Sunday, March 22, 2026 · 天火 · tianmu.org
Apocryphal Acts
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Texts
Teaching of Addaeus the ApostleThe fullest surviving version of the Abgar legend -- King Abgar of Edessa's correspondence with Jesus and the apostle Addaeus's mission to heal the king and evangelise Osroene.The Acts and Martyrdom of AndrewAndrew's final mission to Patras and his rapturous four-day address to the cross before death -- one of the most celebrated passages in apocryphal literature.The Acts and Martyrdom of MatthewMatthew's mission to the city of man-eaters, where a miraculous rod grows into a tree that transforms cannibals into believers, fire turns to dew, and the apostle's iron coffin rises from the sea on the arm of a cross.The Acts of AndrewAn apocryphal account of Andrew's missionary journeys through Asia Minor and Greece, culminating in his crucifixion on the X-shaped cross at Patras -- one of the five major apocryphal Acts of the Apostles.The Acts of Andrew and MatthewAn early Christian adventure in which Andrew sails on a ship piloted by the disguised Christ to rescue Matthew from a city of cannibals, enduring tortures and calling down a flood to bring repentance.The Acts of BarnabasA first-person narrative by John Mark of his travels with Barnabas across Cyprus -- baptising, healing, and confronting the hostile Barjesus -- ending with Barnabas burned alive at Salamis.The Acts of JohnOne of the earliest apocryphal Acts, following the Apostle John through Asia Minor with a polymorphic Christ who appears differently to every eye, culminating in the extraordinary Hymn of Christ danced in a ring.The Acts of John the TheologianA late apocryphal narrative of the Apostle John's journey to Rome under Domitian, the poison cup ordeal, exile to Patmos, and his mysterious disappearance in Ephesus where only his sandals were found.The Acts of PaulOne of the five major apocryphal Acts, preserving the famous physical description of Paul, the beloved story of Thecla, and his elaborate martyrdom under Nero in Rome.The Acts of PeterOne of the five major apocryphal Acts, centering on Peter's conflict with Simon Magus in Rome, the Quo Vadis scene, and Peter's inverted crucifixion -- hung head downward at his own request.The Acts of Peter and AndrewAn apocryphal narrative of Peter and Andrew's joint mission to a barbarian city, famous for the literalized miracle of a camel passing through the eye of a needle.The Acts of Peter and PaulA composite account of Peter and Paul's confrontation with Simon Magus in Rome and their joint martyrdom -- Peter crucified upside-down, Paul beheaded on the Ostesian Road.The Acts of PhilipA sprawling apocryphal cycle of the Apostle Philip's adventures from Athens to Hierapolis, featuring a speaking leopard, a brass dragon, and Philip's martyrdom hung upside down.The Acts of ThomasThe only complete surviving apocryphal Acts of the Apostles, following Judas Thomas from his sale as a slave to India through miracles, hymns of extraordinary beauty, and radical asceticism.The Consummation of ThomasThe closing martyrdom episode of the Acts of Thomas, recounting the apostle's imprisonment, trial, and execution by spears in India at the command of King Misdeus.The Martyrdom of MatthewAn alternate account of Matthew's death in Myrna, where a miraculous staff becomes a tree, fire turns to dew, golden idols melt, and the apostle's iron coffin rises from the sea borne by angels.