The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Speratus of Scillium
d. 17 July 180 · Spokesman of the Scillitan martyrs · Scillium → Carthage
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Speratus of Scillium was
Leader and spokesman of twelve North African Christians tried at Carthage before the proconsul Saturninus — the earliest dated document of Latin Christianity, and the first firm evidence of a Latin Bible. Asked what he kept in his book-satchel, Speratus answered, “Books, and the letters of Paul, a just man.” To the offer of pardon for an oath by the emperor’s genius he replied, “I do not recognise the empire of this world; rather I serve that God whom no man hath seen.” Sentenced with the rest to the sword, he answered, “Thanks be to God.” His words are among the oldest surviving Latin spoken by a named Christian.
Also listed in martyrs and under marcus aurelius.
Common questions
When did Speratus die?
Speratus of Scillium is dated d. 17 July 180 in the archive, which places Speratus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
What did Speratus write?
Speratus of Scillium has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Testimony before the proconsul (Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs).
Which early sources mention Speratus?
Speratus of Scillium is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Court transcript and The Hieronymian compilers. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Speratus from?
The archive associates Speratus of Scillium with Scillium, Carthage. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
Testimony before the proconsul (Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs)
17 July 180The books, and the epistles of Paul, a just man. …I do not recognise the empire of this world; but rather I serve that God whom no man hath seen, nor can see.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs 5–6
c. AD 180Speratus said, ‘The books, and the epistles of Paul, a just man.’Court transcript · 6 · source text
Martyrologium Hieronymianum (the Scillitan feast, 17 July)
c. AD 450Connected in the archive
People
- Donata of Scillium
- Nartzalus of Scillium
- Cittinus of Scillium
- Felix of Scillium
- Secunda of Scillium
- Veturius of Scillium
- P. Vigellius Saturninus
Events in this lifetime
- AD 112 · Pliny writes Trajan, AD 112
- AD 117 · Symeon and Ignatius martyred, AD 117
- AD 135 · Bar Kokhba crushed; Aelia Capitolina, AD 135
- AD 144 · Marcion expelled at Rome, AD 144
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
- AD 177 · Persecution at Lyon and Vienne, AD 177
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Speratus.