Canon Status
Not canonical in any tradition. Widely read in the early Church.
Date & Provenance
Composed in Greek in the late 2nd century CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Greek manuscripts and fragments. The work dates to the late 2nd century CE.
Why It Matters for Study
Presents John's miracles, his exile on Patmos, and his mystical teachings. Contains docetic Christology. Important for understanding the development of Johannine tradition and the history of the apocryphal Acts.
" And John said, The Lord is not a man, but the Christ of God." — Acts of John (paraphrase)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- Acts of John — Early Christian Writings Full translation and scholarly resources.
- Acts of John — Sacred Texts Public-domain translation.
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
Elliott, J. K. The Apocryphal New Testament. Oxford, 1993.
Lalleman, P. J. The Acts of John. Peeters, 1998.
Schneemelcher, W. New Testament Apocrypha. Westminster John Knox, 1991.