Passion of Peter

Passio Petri

Standard abbreviation: Pass. Pet.

Other titles: Passion of Saint Peter

Clavis numbers: ECCA 893; CANT 195

Category: Apocryphal Acts

Compiled by Tony Burke, York University

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Passion of Peter.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/passion-of-peter/.

Created April 2021. Current as of January 2024.

1. SUMMARY

The Latin Passion of Peter is an account of the life of Peter combining material from the canonical Gospels and Acts, portions of the Pseudo-Clementines, the Martyrdom of Blessed Peter the Apostle (Pseudo-Linus), and the Passion of Peter and Paul (Pseudo-Hegesippus). The first five chapters re-tell the call of Peter and Andrew (Mark 1:16–17 par.), the Confession at Caesarea Philippi (Matt 16:13–19), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2–6 par.) the washing of the disciples’ feet (John 13:3–10), much of John 21, several healing stories from Acts (3:1–10; 5:14–16), Peter’s imprisonment by Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:1–11), and his encounter with Simon Magus (Acts 8:14–25).

Then follows a debate between Peter and Simon in Caesarea Maritima, drawn from the Pseudo-Clementines. Simon, for his part, proclaims that he is the first power who was incarnated through Rachel, and that he has performed miracles, such as raising the dead, and making stones into loaves of bread. He claims also that he can fly, turn invisible, escape from prison, and other marvelous abilities. Peter calls Simon a sorcerer and the crowd drive Simon away, though he is followed by one loyal follower. The man later returns and tells Peter that he helped Simon take his magical materials and cast them into the sea (from Rec. 3.63–64). Then Simon sets forth on a ship to Rome. After praising the man, Peter departs for Tripoli and stays in the house of Mark. There he performs numerous exorcisms and healings.

From Tripoli Peter journeys to Antarados where he meets a poor woman, who turns out to be the wife of Faustus, the father of Clement. Clement’s family is reunited and Peter declares that Clement will succeed him as bishop. He gives him the power of binding and loosing and instructs him on how to govern the church. Then, in a story from Ps.-Clem. Rec. 9.38, Peter goes to a guesthouse. At his arrival, the daughter of the master of the house throws herself at Peter’s feet, because at his presence, she was released from the demon that had tormented her since she was a child.

The story moves on to Rome, presenting a mixture of material from Ps.-Linus and Ps.-Hegesippus. Peter and Simon contend once again, this time over who can raise a dead youth back to life. Peter succeeds where Simon fails, but Simon contrives another attack on Peter before Nero. In this second unique tale, Peter claims he can read Simon’s mind. Peter proves his ability and in anger, Simon vows to leave the city by flying away. He ascends the Capitoline Hill and hurls himself from the cliff. Peter prays, and commands the demons who are carrying Simon to let him fall. Simon’s wings get tangled and he drops, breaking his legs. After a few hours Simon dies on the spot.

Nero is upset at the death of his friend and seeks grounds to kill Peter. The apostle’s followers convince him to flee the city, and here is found the familiar “Quo vadis?” scene in which Peter encounters Jesus on the road and is convinced to return to Rome for his execution. At his request, Peter is crucified upside down and, after delivering a final speech, he dies. One of his disciples, Marcellus, embalms Peter’s body with precious spices and places it in his own sarcophagus in a place called the Vatican, next to the triumphal way, where it is honored by the entire city.

Named historical figures and characters: Aeneas, Andrew (apostle), Aquilas, Clement (bishop), Elijah (prophet), Faustus (father of Clement), Faustinianus, Faustinus, Herod Agrippa, Holy Spirit, James (son of Zebedee), Jeremiah (prophet), Jesus Christ, John (the Baptist), John (son of Zebedee), Marcellus (senator), Mark (evangelist), Mattidia, Moses (patriarch), Nero, Nicetas, Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Rachel (mother of Simon Magus), Simon (Magus), Tabitha, Zacchaeus (bishop).

Geographical locations: Antarados, Antioch, Caesarea, Caesarea Philippi, Capitoline Hill, Jerusalem, Joppa, Lydda, Nazareth, Rome, Samaria, Sea of Tiberias, Sharon, temple (Jerusalem), triumphal way, Vatican.

2. RESOURCES

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Latin (BHL 6663–6664)

Bamberg, Staatsbibliothek Bamberg, Msc. Hist. 139 (12th cent.) IMAGES

Dublin, Trinity College, 737 (olim G.04.16), fols. 9^r–15^v (9th and 12th/13th cent.)

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 13074, fols. 1^r–12^r (1175)

Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, 557 (11th/12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5563 (11th cent.) – IMAGES

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 11750, fols. 59^r–66^v (11th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 12604, fols. 3^v–12^v (12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 18298 (9th/10th cent.) IMAGES

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 455, fols. 1^r–17^r (9th cent.)

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, lat. 497 (13th cent.)

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 534, fols. 1^v–27^r (9th cent.)

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, lat. 560 (12th/13th cent.) CATALOG

Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Bibliothek Weissenburg, 48, fols. 10^v–20^r (9th cent.)

Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Bibliothek Weissenburg, 48 (9th cent.) IMAGES

Wolfenbüttel, Universitätsbibliothek Helmstedt, 497 (11th cent.) IMAGES

Eastman, David L. The Ancient Martyrdom Accounts of Peter and Paul. WGRW 39. Atlanta: SBL Press, 2015 (text and translation based on Fabricius, pp. 67–101).

Fabricius, Johann Albert. Codex Apocryphus Novi Testamenti. 2 vols. 2nd ed. Hamburg: Schiller, 1719 (a reprint of Lazius’ edition via Lefèvre in vol. 2, pp. 402–41).

Giles, J. A. Codex Apocryphus Novi Testamenti: The Uncanonical Gospels and Other Writings. London: D. Nutt, 1852 (reproduction of Fabricius, pp. 256–77).

Lazius, Wolfgang. Abdiae Babyloniae episcopi et apostolorum discipuli de historia certaminis apostolici libri decem. Bale, 1552 (Repr. Paris: Guillard & Belot, 1566; reprint by Jean Lefèvre in 1560) (based on ONB 455 and 534 but with some editorial glosses at the beginning of the texts, pp. 2r–16v).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 English

Eastman, David L. The Ancient Martyrdom Accounts of Peter and Paul. WGRW 39. Atlanta: SBL Press, 2015 (partial text and translation based on Fabricius, pp. 67–101).

3.2.2 French

Migne, Jacques-Paul. Dictionnaire des Apocryphes. 2 vols. 1856. Repr., Turnhout: Brepols, 1989 (vol. 2, cols. 695–716).

3.3.3 German

Borberg, Karl Friedrich. Bibliothek der neutestamentlichen Apokryphen, gesammelt, übersetzt, und erläutert. Stuttgart: Literatur-Comptoir, 1841 (vol. 1, pp. 409–47).

3.3.4 Italian

Erbetta, Mario. Gli apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 3 vols. Italy: Marietti, 1975–1981 (vol. 2, pp. 199–210).

Moraldi, Luigi. Apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 2 vols. Classici delle religioni, Sezione quarta, La religione cattolica 24. Turin: Unione Tipografico-Editrice Torinese, 1971 (vol. 2, pp. 1441–59).

3.3 General Works

See also works on the Apostolic Histories collection.

Lipsius, Richard A. Die apokryphen Apostelgeschichten und Apostellegenden. 2 vols. in 3 parts. Braunschweig, 1883–1890 (see vol. 2.1:384–90; Erganzungsband 5–11).

Steinová, Evina. “The Prehistory of the Latin Acts of Peter (BHL 6663) and the Latin Acts of Paul (BHL 6575). Some Observations about the Development of the Virtutes apostolorum.” Pages 69–83 in The Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles in Latin Christianity. Proceedings of the First International Summer School on Christian Apocryphal Literature (ISCAL), Strasbourg, 24–27 June 2012. Edited by Els Rose. Turnhout: Brepols, 2014.

Vouaux, Léon. Les Actes de Pierre. Paris: Letouzey et Ané, 1922 (see pp. 178–80).