What is the Acts of Peter?

Answer

The Acts of Peter is one of several texts that purport to recount the deeds of the apostles following Jesus’ resurrection. Similar accounts attribute events to John, Andrew, Thomas, Paul, Philip, Barnabas, and others. These writings were not endorsed by the early church but were deemed heretical by the church fathers due to their promotion of deviant teachings. The Acts of Peter and related texts seem to have been composed in the second and third centuries to advance Gnosticism.

The Acts of Peter is merely a captivating work of fiction, not a narrative that can be regarded in the same light as inspired Scripture. While some elements in the Acts of Peter and other Gnostic writings may align with traditions about the apostles, none of their contents can be deemed entirely trustworthy.

The Acts of Peter conforms to the typical patterns seen in later apocryphal tales of the apostles. It features accounts of miracles that are more extravagant and theatrical than those documented in the biblical gospels or the book of Acts. The Acts of Peter was likely penned no earlier than the conclusion of the second century, well after the remaining New Testament books had been finalized and circulated. Furthermore, the text promotes Gnostic themes such as a contempt for the physical body, sexuality, and material possessions.

One of the few notable aspects of the Acts of Peter is its mention of Peter’s unconventional crucifixion. This writing is among the earliest known records indicating that Peter was crucified upside down. References to Peter’s decision to be crucified differently from Jesus can also be found in fragments of other ancient texts, although these references are often standalone and not part of the broader Acts of Peter. Historians suggest that written depictions of Peter’s crucifixion may have preceded the apocryphal accounts, but there is no additional evidence to corroborate this event.