Passio apostolorum Petri et Pauli
Standard abbreviation: Pass. Apost. Pet. Paul
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 251; CANT 194
Category: Apocryphal Acts
Related literature: Acts of Peter, Acts of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Life of Peter, Passion of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Ps.-Marcellus), Passion of Peter and Paul (Ps.-Hegesippus)
Compiled by Tara Gautam (York University) under the supervision of Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Gautam, Tara. “Passion of the Apostles Peter and Paul.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/infancy-gospel-of-thomas/.
Created May 2018. Current as of January 2024.
1. SUMMARY
When Peter and Paul were preaching in Rome, Simon Magus appears to Nero and demonstrates some supernatural phenomena and claims himself to be Christ. To prove Simon’s claim, Nero orders a servant to decapitate Simon. After his execution, Simon appears in two different places at the same time: in the chamber of the Senate and in the midst of the people. As a result, Nero believes Simon is Christ. However, one of the relatives of Pontius Pilate who was present during Jesus’ life, denounces Simon and asks Nero to test Simon again with the help of Peter and Paul. Nero consults the two apostles and they tell him that Simon is wrong—he is deluding Nero and other people with the help of his witchcraft. Peter and Simon then enter into a miracle contest (chs. 8–12) based on Ps.-Hegesippus. First, Simon appears to make a dead boy’s head move. Peter challenges him to prove its movement through speech or some other act. When Simon moves away from the body, the head no longer moves. But Peter actually raises him from the dead. The people turn away from Simon and try to stone him. Simon attempts another feat: he instructs Nero to build a great wooden tower and the people assemble to watch him fly from the tower. However, Peter prays, causing Simon to fall down to earth, his body smashed. Because of his blind attachment to Simon, Nero blames Peter for Simon’s death and sentences Peter and Paul to execution. The Christians of Rome beg Peter to flee, so he leaves Rome but turns back after a vision of Jesus convinces him to embrace martyrdom. Peter and Paul are arrested by Clement, the prefect of the city, and he sentences Paul to decapitation and Peter to crucifixion. After their deaths, Peter and Paul are received into heaven, whereas Simon is taken away to hell.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Clement (prefect of Rome), Nero, Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Pontius Pilate, Simon (Magus).
Geographical Locations: Aricia, Capitoline Hill, Judea, Phoenicia, Rome.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Latin (BHL 6667)
L London, British Library, Add. 11880, fols. 9v–16v (9th cent.) ~ British Library
F Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Edili 132, fols. 5v–7r (11th cent.) ~ Mirabile
Eastman, David L. “Passion of the Apostles Peter and Paul.” Pages 317–41 in The Ancient Martyrdom Accounts of Peter and Paul. WGRW 39. Atlanta: SBL Press, 2015 (text and translation based on the edition of Lipsius).
Lipsius, Richard A. and M. Bonnet, eds. “Passio apostolorum Petri et Pauli.” Pages xc–xciv and 223–34 in vol.1 of Acta apostolorum apocrypha post Constantium Tischendorf. Leipzig: Mendelssohn, 1891. Repr., Hildesheim: Olms, 1972.
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Eastman, David L. “Passion of the Apostles Peter and Paul.” Pages 317–41 in The Ancient Martyrdom Accounts of Peter and Paul. WGRW 39. Atlanta: SBL Press, 2015 (text and translation based on the edition of Lipsius-Bonnet).
3.2.2 Italian
Erbetta, Mario, trans. Gli apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento, vol. 2: Atti e leggende. Turn: Marietti, 1966 (translation based on Lipsius-Bonnet, pp. 193–98).
3.3 General Works
Lipsius, Richard A. Die apokryphen Apostelgeschichten und Apostellegenden. 2 vols. Braunschweig: Schwetschke, 1883–1887 (vol. 2.1, pp. 366–80).
Otero, Aurelio de Santos. “Later Acts of Apostles.” Pages 426–82 in New Testament Apocrypha. Vol. 2: Writings Relating to the Apostles; Apocalypses and Related Subjects. Edited by Wilhem Schneemelcher. Translated by R. McLachlan Wilson. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1992 (see p. 443).
Tajra, Harry W. The Martyrdom of St. Paul: Historical and Judicial Context, Traditions, and Legends. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1994 (pp. 157–59).