Josep Rius-Camps, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles (XIX) (Acts 13:13-43).», Vol. 20 (2007) 127-146
In Acts 13:13-43, Paul and Barnabas are seen continuing their missionary activity, notably in Antioch of Pisidia where Luke describes their visit to the synagogue. He recreates in some detail Paul’s first speech, which is noteworthy for the way in which he presents Jesus as the Messiah first and foremost for Israel, a perspective with which Luke is at odds in Codex Bezae. Paul’s overriding concern for his own people, the Jews, to accept his message is strongly in evidence. However, their negative reaction when he extends the message of Jesus to Gentiles causes him, together with Barnabas, to turn from the Jews to the Gentiles. In the Alexandrian text, their announcement of this fact refers to a change on a local scale within Antioch, but in the Bezan text they make a declaration that represents a radical decision and an event of momentous significance in the history of Israel: in view of the Jews’ hostility to the message of Jesus, they will no longer have privileged possession of the Word of God, the Torah that had originally been entrusted to Israel, since it is to be henceforth shared with the Gentiles. The idea of the sharing of the heritage of Israel with the Gentiles is one that will provoke opposition to Paul wherever he preaches to the Jews in future locations, and a theme that Luke will develop over the subsequent chapters.
The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles 129
characters in accordance with their individual ways of speaking, and also
with their thinking at that time.
The aim of Paul’s first speech is to demonstrate how God has contin-
ued his intervention in the history of Israel by raising up Jesus as the
Saviour of his people, but also as the means of extending salvation for
the first time ever to the Gentiles. A second speech is recorded, given a
week later and this time in the name of both Paul and Barnabas, who
make a programmatic declaration concerning the change in the status of
the Gentiles. The deep hostility on the part of the Jews that their speech
provokes forces Paul and Barnabas to leave the area.
The narrative in this sequence is organized around the two succes-
sive Sabbaths, creating two parallel sub-sequences each composed of two
episodes:
[DA] 13:14-43 The Jews in Antioch
[DA-A] 13:14-41 In the synagogue
[DA-B] 13:42-43 The synagogue response
[DA’] 13:44-52 The Gentiles in Antioch
[DA’-A] 13:44-49 In the city
[DA’-B] 13:50-52 Synagogue response
The second sub-sequence [DA’] corresponds to the first [DA], in so far
as both contain a major speech and both show the reaction to the speech,
in two separate episodes, [A] and [B].
[DA] 13:14-43 The Jews in Antioch
This scene takes place in the synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia which
Paul and his circle visit on their arrival there; it contains a number of
parallels with Jesus’ visit to the synagogue of Nazareth (Lk. 4:16-30).
Paul takes up an invitation to speak, addressing his speech to the Jews
who were present and also to the God-fearers, that is, Gentile members or
adherents of the synagogue of whom a number had taken the step of be-
coming proselytes. In some respects, there are similarities with Stephen’s
speech (7:2-5.33); and in others, especially towards the end, with the
speeches of Peter, notably the one given in Cornelius’ house in Caesarea
(10:34-43). The speech shows a certain openness towards the Gentiles,
and an understanding of the universal message of Jesus, though Paul in
other ways is still thinking in terms of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel.
The sub-sequence is made up of two episodes: the first is largely taken
up by Paul’s speech in the synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia, and the second
by the response to it and the results to which it led:
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