Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The variant readings of the western text of the acts of the apostles (XIII)» filologia-neotestamentaria, Vol. 15 (2002) 111-132 page 112

Vol 15 (2002)

Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The variant readings of the western text of the acts of the apostles (XIII)», Vol. 15 (2002) 111-132

Josep Rius-Camps continues his series of notes on the readings of Codex Bezae in the text of Acts, in collaboration with Jenny Read-Heimerdinger. The present section deals with the events following Stephen’s death, namely the persecution of the Jesus-believers and the ministry of Philip.
Having undertaken a joint project to publish in English a commentary comparing the message of the Bezan text of Acts with that of the Alexandrian tradition, adopting as a basis the commentary in Catalan of Josep Rius-Camps, we will continue the series of notes on the Acts of the Apostles in both our names using the format of the English publication (of which the first volume on Acts 1–5 has recently appeared).

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112 Josep Rius-Camps and Jenny Read-Heimerdinger The narrative concentrates on the persecution to which the believers were subjected [a] // [aâ€²], relating to it the dispersion of the believers [b], and also the death of Stephen [bâ€²]. The structure of the four elements is as follows: [a] 8:1b The persecution of the church in Hierosoluma [b] 8:1c The dispersion of the believers [bâ€²] 8:2 The burial and mourning of Stephen [aâ€²] 8:3 Saulâ€™s role as persecutor The structural division follows the text of Codex Bezae and Codex Vaticanus for in other MSS (e.g. Codex Sinaiticus) [a] and [b] are closely connected and form part of the same element. A large number of varied characters appear in the space of a few sen- tences: the church in Hierosoluma, the apostles, Stephen, devout men, Saul, men and women in the church. They are all viewed in turn from the point of view of the narrator. All the characters will reappear and play a more or less prominent role in the narrative, except for the â€˜devout menâ€™. Saul, in particular, will become the main character of the book of Acts after chapter 13. Translation Codex Bezae D05 Codex Vaticanus B03 [a] 8:1b On that day, there arose a 8:1b On that day, there arose a great great persecution and oppres- persecution against the church that sion against the church that was was in Hierosoluma. in Hierosoluma. [b] 1c Everyone was scattered 1c Everyone was scattered through- through-out the regions of Ju- out the regions of Judaea and Sa- daea and of Samaria, with the maria, with the exception of the exception of the apostles who re- apostles. mained in Ierousalem. [bâ€²] 2 Nonetheless, devout men, af- 2 Devout men, however, carried out ter carrying out Stephenâ€™s buri- Stephenâ€™s burial and made great al, made great lamentation over lamentation over him. him. [aâ€²] 3 As for Saul, he was trying to 3 Saul, on the other hand, was try- destroy the church as he went ing to destroy the church as he went into house after house, and then, into house after house, and then, dragging off men and women, he dragging off men and women, he had them put in prison. had them put in prison.