Electronic Study Bible

The Sonnini Manuscript: The Lost Chapter 29 of Acts

Introduction
INTRODUCTION According to Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea (A.D. 313-338), "some of the Apostles passed over to the British Isles." This is most probable inasmuch as Paul was desirous to preach the Gospel to those to whom the name of Christ was not known, lest, as he says, "I should build upon another man’s foundation." And having journeyed so near to Britain as Spain and Gaul, it is highly reasonable to suppose he would wish to cross over to these Islands, particularly if he had heard that there were men of his own nation settled there. There can be no question that Paul had heard of the "Tin Islands," as the Romans had already conquered the greater part of Britain, and the Apostle would meet with many at Rome and elsewhere who had been there, either as traders or with the Roman army. Theodoret, Bishop of Cyzicus, in Syria, supposes that after Paul had spent two years in Rome, he visited the islands of the sea, and he actually numbers some of the inhabitants of Gaul and Britain among the countrymen of the tentmaker. Raphinus is the Roman name for Sandwich, in Kent. In the time of the Saxon Heptarchy there was still standing in Sandwich an old house called "The House of the Apostles." This is regarded as strong evidence that some of the Apostles visited Sandwich. The Apostle went and stood on Mount Lud, or Ludgate Hill, at that time, no doubt, more worthy of being called a mount than now. It has evidently been levelled for building the Cathedral and its predecessors, and the low-lying ground around levelled up. In the remarkable prediction of verse 10 he declares that "nations shall come up to worship on the mount that testifieth of the patience and long-suffering of a servant of the Lord." No one can fail to see that this prediction has had a striking fulfilment; the magnificent edifice which stands on the site of Mount Lud bears the Apostle’s name, and has been the meeting place for men of other nations who have come to worship before the Lord. Excerpt from The Lost Chapter of Acts, pp. 8,9: In every instance the word "nations" is translated from the Hebrew word, "Goy" given in Strong s Concordance (#1471) as foreign nations; hence a gentile... heathen, nation, people. Was Paul's commission to go far hence unto the "Goyim?" It is the word he would most probably use to his fellow Judeans when arguing with them. It was the word used in the predictions to the patriarchs, as a description of their after-seed in the latter days. Where would he be likely to find those Old Testament "Goyim" in New Testament times? The Hebrew prophets foretold many things descriptive of them, both as regards to places of residence and racial characteristics. Seemingly, the Long Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles known as the Sonnini Manuscript, gives us the answer. The Sonnini Manuscript contains the account of Paul's journey to Spain and Britain. The document, purported to be the concluding portion of the "Acts of the Apostles" covers a portion of the period after Paul's two year enforced residence in Rome, in his own hired house. It is written in the style of the Bible Acts and reads like a continuation. The Manuscript was found interleaved in a copy of Sonnini's Travels in Turkey and Greece and was purchased at the sale of the library and effects of the late Right Honorable Sir John Newport, Bart, of Ireland. Sir John's family arms were engraved on the cover of the book. It had been in his possession for over thirty years. With the book was a document from the Sultan of Turkey, granting to C. S. Sonnini permission to travel in all parts of the Ottoman dominions. The document was translated by C. S. Sonnini from an original Greek manuscript found in the Archives at Constantinople, and presented to him by the Sultan Abdoul Achment. The following is the contents of the title page of Sonnini's work, in which the English translation of the document was found: "Travels in Turkey and Greece undertaken by order of Louis XVI, and with the authority of the Ottoman Court by C. S. Sonnini, member of several scientific or literary societies. 'Mores mulorum videt et ubes.?' - HOR., London; Printed for T. N. Londman and O. Rees, Paternoster Row. 1801." Points in favor of the authenticity of the manuscripts are: (1. It is being preserved in the Archives of Constantinople. (2. It has all the appearances of being of an ancient date. (3. It was written in Greek, and in the manner of the Acts. (4. The places and people mentioned are called by their ancient Roman names. (5. Its Scriptural brevity and conception of the Divine purpose and plan. (6. Its Gospel-like character is dignified and spiritual. (7. Its prophetic expressions are in a Biblical style. (8. Its ending in the word "amen." (The Biblical Acts of the Apostles and the Book of James are the only two New Testament books not ending in "amen.? This has led some Bible scholars to believe they are incomplete in their present form.) This document purports to be the concluding portion of the "Acts of the Apostles," and gives an account of Paul’s journeyings after his two years’ enforced residence in Rome in his own hired house. It is written in the style of the Acts and reads like a continuation of it ending with the ‘Amen’ missing from chapter 28. It was found interleaved in a copy of "Sonnini’s Travels in Turkey and Greece," and purchased at the sale of the library and effects of the late Right Hon. Sir John Newport, Bart., 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, with a copy of the fi rman of the Sultan of Turkey, granting to C. S. Sonnini permission to travel in all parts of the Ottoman dominions. The document was translated by C. S. Sonnini from an original Greek manuscript found in the Archives of Constantinople, and presented to him by the Sultan Abdoul Achmet. The following is the contents of the title page of Sonnini’s work, in which the English translation of the document was found: " Travels in Turkey and Greece undertaken by order of Louis XVI, and with the authority of the Ottoman Court, by C. S. Sonnini, member of several scientifi c or literary societies, of the Society of Agriculture of Paris, and of the Observers of Men. ‘Mores multorum videt et ubes.’— HOR., London: Printed for T. N. Longman and O. Rees, Paternoster Row, 1801." Authorities [E. Raymond Capt] 1. St Clement of Rome (A.D. 30 - 100) wrote: "Saint Paul, also having seven times worn chains, and been hunted and stoned, received the prize of such endurance. For he was the herald of the Gospel to the West, as well as in the East, and enjoyed the illustrious reputation of the faith in teaching the whole world to be righteous. And after he had been to the extremity of the West, he suffered martyrdom before the sovereigns of mankind; and thus delivered from this world, he went to his holy place, the most brilliant example of steadfastness that we possess." [Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 5] St. Clement belonged to the first century, knew St. Paul personally, and was the third Bishop of Rome. St. Paul speaks of him in his Epistle to the Philippians, 4:3: "With Clement also and other of my fellow labourers whose names are in the book of life." Irenaeus (born about A.D. 130) himself a pupil of Polycarp (the friend of St. John) thus speaks of him: "Clement, who had seen the blessed Apostles and conversed with them; who had the preaching of the Apostles still sounding in his ears, and their traditions before his eyes." 2. Theodoret the Blessed, Bishop of Cyrus neat Antioch in Syria (born about A.D. 390), noted as an accomplished man of letters and learned Church historian, writing about A.D. 435 said of St. Paul (the leather-worker): a. "Our fishermen and tax gatherers and the leather-worker have brought unto all men the laws of the Gospel, and they persuaded not only Romans and their tributaries, but also the Scythians and Sauomatian nations (or Cimrians), and Germans, to accept the laws of the Crucified. (Graed. Aff. Cur. Sermo. IX) b. St. Paul reached Spain and brought salvation to the Islands of the Sea." (Bishop Edwards of St. Asaph's "Landmarks in the History of the Welsh Church," page 4) This fits in with St. Jerome's statement that, besides visiting Spain, St. Paul went from "ocean to ocean," and St. Chrysostum's teaching writings that Paul went "from Illyricum to the very ends of the earth." 3. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (A.D. 633–637 wrote: "...the unwearied champion of the orthodox faith against the monotheistic heresy, not worthy to be ranked with Athanasius and Cyril among the defenders of the truth against successive depravations." (Smith and Wace, Dic. Christ. Biog., Vol. IV, p. 719) Robert Parsons in his "Three Conversions of England (p. 22) cites Sophronius as saying, in his sermon on "The nativity of the Apostles," that St. Paul came to Britain. Parsons also cites. 4. Venantius Fortunatus, Bishop of Poitiers (born about A.D. 530), well-known Christian hymn-writer, author of "Vexilla Regis" (The Royal Banners forward go), speaks of St. Paul, "crossing the ocean" and visiting "Britain and the extreme West." Although a Frenchman, this cultivated literary man must have met many of the refugee Britons who had fled to France before the Saxon invader and would have learned many traditions from them. 5. A very ancient tradition assigns the foundation of Bangor Abbey (in Britain) to St. Paul. Its rule was known as the "Rule of Paul." The Abbots claimed to be his successors. Over every gate of the Abbey was Paul's command, "If any will not work, neither shall he eat." (a paraphrase from II Thess. 3:10) 6. The correspondence of Paul and Seneca (mentioned by Jerome in the fourth century A.D.) This ancient manuscript in Merton College, Oxford, which purports to contain a series of letters between St. Paul and Seneca, makes more than one allusion to St. Paul's residence in Siluria, Britain, These early documentary statements cannot lightly be dismissed. When considered together with the Biblical account of Paul's life and teaching, and the archaeological evidence of the early Britons' relationship with the so-called Lost Tribes of Israel (see King Solomon's Temple - Capt) they afford convincing proof of St. Paul's long sojourn in Britain and support the authenticity of the Long Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.

INTRODUCTION

According to Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea (A.D. 313-338), "some of the Apostles passed over to the British Isles." This is most probable inasmuch as Paul was desirous to preach the Gospel to those to whom the name of Christ was not known, lest, as he says, "I should build upon another man’s foundation." And having journeyed so near to Britain as Spain and Gaul, it is highly reasonable to suppose he would wish to cross over to these Islands, particularly if he had heard that there were men of his own nation settled there.  There can be no question that Paul had heard of the "Tin Islands," as the Romans had already conquered the greater part of Britain, and the Apostle would meet with many at Rome and elsewhere who had been there, either as traders or with the Roman army.
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyzicus, in Syria, supposes that after Paul had spent two years in Rome, he visited the islands of the sea, and he actually numbers some of the inhabitants of Gaul and Britain among the countrymen of the tentmaker.
Raphinus is the Roman name for Sandwich, in Kent.  In the time of the Saxon Heptarchy there was still standing in Sandwich an old house called "The House of the Apostles." This is regarded as strong evidence that some of the Apostles visited Sandwich.
The Apostle went and stood on Mount Lud, or Ludgate Hill, at that time, no doubt, more worthy of being called a mount than now.  It has evidently been levelled for building the Cathedral and its predecessors, and the low-lying ground around levelled up.
In the remarkable prediction of verse 10 he declares that "nations shall come up to worship on the mount that testifieth of the patience and long-suffering of a servant of the Lord." No one can fail to see that this prediction has had a striking fulfilment; the magnificent edifice which stands on the site of Mount Lud bears the Apostle’s name, and has been the meeting place for men of other nations who have come to worship before the Lord.
Excerpt from The Lost Chapter of Acts, pp. 8,9:
In every instance the word "nations" is translated from the Hebrew word, "Goy" given in Strong s Concordance (#1471) as foreign nations; hence a gentile... heathen, nation, people.  Was Paul's commission to go far hence unto the "Goyim?" It is the word he would most probably use to his fellow Judeans when arguing with them.  It was the word used in the predictions to the patriarchs, as a description of their after-seed in the latter days.  Where would he be likely to find those Old Testament "Goyim" in New Testament times? The Hebrew prophets foretold many things descriptive of them, both as regards to places of residence and racial characteristics.  Seemingly, the Long Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles known as the Sonnini Manuscript, gives us the answer.
The Sonnini Manuscript contains the account of Paul's journey to Spain and Britain.  The document, purported to be the concluding portion of the "Acts of the Apostles" covers a portion of the period after Paul's two year enforced residence in Rome, in his own hired house.  It is written in the style of the Bible Acts and reads like a continuation.
The Manuscript was found interleaved in a copy of Sonnini's Travels in Turkey and Greece and was purchased at the sale of the library and effects of the late Right Honorable Sir John Newport, Bart, of Ireland.  Sir John's family arms were engraved on the cover of the book.  It had been in his possession for over thirty years.  With the book was a document from the Sultan of Turkey, granting to C. S. Sonnini permission to travel in all parts of the Ottoman dominions.  The document was translated by C. S. Sonnini from an original Greek manuscript found in the Archives at Constantinople, and presented to him by the Sultan Abdoul Achment.
The following is the contents of the title page of Sonnini's work, in which the English translation of the document was found: "Travels in Turkey and Greece undertaken by order of Louis XVI, and with the authority of the Ottoman Court by C. S. Sonnini, member of several scientific or literary societies.  'Mores mulorum videt et ubes.?' - HOR., London; Printed for T. N. Londman and O. Rees, Paternoster Row. 1801." Points in favor of the authenticity of the manuscripts are: (1. It is being preserved in the Archives of Constantinople.  (2. It has all the appearances of being of an ancient date.  (3. It was written in Greek, and in the manner of the Acts.  (4. The places and people mentioned are called by their ancient Roman names.  (5. Its Scriptural brevity and conception of the Divine purpose and plan.  (6. Its Gospel-like character is dignified and spiritual.  (7. Its prophetic expressions are in a Biblical style.  (8. Its ending in the word "amen." (The Biblical Acts of the Apostles and the Book of James are the only two New Testament books not ending in "amen.? This has led some Bible scholars to believe they are incomplete in their present form.)
This document purports to be the concluding portion of the "Acts of the Apostles," and gives an account of Paul’s journeyings after his two years’ enforced residence in Rome in his own hired house.  It is written in the style of the Acts and reads like a continuation of it ending with the ‘Amen’ missing from chapter 28.
It was found interleaved in a copy of "Sonnini’s Travels in Turkey and Greece," and purchased at the sale of the library and effects of the late Right Hon. Sir John Newport, Bart., 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, with a copy of the fi rman of the Sultan of Turkey, granting to C. S. Sonnini permission to travel in all parts of the Ottoman dominions.  The document was translated by C. S. Sonnini from an original Greek manuscript found in the Archives of Constantinople, and presented to him by the Sultan Abdoul Achmet.  The following is the contents of the title page of Sonnini’s work, in which the English translation of the document was found: " Travels in Turkey and Greece undertaken by order of Louis XVI, and with the authority of the Ottoman Court, by C. S. Sonnini, member of several scientifi c or literary societies, of the Society of Agriculture of Paris, and of the Observers of Men.  ‘Mores multorum videt et ubes.’— HOR., London: Printed for T. N. Longman and O. Rees, Paternoster Row, 1801."
Authorities [E. Raymond Capt]

1. St Clement of Rome (A.D. 30 - 100) wrote: "Saint Paul, also having seven times worn chains, and been hunted and stoned, received the prize of such endurance.  For he was the herald of the Gospel to the West, as well as in the East, and enjoyed the illustrious reputation of the faith in teaching the whole world to be righteous.  And after he had been to the extremity of the West, he suffered martyrdom before the sovereigns of mankind; and thus delivered from this world, he went to his holy place, the most brilliant example of steadfastness that we possess." [Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 5]
St. Clement belonged to the first century, knew St. Paul personally, and was the third Bishop of Rome.  St. Paul speaks of him in his Epistle to the Philippians, 4:3: "With Clement also and other of my fellow labourers whose names are in the book of life." Irenaeus (born about A.D. 130) himself a pupil of Polycarp (the friend of St. John) thus speaks of him: "Clement, who had seen the blessed Apostles and conversed with them; who had the preaching of the Apostles still sounding in his ears, and their traditions before his eyes."
2. Theodoret the Blessed, Bishop of Cyrus neat Antioch in Syria (born about A.D. 390), noted as an accomplished man of letters and learned Church historian, writing about A.D. 435 said of St. Paul (the leather-worker):
a. "Our fishermen and tax gatherers and the leather-worker have brought unto all men the laws of the Gospel, and they persuaded not only Romans and their tributaries, but also the Scythians and Sauomatian nations (or Cimrians), and Germans, to accept the laws of the Crucified.  (Graed. Aff. Cur. Sermo. IX)
b. St. Paul reached Spain and brought salvation to the Islands of the Sea." (Bishop Edwards of St. Asaph's "Landmarks in the History of the Welsh Church," page 4) This fits in with St. Jerome's statement that, besides visiting Spain, St. Paul went from "ocean to ocean," and St. Chrysostum's teaching writings that Paul went "from Illyricum to the very ends of the earth."
3. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (A.D. 633–637 wrote: "...the unwearied champion of the orthodox faith against the monotheistic heresy, not worthy to be ranked with Athanasius and Cyril among the defenders of the truth against successive depravations." (Smith and Wace, Dic. Christ. Biog., Vol. IV, p. 719) Robert Parsons in his "Three Conversions of England (p. 22) cites Sophronius as saying, in his sermon on "The nativity of the Apostles," that St. Paul came to Britain.  Parsons also cites.
4. Venantius Fortunatus, Bishop of Poitiers (born about A.D. 530), well-known Christian hymn-writer, author of "Vexilla Regis" (The Royal Banners forward go), speaks of St. Paul, "crossing the ocean" and visiting "Britain and the extreme West." Although a Frenchman, this cultivated literary man must have met many of the refugee Britons who had fled to France before the Saxon invader and would have learned many traditions from them.
5. A very ancient tradition assigns the foundation of Bangor Abbey (in Britain) to St. Paul. Its rule was known as the "Rule of Paul." The Abbots claimed to be his successors.  Over every gate of the Abbey was Paul's command, "If any will not work, neither shall he eat." (a paraphrase from II Thess. 3:10)
6. The correspondence of Paul and Seneca (mentioned by Jerome in the fourth century A.D.) This ancient manuscript in Merton College, Oxford, which purports to contain a series of letters between St. Paul and Seneca, makes more than one allusion to St. Paul's residence in Siluria, Britain,
These early documentary statements cannot lightly be dismissed.  When considered together with the Biblical account of Paul's life and teaching, and the archaeological evidence of the early Britons' relationship with the so-called Lost Tribes of Israel (see King Solomon's Temple - Capt) they afford convincing proof of St. Paul's long sojourn in Britain and support the authenticity of the Long Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.