The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313

Pomponius the Deacon

attested AD 203 (death unrecorded) · Deacon of Carthage · Minister to the martyrs · Carthage

The Ante-Nicene Church

Who Pomponius the Deacon was

One of the two deacons who bribed the jailers so that Perpetua and her companions could breathe in a better part of the prison — and who returns, robed in white, in Perpetua's fourth vision, leading her by the hand to the amphitheatre gate with the words 'Fear not: I am here with thee.' The church's ministry to its prisoners, caught by name in the greatest of the martyr-diaries.

Verified single attestation

Passio Perpetuae only.

Also listed in martyrs and women.

Common questions

When was Pomponius active?

Pomponius the Deacon is dated attested AD 203 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Pomponius in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).

Which early sources mention Pomponius?

Pomponius the Deacon is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Vibia Perpetua. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Pomponius from?

The archive associates Pomponius the Deacon with Carthage.

Who were Pomponius’ contemporaries?

The archive links Pomponius the Deacon to 2 other figures, including Vibia Perpetua and Tertius the Deacon. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Primary-source mentions (1)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Passion of Perpetua and Felicity 3; 10

c. AD 203
Then Pomponius the deacon came to the door of the prison and knocked vehemently… clothed in a white robe, and he said to me: Perpetua, we are waiting for thee; come.
Vibia Perpetua · 3 · source text

Connected in the archive

People

Events in this lifetime

Place

Places served

The one place the sources put Pomponius.

  1. 1Carthage

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