Laudatio Pauli, auctore Niceta Paphlagone
Standard abbreviation: Encom. Paul
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 376; CANT 214
Category: Apocryphal Acts
Related literature: Acts of Paul, Acts of Peter
Compiled by Tony Burke, York University.
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Encomium on Paul, by Nicetas of Paphlagonia.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/encomium-on-paul-by-nicetas-of-paphlagonia/.
Created December 2023.
1. SUMMARY
Nicetas declares that he is delivering this enconium in celebration of the feast of Peter and Paul (June 29), “the highest and most divine of the contemplators of the Word of God.” Having already honored Peter (in his Encomium on Peter), Nicetas turns now to Paul. He begins with some brief facts on Paul’s life drawn from the canonical Acts: he was born a Hebrew in Tarsus, was instructed from childhood in the Law, and became a Pharisee. Then follows a lengthy account of Paul’s Road to Damascus experience, after which Paul became an ardent follower of the Way, surpassing even the disciples (i.e., the twelve apostles) in wisdom.
Nicetas reports Paul’s missionary journeys, blending the canonical Acts with material from the Acts of Paul. He begins with Paul’s escape from a hostile crowd in Damascus (Acts 9:23–25). From there he goes to Syrian Antioch, where he is imprisoned and rescued. While in Antioch he also resurrects the deceased son of the city’s chief magistrate and revives his wife, who swoons when she sees the miracle. The people of the city then turn away from their idols, demons, and gods (presumably this episode is adapted from Acts Paul 2, which is extant only in fragments).
Paul moves on to Iconium (Acts 14:1–5) where he stays at the home of Onesiphorus and meets Thecla (here follows a summary of Acts Paul 2–3). Paul moves on to Jerusalem because he wishes to consult with Peter who has found himself in some controversy over the application of the Law to gentiles. Not wanting to alienate the believers of the circumcision nor the gentiles, Peter, along with Barnabas, eat differently with gentiles. Peter is convinced by the circumcision faction to circumcise gentiles and he forces them to observe the sabbath and other aspects of the law. Paul opposes Peter to his face (the episode is an adaptation of Galatians 2:11–14 though in Galatians, Paul says this occurred in Antioch, not Jerusalem). The conflict is resolved at the Jerusalem Council with the apostles coming to the agreement that gentiles must practise the Noachian Precepts (Acts 15).
Paul journeys on with Barnabas to Antioch then through the cities of Anatolia, reaching Myra of Lycia and Lystra, where they preach in the synagogues and encounter resistance from both Jews and pagans (Acts 13). The pair move on to Ephesus (Acts 19), where Paul delivers a lengthy speech. Here Nicetas begins to follow Acts Paul 9 and reports Paul’s imprisonment, his preaching to Eubula and Artemilla, his encounter with the lion, and subsequent rescue from execution by a great hailstorm. From Ephesus, Paul boards a ship to Macedonia (Acts 20:1; in Acts Paul he journeys specifically to Philippi).
Nicetas stops here to recall Paul’s activities leading up to his arrival in Ephesus and then provides some more details about his conflict in Ephesus with Demetrius and Alexander (here appealing to Acts 19:23–41). Then he continues with Paul’s itinerary from Acts, where the apostle journeys through Macedonia, Greece, Troas, and finally arrives once again in Jerusalem. Nicetas recounts Paul’s arrest and protracted trials leading up to his arrival in Rome (Acts 21–28). But from here Nicetas continues the story. Paul proves his innocence and is released. Then he preaches throughout Italy and eventually makes his way back to Rome. A decree is brought by the magistrates of the city against Paul, and against Peter too, because of their success in bringing people to belief in Christ. Nero orders the execution of all Christians but due to the sheer number of deaths, he is convinced to relent.
At this point, Simon Magus appears on the scene. He slanders Peter and Paul before Nero and claims to be the Son of God. He attempts to fly above the city, carried aloft by demons, but the apostles pray and he falls to the ground. For Simon’s murder, Peter is crucified and Paul decapitated with a sword. Before his death, Paul promises Nero that he will see him again and reproach him for his madness. When Paul does appear, Nero tries in vain to seize him again. The encomium comes to a close with further praises of Paul.
Named historical figures and characters: Agrippa (king), Alexander (of Ephesus),Alexander (of Antioch), Ananias, Aretas (governor), Artemilla, Barnabas, Claudius Lysias, Demetrius (of Ephesus), Eubula, Felix, Festus (governor), Gamaliel (teacher), Hieronymos, Holy Spirit, James (the Righteous), Jesus Christ, Luke (evangelist),Matthias (apostle), Moses (patriarch), Nero, Onesiphorus, Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Simon (Magus), Stephen (martyr), Thecla, Timothy, Titus.
Geographical locations: Achaea, Anatolia, Antioch, Athens, Beroea, Caesarea, Cilicia, Corinth, Damascus, Ephesus, Greece, Iconium, Jerusalem, Lycia, Lystra, Macedonia, Myra, Philippi, Rome, Tarsus, Thessalonica, Troas.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Greek (BHG 1462n)
Mount Athos, Monē Hagiou Panteleēmonos, 630 (Lambros 6137), fols. 147–162 (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Moscow, State Historical Museum, Sinod. gr. 176, fols. 242–256 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 755, fols. 76r–93v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica
Vogt, Albert. “Panégyrique de St. Pierre; Panégyrique de St. Paul. Deux discours inédites de Nicétas de Paphlagonie, disciple de Photius.” OrChr 23 (1931): 5–97.
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 French
Vogt, Albert. “Panégyrique de St. Pierre; Panégyrique de St. Paul. Deux discours inédites de Nicétas de Paphlagonie, disciple de Photius.” OrChr 23 (1931): 5–97 (Greek text from Paris, BNF gr. 755 with facing French translation, pp. 58–97).
3.3 General Works
Pervo, Richard I. The Acts of Paul: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Eugene: Cascade Books, 2014 (pp. 55–56).