Martyrdom of the Blessed Apostle Paul by Pseudo-Linus

Martyrium beati Pauli apostoli a Lino episcopo conscriptum

Standard abbreviation: Lin. Mart. Paul.

Other titles: none

Clavis numbers: ECCA 367; CANT 212

Category: Apocryphal Acts

Related literature: Acts of Paul, Martyrdom of Blessed Peter the Apostle by Pseudo-Linus, Epistle of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite to Timothy, Acts of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Golden Legend 90

Compiled by Tony Burke, York University

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Martyrdom of the Blessed Apostle Paul by Pseudo-Linus.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/martyrdom-of-the-blessed-apostle-paul-by-pseudo-linus/.

Created June 2022. Current as of January 2024.

1. SUMMARY

Lin. Mart. Paul is essentially a Latin translation of the Greek martyrdom of Paul that concludes the Acts of Paul, though the account contains some notable expansion, both small and large. The attribution to Linus, Peter’s successor as bishop of Rome by some accounts, appears only in the title; the same author is credited with a Latin martyrdom account of Peter, but it is unlikely that the two texts were written by the same author, whoever that might be.

The text begins with Paul greeting Luke and Titus at their arrival in the Rome. They rents a barn outside the city and people come to hear Paul’s teachings, including members of house of Caesar. A noteworthy addition here is a teacher of the emperor who becomes a friend and advocate of Paul and reads his writings in the emperor’s court, so that he attracts the interest of the Senate, who have a high opinion of him. As in Acts Paul, Nero’s young cupbearer Patroclus comes to hear Paul and falls to his death. Once revived by Paul, he appears before Nero and reveals that Jesus raised him and that this King of Kings will abolish every kingdom. Several servants of Nero also confess belief in Jesus: Barnabas, Justus, another man named Paul, Festus the Galatian, and Arion the Cappadocian (Acts Paul has Barsabas Justus, Festus the Galatian, and Orion of Cappadocia, and Festus). Nero imprisons them all and issues an edict to kill all of the Christians.

Paul is taken into custody and because of his apparent esteem among the believers, is considered by Nero to be their leader. Nero orders all Christian burned at the stake but Paul is to be beheaded as a traitor. While imprisoned and awaiting execution, Paul continues to preach, converting his guards Longinus, Megistus and the centurion Acestus (Acts Paul has only Longinus and Cestus). The people of the city call for an end to the slaughter of the Christians and Nero acquiesces, promising to gather the facts on each case. Paul comes before him and receives no reprieves; the apostle tells Nero he will rise from the grave and appear to him.

Paul returns to prison and continues teaching. Here the text inserts a lengthy sermon against the worship of idols. Nero sends Parthenius and Feritas to learn if Paul had been decapitated. Paul entreats them to become believers but they say they will believe once they see him rise from death. Paul is taken to the execution site and there meets a noblewoman named Plautilla (this story is another major addition; for a similar account see Acts of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul 80–84 and Epistle of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite to Timothy 8). Paul asks for her scarf as a blindfold and says that he will return it to her when he rises. He promises his guards also that if they come to his grave at dawn, they will meet Titus and Luke and receive baptism.

When the executioner chops off Paul’s head, he is splashed with milk. The decapitated head then calls out the name of Jesus in Hebrew (another feature not found in Acts Paul). The scarf is nowhere to be found but Parthenius and Feritas meet Plautilla on the road and she shows them the blood-stained scarf, return to her by Paul who came from heaven with a crowd of figures in white. Paul then appears to the emperor and tells him “unspeakable evils” will come upon him. Terrified, Nero orders the release of his prisoners. Paul’s guards come to the tomb at dawn and see Luke and Titus praying with Paul, who departs. The guards receive their promised baptism.

Named historical figures and characters: Orion/Arion (of Cappadocia), Barnabas (Barsabas Justus), Cestus/Acestus, Feritas, Festus (of Galatia), Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Justus, Linus (bishop), Longinus (of Rome), Luke (evangelist), Megistus, Nero, Parthenius, Patroclus, Paul (apostle), Paul (of Rome), Plautilla (aka Perpetua and Lemobia), Titus.

Geographical locations: Cappadocia, Dalmatia, Galatia, Rome.

2. RESOURCES

2.1 Art and Iconography

The story of Plautilla (Lin. Mart. Paul 14 and 17) is depicted in a panel from an altarpiece painted by Lorenzo Monaco ca. 1398–1400 (Princeton University Art Museum object no. y1936-23). The painting shows the beheading of Paul with Plautilla standing off to the left receiving her veil from an angel.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Latin (BHL 6570)

Lipsius and Bonnet’s edition is based on the following 28 manuscripts:

A  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5343, fols. 34^r–? (11th cent.)

B  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 12602, fols. 12^r–17^r (12th cent.) ~ Gallica

C  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 12611, fols. 151^v–156^r (12th cent.) ~ Gallica

D  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 3778, fols. 32^v–41^v (11th cent.) ~ Gallica

E  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5273, fols. 16^r–21^v (13th cent.) ~ Gallica

F  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 15437, fols. 47^v–51^v (11th cent.)

G  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 11750, fols. 66^v–72^v (12th cent.)

H  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5274, fols. 2^r–7^v (12th cent.) ~ Gallica

I  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 12615, fols. 17^v–24^v (14th cent.)

K  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 14363, fols. 131^r–133^v (13th cent.)

L  London, Arundel, 169, fols. 10^r–? (12th cent.) ~ CATALOG

M  Montpellier, Faculté de Médecine, 14, fols. 7^r–14^r (11th cent.)

N  Rome, Biblioteca Casanatense, B. I. 4, fols. 14^r–? (10th/11th cent.)

O  Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1193, fols. 94^v–100^r (12th cent.) ~ DVL

P  Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1272, fols. 80^r–89^v (11th cent.) ~ DVL

Q  Rome, Biblioteca nazionale centrale, Sessor. 5 (alias XXIX, olim 118), fols. 162^v–165^v (11th cent.)

R  Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Reg. lat. 539, fols. 116^r–118^v (12th cent.) ~ DVL

S  Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Reg. lat. 541, fols. 116^r–? (13th/14th cent.)

T  Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Barb. lat. XII 29, fols. 187^r–? (11th cent.)

U  Rome, Biblioteca Vallicelliana, I, fols. 206^r–210^r (11th/12th cent.)

V  Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1190, fols. 23^r–28^r (12th cent.) ~ DVL

W  Amiatin. 2, fols. 291^r–? (11th cent.)

X  Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Plut. XX 1. 2, fols. 167^r–? (11th cent.)

Y Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, conu. suppressi 298, fols. 112^r–? (13th cent.)

Z  London, British Library, Add. 9959, fols. 31^r–? (12th cent.)

Γ  London, British Library, Cotton Nero E. I, fols. 242^r–? (10th cent.)

Δ  Casin. 142, p. 20–? (11th cent.)

Θ  Casin. 149, p. 32–? (11th cent.)

Lipsius-Bonnet also lists 37 manuscripts containing portions of the text, and another 13 that had yet to be assessed. The list below draws from BHLms:

Arras, Bibliothèque municipale, 961 (344), fols. 63^r–64^v (14th cent.) ~ IMAGES

Arras, Bibliothèque municipale, 512 (600), fols. 127^r–129^v (13th cent.)

Arras, Bibliothèque municipale, 24 (813), fols. 118^v–121^v (12th cent.)

Bourges, Bibliothèque municipale, 36, fols. 120^r–122^r (1400–1415) ~ IMAGES

Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, 64 (3129), fols. 117^v–122^r (11th cent.)

Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, 98–100 (3132), fols. 36^v–38^v (13th cent.)

Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, 380–382 (3137), fols. 85^v–91^r (15th cent.)

Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, 5519–5526 (3170), fols. 58^r–62^r (12th cent.)

Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, 7482 (3180), fols. 229^r–230^v (13th cent.)

Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, 8059, fols. 102^v–106^v (15th cent.)

Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, 11550–11555 (3233), fols. 97^r–100^v (13th cent.)

Brussels, Museum Bollandianum, 330, fols. 16^r–22^v (12th cent.)

Châlons-sur-Marne, Bibliothèque municipale, 73, fols. 70^r–76^r (11th cent.)

Charleville-Mezieres, Bibliothèque municipale, 200, fols. 151^v–155^r (13th cent.)

Charleville-Mezieres, Bibliothèque municipale, 254 III, fols. 5^v–10^r (1151)

Chartres, Bibliothèque municipale, 190 (500 5/A), fols. 107^r–107^v (12th cent.)

Chartres, Bibliothèque municipale, 473 t. I (511 5/B), fols. 245^v–251^r (15th cent.)

Cologne, Historisches Archiv der stadt Köln, W. 320, fols. 23^v–28^r (12th cent.)

Copenhagen, Kongelige bibliotek, 133 fol., fols. 100^r–109^r (13th cent.)

Douai, Bibliothèque municipale, 836, fols. 154^v–156^r (12th cent.)

Douai, Bibliothèque municipale, 837, fols. 7^v–10^r (12th cent.)

Douai, Bibliothèque municipale, 853, fols. 67^v–75^v (12th cent.)

Dublin, Trinity College, 737 (olim G.04.16), fols. 1^v–8^v (9th and 12th/13th cent.)

Heiligenkreuz, Stift Heiligenkreuz, 12, fols. 300^v–303^r (12th cent.)

Le Mans, Bibliothèque municipale, 217, fols. 118^v–121^v (12th cent.)

Liège, Université de Liège, 57 (210, t. I), fols. 26^v–31^r (1366)

Lucca, Bibliothèque capitulaire, codex A, fol. 1 (1151–1175)

Lucca, Bibliothèque capitulaire, codex C, fols. 201^r–203^v (12th cent.)

Lucca, Bibliothèque capitulaire, codex D, fols. 45^v–49^r (1176–1200)

Lucca, Bibliothèque capitulaire, codex G, fols. 126^r–129^r (11th/12th cent.)

Melk, Stift Melk, M. 5, fols. 265^v–295^v (15th cent.)

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, A 251 inf., fols. 113^r–117^v (13th cent.)

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, B 55 inf., fols. 7^v–12^r (11th cent.)

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, D 22 inf., fols. 121^v–127^r (12th cent.)

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, G S III 12, fols. 24^r–38^v (1795)

Mons, Bibliothèque municipale, 26, 210, 8402, fols. 52^v–56^r (?) (13th cent.)

Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale, codex XV.AA.12, fols. 113^r–116^v (10th/11th cent.)

Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale, codex XV.AA.13, fols. 68^r–71^r (12th cent.)

Novara, Biblioteca capitalore, I, fols. 251^r–264^v (14th cent.)

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Add. D. 106 (SC 29645), fols. 126^r–130^v (12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 3278, fols. 28^v–32^v (14th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5280, fols. 279^r–280^v (13th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5296, fols. 80^v–82^r (13th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5306, fols. 142^v–144^v (14th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5312, fols. 104^r–107^r (12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5322, fols. 122^r–126^r (13th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5323, fols. 83^r–85^r (13th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5351, fols. 34^r–38^v (11th/12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5357, fols. 167^v–171^r (13th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5565, fols. 1^r–9^r (11th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 10864, fols. 68^v–73^r (13th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 11753, fols. 15^r–19^v (12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 11757, fols. 128^r–131^r (13th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 13769, fols. 8^r–13^v (12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 14301, fols. 1^r–3^v (12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 14365, fols. 237^r–243^r (15th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 16737, fols. 117^v–120^v (12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 16189, fols. 240^v–241^v (10th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 16821, fols. 48^r–50^r (12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 17630, fols. 146^v–151^r (14th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, N.A. lat. 2289, fols. 3^r–10^v (undated)

Rome, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterno, A. 79 (Alias B), fols. 268^v–272^r (11th/12th cent.)

Rome, Biblioteca nazionale centrale, Farf. 27 (alias 278), entire (12th cent.)

Rome, Biblioteca Vallicelliana, VII, fols. 170^r–172^v (13th/14th cent.)

Rome, Biblioteca Vallicelliana, XIII, entire (14th cent.)

Rome, Biblioteca Vallicelliana, XXIII, fols. 261^r–263^r (13th cent.)

Rome, Biblioteca Vallicelliana, XXIV, fols. 138^v–144^r (12th cent.)

Rome, Biblioteca Vallicelliana, XXV, fols. 259^r–261^v  (11th/12th cent.)

Rouen, Bibliothèque municipale, U 103, fols. 24^r–29^r (12th cent.)

Rouen, Bibliothèque municipale, U 134, fols. 85^r–91^r (13th cent.)

Saint-Omer, Bibliothèque municipale, 715, fols. 5^v–9^v (12th cent.)

Saint-Omer, Bibliothèque municipale, 716, fols. 8^r–10^v (13th cent.)

Spoleto, ArchDuomo, légendier de San Brizio, fols. 118^r–121^v (13th cent.)

Turin, Biblioteca nazionale universitaria, I. II. 17, fols. 318^r–325^r (14th/15th cent.)

Turin, Biblioteca nazionale universitaria, K. II. 24, fols. 175^r–182^v (12th cent.)

Tours, Bibliothèque municipale, 157, fols. 24^v–33^r (1418)

Trier, Bistumsarchiv, 93 (102), fols. 78^v–82^r (11th/12th cent.)

Trier, Stadtbibliothek, 1151, III (964), fols. 83^r–87^v (13th cent.)

Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana S.Maria.Magg., A, fols. 152^r–155^v (13th cent.)

Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Barb. lat. 586, fols. 186^v–190^r (10th/11th cent.) ~ DVL

Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Borg. lat. 297, fols. 93^v–96^r (14th cent.)

Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Reg. lat. 523, fols. 21^r–23^r (10th/11th cent.) ~ DVL

Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Reg. lat. 622, fols. 53^r–61^v (12th cent.) ~ DVL

Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1188, fols. 8^r–11^v (15th cent.) ~ DVL

Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 6073, fols. 190^v–194^v (11th/12th cent.) ~ DVL

Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 6453, fols. 7^r–11^r (12th cent.) ~ DVL

Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 7816, fols. 155^r–160^r (17th cent.) ~ DVL

Vatican, Biblioteca apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 9668, fols. 36^v–41^r (12th cent.) ~ DVL

Verdun, Bibliothèque municipale, 1, fols. 40^r–40^v (12th cent.)

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, 336, fols. 389^v–393^r (13th cent.)

Zwettl, Ziesterzienserstift, 24, fols. 292^v–295^r (13th cent.)

Eastman, David L. “Pseudo-Linus, Martyrdom of the Blessed Apostle Paul.” Pages 139–69 in The Ancient Martyrdom Accounts of Peter and Paul. WGRW 39. Atlanta: SBL Press, 2015 (text and translation based on the edition of Lipsius).

Lefèvre d’Étaples, Jacques. S. Pauli Epistolae xiv. ex vulgata editione, adjecta intelligentia ex Graeco cum commentariis. Paris: Ex officina Henrici Stephani, 1512 (text, pp. 265–68).

Lipsius, Richard A. and Maximilien Bonnet, eds. Acta apostolorum Apocrypha. 2 vols. in 3. Leipzig: H. Mendelssohn, 1891–1903. Repr. Hildesheim: Olms, 1972 (Latin text based on , vol. 1, pp. 23–44; introduction, pp. xxiii–lv).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 English

Eastman, David L. “Pseudo-Linus, Martyrdom of the Blessed Apostle Paul.” Pages 139–69 in The Ancient Martyrdom Accounts of Peter and Paul. WGRW 39. Atlanta: SBL Press, 2015 (text and translation based on the edition of Lipsius).

3.2.2 French

Migne, Jacques-Paul. Dictionnaire des Apocryphes. 2 vols. 1856. Repr., Turnhout: Brepols, 1989 (vol. 2, cols. 665–74).

3.2.2 Italian

Erbetta, Mario. Gli apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 3 vols. Italy: Marietti, 1975–1981 (based on edition by Lipsius, vol. 2, pp. 289–96).

3.3 General Works

Eastman, David L. The Many Deaths of Peter and Paul. OECS. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019.

Lipsius, Richard A. Die apokryphen Apostelgeschichten und Apostellegenden. 2 vols. in 3 parts. Leipzig: Mendelssohn, 1889–1903; reprinted Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1959; reprinted by the same in 1972 (see vol. 2.1:84–109, 142–73).

Peebles, Rose Jeffries. The Legend of Longinus in Ecclesiastical Tradition and in English Literature. Baltimore: Furst, 1991 (pp. 5–31).

Santos Otero, Aurelio de. “Later Acts of the Apostles.” Pages 426–82 in New Testament Apocrypha. Vol. 2: Writings Related to the Apostles, Apocalypses and Related Subjects. Edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher. Translated by R. McLachlan Wilson. 6th ed. 2 vols. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1992 (see p. 439).

Tajra, Harry W. The Martyrdom of St. Paul: Historical and Judicial Context, Traditions, and Legends. WUNT 2/67. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1994 (pp. 138–42).