Volume 5 · Chapter 321 · Pp. 156-161

Disembarking in Seleucia and farewell to Nicomedes.

This chapter recounts a dialogue between Peter and Nicomedes upon disembarking in Seleucia, where Peter clarifies the distinction between pagan worship and Christian veneration, specifically emphasizing the reverence of Mary as the Mother of Jesus. The conversation touches on the use of a sacred dialect reserved for believers and addresses misconceptions about pagan spells and superstitions. Peter reassures Nicomedes about the fate of a man affected by these beliefs, highlighting the Christian perspective on divine protection and faith. The chapter concludes with a farewell, underscoring the contrast between Christian faith and pagan practices.

Themes: Veneration of Mary, Christian vs Pagan Worship, Faith and Language, Divine Protection, Spiritual Discernment, Evangelization