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Acts of Peter
Chapter 28
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Acts of Peter 28:1
When the news had spread through the entire city, the mother of a senator came, and making her way through the multitude she fell down at Peter’s feet and said, “I heard many people say that thou art the minister of the merciful God and that thou dost impart his mercy to all who desire this light. Impart, therefore, also to (my) son the light, since I have learned that thou art not ill-disposed toward any one: since a matron beseeches thee, turn not away.” Peter said to her, “Wilt thou believe in my God, through whom thy son shall rise?” And the mother, weeping, said with a loud voice, “I believe; Peter, I believe.” The whole multitude cried out, “Give the mother her son.” And Peter said, “Let him be brought hither into the presence of all.” And Peter, turning to the people, said, “Ye men of Rome, I, too, am one of you! I have human flesh and I am a sinner, but I have obtained mercy. Do not imagine that what I do, I do in my own power; I do it in the power of my Lord Jesus Christ, who is the judge of the quick and the dead. I believe on him, I have been sent by him, and (therefore) I dare to call upon him (and) to raise the dead. Go, therefore, thou also, O Woman, and have thy son brought hither and have him raised.” And the woman made her way through the multitude, ran into the street with great joy, believed with her heart, and, coming to the house, she made her young men carry him, and came back to the forum. And she told the young men to cover their heads and go before the bier and carry everything that she intended to spend for the body of her son in front of the bier, that Peter, seeing this, might have pity on the body and on her. Whilst all were weeping, she came to the multitude, followed by a multitude of senators and matrons, who were to see God’s wonderful deeds. And Nicostratus, who had died was very noble and much liked in the senate. They brought him and placed him before Peter. And Peter asked them to be silent, and said with a very loud voice, “Ye Romans, let a righteous judgment now take place between me and Simon, and judge ye who of us believes in the living God, this or I. Let him raise up the body which is before us and believe (then) him like an angel of God. If he is not able, I will call upon my God. I will give the son alive to his mother, and (then) believe, that he is a sorcerer and deceiver, who enjoys your hospitality.” When they heard this, it seemed right to them what Peter had said. They encouraged Simon, saying, “Show thyself publicly what thou canst do: either thou convincest (Peter) or thou shalt be convinced. Why dost thou stand still? Commence.”
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Acts of Peter 28:2
When Simon perceived that they all pushed him, he stood in silence. When the people had become more quiet and looked at him, Simon cried and said, “Ye Romans, when ye see that the dead is raised, will you cast Peter out of the city?” And the whole multitude said, “We shall not only cast him out, but also burn him at once.” Simon came to the head of the dead, bowed, and said three times, “Rise,” and he showed the people how the dead had lifted up his head and moved it, and opened the eyes and lightly bowed to Simon. And immediately they began to gather wood to burn Peter. But Peter, having received the power of Christ, lifted up his voice and said to those who cried against him, “Now I see, Romans — what I dared not to say — that you are foolish and silly, so long as your eyes and your ears, and your senses are blinded. So far has your mind become darkened that you perceive not that you are bewitched, since you seemingly believe that a dead man rose who has not risen. It were sufficient for me, ye Romans, to keep silent and to die in silence and to leave you in the illusions of this world. But the punishment of the fire which is not quenched is before mine eyes; if it therefore seems good to you, let the dead speak, let him rise; if he is alive, let him untie the band from the chin, let him call his mother and say to you, Bawlers, why cry ye? Let him beckon to you with his hand. If therefore, you wish to see that he is dead and you are bound, let this one step back from the bier, and you shall see him as you did see him when you brought him,” And the prefect Agrippa could no longer restrain himself, but rose and with his own hand he chased Simon away. And the dead looked as before. And the people got into a rage and, converted from the magical spell of Simon, began to cry, “Hear, O Cæsar, should the dead not rise, let Simon be burned instead of Peter, because he has really deceived us.” But Peter stretched forth his hand and said, “Ye Romans, be patient. I say not that in case the boy is not raised, that Simon should be burned; when I say so, you will do it.” And the people cried, “Even if you should not wish it, Peter, we shall do it.” Peter said to them, “If you continue thereat, the boy shall not rise. We know not to recompense evil for evil, but we have learned to love our enemies, and to pray for them that persecute us. For should he even repent, it is better. For God will not remember the evil. Let him, therefore, come to the light of Christ. But if he cannot, let him inherit the portion of his father, the devil. But let not your hands be contaminated. Having thus spoken to the people, he came to the boy, and before raising him he said to his mother, “These young men, whom thou hast set free in honor of thy son, can as free men (also) obey their living master. For I know that the souls of some (among them) will be wounded, should they see thy risen son and they serve again (as slaves). But let them all be free and receive their subsistence as before — for thy son shall rise again — and let them be with him.” And Peter looked at her for some time awaiting the answer. And the mother of the boy said, “How can I do otherwise? Wherefore I will declare before the prefect that they should possess all that which I had to spend on the corpse of my son.” Peter said to her, “Let the rest be divided among the widows.” And Peter rejoiced in his soul, and said in the spirit, “O Lord, who art merciful, Jesus Christ, manifest thyself to thy Peter, who calls upon thee, as thou didst always show mercy and goodness, in the presence of all these who have been set free, that they may be able to serve. Now let Nicostratus arise.” And Peter touched the side of the lad, and said, “Arise.” And the lad arose, took up his garment, and sat and untied the chin, asked for the other garments, came down from the bier, and said to Peter, “I ask thee, man, let us go to our Lord Christ, whom I heard speak to thee; he said unto thee, pointing at me, Bring him hither, for he belongs to me.” When Peter heard this he was still more strengthened in the spirit by the help of the Lord, and said to the People, “Ye Romans, thus the dead are awakened, thus they speak, thus they walk rising; they live so long as it pleases God. But now (I turn to you) who came to see the spectacle: if you do not repent from these your sins, and from all your gods which you made, and from all uncleanness and evil lust <you shall forever be lost; repent therefore and> receive the communion of Christ in faith (that) you may obtain life for eternity.”
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Acts of Peter (Vercelli Acts 1-29, Martyrdom 30-41, Coptic Act of Peter) — Bernhard Pick 1909 English translation
Unverified edition
Reading language: eng · Original language (catalog): Ancient source language(s)
Recorded completeness: Vercelli Acts chapters 1-29 (chapter 7 not staged), Martyrdom chapters (Pick numbering 1-12 = Lipsius 30-41), and the Coptic "Deed of Peter" fragment.. Available reading sections are listed below.
Available body coverage · eng
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