The Lost Scriptures – Non-Canonical Acts of the Apostles.

The Acts of Paul

“Luke, who had come from Gaul, and Titus, who had come from Dalmatia, expected Paul at Rome. When Paul saw them he rejoiced and rented a barn outside Rome where he and the brethren taught the word of truth. He became famous and many souls were added to the Lord, so that it was noised about in Rome and a great many from the house of the emperor came to him and there was much joy. A certain Patroclus, a cupbearer of the emperor, who had come too late to the barn and could not get near to Paul on account of the throng of the people, sat on a high window, and listened as he taught the word of God. But Satan, being wicked, became jealous of the love of the brethren and Patroclus fell down from the window and died; speedily it was reported to Nero. Paul, however, having learned it by Spirit said, “Brethren, the evil one has obtained a way to tempt you; go forth and you will find a boy who has fallen down and is dying. Lift him up and bring him here.” This they did. When the people saw him they were frightened. Paul said to them, “Now, brethren, show your faith. Come, let us mourn to our Lord Jesus Christ, that the boy might live and we remain unharmed.” When all began to lament, the boy took breath and, having put him on an animal, they sent him away alive with all those who were of the emperor’s house.”

The Acts of Paul is not preserved in its entirety. What we do have is in large fragments – making it difficult to piece them together to make a whole. Some books include The Acts of Paul with the The Acts of Thecla calling it The Acts of Paul and Thecla – and some with the pseudonymous letter of 3 Corinthians. All of these give accounts of Paul’s life – including a talking lion whom Paul converts and baptizes.

The Acts of Paul is mainly composed for entertainment and uplifting. The humor is evident, for example in the story of Paul’s baptism of a lion, and their conversation while in a stadium where Paul is to be devoured by beasts — the lion and Paul escape when hail kills many people in the stadium, which allows the two to escape. There are stories in the bible that clearly contain conversations or events that are meant more for humor than for teaching or theological insight. The talking donkey and Balaam are just one example we find in the Old Testament (Numbers 22:21ff). In a conversation I had recently with some of my parishioners, we were discussing how we enjoy the humor that members are sharing with one another as they share their faith. Not only is humor scriptural, it is edifying and uplifting – and has as place in the life of Christians.

Pastor Dave

The Lost Scriptures – Non-Canonical Acts of the Apostles.

The Book of Acts is the only account of the growth of the early church and the activities of the Apostles of Jesus. The tradition handed down to us is that the writer of the Gospel of Luke also wrote the Book of Acts. In the second century, numerous accounts of the endeavors of the Apostles were written – only one made the canon. These narratives, like the Book of Acts, also recount the miraculous acts of the Apostles who were empowered by the Holy Spirit. They heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead just like they do in Acts. And, just like in Acts, they encounter many obstacles in their effort to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Now, unlike the Book of Acts, many of these accounts have an ascetic theology – stressing the need for true followers of Christ to abandon the pleasures of this world. They are often taught to shun wholesome daily activities of life like having children, and being committed to family ideals. These were looked upon as taking away from time with G-d. For the authors of these books, it is the true worship of G-d and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus that are the most important activities in life.

The Acts of John

 “22 And even as John thus cried out, the city of the Ephesians ran together to the house of Lycomedes, hearing that he was dead. And John, beholding the great multitude that was come, said unto the Lord: Now is the time of refreshment and of confidence toward thee, O Christ; now is the time for us who are sick to have the help that is of thee, O physician who healest freely; keep thou mine entering in hither safe from derision. I beseech thee, Jesu, succour this great multitude that it may come to thee who art Lord of all things: behold the affliction, behold them that lie here. Do thou prepare, even from them that are assembled for that end, holy vessels for thy service, when they behold thy gift. For thyself hast said, O Christ, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you’. We ask therefore of thee, O king, not gold, not silver, not substance, not possessions, nor aught of what is on earth and perisheth, but two souls, by whom thou shalt convert them that are here unto thy way, unto thy teaching, unto thy liberty (confidence), unto thy most excellent (or unfailing) promise: for when they perceive thy power in that those that have died are raised, they will be saved, some of them. Do thou thyself, therefore, give them hope in thee: and so go I unto Cleopatra and say: Arise in the name of Jesus Christ.

23 And he came to her and touched her face and said: Cleopatra, He saith, whom every ruler feareth, and every creature and every power, the abyss and all darkness, and unsmiling death, and the height of heaven, and the circles of hell [and the resurrection of the dead, and the sight of the blind], and the whole power of the prince of this world, and the pride of the ruler: Arise, and be not an occasion unto many that desire not to believe, or an affliction unto souls that are able to hope and to be saved. And Cleopatra straightway cried with a loud voice: I arise, master: save thou thine handmaid. Now when she had arisen [who for incurable lain had] seven days, the city of the Ephesians was moved at the unlooked -for sight. And Cleopatra asked concerning her husband Lycomedes, but John said to her: Cleopatra, if thou keep thy soul unmoved and steadfast, thou shalt forthwith have Lycomedes thine husband standing here beside thee, if at least thou be not disturbed nor moved at that which hath befallen, having believed on my God, who by my means shall grant him unto thee alive. Come therefore with me into thine other bedchamber, and thou shalt behold him, a dead corpse indeed, but raised again by the power of my God.”

Zebedee had two sons – James and John. The Acts of John is an accounting of the exploits of his son John – the John some think was the disciple Jesus loved, and author of the Gospel of John. In this book, John has remarkable power – he can raise the dead and heal the sick. One of the excerpts narrates his most remarkable deed – raising Lycomedes and his wife, a leader from the city of Ephesus.

But there also exists stories about bedbugs whom John orders to stop bothering his sleep (the bedbugs obey). One of the most interesting episodes in this text is where Jesus is dancing with his disciples. There is a great hymn that Jesus sings as the disciples throw  in a constant “Amen”. Jesus is reported to have said “Let us sing a hymn to the Father, and so go forth to that which lieth before us.” We know that the disciples sang hymns – there is an account of the group singing a hymn the night before Jesus was betrayed (Matthew 26:30) and some of the accounts come after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus as the apostles are spreading the good news of Jesus (Acts 16:25). Though we have just a few examples in our scriptures of his singing, it gives us pause to think of Jesus dancing – a pause of joy and contentment.

Pastor Dave