Apocrypha
Acts of Philip
Apocryphal Acts
3 chapters · read and listen
Reading note
An apocryphal or pseudepigraphal text — outside the canon of the Western churches, yet widely circulated among ancient Jews and Christians. Published here from a public-domain translation, edited for continuous reading.
Chapters
Dossier
The travels and martyrdom of Philip, accompanied by his sister Mariamne and by Bartholomew, in a city where a serpent was worshipped.
Where this text comes from
Greek, 4th century AD. A manuscript found at Mount Athos in 1974 revealed previously unknown sections, including a much larger role for Mariamne.
Why it is not in the Bible
Outside every canon.
What you will find
- Mariamne is a companion in mission on equal footing, which drew attention when the fuller manuscript appeared.
- The leopard and the kid who speak and are converted travel with the group.
- Philip is crucified upside down and curses his executioners — and Jesus rebukes him for it.
Frequently asked questions
- Who was Mariamne in the Acts of Philip?
- She is presented as Philip's sister and fellow missionary, active in preaching and baptising. Some scholars discuss her relationship to traditions about Mary Magdalene.