Who Was Bar Jesus (Acts 13,6-12)? 71 almost technically for those who oppose someone’s teaching or prophecy (see also Gal 2,11; Acts 6,10). In addition, the strong judgment that Luke, through the mouth of Paul, passes on Bar Jesus parallels closely similar judgments made throughout the New Testament on false teachers, false prophets, false brethren and the like (Matt 7,15; 2 Cor 11,13; Gal 1,9; 2 Thess 2,11; 2 Pet 2,1; Rev 19,20). In all cases, if these opponents are not actually within the communities, they are very close to them, and that is what makes them dangerous. And in this episode in Acts 13, Luke appears to be using terminology commonly used in Christian circles when writing about conflicts between false and true teachers or prophets (19). It is reasonable to conclude that Bar Jesus was a Jewish prophet, and one seen to be a serious threat to the Christian community, and therefore one in some contact with that community. He was a serious threat because he represented the word of God falsely and opposed the understanding of it by others coming from outside and also claiming to be prophets, namely, Saul and Barnabas (13,7-8). This episode, then, tells of a battle between prophets, in much the same way as ‘orthodox’ prophets of Israel stood in opposition to those ‘false’ prophets who also claimed authority to teach and reveal the ways of God. Klauck is close to the mark when he says that Luke tells this story to warn against an ‘all-devouring syncretism that at its worst even usurps Christian substance such as the name of Jesus, and hence threatens the Church from within’ (20). Klauck at least implies that Bar Jesus represented an internal threat. I doubt, however, that syncretism is the real problem for Luke; it is rather that this man interprets the way of the Lord wrongly, and so his authority is questionable. Valid authority only comes from those who have been given it by Jesus through the legitimate apostles, teachers, and prophets who through prayer and fasting and the laying on of hands, have been set apart by the Holy Spirit for such work (13,1-3). The acceptable prophets and teachers at Antioch are named by Luke (13,1); their teaching and prophecy are authoritative in Lukan circles. Further support for this understanding of Bar Jesus comes from the charge brought against him by Paul that the prophet was ‘making (19) Clearly, Bar Jesus is both a prophet and a teacher. The link is commonly made; indeed, Luke has made it in 13,1 (Compare also 1 Cor 12,28; Did 13,2; 15,1-1). (20) H.-J KLAUCK, Magic and Paganism in Early Christianity. The World of the Acts of the Apostles (Translated by Brian McNeil) (Edinburgh 2000) 54.