Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles (XXIV) (Acts 17:1–18:23).», Vol. 25 (2012) 119-160
In these final sequences of Part III of the Book of Acts, the second phase of Paul’s missionary journey continues through Macedonia before moving on to Greece where he spends a brief time in Athens before a more extended stay in Corinth. Despite the divine intervention in Philippi in the previous sequence, which focused attention on the evangelisation of the Gentiles, Paul fails to follow this up but reverts to his earlier practice of devoting his energy first and foremost to the Jews in the synagogues. In Athens, his wellknown attempt to speak to the Gentiles meets with little favour; it is only in Corinth, after fierce opposition from the synagogue, that Luke records more successful efforts to include the Gentiles as well as the Jews in his preaching activity.
The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles 125
17:7 ἕτερον λέγοντεϛ εἶναι (Ἰησοῦν) B P74 a A 33. 36. 81. 181. 242. 257.
323. 431. 453. 522. 614. 913. 945. 947. 1108. 1175. 1241. (1243). 1270.
1505. 1518. 1739. 1799. 1611. 1838. 1891. 1898. 2138. 2298. 2344. 2412.
2495 gig vg; Theoph || λέγ. ἕτ. εἶναι D, dicentes alium esse d H L P Ψ 049.
056 M | λέγ. εἶναι ἕτ. E e.
In the final sentence of the complaint, D05 underlines by the word
order the claim by the disciples that they have a king who is not Caesar.
17:8-9 ἐτάραξαν δέ B P74 a rell || καὶ ἐτάραξεν D, et concitaverunt d
gig sa bo.— τὸν ὄχλον (τὴν πόλιν E) καὶ τοὺϛ πολιτάρχαϛ B P74 a rell ||
τοὺϛ πολ. κ. τ. ὄχλον D P127, principes et turbam d gig syp.— ἀκούονταϛ
ταῦτα. καὶ λαβόντεϛ B P74 a rell || ἀκούσαντεϛ (-σαντα DB) τ. καὶ λαβ.
D*, audientes haec et accipientes d | ἀκούοντεϛ τ. καὶ λαβ. 614. 1505.
1611. 2412
B03 and D05 understand the two sentences following the direct speech
in different ways. With the first connective δέ and the second καί, B03
views the two sentences as being two elements of a new development
following the speech. The first is that the Jews (cf. 17:5) disturbed the
crowd and the magistrates as these people listened (accusative present
participle) to what they had to say; the subject then changes in the second
sentence, as the magistrates release the brethren after taking bail from
Jason.
D05 presents the speech as an impersonal singular subject, which dis-
turbed (ἐτάραξεν) the magistrates and the crowd, linking the verb with
καί to the speech itself. A new sentence is introduced without any con-
nective, and starts with two parallel nominative participles ἀκούσαντεϛ
... καὶ λαβόντεϛ, referring to the magistrates alone. The asyndeton under-
lines the fact that the action of the magistrates does not respond to what
the Jews expected or hoped for.
[D'] 17:10-13 Macedonia III: Beroea
The sequence of events is very similar to that in Thessalonica. The
setting is initially the synagogue, where there is a noticeably positive
response, but this incites the anger of some Jews, in this case some from
Thessalonica, who come to stir up agitation among the local population.
The result is that Paul and Silas have to leave the city.
[a] 17:10a The brethren send Paul and Silas to Beroea
[b] 17:10b They go straight to the synagogue
[c] 17:11 A positive response
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