At Tripolis Peter remains a long time. Tliere Clement is baptizctl, and then they go on towards Antioch in Syria by Orthosia and Antoradus (viii.-xi.X Then comes the story of Clement's family (xii.-xv.), and they go on by Batanis, Paltus and Gabala to* Laodicea. To Laomcea comes Simon from Antioch, and a long dispute takes place between him and Peter concerning the unity of the Godhead and the existence of evil (x%i.-xix.). Then Kaustus, the newly-<li3Covered father of Clement, goes to see Simon. Simon by his magical arts succeeds in making the face of Faustus like his own, and then departs to Antioch, where he accuses Peter of being a magician. C'jmelius the centurion has been ordered by the emperor to arrest all ma^cians. It is for this reason that Simon has changed the tacc of Faustus, and he escapes to Judma. Faustus then goes Co Antioch, and uses the appearance which Simon has given him to destro3' the latter's inlluence. The people think that be is Simon. In Simon's name he recants, confesses his deceit and imp wturos, and Peter is sent lor to come to Antioch.
The main differences which concern us in the Recuijnition* are as follow : Xothing is said about Simon being a pupil of John. Helena is called Luna (ran**;). Simon says that Itachel was not really his mother, but that he had previously been conceived by a virgin. The main difference in the hook is one of order : instead of two disputes between Peter and Simon — one at CiBsarea, the other at Laodicea — we have one dispute at Ciesarea, and there most of the matters discussed in the llomi- lies at Laodicea are placed by this editor (ii. 19-72, iii. 12-48). Reference is made (in. t>3) to Simon having said that he would 1^ to Uome, and that there he would be looked on as a (<;od and honoured with statues, and in iii. 64 it is said that he had been there. The voyage along the Syrian coast-line is treated very shortly, in iv,-vi, we have discourses of Peter, in vii.-ix. the story of Clement. Then at the end of x. Simon comes on the stage again, we have the same story as at the close of the Uuinilies, only that the father of Clement is c^ed, not Faustus but Faustinianus.
It will be noticed th\t this work seems to fall very easily into separate elements. Bks. i. and vii.-x. 51 are concerned with the story of Clement. Bks. ii. and iii. with tlie story of the contest of Simon and Peter. Bks. iv.-vi. with sermons of Peter. Bk. X. 52 ff. contains the concluding story concerning Simon, which hardly fits in with this version of the hist^>ry. The journey along the Ph'iinician coast is very much attenuated, and there are suggestionstliat originally Simon wentstraight to Rome after the contest at Cauuarea.
(b) The LEtiESDARY Acts of St. Peter and St. Paul. — The story of Simon in these Acts diifers from that in the Clementine literature. Both alike are concerned with contests between Simon Magus and Simon Peter ; but while the latter place the scene of tlie contest in Syria, the Arts place it in Rome. The le;::cnds appear in two forms: the one is that contained in the Actus Petri cum Sirnone, a document of Gnostic origin, believed to ha%'e belonged to the collection known as Leucian ; the other is the Arts of Peter and Paul {vpa^ct.% Tuiv ayiuiv diro<TT6\wv llirpov xal IlavXov).
(1) According to the Actus Petri cum Simone, after St. Paul had left Home, a stir arose in that city, about a man called •*iinoii, who was at Aricia, who had worked many miracles, and said he was the great power (inagnam m'rtw/em) of (Jod, and without God did nothing. Ue receives a summons : 'Tliou art ill Italy God, thou art the saviour of the Romans; hasten quickly to Rome.' He promises to come the next day at the •eventh hour, flying through the air at the city gate. At the apiwintcd time smoke is seen approaching, and suddenly Simon aiijtears tn the midst. The brethren arc in a state of great con8t«rnation because Paul is away, and they are left without any to comfort them, and the gi-cater nimiber tall away. Mean- while the twelve years of Pet<.'r"8 s'>J..urn in Jerus;dem are fuinUed, and Christ bids him go to Rome, for Simon, whom he had driven out of Judma, had antiiipated him there. Wo may pass over the account of Peter's voyage and arrival in Rome. He flnds Simon living in the house of Man:elhis, a Roman senator of great phiUnthropy, whom he hod ^lerverled by his magic. When Peter hears" of the manner m which Marrelliis has been deceived, he begins an attack on Simrm, dewribing him as a * ravening wolf, stealing the sheep which are not his." It was he who inspired Judas to betmy Christ, uul hardtued the heart of Uerod and Caiaphas. He then goes
to the house of Simon. Being refused admittance, he looses a dog and bids him carr>" a message. The dog goes in, raises his forefeet, and in a loud voice bids Simon come forth Marcellus at once recognizes his sin, and, going out, falls at Peter's feet and asks pardon. He explains how he had beei persuaded to erect a statue SIMONI IVVeNI DEO : *To Simon, the youthful god." Further conversations of Simon and of Peter with tlie dog follow ; then it, having: fulfilled its mission, dies. Peter then turns a dead sardine into a hve flsh, and Marcellus, overpowered by these miracles, with the help of his servant turns Simon out of his bouse. Simon then goes to Peter's home. Peter sends him a message by means of an infant seven months old, who speaks and bids him leave Rome, and keep silence until the following Sabbath.