The Acts of Philip: A New Translation

Translation of the Acts of Philip

31 Translation of the Acts of Philip The First Act of the Holy Apostle Philip When, Going Forth from Galilee, He Raised the Dead Man Xenophontos 32 (A) 1. When Philip the apostle went forth from Galilee, a widow was carrying out for burial her only child, who was all she had. Now the apostle was very distressed in his soul when he saw the poor old woman tearing out her hair and disfiguring her face. He said to her: “What religion was your son practicing when he died so young?” She replied: “Pardon me, I beg you, and do not interrogate me. For my heart has been cut in two, my voice given out, and I am unable to tell you the whole story. As one who has never wronged the gods, allow me to mourn this one not to be named, even though he is my son. I used to sacrifice daily—not a few offerings to Ares; spending quite lavishly on Apollo; for Hermes I have nearly broken my soul; I have sacrificed calves to Artemis; I brought a wreath to Zeus; I have offered goats for whole burnt-offerings to Athena; in a word, for as many gods as there are, I brought gifts to all, even to the Sun itself and to the Moon. Yet I believe that they have fallen asleep as regards me; I have cried out so much, but they have not heard me. Finally, constrained by necessity, I found a man who said he was a seer, and he said to me: ‘For what reason, mother, do 32 The Acts of Philip you wish me to practice my divination?’ But he proved to be in no way unlike the gods, for everything he predicted to me was false. So divinations were useless to me and the gods worthless and blind. Indeed, is it possible that even I myself am like these impostors to whom I lost my goods, attending to worthless idols? I have lost my soul, and with it my money. For whoever worships idols or consults an oracle is cursed. Woe is me, from whom will I demand my money back, which I lost in vain by offering to idols and seers? I have despised the Christians; and now I have lost my son, who was all I had.” 2. The apostle said: “You have not suffered anything strange, mother, having been deceived in such a way by the enemy who destroys souls; for this is how the devil deceives people and they fall short of eternal life. But as for you, stop mourning, for now I will raise your child by the power of my God Jesus Christ, who was crucified, buried, rose from the dead, and rules forever—whoever believes in him receives life eternal.” The old woman said: “May the things being said to me [. . .]1 of salvation , stranger, and as you are truly an apostle of God, help me in my old age, which has gone badly. While I suffered such evils, I prayed that I might die but I was not heard. Perhaps rather it is profitable not to marry or even not to eat any of those things that afterward agitate the body, wine and meat, but rather to eat bread and water, and avoid grief, many evils, and bitter suffering.” 3. The apostle said to her: “Truly, mother, you do not utter this from yourself, but already the Savior speaks through you about purity. And what do you think about purity? Because God associates with purity itself,2 and it creates much jealousy among people. For since they are not able to be pure or to drink water alone, they are eager to allege anything falsely against those who lead their lives purely. Therefore, God has blessed the latter. For God said: ‘Blessed are you when people speak every lie against you. Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in the heavens, and on earth you will be able to silence demons without being anxious, since you have as a father Jesus, the crucified.’” After the apostle said these things, the old woman replied: “I believe in Jesus and in holy virginity.” 1 Not more than three words missing. 2 The “purity” referred to here is not only moral but mystical since it facilitates communication with the divine. See the claim at 4.1 that “purity sees God.” [3.149.255.162] Project MUSE (2024-04-25 15:31 GMT...