Acta Aquilas
Standard abbreviations: Acts Aquila
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 764
Category: Apocryphal Acts
Related Literature: Pseudo-Clementines
Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University ([email protected]).
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Acts of Aquila.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/acts-of-aquila/.
Created May 2023.
1. SUMMARY
The text is written to commemorate the feast day of Aquila, here called an apostle, on July 14. Aquila is identified as the brother of Clement of Rome (as in the Pseudo-Clementines). He was raised by Jewish parents in Pontus and educated both in the Law and in Greek wisdom. Priscilla, his wife, is from the same tribe and they had have children called Clement and Nicetas. Aquila is introduced to Christianity in Rome by Peter. He accompanies Peter to Caesarea Stratonis where Peter contends with Simon Magus. From there the action moves back to Rome, where Simon has his flight and Peter prays for him to fall.
When Claudius expels Jews from Rome, Aquila and Priscilla depart for Pontus. They stop in Corinth on the way where they meet Paul and join him on some of his travels. After some time Aquila and Priscilla settle near Ephesus. There they meets Apollos, a former disciple of John the Baptist, and instruct him in Christian teaching. Apollos becomes a Christian preacher and is later martyred in Magnesia. Aquila reunites with Paul in Antioch and the two travel to Italy where they are arrested by a local king. They pray to Jesus to be set free so that they can continue their mission. The prison doors open and they return to preaching with great success.
Paul continues on to Rome and Aquila returns to Asia Minor, stopping in Cibyra. There he casts a demon out of a girl, leading to many people in the city becoming believers. When the king hears of Aquila’s feats, he calls him to court so that he can heal his son. As a result, the king and nobles are baptized. Aquila discovers that Priscilla has died, so he returns to Magnesia and begins to preach with his sons. King Magnentios hears of their activities and sends soldiers to arrest them, but an angel warns Aquila, so he is able to escape to Celbianos. After preaching and healing there for some time, he goes up a mountain and finds there a small plain called Lathyres. The faithful build him a cell there and people come to see him frequently. But he continues to visit other cities. On one occasion Magnentios captures him and his sons.
When the sons are brought before the king, they refuse to sacrifice to the gods and instead curse Magnentios. Angered, the king orders them to be cut to pieces and their bodies thrown to the dogs. But the faithful carry away the bodies in the night and deposit them in Lathyres. This takes place on July 12. Magnentios warns Aquila that he will suffer more than his sons but Aquila too refuses to sacrifice to the gods. After two failed attempts to execute Aquila, a cloud takes the apostle to Lathyres. There he dies on July 14 and his body is placed with the remains of his sons and of Priscilla, which are brought there from Magnesia.
Named historical figures and characters: Apollos, Aquila, Barnabas, Claudius (emperor), Clement (son of Aquila), Clement (bishop), Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Magnentios, Maurikios, Nero, Nicetas, Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Priscilla, Satan, Simon (Magus), Zacchaeus (tax collector).
Geographical locations: Alexandria, Antioch, Athens, Benetinos, Caesarea, Caesarea Stratonis, Celbianos, Corinth, Cibyra, Ephesus, Lathyres, Magnesia, Pontus, Rome, Syria.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Greek (BHG 162)
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1219, fols. 37v–44v (11th cent.)
Ebersolt, Jean. Les Acts de S. Jacques et les Actes d’Aquilas: publiés d’après deux manuscrits de la B.N. Paris: E. Leroux, 1902 (Greek edition, pp. 47–55).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 French
Ebersolt, Jean. Les Acts de S. Jacques et les Actes d’Aquilas: publiés d’après deux manuscrits de la B.N. Paris: E. Leroux, 1902 (translation, pp. 56–66; discussion, pp. 67–73).
3.3 General Works