Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles (XX) (Acts 14:1-27)» filologia-neotestamentaria, Vol. 22 (2009) 107-132 page 108

Vol 22 (2009)

Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles (XX) (Acts 14:1-27)», Vol. 22 (2009) 107-132

Acts 14:1-27 continues the story of the mission of Paul and Barnabas among the Gentiles, illustrating what happened when they had decided to turn from the Jews (cf. 13.46-47) to devote their attention to the Gentiles. Following an account of Paul's initial struggle with this decision, brought out more clearly in Codex Bezae, Luke describes the mitigated success of his first deliberate attempts to talk with the Gentiles about the gospel. The establishment of the first churches as a result of the missionary work of Paul and Barnabas is described as the passage concludes by bringing the missionaries back to Antioch of Syria, where Luke is careful to maintain the focus on the Gentiles.

See more by the same author

Page 108/132
‹
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
›

108 Josep Rius-Camps and Jenny Read-Heimerdinger [a] 14.3 A positive testimony [b] 14.4 Division among the crowd [b’] 14.5-7a Paul and Barnabas escape to Lycaonia [a’] 14.7b The response of the crowd The first episode presents Paul speaking in the synagogue with a posi- tive response by a crowd (πλῆθοϛ) of Jews and Greeks [a]; the persecution that ensues when the Jewish leaders incite the Gentiles to oppose them [b]; and the Lord’s intervention to resolve the situation [b’]. The connec- tive μὲν οὖν introduces the second episode where the opening element portrays Paul and Barnabas testifying in the city and the Lord acting to confirm their message [a]. A split occurs among the population (πλῆθοϛ), who side either with the Jews or the apostles [b]. The Gentiles and the Jews plan to attack the apostles, which causes Paul and Barnabas to flee to Lycaonia in order to resolve the situation; once there, they set about evangelizing [b’], and the response of the crowd (πλῆθοϛ) is positive [a’]. Translation Codex Bezae D05 Codex Vaticanus B03 [Aa] 14.1 It happened in Iconium 14.1 It happened in Iconium likewise that he entered the syn- likewise that they entered the agogue of the Jews and spoke synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way to them that a in such a way that a great gath- great gathering of both Jews and ering of both Jews and Greeks Greeks started to believe. believed. [b] 2a However, the synagogue 2 However, the Jews who had chiefs of the Jews and the rul- not been persuaded stirred up ers of the synagogue started up among them persecution against and embittered the souls of the the Righteous, and embittered Gentiles against the brethren. the souls of the Gentiles against the brethren. [b’] 2b But the Lord quickly gave peace. [A’ a] 14.3 So they stayed on for some 14.3 So they stayed on for some considerable time and took their considerable time, taking their boldness of speech from the boldness of speech from the Lord, who testified to the word Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs of his grace by granting signs and wonders to happen through and wonders to happen through his hands. their hands.