Acts 29, also known as the Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles and the Sonnini Manuscript, is a short text purporting to be the translation of a manuscript containing the 29th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, detailing Paul the Apostle’s journey to Britannia, where he preached to a tribe of Israelites on Mount Lud (Ludgate Hill), later the site of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and met with druids, who proved to him that they were descended from Jews. Thereafter, Paul preached in Gaul and Belgium, and then to Switzerland (Helvetia), where a miraculous earthquake occurred at the site of Pontius Pilate’s supposed suicide. The canonical book of Acts ends rather abruptly with Paul kept under house arrest in chapter 28, which has led to various theories about the history of the text. The text made its first appearance in London in 1871. According to the editor, it was translated in the late 18th century by the French naturalist Sonnini de Manoncourt from a Greek manuscript discovered in the archives at Constantinople and presented to him by the Sultan Abdoul Achmet. However, no trace of any such manuscript has been found, and from internal evidence, mainstream philology considers it to most likely be a fraud, thus it is classed among the pseudepigrapha.
1 And Paul, full of the blessings of Christ, and abounding in the Spirit, departed out of Rome, determining to go into Spain, for he had proposed to journey toward there for a long time, and was also intending to go from there to Britain. 2 For he had heard in Phoenicia that certain of the children of Israel, about the time of the Assyrian captivity, had escaped by sea to “The Isles far off” as spoken by the Prophet Esdras, and called by the Romans—Britain. 3 And the Lord commanded the good news to be preached far hence to the nations, and to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. 4 And no man hindered Paul; for he testified boldly of Jesus before the tribunes and among the people; and he took with him cetain of the brothers which dwelt with him at Rome, and they embarked at Ostrium; and having fair winds, they were brought safely into a haven of Spain. 5 And many people were gathered together from the towns, and villages, and the hill country, for they had heard of the conversion to the Apostles, and the many miracles which he had worked. 6 And Paul preached mightily in Spain, and great multitudes believed and were converted, for they perceived he was an apostle sent from God. 7 And they departed out of Spain, and Paul and his company finding a ship in Armorica sailing to Britain, they were therein, and passing along the southern coast, they reached a port called Raphinus. 8 Now when it was voiced abroad that the apostle had landed on their coast, great multitudes of the inhabitants met him, and they treated Paul courteously, and he entered in at the east gate of their city and lodged in the house of a Hebrew—and one of his own nation. 9 And in the morning he came and stood on Mount Lud, and the people crowded at the gate, and assembled in the broadway, and he preached Christ to them, and they believed the word and the testimony of Jesus. 10 And in the evening the Holy Spirit fell on Paul, and he prophesied, saying, “Behold, in the last days the God of Peace will dwell in the cities, and the inhabitants thereof will be numbered: and in the seventh numbering of the people, their eyes will be opened, and the glory of their inheritance will shine forth before them. The nations will come up to worship on the mount that testifies of the patience and long suffering of a servant of the Lord. 11 And in the latter days, new tidings of the good news will issue forth out of Jerusalem, and the hearts of the people will rejoice, and behold, fountains will be opened, and there will be no more plague. 12 In those days there will be wars and rumors of war; and a king will arise, and his sword will be for the healing of the nations, and his peacemaking will remain, and the glory of his kingdom [will be] a wonder among princes.” 13 And it came to pass that certain of the druids came to Paul privately and showed by their rites and ceremonies [that] they were descended from the Jews which escaped from bondage in the land of Egypt, and the apostle believed these things, and he gave them the kiss of peace. 14 And Paul remained in his lodgings [for] three months, confirming in the faith and preaching Christ continually. 15 And after these things, Paul and his brothers departed from Raphinus and sailed to Atium in Gaul. 16 And Paul preached in the Roman garrison and among the people, exhorting all men to convert and confess their sins. 17 And there came to him certain of the Belgae to inquire of him of the new doctrine, and of the man Jesus; and Paul opened his heart to them and told them all things that had befallen him, how it was that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and they departed, pondering among themselves on the things which they had heard. 18 And after much preaching and toil, Paul and his fellow laborers passed into Helvetia, and came to Mount Pontius Pilate, where he who condemned the Lord Jesus dashed himself down headlong, and so miserably perished. 19 Immediately a torrent gushed out of the mountain and washed his body, broken in pieces, into a lake. 20 And Paul stretched forth his hands on the water, and prayed to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, give a sign to all nations that here Pontius Pilate, who condemned Your only begotten Son, plunged down headlong into the pit.” 21 And while Paul was yet speaking, behold, there came a great earthquake, and the face of the waters was changed, and the form of the lake like to the Son of Man hanging in agony on the Cross. 22 And a voice came out of Heaven, saying, “Even Pilate has escaped the wrath to come, for he washed his hands before the multitude at the blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus.” 23 When, therefore, Paul and those that were with him saw the earthquake, and heard the voice of the angel, they glorified God, [and] they were mightily strengthened in the Spirit. 24 And they journeyed and came to Mount Julius where two pillars stood—one on the right hand and one on the left hand, erected by Caesar Augustus. 25 And Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood up between the two pillars, saying, “Men and brothers! These stones which you see this day will testify of my journey here; and truly I say [to you]: they will remain until the outpouring of the Spirit on all nations, neither will the way be hindered throughout all generations.” 26 And they went forth and came unto Illtricum, intending to go by Macedonia into Asia, and grace was found in all the assemblies, and they prospered and had peace. Amen.