madness of these  
deceivers. Thee first of them, therefore, I shall cut off by an evil death;  
and then, not sparing them, I shall cut their sinews, and put them to a  
most cruel death. And having turned, he said to those about him: Bring out  
for me those impostors of magicians. And the public executioners having run  
into the house of Stachys, and laid hold of the Apostle Philip, and  
Bartholomew and Mariamme, dragged them along, leading them to where the  
proconsul was. And the most faithful Stachys followed, and all the  
faithful. 
 
    And the proconsul seeing them, gnashed his teeth, saying: Torture these  
deceivers that have deceived many women, and young men and girls, saying  
that they are worshippers of God, while they are an abomination. And he  
ordered thongs of raw hide to be brought, and Philip and Bartholomew and  
Mariamme to be beaten; and after they had been scourged with the thongs, he  
ordered their feet to be tied, and them to be dragged through the streets  
of the city as far as the gate of their temple. And a great crowd was  
assembled, so that scarcely any one stayed at home; and they all wondered  
at their patience, as they were being violently and inhumanly dragged  
along. 
 
    And the proconsul, having tortured the Apostle Philip and the saints  
who were with him, ordered them to he brought, and secured in the temple of  
the idol of the viper by its priests, until he should decide by what death  
he should destroy each of them. And many of the crowd believed in the grace  
of Christ, and were added to the Apostle Philip, and those with him, having  
renounced the idol of the viper, and were confirmed in the faith being  
magnified by the endurance of the saints; and all together with their voice  
glorified God, saying the amen. 
 
    And when they were shut up in the temple of the viper--both Philip the  
Apostle, and Bartholomew and Mariamme--the priests of the viper assembled  
in the same place, and a great crowd, about seven thousand men; and having  
run to the proconsul, they cried out, saying: Avenge us of the foreigners,  
and magicians, and corrupters and seducers of men. For ever since they came  
to us, our dry has been filled with every evil deed; and they have also  
killed the serpents, the sons of our goddess; and they have also shut the  
temple, and the altar has been desolated; and we have not found the wine  
which had been brought in order that the viper, having drunk of it, might  
go to sleep. But if thou wishest to know that they are really, magicians,  
look and see how they wish to bewitch us, saying, Live in chastity and  
piety, after believing in God; and how also they have come into the city;  
and bow also the dragons have not struck them blind, or even killed them;  
and how also they have not drunk their blood; but even they who keep our  
city from every foreigner have been cast down by these men. 
 
    And the proconsul, having heard these things, was the more inflamed  
with rage, and filled with wrath and threatening; and he was exceedingly  
enraged, and said to the priests: Why need you speak, when they have  
bewitched my own wife? And from that time she has spoken to me with strange  
words; and praying all the night through, she speaks in a strange tongue  
with a light shining round her; and groaning aloud, she says, Jesus the  
true light has come to me. And I, having gone forth from my chamber, wished  
to look down through the window and see Jesus, the light which she spoke  
of; and like lightning it came upon me, so that I was within a little of  
being blinded; and from that time forth I am afraid of my wife, on account  
of her luminous Jesus. Tell me, ye priests, what I am to do. And they said  
to him: O proconsul, assuredly we are no longer priests; for ever since  
thou didst shut them up, in consequence of them praying, not only has the  
temple been shaken from the foundations, but it is also assuredly falling  
down. 
 
    Then the proconsul ordered to bring Philip and those with him forth out  
of the temple, and to bring them up to the tribunal, saying to the public  
executioner: Strip Philip and Bartholomew and Mariamme, and search  
thoroughly to try to find their enchantments. Having therefore first  
stripped Philip, then Bartholomew, they came also to Mariamme; and dragging  
her along, they said: Let us strip her naked, that all may see her, how she  
follows men; for she especially deceives all the women. And the tyrant says  
to the priests: Proclaim throughout the whole city round about that all  
should come, men and women, that they may see her indecency, that she  
travels about with these magicians, and no doubt commits adultery with  
them. And he ordered Philip to be hanged, and his ankles to be pierced, and  
to bring also iron hooks, and his heels also to be driven through, and to  
be hanged head downwards, opposite the temple on a certain tree; and  
stretch out Bartholomew opposite Philip, having nailed his hands on the  
wall of the gate of the temple. 
 
    And both of them smiled, seeing each other, both Philip and  
Bartholomew; for they were as if they were not tortured: for their  
punishments were prizes and crowns. And when also they had stripped  
Mariamme, behold, straightway the semblance of her body was changed in the  
presence of all, and straightway there was about her a cloud of fire before  
all; and they could not longer look at all on the place in which the holy  
Mariamme was, but they all fled from her. 
 
    And Philip spoke with Bartholomew in the Hebrew tongue saying: Where is  
our brother John? for, behold, I am being released from the body; and who  
is he that has prayed for us? Because they have also laid hands on our  
sister Mariamme, contrary to what is meet; and, behold, they have set fire  
to the house of Stachys, sayings, Let us burn it, since he entertained  
them. Dost thou wish then, Bartholomew, fire to come from heaven, and that  
we should burn them up? 
 
    And as Philip was thus speaking, behold, also John entered into the  
city like one of their fellow-citizens; and moving about in the street, he  
asked: Who are these men, and why are they punished? And they say to him:  
It cannot be that thou art of our city, and askest about these men, who  
have wronged many: for they have shut up our gods, and by their magic have  
cut off both the serpents and the dragons; and they have also raised many  
of the dead, who have struck us with amazement, detailing many punishments  
against us, and they wish also, these strangers who are hanging, to pray  
for fire out of heaven, and to burn up us and our city. 
 
    Then says John: Let us go, and do you show me them. They led John,  
therefore, as their fellow-citizen, to where Philip was; and there was  
there a great crowd, and the proconsul, and the priests. And Philip, seeing  
John, said to Bartholomew in Hebrew: Brother, John has come, who was in  
Barek, where the living water is.(1) And John saw Philip hanging head  
downwards both by the ankles and the heels;(2) and he also saw Bartholomew  
stretched out on the wall of the temple; and he said to them: The mystery  
of him that was hanged between the heaven and the earth shall be with you. 
 
    And he said also to the men of that city: Ye men who dwell in Ophioryma  
Hierapolis, great is the ignorance which is among you, for you have erred  
in the path of error. The dragon breathing has breathed upon you, and  
blinded you in three ways; that is, he has made you blind in body, and  
blind in soul, and blind in spirit: and you have been struck by the  
destroyer. Look upon the whole creation, whether in the earth, or in the  
heaven, or in the waters, that the serpent has no resemblance to anything  
above;(3) but he is of the stock of corruption, and has been brought to  
nothing by God; and on this account he is twisted and crooked, and there is  
no life in him; and anger, and rage, and darkness, and fire, and smoke are  
in all his members. And now, therefore, why do you punish these men because  
they have told you that the serpent is your enemy? 
 
    And when they heard these words from John, they raised their hands  
against him, saying: We thought thee to be a fellow-citizen, but now thou  
hast shown thyself that thou art their companion. Like them, so also thou  
shalt be put to death; for the priests have intended to squeeze out your  
blood, and having mixed it with wine, to bring it to the viper to drink it.  
When, therefore, the priests attempted to lay hold of John, their hands  
were paralyzed. And John said to Philip: Let us not at all render evil for  
evil. And Philip said to John: Behold now, where is my Lord Jesus, who told  
me not to avenge myself? But for my part, I shall not endure it longer; but  
I will accomplish upon them my threat, and will destroy them all(4). 
 
    And John and Bartholomew and Mariamme restrained him, saying: Our  
Master was beaten, was scourged, was extended on the cross, was made to  
drink gall and vinegar, and said, Father, forgive them, for they know not  
what they do.(5) And this He taught, saying: Learn of me, for I am meek and  
lowly in heart.(6) Let us also therefore be patient. Philip says: Go away,  
and do not mollify me; for I will not bear that they have hanged me head  
down, and pierced my ankles and my heels with irons. And thou, John,  
beloved of God, how much hast thou reasoned with them, and thou hast not  
been listened to! Wherefore go away from me, and I will curse them, and  
they shall be destroyed utterly to a man. And he began to curse them,  
invoking, and crying out in Hebrew: ABALO, AREMUN, IDUTHAEL, THARSELEON,  
NACHOTH, AIDUNAPH, TELETOLOI:(7) that is, O Father of Christ, the only and  
Almighty God; O God, whom all ages dread, powerful and impartial Judge,  
whose name is in Thy dynasty Sabaoth.(8) blessed art Thou for everlasting:  
before Thee tremble dominions and powers of the celestials, and the fire- 
breathing threats of the cherubic living ones; the King, holy in majesty,  
whose name came upon the wild beasts of the desert, and they were tamed,  
and praised Thee with a rational voice; who lookest upon us, and readily  
grantest our requests; who knewest us before we were fashioned; the  
Overseer of all: now, I pray, let the great Hades open its mouth; let the  
great abyss swallow up these the ungodly, who have not been willing to  
receive the word of truth in this city. So let it be, Sabaoth. And, behold,  
suddenly the abyss was opened, and the whole of the place in which the  
proconsul was sitting was swallowed up, and the whole of the temple, and  
the viper which they worshipped, and great crowds, and the priests of the  
viper, about seven thousand men, besides women and children, except where  
the apostles were: they remained unshaken. And the proconsul was swallowed  
up into the abyss; and their voices came up from beneath, saying, with  
weeping: Have mercy upon us, O God of Thy glorious apostles, because we now  
see the judgments of those who have not confessed the crucified One:  
behold. the cross illumines us. O Jesus Christ, manifest Thyself to us,  
because we are all coming down alive into Hades, and are being scourged  
because we have unjustly crucified Thine apostles. And a voice was heard of  
one, saying: I shall be merciful to you in the cross of light. 
 
    And there remained both Stachys and all his house, and the wife of the  
proconsul, and fifty other women who had believed with her upon the Lord,  
and a multitude besides, both of men and women, and a hundred virgins who  
had not been swallowed up because of their chastity, having been sealed  
with the seal of Christ. 
 
    Then the Lord, having appeared unto Philip, said: O Philip, didst thou  
not hear: Thou shall not render evil for evil? and why hast thou inflicted  
such destruction? O Philip, whosoever putteth his hand to the plough, and  
looketh backwards,(1) is his furrow well set? or who gives up his own lamp  
to another, and himself sits in darkness? or who forsakes his own dwelling- 
place, and dwells on a dunghill himself? And who, giving away his own  
garment in winter, goes naked? or what enemy rejoices in the joy of the man  
that hates him? and what soldier goes to war without a full suit of armour?  
and what slave who has fulfilled his master's order will not be commended?  
and who in the race-coarse, having nobly run, does not receive the prize?  
and who that has washed his garments willingly defiles them? Behold, my  
bridechamber is ready; but blessed is he who has been found in it wearing  
the shining garment:(2) he it is who receives the crown upon his head.  
Behold, the supper is ready; and blessed is he who is invited, and is ready  
to go to Him that has invited him. The harvest of the field is much,(3) and  
blessed is the good labourer. Behold the lilies and all the flowers, and it  
is the good husbandman who is the first to get a share of them. And how  
hast thou become, O Philip, unmerciful, having cursed thine enemies in  
wrath? 
 
    Philip says: Why art Thou angry with me, Lord, because I have cursed  
mine enemies? for why dost Thou not tread them under foot, because they are  
yet alive in the abyss? And knowest Thou, Lord, that because of Thee I came  
into this city, and in Thy name I have persecuted all the error of the  
idols, and all the demons? The dragons have withered away, and the  
serpents. And since these men have not received Thy light, therefore have I  
cursed them, and they have gone down to Hades alive. 
 
    And the Saviour says to Philip: But since thou hast disobeyed me, and  
hast requited evil for evil, and hast not kept my commandment, on this  
account thou shalt finish thy course gloriously indeed, and shalt be led by  
the hand by my holy angels, and shalt come with them even to the paradise  
of delight; and they indeed shall come beside me into paradise, but thee  
will I order to be shut outside of paradise for forty days, in terror under  
the flaming and turning sword, and thou shall groan because thou hast done  
evil to those who have done evil to thee. And after forty days I shall send  
my archangel Michael; and he, having taken hold of the sword guarding  
paradise, shall bring thee into it, and thou shall see all the righteous  
who have walked in their innocence, and then thou shall worship the glory  
of my Father in the heavens. Nevertheless the sign of thy departure shall  
be glorified in my cross. And Bartholomew having gone away into Lycaonia,  
shall there also be himself crucified; and Mariamme shall lay her body in  
the river Jordan. But I, O Philip, will not endure thee, because thou hast  
swallowed up the men into the abyss; but, behold, my Spirit is in them, and  
I shall bring them up from the dead; and thus they, seeing thee, shall  
believe in the glory of Him that sent thee. 
 
    And the Saviour having turned, stretched up His hand, and marked a  
cross in the air coming down from above even to the abyss, and it was full  
of light, and had its form after the likeness of a ladder. And all the  
multitude that had gone down from the city into the abyss came up on the  
ladder of the luminous cross; but there remained below the proconsul, and  
the viper which they worshipped. And when the multitude had come up, having  
looked upon Philip hanging head downwards, they lamented with a great  
lamentation at the lawless action which they had done. And they also saw  
Bartholomew, and Mariamme having her former appearance. And. behold, the  
Lord went up into the heavens in the sight of Philip, and Bartholomew and  
Mariamme. and Stachys, and all the unbelieving people, and silently they  
glorified God in fear and trembling. And all the multitudes cried out,  
saying: He alone is God, whom these men proclaim in truth; He alone is God,  
who sent these men for our salvation. Let us therefore truly repent for our  
great error, because we are by no means worthy of everlasting life. Now we  
believe, because we have seen great wonders, because the Saviour has  
brought us up from the abyss. And they all fell upon their face, and adored  
Philip, and entreated him, ready to flee: Do not do another miracle, and  
again send us away into the abyss. And they prayed that they might become  
worthy of the appearing of Christ. 
 
    And Philip, yet hanging, addressed them, and said: Hear and learn how  
great are the powers of my God, remembering what you have seen below, and  
how your city has been overturned, with the exception of the house which  
received me; and now the sweetness of my God has brought you up out of the  
abyss, and I am obliged to walk round paradise for forty days on your  
account, because I was enraged against you into requiting you. And this  
commandment alone I have not kept, in that I did not give you good in  
return for evil. But I say unto you, From this time forth, in the goodness  
of God, reject the evil, that you may become worthy of the thanksgiving(1)  
of the Lord. 
 
    And some of the faithful ran up to take down Philip, and take off him  
the iron grapnels, and the hooks out of his ankles. But Philip said: Do  
not, my children, do not come near me on account of this, for thus shall be  
my end. Listen to me, ye who have been enlightened in the Lord, that I came  
to this city, not to make any merchandise, or do any other thing; but I  
have been destined to go out of my body in this city in the case in which  
you see me. Grieve not, then, that I am hanging thus; for I bear the  
stamp(2) of the first man, who was brought to the earth head downwards, and  
again, through the wood of the cross brought to life out of the death of  
the transgression. And now I accomplish that which hath been enjoined upon  
me; for the Lord said to me, Unless you shall make that of you which is  
down to be up, and that which is on the left to be on the right, you shall  
not enter into my kingdom. Be ye not therefore likened to the unchanged  
type, for all the world has been changed, and every soul dwelling in a body  
is in forgetfulness of heavenly things; but let not us possessing the glory  
of the heavenly seek that which is without, which is the body and the house  
of slavery. Be not unbelieving, but believing, and forgive each other's  
faults. Behold, I hang six days, and I have blame from the true Judge,  
because I altogether requited you evil, and put a stumbling-block in the  
way of my rectitude. And now I am going up on high; be not sorrowful, but  
rather rejoice, because I am leaving this dwelling-place, my body, having  
escaped from the corruption of the dragon, who punishes every soul that is  
in sins. 
 
    And Philip, having looked round upon the multitudes, said: O ye who  
have come up out of the dead from Hades, and the swallowing up of the  
abyss,--and the luminous cross led you up on high, through the goodness of  
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost,--He being God became man,  
having been made flesh out of the Virgin Mary, immortal, abiding in flesh;  
and having died, He raised the dead, having had pity on mankind, having  
taken away the sting of sin. He was great, and became small for our sake,  
until He should enlarge the small, and bring them into His greatness. And  
He it is who has sweetness; and they spat upon Him, giving Him gall to  
drink, in order that He might make those who were bitter against Him to  
taste of His sweetness. Cleave then to Him, and do not forsake Him, for He  
is our life to everlasting. 
 
    And when Philip had finished this announcement, he says to them, Loose  
Bartholomew; and having gone up, they loosed him. And after loosing him,  
Philip says to him: Bartholomew, my brother in the Lord, thou knowest that  
the Lord has sent thee with me to this city, and thou hast shared with me  
in all the dangers with our sister Mariamme; but I know that the going  
forth from thy body has been appointed in Lycaonia, and it has been decreed  
to Mariamme to go forth from the body in the river Jordan. Now therefore I  
command you, that when I have gone forth from my body, you shall build a  
church in this place; and let the leopard and the kid of the goats(3) come  
into the church, for a sign to those that believe; and tot Nicanora provide  
for them until they shall go forth from the body; and when they shall have  
gone forth, bury them by the gate of the church. And lay your peace upon  
the house of Stachys, as Christ laid His peace on this city. And let all  
the virgins who believe stand in that house each day, watching over the  
sick, walking two anti two; but let them have no communication with young  
men, that Satan may not tempt them:(4) for he is a creeping serpent, and he  
caused Adam by menus of Eve to slip into death. Let it not be so again in  
this time as in the case of Eve. But do thou, O Bartholomew, look to them  
well:(5) and thou shalt give these injunctions to Stachys, and appoint him  
bishop. Do not entrust the place of the bishopric to a young man, that the  
Gospel of Christ may not he brought to shame; and let every one that  
teacheth have his works equal to his words. But I am going to the Lord, and  
take my body and prepare it for burial with Syriac sheets of paper; and do  
not put round me flaxen cloth, because the body of my Lord was wrapped in  
linen. And having prepared my body for burial in the sheets of paper, bind  
it tight with papyrus reeds, anti bury it m the church; and pray for me(6)  
forty days, in order that the Lord may forgive me the transgression wherein  
I transgressed, in requiting those who did evil to me. See, O Bartholomew,  
where my blood shall drop upon the earth, a plant shall spring up from my  
blood, and shall become a vine, and shall produce fruit of a bunch of  
grapes; and having taken the cluster, press it into the cup; and having  
partaken of it on the third day, send up on high the Amen, in order that  
the offering may be complete. 
 
    And Philip, having said these things, prayed thus: O Lord Jesus Christ,  
Father of the ages, King of the light, who hast made us wise in Thy wisdom,  
and hast given us Thine understanding, and hast bestowed upon us the  
counsel of Thy goodness, who hast never at any time left us, Thou art He  
who taketh away the disease of those who flee to Thee for refuge; Thou art  
the Son of the living God, who hast given us Thy presence of wisdom, who  
hast given us signs and wonders, and hast turned those who have gone  
astray; who crownest those who overcome the adversary, Thou excellent  
Judge.(1) Come now, Jesus, and give me the everlasting crown of victory  
against every adverse dominion and power, and do not let their dark air  
hide me when I shall cross the waters of fire and all the abyss. O my Lord  
Jesus Christ, let not the enemy have ground to accuse me at Thy tribunal:  
but put on me Thy glorious robe, Thy seal of light that ever shines, until  
I shall pass by all the powers of the world, and the wicked dragon that  
lieth in wait for us. Now therefore, my Lord Jesus Christ, make me to meet  
Thee in the air, having forgiven me the recompense which I recompensed to  
my enemies; and transform the form of my body into angelic glory, and give  
me rest in Thy blessedness; and let me receive the promise from Thee which  
Thou hast promised to Thy saints to everlasting. 
 
    And having thus spoken, Philip gave up the ghost, while all the  
multitudes were looking upon him, and weeping, and saying: The life of this  
spirit has been accomplished in peace. And they said the Amen. 
 
    And Bartholomew and Mariamme took down his body, and did as Philip had  
commanded them, and buried it in that place. And there was straightway a  
voice out of the heavens: Philip the apostle has been crowned with an  
incorruptible crown by Jesus Christ, the Judge of the contest. And all  
shouted out the Amen. 
 
    And after the three days the plant of the vine sprouted up where the  
blood of the holy Philip had dropped. And they did all that had been  
commanded them by him, offering an offering for forty days, praying without  
ceasing. And they built the church in that place, having appointed Stachys  
bishop in the church. And Nicanora and all the faithful assembled, and did  
not cease, all of them, glorifying God on account of the wonders that had  
happened among them. And all the city believed in the name of Jesus. And  
Bartholomew commanded Stachys to baptize those who believed into the name  
of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. 
 
    And after the forty days, the Saviour, having appeared in the form of  
Philip, said to Bartholomew and Mariamme: My beloved brethren, do you wish  
to rest in the rest of God? Paradise has been opened to me, and I have  
entered into the glory of Jesus. Go away to the place appointed for you;  
for the plant that has been set apart and planted in this city shall bear  
excellent fruit. Having therefore saluted the brethren, and prayed for each  
of them, they departed from the city of Ophioryma, the Hierapolis of Asia;  
and Bartholomew departed into Lycaonia, and Mariamme proceeded to the  
Jordan; and Stachys and those with him remained, maintaining the church in  
Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and strength for ever and ever.  
Amen. 
 
ACTS OF SAINT PHILIP THE APOSTLE WHEN HE WENT TO UPPER HELLAS. 
 
    AND it came to pass in those days, when Philip entered into the city of  
Athens called Hellas, there assembled to him three hundred philosophers,  
saying: Let us go and see what his wisdom is; for they say about the wise  
men of Asia, that their wisdom is great. For they thought that Philip was a  
philosopher, since he was travelling in the dress of a recluse; and they  
did not know that he was an apostle of Christ. For the dress which Jesus  
gave to His disciples was a mantle only, and a linen cloth.(1) Thus, then,  
Philip was going about. On this account, therefore, when the philosophers  
of Hellas saw him, they were afraid. They assembled therefore into one  
place, and said to each other: Come, let us look into our books, lest  
somehow this stranger overcome us, and put us to shame. 
 
    And having done so, they came together to the same place, and say to  
Philip: We have doctrines of our fathers in which we are pleased, seeking  
after knowledge; but if thou hast anything new, O stranger, show it to us  
without envy boldly: for we have need of nothing else, but only to hear  
something new.(2) 
 
    And Philip answering, said to them: O philosophers of Hellas, if you  
wish to hear some new thing, and are desirous of something new, you ought  
to throw away from you the disposition of the old man; as my Lord said, It  
is impossible to put new wine into old bottles, since the bottle is burst,  
and the wine spilled, and the bottle de