Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman Were Peter & Paul Really Martyred? History vs. Legend
Feb 10, 2026
Bart Ehrman, New Testament scholar and bestselling author, offers a brisk tour of texts and traditions about Peter and Paul. He traces early references, late legendary Acts tales, and Roman patterns of execution. The conversation probes why martyr stories arose and how they shaped Christian memory.
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First Clement Mentions Peter And Paul
- First Clement is a late first-century letter from Rome urging Corinth to reinstate leaders and cites Peter and Paul's martyrdoms.
- The author asserts both bore witness unto death but gives no location or method of execution.
John 21 Alludes To Peter's Fate
- John 21 contains an allusion implying Peter will be taken and killed: “someone will bind your hands and lead you where you do not want to go.”
- This passage likely fueled early traditions of Peter's martyrdom without explicit details.
Acts Texts Are Late Legendary Works
- The Acts of Peter and Acts of Paul are late second- or early third-century legendary compilations, not contemporary histories.
- They mix missionary tales with miraculous episodes and ascetic teaching, reflecting later theological concerns.
