THE GNOSTIC SOCIETY LIBRARY
The Nag Hammadi Library
The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles
Translated by Douglas M. Parrott and R. McL.Wilson
And in our hearts, we were united. We agreed to fulfil
the ministry to which the Lord appointed us. And we made a covenant with each
other.
We went down to
the sea at an opportune moment, which came to us from the Lord. We found a ship
moored at the shore ready to embark, and we spoke with the sailors of the ship
about our coming aboard with them. They showed great kindliness toward us as
was ordained by the Lord. And after we had embarked, we sailed a day and a
night. After that, a wind came up behind the ship and brought us to a small
city in the midst of the sea.
And I, Peter,
inquired about the name of this city from residents who were standing on the
dock. A man among them answered, saying, "The name of this city is
Habitation, that is, Foundation [...] endurance." And the leader among
them holding the palm branch at the edge of the dock. And after we had gone
ashore with the baggage, I went into the city, to seek advice about lodging.
A man came out
wearing a cloth bound around his waist, and a gold belt girded it. Also a
napkin was tied over his chest, extending over his shoulders and covering his head
and his hands.
I was staring
at the man, because he was beautiful in his form and stature. There were four
parts of his body that I saw: the soles of his feet and a part of his chest and
the palms of his hands and his visage. These things I was able to see. A book
cover like (those of) my books was in his left hand. A staff of styrax wood was
in his right hand. His voice was resounding as he slowly spoke, crying out in
the city, "Pearlsl Pearlsl"
I, indeed,
thought he was a man of that city. I said to him, "My brother and my
friend!" He answered me, then, saying, "Rightly did you say, 'My
brother and my friend.' What is it you seek from me?" I said to him,
"I ask you about lodging for me and the brothers also, because we are
strangers here." He said to me, "For this reason have I myself just
said, 'My brother and my friend,' because I also am a fellow stranger like
you."
And having said
these things, he cried out, "Pearls! Pearls!" The rich men of that
city heard his voice. They came out of their hidden storerooms. And some were
looking out from the storerooms of their houses. Others looked out from their
upper windows. And they did not see (that they could gain) anything from him,
because there was no pouch on his back nor bundle inside his cloth and napkin.
And because of their disdain they did not even acknowledge him. He, for his
part, did not reveal himself to them. They returned to their storerooms,
saying, "This man is mocking us."
And the poor of
that city heard his voice, and they came to the man who sells this pearl. They
said, "Please take the trouble to show us the pearl so that we may, then,
see it with our (own) eyes. For we are the poor. And we do not have this [...]
price to pay for it. But show us that we might say to our friends that we saw a
pearl with our (own) eyes." He answered, saying to them, "If it is
possible, come to my city, so that I may not only show it before your (very)
eyes, but give it to you for nothing."
And indeed
they, the poor of that city, heard and said, "Since we are beggars, we
surely know that a man does not give a pearl to a beggar, but (it is) bread and
money that is usually received. Now then, the kindness which we want to receive
from you (is) that you show us the pearl before our eyes. And we will say to
our friends proudly that we saw a pearl with our (own) eyes" - because it
is not found among the poor, especially such beggars (as these). He answered
(and) said to them, "If it is possible, you yourselves come to my city, so
that I may not only show you it, but give it to you for nothing." The poor
and the beggars rejoiced because of the man who gives for nothing.
The men asked
Peter about the hardships. Peter answered and told those things that he had
heard about the hardships of the way. Because they are interpreters of the
hardships in their ministry.
He said to the
man who sells this pearl, "I want to know your name and the hardships of
the way to your city because we are strangers and servants of God. It is
necessary for us to spread the word of God in every city harmoniously." He
answered and said, "If you seek my name, Lithargoel is my name, the
interpretation of which is, the light, gazelle-like stone.
"And also
(concerning) the road to the city, which you asked me about, I will tell you
about it. No man is able to go on that road, except one who has forsaken
everything that he has and has fasted daily from stage to stage. For many are
the robbers and wild beasts on that road. The one who carries bread with him on
the road, the black dogs kill because of the bread. The one who carries a
costly garment of the world with him, the robbers kill because of the garment.
The one who carries water with him, the wolves kill because of the water, since
they were thirsty for it. The one who is anxious about meat and green
vegetables, the lions eat because of the meat. If he evades the lions, the
bulls devour him because of the green vegetables."
When he had said
these things to me, I sighed within myself, saying, "Great hardships are
on the road! If only Jesus would give us power to walk it!" He looked at
me since my face was sad, and I sighed. He said to me, "Why do you sigh,
if you, indeed, know this name "Jesus" and believe him? He is a great
power for giving strength. For I too believe in the Father who sent him."
I replied,
asking him, "What is the name of the place to which you go, your
city?" He said to me, "This is the name of my city, 'Nine Gates.' Let
us praise God as we are mindful that the tenth is the head." After this I
went away from him in peace.
As I was about
to go and call my friends, I saw waves and large high walls surrounding the
bounds of the city. I marveled at the great things I saw. I saw an old man
sitting and I asked him if the name of the city was really Habitation. He
[...], "Habitation [...]." He said to me, "You speak truly, for
we inhabit here because we endure."
I responded,
saying, "Justly [...] have men named it [...], because (by) everyone who
endures his trials, cities are inhabited, and a precious kingdom comes from
them, because they endure in the midst of the apostasies and the difficulties
of the storms. So that in this way, the city of everyone who endures the burden
of his yoke of faith will be inhabited, and he will be included in the kingdom
of heaven."
I hurried and
went and called my friends so that we might go to the city that he, Lithargoel,
appointed for us. In a bond of faith we forsook everything as he had said (to
do). We evaded the robbers, because they did not find their garments with us.
We evaded the wolves, because they did not find the water with us for which
they thirsted. We evaded the lions, because they did not find the desire for meat
with us. We evaded the bulls [...] they did not find green vegetables.
A great joy
came upon us and a peaceful carefreeness like that of our Lord. We rested
ourselves in front of the gate, and we talked with each other about that which
is not a distraction of this world. Rather we continued in contemplation of the
faith.
As we discussed
the robbers on the road, whom we evaded, behold Lithargoel, having changed,
came out to us. He had the appearance of a physician, since an unguent box was
under his arm, and a young disciple was following him carrying a pouch full of
medicine. We did not recognize him.
Peter responded
and said to him, "We want you to do us a favor, because we are strangers,
and take us to the house of Lithargoel before evening comes." He said,
"In uprightness of heart I will show it to you. But I am amazed at how you
knew this good man. For he does not reveal himself to every man, because he
himself is the son of a great king. Rest yourselves a little so that I may go
and heal this man and come (back)." He hurried and came (back) quickly.
He said to
Peter, "Peter!" And Peter was frightened, for how did he know that
his name was Peter? Peter responded to the Savior, "How do you know me,
for you called my name?" Lithargoel answered, "I want to ask you who
gave the name Peter to you?" He said to him, "It was Jesus Christ,
the son of the living God. He gave this name to me." He answered and said,
"It is I! Recognize me, Peter." He loosened the garment, which
clothed him - the one into which he had changed himself because of us -
revealing to us in truth that it was he.
We prostrated
ourselves on the ground and worshipped him. We comprised eleven disciples. He
stretched forth his hand and caused us to stand. We spoke with him humbly. Our
heads were bowed down in unworthiness as we said, "What you wish we will
do. But give us power to do what you wish at all times."
He gave them
the unguent box and the pouch that was in the hand of the young disciple. He
commanded them like this, saying, "Go into the city from which you came,
which is called Habitation. Continue in endurance as you teach all those who
have believed in my name, because I have endured in hardships of the faith. I
will give you your reward. To the poor of that city give what they need in
order to live until I give them what is better, which I told you that I will
give you for nothing."
Peter answered
and said to him, "Lord, you have taught us to forsake the world and
everything in it. We have renounced them for your sake. What we are concerned
about (now) is the food for a single day. Where will we be able to find the
needs that you ask us to provide for the poor?"
The Lord
answered and said, "O Peter, it was necessary that you understand the
parable that I told you! Do you not understand that my name, which you teach,
surpasses all riches, and the wisdom of God surpasses gold, and silver and
precious stone(s)?"
He gave them
the pouch of medicine and said, "Heal all the sick of the city who believe
in my name." Peter was afraid to reply to him for the second time. He
signaled to the one who was beside him, who was John: "You talk this
time." John answered and said, "Lord, before you we are afraid to say
many words. But it is you who asks us to practice this skill. We have not been
taught to be physicians. How then will we know how to heal bodies as you have
told us?"
He answered
them, "Rightly have you spoken, John, for I know that the physicians of
this world heal what belongs to the world. The physicians of souls, however,
heal the heart. Heal the bodies first, therefore, so that through the real
powers of healing for their bodies, without medicine of the world, they may
believe in you, that you have power to heal the illnesses of the heart also.
"The rich
men of the city, however, those who did not see fit even to acknowledge me, but
who reveled in their wealth and pride - with such as these, therefore, do not
dine in their houses nor be friends with them, lest their partiality influence
you. For many in the churches have shown partiality to the rich, because they
also are sinful, and they give occasion for others to sin. But judge them with
uprightness, so that your ministry may be glorified, and that my name also, may
be glorified in the churches." The disciples answered and said, "Yes,
truly this is what is fitting to do."
They prostrated
themselves on the ground and worshipped him. He caused them to stand and
departed from them in peace. Amen.
The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles
Selection made from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag
Hammadi Library, revised edition. HarperCollins, San Francisco, 1990.
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