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TheActs of Peter and Paul is apseudepigraphical 5th century Christian text of the genreActs of the Apostles. An alternate version exists, known as thePassion of Peter and Paul (Passio sanctorum Petri et Pauli), with variances in the introductory part of the text. Some versions have been written by a certain Marcellus, thus the anonymous author, of whom nothing further is known and is sometimes referred to aspseudo-Marcellus. The intended Marcellus is doubtless he who after the martyrdom takes the lead in burying St. Peter "near the Naumachia in the place called the Vatican."[1]
The text is framed as the tale ofPaul's journey from the island of "Gaudomeleta" (probablyGozo) toRome, where it also claims that on the way the ship also lands inMelita.[2] It assignsPeter as Paul's brother. It also describes the death of Paul bybeheading, an earlychurch tradition.
The text often includes a letter purporting to be fromPilate, known asActs of Pilate (orEpistle ofPontius Pilate).
ThePassio, which appears in numerous medieval manuscripts,[3] was known toJacobus de Voragine who noted in hisvita[4] of theApostle Peter, "His martyrdom wrote Marcellus, Linus pope, Hegesippus, and Leo the pope." There are twoOld English analogues,Ælfric'sPassio Apostolorum Petri et Pauli and the anonymousBlickling Homily 15,Spel Be Petrus & Paulus.[5]
The work appears to have been based on theActs of Peter, with the addition of Paul's presence where before it was only Peter's.[citation needed] The work is dated to around 450 to 550. Latin as well as Greek versions survive, with the latter usually being longer. The Latin versions sometimes end with "I, Marcellus, have written what I saw." This Marcellus is identified as a disciple ofSimon Magus, who lived in the 1st century. Because of this obvious anachronism, since the text is clearly written centuries later, scholars have dubbed himPseudo-Marcellus.[6]
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