180 John Kilgallen 28,28 follows the usual Lucan practice that speaks only of salvation to Jews and Gentiles. 2. Acts 28,28 in regard to Acts 13,46 and 18,6 Often in regard to the movement “first to the Jew, then to the Gentile”, Acts 28,28 is placed as the third of a triad of texts; the first two texts are Acts 13,46 (16) and 18,6. But these two texts differ from Acts 28,28, precisely because of implications from the aorist tense apestalh. The Jews of Acts 28 are to learn a past fact, not a fact which j v merits the present tense (17) or future action. Too, these two texts speak directly of Paul’s personally turning from Jew to Gentile; Acts 28,28 does not describe a personal decision of Paul, but has to do with information that it is necessary for these Jews to know. Finally, whereas in Acts 28,28 there is the assurance that the Gentiles ‘will listen’ (18), there is no such concern with the stories of Acts 13 and 18 (19). Indeed, these observations regarding Acts 13,46 and 18,6 underline how different Acts 28,28 is from them, and thereby suggest a peculiar meaning for this last verse (20). refer, by virtue of Lucan creativity, to the Gentiles, but such a reference is not clear, nor is it clear that Jesus thought in the manner of the banquet host of the parable (14,15-24). (16) At Acts 13,47, Paul cites Isaia 49,6: “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”. Note that the point of the quotation is not to emphasize “first to the Jew, then to the Gentile”, but only movement to the end of the earth. The essence of the mission is to fulfil the saving will of God; that it happens “first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” is secondary. (17) Misguided is the opinion: “But the book of Acts is at an end, and so is the cycle [alternating pattern of rejection and mission]”, J. SANDERS, The Jews in Luke-Acts (SCM; London 1987) 299. (18) In the usual Lucan sense of ‘listen favorably’ or ‘will obey’ (Lk 5,1.15; 8,8.21; 9,35; 10,16; 11,28; 14,35; 15,1; 21,38; prob. 23,8; Acts 4,19; prob. 8,6; 9,21; 13,7.4.48; 15,7; 18,8.26; 21,20). (19) Instructive is the presentation of Peter in Acts, in the sense that nowhere is rejection of his preaching by Jews the sign that he is now to turn to the Gentiles. Even when Peter, in paradigm fashion, goes to, preaches to and baptizes Cornelius, he is the passive, even unwilling instrument of God of the offer of salvation to the Gentiles. It is in the Pauline experiences, beginning with Chapter 13, that one first finds narrative expression of the principle, “To the Gentiles, because Jews have refused to believe”. (20) “The importance (of the mission at Antioch) is underscored by the similar pattern of events found in later scenes (cf. … 28:23-28)”, R. TANNEHILL, The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts (Minneapolis, MN 1990) II, 175.