Acts of Peter

Acts of Peter 1:1

When Paul was at Rome and confirmed many in the faith, it also happened that a certain woman named Candida, wife of Quartus the custodian, heard Paul and listened to his words and became a believer. And when she on her part had instructed her husband, who became a believer, Quartus persuaded Paul to leave the city (and to go) wherever he pleased. Paul said to him, “If such be the will of God, he will reveal it to me.” And Paul fasted three days and besought the Lord to grant what were good for him, and in a vision he saw the Lord, who said to him, “Paul, arise, and in thy body be a physician to the Spaniards!” At this he related to the brethren what God had commanded (him), and without hesitation he made ready to leave the city. When Paul was preparing to leave (the city), there was a great lamentation among the brethren because they thought they would never see Paul again; yea, they even tore their garments, bearing in mind that Paul often had a quarrel with the teachers of the Jews and had paid them off (with such words): Christ, on whom your fathers laid their hands, abrogated their Sabbath and their fasting and festivals and circumcision and abrogated the teaching of men and the other traditions. And the brethren adjured Paul, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ not to stay away more than a year, saying, “We know thy love for thy brethren; forget us not, when thou comest (to Spain), and leave us not alone like children without a mother.” And while they were thus beseeching him with tears, a sound was heard from heaven and a very loud voice, saying, “Paul, the servant of God, is chosen to the ministry for the time of his life; under the hands of Nero, the wicked and bad man, he will die before your eyes.” And there was a great fear among the brethren because of the voice which had come from heaven, and they were the more confirmed (in the faith).