Acts of Peter (Actus Vercellenses) preface–11

The Acts of Peter with Simon

While Paul was staying at Rome and strengthening many in the faith, it happened also that a woman named Candida, the wife of Quartus, a prison officer, heard Paul, paid heed to his words and believed. And when she had taught her husband too and he had believed, Quartus allowed Paul to leave the city and go wherever he wished. Paul said to him: 'If it is the will of God, he himself will reveal it to me.' And Paul fasted three days and asked the Lord what was fitting for him, and he saw a vision, the Lord saying to him: 'Paul, arise, and be a physician in your own person to those who are in Spain.' So he told the brothers what God had commanded, and without hesitating he made ready to set out from the city. When Paul began to leave, there was great weeping among the whole brotherhood, because they thought they would never see Paul again, so that they even tore their clothes; and besides, they had before their eyes how often Paul had contended with the teachers of the Jews and refuted them, saying: 'Christ, on whom your fathers laid hands, has done away with their sabbath, their fasts, their festivals and circumcision'; and he did away with the teachings of men and their other traditions.

The brothers mourned and begged Paul, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, not to be away more than a year, saying: 'We know your love for your brothers; do not forget us when you have arrived there, and do not begin to abandon us like little children without a mother.' And as they were entreating him with tears for a long time, a sound came from heaven and a very loud voice saying: 'Paul, the minister of God, has been chosen for ministry for the time of his life; at the hands of Nero, an ungodly and wicked man, he will be perfected before your eyes.' Great fear came still more upon the brothers because of the voice that had come from heaven; and they were much more strengthened.

They brought Paul bread and water as a sacrifice for the prayer, so that he might give it to each. Among them it happened that a woman named Rufina also wished to receive the eucharist from Paul's hands. As she came near, Paul, filled with the Spirit of God, said to her: 'Rufina, you are not coming to the altar of God as one worthy, for you rise from the side not of a husband but of an adulterer, and you try to receive the eucharist of God. See, Satan will crush your heart and cast you down before the eyes of all who believe in the Lord, so that those who see and believe may know that they have believed in the living God, the searcher of hearts. But if you repent of your deed, he is faithful, who can wipe out your sins and set you free from this sin. But if you do not repent while you are still in the body, devouring fire and the outer darkness will receive you for all ages.' And at once Rufina fell down, paralysed on her left side from her head to the nails of her feet; nor was she given power to speak, for her tongue was bound. When they saw this, those who believed in the faith and the newly baptized beat their breasts, remembering their former sins, lamenting and saying: 'We do not know whether God will forgive us the former sins we have committed.' Then Paul asked for silence and said: 'Men, brothers, who have now begun to believe in Christ, if you do not continue in your former works and the tradition of your fathers, and keep yourselves from all deceit and anger and cruelty and adultery and defilement, and from pride and jealousy, contempt and enmity, Jesus the living God will forgive you what you did in ignorance. Therefore, servants of God, let each of you arm your inner man with peace, calmness, gentleness, faith, love, knowledge, wisdom, love of the brotherhood, hospitality, mercy, self-control, chastity, goodness and righteousness. Then you will have for ever as your leader the firstborn of all creation, and strength in peace with our Lord.' When they had heard this from Paul, they asked him to pray for them. And Paul lifted up his voice and said: 'Eternal God, God of the heavens, God of unspeakable majesty, who established all things by your word, who bound upon every age the bond of your grace, Father of your holy Son Jesus Christ, we pray to you together through your Son Jesus Christ: strengthen the souls that were once unbelieving but are now faithful. Once I was a blasphemer, now I am blasphemed; once I was a persecutor, now I suffer persecution from others; once an enemy of Christ, now I pray to be his friend. For I trust in his promise and his mercy; I count myself faithful and believe I have received forgiveness of my former offences. Therefore I urge you too, brothers, to believe in the Lord, the Father almighty, and to put all your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ his Son, believing in him; and no one will be able to tear you away from his promise. Kneel together and commend me to the Lord, as I am setting out for another nation, that his grace may go before me and order my journey well, so that it may receive his holy and faithful vessels.' And giving thanks they made their requests of blessed Paul, and kissing his feet they escorted him to the harbour. But Dionysius and Balbus from Asia, Roman knights and distinguished men, and a senator named Demetrius, keeping close to Paul at his right hand, said: 'Paul, I would wish to flee from the city, if I were not a magistrate, so as not to leave you.' Likewise from Caesar's household, Cleobius, Iphitus, Lysimachus and Aristeus, and two matrons, Berenice and Philostrate, with the presbyter Narcissus, escorted him to the harbour; but since a storm at sea threatened, he sent the brothers back to Rome, so that anyone who wished might come down and hear Paul until he sailed. Hearing this, the brothers went up to the city. When the brothers who had stayed in the city were told, the news spread at once, and some on beasts, some on foot, others by the Tiber came down to the harbour; and they were strengthened in the faith for three days, and on the fourth day until the fifth hour, praying together with Paul and bringing the offering. And they put on board whatever was needed and gave him two faithful young men to sail with him, and bade him farewell in the Lord and returned to Rome.

After a few days there was a great commotion in the midst of the church, as some said they had seen wonders done by a man whose name was Simon, and that he was at Aricia. They added that he said he was the great power of God and did nothing without God. 'Is he himself the Christ? But we believe in him whom Paul preached to us; for through him we have seen the dead raised and people set free from various illnesses. But this man is seeking conflicts; we know it, for no small disturbance has come upon us. Perhaps he will soon come into Rome.' For the day before, people had been entreating him with great acclamations, saying to him: 'You are God in Italy, you are the saviour of the Romans; hasten quickly to Rome.' And he addressed the people in a thin voice, saying: 'Tomorrow, about the seventh hour, you will see me flying over the city gate, in the same form in which you now see me speaking with you.' 'So, brothers, if it seems good to you, let us go and wait carefully for the outcome.' So they all ran together and came to the gate. When the seventh hour came, see, suddenly a cloud of dust was seen in the sky far off, like smoke shining with rays; and when it came near the gate it suddenly vanished. And then he appeared standing in the middle of the people; and they all worshipped him and recognized that he was the one who had been seen by them the day before. And the brothers were not a little offended among themselves, especially since Paul was not in Rome, nor Timothy nor Barnabas, for they had been sent to Macedonia by Paul, and there was no one to strengthen us, especially those who had recently been instructed. And as Simon exalted himself more and more by what he did, and some of them every day called Paul a magician, others a deceiver, of so great a multitude established in the faith all fell away, except the presbyter Narcissus and two women in the lodging-house of the Bithynians, and four who could no longer go out of the house; and shut in day and night they gave themselves to prayer, asking the Lord that Paul might return quickly, or someone else to visit his servants, since … of our brothers. … [5] And he went down to Caesarea and at once boarded a ship, though the ladder had already been drawn up. The captain, whose name was Theon, looking at Peter, said: 'All that we have is yours. What kindness would it be on our part, if we took on board a man like ourselves in an uncertain plight and did not share with you all that we have? Only let us have a good voyage.' Peter thanked him for his offer; but he himself fasted on the ship, grieving in his mind and yet encouraging himself, that God had counted him worthy to be a minister in his ministry. After a few days the captain rose at the hour of his meal and asked Peter to eat with him, and said to him: 'Whoever you are, I hardly know you, whether you are a god or a man; but as far as I understand, I think you are a servant of God. For in the middle of the night, while I was steering my ship and had fallen asleep, a human voice seemed to me to speak from heaven, saying to me: Theon, Theon! It called me twice by my name and said to me: Among the others who sail with you, let Peter be the most honoured by you; for through him you and the others will be kept safe from an unexpected course without any harm.' Peter, believing that God wished to show his providence at sea to those who were in the ship, then began to set out to Theon the great works of God, how the Lord had chosen him among the apostles, and for what purpose he was sailing to Italy. Every day he shared the words of God with him. And observing him, he learned that he was of one mind with him in the faith and a worthy minister by his way of life. In the Adriatic, when the ship was becalmed, Theon pointed out the calm to Peter and said to him: 'If you would think me worthy to be dipped in the sign of the Lord, you have the opportunity.' For all who were on the ship had fallen asleep drunk. Peter went down by a rope and baptized Theon in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. He came up out of the water rejoicing with great joy, and Peter too was the more cheerful, because God had counted Theon worthy of his name. And it happened that in the same place where Theon was baptized there appeared a young man shining in beauty, saying to them: 'Peace be with you.' And at once Peter and Theon went up and entered the cabin, and Peter took bread and gave thanks to the Lord, who had counted him worthy of his holy ministry, and because a young man had appeared to them saying 'Peace be with you': 'Best and only holy one, for it is you who appeared to us, God Jesus Christ; in your name he has just been washed and sealed with your holy sign. So in your name I give him your eucharist, that he may be your perfect servant without blame for ever.' As they feasted and rejoiced in the Lord, suddenly a wind, not violent but moderate, rose at the prow of the ship, and did not cease for six days and as many nights, until they reached Puteoli.

When they had landed at Puteoli, Theon jumped off the ship and went to the inn where he usually stayed, to make it ready to receive Peter. The man he stayed with was named Ariston; he always feared the Lord, and Theon trusted himself to him because of the Name. When he reached the inn and saw Ariston, Theon said to him: 'God, who has counted you worthy to serve him, has also shared his grace with me through his holy servant Peter, who has just sailed with me from Judea, ordered by our Lord to come to Italy.' When Ariston heard this, he fell on Theon's neck, embraced him, and begged him to take him to the ship and show him Peter. For Ariston said that since Paul set out for Spain there had been none of the brothers with whom he could find refreshment; and besides, a certain Jew named Simon had burst into the city. 'By magic spells and his own wickedness he has broken up the whole brotherhood on every side, so that I too fled from Rome, hoping that Peter would come. For Paul had told us of him, and I had seen many things in a vision. So now I believe in my Lord that he is rebuilding his ministry, and that every seduction will be rooted out from his servants. For our Lord Jesus Christ is faithful, who can restore our minds.' When Theon heard this from Ariston, who was weeping, his spirit grew still more within him and he was strengthened further, for he understood that he had believed in the living God. When they came together to the ship, Peter looked at them, filled with the Spirit, and smiled; and Ariston fell on his face at Peter's feet and said: 'Brother and lord, sharer in the holy mysteries and shower of the right way that is in the Lord Jesus Christ our God, who through you has shown us his coming: we have lost all those whom Paul had handed over to us, through the working of Satan. But now I hope in the Lord, who sent his messenger and commanded you to come to us, since he has counted us worthy to see his great and wonderful works through you. I beg you, then, make haste to the city. For I left the brothers who were being made to stumble, whom I had seen fall into the temptation of the devil, and fled here, saying to them: Brothers, stand firm in the faith; for within these two months the mercy of our Lord must bring you his minister. For I had seen a vision, Paul saying to me: Ariston, flee from the city. When I heard this I believed without delay and went forth in the Lord, though I bear weak flesh, and came here, standing every day on the shore and asking the sailors: Has Peter sailed with you? But now, since the grace of the Lord abounds, I ask that we go up to Rome without any delay, lest the teaching of that most wicked man grow stronger.' As Ariston said this with tears, Peter gave him his hand and raised him from the ground, and groaning with tears himself, Peter said: 'He who tempts the world by his angels has got ahead of us; but he will quench his seductions and put them under the feet of those who have believed in Christ whom we preach, who has power to rescue his servants from every temptation.' As they were going in at the gate, Theon begged Peter, saying: 'Not one day did you rest on the ship on so great a sea; and now do you want to set out straight from the ship on a very rough road? Stay and refresh yourself, and so set out. For from here to Rome the road is paved with flint, and I fear you may suffer from the jolting.' Peter answered them: 'What if it should befall me, through the enemy of our Lord, to have a millstone hung on me, as my Lord said to us, if any of the brothers caused offence, and to be drowned in the deep? It will be not only a millstone, but, what is worse, I shall be found an adversary of those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, if this persecutor of his servants is allowed to finish his work.' But Theon could not persuade him by any means to stay there even one day. Theon himself gave instructions about everything that was on the ship, and followed Peter to Rome, as Ariston was bringing him to the dwelling of the presbyter Narcissus.

The news flew through the city to the scattered brothers that Peter had come to Rome because of Simon, to show that he was a deceiver and a persecutor of good men. So the whole multitude ran together to see the apostle of the Lord. On the first day of the week, when the multitude gathered to see Peter, Peter began to speak in a very loud voice: 'Men who are here, who hope in Christ, you who for a short time have suffered temptation: learn why God sent his Son into the world, or why he brought him forth through the Virgin Mary, if not to bestow some grace or provision; for he wished to take away every offence and all ignorance and every working of the devil, his beginnings and the powers by which he once prevailed, before our God shone forth into the world. Since men through ignorance were rushing into death through many and various infirmities, Almighty God, moved with mercy, sent his Son into the world; and I was with him. I walked on the water, and I myself remain a witness of it; I testify that he worked in the world at that time by signs and wonders, all of which he did. I confess, dearest brothers, that I was with him; yet I denied him, our Lord Jesus Christ, and not only once but three times; for those who had surrounded me were wicked dogs, as they were with the prophets of the Lord. And the Lord did not hold it against me; he turned to me and had mercy on the weakness of my flesh, so that afterwards I wept bitterly and mourned my faith that was so weak, because I had been robbed of my senses by the devil and did not keep in mind the word of my Lord. And now I tell you, men, brothers, who have gathered in the name of Jesus Christ: Satan the deceiver aims his arrows at you too, to make you leave the way. But do not lose heart, brothers, nor fall in spirit, but be strong, stand firm and do not doubt. For if Satan made me stumble, whom the Lord held in the highest honour, so that I denied the light of my hope, overthrowing me and persuading me to flee, as though I had believed in a man, what do you think of yourselves, who are newly baptized? Did you suppose that he would not overturn you, to make you enemies of the kingdom of God and hurl you into perdition in the last error? For whomever he casts out from the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ is a son of perdition for ever. Turn back, then, brothers chosen by the Lord, and be strong in the Lord almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom no one has ever seen nor can see except the one who has believed in him. And understand where the temptation has come upon you from. It was not only to persuade you by words that this man is the Christ whom I preach, but also by deeds and great works of power. I exhort you, by the faith that is in Christ Jesus, that none of you look for any other than this one who was despised and insulted by the Jews, this crucified Nazarene, who died and on the third day rose again.'

The brothers repented and begged Peter to fight Simon, who said he was the power of God and was staying in the house of the senator Marcellus, whom he had won over by his spells. They said: 'Believe us, brother Peter, no one among men was as wise as this Marcellus. All the widows who hoped in Christ had their refuge with him; all the orphans were fed by him. Why say more, brother? All the poor called Marcellus their patron; his house was called the house of strangers and of the poor. The emperor said to him: I remove you from every office, lest you plunder the provinces to give to the Christians. Marcellus answered: All that I have is yours. Caesar said to him: It would be mine if you kept it for me; but now it is not mine, since you give it to whom you please, and to I know not what low people. With this before our eyes, brother Peter, we tell you how the great mercy of this man has been turned into blasphemy. For if he had not been turned aside, neither would we have been drawn away from the holy faith of God our Lord. Now Marcellus in his rage repents of his good works, saying: So much wealth I have spent over so long a time, believing in vain that I was giving it for the knowledge of God! So much so that if any stranger comes to the door of his house, he beats him with a stick and has him driven off, saying: Would that I had not spent so much money on those impostors! And he says many more blasphemous things. But if any mercy of our Lord and goodness of his commandments remains in you, help this man in his error, who has given so much alms to the servants of God.' When Peter learned this, he was struck with deep grief and said: 'O the various arts and temptations of the devil! O the devices and inventions of evil! He feeds for himself the greatest fire for the day of wrath, the destroyer of simple men, a ravening wolf, devourer and scatterer of eternal life! You ensnared the first man with lust and bound him with your old wickedness and with the chain of the body; you are the fruit of the tree of bitterness, wholly most bitter, who send in desires of every kind. You drove Judas, my fellow disciple and fellow apostle, to act wickedly and betray our Lord Jesus Christ, who must exact punishment from you. You hardened the heart of Herod, inflamed Pharaoh and drove him to fight against Moses the holy servant of God; you gave boldness to Caiaphas to hand over our Lord Jesus Christ to the wicked multitude; and to this day you shoot innocent souls with your poisoned arrows. Wicked enemy of all, be accursed from the church of the Son of the holy almighty God; like a firebrand thrown out of the hearth you will be quenched by the servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. May your blackness turn on you and on your sons, that most evil seed; may your wickednesses turn on you, and your threats and your temptations, and on your angels, you beginning of malice, abyss of darkness! May the darkness you have be with you and with your vessels which you possess. Depart, then, from those who are about to believe in God; depart from the servants of Christ and from those who wish to serve as his soldiers. Keep your garments of darkness for yourself; without cause you knock at doors that belong to others, which are not yours but Christ Jesus's, who guards them. For you, ravening wolf, wish to carry off sheep that are not yours but Christ Jesus's, who guards them with the greatest care.'

While Peter was saying this with great grief of soul, many more were added, believing in the Lord. The brothers begged Peter to engage with Simon and not to allow him to unsettle the people any longer. Without delay Peter went quickly out of the synagogue and went to the house of Marcellus where Simon was staying, and great crowds followed him. When he came to the door, he called the doorkeeper and said to him: 'Go and say to Simon: Peter, on whose account you fled from Judea, is waiting for you at the door.' The doorkeeper answered Peter: 'Whether you are Peter, sir, I do not know; but I have an order. For he learned that you entered the city yesterday, and he said to me: Whether by day or by night, at whatever hour he comes, say that I am not in.' Peter said to the young man: 'You have done well to tell me this, since he forced you.' And Peter turned to the people who were following him and said: 'You are about to see a great and wonderful sign.' And Peter, seeing a large dog tied with a great chain, went up and loosed it. And the dog, once loosed, received a human voice and said to Peter: 'What do you order me to do, servant of the unspeakable living God?' Peter said to it: 'Go in and say to Simon in the midst of his company: Peter says to you, Come out in public; for it is on your account that I have come to Rome, you wicked man and troubler of simple souls.' And at once the dog ran in, and rushing into the midst of those who were with Simon, it raised its front feet and in a very loud voice said: 'You, Simon, Peter the servant of Christ, who is standing at the door, says to you: Come out in public; for it is on your account that I have come to Rome, you most wicked man and deceiver of simple souls.' When Simon heard this and saw the incredible sight, he lost the words with which he was deceiving those standing round him, and all were astounded.

When Marcellus saw this, he went out to the door and threw himself at Peter's feet and said: 'Peter, I embrace your feet, holy servant of the holy God; I have sinned greatly. Do not punish my sins, if the true faith of Christ whom you preach is in you, if you remember his commandments, to hate no one and to do evil to no one, as I learned from Paul your fellow apostle. Do not hold my offences in your mind, but pray for me to the Lord, the holy Son of God, whom I provoked to anger by persecuting his servants. Pray for me, then, as a good steward of God, that I may not be handed over with the sins of Simon to the eternal fire; for he so persuaded me that I set up a statue to him with this inscription: To Simon, the young god. If I knew, Peter, that this could be won with money, I would give all my property; I would have given it to you, despising it, to gain my soul. If I had sons, I would count them as nothing, if only I might believe in the living Lord. I confess that he would not have led me astray, had he not said that he was the power of God. And yet I will tell you, sweetest Peter: I was not worthy to hear you, servant of God, nor was I firmly established in the faith of God which is in Christ; that is why I stumbled. So I ask you not to take amiss what I am about to say. Christ our Lord, whom you preach in truth, said to your fellow apostles in your presence: If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move, and at once it will move. But this Simon said that you, Peter, were faithless, since you doubted on the water. And I heard that he had said this too: Those who are with me have not understood me. If, then, you on whom he laid his hands, whom he chose, with whom he worked wonders, were doubting, I, having this testimony, repent and take refuge in your prayers. Receive my soul, which has fallen away from our Lord and from his promise. But I believe that he will have mercy on me as I repent; for the Almighty is faithful to forgive me my sins.' And Peter said with a loud voice: 'To you, our Lord, be glory and splendour, God almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; to you be praise and glory and honour for ever and ever. Amen. Since you have now fully strengthened us and established us in you before the eyes of all who see, holy Lord, confirm Marcellus and send your peace on him and his house today. Whatever is lost or straying, you alone can turn them all back. We beseech you, Lord, shepherd of the sheep once scattered, who now through you will be gathered together: so receive Marcellus too as one of your lambs, and do not let him wander any longer in error or ignorance, but take him back into the number of your sheep. Yes, Lord, receive him, as he entreats you with grief and tears.'

While Peter was saying this and embracing Marcellus, he turned to the crowd standing by and saw a man in the crowd smiling, in whom was a most wicked demon. Peter said to him: 'Whoever you are who laughed, show yourself openly to all who are present.' Hearing this, the young man rushed into the courtyard of the house, and crying out with a loud voice and dashing himself against the wall, said: 'Peter, there is a great contest between Simon and the dog you sent; for Simon says to the dog: Say that I am not here. And the dog says more to him than you charged it with. And when it has finished the mystery you commanded it, it will die at your feet.' Peter said: 'And you too, demon, whoever you are, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ come out of the young man without harming him; show yourself to all who are present.' Hearing this, the young man rushed out, and seizing a great marble statue that stood in the courtyard of the house, smashed it with his heels; it was a statue of Caesar. When Marcellus saw this, he struck his forehead and said to Peter: 'A great crime has been done; if Caesar learns of it through some informer, he will afflict us with heavy punishments.' Peter said to him: 'I do not see you as you were a little while ago, for you said you were ready to spend all your property to save your soul. But if you truly repent, believing in Christ with all your heart, take running water in your hands, pray to the Lord, and in his name sprinkle it over the pieces of the statue, and it will be whole as it was before.' Marcellus, not doubting at all but believing with all his heart, before he took the water lifted up his hands and said: 'I believe in you, Lord Jesus Christ; for I am being tested by your apostle Peter, whether I truly believe in your holy name. So I take water in my hands, and in your name I sprinkle these stones, that the statue may become whole as it was before. If, then, Lord, it is your will that I remain in the body and suffer nothing from Caesar, let this stone be whole as it was before.' And he sprinkled the water on the stones, and the statue became whole. So Peter gloried that he had not doubted in asking the Lord, and Marcellus was exalted in spirit that such a sign had been done by his hands for the first time. He believed, then, with his whole heart in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of God, through whom all impossible things are possible.