The Akhmim Fragment, Containing the Gospel of Peter, The Revelation of Peter, and the Book of Enoch

In the winter of 1886-87 a French archaeological team headed by M. Grébant was digging in Akhmîm in Upper Egypt. The team was excavating part of the grounds of an ancient monastery, where monks, priests, bishops, and holy men were interred. In a portion of a cemetery that contained graves ranging from the eighth to the twelfth centuries they uncovered a grave. It was a certain tomb from the eighth century. In the tomb was a monk, his skeleton reclining peacefully with hands folded on his breast. His hands clasped a small book, which he believed to be holy and inspired. His hands held the book was if it were used in prayer. The book was an anthology containing texts the monk held most precious and sacred. The book contained the texts of several books including; The Book of Henoch (Enoch), The Apocalypse of Peter (also called The Revelation of Peter), and The Gospel of Peter.

This ancient texts had great influence at one time. We know that Jude and Peter quoted directly from the Book of Enoch. We believe the Revelation (Apocalypse) of Peter may have been the inspiration behind Dante's Inferno. There is even speculation that The Gospel of Peter may have contributed to the source material of our synoptic Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. The Muratorian Canon, the oldest known list of New Testament books, lists the Apocalypse of Peter as a book once read in church. There were debates in the early church about including the Revelation of Peter in our Bible instead of the Revelation of John. These books were valued and held as inspired by some. Then, one by one, they were lost. Now, we can examine and absorb what time and history once hid from us.