Biblical Material in the Latin Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles

Abstract

The examination of the intertextual relationship between the collection of the Latin Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles, known as the Virtutes Apostolorum, and Scripture can help us to understand the coming into being and early life of this text, that are undocumented by the manuscript evidence. The usage of more exact quotations and freer references corresponds to the medieval notions about different forms of remembering and recollection. The selection of sources, the manner of their utilization and their form indicate that the collection was composed and re-written in monastic environment. The reference to Scripture serve not only didactic purposes, and very rarely are entertaining, but are clearly identity-constructing and identity-affirming. Majority of the scriptural material used in the collection has basis in the Old Latin version of the Latin Scripture. Certain sections bear traces of later redaction that can be located to Italy, but the date of which cannot be estimated. This Italian redaction employs clearly a mixed Vulgate scriptural text distinct from the Old Latin used throughout the collection. Certain features of the narratives included in the collection indicate, moreover, that some of them might have been clustered together prior to the compilation of the whole collection and that other narratives might have been harmonized with other subtext in order to pose as a unified collection. On large, the references in the collection disclose attitude that is both canon-constructing and text-challenging and may be used to move the collection towards the conservative as well as transformative pole in its relationship with Scripture.