Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles

Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles

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[...] the purpose [...] after [...] us, the apostles [...]. When we were sent out to proclaim [...], we sailed [...]. Some among us were troubled in their hearts concerning the body, but in our hearts we were one. We agreed to carry out the ministry that the Lord had appointed for us, and we made a covenant with one another.

We went down to the sea at the fitting time that had come to us from the Lord. We found a ship lying at the shore, ready to sail, and we spoke with its sailors about taking us aboard. They received us kindly, according to what the Lord had ordained.

After we had embarked, we sailed for one day and one night. Then a wind rose behind the ship and carried us to a small city in the midst of the sea. I, Peter, asked some men standing at the landing place, ‘What is the name of this city?’

One of them answered, ‘The name of this city is Habitation, that is, Foundation upon Endurance.’

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When we had come ashore with our belongings, I entered the city to seek information concerning lodging for us. A man came out wearing a cloth bound about his waist with a golden belt. A covering was fastened over his breast, passed over his shoulders, and veiled his head and his hands.

I looked closely at the man because of the beauty of his form and his stature. Four parts of his body were visible to me: the soles of his feet, part of his breast, the palms of his hands, and his face. In his left hand he carried something like the cover of one of my books, and in his right hand he held a staff of fragrant wood.

He walked slowly through the city, and his voice rang out as he cried, ‘Pearls! Pearls!’

Believing that he was a citizen of that place, I said to him, ‘My brother and my friend.’

He answered me, ‘You have rightly called me “my brother and my friend.” What do you seek from me?’

I said, ‘I ask you concerning lodging for me and for the brothers, because we are strangers here.’

He said to me, ‘For this reason I also called you my brother and my friend, because I too am a stranger, as you are.’ Then again he cried aloud, ‘Pearls! Pearls!’

The rich men of the city heard his voice. They came out from their hidden storerooms; some looked from the storerooms of their houses, and others looked down from their upper windows. They saw that he carried neither bag nor bundle, neither on his back nor beneath his garment. They despised him and would not even greet him. He did not reveal himself to them. They returned to their storerooms, saying, ‘This man is mocking us.’

But the poor of the city heard his voice and came to the pearl merchant. They said, ‘Please show us the pearl, so that our eyes may see it. We are poor and have no money with which to buy it. Show it to us, and we will tell our companions that we have seen a pearl with our own eyes.’

He answered them, ‘If you are able, come to my city. There I will not only show it to you, but I will give it to you freely.’

The poor said, ‘We are beggars, and we know that no one gives a pearl to a beggar. Beggars receive bread and small coins. We ask only that you show us the pearl, so that we may boast to our companions that we saw one with our own eyes, for a pearl is not found among the poor, especially among beggars.’

He answered them again, ‘If you are able, come to my city. I will not only show it to you, but will give it to you freely.’ The poor and the beggars rejoiced because of the man who gives freely.

I said to the pearl merchant, ‘I desire to know your name and the hardships of the road to your city. We are strangers and servants of God, and it is necessary for us to proclaim the word of God peacefully in every city.’

He answered, ‘If you seek my name, it is Lithargoel, which means “the light, gazelle-like stone.” Concerning the road to the city, I will tell you. No one can walk that road except the one who has renounced everything he possesses and who fasts daily from place to place, because many robbers and wild beasts are on that road.

‘Whoever carries bread on the road is killed by black dogs because of the bread. Whoever wears a costly garment of the world is killed by robbers because of the garment. Whoever carries water is killed by wolves because they thirst for it. Whoever is anxious for meat and fresh vegetables is devoured by lions because of the meat; and if he escapes the lions, bulls consume him because of the vegetables.’

When he had said these things to me, I groaned within myself, saying, ‘Great are the hardships of the road. May Jesus give us power to walk upon it.’

Seeing that my face had fallen and that I was groaning, he said to me, ‘If you know the name Jesus and believe in him, why do you groan? He is a great power and gives strength. I also believe in the Father who sent him.’

I said to him, ‘What is the name of your city, the place to which you are going?’

He answered me, ‘The name of my city is Nine Gates. Let us praise God, for we know that the tenth is the chief gate.’ Then I departed from him in peace.

When I was about to go and call my companions, I saw waves like great walls of water surrounding the boundaries of the city, and I marvelled at the mighty things that I saw.

I asked an old man who was sitting nearby whether the name of the city was truly Habitation. He answered me, ‘You have spoken rightly, for we dwell here because we endure.’

I said, ‘Rightly has Endurance been called the first virtue. All who endure their trials inhabit cities and establish a worthy kingdom, because they endure amid the deceits and troubles of the storms. Thus the city of everyone who bears the weight of the yoke of faith is inhabited, and they are admitted into the kingdom of heaven.’

I hurried away and called my companions so that we might go to the city that Lithargoel had appointed for us. Trusting the promise, we renounced everything, just as he had instructed us.

We escaped the robbers because they found none of their garments upon us. We escaped the wolves because they found no water with us to quench their thirst. We escaped the lions because they found in us no desire for meat. We escaped the bulls because they found no fresh vegetables with us.

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Great joy came upon us, together with a peaceful freedom from care like that which dwells in our Lord. Before the gate we rested and spoke with one another, not concerning the distractions of the world, but remaining in contemplation of the faith.

While we were speaking about the robbers from whom we had escaped on the road, behold, Lithargoel came out toward us, but his appearance had changed. He had the form of a physician, with a medicine box beneath his arm. A young disciple followed him, carrying a bag filled with medicines. We did not recognize him.

Peter said to him, ‘Grant us a kindness, for we are strangers. Before evening comes, show us the house of Lithargoel.’

He answered, ‘With an upright heart I will show it to you. But I marvel that you know this good man, for he does not reveal himself to everyone. He is the son of a mighty king. Rest a little while I go and heal this man, and then I shall return.’

He went quickly and returned quickly. Then he said, ‘Peter!’

Peter was afraid, because the man knew his name. Peter answered, ‘How do you know me, that you have called me by name?’

Lithargoel said, ‘I wish to ask you: who gave you the name Peter?’

He answered him, ‘Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, gave me this name.’

He said, ‘Recognize me, Peter. It is I.’ Then he loosened the garment with which he had covered himself for our sake, and he revealed who he was.

We fell to the ground and worshiped him. We were eleven disciples. He stretched out his hand and raised us. We spoke with him humbly, our heads bowed because we were unworthy.

We said, ‘We will do your will. Only give us power at all times to accomplish it.’

He gave us the medicine box and the pouch that the young disciple had carried, and he commanded us, saying, ‘Go into the city from which you came, the city called Habitation. Continue in endurance while teaching all who have believed in my name, for I myself endured the trials of the faith. I will give you your reward.

‘Give the poor of that city what they need for life until I give them something better, that which I promised to give freely.’

Peter answered him, ‘Lord, you commanded us to renounce the world and everything in it, and we have renounced them for your sake. We are concerned only about our food for each day. From where shall we obtain what you command us to give to the poor?’

The Lord answered, ‘Peter, it was necessary that you should understand the parable I spoke to you. The name that you teach - do you not understand that it surpasses every treasure, and that the wisdom of God surpasses gold, silver, and every precious stone?’

He gave them the medicine pouch and said, ‘Go into the city and heal all the sick who believe in my name.’

Peter was afraid to answer him a second time, so he motioned to John, who stood beside him, saying, ‘You speak this time.’

John answered, ‘Lord, we fear to speak much in your presence, though you have commanded us to make use of this gift. We were not taught to be physicians. How, then, shall we know how to heal bodies, as you have commanded us?’

He answered them, ‘You have spoken rightly, John. The physicians of this world heal what belongs to the world, but physicians of the soul heal the heart. Therefore heal bodies first, not with medicines of the world, but by the true powers of healing, so that those who are healed may believe that you also possess power to heal the sicknesses of the heart.

‘The rich men of the city considered me unworthy even of their greeting. They delighted in their riches and pride. Do not eat in the houses of such people, and do not become their companions, lest their partiality influence you. Many in the assemblies show favour to the rich because they too are sinful and lead others into sin. Judge with uprightness, so that your ministry may be glorified and my name may also be glorified in the assemblies.’

The disciples answered, ‘Truly, this is what is right.’ They fell to the ground and worshiped him.

He raised them up and departed from them in peace. Amen.