Acta Philippi

103 And Philip said: Now is the time to remember the Lord’s words: Fear nothing, neither persecution, nor the serpents of that land, nor the dark dragon. Let us stand fast and his power will fail; and pray and sprinkle the air from the cup and the smoke will

104 So they took the cup and prayed: Thou that sheddest dew on all pyres and bridlest darkness, putting a bit into the dragon’s mouth, bringing to nought his anger, turning back the wickedness of the enemy and plunging him into his own fire, shutting his doors and stopping the exits and buffeting his pride: come and be with us in this desert, for we run by thy will and at thy bidding.

105 And he said: Now stand and raise your hands, with the cup you hold, and sprinkle the air in the form of the cross.

106 And there was as a flash of lightning which blinded the dragon and its brood; and they were withered up; and the rays of the sun entered the holes and broke the eggs. But the apostles closed their eyes, unable to face the lightning, and remained unhurt.

[*](It does not seem as if much could have intervened between this Act and the Martyrdom, except perhaps the conversion of some people in the snake-city. However, the manuscripts give a title thus:)

Out of the Travels of Philip the Apostle: from the fifteenth Act to the end, wherein is the Martyrdom.

107 (Introductory.) In the days of Trajan, after the Martyrdom of Simon, son of Clopas, bishop of Jerusalem, successor to James, Philip the apostle was preaching through all the cities of Lydia and Asia.

108 And he came to the city Ophioryme (Snakestreet), which is called Hierapolis of Asia, and was received by Stachys,[*](One manuscript tells that he had been cured of blindness that lasted forty years.) a believer. And with him were Bartholomew, one of the Seventy, and his sister Mariamne, and their disciples. And they assembled at Stachys’ house.

109 And Mariamne sat and listened to Philip discoursing.

110-112 He spoke of the snares of the dragon, who has no shape in creation, and is recognized and shunned by beasts and birds.

113 For the men of the place worshipped the snake and had images of it; and called Hierapolis Ophioryme. And many were converted.

114 And Nicanora the proconsul’s wife believed; she was diseased, especially in her eyes, and had been healed. She now came in a silver litter.

115 And Mariamne said in Hebrew Alikaman, ikasame, marmari, mastranan, achaman, which means: O daughter of the father, my lady, who wast given as a pledge to the serpent, Christ is come to thee (and much more).

116 And Nicanora said: I am a Hebrew, speak to me in my fathers’ tongue. I heard of your preaching and was healed.

117 And they prayed for her.

118 But her tyrant husband came and said: How is this? who has healed you?

119 And she said: Depart from me, and lead a chaste and sober life.

120 And he dragged her by the hair and threatened to kill her. And the apostles were arrested,

121 and scourged and dragged to the temple,

122 and shut up in it

123 The people and priests came and demanded vengeance on the sorcerers.

124 The proconsul was afraid of his wife, for he had been almost blinded by a wonderful light when he looked through the window at her when praying.