The "Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas" by Bernhard Pick offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the early Christian movement and the lives of its key figures. The book presents various apocryphal acts and legends surrounding these important apostles, shedding light on their supposed travels, miracles, and encounters.

Pick's thorough exploration of these texts provides valuable insight into the early Christian community and the beliefs that shaped it. The translation and analysis of these apocryphal acts allow readers to better understand the diversity of thought and tradition within early Christianity.

However, some readers may find the text challenging due to its academic nature and the dense material presented. While Pick's work is well-researched and informative, it may not be suitable for casual readers seeking a more accessible introduction to apocryphal literature.

Overall, "Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas" is a valuable resource for those interested in early Christianity and the literary traditions that shaped it. Pick's scholarly approach illuminates the complexity of early Christian texts and invites readers to engage with these lesser-known but significant works.

Book Description:
The full title of this book, published in 1909, is The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas. As early as the second century, numerous legends concerning the fates of the Christian apostles were in circulation. These Acts, widely regarded as originating circa 150 CE, are among the earliest accounts still in existence of the lives, preaching and martyrdoms of the apostles Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas. They are written in a fantastic and romantic style, and although they were influential in later Christian conceptions of these apostles, they are historically worthless as biographies. They do, however, reflect many of the beliefs of earliest, pre-Nicene Christianity. Bernhard Pick translated the most complete versions of the Apocryphal Acts available to him in 1909. Although more complete manuscripts of these Acts have since been discovered, Pick was sometimes working with incomplete texts. Several large lacunae, or gaps in the text, are present in Pick’s translation, and this Librivox recording has attempted to make these lacunae obvious without being intrusive. The Acts of Andrew, in particular, is fragmentary. Also included in this recording are Bernhard Pick’s introductions to each Acts, which reflect the state of scholarly opinion at the time of publication.