In the Acts of Paul, Paul is presented as stating: “Caesar, it is not for a little space that I live unto my king; and if thou behead me, this will I do: I will arise and show myself unto thee that I am not dead but live unto my Lord Jesus Christ, who cometh to judge the world. ” Subsequently in the narrative, Paul is beheaded, and we’re told that “when the executioner (speculator) struck off his head, milk spurted upon the cloak of the soldier.”
As the narrative continues, we read “Paul came about the ninth hour, when many philosophers and the centurion were standing with Caesar, and stood before them all and said: ‘Caesar, behold, I, Paul, the soldier of God, am not dead, but live in my God. But unto thee shall many evils befall and great punishment, thou wretched man, because thou hast shed unjustly the blood of the righteous, not many days hence.’ And having so said Paul departed from him. But Nero hearing it and being greatly troubled commanded the prisoners to be loosed, and Patroclus also and Barsabas and them that were with him. And as Paul charged them, Longus and Cestus the centurion went early in the morning and approached with fear unto the grave of Paul. And when they were come thither they saw two men praying, and Paul betwixt them…”
I find myself rather puzzled as to the view of the resurrection that the author of this text had. Was this understood to be a restoration of Paul’s body to life, including a reattachment of his head? Or was it Paul’s “spirit” that appeared? The claim that Paul “lives” seems disconnected from anything to do with the whereabouts of his physical body after the decapitation.
Any thoughts on this?
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In