When I was learning Greek, I could never find enough interesting content that was new and easy enough for me.
Inside a collection of The Acts of the Christian Martyrs, Acta Justini et septem sodalium meets the need with its 3 recensions, each more difficult than the last. Try out this ready-made graded reader and see what skills you can pick up. Check it out here (beginning on page 42).
You didn’t know this, but there exists an authentic Ancient Greek graded reader that can help you level-up your reading skills.
The value of graded readers
Few tools are more helpful for leveling-up your reading skills than graded readers.
The concept is simple: read a text in an easy version, then a harder one, then a harder one, etc. They are wonderful tools for language learners, helping you progressively deal with more complicated aspects of a language.
Learners of Ancient Greek, rejoice! Justin Martyr is here to help you out.
An Ancient Greek graded reader on Justin Martyr
Justin Martyr was a famous Christian intellectual, and he is also poised to help you learn your Greek a little better in a humane way.

The account of his martyrdom, Acta Justini et septem sodalium, exists in 3 recensions, quite originally called recension A, B, and C. The best part is that each version is more complicated than the last, in terms of grammar and vocabulary. Whatever the historical forces behind it, the result is a ready-made graded reader for you to try.
Check it out here (beginning on page 42)
The best way to level-up your Ancient Greek reading skills is through graded readers. Take up and read.
You can find the texts in a conveniently readable format in the Diogenes reader https://ntgreeketal.com/2020/10/24/diogenes-seriously-useful-greek-reading-tool/.
Just search for Acta Justini Et Septem Sodalium, Acta Justini et septem sodalium
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Good to know! I have the desktop app for Mac but haven’t taken time to browse the text archive to see which authors/texts are available. I’ll have to start on that. Thanks for the tip!
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I found it in Diogenes under the TLG database. It’s helpful that the app includes the Perseus morphology and dictionary tools.
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Nathaniel, is there a good open access or public domain translation in English of the Acta Justini you can recommend? I’d also be interested in a Latin version, if there is one.
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The book available at archive.org linked to above has an English translation. Here is the link again: https://archive.org/details/actsofchristianm0000musu/mode/2up. You can borrow the book for 1 hour at a time.
I’ve not really read the translation, but assume it is good.
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Thanks, Nathaniel. Is there a Latin version also?
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