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.
126 Josep Rius-Camps and Jenny Read-Heimerdinger
[c'] 17:12 Belief and unbelief
[b'] 17:13a Jews from Thessalonica come to Beroea
[a'] 17:13b They stir up the crowds
The two central elements create a narrative focus on the response to
the visit of Paul and Silas to the synagogue once they arrive in Beroea
from Thessalonica. Corresponding to their role is that of the Jews from
Thessalonica who react by creating a disturbance to counteract the mis-
sionary activity.
Translation
Codex Bezae D05 Codex Vaticanus B03
[a] 17:10a Immediately, when it was 17:10a Immediately, when it was
night, the brethren sent Paul and night, the brethren sent Paul and
Silas to Beroea; Silas to Beroea;
[b] 10b once they had arrived, they 10b once they had arrived, they
took themselves off to the syna- took themselves off to the syna-
gogue of the Jews. gogue of the Jews.
[c] 11 These people were noble-mind- 11 These people were more noble-
ed, unlike those in Thessalonica, minded than those in Thessalonica,
seeing as they received the word seeing as they received the word
with all eagerness, daily examining with all eagerness, daily examining
the Scriptures, to see if these things the Scriptures, to see if these things
were really so. could really be so.
[c'] 12 Some of them believed (though 12 Many from among them be-
some did not believe); and from lieved, not a few of the distin-
among the Greeks, especially guished Greek women, and men,
those of distinction, both men and too.
women, a considerable number be-
lieved, too.
[b'] 13a When the Jews from Thessalon- 13a When the Jews from Thessa-
ica, however, knew that the word of lonica, however, knew that in Ber-
God had been proclaimed to Beroea oea also the word of God had been
and that people had believed, they proclaimed by Paul, they went there
actually went to the town; too,
[a'] 13b and there, they persisted in dis- 13b disturbing the crowds and
turbing the crowds and throwing throwing them into confusion.
them into confusion.
Critical Apparatus
17:10 (εὐθέωϛ) διὰ νυκτὸϛ ἐξέπεμψαν B D P45vid.74 Ψ 33. 69. 104. 323.
945. 1270. 1739. 1891. 2344 | ἐξ. δ. ν. a | δ. τῆϛ ν. ἐξ. E H L P 049. 056. 614