Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles (XXII) (Acts 14:28–15:41)», Vol. 23 (2010) 175-200
In Chapter 15 of Acts, a point of critical importance for the growth of the Church and its relationship with Judaism is reached. Luke narrates the difficulty posed for Jewish Jesus-believers by the increasing number of Gentiles believers and the decision taken by the Church leaders in Jerusalem not to subject them to the usual conditions for proselytes. In the Bezan text, some conflict of opinion between Peter, Paul and Barnabas on the one hand, and James on the other is apparent, a tension that is attenuated in the Alexandrian text. Further conflict is also highlighted in Codex Bezae between Paul and Barnabas who separate following the meeting in Jerusalem.
The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles 197
[d] 39a There developed sharp di- 39a There developed sharp disagree-
sagreement with the result that ment with the result that they sepa-
they separated from each other. rated from each other,
[b'] 39b Then Barnabas, taking 39b and that Barnabas, taking Mark,
Mark, sailed to Cyprus. sailed away to Cyprus.
[c'] 40 Paul, having welcomed Si- 40 Paul, having chosen Silas, left af-
las, left after being commended ter being commended to the grace of
to the grace of the Lord by the the Lord by the brethren.
brethren.
[a'] 41 He went through Syria and 41 He went through Syria and Cili-
through Cilicia, strengthening cia, strengthening the churches.
the churches and handing over
the commands of the elders.
Critical Apparatus
15:36 (εἶπεν) πρὸς Βαρναβᾶν (+ ὁ 33. 69. 1175. 1837. 2344) Παῦλος
B P74 ) A C Ψ 81 || ὁ (+ D) Παῦλος πρὸς Βαρναβᾶν D, ait Paulus ad
Barnaban d E H L P 049. 056. 1739 M gig l vgW.
The article before Paul in D05, reinforced by his position in the
sentence, is an indication that he remains in focus (cf. 15:35 D05 above),
and that Barnabas in comparison is not now the centre of attention; the
effect is to portray Paul as the dominating character at this point. In
the Alexandrian text, both participants continue to have equal narrative
status.
(ἀδελφοὺς) κατὰ πόλιν πᾶσαν B P74 ) A C 33. 69. 927. 1270 | κ. πᾶσαν
πόλ. H L P 049. 056 M || τοὺς κ. πᾶσαν πόλιν D 36. 257. 383. 431- 453.
614. 618. 913. 1518. 1611. 1799. 2138. 2147. 2412 pc l syp-h**.— ἐν αἷς
(κατηγγείλαμεν) B P74 ) rell || ἐν οἷς D, penes quos d.
According to B03, Paul’s proposal is focused on the cities in which the
message has been announced, whereas by means of the three vll of D05
(the repetition of the article τούς, the word order of πᾶσαν πόλιν and the
masculine relative pronoun οἷς), the proposal in that text is focused on
the brethren to whom the message has been announced.
15:37 (Βαρναβᾶς δὲ) ἐβούλετο B P74 ) A C E Ψ 33. 81. 104. 323. 614.
945. 1175. 1270. 1611. 1739. 1891. 2344, volebat d | ἐβουλεύσατο H L P
049. 056 M || ἐβουλεύετο D gig.— (συμπαραλαβεῖν) καὶ τὸν Ἰωάννην
B ) 81. 88. 614. 1611. 2412 pc | καὶ Ἰωάννην P74 A C E Ψ 049. 36. 1175.
1241. 1505 pm | τὸν Ἰω. Η L P 056. 33vid. 424 pm || Ἰωάνην D / Ἰωάννην
FOLLOW US