The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles
NHC VI, 1
The following translation has been committed to the public domain and may be freely copied and used, changed or unchanged, for any purpose. It is based on the Coptic text of Nag Hammadi Codex VI, 1. The Nag Hammadi texts were written in the fourth century, subsequently buried, and then rediscovered in 1945. This text tells the story of an encounter between Peter and the apostles and a man named Lithargoel, who turns out to be Jesus in disguise.
This translation from the Coptic is by Samuel Zinner and was edited by Mark M. Mattison with the generous support of Other Gospels. Chapter and verse enumerations have been added by the translator.
Symbols
[ ] Gap in the text (known as a “lacuna”)
( ) Editorial insertion to clarify the text
< > Editorial correction of a scribal error
[1] Page number of the Coptic codex (hyperlinked)
Peter and the Apostles Set Sail
[1] [. . . words] that [. . .] purpose [. . .] as follows.
It came to pass that when we [were sent] to go out to [preach . . .], we, the apostles [. . .] we set sail, during which we [. . .] of the body together with others who were fearful in their [hearts]. And in our [hearts], we were one. We decided to carry out the ministry the Lord assigned us, and we struck an agreement with one another.
We went down to the sea at a favorable time, sent to us from the Lord. We came across a ship anchored at the shore ready for boarding, and we asked the sailors of the ship if we could come on board with them. They treated us very kindly, as the Lord had decreed.
And after we had boarded, we sailed for a day and a night, after which a wind blew from behind the ship and conveyed us to a small city in the middle of the sea. And I, Peter, asked some locals standing on the dock about the name of this city.
[A man] there with [them] [2] replied and [said: “The name] of this [city is ‘Home,’ which means], ‘Founded [on] Endurance.’”
(Peter addressed the city): “And the leader who is among [you will bear] the palm branch at the edge of [the dock].
Peter and the Apostles Meet a Pearl Merchant
And when we had reached the shore [with our] belongings, I entered the city to look for information […] about lodging. A man exited who was wearing a cloth tied around his waist, and a gold belt bound it, and a scarf was fixed over his chest, reaching over his shoulders and shrouding his head and his hands.
I was gazing at the man on account of his attractive shape and height. I noticed four portions of his body; namely, the soles of his feet, a portion of his chest, the palms of his hands, and his countenance. I could see these portions. In his left hand he held the cover of a book resembling the books I own. A wooden styrax staff was in his right hand.
He spoke slowly, his voice reverberating, shouting in the city: “Pearls (for sale)! Pearls (for sale)!”
I, really believing the man was a city resident, addressed him, saying: “My brother and my friend!”
[3] [He then answered] me: [“You were right] to say: [‘My brother and] my friend.’ What do you [want] from me?”
I said to him: [“I am inquiring] of you about lodging for me and also for the brothers, since we are foreigners here.”
He said [to] me: “The reason I myself just said, ‘My brother and my friend,’ is that, like you, I am also a foreigner.”
And after saying these things, he shouted, “Pearls (for sale)! Pearls (for sale)!”
The rich men of that city heard his shouting. They left their cloaked storerooms, and some peered out from the storerooms in their houses. Others peered out from their upper windows, and they noticed he had nothing with him, no bag on his back or bundle inside his clothes and scarf. And out of contempt they even refused to greet him. As for him, he did not show them who he was. They went back to their storerooms and said: “This man is making a joke of us.”
And the poor residents [4] [of that city] heard [his voice, and they approached] the man [selling pearls and said]: “Please bother to [show us the] pearl so our eyes [can see] it, since we are [poor] and we have no money to buy it. So instead, [show (it) to us] so we can tell to our friends that with our eyes we saw a pearl.”
He answered them: “If you can, come to my city, so that I can not only display it in front of your eyes, but give it to you for free.”
And they, the poor residents of that city, in fact heard and said: “Because we are beggars, we are certainly aware that no one gives a pearl to a beggar, but they usually get bread and money. So then, the favor we want from you is for you show us the pearl in front of our eyes, and we will proudly tell our friends that we saw a pearl with our eyes, because it is not found among the poor, especially not beggars.”
He answered them: “If you can, come to my city, so that I can not only show it to you, but give it to you for free.”
The poor and the beggars were glad because of [5] the man [who gives] for free.
The Difficulties on the Road to the City
The men [asked Peter] about difficulties. Peter told [them] what he had heard about difficulties on the road, on account of the difficulties of their being interpreters in their ministry.
He said to the man who sold the pearl: “I would like to know your name and the difficulties on the road to your city, because we are foreigners and servants of God. It is incumbent on us to spread the word of God in every city amicably.”
He responded: “If you want my name, it is Lithargoel, which means ‘the light shining stone.’ And (as for) your further question, I will tell you about the road to the city. No one can walk on that road except the one who has forsaken all that he possesses and who every day has fasted from place to place, because there are many robbers and wild beasts on that road.
Whoever carries bread on the road, black dogs kill for the bread.
Whoever wears expensive worldly clothing, thieves kill [6] [for the] clothing.
[Whoever carries] water, [wolves kill for the water], because they are thirsty for it.
[If someone] is worried about [meat] and fresh vegetables, lions eat them for the meat.
[If] he escapes from the lions, the bulls consume him for the fresh vegetables.”
After telling me these things, I groaned to myself. “Tremendous difficulties come on the road!
If only Jesus would grant us the power to walk on it!”
Because of my crestfallen face and my groaning, he looked at me. He said to me: “If you in fact know this name ‘Jesus’ and believe in him, why are you groaning? He is a tremendous power for bestowing strength, because I also believe in the Father who sent him.”
I said to him: “What is the name of the place where you are going, your city?”
He responded to me: “This is the name of my city: ‘Nine Gates.’ Let us offer praise to God, given that we are aware that the tenth gate is the chief gate.”
Then I departed from him, (wishing him) peace.
The Apostles Reach the City
When I was almost ready to leave and call for my friends, I saw waves, even vast walls of water, engulfing the city limits. I was astonished at the mighty things I saw.
I asked an old man I saw sitting whether the name of the city was in fact [7] [the one] he had [given when he said: “Home.”]
He said to me, [“You speak] the truth, since we dwell here because [we] endure.”
I answered: “Rightly [. . .] have they called the first virtue Endurance, because all [who] endure their tribulations inhabit cities, and they establish a worthy kingdom, because they endure amidst the deceits and the troubles of the storms, so that thus the city of all who endure the weight of his yoke of faith will be populated, and they will be granted entrance in the kingdom of heaven.”
I hurried and went to call my friends so we could go to the city that he, Lithargoel, allotted for us. Based on a promise of faith we abandoned everything, as he had instructed.
We avoided the robbers, because they found none of their (kinds of) garments with us.
We avoided the wolves, because they found no water with us to quench their thirst.
We avoided the lions, because they found no yearning for meat with us.
[8] [We avoided the bulls because . . . they found no] fresh vegetables.
A great joy [fell on] us and a tranquil lightheartedness, like that which dwells [in] our Lord. In front of the gate we [refreshed] ourselves, and we spoke with one another concerning what is not a worldly distraction, continuing instead in the contemplation of faith.
The Pearl Merchant, Lithargoel, Appears as a Physician
As we spoke of the robbers we had avoided on the road, behold, Lithargoel, having been transformed, came out and approached us. His appearance was that of a physician, owing to a medicine box under his arm, and a young student followed him, carrying a full medicine pouch. We failed to recognize him.
Peter answered him: “We would like for you to grant us a favor, because we are foreigners; please, before evening falls, lead us to the house of Lithargoel.”
He said: “With a righteous heart I will show it to you, but I am surprised at how you recognized this good man, because he does not disclose himself to just anyone, because he is the son of a mighty king. Then refresh yourselves a little so that I can leave and heal this man, and return.”
He hurried and then returned [9] quickly. He said to Peter: “Peter!”
And Peter was frightened, because how could he know that his name was Peter?
Peter answered the Savior: “How is it that you know me, since you called my name?”
Lithargoel responded: “I would like to ask you, who gave you the name Peter?”
He said to him: “Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, he it was who gave me this name.”
He answered: “Recognize me, that it is I, O Peter.” He untied the garment that covered him, the one he himself had donned on our account, disclosing who he really was.
The Lord Instructs the Disciples
We bowed down on the ground, prostrating to him, we being eleven disciples. He stretched out his hand and made us stand. In humility we conversed with him.
We spoke with bowed heads as undeserving: “We will do your will, but grant us power continually to do your will.”
He gave them the medicine box and the young student’s pouch that he was holding in his hand. He ordered them thusly [10] and said: “Enter the city you came from, the one called ‘Home.’ Persist in endurance as you instruct all those who have believed in my name, because I have endured through the difficulties of the faith. I will give you your reward. In that city, give the poor what they need to live until I give them something better, what I promised <them> I would give you for free.”
Peter responded to him: “You have instructed us, Lord, to abandon the world and everything that is in it. We have abandoned them for your sake. What we (still) worry about is our daily food. Where can we find the necessities you ask us to supply to the poor?”
The Lord answered: “O Peter, it had to be this way so that you could understand the parable I told you. My name that you teach, do you not comprehend that it exceeds all riches, and that the wisdom of God exceeds all gold and silver and every precious stone?”
He gave them the medicine pouch and said: “In the city, heal all the sick who believe [11] [in] my name.”
Peter feared to reply to him twice. He pointed to the one next to him, namely, John: “This time, you say something.”
John answered: “Lord, we are afraid to talk a lot in your presence, although you are the one who tells us to cultivate this talent. We have not been trained as physicians. How can we then know how to heal bodies, as you have commanded us?”
He answered them: “You have spoken truthfully, John, because I know that worldly physicians heal what pertains to the world, but physicians of the soul heal the heart. So, heal bodies first with the true powers of bodily healing performed without worldly medicine, so that they can believe that you possess power also to heal the infirmities of the heart. However, the rich in the city felt I didn’t deserve their greeting. Instead, they wallowed in their riches and arrogance. [12] So, with people like these, do not eat in their houses, and do not be their friends, or their favoritism could sway you, because in the churches many have shown favor to the rich, since they are also wicked, and they tempt others to be wicked. Judge them fairly, though, in order for your ministry to be glorified, and so that in the churches also my name will be glorified.”
The disciples answered: “Indeed, this is truly the right thing to do.” They bowed down on the ground, prostrating to him.
He made them stand up and departed from them, (wishing them) peace. Amen.
The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles