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Authorship, date, and setting
The Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs present a hearing at Carthage before the proconsul Saturninus on July 17, when Praesens was consul for the second time with Claudianus. The consular date corresponds to 180 CE. The writer is unnamed. The account takes the form of a short courtroom dialogue and closes with the execution of Christians from Scillium in Roman Africa. The Catholic Encyclopedia counts it among the oldest surviving martyrdom accounts from that region.
Structure of the single chapter
This collection has one chapter. It first names six defendants and records an offer of clemency. Discussion follows about swearing by the emperor's genius, Christian identity, and the books in Speratus's chest. Saturninus offers time to reconsider; after another refusal he reads the sentence. The final proclamation expands the list of names and ends with the condemned being put to death.
Themes and key passages
Speratus says that he pays taxes and rejects theft and false witness: the dispute is not a general refusal of civic life, but concerns the religious act required by the proconsul. Donata distinguishes honor to Caesar from fear of God. The question about Speratus's chest brings up books and Paul's letters, evidence of Christian writings in circulation. Saturninus's offered delay and the collective refusal show the choice repeated before sentencing.
Summary by parts
Opening: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Secunda, and Vestia appear before Saturninus. He offers indulgence if they change course and requests an oath connected with the emperor. Speratus answers by citing his conduct, faith, and payment of taxes; other defendants affirm their Christian identity.
Ending: The proconsul asks what is in the chest, and Speratus mentions books and Paul's epistles. Saturninus grants thirty days for thought, but the accused repeat their decision. The sentence orders death by the sword; the herald names further companions, and the account ends with thanks and praise.
Reception and transmission
J. Armitage Robinson's translation reproduced by New Advent preserves the exchange and the longer closing list. The 1912 encyclopedia notice discusses the six named in the trial, whereas the act itself ends with more names. This internal difference cautions against reducing the entire group to the six at the opening. The work is early Christian martyr literature, not a biblical canonical book.
Sources
- J. Armitage Robinson, The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs (1896).
- Maurice Hassett, Martyrs of Scillium (1912).