# Acts of Marcellus the Centurion

- Author: Anonymous
- Latin title: *Acta Marcelli*
- Date: 298 (30 October) (probable)
- Source: Rudolf Knopf, ed., Ausgewählte Märtyrerakten, 2nd ed. (Tübingen, 1913), no. 14, pp. 78–79 (OCR made for this site)

- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-marcelli/
- Passages: 5

## 1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-marcelli/1/#p-1
- Source: Knopf, 78
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: At the emperor's birthday feast the centurion Marcellus throws down his belt and arms.

### Latin text

In ciuitate Tingitana, procurante Fortunato praeside, aduenit natalis dies Imperatoris. ibi cum omnes in conuiuiis epularentur atque sacrificarent, Marcellus quidam ex centurionibus legionis Trajanae, profana reputans illa conuiuia, rejecto etiam cingulo militari coram signis legionis, quae tunc aderant, clara uoce testatus est, dicens: Iesu Christo regi aeterno milito. abjecit quoque uitem et arma et addidit: Ex hoc militare Imperatoribus uestris desisto et deos uestros ligneos et lapideos adorare contemno, quae sunt idola surda et muta. si talis est conditio militantium, ut diis et Imperatoribus sacra facere compellantur: ecce projicio uitem et cingulum, renuntio signis et militare recuso.

### English translation (Claude)

In the city of Tingis, while Fortunatus was governor, the emperor's birthday came. There, while all were feasting at banquets and sacrificing, a certain Marcellus, one of the centurions of the Trajan legion, judging those banquets profane, threw off his military belt before the standards of the legion that were then present and testified in a clear voice, saying, “I serve Jesus Christ, the eternal King.” He also threw down his vine-staff and his arms and added, “From now on I cease to serve your emperors, and I scorn to worship your gods of wood and stone, which are deaf and dumb idols. If such is the condition of those who serve that they are compelled to offer sacrifice to gods and emperors, see, I throw down my vine-staff and belt, I renounce the standards, and I refuse to serve.”

### Scripture references

- Ps 115:4 (113:12 LXX): echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Tingis is Tangier. The vine-staff was the centurion's badge of rank. His refusal to serve is recorded as he gave it.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 1 (Knopf, 78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-marcelli/1).

## 2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-marcelli/1/#p-2
- Source: Knopf, 78
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Marcellus explains his act to the governor and is sent on to Agricolanus.

### Latin text

Stupefacti sunt autem milites ista audientes: tenuerunt eum, et nuntiauerunt Ánastasio Fortunato praesidi legionis, qui jussit eum conjici in carcerem. finitis autem epulis, residens in consistorio praecepit introduci Marcellum centurionem, introductoque Marcello ex centurionibus Astasianis Anastasius Fortunatus praeses dixit: Quid tibi uisum est, ut contra disciplinam militarem te discingeres et baltheum ac uitem projiceres? Marcellus respondit: Jam die duodecimo Kalendarum Augustarum apud signa legionis istius, quando diem festum Imperatoris celebrastis, publice clara uoce respondi me Christianum esse et sacramento huic militare non posse, nisi Iesu Christo filio Dei Patris omnipotentis. Anastasius Fortunatus praeses dixit: Temeritatem tuam dissimulare non possum, et ideo referam hoc Imperatoribus et Caesari. ipse sanus transmitteris ad dominum meum Aurelium Agricolanum, agentem uicem praefectorum praetorio, prosequente Caecilio acta officialia.

### English translation (Claude)

The soldiers were stunned to hear this; they seized him and reported it to Anastasius Fortunatus, the governor of the legion, who ordered him to be thrown into prison. When the banquet was over, sitting in his council chamber, he ordered Marcellus the centurion to be brought in. When Marcellus, one of the Astasian centurions, had been brought in, Anastasius Fortunatus the governor said, “What were you thinking of, to take off your belt against military discipline and throw down your sword-belt and vine-staff?” Marcellus answered, “On the twelfth day before the Kalends of August, before the standards of this legion, when you were celebrating the emperor's feast day, I answered publicly and in a clear voice that I was a Christian and could not serve under this oath, but only under Jesus Christ, Son of God the Father almighty.” Anastasius Fortunatus the governor said, “I cannot pass over your rashness, and therefore I will report this to the emperors and the Caesar. You yourself will be sent unharmed to my lord Aurelius Agricolanus, acting deputy of the praetorian prefects, with Caecilius escorting the official record.”

### Translation notes

- The date of his act is 21 July (298). “Astasian” is obscure as printed; perhaps a corruption of the legion's name.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 2 (Knopf, 78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-marcelli/2).

## Acts of Marcellus the Centurion 3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-marcelli/1/#p-3
- Source: Knopf, 78
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The governor's report on Marcellus is read before Agricolanus (30 October).

### Latin text

Die tertio Kalendarum Nouembrium Tingi inducto Marcello ex centurionibus Astasianis, ex officio dictum est: Marcellum ex centurionibus Fortunatus praeses ad potestatem tuam transmisit. praesto est epistola super nomine ejus, quam, si praecipis, recito. Agricolanus dixit: Recitetur. ex officio dictum est: Tibi, domine, Fortunatus, et reliqua. miles hic, rejecto cingulo militari, Christianum se esse testatus, coram omni populo in deos et in Caesarem multa blasphema locutus est. ideo eum ad te direximus, ut, quod ex eodem claritas tua sanxerit, jubeas obseruari.

### English translation (Claude)

On the third day before the Kalends of November, at Tingis, when Marcellus, one of the Astasian centurions, had been brought in, it was said by the staff: “The governor Fortunatus has sent Marcellus, one of the centurions, to your authority. Here is a letter concerning him, which I will read if you so order.” Agricolanus said, “Let it be read.” It was said by the staff: “To you, my lord, from Fortunatus,” and the rest. “This soldier, having thrown off his military belt and testified that he is a Christian, spoke many blasphemies against the gods and against Caesar in the presence of all the people. Therefore we have sent him to you, so that you may order to be carried out whatever your eminence decides concerning him.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 3 (Knopf, 78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-marcelli/3).

## Acts of Marcellus the Centurion 4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-marcelli/1/#p-4
- Source: Knopf, 78
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Marcellus confirms his statements before Agricolanus.

### Latin text

Recitatis itaque litteris, Agricolanus dixit: Locutus es haee apud acta praesidis? Marcellus respondit: Locutus sum. Agricolanus dixit: Centurio ordinarius militabas? Marcellus respondit: Militabam. Agricolanus dixit: Quo furore accensus es, ut projieeres sacramenta et talia loquereris? Marcellus respondit: Furor nullus est in eis, qui timent Dominum. Agricolanus dixit: Singula haec locutus es, quae in actis praesidialibus continentur? Marcellus respondit: Locutus sum. Agricolanus dixit: Projecisti arma? Marcellus respondit: Projeci. non enim decebat Christianum hominem molestiis saecularibus militare, qui Christo Domino militat.

### English translation (Claude)

When the letter had been read, Agricolanus said, “Did you say these things as recorded in the governor's proceedings?” Marcellus answered, “I said them.” Agricolanus said, “Were you serving as a centurion of the first rank?” Marcellus answered, “I was serving.” Agricolanus said, “What madness came over you, that you threw away your oath and spoke as you did?” Marcellus answered, “There is no madness in those who fear the Lord.” Agricolanus said, “Did you say each of the things contained in the governor's proceedings?” Marcellus answered, “I said them.” Agricolanus said, “Did you throw down your arms?” Marcellus answered, “I threw them down. For it was not fitting for a Christian man, who serves Christ the Lord, to serve in the troubles of the world.”

### Scripture references

- 2 Tim 2:4: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- Cf. 2 Tim 2:4.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 4 (Knopf, 78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-marcelli/4).

## Acts of Marcellus the Centurion 5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/acta-marcelli/1/#p-5
- Source: Knopf, 78
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Marcellus is sentenced and beheaded, blessing his judge.

### Latin text

Agricolanus dixit: Ita se habent facta Marcelli, ut, haec disciplina debeant uindicari. atque ita dictauit sententiam: Marcellum, qui centurio ordinarius militabat, qui abjecto publice sacramento polluisse se dixit, et insuper apud acta praesidialia alia uerba furore plena deposuit, gladio animaduerti placet. cum ad supplicium duceretur, dixit Agricolano: Deus tibi benefaciat. sic enim decebat martyrem ex hoc mundo discedere. et his dictis, capite caesus occubuit pro nomine Domini nostri Jesu Christi, qui est gloriosus in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

### English translation (Claude)

Agricolanus said, “The deeds of Marcellus are such that they must be punished by military discipline.” And so he dictated the sentence: “It is decided that Marcellus, who served as a centurion of the first rank, who publicly threw away his oath and said that he had been defiled by it, and moreover gave other words full of madness in the governor's proceedings, be executed by the sword.” As he was being led to execution, he said to Agricolanus, “God bless you.” For thus it was fitting for a martyr to depart from this world. And with these words he was beheaded and fell for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is glorious to the ages of ages. Amen.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 5 (Knopf, 78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/acta-marcelli/5).