Acts of Cornelius

Acta Corneliī

Standard abbreviation: Acts Corn.

Other titles: none

Clavis numbers: ECCA 303

Category: Apocryphal Acts

Related literature: Acts 10:1–11:18

Compiled by Tony Burke, York University

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Acts of Cornelius.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/acts-of-cornelius/.

Created June 2016. Current as of January 2024.

1. SUMMARY

The Acts of Cornelius narrates the exploits of the well-known centurion of the Italian Cohort and god-fearer of Acts 10:1–11:18. The story begins with a retelling of Cornelius’s conversion and baptism by Peter. After the death of Stephen (as told in Acts 11:19), the apostles flee Jerusalem and Cornelius is then selected by lot to evangelize Skepsis, “a city subjected to idols.” The city is ruled by Demetrius, a worshipper of Apollo and Zeus and a persecutor of Christians. When Cornelius arrives, Demetrius demands he sacrifice to the gods. Cornelius is brought to the shrine of Zeus, where he prays to God to destroy the idols, and it collapses. Demetrius learns that his wife and son are trapped in the rubble; so he brings Cornelius to free them from their tomb. Again he prays and the ground opens, freeing the victims. The entire city become believers and Cornelius remains in the city to teach and to baptize. When Cornelius dies, his body is placed in a coffin near the destroyed shrine of Zeus. Over time the coffin is hidden by foliage and Cornelius’s resting place is lost to memory until a certain Silvanus, bishop of Troas, visits the area and has a dream in which Cornelius reveals to him the location of his coffin and commands Silvanus to build him a sanctuary. Once the sanctuary is built (thanks in part to a wealthy benefactor named Eugenius), Silvanus leads the congregation in a procession to the sanctuary; the coffin follows the supplicants into the shrine “as if alive” and comes to rest beside the altar. Time passes again, until Philostorgius, the bishop of Skepsis, commissions a painter named Encratius to decorate the shrine with an image of Cornelius. Unfortunately, Encratius does not know what Cornelius looked like. Nevertheless, he gets to work but falls from the ladder to his death; but Cornelius appears and heals the painter, thus providing an opportunity for Encratius to see Cornelius’s features and complete his task. Acts Corn. exists also in a shorter form, which essentially tells the same story except for an epilogue in which the painting and the hand of Cornelius are transferred from Skepsis to Cornelius’s home in Caesarea Palaestina.

Named Historical Figures and Characters: Aeneas, Apollo, Barbarus, Barbatos, Cornelius the Centurion, Daniel (prophet), David (king), Demetrius (of Skepsis), Demetrius (son of Demetrius), Dorcas (Tabitha), Encratius, Eugenius, Eunomius (presbyter) Evanthia (of Skepsis), John (deacon), Julian (secretary), Pamphilus (metropolitan), Peter (apostle), Philostorgius (bishop), Silvanus (bishop), Simon the tanner, Stephen (martyr), Telephon, Timothy, Zeus.

Geographical Locations: Abydos, Antioch, Caesarea Palaestina, Cyprus, Jerusalem, Joppa, Lydda, Pheonicia, Skepsis, Troas.

2. RESOURCES

2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Resources

“Cornelius the Centurion.” Wikipedia.

Entry for Cornelius in the Upper Egypt Coptic Synaxarium published by the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Chicago.

2.2 Art and Iconography

Illustration of Cornelius in the Menologion of Basil II.

The Menologion of Basil II, Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1613, p. 125 (10th cent.)

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Arabic

Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, arab. 539, fols. 208^v–218^v (12th cent.)

3.1.2 Ethiopic

Ambassal (Wallo), Monastery of Hayq Estifānos, EMML 1824, fols. 64^r–75^v (early 15th cent.)—follows closely the form of the text in Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1489; translated from Arabic.

3.1.3 Greek

3.1.3.1 Long Recension (BHG 371; BHG 371b; BHG 370y)

M  Mount Athos, Monē Pantokratoros, 53, fols. 209^v–215^v (12th cent.; initially designated a separate recension as BHG 370y, but once it was discovered that it simply lacks the first three chapters, the designation was changed to BHG 371b) ~ Pinakes

A  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1489,  fols. 96^v–105^v (11th cent.)

Bolland, Jean et al., eds. Acta Sanctorum, Februarius. Vol. 1 (=Acta Sanctorum vol. 4). Antwerp: P. Jacobs, 1658; 3rd. ed. Paris: V. Palmé, 1863 (Latin translation of BNF gr. 1489, pp. 281–87).

Migne, Jacques Paul. Patrologiae cursus completus: Series graeca. Vol. 114. Paris: Cerf, 1861 (editio princeps of the text from Paris, gr. 1489 with Latin translation, cols. 1293–1312).

Additional manuscripts:

Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Library, 94, fols. 1–15 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 224, fols. 44^v–46^r (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 976, fols. 74^r–79^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 978, fols. 88^r–95^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; EBE

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 988, fols. 115^v–126^r (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 995, fols. 86^r–93^v (14th/15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 1006, fols. 121^v–133^r (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes; EBE

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 1045, fols. 64^r–70^v (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2095, fols. 81^v–89^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; EBE

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2097, fols. 92^r–100^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2109, fols. 109^r–116^v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2541, fols. 37^v–41^v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2559, fols. 108^v–118^r (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Belgium, Bibliothèque Royale Albert Ier, 8229 (3334), fols. 59–67 (17th/18th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Belgium, Bibliothèque Royale Albert Ier, 8230 (3335), fols. 72^v–75 (17th/18th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Chicago, University of Chicago, Joseph Regenstein Library, 938, fols. 94^v–102^r (11th/12th cent.)

Escorial, Real Biblioteca, y.II.05 (Andrés 313), fols. 77^v–84^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Escorial, Real Biblioteca, y.II.08 (Andrés 316), fols. 52–61 (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Escorial, Real Biblioteca, y.II.09 (Andrés 317), fols. 79^v–87 (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Firenze, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Plut. 11.20, fols. 86–94 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BML

Mount Athos, Monē Batopediou, 74, fols. 109–118 (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC

Mount Athos, Monē Batopediou, 435, fols. 111–114 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Batopediou, 486, fols. 117^v–128^v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Hagiou Panteleēmonos, 201, pp. 152–156 (19th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Ibērōn, 1450, pp. 351–365 (18th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Δ44 (Eustratiades 420) (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Δ46 (Eustratiades 422), fols. 121^v–133^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Ε52 (Eustratiades 428), fols. 50^v–57^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Ε183 (Eustratiades 645), fols. 228–248 (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Ε184 (Eustratiades 646), fols. 107–118 (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Xēropotamou, 437, pp. 41–65 (19th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Hagia Trias 76, fols. 124–134^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Hagia Trias 77, fols. 132–138 (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Hagia Trias 78, fols. 104–113^v (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Panaghia 8, fols. 93^v–103^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

London, British Library, Add. 11870, fols. 108^r–117^r (11th cent.)

Messina, Biblioteca Regionale Universitaria, S. Salv. 25, fols. 70–81 (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Messina

Messina, Biblioteca Regionale Universitaria, S. Salv. 31, fols. 83–90^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Messina

Messina, Biblioteca Regionale Universitaria, S. Salv. 41, fols. 97–106 (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Messina

Messina, Biblioteca Regionale Universitaria, S. Salv. 54, fols. 115–125 (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, F 135 sup. (Martini-Bassi 374), fols. 81^v–84^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Moscow, Gosudarstvennyj Istoričeskij Musej, Sinod. gr. 177 (Vlad 356), fols. 82^v–91 (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Barocci 230, fols. 110^v–121^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Oxford

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Cromwell 26, pp. 225–243 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Oxford Catalog

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Holkham gr. 15, fols. 79^v–87 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Oxford Catalog

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 751, fols. 174–179 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 774, fols. 46–58^v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1479, fols. 91^v–100^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1492, fols. 84–91 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1514, fols. 160, 163^r–164v, 177^r–178^v (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1515, fols. 60^v–68^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1521, fols. 123^v–132^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1523, fols. 93–95^v, 120–126 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1526, fols. 114–125 (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1555, fols. 77–80^v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1558, fols. 73–80^v (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1607, fols. 99^v–108^v (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, supp. gr. 240, fols. 147^v, 069–73^v, 100–104^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Chig. R.VII.48 (gr. 39), fols. 84–92^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Ottob. gr. 421, fols. 116–127 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. gr. 1, fols. 106–115^v (10th/11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 794, fols. 110–119^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 795, fols. 93^v–102^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 796, fols. 133–145^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1190, fols. 1301^v–1308^v (1542)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1643, fols. 72–78^v (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 2044, fols. 95^v–104^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 2047, fols. 62–67^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. VII.24 (coll. 938), fols. 72^v–79^v (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. Z 347 (coll. 692), fols. 79–86 (11th/12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. Z 586 (coll. 660), fols. 110^r–119^v (11th cent.) ~ includes miniature fol. 110^r; Pinakes

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, hist. gr. 39, fols. 78–84^v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Zaborda, Monē tou hagiou Nikanoros, 43, fols. 61^v–70^v (14th/15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

3.1.3.2 Abbreviated Text (BHG 371e)

C  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Coislin 286, fols. 185^r–186^r (14th cent.)—an excerpt of the text, covering only chaps. 1–4:2 though with many omissions.

3.1.3.3 Greek Epitome (BHG 370z)

Mount Athos, Monē Philotheou 8, fols. 57–59 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Halkin, François. “Un abrégé inédit de la vie ancienne et disparue de Corneille le Centurion.” Rivista di Studi Bizantini e Neoellenici, N.S. 1 (1964): 31–39 (editio princeps).

__________. “Une passion inédite de Corneille le centurion? (BHG³ 370y).” AnBoll 81 (1963): 28–30 (discussion of manuscript).

3.1.4 Syaxaria

3.1.4.1 Copto-Arabic Synaxarion

The Copto-Arabic Synaxarion includes a brief summary for 23 Hatur.

Basset, René. “Le Synaxaire arabe jacobite (rédaction copte) II: les mois de Hatour et de Kihak.” Patrologia orientalis 3 (1909): 243–545 (pp. 334–35).

3.1.4.2 Ethiopic Synaxarion

The Ethiopian Synaxarion (first recension) includes a summary of the text for 11 Maskaram (September 21 Julian).

Budge, Ernest A. W. The Book of the Saints of the Ethiopian Church: A Translation of the Ethiopic Synaxarium: Made from the Manuscripts Oriental 660 and 661 in the British Museum. 4 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1928 (vol. 1, p. 42).

3.1.4.5 Modern Greek Synaxarion (in English translation)

Makarios of Simonos Petra. The Synaxarion: The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. 7 vols. Trans. Christopher Hookway. Ormylia, Greece: Holy Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady, 1998 (vol. 1, pp. 94–96).

3.1.4.6 Menologion of Basil II

Preliminary translation: October 10, Commemoration of St. Cornelius the centurion. Cornelius, a centurion from Caesarea in Palestine, commander of a hundred soldiers in the time of the holy apostles, who was the first of all the gentiles to believe in Christ. For God, seeing the alms which he gave to the poor, accepted him, and instructed him through an angel to be baptized by the holy Peter. Then the ordained bishop of Scamander, when he was spreading the faith of Christ, was arrested by the prefect Dometrius, and compelled to enter the temple of the idols, and there, together with the people, his wife, and his son, to sacrifice, he prayed to God. And as soon as the earthquake took place, and the temple collapsed together with the idols, the wife and son of the governor were crushed under the fall. When they cried out under the fall, and exclaimed that the God of Cornelius was great, Cornelius was asked by the governor that by prayers obtained from God they might escape unharmed. Thereafter Demetrius, together with his wife, and son, and two hundred and seventy-seven others, believed in Christ. And Cornelius rested in peace.

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1613, p. 125 (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Migne, Jacques-Paul. Patrologiae cursus completus: Series graeca. Vol. 117. Paris: Cerf, 1903 (Greek text with facing Latin translation, cols. 117–18).

3.1.4.7 Synaxarion of Constantinople (13 September)

Hippolyte Delehaye, Synaxarinum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae e códice Sirmondiano, nunc Berolinensi adiectis synaxariis selectis. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 1902 (cols. 37–40).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 English

Burke, Tony and Witold Witakowski. “Acts of Cornelius the Centurion.” Pages 337–61 in New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures. Vol. 1. Edited by Tony Burke and Brent Landau. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2016 (introduction with two translations: the longer Greek text with variants from the Ethiopic in the notes, and the epitome),

3.3 General Works

Orbiso, T. Garcia de. “Cornelio il Centurione, santo.” Bibliotheca Sanctorum 4 (1964): 189–92.

Ramsay,  William M. “Cornelius and the Italic Cohort.” Expositor V/4 (1896): 194–201.

Rosenbaum, Hans-Udo. “Kornelios.” Page 517 in vol. 4 of Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon. 33 vols. Edited by Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz and Traugott Bautz. Hamm-Herzberg-Nordhausen: Bautz, 1975–2012.

Tite, Philip L., and Matthew G. Whitlock. “The Many Acts of the Apostles: Simulacra and Simulation.” Pages 147–83 in Critical Theory and Early Christianity. Edited by Matthew G. Whitlock. Studies in Ancient Religion and Culture. Sheffield: Equinox, 2022