A likely 3rd century text with final redaction in the 4th century, the Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles was found, in fragmentary form, among the Nag Hammadi library texts. While it does not contain overtly gnostic teachings, its allegorical nature and being found among other gnostic works has led some to believe it may be gnostic in nature. The Acts are fragmentary in a number of places, including the introductory lines.
1 . . . which . . . purpose . . . us . . . apostles . . . We sailed . . . of the body. 2 Others were not anxious in their hearts. And in our hearts, we were united. 3 We agreed to fulfill the ministry to which the Lord appointed us. And we made a covenant with each other. 4 We went down to the sea at an opportune moment, which came to us from the Lord. We found a ship moored at the shore ready to embark, and we spoke with the sailors of the ship about our coming aboard with them. 5 They showed great kindness toward us as was ordained by the Lord. And after we had embarked, we sailed a day and a night. 6 After that, a wind came up behind the ship and brought us to a small city in the midst of the sea. 7 And I, Peter, inquired about the name of this city from residents who were standing on the dock. 8 A man among them answered, saying, “The name of this city is Habitation, that is, Foundation . . . endurance.” And the leader was among them, holding the palm branch at the edge of the dock. And after we had gone ashore with the baggage, I went into the city to seek advice about lodging. 9 A Man came out wearing a cloth bound around his waist, and a gold belt girded it. Also, a kerchief was tied over His chest, extending over His shoulders and covering His head and His hands. 10 I was staring at the Man, because He was beautiful in His form and stature. There were four parts of His body that I saw: the soles of His feet, and a portion of His chest, and the palms of His hands, and His aspect. I was able to see these things. 11 A scroll like my scrolls was in His left hand, [and] a staff of styrax wood was in His right hand. 12 His voice was resounding as He slowly spoke, crying out in the city, “Pearls! Pearls!” Indeed, I thought He was a man of that city. 13 I said to Him, “My brother and my friend!” 14 He then answered me, saying, “Rightly did you say, My brother and my friend. What is it you seek from Me?” 15 I said to him, “I ask You about lodging for me and also the brothers, because we are strangers here.” 16 He said to me, “For this [very] reason I Myself have just said, My brother and My friend, because I am also a fellow stranger like you.” 16 And having said these things, He cried out, “Pearls! Pearls!” 17 The rich men of that city heard His voice. They came out of their hidden storerooms, and some were looking out from the storerooms of their houses. Others looked out from their upper windows. 18 And they did not see anything [that they could gain] from Him, because there was no pouch on His back nor bundle inside His cloth and kerchief. And because of their disdain, they did not even acknowledge Him. 19 He, for His part, did not reveal Himself to them. They returned to their storerooms, saying, “This Man is mocking us.”
1 And the poor of that city heard His voice, and they came to the Man who sells this pearl. They said, “Please take the trouble to show us the pearl so that we may then see it with our [own] eyes, for we are the poor, and we do not have this . . . price to pay for it. But show us, so that we might say to our friends that we saw a pearl with our [own] eyes.” 2 He answered, saying to them, “If it is possible, come to My city, so that I may not only show it before your [very] eyes, but give it to you for nothing.” 3 And indeed, the poor of that city heard and said, “Since we are beggars, we surely know that a man does not give a pearl to a beggar, but [it is] bread and money that is usually received. 4 Now then, the kindness which we want to receive from You [is] that You would show us the pearl before our [very] eyes. And we will proudly say to our friends that we saw a pearl with our [own] eyes, because it is not found among the poor, especially such beggars [as us].” 5 He answered [and] said to them, “If it is possible, you yourselves come to My city, so that I may not only show it to you, but give it to you for nothing.” The poor and the beggars rejoiced because of the Man who gives for nothing. 6 [Peter] said to the Man who sells this pearl, “I want to know Your Name and the hardships of the way to Your city, because we are strangers and servants of God. It is necessary for us to spread the word of God in every city harmoniously.” 7 He answered and said, “If you seek My Name, Lithargoel is My Name, the interpretation of which is this: the light, gazelle-like stone. 8 And also, [regarding] the road to the city, which you asked Me about, I will tell you about it. No man is able to go on that road, except one who has forsaken everything that he has and has fasted daily from stage to stage. For there are many robbers and wild beasts on that road. 9 The one who carries bread with him on the road, the black dogs kill because of the bread. 10 The one who carries a costly garment of the world with him, the robbers kill because of the garment. 11 The one who carries water with him, the wolves kill because of the water, since they were thirsty for it. 12 The one who is anxious about meat and green vegetables, the lions eat because of the meat. If he evades the lions, the bulls devour him because of the green vegetables.” 13 When He had said these things to me, I sighed within myself, saying, “Great hardships are on the road! If only Jesus would give us power to walk it!” 14 He looked at me since my face was sad, and I sighed. He said to me, “Why do you sigh, if you, indeed, know this Name—Jesus—and believe Him? He is [the] great power for giving strength. For I too believe in the Father who sent Him.” 15 I replied, asking Him, “What is the name of the place to which you go—your city?” 16 He said to me, “This is the name of My city: Nine Gates. Let us praise God as we are mindful that the tenth is the head.” After this, I went away from Him in peace.
1 As I was about to go and call my friends, I saw waves and large high walls surrounding the bounds of the city. I marveled at the great things I saw. 2 I saw an old man sitting, and I asked him if the name of the city was really Habitation. 3 He . . . , “Habitation . . . .” He said to me, “You speak the truth, for we dwell here because we endure.” 4 I responded, saying, “Justly . . . have men named it . . . , because everyone who endures his trials, cities are inhabited, and a precious kingdom comes from them, because they endure in the midst of the defections and the difficulties of the storms. 5 So that in this way, the city of everyone who endures the burden of his yoke of faith will be inhabited, and he will be included in the kingdom of the heavens.” 6 I hurried, and went, and called my friends, so that we might go to the city that He, Lithargoel, appointed for us. 7 In a bond of faith, we left everything as He had said [to do]. 8 We evaded the robbers, because they did not find their garments with us. 9 We evaded the wolves, because they did not find the water with us for which they thirsted. 10 We evaded the lions, because they did not find the desire for meat with us. 11 We evaded the bulls . . . they did not find green vegetables. 12 A great joy came on us and a peaceful carefreeness like that of our Lord. 13 We rested ourselves in front of the gate, and we talked with each other about that which is not a distraction of this world. And we continued in contemplation of the faith. 14 As we discussed the robbers on the road, whom we evaded, behold Lithargoel, having changed, came out to us. He had the appearance of a physician, since an unguent box was under His arm, and a young disciple was following Him, carrying a pouch full of medicine. We did not recognize Him. 15 Peter responded and said to Him, “We want You to do us a favor, because we are strangers: take us to the house of Lithargoel before evening comes.” 16 He said, “In uprightness of heart I will show it to you. But I am amazed at how you knew this good Man. For He does not reveal Himself to every man, because He Himself is the Son of a great King. 17 Rest yourselves a little so that I may go and heal this Man and return.” He hurried and returned quickly. 18 He said to Peter, “Peter!” And Peter was frightened, for how did He know that his name was Peter? 19 Peter responded to the Savior, “How do You know me, for You called my name?” Lithargoel answered, “I want to ask you who gave the name Peter to you?” He said to Him, “It was Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. He gave this name to me.” 20 He answered and said, “It is I! Recognize Me, Peter.” 21 He loosened the garment, which clothed Him—the one into which He had changed Himself because of us—revealing to us that it was truly He. 22 We prostrated ourselves on the ground and worshiped Him (we comprised eleven disciples). He stretched forth His hand and caused us to stand. 23 We spoke humbly with Him. Our heads were bowed down in unworthiness as we said, “Whatever You wish, we will do. But give us power to do what You wish at all times.” 24 He gave them the unguent box and the pouch that was in the hand of the young disciple. 25 He commanded them like this, saying, “Go into the city from which you came, which is called Habitation. Continue in endurance as you teach all those who have believed in My Name, because I have endured in [the] hardships of the faith. I will give you your reward. 26 To the poor of that city give what they need in order to live until I give them what is better, which I told you that I will give you for nothing.” 27 Peter answered and said to Him, “Lord, You have taught us to forsake the world and everything in it. We have renounced them for Your sake. What we are [now] concerned with is the food for a single day. Where will we be able to find the necessities that You ask us to provide for the poor?” 28 The Lord answered and said, “O Peter, it was necessary that you understand the parable that I told you. Do you not understand that My Name, which you teach, surpasses all riches, and the wisdom of God surpasses gold, and silver, and precious stones?” 29 He gave them the pouch of medicine and said, “Heal all the sick of the city who believe in My Name.” 30 Peter was afraid to reply to Him for the second time. He signaled to the one who was beside him, who was John: “You talk this time.” 31 John answered and said, “Lord, we are afraid to say many words before You. But it is You who asks us to practice this skill. We have not been taught to be physicians. How then will we know how to heal bodies as You have told us?” 32 He answered them, “You have spoken rightly, John, for I know that the physicians of this world heal what belongs to the world. The physicians of souls, however, heal the heart. 33 Therefore, heal the bodies first, so that through the real powers of healing for their bodies, without medicine of the world, they may believe in you, that you have power to heal the illnesses of the heart also. 34 However, the rich men of the city—those who did not see fit even to acknowledge Me, but who reveled in their wealth and pride—with such as these, therefore, do not dine in their houses nor be friends with them, lest their partiality influence you. 35 For many in the assemblies have shown partiality to the rich, because they are also sinful, and they give opportunity for others to sin. 36 But judge them with righteousness, so that your ministry may be glorified, and so that My Name may also be glorified in the assemblies.” 37 The disciples answered and said, “Yes, this is truly what is right to do.” 38 They prostrated themselves on the ground and worshiped Him. He caused them to stand and departed from them in peace. Amen.