Standard abbreviation: List Anon. II
Other titles: Index Greco-syrus
Clavis numbers: ECCA 849
Category: Lists of Apostles and Disciples
Related literature: various apocryphal acts
Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “List of the Apostles and Disciples (Anonymus II).” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/list-of-apostles-and-disciples-anonymous-ii/.
Created January 2022. Current as of January 2024.
1. TRANSLATION
Provisional translation based on A and B with readings from the Latin text of BHL 654i. Reconstruction guided by Dolbeau 2005.
The names of the twelve holy and illustrious apostles and where they preached and how they died.
1. Peter of Bethsaida was first bishop in Antioch, then in Rome. It was there that he died under Nero, crucified upside down.
2. Paul, from Tarsus in Cilicia, stayed in Jerusalem where he was taught by Gamaliel; he preached from Jerusalem to Illyria. He also died in Rome [B adds: by the sword].
3. Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, preached in Greece. He died in Patras, under Aegeates [B adds: crucified upright].
4. John the evangelist [and]
5. James, his brother, sons of Zebedee [B adds: also of Bethsaida]. James died under Herod by the sword; John died [B has: left the earth] in Ephesus, sixty-eight years after the ascension of the Lord.
6. Philip, also from Bethsaida, suffered martyrdom in Hierapolis.
7. Simon the Zealot, of Cana in Galilee, died by the sword, in the Bosporus of Iberia.
8. Bartholomew was crucified in Albanopolis of Armenia.
9. Thomas, surnamed Jude [B has: Didymus], of Nazareth, died in India Calamitide, flayed alive [B also has: pierced by a spear by the impious].
10. Matthew, the tax collector and evangelist, died in Eire [i.e., the City of the Priests] of Parthia, stoned [B has: burned].
11. Jude, brother of James, died at Rebek of Ethiopia, suspended in the air and pierced with arrows.
12. James, son of Alphaeus, died in India Marmarika, broken legs.
These are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lord.
These are the names of the seventy-two disciples of the Lord, mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.
1. James the Just, who was the first bishop of Jerusalem [B has: who was of Jerusalem], brother of the Lord according to the flesh.
2. Matthias, who was included with the eleven.
3. Joseph, who was made worthy with him by lot [B adds: called Barsabas; he is also nicknamed Justus, who is called Jesus in the Letter to the Colossians].
4. Joseph of Arimathea, who asked for the body of the Lord for burial.
5. Mark, the evangelist [B has: Clement, the Roman disciple of Peter].
6. Barnabas, his cousin, as the letter of Peter indicates [B has: Mark, the evangelist, preached the gospel to the Egyptians and the Alexandrians. He died in Alexandria where he lived in the Capiton district. He is buried there in the Boukolou with Victor, in a martyrium where lie all bishops prior to Theonas. He died dragged on the ground by the Calodians, and his body, after his death, was thrown into the fire].
7. Luke [B has: John, called son of Mary in the Acts of the apostles; he was called the son by Peter in his first epistle. Jason, Apollos the Alexandrian.]
8. Cleopas who walked on the road to Emmaus and saw Jesus there.
9. Seneca, of whom are preserved letters to the apostle Paul [B has: Archippus, from the Letter to the Colossians].
10–12. Those who were in Antioch, as the Book of Acts states: Simeon, called the Black; Lucius of Cyrene [B lacks Lucius of Cyrene]; Manahen, foster brother of [B adds: the tetrarch] Herod.
13. Sosthenes, companion of Paul, according to the letters to the Corinthians [B has: . . . Paul, called the synagogue leader Crispus].
14. Cephas, blamed by Paul at Antioch, who is not the great Peter, as Clement testifies, in the fifth book of the Hypotyposes, and Eusebius, in his Ecclesiastical History.
15. Thaddaeus, who heals Abgar and whose story is preserved.
16. Hermas, the shepherd, whom Paul salutes in his Letter to the Romans, within a group comprising:
17. Andronicus,
18. Junias,
19. Ampliatus,
20. Urban,
21. Rodion,
22. Asyncritus,
23. [and] Jason [B has: Philologus], whom Paul states was born before him in Christ.
24–30. The seven deacons, namely Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Timon, Nicanor, Parmenas, Nicolaus [B lacks Nicolaus].
31–32. According to the testimony of the Book of Acts, when the Twelve gathered together the crowd of disciples, those who were sent to Antioch with Barnabas and Paul, namely Judas and Silas.
33. Silvanus, with whom Paul writes to the Thessalonians.
34. Simon, son of Cleopas, mentioned in the Gospel of John; he became bishop of Jerusalem and was martyred under Emperor Domitian in Caesarea Palestine, his head severed by the sword [B has instead: Epaenetus, in the epistle to the Romans].
35. Mnason of Cyprus, who the book of Acts reports that he was an elder among the disciples.
36. Agabus, who made a prediction about Paul using his belt.
37. Ananias, who baptized Paul in Damascus.
38. Ignatius, who became bishop of Antioch; his letter to the people of Antioch testifies that taken to Rome, he was there martyred under Trajan, after being condemned as food for beasts.
39–41. Simon of Cyrene, who was forced to carry the cross of Jesus, and his children, Rufus and Alexander.
42. Nathaniel, the scribe, who said, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
43. Nicodemus, the Pharisee.
44–48. Cleopas and his brothers, Joseph, James, Judas, Simon.
[For 39–48 B has: “Epaphras or Epaphroditus, in the letter to the Colossians. Fortunatus, in the first letter to the Corinthians. Zenas the lawyer, in the letter to Titus. Linus and Pudens, in the second letter to Timothy. Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. Sopater of Cyrene or Sosipater. Onesiphorus. Mark, nephew of Barnabas, in the letter to the Colossians.]
49. Another Simon [B has: Simon the tanner], who was Saint Peter’s guest at Joppa.
50. Luke, the physician of Antioch and evangelist, as his writings report [B lacks Luke].
51. Barnabas, of which a Letter is preserved; he was taken to Rome in chains after Paul’s death and died there.
Of all the previous disciples of the Lord, it is possible to know the name with precision, sometimes from the writings of the saints, sometimes from ancient chroniclers, and some of them left behind letters. Those who remain, we have found so named in a manuscript:
52. John, who they call Father.
53. Barsabbas [Latin has: Barnabas].
54. Stephanus.
[For 52–54 B has: Quartus, in the Letter to Romans. Achaicus. Stephanas, in the first letter to the Corinthians.]
55–59 The brothers who went with Peter from Joppa to Caesarea: Charisius, Miliggus, Gaius, Aquilas, Phlegon. [B has: Enetimus or Narcissus. Gaius in Acts. Aristarchus the Macedonian in a letter to the Corinthians. Carpus. Aquilla and Priscilla, Phlogeas or Phlegon].
60. Hermas [A lacks Hermas, but is present in the Latin translations].
61–72. The ones who apostasized with Corinthus [likely Cerinthus]; from the seventy-two, Corinthus alone founded a heretical sect, leading astray eleven disciples. Here are the names of the apostates:
61. Corinthus.
62. Heron.
63. Apelles, not the approved one.
64. Simeon.
65. Levi.
66. Makubas.
67. Cleon.
68. Syrianus.
69. Candarus.
70. Another Cleon.
71. Demas.
72. Narcissus.
About them, they say, Saint John declares: “They went out from us, but they did not belong to us,” and whom Saint Paul mournfully calls false apostles and deceptive craftsmen. After their apostasy, the blessed apostles chose substitutes in their place, so that the number of seventy-two was not diminished, just as Matthias was introduced in the place of Judas. Here are their names: [the Latin does not name the apostates, providing instead thirteen names of those who replaced ones who had apostasized: Apelles, Dionysius the Areopagite, Epnaetus, Jesus called Justus, Stachys, Ponplius, Aristobulus: Stephanas, Erodius, Rufus, Olympus, Titus, Philemon].
61’. Apelles, the approved one.
62’. Ampliatus [Latin has: Dionysius the Areopagite].
63’. Urbanus.
64’. Stachys.
65’. Publius.
66’. Aristobulus.
67’. Stephen, not the Corinthian.
68’. Arodion, son of Narcissus.
69’. Rufus.
70’. Olympias.
Twelve were expelled; ten were substituted for them, for a reason we do not know (in the holy Gospels, one reads, according to the copies, sometimes seventy-two, sometimes only seventy). And furthermore, these substitutes nobly opposed the false apostles: therefore the blessed Paul calls them his co-workers in Christ.
2. RESOURCES
2.1 Websites and Other Online Resources
“Seventy disciples.” Wikipedia.
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Greek (BHG 154)
A Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 2001, fols. 302v–? (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes
B Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1506, fols. 78v–80v (1024)
Additional manuscripts listed by Christophe Guignard (2016, p. 476):
Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, gr. 1217, fols. 158v–160v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Messina, Biblioteca Regionale Universitaria ‘Giacomo Longo’, San Salvatoris 156, fols. 31r–38r (14th/15th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, E 16 sup., fols. 50r–51v, 52v–53v (11th cent.)
Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, L 49 sup. (Martini-Bassi 484) (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Mount Athos, Mone Philotheou, 21 (Lambros 1784), fols. 25r–29v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, gr. 180, fols. 1r–2r, 3r–5r (1186) ~ Pinakes; LOC
Additional manuscripts:
Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, gr. 150, fols. 39v–40v, 42r–44r (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC
Schermann, Theodor. Prophetarum vitae fabulosae, indices apostolorum discipulorumque Domini, Dorotheo, Epiphanio, Hippolyto aliisque vindicata. Leipzig: B. G. Teubneri, 1907 (edition based on A and B, pp. lviii–lix; 171–77).
3.1.2 Latin
3.1.2.1 De ortu et obitu prophetarum et apostolorum
Escorial, Real Biblioteca, J. II. 10, fol. 136f. (18th cent.)
Léon, Archivo catedralicio, 6 (920)
Princeton, University Library, Garrett 65, fols. 99r–99v (15th cent.) ~ Mirabile
Dolbeau, François. “Deux opuscules latins, relatifs aux personnages de la Bible et antérieurs à Isidore de Séville.” Revue d’Histoire des Textes 16 (1986): 83–139 (edition based on the Léon manuscript, pp. 134–36). Reprinted as pages 5–59 in Prophètes, apôtres et disciples dans les traditions chrétiennes d’Occident: Vies brèves et listes en latin. Subsidia Hagiographica 92. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 2012.
3.1.2.2 Nomina septuaginta duorum discipulorum Christi (BHL 654i)
London, British Library, Vespasian B. VI, fols. 107v–108r (9th cent.) ~ British Library
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 92, fol. 8 (12th cent.) ~ images
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 183, fols. 60r–60v (9th cent.) ~ images
James, M. R. “An Ancient English List of the Seventy Disciples.” JTS 11 (1910): 459–62 (edition based on the three manuscripts).
3.1.2.3 Hec sunt nomina septuaginta discipulorum domini nostri Ihesu Christi que inuenit Hieronimus presbyter apud grecos et scripsit Damaso pape
C Cava de’ Tirreni, Biblioteca del Monastero della SS. Trinità, 3, fols. 390–391 (11th cent.)
M Madrid, Biblioteca nacional de España, 19, fols. 194v–195v (12th cent.) ~ Mirabile; images
P Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 7418, fols. 263v–264r (10th/11th cent.) ~ Gallica
V Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 5833, fols. 183r–184v (16th cent.)
Dolbeau, François. “Listes latines d’apôtres et de disciples, traduites du grec.” Apocrypha 3 (1992): 259–78 (edition based on CMPV, pp. 274–78). Reprinted as pages 199–225 in Prophètes, apôtres et disciples dans les traditions chrétiennes d’Occident: Vies brèves et listes en latin. Subsidia Hagiographica 92. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 2012.
3.1.3 Irish (incorporated into the Sex Aetates Mundi)
Oxford, Bodleian Library, Rawl. B. 502, fol. 44r (11th/12th cent.) ~ catalog (with images)
Grosjean, Paul. “List of Apostles and Disciples.” Pages 1–2 in Irish Texts Fasc. 4. Edited by J. Fraser, P. Grosjean, and J. G. O’Keeffe. London: Sheed and Wood, 1934.
O’Cróinin, Dáibhí. The lrish Sex Aetates Mundi. Dublin: Dublin Institute for advanced Studies, 1983 (text, p. 96; translation, p. 131; commentary, 171–75).
3.1.4 Syriac (List of Disciples only)
L London, British Library, Add. 14601, fols. 163v–164v (9th cent.)
S Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, syr. 10, fol. 213v–216v (9th cent.) ~ attributed to Irenaeus; LOC
Esbroeck, Michel van. “Neuf listes d’apôtres orientales.” Aug 34 (1994): 109–99 (edition of BL Add. 14601, pp. 163–66; French translation, pp. 116–18).
Lewis, Agnes Smith. Catalogue of the Syriac MSS in the Convent of S. Catherine on Mount Sinai. Studia Sinaitica 1. London: C. J. Clay & Sons, 1894 (edition by Rendel Harris based on Sinai syr. 10, p. 4–16).
Schermann, Theodor. Prophetarum vitae fabulosae, indices apostolorum discipulorumque Domini, Dorotheo, Epiphanio, Hippolyto aliisque vindicata. Leipzig: B. G. Teubneri, 1907 (Latin translation based on S, pp. 218–21).
Also incorporated into Solomon of Basra, Book of the Bee 49:
Budge, E. A. W. Budge, The Book of the Bee: The Syriac Text Edited from the Manuscripts in London, Oxford, Munich, with an English Translation. Anecdota Oxoniensia, Semitic Series 1 part 2. Oxford: Clarendon, 1886 (Syriac text, pp. 128–30 [Syriac numbering], English translation, pp. 113–15).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 French
Dolbeau, François. “Listes d’apôtres et de disciples.” Pages 415–80 in Écrits apocryphes chrétiens. Vol. 2. Edited by Pierre Geoltrain and Jean-Daniel Kaestli. Bibliothèque de la Pléiade 443. Paris: Gallimard, 2005 (based on Schermann, pp. 467–72). Reprinted with expansions as pages 171–98 in Prophètes, apôtres et disciples dans les traditions chrétiennes d’Occident: Vies brèves et listes en latin. Subsidia Hagiographica 92. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 2012.
Esbroeck, Michel van. “Neuf listes d’apôtres orientales.” Aug 34 (1994): 109–99 (French trans. of BL Add. 14601, pp. 116–18).
3.3 General Works
Dolbeau, François. “Listes latines d’apôtres et de disciples, traduites du grec.” Apocrypha 3 (1992): 259–78 (pp. 265–66, 268–71). Reprinted as pages 199–225 in Prophètes, apôtres et disciples dans les traditions chrétiennes d’Occident: Vies brèves et listes en latin. Subsidia Hagiographica 92. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 2012.
Guignard, Christophe. “Greek Lists of the Apostles: New Findings and Open Questions.” ZAC 20 (2016): 469–95 (pp. 475–76).
Leloir, Louis. Écrits apocryphes sur les apôtres. CCSA 3–4. 2 vols. Turnhout: Brepols, 1986–1992 (introduction, vol. 2, pp. 711–22).
Lipsius, Richard A. Die apokryphen Apostelgeschichten und Apostellegenden. 2 vols. in 3 parts. Braunschweig: Schwetschke, 1883–1890; reprinted Amsterdam: APA-philo, 1976 (see vol. 1, pp. 179–224).
Schermann, Theodor. Propheten- und Apostellegenden nebst Jüngerkatalogen des Dorotheus und verwandter Texte. TUGAL 31/3. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs, 1907 (esp. p. 160, 172–74).
Vinogradov, Andrey. “Апостольские списки – «забытая» страница христианской литературы [Apostolic Lists: A “Forgotten” Page of Christian Literature].” Богословские труды 40 (2005): 128–47 (esp. pp. 135–36).
———. “Апостольские списки [Apostle Lists].” Pages 121–24 in vol. 3 of Православная энциклопедия [Orthodox Encyclopaedia]. Edited by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Moscow, 2000–.