The Acts of Peter and the Twelve or the Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles is a Christian text from about the 4th century. It is the first treatise in Codex VI of the Nag Hammadi library texts, taking up pages 1–12 of the codex's 78 pages. The writing extends the Parable of the Pearl from Matthew 13:45–46. In the text, Peter the Apostle meets a pearl merchant named Lithargoel, who is later revealed to be Jesus. Jesus commands the apostles to care for the poor.

History

Before its discovery in Nag Hammadi, Egypt in 1945,

Along with the rest of the works in the Nag Hammadi library, the text was translated into English and published in The Nag Hammadi Library in English in 1977. The publication was part of the work of the Coptic Gnostic Library Project, which began in 1966 at Claremont Graduate University. Douglas M. Parrott and R. McL. Wilson translated the text to English.

The text has also been translated into French, German, and Norwegian.

Summary

The apostles arrive at a small city called Habitation and Peter seeks lodging. They meet a man who introduces himself as Lithargoel, meaning "the light, gazelle-like stone". Lithargoel warns Peter that the road is very dangerous and the apostles must abandon everything they have and fast to travel it. Peter discovers that the city is named Habitation because those who endure the trials and difficulties of the storms will inhabit the city and be included in the kingdom of heaven. Peter and the apostles forsake everything as Lithargoel instructed and evade the hardships successfully. They rest at the city gate and talk about the faith.

thumb|250px|Depiction of Christ from the 8th-century [[Icon of Christ and Abbot Mena, a sample of early Coptic art]]

Lithargoel changes his appearance to a physician. Peter is frightened when the physician addresses him by his name, but Peter then recognizes him as Jesus Christ. The apostles worship him and pledge to do as he wishes. Jesus commands them to go back to the city of Habitation to teach and heal all those who have believed in his name. Jesus explains that physicians of souls heal the heart. Jesus also tells the apostles not to dine with the rich men of the city who do not acknowledge him and to judge them with uprightness so that their ministry may be glorified and his name may be glorified in the churches. The apostles worship the Lord Jesus and he departs from them in peace.

Analysis

Since the narrative voice shifts between first and third person, scholars have debated whether it is the work of multiple authors or simply literary technique. Citing analyses by New Testament scholar Vernon K. Robbins and Stephen J. Patterson, Molinari notes that in the narration of ancient sea-voyage stories, it was common to shift to first-person plural voice. But the text also has voice shifts when the narrative perspective changes. Molinari concludes that the author of the text added his own material to the end of two other sources. Molinari believes that the entirety of the text up to the point that the physician quickly leaves and comes back (1.1–9.1) is from a single source. He believes that the post-resurrection appearance (9.1–9.29) is from a second source. The remainder of the text (9.30–12.19), in Molinari's view, is the author's attempt to link the other two sources with his own beliefs about pastoral ministry.

Academic István Czachesz argues that the text is an allegory for monasticism and that it came from a Pachomian monastery in 347–367 AD. She sees the most obvious and significant similarities between the two works as the critique of the rich and the directive to care for the poor. Both works also emphasize endurance, renunciation of the world, and healing both the body and soul. She concludes that although the author does not explicitly cite James, the author may have drawn from ideas in James.

References

  • The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles complete text at The Gnostic Society Library