Νῦν ἀναστὰς οὐ ζῇς ὄντως

This essay provides a close reading of four episodes from the apocryphal Acts of John, each of which features one or more resurrection. The analyses focus on two interrelated themes that have not yet received the attention they deserve: (1) the ambiguity of the categories of living and dead, and (2) the will to die as expressed by individual characters. Each analysis concludes with a brief discussion of the purpose of the resurrections in that episode. Inageneral conclusion, these themes are brought together, gesturing towards an explanation of why resurrection of the dead plays such a major role in a text where neither Jesus nor the eponymous apostle ever actually dies or is resurrected.