1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11
The latest of the various apocryphal Acts included in this collection, the Acts of Peter and Paul, not to be confused with either the Acts of Peter or the Acts of Paul, contains a coherent narrative and was likely composed in the 5th century. Significantly, it reiterates the ancient traditions of Paul’s death by beheading and Peter’s death via crucifixion upside-down (Ch. 9). It also mentions the Vatican as the place of Peter’s remains (Ch. 10).
1 It came to pass, after Paul went out of the island [of] Gaudomeleta [(Gaulos)], that he came to Italy; and it was heard of by the Jews who were in Rome, the elder of the cities, that Paul demanded to come to Caesar. 2 Having fallen, therefore, into great grief and much despondency, they said among themselves: “It does not please him that he alone has afflicted all of our brothers and parents in Judea and Samaria, and in all Palestine; and he has not been pleased with these, but, behold, he comes here also, having through imposition asked Caesar to destroy us.” 3 Having therefore made an assembly against Paul, and having considered many proposals, it seemed good to them to go to Nero the emperor, to ask him not to allow Paul to come to Rome. 4 Having therefore prepared many gifts, and having carried them with them, with supplication they came before him, saying, “We beg you, O good emperor: send orders into all the governments of your worship, to the effect that Paul is not to come near these parts; 5 because this Paul, having afflicted all the nation of our fathers, has been seeking to come here to destroy us also. And the affliction, O most worshipful emperor, which we have from Peter is enough for us.” 6 And Emperor Nero, having heard these things, answered them: “It is according to your wish. And we write to all our governments that he will not on any account come to anchor in the regions of Italy.” 7 And they also informed Simon the Magician, having sent for him, that, as has been stated, he should not come into the regions of Italy.
1 And while they were doing this, some of those that had converted out of the nations, and that had been immersed at the preaching of Peter, sent elders to Paul with a letter to the following effect: “Paul, dear servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, and brother of Peter, the first of the apostles, we have heard from the teachers of the Jews that are in this Rome, the greatest of the cities, that they have asked Caesar to send into all his governments, in order that, wherever you may be found, you may be put to death. 2 But we have believed, and do believe, that as God does not separate the two great lights which He has made, so He is not to part you from each other, that is, neither Peter from Paul, nor Paul from Peter; 3 but we positively believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, into whom we have been immersed, that we have also become worthy of your teaching.” 4 And Paul, having received the two men sent with the letter on the twentieth of the month of May, became eager to go and gave thanks to the Lord and Master Jesus Christ. 5 And having sailed from Gaudomeleta, he did not now come through Africa to the regions of Italy, but ran to Sicily, until he came to the city of Syracuse with the two men who had been sent from Rome to him. 6 And having sailed from there, he came to Rhegium of Calabria, and from Rhegium he crossed to Mesina, and there ordained an overseer, Bacchylus by name. 7 And when he came out of Mesina, he sailed to Didymus and remained there one night. And having sailed from there, he came to Pontiole on the second day.
1 And Dioscorus the shipmaster, who brought him to Syracuse, sympathizing with Paul because he had delivered his son from death, having left his own ship in Syracuse, accompanied him to Pontiole. 2 And some of Peter’s disciples, having been found there, and having received Paul, exhorted him to stay with them. 3 And he stayed one week, in hiding, because of the command of Caesar. And all the toparchs were watching to seize and kill him. 4 But Dioscorus, the shipmaster, also being bald himself, wearing his shipmaster’s attire and speaking boldly, on the first day went out into the city of Pontiole. 5 Therefore, thinking that he was Paul, they seized him, and beheaded him, and sent his head to Caesar. 6 Therefore, Caesar, having summoned the first men of the Jews, announced to them, saying, “Rejoice with great joy, for your enemy Paul is dead.” And he showed them the head. 7 Having therefore made great rejoicing on that day, which was the fourteenth of the month of June, each of the Jews fully believed it. 8 And Paul, being in Pontiole, and having heard that Dioscorus had been beheaded, being grieved with great grief, gazing into the height of the heaven, said: “O Lord Almighty in Heaven, who have appeared to me in every place where I have gone on account of Your only-begotten Word, our Lord Jesus Christ: punish this city and bring out all who have believed in God and followed His word.” 9 He therefore said to them: “Follow me”; and going forth from Pontiole with those who had believed in the word of God, they came to a place called Baias; 10 and looking up with their eyes, they all see that city called Pontiole sunk into the seashore about one fathom; and there it is until this day, for a remembrance, under the sea.
1 And having gone forth from Baias, they went to Gaitas, and there he taught the word of God. 2 And he stayed there three days in the house of Erasmus, whom Peter sent from Rome to teach the good news of God. 3 And having come forth from Gaitas, he came to the castle called Taracinas and stayed there seven days in the house of Caesarius the minister, whom Peter had ordained by the laying on of hands. 4 And sailing from there, he came by the river to a place called Tribus Tabernes. 5 And those who had been saved out of the city of Pontiole (which had been swallowed up), reported to Caesar in Rome that Pontiole had been swallowed up, with all its multitude. 6 And the emperor, being in great grief on account of the city, having summoned the chief of the Jews, said to them: “Behold, on account of what I heard from you, I have caused Paul to be beheaded, and on account of this, the city has been swallowed up.” 7 And the chief of the Jews said to Caesar: “Most worshipful emperor, did we not say to you that he troubled all the country of the East and perverted our fathers? It is therefore better, most worshipful emperor, that one city be destroyed, and not the seat of your empire; for Rome would have had to suffer this.” 8 And the emperor, having heard their words, was appeased.
1 And Paul stayed in Tribus Tabernes four days. And departing from there, he came to Appii Forum, which is called Vicusarape; 2 and having slept there that night, he saw one sitting on a golden chair, and a multitude of shadowy figures standing beside him, saying, “I have today made a son murder his father.” Another said: “And I have made a house fall and kill parents with children.” 3 And they reported to him many evil deeds—some of one kind, some of another. 4 And another coming, reported to him: “I have managed that the overseer Juvenalius, whom Peter ordained, should sleep with the abbess Juliana.” 5 And having heard all these things when sleeping in that Appii Forum, near Vicusarape, at once and immediately he sent to Rome one of those who had followed him from Pontiole to the overseer Juvenalius, telling him this same thing which had just been done. 6 And on the following day, Juvenalius, running, threw himself at the feet of Peter, weeping and lamenting, and saying what had just happened; 7 and he recounted to him the matter and said: “I believe that this is the light which you were awaiting.” 8 And Peter said to him: “How is it possible that it is he when he is dead?” And Juvenalius the overseer took to Peter him that had been sent by Paul, and he reported to him that he was alive, and on his way, and that he was at Appii Forum. 9 And Peter thanked and glorified the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 Then having summoned his disciples that believed, he sent them to Paul as far as Tribus Tabernes. And the distance from Rome to Tribus Tabernes is thirty-eight miles. 11 And Paul seeing them, having given thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, took courage; and departing from there, they slept in the city called Aricia.
1 And a report went around in the city of Rome that Paul the brother of Peter was coming. And those that believed in God rejoiced with great joy. 2 And there was great consternation among the Jews; and having gone to Simon the Magician, they implored him, saying, “Report to the emperor that Paul is not dead, but that he is alive, and has come.” 3 And Simon said to the Jews: “What head is it, then, which came to Caesar from Pontiole? Was it not also bald?” 4 And Paul, having come to Rome, great fear fell on [all] the Jews. 5 They therefore came together to him, and exhorted him, saying, “Vindicate the faith in which you were born, for it is not right that you, being a Hebrew, and of the Hebrews, should call yourself a teacher of the nations, and vindicator of the uncircumcised; and, being yourself circumcised, that you should bring to nothing the faith of the circumcision. 6 And when you see Peter, contend against his teaching, because he has destroyed all the bulwarks of our law; for he has prevented the keeping of Sabbaths, and new moons, and the holidays appointed by the Law.” 7 And Paul, answering, said to them: “That I am a true Jew, by this you can prove; because you have also been able to keep the Sabbath, and to observe the true circumcision; for assuredly on the day of the Sabbath God rested from all His works. 8 We have fathers, and patriarchs, and the Law. What then does Peter preach in the kingdom of the nations? 9 But if he will intend to bring in any new teaching, without any tumult, and envy, and trouble, send him word, that we may see, and in your presence I will convict him. 10 But if his teaching is true, supported by the scroll and testimony of the Hebrews, it is right for all of us to submit to him.” 11 Paul, saying these and similar such things, the Jews went and said to Peter: “Paul of the Hebrews has come and implores you to come to him, since those who have brought him say that he cannot meet with whomsoever he may wish until he appears before Caesar.” 12 And Peter having heard, rejoiced with great joy; and rising up, he immediately went to him. 13 And seeing each other, they wept for joy; and long embracing one another, they dampened one another with tears.
1 And when Paul had related to Peter the substance of all his undertakings, and how, through the disasters of the ship, he had come, Peter also told him what he had suffered from Simon the Magician and all his plots. 2 And having told these things, he went away toward evening. 3 And in the morning of the following day, at dawn, behold, Peter coming, finds a multitude of the Jews before Paul’s door. 4 And there was a great uproar between the Christian Jews and the nations. 5 For, on the one hand, the Jews said: “We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, the friends of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, with whom God spoke, to whom He showed His own mysteries and His great wonders. But you of the nations are no great thing in your lineage; if otherwise, you have become polluted and abominable by idols and graven images.” 6 While the Jews were saying such things, and such similar, those of the nations answered, saying, “We, when we heard the truth, immediately followed it, having abandoned our errors. 7 But you, both knowing the mighty deeds of your fathers, and seeing the signs of the prophets, and having received the Law, and gone through the sea with dry feet, and seen your enemies sunk in its depths, and the pillar of fire by night and of cloud by day shining on you, and manna having been given to you out of Heaven, and water flowing to you out of a rock—after all these things you fashioned to yourselves the idol of a calf and worshiped the graven image. 8 But we, having seen none of the signs, believe to be a Savior the God whom you have forsaken in unbelief.” 9 While they were contending in these and similar words, the apostle Paul said that they should not make such attacks on one other, but that they should rather give heed to this—“that God had fulfilled His promises which He swore to Abraham our father, that in his seed he should inherit all the nations, for there is no favoritism of persons with God. 10 As many as have sinned in law will be judged according to law, and as many as have sinned without law will perish without law. 11 But we, brothers, ought to thank God that, according to His mercy, He has chosen us to be a holy people for Himself, so that in this we ought to boast, whether Jews or Greeks; for you are all one in the belief of His Name.” 12 And Paul, having thus spoken, both the Jews and those of the nations were appeased. But the rulers of the Jews attacked Peter. 13 And Peter, when they accused him of having renounced their synagogues, said: “Hear, brothers, the Holy Spirit concerning the patriarch David, promising: Of the fruit of your womb will He set on your throne. 14 Him therefore to whom the Father said, You are My Son, this day have I begotten You, the chief priests through envy crucified; but that He might accomplish the salvation of the world, it was allowed that He should suffer all these things. 15 Therefore, just as Eve was created from the side of Adam, so also from the side of Christ was the Assembly created, which has no spot nor blemish. 16 In Him, therefore, God has opened an entrance to all the sons of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in order that they may be in the faith of profession toward Him and have life and salvation in His Name. 17 Turn, therefore, and enter into the joy of your father Abraham, because God has fulfilled what He promised to him, from which the prophet also says, The Lord has sworn and will not relent: You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. 18 For He became a priest on the Cross, when He offered the whole burnt-offering of His own body and blood as a sacrifice for the whole world.” 19 And Peter, saying this and such similar, the greater part of the people believed. 20 And it also happened that Nero’s wife Libia, and the companion of Agrippa the prefect, Agrippina by name, thus believed, so that they also went away from beside their own husbands. 21 And on account of the teaching of Paul, many, despising military life, clung to God, so that even from the emperor’s [own] bedchamber some came to him, and having become Christians, were no longer willing to return to the army or the palace.
1 Consequently, when the people were making a seditious murmuring, Simon, moved with zeal, rouses himself, and began to say many evil things about Peter, saying that he was a wizard and a cheat. 2 And they believed him, wondering at his miracles, for he made a brazen serpent move itself, and stone statues to laugh and move themselves, and himself to run and suddenly to be raised into the air. 3 But as a contrast to these, Peter healed the sick by a word, by praying made the blind to see, put demons to flight by a command; sometimes he even raised the dead. 4 And he said to the people that they should not only flee from Simon’s deceit, but that they should also expose him, so that they might not seem to be slaves to the Devil. 5 And thus it happened that all pious men abhorred Simon the Magician and proclaimed him impious. 6 But those who adhered to Simon strongly affirmed Peter to be a magician, as many of them bearing false witness as were with Simon the Magician, so that the matter even came to the ears of Nero the Caesar, and he gave an order to bring Simon the Magician before him. 7 And he, coming in, stood before him, and suddenly began to assume different forms, so that he suddenly became a child, and after a while, an old man, and at other times a young man; 8 for he changed himself both in face and stature into different forms, and he was in a frenzy, having the Devil as his servant. 9 And Nero beholding this, supposed him to truly be the Son of God; but the apostle Peter showed him to be both a liar and a wizard—base, and impious, and apostate—and in all things opposed to the truth of God, and that nothing yet remained except that his wickedness, being made apparent by the command of God, might be made manifest to them all. 10 Then Simon, having gone in to Nero, said: “Hear, O good emperor: I am the Son of God, having come down from Heaven. 11 Until now I have endured Peter only calling himself an apostle; but now he has doubled the evil, for Paul also himself teaches the same things, and having his mind turned against me, is said to preach along with him; in reference to whom, if you will not plan their destruction, it is very plain that your kingdom cannot stand.” 12 Then Nero, filled with distress, ordered to have them brought before him quickly. 13 And on the following day, Simon the Magician, and Peter and Paul, the apostles of Christ, having come in to Nero, Simon said: “These are the disciples of the Nazarene, and it is not at all well that they should be of the people of the Jews.” 14 Nero replied: “What is a Nazarene?” Simon said: “There is a city of Judah which has always been opposed to us, called Nazareth, and to it the Teacher of these men belonged.” 15 Nero said: “God commands us to love every man; why then do you persecute them?” Simon said: “This is a race of men who have turned aside all of Judea from believing in me.” 16 Nero said to Peter: “Why are you thus unbelieving, according to your race?” 17 Then Peter said to Simon: “You have been able to impose on all, but never on me; and those who have been deceived, God has through me recalled [them] from their error. 18 And since you have learned by experience that you cannot get the better of me, I wonder with what face you boast yourself before the emperor and suppose that through your magic art you will overcome the disciples of Christ.” 19 Nero said: “Who is Christ?” Peter said: “He is what this Simon the Magician affirms himself to be; but this is a most wicked man, and his works are of the Devil. 20 But if you wish to know, O good emperor, the things that have been done in Judea concerning Christ, take the writings of Pontius Pilate sent to Claudius, and thus you will learn everything.” 21 And Nero ordered them to be brought, and to be read in their presence; and they were to the following effect: “Pontius Pilate to Claudius: Greetings. There has recently been an event which I myself was concerned with. For the Jews, through envy, have inflicted on themselves, and those coming after them, dreadful judgments. 22 Their fathers had promises that their God would send them His Holy One from Heaven, who according to reason should be called their King, and He had promised to send Him to the earth by means of a virgin. 23 He, then, when I was procurator, came into Judea. 24 And they saw Him making the blind see, cleansing lepers, healing paralytics, expelling demons from men, raising the dead, subduing the winds, walking on the waves of the sea, and doing many other wonders, and all the people of the Jews calling Him [the] Son of God. 25 Then the chief priests, moved with envy against Him, seized Him and delivered Him to me; and telling one lie after another, they said that He was a wizard and did contrary to their law. 26 And I, having believed that these things were so, gave Him up, after scourging Him, [according] to their will; and they crucified Him, and after He was buried set guards over Him. 27 But He, while my soldiers were guarding Him, rose on the third day. 28 And to such a degree was the wickedness of the Jews inflamed against Him, that they gave money to the soldiers, saying, Say His disciples have stolen His body. 29 But they, having taken the money, were not able to keep silent as to what had happened; for they have testified that they have seen Him risen, and that they have received money from the Jews. 30 Therefore, I have reported these things, so that no one should falsely speak otherwise, and so that you should not suppose that the falsehoods of the Jews are to be believed.” 31 And the letter having been read, Nero said: “Tell me, Peter, were all these things thus done by Him?” Peter replied: “They were. With your permission, O good emperor: for this Simon is full of lies and deceit, even if it should seem that he is what he is not—a god. 32 And in Christ there is every excellent victory through God and through man, which that incomprehensible glory assumed which through man consented to come to the assistance of men. 33 But in this Simon there are two essences: of man and of devil, who through man endeavors to ensnare men. 34 Simon said: “I wonder, O good emperor, that you reckon this man of any consequence—a man uneducated, a fisherman of the poorest, and endowed with power neither in word nor by rank. 35 But that I may not long endure him as an enemy, I will immediately order my messengers to come and avenge me on him.” 36 Peter said: “I am not afraid of your messengers; but they will be much more afraid of me in the power and trust of my Lord Jesus Christ, whom you falsely declare yourself to be.” 37 Nero said: “Are you not afraid, Peter, of Simon, who confirms his godhead by deeds?” 38 Peter said: “Godhead is in Him who searches the hidden things of the heart. Now then, tell me what I am thinking about, or what I am doing. I disclose to your servants who are here what my thought is, before he tells lies about it, in order that he may not dare to lie as to what I am thinking about.” 39 Nero said: “Come here and tell me what you are thinking about.” 40 Peter said: “Order a barley loaf to be brought, and to be given to me secretly.” And when he ordered it to be brought and secretly given to Peter, Peter said: “Now tell us, Simon, what has been thought about, or what said, or what done.” 41 Nero said: “Do you intend me to believe that Simon does not know these things, who both raised a dead man and presented himself on the third day after he had been beheaded, and who has done whatever he said he would do?” 42 Peter said: “But he did not do it before me.” Nero replied: “But he did all these before me. For assuredly he ordered messengers to come to him, and they came.” 43 Peter said: “If he has done what is very great, why does he not do what is very small? Let him tell what I had in my mind, and what I have done.” Nero said: “Between you [and me], I do not know myself.” 44 Simon said: “Let Peter say what I am thinking of, or what I am doing.” Peter said: “What Simon has in his mind I will show that I know, by my doing what he is thinking about.” 45 Simon said: “Know this, O emperor, that no one knows the thoughts of men, but God alone. Is not, therefore, Peter lying?” 46 Peter said: “You, then, who say that you are the Son of God, tell what I have in my mind; disclose, if you can, what I have just done in secret.” For Peter, having blessed the barley loaf which he had received, and having broken it with his right hand and his left, had heaped it up in his sleeves. 47 Then Simon, enraged that he was not able to tell the secret of the apostle, cried out, saying, “Let great dogs come forth and devour him before Caesar!” And suddenly there appeared great dogs that rushed at Peter. 48 But Peter, stretching forth his hands to pray, showed to the dogs the loaf which he had blessed; which the dogs seeing, disappeared. 49 Then Peter said to Nero: “Behold, I have shown you that I knew what Simon was thinking of, not by words, but by deeds; for he, having promised that he would bring messengers against me, has brought dogs, in order that he might show that he did not have god-like, but rather dog-like messengers.” 50 Then Nero said to Simon: “What is it, Simon? I think we have got the worst of it.” 51 Simon said: “This man, both in Judea and in all Palestine and Caesarea, has done the same to me; and from very often striving with me, he has learned that this is adverse to them. 52 This, then, he has learned how to escape from me; for the thoughts of men no one knows but God alone.” 53 And Peter said to Simon: “You yourself surely pretend to be a god; why, then, do you not reveal the thoughts of every man?” 54 Then Nero, turning to Paul, said: “Why do you say nothing, Paul?” Paul answered and said: “Know this, O emperor: that if you permit this magician to do such things, it will bring an entrance for the greatest trouble to your country, and will bring down your empire from its position.” 55 Nero said to Simon: “What do you say?” Simon said: “If I do not manifestly hold myself out to be a god, no one will bestow on me due honor.” 56 Nero said: “And now, why do you delay and not show yourself to be a god, in order that these men may be punished?” 57 Simon said: “Give orders to build a lofty tower of wood for me, and I, going up on it, will call my messengers and order them to take me, in the sight of all, to my father in Heaven; and these men, not being able to do this, are put to shame as uneducated men.” 58 And Nero said to Peter: “Have you heard, Peter, what has been said by Simon? From this will appear how much power either he or your God has.” 59 Peter said: “O most mighty emperor, if you were willing, you might perceive that he is full of demons.” Nero said: “Why do you evade me with excuses? Tomorrow will prove you.” 60 Simon said: “Do you believe, O good emperor, that I who was dead, and rose again, am a magician?” 61 For it had been brought about by his own cleverness that the unbelieving Simon had said to Nero: “Order me to be beheaded in a dark place, and there to be left slain; and if I do not rise on the third day, know that I am a magician; but if I rise again, know that I am the Son of God.” 62 And Nero having ordered this, in the dark, by his magic art [Simon] managed that a ram should be beheaded. And for a long time the ram appeared to be Simon until he was beheaded. 63 And when he had been beheaded in the dark, he that had beheaded him, taking the head, found it to be that of a ram; but he would not say anything to the emperor, lest he should scourge him, having ordered this to be done in secret. 64 Accordingly, Simon thereafter said that he had risen on the third day, because he took away the head of the ram and the limbs, but the blood had been congealed there; 65 and on the third day, he showed himself to Nero and said: “Cause my blood that has been poured out to be wiped away, for behold, having been beheaded as I promised, I have risen again on the third day.” 66 And when Nero said, “Tomorrow will prove you,” turning to Paul, he says: “You, Paul, why do you say nothing? Either who taught you, or whom do you have for a master, or how have you taught in the cities, or what things have happened through your teaching? 67 For I think that you do not have any wisdom and are not able to accomplish any work of power.” 68 Paul answered: “Do you suppose that I ought to speak against a desperate man, a magician, who has given his soul up to death, whose destruction and perdition will come quickly? 69 For he ought to speak [first], who pretends to be what he is not and deceives men by magic art. If you consent to hear his words, and to shield him, you will destroy your soul and your kingdom, for he is a most base man. 70 And as the Egyptians Jannes and Jambres led Pharaoh and his army astray until they were swallowed up in the sea, so also he, through the instruction of his father the Devil, persuades men to do many evils to themselves, and thus deceives many of the innocent, to the peril of your kingdom. 71 But as for the word of the Devil, which I see has been poured out through this man, with groanings of my heart I am dealing with the Holy Spirit, so that it may be clearly shown what it is; for as far as he seems to raise himself toward Heaven, so far will he be sunk down into the depth of Hades, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. 72 But concerning the teaching of my Master, of which you asked me, none attain it except the pure, who allow faith to come into their heart. 73 For as many things as belong to peace and love, these have I taught. All around Jerusalem, and as far as Illyricum, I have fulfilled the word of peace. 74 For I have taught that they should prefer one another in honor; 75 I have taught those that are eminent and rich not to be lifted up and hope in [the] uncertainty of riches, but to place their hope in God; 76 I have taught those in a middle station to be content with food and covering; 77 I have taught the poor to rejoice in their own poverty; 78 I have taught fathers to teach their children instruction in the fear of the Lord, children to obey their parents in wholesome admonition; 79 I have taught wives to love their own husbands, and to fear them as masters, and husbands to observe fidelity to their wives; 80 I have taught masters to treat their slaves with mercy, and slaves to serve their own masters faithfully; 81 I have taught the assemblies of the believers to revere one almighty, invisible, and incomprehensible God. 82 And this teaching has been given to me, not from men, nor through men, but through Jesus Christ, who spoke to me out of Heaven, who also has sent me to preach, saying to me, Go forth, for I will be with you; and all things, as many as you will say or do, I will make just.” 83 Nero said: “What do you say, Peter?” He answered and said: “Everything that Paul has said is true, for when he was a persecutor of the faith of Christ, a voice called to him out of Heaven and taught him the truth; for he was not an adversary of our faith from hatred, but from ignorance. 84 For there were before us false Christs (like Simon), false apostles, and false prophets, who, contrary to the Holy Writings, set themselves to make the truth void; 85 and against these it was necessary to have in readiness this man, who from his youth up set himself to no other thing than to search out the mysteries of the divine Law, by which he might become a vindicator of truth and a persecutor of falsehood. 86 Since, then, his persecution was not on account of hatred, but on account of the vindication of the Law, the very truth out of Heaven had dealings with him, saying, I am the truth which you persecute; cease persecuting Me. 87 Therefore, when he knew that this was so, forsaking that which he was vindicating, he began to vindicate this way of Christ which he was persecuting.” 88 Simon said: “O good emperor, take notice that these two have conspired against me; for I am the truth, and they intend evil against me.” Peter said: “There is no truth in you, but everything you say is false.” 89 Nero said: “Paul, what do you say?” Paul said: “Those things which you have heard from Peter, believe to have been spoken by me also; for we purpose the same thing, for we have the same Lord: Jesus the Christ.” 90 Simon said: “Do you expect me, O good emperor, to hold an argument with these men, who have come to an agreement against me?” 91 And having turned to the apostles of Christ, he said: “Listen, Peter and Paul: if I can do nothing for you here, we are going to the place where I must judge you.” 92 Paul said: “O good emperor, see what threats he holds out against us.” Peter said: “Why was it necessary to keep from laughing outright at a foolish man, made the sport of demons, so as to suppose that he cannot be made manifest?” 93 Simon said: “I spare you until I will receive my power.” Paul said: “See if you will go out from here safe.” 94 Peter said: “If you do not see, Simon, the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, you [still] will not believe yourself not to be Christ.” Simon said: “Most sacred emperor, do not believe them, for they are circumcised scoundrels.” 95 Paul said: “Before we knew the truth, we had the circumcision of the flesh; but when the truth appeared, in the circumcision of the heart we are both circumcised and circumcise [others].” 96 Peter said: “If circumcision is a disgrace, why have you been circumcised, Simon?” 97 Nero said: “Has, then, Simon also been circumcised?” Peter said: “For he could not have otherwise deceived souls, unless he himself pretended to be a Jew and made a show of teaching the Law of God.” 98 Nero said: “Simon, you, as I see, being carried away with envy, persecute these men. For, as it seems, there is great hatred between you and their Christ; and I am afraid that you will be bested by them and involved in great evils.” 99 Simon said: “You are led astray, O emperor.” Nero said: “How am I led astray? What I see in you, I say. I see that you are clearly an enemy of Peter, and Paul, and their Master.” 100 Simon said: “Christ was not Paul’s master.” Paul said: “Indeed [He was]; through revelation He taught me also. But tell me what I asked you: why were you circumcised?” 101 Simon said: “Why have you asked me this?” Paul said: “We have a reason for asking you this.” 102 Nero said: “Why are you afraid to answer them?” Simon said: “Listen, O emperor: at that time, circumcision was commanded by God when I received it. For this reason, I was circumcised.” 103 Paul said: “Do you hear, O good emperor, what has been said by Simon? If, therefore, circumcision is a good thing, why have you, Simon, given up those who have been circumcised, and forced them, after being condemned, to be put to death?” 104 Nero said: “Neither about you do I perceive anything good.” Peter and Paul said: “Whether this thought concerning us is good or evil has no reference to the matter; but to us it was necessary that what our Master promised should come to pass.” 105 Nero said: “If I should not be willing?” Peter said: “Not as you will, but as He promised to us.” 106 Simon said: “O good emperor, these men have presumed on your mercy and have bound you.” 107 Nero said: “But neither have you yet made me sure about yourself.” Simon said: “Since so many excellent deeds and signs have been shown to you by me, I wonder how you should be in doubt.” 108 Nero said: “I neither doubt nor favor any of you; but answer me rather what I ask.” 109 Simon said: “Henceforth, I answer you nothing.” Nero said: “Seeing that you lie, therefore you say this. But if even I can do nothing to you, God, who can, will do it.” Simon said: “I no longer answer you.” 110 Nero said: “Nor do I consider you to be anything, for, as I perceive, you are a liar in everything. But why do I say so much? The three of you show that your reasoning is uncertain; and thus, in all things you have made me doubt, so that I find that I can give credit to none of you.” 111 Peter said: “We preach one God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that has made the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and all that is therein, who is the true King; and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 112 Nero said: “What king is lord?” Paul said: “The Savior of all the nations.” 113 Simon said: “I am he whom you speak of.” Peter and Paul said: “May it never be well with you, Simon, magician, and full of bitterness.” 114 Simon said: “Listen, O Caesar Nero, that you may know that these men are liars, and that I have been sent from the heavens: tomorrow I go up into the heavens, so that I may make those who believe in me blessed, and show my wrath on those who have denied me.” 115 Peter and Paul said: “Long ago God called us to His own glory; but you, called by the Devil, hasten to punishment.” Simon said: “Caesar Nero, listen to me: separate these madmen from you, in order that when I go into Heaven to my father, I may be very merciful to you.” 116 Nero said: “And how will we prove this, that you go away into Heaven?” Simon said: “Order a lofty tower to be made of wood, and of great beams, so that I may go up on it, and so that my messengers may find me in the air; for they cannot come to me on earth among the sinners.” 117 Nero said: “I will see whether you will fulfill what you say.”
1 Then Nero ordered a lofty tower to be made in the Campus Martius, and all the people and the dignities to be present at the spectacle. 2 And on the following day, the whole multitude having come together, Nero ordered Peter and Paul to be present, to whom he also said: “Now the truth must be made clear.” 3 Peter and Paul said: “We do not expose him, but our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whom he has falsely declared himself to be.” 4 And Paul, having turned to Peter, said: “It is my part to bend the knee, and to pray to God; and yours to produce the effect, if you should see Him attempting anything, because you were first taken in hand by the Lord.” And Paul, bending his knees, prayed. 5 And Peter, looking steadfastly on Simon, said: “Accomplish what you have begun; for both your exposure and our call is at hand: for I see my Christ calling both me and Paul.” 6 Nero said: “And where will you go to against my will?” Peter said: “Wheresoever our Lord has called us.” 7 Nero said: “And who is your Lord?” Peter said: “Jesus the Christ, whom I see calling us to Himself.” 8 Nero said: “Do you also then intend to go away to Heaven?” Peter said: “If it will seem good to Him that calls us.” 9 Simon said: “In order that you may know, O emperor, that these are deceivers, as soon as I ascend into Heaven, I will send my messengers to you and will make you come to me.” Nero said: “Do what you say at once.” 10 Then Simon went up on the tower in the face of all, and, crowned with laurels, he stretched forth his hands and began to fly. 11 And when Nero saw him flying, he said to Peter: “This Simon is true; but you and Paul are deceivers.” To whom Peter said: “You will immediately know that we are true disciples of Christ; but that he is not Christ, but a magician, and a wrongdoer.” 12 Nero said: “Do you still persist? Behold, you see him going up into Heaven.” 13 Then Peter, looking steadfastly on Paul, said: “Paul, look up and see.” And Paul, having looked up, full of tears, and seeing Simon flying, said: “Peter, why are you idle? Finish what you have begun; for our Lord Jesus Christ is already calling us.” 14 And Nero, hearing them, smiled a little and said: “These men see themselves bested already and have gone mad.” 15 Peter said: “Now you will know that we are not mad.” Paul said to Peter: “Do what you will do at once.” 16 And Peter, looking steadfastly against Simon, said: “I adjure you—you messengers of Satan, who are carrying him into the air to deceive the hearts of the unbelievers—by the God that created all things, and by Jesus Christ, whom on the third day He raised from the dead: from this hour on, you may no longer hold him up, but must let him go.” 17 And immediately, being let go, he fell into a place called Sacra Via, that is, Holy Way, and was split into four parts, having perished by a terrible fate. 18 Then Nero ordered Peter and Paul to be put in irons, and the body of Simon to be carefully kept three days, thinking that he would rise on the third day. 19 To whom Peter said: “He will no longer rise, since he is truly dead, being condemned to everlasting punishment.” 20 And Nero said to him: “Who commanded you to do such a dreadful deed?” Peter said: “His reflections and blasphemy against my Lord Jesus Christ have brought him into this gulf of destruction.” 21 Nero said: “I will destroy you in a terrible way.” Peter said: “This is not in your power, even if it should seem good to you to destroy us; but it is necessary that what our Master promised to us should be fulfilled.” 22 Then Nero, having summoned Agrippa the propraetor, said to him: “It is necessary that men introducing mischievous religious observances should die. Therefore, I order them to take iron clubs, and to be killed in the Naumachia.” 23 Agrippa the propraetor said: “Most sacred emperor, what you have ordered is not fitting for these men, since Paul seems innocent beside Peter.” 24 Nero said: “By what fate, then, will they die?” Agrippa answered and said: “As [it] seems to me, it is simply that Paul’s head should be cut off, and that Peter should be raised on a cross as the cause of the murder.” Nero said: “You have judged most excellently.” 25 Then both Peter and Paul were led away from the presence of Nero. And Paul was beheaded on the Ostesian [[or Vostesian]] Way. 26 And Peter, having come to the cross, said: “Since my Lord Jesus Christ, who came down from Heaven to the earth, was raised on the Cross upright, and He has stooped down to call me to Heaven, who am of the earth, my cross ought to be fixed head down most, so as to direct my feet toward Heaven; for I am not worthy to be crucified like my Lord.” 27 Then, having reversed the cross, they nailed his feet up. 28 And the multitude was assembled, reviling Caesar and wishing to kill him. 29 But Peter restrained them, saying, “A few days ago, being exhorted by the brothers, I was going away; and my Lord Jesus Christ met me, and having adored Him, I said, Lord, where are You going? 30 And He said to me, I am going to Rome to be crucified. And I said to Him, Lord, were You not crucified once for all? And the Lord answering, said, I saw you fleeing from death, and I wish to be crucified instead of you. 31 And I said, Lord, I go; I fulfill Your command. And He said to me, Do not fear, for I am with you. 32 On this account, then, children, do not hinder my departing; for my feet are already going on the road to Heaven. Therefore, do not grieve, but rather rejoice with me, for today I receive the fruit of my labors.” 33 And thus speaking, he said: “I thank You, good Shepherd, that the sheep which You have entrusted to me, sympathize with me; I ask, then, that they may have a part with me in Your kingdom.” 34 And having thus spoken, he gave up the spirit.
1 And immediately there appeared men glorious and strange in appearance; and they said: “We are here on account of the holy and chief apostles from Jerusalem.” 2 And they, along with Marcellus—an illustrious man, who, having left Simon, had believed in Peter—took up his body secretly and put it under the terebinth near the Naumachia in the place called the Vatican. 3 And the men who had said that they came from Jerusalem said to the people: “Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, because you have been deemed worthy to have great champions. And know that Nero himself, after not many more days, will be utterly destroyed, and his kingdom will be given to another.” 4 And after these things, the people revolted against him; and when he knew of it, he fled into desert places, and through hunger and cold he gave up the spirit, and his body became food for the wild beasts. 5 And some devout men of the regions of the East wished to carry off the relics of the holy ones, and immediately there was a great earthquake in the city; and those that dwelt in the city having become aware of it, ran and seized the men, but they fled. 6 But the Romans having taken them, put them in a place three miles from the city, and there they were guarded [for] one year and seven months, until they had built the place in which they intended to put them. 7 And after these things, everyone having assembled with glory and singing of praise, they put them in the place built for them. 8 And the consummation of the holy glorious apostles Peter and Paul was on the twenty-ninth of the month of June—in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and strength.
1 And as Paul was being led away to be beheaded at a place about three miles from the city, he was in irons. 2 And there were three soldiers guarding him who were from an eminent family. 3 And when they had gone out of the gate about the length of a bowshot, there met them a God-fearing woman; and she, seeing Paul dragged along in irons, had compassion on him and wept bitterly. 4 And the name of the woman was called Perpetua; and she was one-eyed. 5 And Paul, seeing her weeping, says to her: “Give me your handkerchief, and when I turn back I will give it to you.” 6 And she, having taken the handkerchief, gave it to him willingly. 7 And the soldiers laughed and said to the woman: “Why do you wish, woman, to lose your handkerchief? Do you not know that he is going away to be beheaded?” 8 And Perpetua said to them: “I adjure you by the health of Caesar to bind his eyes with this handkerchief when you cut off his head,” which was also done. 9 And they beheaded him at the place called Aquae Salviae, near the pine tree. 10 And as God had willed, before the soldiers came back, the handkerchief, having drops of blood on it, was restored to the woman. 11 And as she was carrying it, at once and immediately her eye was opened. 12 And the three soldiers who had cut off the head of the holy one, Paul, when after three hours they came on the same day with the Bulla bringing it to Nero, having met Perpetua, they said to her: “What is it, woman? Behold, by your confidence you have lost your handkerchief.” 13 But she said to them: “I have both got my handkerchief, and my eye has recovered its sight. And as the Lord, the God of Paul, lives, I have also implored him that I may be deemed worthy to become the slave of his Lord.” 14 Then the soldiers who had the Bulla, recognizing the handkerchief and seeing that her eye had been opened, cried out with a loud voice, as if from one mouth, and said: “We too are the slaves of Paul’s Master.” 15 Perpetua therefore having gone away, reported in the palace of Emperor Nero that the soldiers who had beheaded Paul said: “We will no longer go into the city, for we believe in Christ whom Paul preached, and we are Christians.” 16 Then Nero, filled with rage, ordered Perpetua, who had informed him of the soldiers, to be held fast in irons; and as for the soldiers, he ordered one to be beheaded outside of the gate about one mile from the city, another to be cut in two, and the third to be stoned. 17 And Perpetua was in the prison; and in this prison there was kept Potentiana, a noble maiden, because she had said: “I forsake my parents and all the things of my father, and I wish to become a Christian.” 18 She therefore joined herself to Perpetua, and ascertained from her everything about Paul, and was in much anxiety about the faith in Christ. 19 And the wife of Nero was Potentiana’s sister; and she secretly informed her about Christ, that those who believe in Him see everlasting joy, and that everything here is temporary, but there eternal: so that she also fled out of the palace, and some of the senators’ wives with her. 20 Then Nero, having inflicted many tortures on Perpetua, at last tied a great stone to her neck and ordered her to be thrown over a precipice. And her remains lie at the Momentan Gate. 22 And Potentiana also underwent many torments; and at last, having made a furnace one day, they burned her.