Primary source · Latin

The Acts of Felix of Thibiuca

Near-contemporary acta · AD 303

What this text is

The bishop who refused to surrender the Scriptures on the first edict's demand — 'It is better that I be burned than the divine Scriptures' — the classic document of the persecution of the books.

Public-domain translations

Working translation (from the Latin)

The magistrate said: 'Give up whatever books and parchments thou hast.' Felix the bishop answered: 'I have them, but I will not give them up. It is better that I be burned with fire than the divine Scriptures; for it is good to obey God rather than men.'

Manuscript witnesses

African acta tradition

medieval copies

Transmitted with interpolations; the sober core protocol is recoverable and early.

SURVIVING WITNESSES

Ruinart, Acta sincera

1689

Standard early printing.

PRINTED PROXY

Provenance

Thibiuca and Carthage, at the outbreak of the Great Persecution

Editions & scholarship

Critical editions and standard translations behind the text above.

Figures named in this text (2)