XI
UNPLACED AND UNCERTAIN FRAGMENTS
Among the very few ancient quotations of the Acts of Paul are two short phrases cited by Origen.
(a) On First Principles, i. 2, 3: wherefore also that word seems to me to be truly said, which is written in the Acts of Paul: ‘He is the word, a living creature.’ But John in the beginning of his Gospel says more exaltedly and more excellently, &c.
(b) On John, xx. 12. But if any one likes to accept that which is recorded in the Acts of Paul as spoken by the Saviour: ‘Again am I about to be crucified.’
Both phrases, but the second especially, have been thought by some to come from a context relating to the death of Peter. (a) is compared with Peter’s speech at the cross; (b) appears in slightly different forms in all the Passions of Peter as Christ’s answer to Peter when he is escaping from Rome. Whither goest thou Lord? (or, What doest thou here?) ‘I come to be crucified again.’ The inference is that an account of the martyrdom of Peter formed part of the Acts of Paul. But this I find very difficult to accept, though I acknowledge it to be possible, seeing that the author of these Acts evidently placed the martyrdom of Paul after that of Peter, and, to judge from the Acts of Peter, some little time (perhaps a whole year) after.
A probable fragment is a quotation made by Clement of Alexandria (Strom. vi. 5: ed. Stähelin, ii. 452).
He has been quoting the Preaching of Peter, and continues:.
But the proposition that, just as God willed the Jews to be saved by giving them the prophets, so he raised up the most approved of the Greeks to be prophets suited to their language, according as they were capable of receiving the benefit from God, and distinguished them from the ruck of men—this, in addition to the Preaching of Peter, the apostle Paul will show when he says:
‘Take also the Greek books, take knowledge of the Sibyl, how she declares one God, and things to come, take and read Hystaspes, and ye will find the Son of God described far more openly and plainly, and how many kings will make war against the Christ, hating him and those that bear his name, and his faithful ones: and his patience and his coming again.’ And then in one word he asks of us: ‘And the whole world and ail that is in it, whose are they? are they not God’s?’ Therefore is it that Peter says (another quotation from the Preaching follows).
It has been usual to assume that these sentences are from a Preaching of Paul: but of such a book the very existence is doubtful. The passages supposed to establish it shall be given.
One is in Pseudo-Cyprian de rebaptismate (third century):
Now of this spurious, nay fatal, baptism an especial supporter is a book forged by these same heretics to favour this error,
