The LOST / MISSING CHAPTER of the BOOK OF ACTS

SHALOM!

According to Wikipedia, “The Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, also known as the Sonnini Manuscript, is a short text purporting to be the translation of a manuscript containing the 29th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, detailing Paul the Apostle‘s journey to Britain, where he preached to a tribe of Israelites on Ludgate Hill, the site of St Paul’s Cathedral.”

History (According to Wikipedia)

The text was found interleaved in a copy of the French naturalist Sonnini de Manoncourt Voyage en Grèce et en Turquie and purchased at the sale of the library and effects of Sir John Newport, Bart., MP (1756–1843) in Ireland, whose family arms were engraved on the cover of the book, and in whose possession it had been for more than thirty years. The Sultan of Turkey granted Sonnini permission to travel in all parts of the Ottoman dominions and he supposedly discovered the text from a “Greek manuscript discovered in the archives at Constantinople and presented to him by the Sultan Abdoul Achmet“.[1]

The text made its first appearance in London in 1871 and was printed as a six page pamphlet by Geo. J. Stevenson entitled: The long lost chapter of the Acts of the Apostles: containing an account of the Apostle Paul’s journey into Spain and Britain, and other interesting events. Stevenson listed the following reasons in favour of the text’s genuineness:

  • A. It has all the appearance of being of ancient date.
  • B. It is written in Greek, and in the style of the Acts.
  • C. The places and peoples mentioned are called by their ancient or Roman names.
  • D. Its tone is dignified and spiritual.
  • E. Its scriptural brevity.
  • F. The remarkable character of its prophetic expressions.
  • G. Its being preserved in the Archives of Constantinople.
  • H. Its pure gospel character and generous conception of the Divine purpose and plan.

However no trace of the original (Greek) manuscript has been found, and from internal evidence, mainstream philology considers it to be most likely be a fraud, thus it is classed among the modern pseudepigrapha.

 


ACTS 29:

1- And Paul, full of the blessings of Christ, and abounding in the spirit, departed out of Rome, determining to go into Spain, for he had a long time proposed to journey thitherward, and was minded also to go from thence to Britain.
2- For he had heard in Phoenicia that certain of the children of Israel, about the time of the Assyrian captivity, had escaped by sea to “The Isles afar off” as spoken be the Prophet [Esdra], and called by the Romans – Britain.
3- And the Lord commanded the gospel to be preached far hence to the Gentiles [nations], and to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. [Act 9:15, 22:21]
4- And no man hindered Paul; for he testified boldly of Jesus before the tribunes and among the people; and he took with him cetain of the brethren which abode with him at Rome, and they took shipping at Ostrium and having the winds fair, were brought safely into a haven of Spain.
5- And much people were gathered together from the towns and villages, and the hill country; for they had heard of the conversion to the Apostle, and the many miracles which he had wrought.
6- And Paul preached mightily in Spain, and great multitudes believed and were converted, for they perceived he was an apostle sent from God.
7- And they departed out of Spain, and Paul and his company finding a ship in Armorica sailing unto Britain, they were therein, and passing along the south Coast, they reached a port called Raphinus. (This is the Roman name for Sandwich, in Kent. In Saxon times there was, still standing in Sandwich, and old house called the “House of the Apostles: and tradition has it that Paul was one of the Apostles).
8- Now when it was voiced abroad that the Apostle had landed on their coast, great multitudes of the inhabitants met him, and they treated Paul courteously and he entered in at the east gate of their city, and lodged in the house of an Hebrew and one of his own nation.
9- And on the morrow he came and stood upon Mount Lud (Ludgate Hill and Broadway where St. Paul’s Cathedral stands in London, England) and the people thronged at the gate, and assembled in the Broadway, and he preached Christ unto them, and they believed the Word and the testimony of Jesus.
10- And at even the Holy Ghost fell upon Paul, and he prophesied, saying, Behold in the last days the God of Peace shall dwell in the cities, and the inhabitants thereof shall be numbered (this first-ever census in England, prophesied in this ancient manuscript, was taken in 1801): and in the seventh numbering of the people, their eyes shall be opened (this “punishment” would include ignorance of their heritage), and the glory of their inheritance shine forth before them.(the seventh census was taken in 1861, just as the irrefutable archeological evidence for the Lost Tribes was making it’s way into history) The nations shall come up to worship on the mount the testifieth of the patience and long suffering of a servant of the Lord.
11- And in the latter days new tidings of the Gospel shall issue forth out of Jerusalem, and the hearts of the people shall rejoice, and behold, fountains shall be opened, and there shall be no more plague.
12- In those days there shall be wars and rumours of war; and a king shall rise up, and his sword, shall be for the healing of the nations, and his peacemaking shall abide, and the glory of his kingdom a wonder among princes.
13- And it came to pass that certain of the Druids came unto Paul privately, and showed by their rites and ceremonies they were descended from the Jews [Judahites] which escaped from bondage in the land of Egypt, and the apostle believed these things, and he gave them the kiss of peace.
14- And Paul abode in his lodgings three months confirming in the faith and preaching Christ continually.
15- And after these things Paul and his brethren departed from Raphinus and sailed unto Atium in Gaul.
16- And Paul preached in the Roman garrison and among the people, exhorting all men to repent and confess their sins.
17- And there came to him certain of the Belgae to enquire of him of the new doctrine, and of the man Jesus; And Paul opened his heart unto them and told them all things that had befallen him, howbeit, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and they departed pondering among themselves upon the things which they had heard.
18- And after much preaching and toil, Paul and his fellow labourers passed into Helvetia, and came to Mount Pontius Pilate, where he who condemned the Lord Jesus dashed himself down headlong, and so miserably perished.
19- Immediately a torrent gushed out of the mountain and washed his body, broken in pieces, into a lake. [ See. It was known in Palestine and Aisia Minor that Pilate had committed suicide all the way over in Switzerland ! ! Neither Paul or Luke had been there when Pontius Pulled the Plug.] Selah!
20- And Paul stretched forth his hands upon the water, and prayed unto the Lord, saying O Lord God, give a sign unto all nations that here Pontius Pilate which condemned thine only-begotten son, plunged down headlong into the pit.
21- And while Paul was yet speaking, behold, there came a great earthquake, and the face of the waters was changed, and the form of the lake like unto the Son of Man hanging in an agony upon the Cross. (Son of Man is the common term given in Messianic Prophecy for the Deliverer to come. If Sonnini forged this document, then why not use Son of God, like any good French, New Testament Christian?)
22- And a voice came out of heaven saying, Even Pilate hath escaped the wrath to come for he washed his hands before the multitude at the blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus
23- When, therefore, Paul and those that were with him saw the earthquake, and heard the voice of the angel, they glorified God, they were mightily strengthened in the spirit.
24- And they journeyed and came to Mount Julius where stood two pillars, one on the right hand and one on the left hand, erected by Caesar Augustus.
25- And paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, stood up between the two pillars, saying, Men and brethren these stones which ye see this day shall testify of my journey hence; and verily I say, they shall remain until the outpouring of the spirit upon all nations, neither shall the way be hindered throughout all generations.
26- And they went forth and came unto Illtricum, intending to go by Macedonia into Asia, and grace was found in all the churches, and they prospered and had peace. Amen!